I’m not sure when they ended, but the days of old have certainly passed. People seem to be moving on in poker and in life. New jobs (or just jobs, frankly), new gigs, new wives and babies even, new adventures to be sure … only a few of them to be livestreamed prior to airing on TV.
Once upon a time poker, and poker blogging for that matter, was about escapism. People like you were captivated by a game, one you were watching on TV and playing at home, while a few of us (those without jobs, it seems) were out there sharing the adventures of those who were best at it. Stepping into that poker world from afar — if only for a few minutes at a time — was apparently alluring to enough of you that a few of us were able to turn it into our livings … but as poker turned from passion to profession … well, it was only a matter of time, for many, before problems would arise … and the game would begin to leave us if we didn’t leave it.
Remember Pauly? He got out a couple WSOP’s ago. So now he’s following Phish instead of the global poker circuit … but that doesn’t mean he’s left behind all he learned during his time with Tao of Poker, not to mention Tao of Pokerati. Have a listen to what he’s been up to below, as he and Change100 transport you back to those glorious days of old via the Phish Phamily Classic 3 from Harvey’s Lake Tahoe … a tournament where probably only two players have read Harrington, and even then you can’t calculate a player’s M without factoring in whether or not any drugs might be kicking in before the blinds go up.
This heads-up battle stands to be one of the great ones. But it’s more than just a few million bucks difference and a bracelet on the line. The whole future of poker style could hang in the balance of a single river card. Will Martin Staszko, the workman-styled Czech-raiser, beat Pius Heinz and end the hoodie trend among online poker Deutschebags?
It’s been heads-up for almost three hours between Martin Staszko and Pius Heinz. Dan and Pauly discuss their outfits and lack of patches. They also decide to pick sides. Pauly is backing Heinz, while Dan is sticking with Staszko.
Oh, and Dan is perplexed when he realizes that he is dressed identically to Pauly.
While the two men left standing punch back-and-forth, it’s a good time to catch up on some of the other action that led up to this point … such as the entire careers of Linda Johnson and Barry Greenstein, who got inducted today, shortly before cards went in the air.
Pauly and I were there to bring it to you … or at least Pauly was, to tell me what I needed to know:
Dan and Dr. Pauly chat about the 2011 Poker Hall of Fame induction ceremony honoring the new class — Lind Johnson and Barry Greenstein. They also revealed who exactly was on their ballots.
Good times at the WSOP … thanks for hanging with Pauly and me as we use this opportunity to try out some newfangled podcast technology. You know, kinda like ESPN and the WSOP (and NGCB) are trying out newfangled technology with this whole “live” broadcast thing. (Once upon a time we used those “quotes” around the word “live” for mockery. But now, at just 15 minutes off of reality, no less sarcasm intended.)
Episode numbering seems to be the only tricky thing … and maybe using the geo-locator toggle. But it didn’t seem to matter as we sought the best way to insta-podcast the exciting highlights “semi-live” as the November Nine whittled down to the three that ultimately would matter tonight, in a few hours, live from the Penn & Teller Theater, and “live” on ESPN and possibly in your pocket:
Dan and Pauly are ringside for a decisive hand between Matt Giannetti and Martin Staszko. Giannetti was crippled on the previous hand and moved all-in. Staszko called with a dominated hand. Dan and Pauly call the action….
Dan and Dr. Pauly discuss the November Nine players, or rather, Dan’s lack of care to learn who made the final table. But Dan has a cheat sheet — the live chip count list — that appears on a big screen adjacent to the stage. A nice improvement to the WSOP set-up.
But it just turns out that 6th place finisher, Badih BouNahra, aka “Bob”, brought a rather unique element not just to the 2011 WSOP main event final table, but to poker. Beyond being the oldest guy to go single-digit-finish/seven-figure-payout deep, and more than just bringing a rowdy uniformed crowd that kinda makes him the Dennis Phillips of Belize … still gotta factcheck, but pretty sure he is the first and only November Niner to receive support from a national government.
Here’s a quick “interview” I did with Jose Manuel Heredia, Jr., Belize’s Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, and Culture, on what one poker player’s WSOP success means for his country.
(Belize just turned 30 years old … something that seven of the November Niners can’t yet say.)
And, here’s a Tao of Pokerati on the impact of Belizeans, as felt by WSOP sports bettors in Nevada:
Dan and Pauly chat about the first three eliminations at the final table, including Belize Bob. His 200 supporters kept the atmosphere festive. They also bet heavily on Bob at the Rio’s sports book, which drove down his odds from 12/1 to 6/1.
So the biggest shiznit of the poker year is underway … please bear with us as some of us “old school” poker media try to find our place and purpose in covering an event that poker nuts can follow officially via WSOP.com, near-instantly on Twitter, and near-live (15 minutes, shmifteen minutes) on ESPNs 1, 2, and 3.
In the spirit of kicking things old-school, we’re going really new school … on the fly no less … and moving to SoundCloud, which we think will work in really neato ways.
November Nine – Evolution (ep. 1)
Dr. Pauly and Dan are back with a new episode of Tao of Pokerati live from the Rio in Las Vegas. Dan showed up late, but watched some of the live feed at home. The WSOP coverage is evolving and the two discuss the latest nuances in poker reporting.
Dan showed up at the perfect time to hang out with Dr. Pauly, just as the final ten players were consolidated to one table…
2001 WSOP – Episode 37: Pseudo-Final Table (6:02) – Dan and Pauly are on the rail of the Mothership as action resumes for the pseudo-final table of ten, otherwise known as the November Nine bubble. Plenty of tension in the air because the final table will be set with just one more elimination.
Dan and Dr. Pauly hang out on the smokers’ porch and observe “tent city”…
2011 WSOP – Episode 34: Tent City (5:01) – Dan and Pauly went outside and wandered around tent city, where all of the ESPN live feed production trucks and Poker PROductions trailers were located. Pauly hasn’t seen much of the semi-live coverage on ESPN and Dan clues him in on what he’s been missing…
Snoopy joins Dr. Pauly for a conversation about the pair of Brits and one Irishman left in the Main Event field…
2011 WSOP – Episode 33: Two Brits, One Irishman with Snoopy (5:09) – Snoopy gives Pauly the latest British report with three tables remaining in the Main Event. Snoopy clues us in on the two Brits (Sam Holden and JP Kelly) still alive along with Eoghan O’Dea from Ireland. Even though O’Dea is Irish, Snoopy and Brits are still keeping an eye on their “adopted” player.
It’s the most exciting time at the WSOP! The Money Bubble of the 2011 Main Event finally burst and Dr. Pauly and WhoJedi were there.
2011 WSOP – Episode 31: Secret Bubble Boy with WhoJedi (1:31) – The Main Event crawled toward the Money Bubble, which historically speaking is always the most exciting time in poker. However, this year’s bubble popped in the corner of the room and happened so quietly that everyone almost missed it.Luckily Pauly and WhoJedi were on the scene to give you their quick assessment.
On Day 3, Snoopy and Dr. Pauly hang out behind the press box and Snoopy gives us the rundown on the Brits still remaining in the Main Event…
2011 WSOP – Episode 30: British Beef with Snoopy (8:01) – As play progresses on Day 3, Pauly and Snoopy hang out and discuss the finer aspects of British beef. Well, not really, but the title sounded rather cheeky. Actually, the two chatted about which Brits were remaining in the Main Event, along with a quirky story about sharing electric shavers and Neil Channing’s bustout. Snoopy us to keep an eye out for the up and coming Chris Brammer.
The Epic Poker League still sounded more like a Sugar Bowl sponsor (as FS+G) when yours truly won his seat into their inaugural $1,500 event at the Palms last weekend. Excited to play … but also thinking ’bout selling it, as I’m pretty sure these seats are transferable, and I already had plans that weekend to learn the ways of a seasoned pro by going on a vision quest at the Poker Sweat Lodge with Greg Raymer and Tom Schneider.
For now, play it by ear …
2011 WSOP – Episode 25: Sit and Go Pro
A group of prolific tweeters play in a satellite to the FS+G Epic Poker League $1500 pro-am — a tournament series taking shape that few know what to make of yet. None other than Bluff correspondent Kevin Mathers shows up to provide a comparative assessment of what he just witnessed — as somehow Dan ends up winning, beating @Alcanthang, @JoeUgly, @Hollywood_Dave, and others with questionable play. A rather large rail developed to hear Kevmath laughing heartily on the inside. Whatev, says Dan, who won a seat, took home some cash, and now apparently thinks he’s a pro.
[audio: https://pokerati.com/podcast/tao/TOP_W11_25_SNGPro.mp3]
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Ahh, now I get it! Concept behind Federated’s Epic Pro-Am series starting to make sense.
2011 WSOP – Episode 16: Brickless Cash Games Reprise (3:22) – Dan and Pauly recorded a quick follow-up to their previous episode while they hang out on the rail of the high-stakes cash games. They spot Eskimo Clark, “Cowboy”, and other broke dicks lingering around seeking handouts from the high rollers.
Dr. Pauly finds KevMath at a dive bar playing video Keno…
2011 WSOP – Episode 19: KevMath Keno System with KevMath (6:31) – Pauly and KevMath hang out at the dive bar in a bowling alley at the Gold Coast. KevMath was in the middle of crushing a video Keno game, when Pauly asked him to share a couple of his big secrets to beating the game.
Good times at the WSOP … thanks for 
