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A Main Event Rookie Lives the Dream - A trip report A Main Event Rookie Lives the Dream - A trip report

09-01-2010 , 08:27 AM
The im the guy paragraph was great ....teared me up....Secret 3 words bud

U R BOSS!!!!
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09-01-2010 , 08:30 AM
well played; well written

congrats man!
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09-01-2010 , 08:30 AM
Again, great TR and well done. I really enjoyed it. Great job writing, playing, and appreciating your life.

I was at WSOP for the first time this to support a friend playing in one of the 1K events and his wife amazed at the noise of the chips shuffling. The guys hadn't really noticed it as we were desensitized from plenty of live play.

Question time? (I certainly understand if you don't want to go into details or just not answer some of these at all...)

Does your wife understand that there's life money and then there's poker bank roll and all of your winnings go into the poker bank roll? Seriously, it sounds like you have set some aside for some live tournies?

Do your friends, family, students think you got incredibly lucky gambling, that you're a poker super star, or something in between? Do any particular group understand the combination of skill & luck more than others?

Do all your buddies want to back you again next year?

How did your wife entertain herself through all of those long days?

How many times were you all-in during the tournament? How many times were you at risk (i.e. they didn't fold)?

Do you have a favorite moment from the trip? From the tournament itself?
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09-01-2010 , 08:47 AM
Awesome report..I'm so happy you did well..I wouldn't want to be at a poker table with you....
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09-01-2010 , 09:16 AM
Fantastic report. As stated earlier, can't wait for "A Main Event Veteran Lives the Dream - A trip report" in 2011
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09-01-2010 , 10:10 AM
Congratulations! I´m happy that I follow this thread just from the day 1.
Thanks a lot for your time!
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09-01-2010 , 10:59 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by p566

How many times were you all-in during the tournament? How many times were you at risk (i.e. they didn't fold)?

Do you have a favorite moment from the trip? From the tournament itself?
+1
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09-01-2010 , 11:14 AM
great tr... appreciate it op...
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09-01-2010 , 11:41 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by leo doc
Incidentally, if you wanna do that joint TR, I'm still game. I'm thinkin' that the wives could have a contest that the boys here on 2p2 might appreciate.
Not nearly as much as the two of you would, I suspect.

In final analysis, would you recommend staying in warrior mode during breaks as opposed to relaxing? I know in the prelim I played, an older gentleman who was doing extraordinarily well went back to his room to nap during a long break that was subsequently turned into a shorter one, costing him a great deal of momentum and rendering his top 3 chipstack into a 9th place finish.
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09-01-2010 , 12:12 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by GaltsEngine
Not nearly as much as the two of you would, I suspect.
I was thinkin' something along the lines of a huhu match.
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09-01-2010 , 12:32 PM
Bravo, great trip report.
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09-01-2010 , 12:40 PM
One big regret, we didn't take very many pictures. The ones we did take were not very good (except landscapes at Red Rock Canyon). My wife is very shy and doesn't want me to post any of her, so I will respect that.

Here is one she took as Hellmuth walked in past her. She had no idea who he was but figured she should snap a pic.



Here is one of me taken by a professional on day 5 (I think). TV cameras were lurking so I turned my hat backwards! What a toolbag.



And here is one from the night I got home with the Happy Gilmore oversized novelty check that my sister had made. It looks perfect up close.



Sorry there aren't more, I'll have to see if there are more good ones on the camera still.

I'll start on the questions soon. There are some good ones and I'll try to do a good job answering them.

Sorry the pics are so big. I don't know how to make them smaller.
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09-01-2010 , 01:06 PM
enjoyable read and picture sizes are just fine.
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09-01-2010 , 01:28 PM
Question: What would you say are your top 5 maxims for coaching?


Happy Gilmore size check is great!
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09-01-2010 , 01:38 PM
SO SICK! You seem like an awesome guy, if you're ever in the Reno/Tahoe area drinks on me!
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09-01-2010 , 01:59 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1-secret-1
Sorry the pics are so big. I don't know how to make them smaller.
That's "insider humor" at its finest. Perfect... just perfect.

Now, I'll repeat my question.

Quote:
Originally Posted by leo doc
Which was more difficult? Playing well in the ME or writing a fabulous TR for this audience.
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09-01-2010 , 02:44 PM
Secret,

5 Stars, sir, 5 stars. This is a Hall of Fame TR imho! You're clearly in great company, with the leo doc stamp of approval.
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09-01-2010 , 03:06 PM
You better take down the pic of the huge check before the WSOP sues you for using their logo. They want that 57k back.
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09-01-2010 , 04:26 PM
You are Jeremy Irons IRL?



[QUOTE=1-secret-1;21280204]
Here is one of me taken by a professional on day 5 (I think). TV cameras were lurking so I turned my hat backwards! What a toolbag.

A Main Event Rookie Lives the Dream - A trip report Quote
09-01-2010 , 07:09 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nate.
1-secret-1--

Thanks very much for writing this trip report. It's fantastic: one of the best trip reports on 2+2 in my six years here.

On day 2a, our first tables were adjacent. I remember the obnoxious guy and the noise and the TV cameras on Tiffany Michelle. Some of the guys at your table (or was it mine?) were talking about how there was one particular spot on the rail where several different good-looking women had stood; perhaps one of the women was your wife. (Do you remember that? It was a pretty big topic of conversation. I was the quiet guy in the fisherman's hat in the 2-seat at the table in between your table and the rail. There's absolutely no reason you'd remember me except for a very minor flurry of excitement as I busted two people on the last hand before a break.)

The WSOP ME is an incredible event largely because there are so many people there with stories as interesting as yours. Being able to read this report and know something about the guy at the next table enriches my memories of the event--really, thanks.

All my best,

--Nate

My wife was along the rail for part of the day. I'm not sure if she was part of the group.

So you busted two people on day 2?! Nice. I hope that propelled you on to a deep run.

Thank you for the kudos.
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09-01-2010 , 07:10 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by [QUOTE
leo doc;21271731

Incidentally, if you wanna do that joint TR, I'm still game. I'm thinkin' that the wives could have a contest that the boys here on 2p2 might appreciate.
[/QUOTE]

Eventually we need to make this happen.

Last edited by 1-secret-1; 09-01-2010 at 07:19 PM.
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09-01-2010 , 07:53 PM
awesome, well done!!!
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09-01-2010 , 09:15 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by leo doc
Which was more difficult? Playing well in the ME or writing a fabulous TR for this audience.
It’s hard to compare the two. I didn’t have $10K riding on this report, but the pressure to produce was certainly felt. If I had to chose….I’d say ME was tougher.


Quote:
Originally Posted by p566
Does your wife understand that there's life money and then there's poker bank roll and all of your winnings go into the poker bank roll? Seriously, it sounds like you have set some aside for some live tournies?
I have set aside money for taxes, for a family vacation, and then a small “live tourney” bankroll. I have always kept my poker economy separate from my real economy. I have to explain sometimes to my wife why I keep so much money online (to handle downswings with little angst).

Quote:
Originally Posted by p566
Do your friends, family, students think you got incredibly lucky gambling, that you're a poker super star, or something in between? Do any particular group understand the combination of skill & luck more than others?
My family and friends know the amount of work I have put into poker so they think I’m ready to take on Phil Ivey. I know I am above average but far from being an expert. I’m sure some of the casual acquaintances think I’m a luck gambler.

Quote:
Originally Posted by p566
Do all your buddies want to back you again next year?
Yes, but my wife said, “No more selling off anything!”

Quote:
Originally Posted by p566
How did your wife entertain herself through all of those long days?
I’ll let her answer this one.
I originally had the idea that I would spend some quality me time (no not like that) – spa, pool, bar, but the further Craig went in tourney, I couldn’t leave. I was kept busy by sending emails and updating facebook with stats & photos – plus hobbling to the bar for the $2 Milwaukee’s Best and back to the rail kept me pretty busy. I had some interesting conversations with other spectators (one of whom was the sister of Matt Jarvis who came down from Canada to surprise him-little did I know he would make it to the final table- I would have gotten her number!) BTW, thanks for all the nice stuff you guys have been saying about me. It was a great time and I look forward to next year – minus the in-laws and busted ankle.
- Lori


Quote:
Originally Posted by p566
How many times were you all-in during the tournament? How many times were you at risk (i.e. they didn't fold)?
Three including my bust out hand. On day 2 vs the “Dirty Bird” and day 4 vs “angry looking internet guy” (AK vs KK)

Quote:
Originally Posted by p566
Do you have a favorite moment from the trip? From the tournament itself?
From the trip – The night out celebrating.

From the tournament - I think the hand where I called a bluff with 88 on a AJ high board bc I gave me a ton of confidence that I was thinking the game well. And of course the moment the bubble burst was incredible.


Quote:
Originally Posted by All-inMcLovin
Question: What would you say are your top 5 maxims for coaching?
In no particular order:
When it gets hard we work harder.
Never back down from a challenge.
Tired doesn’t exist
It’s hard for the other team to score when you have the ball.
Pain isn’t real until you get others to believe in it.


Quote:
Originally Posted by mikekelley
SO SICK! You seem like an awesome guy, if you're ever in the Reno/Tahoe area drinks on me!
Thanks. Deal.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Pikaberdort
wut would u have done if u really did have aces on that 108 hand?
I definitely would have fold AA. Everything said he could beat Aces. In a cash game I shove and get ready to re-buy, but in a tournament at the stage we were at, it’s a fold unless I had a real good read that he could meta-game that deep.

Here is what 2+2 said re: that hand

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGunslinger
This part confuses me. IIRC, ESPN can choose any WHOLE table to be the feature table. If they want the Grinder on the feature table, everyone else assigned to that table goes with it. They can't disrupt the integrity of the tournament by only taking players that might be good for TV, and place you on a different table than your original draw for the day. Am I wrong on this?
I am not sure why the change occurred. I looked up the table draw first thing that morning online, but they gave no reason why they made the change. Originally the seat I ended up taking was listed as “empty.” Maybe they realized there were enough empty seat and my table was going to break first anyway. It still remains one of my “what if” moments


Quote:
Originally Posted by dozer
I'd like to know more about the physical observations you've seen.
I saw a bunch of shaky hands on day one. I think mostly they meant excitement over a big hand. I saw people looking uncomfortable in general. It’d hard to say, some of the classic tells were there - seeing the flop then looking at your stack etc. Often people would try to get you to not raise by acting like there were already reaching for chips out of turn – this means you should raise – most the time they fold
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09-01-2010 , 09:54 PM
awesome, loved it, amazing read, gl in everything
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09-01-2010 , 10:28 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by BoDiddleyMacau
this is the kind of story about poker that needs to be told. There's no better advertisment for poker or for Harrahs/WSOP, than a guy from middle America embracing his hobby, yet keeping the important things like family and friends at the top of the list.

I really think this TR could be published in a mainstream, non-poker magazine. I would suggest OP try to submit it to the likes of Sports Illustrated and ESPN the mag (with a few edits of course). It would make a great article during the run-up to the November 9. Surely someone around 2+2 has some connections in mainstream media?
THIS. You've written about taking leaps and chances this entire time, take one more and send this story to a few online/in print poker mags, ESPN etc. This 'chance' is a freeroll and it could be pretty awesome if it gets picked up.

You might want to edit that part about the cardplayer mag CEO being a tiltmonkey out before you send it in to THAT publication though...
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