Sure, the Bellagio 5-Diamond is a pretty big deal to the pros — it\’s one of those tourneys that harkens back to pre-boom days of the WSOP, both in competition and relative size of the buy-ins. Every table is star-studded, and the no-names who make it to the Fontana Room have fought hard to get there, knowing mathematically maybe one or two of them stands a chance of doing something truly special.
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You wouldn\’t know anything about it, though, from the 82 bloggers who were in town for the fourth or fifth (anyone know?) annual Unnamed Winter Blogger Holiday Gathering — this year honoring the netty nuptials of Pablo and Gracie (ceremony officiated by Rev. AlCantHang). While all that mattered to the professional world was going on at Bellagio, what attracted reps from the other 99.9 percent of poker players out there was shaking down and out at the MGM and Venetian … where friends, colleagues, and acquaintances gathered for boozing, boasting, bitching, and busting chops, all surrounding a big-but-affordable challenging tourney that would reward on-the-felt bad-assness with real American dollars while everyone else still enjoyed ever-festive poker-bloggery times.
A full moon was closer to Earth than usual, naturally enhancing the funk. Dr. Pauly busted out the portable satellite Tao of Pokerati studio, and before you knew it, our recorded commentary degenerated into lunar analysis of semi-annual drunkfests, slumped-over gambling addicts, donk-ass keno play, and, of course, hookers in a down economy on the late-night Vegas prowl. Recorded live from an extended weekend\’s worth of bars, sportsbooks, bedrooms, bathrooms, and casino floors … with guest appearances by Derek, Human Head, Bobby Bracelet, Mean Gene, and PKPNF, before and after his unsuccessful relationship with Betty Underground.
Aural delights below:
Book 6: Tao of Kenorati
Las Vegas StripEpisode 6.1: Gathering of the Geeks
2:31
[audio:tao/TOP-6-1.mp3]Episode 6.2: Hooker by Numbers, 1-2-3
3:52
[audio:tao/TOP-6-2.mp3]Episode 6.3: Hookers, Keno, and Meth
2:27
[audio:tao/TOP-6-3.mp3]Episode 6.4: Crushed Venetian Dreams
2:19
[audio:tao/TOP-6-4.mp3]Episode 6.5: Keno\’ed Address
1:41
[audio:tao/TOP-6-5.mp3]Episode 6.6: Hooker Q&A (feat. \”Valerie\”)
2:40
[audio:tao/TOP-6-6.mp3]Episode 6.7: Existentialist Hooker Theater 3000
3:39
[audio:tao/TOP-6-7.mp3]Episode 6.8: Hooker and Muthafugger Buffet!
3:05
[audio:tao/TOP-6-8.mp3]
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