Hello fellow subscribers,
Sorry for not making a trip report but it's been awhile since I last made it out to (Feb. 2011) Las Vegas.
The reason I am making another trip report is primarily because of you, the ones that so graciously and kindly giving of yourselves!
A friend of mine wanted to put me into the 2012 WSOP Main Event because he and his wife wanted to go out and watch me play. They were kind enough to do this even though I told them that winning anything was a shaky proposition at best. We would split any winnings if any should come. I was very excited about finally getting a chance to play. This was the #1 thing on my bucket list and it seemed so surreal to actually be doing it! NOT the way I pictured it would happen though. Been wanting to play in this event since 1970. I have literally dreamed that I was playing in the WSOP. Wow!
My wife decided to take off work and drive with me to Vegas. We left early Wednesday morning on July 4. Took the 13.5 hour drive to Flagstaff and stayed overnight. The high for that day in Flagstaff was 77 degrees! When the sun went down it got chilly and decided to eat inside because of the coolness. My type of weather! Unlike back home in Arlington, TX. The next morning we made our way to a timeshare we had reserved just behind the MGM on Tropicana. There was about a 4 hour delay before we could check in so we went to Costco, Whole Foods, and then got a quick bite to eat before finally getting our double room apartment. Finally, we could go over to the Rio and get in the short line to get my seat card, since I had already pre-registered online(the best way to go because you can pick the day you want to play the main event)
Going to the Rio, there is a parking lot in the back where (convention center parking) for WSOP event players. We park in the back and slog through the melting heat to the WSOP headquarters inside. I started getting dizzy and lighthead as my blood pressure rose walking into the building. It hit me then that this was actually going to happen! I ask for the line for pre-registered players and make my way with my wife over to the desk, which only had one other person in line. I could hardly understand the lady I was talking with as she asked me for my paperwork. She then looked for my papers in a big, thick, unorganized mass of other papers looking for my papers. She couldn't find it so she escorted us over to another room adjacent to the registration desk. This room was covered by a security guard who let us through. Another lady asked if I had any more info besides this. I hadn't but told her the name of the person who sent me the message confirming my registration. She went back to the registration desk and found the paperwork in 15 seconds. So a 2 minute job took 20 minutes. But I got my seat card and was officially in "The Biggie"!
That evening my wife wanted me to take her to Battista's Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurant. She knew about it because I recommended to her son when he came out for a business trip earlier. This was one of my favorite places since 1986. I hadn't been in several years so off we went. The thing about Battista's is that the food is good, the wine is decent, and the price is right. My wife enjoyed it so much that she wanted to eat there again before the trip was through. It's not fancy, but you want leave hungry or thirsty! And got a good atmosphere.
Saturday at high noon I sat down to play my first hand in the WSOP. My wife had her camera ready to photograph my first hand, which was a 6-3 of hearts, I quickly folded to a raiser. You really have to be at the WSOP rooms to get the overall picture of the event. It's so overwhelming and intimidating hearing the clicking of the chips as you enter the main rooms, which are Brasilia and Amazon(the room I was in). Phil Helmuth and Ray Romano were just two of the many celebrity and pro types that started out on Day 1 Saturday. It was the smallest group of the 3 starting days for the main event this year. Players at my table were from Germany, Finland, Denmark, Russia, Netherlands and the U.S.A. One of the players lived only a 30 minute drive from me in Ft. Worth. This truly is an international game! It's sad to think that we invented the game and is a national pastime but can't play it online like every other country in the world can! I guess we are the new Russia!! Maybe this greedy pigs we have as congressmen will get voted out and get some folks who will not feed at the lobbyists' troughs and do the will of the people for a change. How can a few dishonest scumbags keep the majority from doing what they want? Enough for my soapbox. On with the story!
It was a tough and grinding 13 hour day as we did not get finished till almost 1 a.m.! I had pocket kings cracked during the last 30 minutes and was down to about one-fourth of my original stack. But I had survived to play Tuesday, even though I was deep in the woods. I win that hand and I'm close to chip average instead of hanging by a thread. Two noticeable commotions happened late that evening though. Phil Helmuth busted out and shortly after Ray Romano was out. Romano was on the table adjacent to mine. I talked to him for a moment earlier in the day and he seemed like a nice guy. At least I outlasted Phil! So I prepare to play shortstacked for Tuesday, 2 days away.
On Sunday, I took my trusty Pocket Book of Values(POV), or they used to call it that and tried to go to The D(used to be Fitzgeralds) to see if they would honor my Blackjack Get Out of Jail Free Coupon. The pit boss told me to take it to the D Club and come back and he would honor it. I stood in line for about 20 minutes to get another printout, signed off and authorized for use at one of the blackjack tables. The same pit boss looked at it and wanted ME to explain how it worked. I carefully explained it to him and he said he never had seen one before. I told him that "you were the one who told me to go to the D Club and come back"! He went over and talked to another floor person and they decided not to honor the coupon because they didn't know how to use it. I now have this print out as a book mark in a poker book I was reading! Thanks dude for making me wait for 20 minutes to put up with that garbage. Wanted to give that to you as a warning concerning this coupon!
We also used an Anthony Curtis coupon for the "R" Seafood and Steakhouse", located in the dead, bad vibe Riveria. Wow, that place hasn't changed over the years. This steakhouse used to be called Kristophers but they changed the name for some reason. My wife had the filet, I had the ribeye, had a bottle of $30 cabernet, a calamari appetizer that was enough to feed 4, and mac-n-cheese to share. With the coupon the total bill was right at $100.00 The food and wine somewhere would have been easily double or more the price. It has our recommendation. So use the coupon!
The next evening(Monday) I wanted to eat at Hash House-a-go-go. Been threatening to eat here for years but it was off the strip and away from downtown and never made time to go. I noticed that the Hash House in the Imperial Palace was usually crowded with long lines. I noticed that Hash House in the Plaza the night before had very little traffic. So we drove down with a friend who came to watch the WSOP and visit with us to give it a try. Sure enough, not much traffic and we got seated immediately. I split the famous chicken benedict(or called something like that, and our friend had the bleu cheese burger. The benedict was outstanding while I thought the burger was merely good. Our play is to get the breakfast items when dining at Hash House. Came back and rested up for the big Tuesday.
More to follow......
Sorry for not making a trip report but it's been awhile since I last made it out to (Feb. 2011) Las Vegas.
The reason I am making another trip report is primarily because of you, the ones that so graciously and kindly giving of yourselves!
A friend of mine wanted to put me into the 2012 WSOP Main Event because he and his wife wanted to go out and watch me play. They were kind enough to do this even though I told them that winning anything was a shaky proposition at best. We would split any winnings if any should come. I was very excited about finally getting a chance to play. This was the #1 thing on my bucket list and it seemed so surreal to actually be doing it! NOT the way I pictured it would happen though. Been wanting to play in this event since 1970. I have literally dreamed that I was playing in the WSOP. Wow!
My wife decided to take off work and drive with me to Vegas. We left early Wednesday morning on July 4. Took the 13.5 hour drive to Flagstaff and stayed overnight. The high for that day in Flagstaff was 77 degrees! When the sun went down it got chilly and decided to eat inside because of the coolness. My type of weather! Unlike back home in Arlington, TX. The next morning we made our way to a timeshare we had reserved just behind the MGM on Tropicana. There was about a 4 hour delay before we could check in so we went to Costco, Whole Foods, and then got a quick bite to eat before finally getting our double room apartment. Finally, we could go over to the Rio and get in the short line to get my seat card, since I had already pre-registered online(the best way to go because you can pick the day you want to play the main event)
Going to the Rio, there is a parking lot in the back where (convention center parking) for WSOP event players. We park in the back and slog through the melting heat to the WSOP headquarters inside. I started getting dizzy and lighthead as my blood pressure rose walking into the building. It hit me then that this was actually going to happen! I ask for the line for pre-registered players and make my way with my wife over to the desk, which only had one other person in line. I could hardly understand the lady I was talking with as she asked me for my paperwork. She then looked for my papers in a big, thick, unorganized mass of other papers looking for my papers. She couldn't find it so she escorted us over to another room adjacent to the registration desk. This room was covered by a security guard who let us through. Another lady asked if I had any more info besides this. I hadn't but told her the name of the person who sent me the message confirming my registration. She went back to the registration desk and found the paperwork in 15 seconds. So a 2 minute job took 20 minutes. But I got my seat card and was officially in "The Biggie"!
That evening my wife wanted me to take her to Battista's Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurant. She knew about it because I recommended to her son when he came out for a business trip earlier. This was one of my favorite places since 1986. I hadn't been in several years so off we went. The thing about Battista's is that the food is good, the wine is decent, and the price is right. My wife enjoyed it so much that she wanted to eat there again before the trip was through. It's not fancy, but you want leave hungry or thirsty! And got a good atmosphere.
Saturday at high noon I sat down to play my first hand in the WSOP. My wife had her camera ready to photograph my first hand, which was a 6-3 of hearts, I quickly folded to a raiser. You really have to be at the WSOP rooms to get the overall picture of the event. It's so overwhelming and intimidating hearing the clicking of the chips as you enter the main rooms, which are Brasilia and Amazon(the room I was in). Phil Helmuth and Ray Romano were just two of the many celebrity and pro types that started out on Day 1 Saturday. It was the smallest group of the 3 starting days for the main event this year. Players at my table were from Germany, Finland, Denmark, Russia, Netherlands and the U.S.A. One of the players lived only a 30 minute drive from me in Ft. Worth. This truly is an international game! It's sad to think that we invented the game and is a national pastime but can't play it online like every other country in the world can! I guess we are the new Russia!! Maybe this greedy pigs we have as congressmen will get voted out and get some folks who will not feed at the lobbyists' troughs and do the will of the people for a change. How can a few dishonest scumbags keep the majority from doing what they want? Enough for my soapbox. On with the story!
It was a tough and grinding 13 hour day as we did not get finished till almost 1 a.m.! I had pocket kings cracked during the last 30 minutes and was down to about one-fourth of my original stack. But I had survived to play Tuesday, even though I was deep in the woods. I win that hand and I'm close to chip average instead of hanging by a thread. Two noticeable commotions happened late that evening though. Phil Helmuth busted out and shortly after Ray Romano was out. Romano was on the table adjacent to mine. I talked to him for a moment earlier in the day and he seemed like a nice guy. At least I outlasted Phil! So I prepare to play shortstacked for Tuesday, 2 days away.
On Sunday, I took my trusty Pocket Book of Values(POV), or they used to call it that and tried to go to The D(used to be Fitzgeralds) to see if they would honor my Blackjack Get Out of Jail Free Coupon. The pit boss told me to take it to the D Club and come back and he would honor it. I stood in line for about 20 minutes to get another printout, signed off and authorized for use at one of the blackjack tables. The same pit boss looked at it and wanted ME to explain how it worked. I carefully explained it to him and he said he never had seen one before. I told him that "you were the one who told me to go to the D Club and come back"! He went over and talked to another floor person and they decided not to honor the coupon because they didn't know how to use it. I now have this print out as a book mark in a poker book I was reading! Thanks dude for making me wait for 20 minutes to put up with that garbage. Wanted to give that to you as a warning concerning this coupon!
We also used an Anthony Curtis coupon for the "R" Seafood and Steakhouse", located in the dead, bad vibe Riveria. Wow, that place hasn't changed over the years. This steakhouse used to be called Kristophers but they changed the name for some reason. My wife had the filet, I had the ribeye, had a bottle of $30 cabernet, a calamari appetizer that was enough to feed 4, and mac-n-cheese to share. With the coupon the total bill was right at $100.00 The food and wine somewhere would have been easily double or more the price. It has our recommendation. So use the coupon!
The next evening(Monday) I wanted to eat at Hash House-a-go-go. Been threatening to eat here for years but it was off the strip and away from downtown and never made time to go. I noticed that the Hash House in the Imperial Palace was usually crowded with long lines. I noticed that Hash House in the Plaza the night before had very little traffic. So we drove down with a friend who came to watch the WSOP and visit with us to give it a try. Sure enough, not much traffic and we got seated immediately. I split the famous chicken benedict(or called something like that, and our friend had the bleu cheese burger. The benedict was outstanding while I thought the burger was merely good. Our play is to get the breakfast items when dining at Hash House. Came back and rested up for the big Tuesday.
More to follow......
