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Maryann Guberman has been a writer and editor with many gaming publications, including Sports Form, Card Player, Poker World, Player's Panorama and Systems and Methods. She also has written and edited numerous books on gambling.

July 29, 2006

Congratulations and Horse Feathers!

If you want the real story, start at the end ... anonymous (not really)

CONTRATULATIONS

In case the news hasn't made it to the far reaches of the media as yet, this was a big year for T.J. Cloutier, the former college baseball star and later Canadian football player who has set a standard for earning money at the poker tables that many would love to emulate. This was the year T.J. was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, an honor that includes such greats as Johnny Moss, Amarillo Slim Preston, Stu Ungar, Chip Reese, Puggy Pearson, Doyle Brunson and others. I found out about the induction too late to rush over and give T.J. a big hug so this column will have to serve that purpose. (I'd also hug Billy Baxter, who also received this honor, but I don't know him personally.)

T.J. has an armful of gold bracelets signifying first-place finishes in various World Series of Poker events, a wall full of trophies for other tournament scores and (if he kept them) a room full of slips signifying final-table appearances in various tournaments worldwide.

While T.J. is all poker (he does like to travel and play golf), Billy Baxter is all business. He was the man who anted up the buy-in for Stu Ungar's last hurrah. More importantly, however, is his gutsy move of taking on the IRS. Baxter made it possible for players to file as professionals who make their money gambling and thus they could comply (file, declare and deduct) just as the guy working in the local TV repair shop and the local newspaper.

HORSEFEATHERS

Someone has dropped the ball. Either Harrah's isn't producing the frequent updates we're accustomed to after each WSOP event or the media is too busy flirting with the world of poker to keep the blogs, columns, and articles up. Had I not had the opportunity to talk to the nice folks at Masque Software, producers of World Class Poker with TJ Cloutier, I'd never have known there was going to be a Hall of Fame induction at this year's series. And even tonight, more than 24 hours after the ceremony, I could not find but a single mention of the prestigious award anywhere on the web.

Last year every website and numerous newspapers provided tons of updates and information and I know there was no shortage of press at the series.

CONGRATULATIONS

Harrah's and every cyber room out there who brought more than 8,500 players to the big dance have made it possible for at least nine new million-dollar winners to emerge on the final day. Never mind that the winner will probably earn more than $10 million! Heck, that's a tad less than DOUBLE the WSOP winnings for T.J.

HORSEFEATHERS

Having to work a 9-to5 (and 9-to-whenever a lot of days) makes it tough to get to the Rio in time to absorb all the excitement of the tournament action. I'd compare it to watching Mardi Gras on TV. No fun, no fun at all.

CONGRATULATIONS

The people who are working this year's World Series of Poker, from the newest dealer to the most experienced floorman. This is one tough job but the crew seems to be surviving. At least no one has passed out, punched out, or walked out as far as we know. Think about all the things that can go wrong in a medium-sized poker room on any given night, from player disputes to dealer errors and then multiply it by, oh, say one-hundred. I certainly wouldn't want to be in any 9-to-whenever shoes at the Rio doing the WSOP tour. Nope. Heck, I had the job of keeping a seating request board once on a poker cruise and I lost it. Muffed the whole thing. I'm surprised they didn't throw me overboard.

HORSEFEATHERS

Working! When he was the star of Maverick (The TV show, not the movie), James Garner was a man after my own heart. I loved that show and I loved the star. When Jack Kelly or Roger Moor appeared and took over on some nights as Bart and Beau Maverick, I went out. But when Bret was on screen, I was glued to it. So here we are a few years later, the crush is gone, but it still would have been nice to be there when my hero announced Shuffle Up and Deal!

CONGRATULATIONS

It's seldom you see a member of the media take shots at the folks who allow him or her the privilege of attending and covering an event while it's going on. (She said with tongue in cheek). But just as I was about to give up on finding unique and without spin, I wandered over to the taopoker.blogspot.com/. Actually, I got there by accident because I was reading the Poker Prof's blog at www.lasvegasvegas.com/pokerblog/ which linked to tao. Take a look if you want to read the good and the bad, or at least some of it.

And finally, with no relation to the World Series of Poker at all Š

HORSEFEATHERS

The emailer who somehow got someone to give up his personal information online through a phishing expedition deserves to be shot somewhere very sensitive. Not everyone is as aware of the evils that lurk in the hearts and keyboards of men and one unlucky kid fell for the trap. After getting an official-looking email supposedly from management in a high-profile online room, he verified his information as requested. Unfortunately, the request wasn't from a champion's cardroom but was from someone who then made changes to the kid's profile and went on a spending spree. Eventually the room locked up all funds on the accusation of chip dumping.

I just have half the story -- the kid's half -- so this could qualify as hearsay. Until today, the kid is still out about eight grand with no recovery in sight because nobody seems to believe him.

But, let it be a warning to everyone. If you are playing online, never, never, never, never, click on links asking you for personal information. The requests are NEVER legitimate. If you ever get a request, forward it to management immediately so they can be made aware that someone is out to scam their players.

In fact, this message is so important that I will include it from time to time in my articles so if you hear it again, don't be surprised.