world-series-addict-1234

9/24: Batman and Robin in The Adventures of Superman

2006-09-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

Sunday night, Sept 24, 2006

1) Website
2) General
3) Radio
4) Reviews
5) Issue Notes
6) Space/Ocean Headlines
7) Quiz

1) Website

http://jophan.org/mimosa/

Mimosa is a pretty interesting fan magazine, with all its issues archived online. Check it out - you’ll enjoy it.

2) General

Bad/stupid/obscene ads:

“A car dealership in Ohio is making jokes about Muslim jihadists: COLUMBUS, Ohio - A car dealership's planned radio advertisement that declared "a jihad on the automotive market" has drawn sharp criticism for its content but will not be changed, the business said Saturday.

Several stations rejected the Dennis Mitsubishi spot, which says sales representatives wearing "burqas" — head-to-toe traditional dress for Islamic women — will sell vehicles that can "comfortably seat 12 jihadists in the back."

"Our prices are lower than the evildoers' every day. Just ask the pope!" the ad says. "Friday is fatwa Friday, with free rubber swords for the kiddies." A fatwa is a religious edict.

Dealership president Keith Dennis said the ad does not disrespect any religion or culture. He said it was "fair game" to poke "a little fun at radical extremists."

"It was our intention to craft something around some of the buzzwords of the day and give everyone a good chuckle and be a little bit of a tension reliever," he said.

The Columbus chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations decried the ad as disrespectful.”

I wouldn’t say it’s disrespectful to muslims, but it’s certainly disrespectful to all the people who have been killed or mutilated by Jihadists...and is in *incredibly* bad taste.

3) Radio
Episode 10 of Journey Into Space and last Jefferson 27 now online at BBC Radio 7.

4) Reviews
Everyone’s Hero is an animated film. “Yankee” Irvin is the son of the janitor at Yankee Stadium. He longs to be a baseball player, but he can’t bat for toffee. He visits his dad at the stadium, and sees a man dressed as a security guard. This man is actually a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, who has to steal Babe Ruth’s bat Darlin’, so that his boss (Robin Williams in an uncredited role) will allow him to pitch against the Yankees. The Cubs and the Yankees are playing in the World Series (which actually never happened in real life, by the way.)

The movie’s....okay. It never got as many laughs as Barnyard did from the little kiddies, and did seem to go on and on... Baseball fans will probably like it - although I was kind of disappointed that although Gehrig’s name is seen on a locker, we never see him (the movie’s supposed to take place in 1926). The Yankee manager will probably look familiar - he resembles Joe Torre and Torre provides the voice as well.

The ending is ridiculous...”Yankee” gets to bat in the game, and gets an inside the park homerun, which spurs the rest of the team to recover and win the Series. If it hadn’t been for that...

5) Issue Notes
Too much football today...but I did finish Batman’s Great Mystery (radio script) and a page on superhero collectibles.

6) Space/Ocean Headlines

Space
Japan launches Sun 'microscope' -- BBC News
NASA Chief in China to Discuss Space Cooperation -- New York Times
Why trust China in space? – Houston Chronicle
NASA chief in China, meets top officials - China Daily

A Sit n Go Machine

2006-08-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

For the readers who may not be familiar with the term "sit n go" I will explain. A sit n go is a small poker tournament with a set number of players. For example, a ten person sit n go is a ten person poker tournament where everyone buys-in for a set amount of money and top 3 places will make some money and the other 7 people will get nothing. Some common sit n go's contain 10, 9, or 6 players.

Over the past 3 nights I have been playing 2 person sit n go's. Myself and another person will put up a certain amount of money and winner will take all. Since poker cash games have been going so shitty lately i decided to take a brake from that and try something less stressful which are the small sit n go tournaments. I've been playing anywhere from 50 dollar to 100 dollar sit n gos. No Limit Hold em and Pot Limit Omaha are my two best tournament games. So ive played a few of these heads up sit n go's the past three nights and i've made a 1000 bucks off of them so far.

The opponents I have been playing are soooo terrible. They really have no idea what they are doing. Playings me one on one is a very bad money management decision. I rarely lose and when i lose it is mostly because of my opponent getting lucky on a hand he played poorly.

I just moved into my apartment and am dreading the thought of school coming on monday. I can get good grades with little studying so it still leaves plenty of time to play poker. The thing that might distract me from playing is my 3 other roommates because we are always going to be doing stuff together.

I'm not playing any sunday tournament this sunday because ill probaly be busy and I dont really like big multi-table tournaments anyways.

I'll prolly keep grinding out these sit n gos for awhile until i get bored of them and jump back into the cash games. Everyday i think about how next summer i will finally venture off to the World Series Of Poker and make my run for some big wins. No poker tonight though. Hopefully when i wake up tomorrow i can get a few good hours in.

Today's Birthdays

2006-08-11T13:35:00.000-07:00

Can't make the World Series of Poker?

2006-08-03T19:00:00.000-07:00

Then enter the World Championship of Strip Poker, taking place in London next month.

And apparently they're not kidding.

Note to Doyle Brunson - if you're going to enter, for the love of God, don't lose!

poker superstars: Maryland accountant Benjamin Lin thrashes all ...

2006-07-31T22:55:00.000-07:00

by Nolan Dalla filed under World Series of Poker

Las Vegas, NV – When play at the final table of the $5,000 buy-in Seven-Card Stud championship became three-handed, a few bystanders glanced at the remaining players up on the main stage at the Rio. They had the following exchange:

Spectator 1: Who’s left?

Spectator 2: I see Cyndy Violette up there.

Spectator 1: Who else?

Spectator 2: There’s Sean “Sheik” Sheikhan.

Spectator 1: What about the other guy?

Spectator 2: I don’t know. He’s just some other guy.

Benjamin Lin represents all the “other guys” who play poker. He epitomizes many thousands of mostly-unknown names and faces who plow through huge tournament fields, make final tables, yet are not given the attention and admiration they probably deserve. While television and media focus mostly on the poker superstars, many “other guys” (and ladies, too) are out there day in and day out fighting for prize money and respect – not necessarily in that order.

Three days ago, Benjamin Lin walked into the Rio Las Vegas as a 31-year-old accountant from suburban Washington-DC, who liked to play poker in his spare time. After winning the Seven-Card Stud championship at the 2006 World Series of Poker, presented by Milwaukee’s best Light, Lin is walking out of the Rio as the latest WSOP gold bracelet winner. He pulverized a highly-competitive field of 182 entrants who each put up five grand in what has become known as the “world championship” of one of poker’s most long-established games.

After 174 players had been eliminated over two days, eight players took the final table on the Rio poker stage. The eight finalists comprised a formidable lineup. Two were former WSOP gold bracelet winners – “Miami John” Cernuto with three wins, and Cyndy Violette with one victory.

This final table was exceptional for at least one reason. Perhaps no single individual has done more for poker during his lifetime than Mike ‘The Mad Genius” Caro. The former hippie used to destroy lowball draw games that were popular in California during the 1970s. Later, he started writing about poker and became one of the game’s top theorists. Caro played against (and beat) a computer, devised numerous strategies that helped thousands of poker players, and appeared on national television numerous times as the game’s top spokesman. In the 1990s, he founded “Mike Caro University,” which held classes at the Hollywood Park Casino in Los Angeles. Books, magazine articles, and seminars turned losers into winners. Yet for all of his contributions to poker science over the years, many newcomers still do not know of Caro’s profound impact on the game.

In the stud event, Caro -- who rarely plays in poker tournaments -- was making his first WSOP final table appearance in twenty years. Unfortunately, “The Mad Genius” was the first player to bust out. He lost holding (Q-10) 10-K-5-2 (X) against (K-10) A-K-3-7 (3) – which made two pair. Caro collected $21,385 for eighth place, which was his third cash at this year’s World Series.

Lupe Munquia went out next. Munquia, who owns a paint and body shop in Odessa, Texas, crashed in seventh place when his split kings were topped by two pair. Munquia had (K-4) K-2-A-10 (3) which lost to Allen Kessler’s (J-3) A-8-3-8 (6). Munquia received $29,939.

Patrick Bueno was the next player to be eliminated. The businessman from Paris, France went out on a diamond draw, which missed. Meanwhile, his opponent Benjamin Lin made a lowly pair of nines which was enough to take down the pot. Bueno was sixth – good for $38,493.

On the very next hand, Benjamin’s chip stack increased even more when he knocked out veteran poker superstar “Miami John” Cernuto. “Miami John,” who once worked as an air traffic controller before becoming a full-time professional, went off the radar screen when his buried tens failed to improve. Cernuto had (10-10) Q-3-J-2 (8) which lost to Lin’s (Q-8) Q-J-A-5 (4). Fifth place paid $76,986.

Allen Kessler has been playing on the tournament circuit for five years. The Temple University graduate has cashed many times and has made it to several final tables, but he has yet to achieve a WSOP win. Kessler’s attempt came up short again when his split tens improved to two pair, losing to Cyndy Violette’s higher-two pair. The final hand showed Kessler with (K-10) 10-3-5-4 (4) against Violette’s (J-6) 2-J-Q-K (Q). Kessler collected $76,986 for fourth place.

When play became three-handed, Cyndy Violette had to like the circumstances. Violette, who has been playing professionally for 15 years and who is one of the East Coast’s top Seven-Card Stud players, was competing for gold bracelet Number Two. This marks the third consecutive year she has made it to a WSOP final table. Violette was the early aggressor but just as it appeared she might run over the table, her two opponents began playing back at her and started taking down big pots. On her final hand, Violette was dealt several high cards and missed a flush draw, which knocked her out of the tournament. Violette’s (Q-9) A-10-7-K (X) with four hearts was cracked by Lin’s (K-K) 8-6-6-3 (X) which made two pair. Cyndy Violette received $102,648 for third place.

Sean “Sheik” Sheikhan has been described as poker’s lightening rod. He certainly electrifies any game he plays in – mostly the world’s highest-limit cash games. Sheikhan did his best to unnerve his opponent with table talk, daring his adversary to call when at a competitive disadvantage and at other times simply making it clear to everyone within listening distance that the “Sheik” was the better poker player. Unfortunately, Sheikhan ran bad in heads-up play, often starting with a solid hand which turned into a loser.

Sheikhan lost the final hand of the night when his (9-6) K-A-K-J (2) was snapped off by Lin when he caught an inside straight on seventh-street. Lin ended up with (9-9) 6-8-10-5 (7) – good for the ten-high straight. Sheikhan, who was born in Iran and now lives in Las Vegas, collected $171,080 for second place.

Benjamin Lin took his place the elite class of 396 players (out of over a 100 million worldwide) who have won a WSOP gold bracelet over the entire 37-year history of the world’s premier poker spectacle. Lin’s winnings amounted to $256,620.

Winning an event at the World Series changes everything. Perhaps the next time he makes it to a final table heads-up, the conversation will now describe Benjamin Lin as a poker champion – playing against the other guy.

Note: “X” denotes unknown card.

Overall Tournament Statistics (through end of Event #28):

Total Entries to Date: 25,432

Total Prize Money Distributed: $ 52,786,707

The World Series of Poker

2006-07-29T17:28:00.000-07:00

Mere words can't describe what I was feeling after I checked into my room at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas Sunday afternoon. I was finally here, the World Series of Poker. I went down to the poker area after I dropped off my luggage in my room, and quite frankly, I have never seen anything like it. There were hundreds of poker tables in this gigantic meeting room, and God knows how many people playing poker, milling about, and gawking at the poker royalty. Within fifteen minutes I had introduced myself and spoken with Daniel Negranu, said hello to Greg Raymer, and eyeballed almost every poker superstar I had ever seen on television. I was in nirvana, and the fact that I was going to be part of it was beyond thrilling.

After I made the final registration for the next day's tournament, my buddy and I went to the Sahara Hotel to play in a no-limit tournament there as a warm-up for the next day. The very first poker tournament I ever played in was this very same tournament at the Sahara almost two years ago, and it had a very familiar feel. I did pretty well and lasted until there were four tables left before I got knocked out. Then we went back to the Rio and joined a 4-8 limit hold em game on the WSOP floor. You see, while the actual WSOP tournament events are taking place, there are satellites and sit and go tournaments, and money games, both high and low limit, all happening at the same time. There were a couple of real arrogant big mouth buffoons at this table, and they obviously pinned me for a fish right away. I lost seventy bucks pretty quickly, but then started to catch cards, and trapped them in hands, and bluffed successfully, and check raised successfully, and I took these bozos down that night for two hundred and fifty dollars. It was sweet.

And then, the next day, yesterday to be exact, came the moment of truth, the one thousand dollar buy-in no limit event. I had a pre-determined strategy, where I was going to be ultra selective about the starting hands I was going to play, I was not going to chase, I was going to follow my gut instinct, and I was not going to let myself be put all in unless I had the nuts. The very first hand came, and I was dealt pocket 9's. You gotta be kidding me, one hand into this tournament, and I already have a tough decision to make. The big blind was 25 dollars, and the guy to my right raised it to 75. I called, several people dropped, and then a guy in late position re-raised to 375. Holy hand grenades, Batman, this is only the very first hand, and already I have a tough decision. The guy to my right folded and it was up to me. I put the raiser on either a higher pair or a hand like AK or AQ. Well, I didn't want to shove in a bunch of chips and lose right off the bat to a higher pair, or a drawing hand that may end up with a higher pair after the flop. It was just too soon for me to play a middle pair like that, at least in my mind. So, I folded it. Was that the right play? Who knows, all I know was that if the pair had been higher I would have called, but my gut instinct told me to lay it down, so I did.

Four hands later, I was dealt AQ in early position to the left of the big blind. I raised to 150. Everyone folded, except for one guy, who called. The flop came A-J-3, rainbow (meaning all different suits). I thought I was golden with a pair of Aces, and a high kicker, so I bet out 300 (mind you, everyone starts out with 1500 chips and there are no re-buys, once you're out of chips, you're done). The guy raised me 300. So I thought about it, what could he have? An ace with a higher kicker? Maybe. But I just didn't think so, I thought I had him beat and he was trying to bluff me off the pot. So I called.

The turn card was another Ace, so now I had three aces with a very high kicker. I thought again about what the other guy might have, and my gut instinct said to play it aggressively. I threw all my chips in, he called, and the son of a bitch turned over an AK. I couldn't freaking believe it, the bastard had me out-kicked. Of course, there was no help for me on the river (only a Queen could have saved me), and just like that, I was knocked out. Twenty minutes into the tournament. I felt like crying.

I ran into Chris (Jesus) Ferguson heading towards the tournament as I was heading back to my room, and I asked him if I could go over the hand with him. He agreed, and told me that there was nothing I could do, that I played it right, and I just got beat. Damn!!!

Since then, I have run the hand over and over in my mind about three hundred times, and I realize that I didn't think things through sufficiently. When the guy raised me after my bet on the flop, that should have told me that I was beaten at that point, that either he had me out-kicked, or he had AJ (which would have given him two pair), or that he had pocket jacks and had flopped a set. I should have laid the hand down at that point. The other thing to consider is that, since I was first to act after the blinds, I was out of position. Dan Harrington, in his book on no limit poker, says to be very selective from that position, and that you should not play AQ unsuited when you are first to act. Well, I learned a very expensive lesson that Harrington was right. I wish I had remembered that, and had lain the hand down.

Here was my thinking. When the second ace came out on the board, that meant three aces were accounted for (the two on the board and the one in my hand). Only a little more than half the deck had been utilized, so the chances were pretty good that the other ace was in the unused part of the deck. I thought that maybe the guy was trying to bluff me off the hand with something like KJ or QJ. I just didn't believe that he had the other ace with a better kicker. And, for once, my gut instinct failed. Part of my gut instinct said to fold, and the other part went through the analysis laid out above. The bottom line was that I was beat.

The next time I am in that spot, I won't play the hand in that position. And if I do play it, and I get raised like that, I will respect the raise and fold. Easy to say now, but very tough to do. Think about it, I had three aces with the second best kicker. How in the world do you get away from that hand? Or as Jesus Ferguson told me, "what are you gonna do?" My first experience in the World Series of Poker, and I was gone in twenty minutes. Unbelieveable.

That night, I went back to the Sahara and played in yet another no limit tournament. There were 176 players, and I survived to the final two tables and finished 17th. Not good enough to win any money, but a pretty respectable finish. The tournament was filled with players who had played in the WSOP and had been knocked out on bad beats and were licking their wounds. I felt like I was not alone. I also learned that Jennifer Tilly, the actress-turned-poker pro, who won the ladies event at the World Series last year, was the first person knocked out of the World Series event on the very first hand. I guess she played her pocket nines, or whatever marginal hand she was dealt.

So now here I am, back home in Tucson, where I didn't expect to be until Thursday night. Yes, I'm licking my wounds, thinking about the beat I took, and playing it over and over again in my mind. And at this point, the only thing I know for sure is that I'll be back next year. My friend Jimmy (who also played in the tourney and lasted about an hour longer than I did) and I have already promised each other that we will try again next year. You see, we have this dream that we are both at the final table, we've knocked everyone else out, and we're going heads-up for the bracelet. Maybe it will happen next year.

Playing the Mook at the World Series of Poker

2006-07-27T11:51:00.000-07:00

Juan Carlos Mortensen maintained a big chip lead and his tower has turn a lovely yellow.

Jen Harman keeps her energy up, compliments of Marco and Starbucks.

Late into the night, the Matador's tower had taken a hit that was now significant. Mortensen had doubled up two players in thirty minutes, and he was now a member of the field rather than the monster stack. He has the heart of a champion, although the break couldn't have come at a better time.

I wanna be a cowboy, so you can be my cowgirl. Playing in the Mook with fellow bloggers while sitting in the World Series of Poker Media Room was a bit surreal (not sure if that word is correct, but it was weird). I could head to the Bellagio and play with Linda, go out and try and qualify for an event or play a juicy cash game, or play with folks who are now buddies. I chose the latter, and it was a great time. I played great but was outlasted by Lucypher. Fought back from the depths, eventually taking out factgirl who played solid as well. Mookie99 has the write-up, so head over. If you're ever looking for a great tourney to donk around with, pick this one. Oh, and Dr. Pauly himself guest played for me (when my bot wasn't playing), knocking out the host when his/our AA flopped a boat. The ole min raise AA, although mook couldn't do anything with his short stack.

Must write much stuff. Have to head, so thanks so much for all the emails and comments and everything. Really, it keeps all of us going, especially me as a newbie.

World Series of Everything

2006-07-24T14:08:00.000-07:00

Forty years ago, there was only one World Series, and it involved two baseball teams fighting for a championship. Then, in 1970, the World Series of Poker was born. Relatively obscure for many years, this Vegas tradition blew up recently. Expanded television coverage and a "poker boom" spurred by online gambling sites made Texas Hold-Em and other games, once broadcast for about an hour a year, commonplace TV. Now, I see that ESPN has added something called the World Series of Darts to its lineup. Also, the Game Show Network broadcasts the World Series of Blackjack. And we all know about the Dave Chapelle parody about the World Series of Dice.

(I also recently saw dominoes on TV, although I don't know whether it was called the World Series of Dominoes. Only Caribbean people were allowed to compete.)

It now seems like every gambling or card game is on its way to having its own version of a World Series and its own television broadcast. Here are some ideas for additional World Series competitions that could be televised:

- The World Series of Smoking - Who can smoke the most cigarettes in the fastest amount of time? Apparently Ben knows someone who can inhale an entire cigarette in a single breath. This is something I would definitely want to watch. Smoking multiple cigarettes at once would be allowed.
- The World Series of Hot Dog Eating (note: this competition would be exactly the same as the existing Nathan's July 4 hot dog eating contest, but it would be renamed to fit the existing trend.)
- The World Series of Wiffle Ball Home Run Derby - Self explanatory
- the World Series of Drinking - How many beers can you drink in a specified amount of time without vomiting or passing out?
- The World Series of Snakehandling - How many poisonous snakes can you hold, or alternatively, how long can you hold them, without or before getting bitten? Competitions should take place in rural Pentecostal churches.

What other possible World Series competitions can you think of?

SeriesPreview: Tigers @ Cubs June 16-18

2006-07-20T20:08:00.000-07:00

The "old English D" is coming to town. The Detroit Tigers who have found new hope and life with Jim Leyland and Dave Dombrowski are gonna show off their arms to the Chicago Cubs this weekend. But before we talk about the present let's take a quick look at the past. The Tigers are an AL team that actually has some history with the Cubs that's worth talking about.

The teams played each other in the 1907 World Series. The Cubs won that series four games to none (and there was a tie). '07 marked the Cubs first World Series title. Both squads would defend their pennants in a fiercely contested 1908 season. They would meet again in the 1908 World Series. The series would again take 5 games and the Cubs would take it 4 games to 1. As all of you know, 1908 would be the Cubs last World Series title.

The Cubs had great teams in the late 20's and throughout the 30's. In 1935 the Cubs won the NL Pennants, as they did every 3 seasons back in those days. This Cub team featured an 18 year old first baseman from Chicago named Phil Cavaretta. The Cubs again met the Tigers in the 1935 World Series. That year the Tigers would prevail 4 games to 2.

With World War II coming to an end, the 1945 season saw many players return from military service. One of the players the Tigers saw come back was Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg. In the 1945 World Series Hammerin' Hank led the Tigers offense. He hit 2 homeruns and had an OPS od 1.163. Still, the Cubs had a chance. Due to the war restrictions the series went 3 games at Tiger Stadium, 4 games at Wrigley Field. The Cubs actually took 2 of 3 in Detroit. They simply had to win 2 games in Chicago to close it out. Well, you know the rest.

In 1984 many of us were dreaming that we would see the Cubs and the Tigers battle in their fifth World Series. Steve Garvey and Leon Durham made sure that wouldn't be possible. Still for just a moment it seemed like the two historic franchises were bound to face each other again.

So in 2006 the Cubs and Tigers meet in interleague play. For some reason it lacks the luster of the four meetings discussed above. Here are the matchups and all the other stuff:

Pitching matchups and media info:
Friday 1:20 ct
Glendo Rusch(2-6, 7.29) vs. Nate Robertson(6-3, 3.50)
TV-WGN
Radio- WGN Radio-720 AM; XM-180

Saturday 3:05 ct
Carlos Marmol(1-0, 0.90) vs. Justin Verlander(7-4, 3.32)
TV-CSN Chicago
Radio- WGN Radio-720-AM; XM-180

Sunday 1:20 ct
Sean Marshall(3-5, 4.82) or maybe the guy on the White Horse(0-0, 0.00) vs. Kenny Rogers(9-3, 3.25)
TV-WGN
Radio- WGN Radio-720 AM; XM-180

BTW: Z's arm feels heavy, according to Bruce Miles.

Cards news in the past month and a half

2006-07-18T12:23:00.000-07:00

June 26
Indians beat Cards 10-3
Losing pitcher - Jason Marquis (9-6)

June 27
Indians win 3-1
Losing pitcher - Anthony Reyes (1-2)

June 28
Cards win 5-4
Winning pitcher - Jason Isringhausen (2-3)
HR: Scott Rolen (10)

June 30
Cards lose 7-5 to Royals in extra innings
Losing pitcher - Braden Looper (3-1)

July 1
Cards lose again, 8-7
Losing pitcher - Jason Isringhausen (2-4)
HR: Jim Edmonds (8), Yadier Molina (3), Scott Rolen (11), Scott Spiezio (4)

July 2
Cards win 9-7
Winning pitcher - Jason Marquis (10-6)
HR: Jim Edmonds (9), Albert Pujols (27), Scott Rolen (12)
Pujols' 27th HR of the season tied him for third all-time with Ray Lankford with 228 home runs while playing for the Cards.

July 3
Cards lose 6-3 to Braves
Losing pitcher - Anthony Reyes (1-3)
HR: Albert Pujols (28)
Pujols reached 2,000 TB in his 854th game. Among active players, he ranks first with Nomar Garciaparra in second (859 games). The home run moves him into sole possession fo 3rd place all-time while playing for St. Louis with 229 home runs. He needs 26 more to tie Ken Boyer (255) for 2nd place. Stan Musial leads the team all-time with 475.

July 4
Cards win 6-3
Winning pitcher - Chris Carpenter (7-4)
SV - Jason Isringhausen (25)
HR: Juan Encarnacion (11)

July 5
Cards lose 14-4
Losing pitcher - Jeff Suppan (6-5)
HR: Hector Luna (4), Scott Rolen (13)

July 6
Cards lose to Houston 4-2
Losing pitcher - Sidney Ponson (4-4)
HR: Jim Edmonds (10)
This home run ties Edmonds with Mark McGwire with 220 (4th all-time) while playing for St. Louis.

July 7
Cards win 8-2
Winning pitcher - Jason Marquis (11-6)
SV - Jason Isringhausen (26)
HR: John Rodriguez (1)

July 8
Cards win 7-6 in extra
Winning pitcher - Jason Isringhausen (3-4)
HR: Albert Pujols (29), Scott Spiezio (5)

July 9
Cards win 7-5 in extra to conclude the first half of the 2006 season
Winning pitcher - Braden Looper (4-1)
SV - Josh Hancock (1)
HR: Scott Rolen (14)

The Cardinals go into the break with a 48-39 record.

Milestone watch:
Albert Pujols needs 25 home runs to tie Ken Boyer for 2nd on the Cardinals all-time home runs list with 255.
Jeff Suppan needs 7 strikeouts for 1,000 career strikeouts.
Jason Isringhausen needs 8 saves for 250 career saves.

Mulder update
Update on the SpikesAs mentioned yesterday, the Spikes are expecting to get some help in their pitching staff as Rice's right-handed pitcher Eddie Degerman is slated to join the staff.

Degerman was drafted by St. Louis Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty in the fourth round (146th overall) this past June.

He went 13-2 with a dominating 2.00 ERA in 17 starts for the Owls, and led them to the College World Series. Degerman, who is a power pitcher, recorded a 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walks ratio and held opponents to a .170 average.Chris Perez has signed with the Cards.

History repeats itself in the Cards rotation.

St. Louis native Ryan Howard won last night's Home Run Derby.

Targeting the Targets

2006-07-17T12:17:00.000-07:00

It's clear the NY Times still has not learned its lesson. Another editorial today takes a bead on another facet of the federal government, this time the Department of Homeland Security.

The Department of Homeland Security never really makes us feel all that safe.

A government list of potential terrorist targets that came to light recently is only comforting if the roundup is intended, by its very absurdity, to confound the enemy into total inaction. Among other theoretically threatened places included in the federal antiterrorism database are a provincial petting zoo, an Amish popcorn factory and such backwater assets as a tackle shop, a check casher, a doughnut maker, a flea market and, in the case of one community, a “Beach at End of a Street.”

One’s first instinct is to guffaw at this odd collection of assets whose “criticality,’’ in the words of the department’s own inspector general, “is not readily apparent.”

But it is far from laughable when one realizes that the database is used by the agency as a factor in divvying the hundreds of millions in grants to localities — including the program that dealt 40 percent cuts to two proven targets, the national capital and New York City. The agency promises clearer guidelines soon so that the states themselves can produce a more credible list.

I suspect that part of the problem is that there were some deals made between influential senators and house members and the Department's money givers. How else can you explain why an Indiana doughnut maker is considered more of a target than any number of sites in New York City. I suspect another part of the problem is that no rational guidelines were provided to the states with respect to likely targets. I mean, how else would mortuaries make it onto the list?

As to the latter, it doesn't take a genius to figure out what would make tempting targets to those who wish to harm and humiliate this nation. It seems to me that there are several classes which should be addressed. First would be those targets with symbolic importance: various buildings in Washington, DC (e.g., the Capitol and White House), the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq buildings, the Sears Tower in Chicago and the TransAmerica building in San Francisco.

The next class would be those sites where large crowds of people gather, either for a one time visit (the Super Bowl and World Series), or on a regular basis (major amusement parks, major airports, rail and bus stations, subway stations and the subways themselves, key bridges).

Another obvious class would be comprised of those places key to our national infrastructure: conventional and nuclear powerplants, oil terminals and refineries, chemical factories.

My list is hardly exhaustive (and readers are invited to add to it in the comments section) but I only spent the last ten minutes considering this. How difficult would it be for someone at the Department to compile a more complete list, with guidelines? Of course, that would assume that the Department really cares about Homeland Security when it doles out federal funds, which is certainly not a safe assumption with the current regime.

The hottest Poker News

2006-07-11T23:08:00.000-07:00

Joe Hachem is in the money again

Australian poker king Joe Hachem is in the money again after winning $345,000 in a Las Vegas tournament. The former Melbourne chiropractor, who won $10 million playing poker almost a year ago, yesterday out-lasted 822 players to finish runner-up in the World Series of Poker event.

After his massive windfall, Hachem said he was just a little disappointed he didn't win the tournament and the $649,000 first prize. Hachem looked set to beat Californian Russ "Dutch" Boyd in the final but the turn of the final card, a five of diamonds, gave the American two pair and the tournament.

Poker Room

Latest 2006 WSOP Results - Hachem Doing Well Again

Joseph Hachem, who won the 2005 World Series of Poker main event, is busy proving that result was no fluke. At the 2006 WSOP he has just made the final table of Event #5, the $2,500 NL Hold'em Short-Handed 6/Table where he will take on "Dutch" Boyd after Daniel Negreanu busted out in 8th spot.

Hachem is a genuine poker talent, and it would be a wonderful achievement if he were to win a second bracelet at the 2006 World Series of Poker. However, he faces an uphill task here. Boyd, who was the brash "leader" of The Crew - a group of young guns who stormed the poker world in 2004, has a substantial chip lead, which he has held since eliminating Negreanu. But, if anyone can beat him from this position it would be Hachem, who proved how adept he is at short-stack tournament poker play at last year's Main Event.

Poker Affiliate Program

Major charity donation from WSOP Champ

Days after winning the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions against the top players in the business, Mike Sexton has proved to be a champ with a heart, providing irrefutable evidence that he deserves his affectionate nickname "The Ambassador of Poker". Sexton announced that he is to donate half of his Tournament of Champions prize purse - that's a stunning $500 000 - to five charities.

Poker Affiliate Marketing

Sexton's generous donation sets an example in his initiative to persuade poker pros and businesses to donate large amounts to charity because of the benefits that it could bring to both the poker community and the world. In previous interviews, he has noted: "The most ardent adversaries of poker could not be against poker if we were to start donating huge bucks to worthwhile charities.

Poker Room online

2006-04-02T20:56:00.000-07:00

world-series-addict-1234 new articles for Sunday, April 02, 2006Completely Unfounded Baseball Predictions
Last year, after the White Sox won the World Series, thereby making two of the three most notable loser franchises winners in the past two years, and I proclaimed the Cubs to be this year's winners, joining both Sox. ...

More Predictions
Sox World Series Sox-related J Stark No playoff NYY over StL Cy: Beckett P Gammons No playoff NYY over StL Cy: Beckett J Crasnick No playoff A's over Atl B Olney No playoff A's over SF T Kurkjian Wild card NYY over StL ...

ESPN Pundits Predict 2006 Season Outcome
Seriously -- the Dodgers beat the Twins in the World Series? Either Neyer's trying to be funny -- in which case, stick to your day job, Rob -- or his prediction partner is Jack Daniels. Otherwise, Jason Stark, Jerry Crasnick, Rob Neyer, ...

One on One: 2006 Predictions
And as is only appropriate, we close today with our picks for the World Series. Sure, sure, neither of us had even considered the White Sox last year, but we're both sure we nailed it this year. ...

Happy Opening Day!
In a Life magazine preview of the 1960 World Series, in which he got a hit in every game of Pittsburgh's stunning upset of the New York Yankees, he was criticized for what was called his "Latin American variety of showboating" ...

Reviews & Previews: Books & the Draft
Author Charles Euchner uses the 2001 World Series as a backdrop to weave in-depth stories ... What initially piqued my interest in the book was the fact that this World Series was the beginning of the end of the Evil Empire's tyranny, ...

2006 Baseball Predictions
World Series: White Sox over Astros, Cardinals over Yankees. AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez NL MVP: Albert Pujols ... World Series: A's over Cardinals. AL MVP: David Ortiz NL MVP: Albert Pujols. AL Cy Young: Joe Blanton NL Cy Young: Jake Peavy ...

Baseball is Back and All is Good in the World
A team wins the World Series, their first in 88 years, and the main story in the following spring is whether they can win it all again. Similarly, you could prove a major theorem, answering an 88 year-old question, and a few months ...

giants seek first world series title since 1989
In the 1989 World Series, Jose Canseco hit .357 with a homer, 4 walks, 3 RBI, and 5 runs scored. Mark McGwire chipped in with a .294 average. Clearly, the A's victory in that Series should be expunged from the record books. ...

Executive Moves, Venture Funding and Mergers and Acquisitions - 2 ...
Chorus Systems Triangle Park, NC; a developer of IT support software that automatically detects, diagnoses, and fixes enterprise computing problems; $9 million; Series B; Core Capital Partners, Inflection Point Ventures and Anthem ...

Getting Ready for the World Series of Poker!
The series starts on June 25th and the final event wont wrap up until mid-August. ... 28-Jul-06 No-Limit Texas Hold'em World Championship Event $10000.00 ... Thanks for reading, see you at the World Series of Poker! Wild Bill.

poker strategy: Rick Throws down the gauntlet
... world series of poker world series of poker world series of poker http://www.mine-poker.com/world-series-of-poker.html http://www.mine-poker.com/world-series-of-poker.html slack neurologists family full tilt poker full tilt poker ...

poker hand: Senator Kennedy smacks Rick
... math galaxies,embellished world series of poker world series of poker world series of poker http://www.mine-poker.com/world-series-of-poker.html http://www.mine-poker.com/world-series-of-poker.html adhesions Mecca alerts maiming ...

Aussies punt rugby World Series
The ARU has come up with a way of making Tests between World Cups matter. They believe rugby needs a “World Series” in which the results of Tests ... Tests between World Cups are often regarded as preparation for the next [. ...

2006 MLB Predictions
A World Champ with the same cast won't fall off as far as he has them falling. AL WEST: I need Texas to suck. Holy crap! We have the same World Series result!!!! Clearly, we are BRILLIANT! TEAMS WE EXACTLY AGREE ON: ...

Opening Day Pessimism
World Series = Cardinals beat the Angels Links: Mike Wallace on the Tiger Woods story … Wallace, however, admitted that the two segments devoted to Tiger Woods on "60 Minutes" the previous day was a tank job, with Woods and Co. ...

“Am I The Only One?” By Alan Granoff
50 or so years later, I feel the same way, maybe even worse, since those Stinkees beat my Metsies in the 2000 World Series. However, this is a real baseball website, and I’m sure you don’t want me to ramble on more than I ususally do. ...

Gillick Setting Stage for Trading Abreu
Conterras was exceptional in the 2nd half of the season and in the post season, while Dye was the World Series MVP who is a right-handed hitting outfielder. Both guys are "money" when it counts and have had success in the post season ...

Barry Bonds Had a Himalyan Range of Bacne
I might admit that I kind of blanked-out on the blanking-out of the Houston Astros in the World Series about five and a half months ago (does that performance technically count as an "appearance"?) As Jeff Bagwell's traitorous shoulder ...

A Day of Thunderbolts
It is apropos that today I am working through Tom Adelman's book on the summer of 1975 and the "greatest World Series ever played." I sat on my front porch reading and watching the storms form and ignite, and I was startled by the ...

2006-02-08T05:57:00.000-08:00

The World Series is the championship series of Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada, the culmination of the sport's postseason each October.