The Muck


Wednesday, January 16 2013
2013 01 14 - 2013 01 20
  • NOV 21

    Daniel Negreanu's Rant: Integrity

    Rich Ryan , 9

    In Daniel Negreanu's latest edition of "The Rant," he talks about a baseball bet gone wrong, integrity, honesty, and a possible shot clock in poker.

    Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.

  • NOV 14

    An Inside Look at Tony Resort

    Rich Ryan

    For those of you who don't believe that Tony Resort is a real place, Tony G is here to debunk the myth. According to The G, Nordas, his German Shepherd, guards the place and only eats steak. Also, Ralph Perry is banned from the property.

    On your bike.

    Take a look at the video. After watching it, we can confirm that Lithuania has never looked so good.

    Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.

  • NOV 13

    TLC's Teaser Trailer of Jennifer Harman's New Show Sin City Rules

    Chad Holloway

    Jen Harman

    We’ve known for awhile now that Jennifer Harman was involved in a new television show called Sin City Rules, but now things have really heated up with TLC's recently released description of the show along with a teaser trailer.

    Sin City Rules will also feature designer Lana Fuchs, Rain Cosmetics owner Lori Montoya, entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs, Kimberly Friedmutter (who is married to an architect responsible for much of the Las Vegas skyline), and businesswoman Amy Hanley.

    Here’s the description according to TLC:

    “You might think that high stakes gambling is a man's world, but there are plenty of women who are also clawing their way to the top. TLC's new series Sin City Rules follows the lives of five high-powered women in Las Vegas, including an entrepreneur daughter of an infamous mob boss, a cosmetics mogul, a champion poker player, a gun-loving fashion designer and a pageant queen-turned-entertainment reporter. Follow these women as they do whatever it takes to make it in one of the most vibrant, compelling and notorious cities in the world.”

    The show, which is comprised of eight one-hour episodes, is set to premiere on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 22:00 EST.

    Don't forget to follow PokerNews on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

  • NOV 02

    Off The Felt with Mike Leah: Fantasy Sports, Music and Prop Betting

    Pamela Maldonado

    Mike Leah

    Off the Felt is interviewing your favorite people in the poker industry to find out more about their lives — you've got it — off the felt. We recently sat down with recent WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Hammond Player of the Series Mike Leah to talk a little sports, prop bets, and music.

    What is your favorite tournament spot?

    Not sure if I have a favorite “spot." I look forward to WSOP all year but that is all about the event itself not the location. I really enjoyed playing San Remo last year and look forward to going back.

    Where is your favorite vacation destination?

    I love going on beach holidays, so Mexico, or Jamaica — really anywhere hot with a nice beach and I’m happy.

    What are some of your hobbies away from the table?

    Playing and watching just about any sport. Oh, and my fantasy sports leagues take up a lot of my time.

    Can you tell us the most ridiculous prop bet you’ve participated in?

    Well, my poker friends and I bet on just about everything. One of my favorites is throwing random objects in garbage cans (laughs) – but we have made bets where the loser had to wear the other guy’s favorite hockey team jersey, last-longer bets where the first out had to pick up breakfast and deliver to all the other guys; nothing overly ridiculous but still fun.

    Do you have any hidden talents?

    I must not have found them yet, but maybe counting chip stacks. I’m pretty good at that.

    As a self-proclaimed fantasy sports expert, what is your favorite sport to bet on?

    I actually don’t bet on sports at all. My fantasy leagues are for money, but they last for months and it’s more about the competition with friends. Fantasy Football would probably be my favorite.

    As a sports buff, would you rather spend a day with the Toronto Blue Jays, the New York Yankees, or the Dallas Cowboys?

    The Blue Jays for sure as I detest both the Yankees and the Cowboys (laughs).

    So you’re big on music. Who is your favorite band/artist?

    With iTunes I have a lot more favorite songs than artists nowadays but a few of my current favorites are The Black Keys, City & Colour, Muse, Linkin Park, Metric, and Ray LaMontagne.

    What is your favorite concert ever attended?

    Most of my favorite concert experiences have been music festivals like Lollapalooza, Edgefest, etcetera. Nothing beats a summer music festival. An intimate theater performance can be pretty cool, too; the Counting Crows, BB King, Jonny Lang are a few that stand out.

    What is one thing you want people to know about you?

    Please don’t smoke around me, and chew gum before you sit next to me after smoking. Thank you.

    If you could pick anyone to star you in a movie about your life, who would it be?

    Well, first I need to win a few WSOP bracelets. And then I don’t know, maybe Mark Wahlberg (laughs).

    What is your greatest poker achievement?

    I have yet to achieve it, that’s for sure. I am proud of my WCOOP, FTOPS wins, leaderboard finishes, and just last week I won the WSOPC Circuit Horseshoe Hammond Player of the Series. Right now my main focus is on winning the Player of the Year at WSOP and winning my first of many bracelets.

    Do you have any superstitions before you begin a tournament?

    Nope, just waking up on time to play is my main focus!

    What’s the most interesting story you've ever heard at the table?

    There are lots of interesting stories and many not interesting ones. I love the ones about bad beats that they took ... not!

    What would you being doing if you weren't playing poker?

    I had a nice cushy management job before I left to play poker full time, so I would still be working there if I hadn’t discovered poker. The rest of my hobbies would be the same but I would have to wake up earlier during the week.

    What’s next on your poker calendar?

    I will likely be going to go to the new WPT event in Montreal in November. I’m hoping there will be a FTOPS series before the end of the year. Then in January I’m looking forward to PCA and TCOOP.

    Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.

  • OCT 26

    Adam "Roothlus" Levy Launches a Logo Contest

    Rich Ryan

    Adam "Roothlus" Levy

    Adam "Roothlus" Levy, who has over $1.9 million in career live tournament earnings, has launched a contest with 99designs, for a new personal logo. Levy will create a poll for fans to vote on the designs this weekend, and the winning logo will be displayed on his personal website. The winning designer will earn $200.

    On Thursday, Levy retweeted the following from Lauren Gard of 99designs:

    On average, 110 designs are submitted per contest on 99designs, and there is a design uploaded every five seconds. Since the inception of the company, $42.3 million has been paid to designers who have submitted logos to the site.

    If you want to submit, view, or rate the logos, you can check out 99designs.com.

    Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.

  • OCT 23

    Johnny Chan Hosting New Poker Reality Show in Las Vegas

    Pamela Maldonado , 4

    Johnny Chan is hosting a new reality TV show called “Full House with Johnny Chan.” With 10 WSOP bracelets and years of experience under his belt, Chan will act as a mentor and backer, taking the reigns to help Las Vegas grinders succeed.

    The concept is simple: Chan will house five local cash-game grinders in his personal abode and stake each of the players for $200,000 so they can compete in weekly cash-game sessions. An interesting concept, indeed, but what is really intriguing is how the players were appointed to their positions on the show.

    “Everyone knows that playing poker in Las Vegas is not a guaranteed success. You see players appear and disappear throughout the year. Everyone on the show has survived playing in Vegas for years; they have fought the variance, and have jumped past the tough economic times and are still in Vegas playing today. They have become priority and Johnny Chan and myself are here to help them succeed further,” producer Jay Ishimaru told PokerNews.

    The video posted on the show can be found on YouTube and the TwoPlusTwo forums with less than complimentary feedback. “Viewers need to know that it is not a trailer but a physio reel (demo) where the players were forced to over act because the purpose is to sell the concept to the networks," said Ishimaru.

    Jay Ishimaru and Johnny Chan are working together pitching their series to various networks in New York and Los Angeles. Offers have been made, but nothing has been finalized as of yet. “We are planning to start shooting within 60 to 90 days and most likely you can see the show air by early February.”

    Although the reel may have been scripted for selling purposes, the actual show will not be intended as such, but actually show the "reality" of the game as the players study and are coached by Chan, to then play one another each week. From the video you can also see that Doyle Brunson will have some involvement. It’s hard to determine what his role will be but one can only assume that he might serve as a poker coach, as well.

    With so much conversation on Twitter about the show, Matt Glantz asked Brunson about the show, to which Brunson responded:

    Once shooting begins, the games will be played at a set table in the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino and not on a dining room table as portrayed. As each show is filmed, viewers in the area will have a chance to see the games played live so watch out for that when the time comes. You can find updates on TwoPlusTwo, or second producer, Javier Prato’s personal page.

    Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.

  • OCT 19

    Liv Boeree and Kevin MacPhee Star in Travel Channel's I Bet My Life

    PokerNews Staff , 2

    On Friday, Team PokerStars Pro Liv Boeree announced via Twitter, the release date of a reality television show she was working on. The show, called I Bet My Life, follows Boeree and Kevin MacPhee during their travels on the road as professional poker players. I Bet My Life will debut on the Travel Channel on Nov. 4 at at 11 p.m. EST.

    Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.

  • OCT 16

    Not Like a Boss: Finishing Runner-Up in the EPT Sanremo Media Tournament

    Chad Holloway

    Donnie Peters

    Have you ever wanted to put your boss in his or her place? I recently had the opportunity to do just that in the Season 9 European Poker Tour Sanremo Media Tournament — but I failed to take advantage. Instead, my boss, Donnie Peters, shamed me with a runner-up finish and went on to capture the title and accompanying €460 prize. Not only that, he got bragging rights, and that’s what it was really about.

    Before I talk about Donnie’s incredible run of luck, let me set the stage. EPT Sanremo, which takes place on the Italian Riviera, was my second visit to Europe in as many months. I went to live report the Main Event for PokerNews, and usually live reporting gigs are all work and no play. With that said, the EPT knows and appreciates all the media's hard work and rewards us with a Media Tournament at most stops.

    Such events, which are scheduled when everyone is free, are either freerolls or feature a low buy-in, and they’re more about getting to know your colleagues outside the media room than winning paltry sums of money. No one takes it too seriously; instead, everyone discards their inhibitions and enjoys drinks and laughs. That was the case on Monday, Oct. 8, 2012, at the Casino Sanremo when the €20 buy-in Media Event took place.

    The tournament attracted 39 players, which included an eclectic mix of media such as local Italians, the PokerStars Blog team, photographers, videographers, etc. Representing Team PokerNews were myself and Donnie, as well as bloggers Emilis Pakenas, Josh Cahlik and Marc Convey; hostesses Lynn Gilmartin and Sarah Grant; and PokerNews.NL’s Frank Op de Woerd. We wanted to represent, but there was also quite a bit of foolish pride on the line to be the last PokerNews player standing.

    Players began with 4,000 in chips and there were four starting tables. I ended up being seated at the same one as Lynn and Josh, with the latter being to my direct right. I got off to a hot start by eliminating Lynn with {Q-Diamonds}{J-Diamonds} when she moved all in holding {9-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds} on a {J-}{4-Diamonds}{2-Diamonds} flop. It was a turbo tournament with the blinds going up every 15 minutes, so I don’t blame her for taking a chance. Plus, it was still within the rebuy period, so I didn’t feel too bad.

    I continued to run well and built a big stack, which allowed me to survive the rapidly increasing blinds and antes. Cahlik fell a short time later, also at my hands, but not before I three-outed him on the river in one memorable hand. I don’t recall the preflop action, but I do know I held {10-Clubs}{6-Clubs} on a {2-}{3-Clubs}{4-Clubs} flop. He check-called a bet, and then we both checked the turn, which was a blank. The {5-Diamonds} river completed my straight and Cahlik check-called a bet of 900. I had no idea he held {A-Clubs}{5-Clubs} and had flopped the nuts with the nut redraw. Talk about getting lucky.

    Eventually I made the final table and had my sights set on finishing in the money, which was the top six. My stack dwindled a bit, but then I hit some cards at the right time and coasted into the money. It was there that an interesting hand developed against PokerStars PR magician Scott Collins, who I had observed raising without looking at his cards earlier in the tournament. He put out a big preflop raise, and I was 100 percent sure he hadn’t look at his hand. I picked up {A-}{7-} and put in a three-bet, and then action folded back to Scott. We had both been drinking and I couldn’t help but laugh. “I know you didn’t look at your cards,” I told him. Maybe he didn’t believe me, but I was the one who couldn't believe what happened next — Scott moved all in, and he still hadn’t looked. I was second in chips with five players left and he was third, so it was a huge pot. I'm glad to say his {K-}{3-} did not improve.

    Shortly thereafter, Donnie eliminated two players in the same hand and we were heads up. I held a 2-1 chip lead and could taste victory. Neither of us wanted to chop, there was just too much pride on the line. He may run the show off the felt, but this was my chance to show him who the real boss was at the poker table.

    I managed to cut Donne’s stack in half with my superior play before he moved all in with {K-}{7-} and I called with {A-}{3-}, making me a 59.69 percent favorite according to the PokerNews Hand Calculator. I got it in good and was safe on the flop, but then a {K-} on the turn gave DP the lead and his first double. I was still up 2-1 when I raised with {K-}{J-} and he moved all in. I decided to go with it and was ecstatic to see I had his {K-}{10-} crush; in fact, the PokerNews Hand Calculator says I was a 68.66 percent favorite to win the hand and the tournament. Unfortunately the luckbox caught a {10-} on the flop and doubled into the chip lead.

    Donnie thought it'd be a good idea to bite the cards.
    Donnie thought it'd be a good idea to bite the cards.

    Now I was playing from behind and saw a flop of {10-}{9-}{6-} holding {J-}{8-}. DP checked, I bet, and then he check-raised all in. I decided to go with the open-ended straight and was up against DP’s {9-}{3-}. Unfortunately I didn’t get there and Donnie became the media champion, notched his first cash since 2010, and got to pose for the winner’s photo.

    Of course I wanted to win, but if it wasn’t me I’m glad it was DP. We like to give each other a hard time, but I figure he'll be hard pressed to talk too much smack knowing he put his money in bad on two occasions and sucked out. Plus, we had swapped 10 percent so he had to fork over a little extra dough. It was definitely a highlight of the trip, and one day I'll assuredly have my revenge.

    European Poker Tour Season 9 Sanremo Media Tournament

    Buy-inEntrantsRebuys/Add-onsPrize Pool
    €20 Entry3921€1,200

    PlacePlayerCountryPrize
    1stDonald PetersUSA€460*
    2ndChad HollowayUSA€300
    3rdAntonio SapioItaly€200
    4thFrank Op de WoerdNetherlands€100
    5thScott CollinsEngland€80
    6thNeil StoddartEngland€60

    * - For his win, DP also earned a €50 EPT Concierge gift certificate. For Season 9, EPT Concierge is there to help players find just about anything you need on tour. The service can set you up with almost anything you need while at an event, so take advantage of it. As examples, EPT Concierge can help you book restaurants, tours and activities, spa treatments, golf outings, VIP night club service and hotels. For more information, send an email or call one of the team members at info@eptconcierge.com or (0034) 93 352 10 10.

    Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook now!

  • OCT 15

    Daniel Negreanu's Rant — The Lederer Files

    PokerNews Staff , 1

    Traveling is time consuming. Playing poker tournaments takes up time too. These are the reasons that we haven't seen a rant from Daniel Negreanu since his post-WSOP rant.

    Now that he's back, Negreanu took some time to put together a rant. His latest video release focuses solely on The Lederer Files.

    Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.

  • SEP 26

    Tennis Champ Rafael Nadal Learns How to Bluff in New PokerStars Ad

    PokerNews Staff , 1

    On Wednesday, PokerStars released a new ad focused on the newest addition to Team SportStars — tennis champion, Rafael Nadal. In the spot, Nadal meets up with his poker coach, Isaac Mayolas, to learn how to bluff. What ensues is Nadal dressed as a cashier at a golf course, "bluffing" patrons who don't believe he's "Tony" instead of Rafa. Truth is, we probably wouldn't believe it either.

    Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.

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