Tuesday, June 17, 2008

One of Those Days

The minute I got to the Rio this morning, I knew it was going to be one of those days when I found that the crew from 60 Minutes had decided to use my (official reserved) spot in media row as storage for all their equipment. Yes, 60 Minutes is at the WSOP today, shooting footage for a story on all the online poker cheating scandals. Pauly even got up early to go down to the Rio to watch them interview guys like Greg Raymer and Phil Hellmuth. Only thing was, when he got there at the time he was told they were going to start, they were already wrapping up. Methinks CBS and TPTB decided to hoodwink the poker media.

Speaking of the poker media-- if you're fired from a major publication for the worst sin a writer can ever commit (and that's plagiarism in case you're wondering)-- I believe you should have your media badge permanently revoked. Yeah, I'm speaking of someone specific. Let the rampant speculation begin.

Let's talk about good writers for a second. Like my beloved. I was so happy he decided to write for himself and the Tao this year instead of being an official blogging monkey for Poker News like myself-- not only because he's in a FAR better mood/head space than he was during the last two WSOPs, but also as a longtime Tao of Poker fan. Long before I met Pauly, let alone started dating him, I was one of those people firing up the Tao every morning when I got to the office while the WSOP was running just to see who he had pissed next to or what sort of shenanigans were going down at the Hooker Bar. Pauly's writing temporarily lifted the fog of a Monday morning and made me forget just how much I hated my job and everyone I worked with, even for just a few moments a day.

Anyway, of course I'm totally biased, but I think he knocked it out of the park with this one. Check out WSOP Day 18: Never Trust a Junkie. My favorite line? "PLO destroys lives."

I'm covering the $1,500 donkament-of-the-week today. I haven't done one of these yet this year, having drawn assignments on some of the higher buy-in events like last night's $5,000 PLO with Rebuys finale that was won by Phil "OMGClayAiken" Galfond after a 3 1/2 hour heads-up match with Adam "the_houdini" Hourani. I so don't miss covering these tourist-fests that come with crowded hallways, endless lines, and idiot railbirds who come up to me and ask why their brother-in-law/sister/cousin/college roommate isn't in the chip count. I've been going with "Oh, I'm covering another event" or "No speaka thee English" in response.

I'll end this post with an open plea to Phil Hellmuth. Your shtick isn't funny anymore. You're no longer the best hold'em player in the world, I don't care how many fuckin' bracelets you've won. It's getting kind of sad, dude. I used to think there was a nice guy underneath all that hot air, but now it's impossible to separate the "personality" from the man. And all those quotes you try to directly feed to the media? We're just not that interested anymore.

Now if someone had the balls to heckle him at the tables for endorsing UltimateCheat Ultimate Bet, I'd transcribe that shit word for word.

Crankypants Change signing off...

10 comments:

run 'em twice said...

Ms Cranky
Just because you are biased (about Pauly) doesn't make you wrong! He is great...I do wish PokerNews (or someone) would see your obvious writing talent and let you WRITE something instead of all those hand after hand final table stuff...
bobby

change100 said...

Thanks, Bobby. I really appreciate the compliment.

For better or for worse, I'm one of the few people out there right now that can do the hand for hand stuff so I'm often called on to do it even though I enjoy writing color commentary much more.

Timothy Jaxon said...

I'm still in the donkament you are covering...and if/when I'm moved to Hellmouths table, I'll be glad to use your UltimateCheat line on that pretentious bastard.

See ya in a few hours!

lj said...

i've been enjoying the personality you put into your pokernews work. great seeing you!!

genomeboy said...

I enjoy your writing.

However, I'm not sure I understand why you just don't out the identity person you mention wrt plagerism. Just give the name of the person.

I've been following quite a bit of the poker blogdom lately, and the habit you (and others) have with the nasty attacks is unseemly at best.

More drama here than the daytime soaps.

change100 said...

Genomeboy--

I have my reasons for not printing this person's name at this time. It has absolutely nothing to do with the "poker blogdom" or the sort of juvenline dramas going on amidst some of its less mature inhabitants.

Plagiarism is a FAR worse sin than the petty dramas you're referring to. And I don't believe what I wrote was a "nasty attack." If anything I'm being too nice in keeping his/her name out of it at this time.

StB said...

Tao of Poker has a hack writer! I prefer the guy that does Tao of Pauly. That dude is much better!

Unknown said...

Tao Pauly >>>>>> PokerNews Pauly

Actually I prefer the real thing but two kids and the enjoyment of being married makes it tough to come out and say hi to you two.

Continue kicking Gucci ass ma'am.

Golden said...

Nice post, well written. Your getting pretty good at this writing biz.

I'm with you on the Helmuth crap. All good players know that he is a complete donkey when he isn't playing home game tables with the worst players in world. What a joke.

Golden said...

Question for STB; Is your comment some kind of joke and I'm missing the point? I don't get it.