Yardbarker: Poker

Enough with the Fairy Tales…Almost

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:42:13 -0500

“Phil Ivey is no Cinderella. He’s not a fluke, longshot or happy accident. His fairy godmother didn’t give him seven bracelets, fate didn’t make him the best poker player in the world, and it wasn’t lucky charms that got him to the final nine. On November 10, Phil Ivey sits down at the final table of the world’s greatest poker tournament. Enough with the fairy tales.” — Full Tilt commercial I love baseball and I love poker, but for as much as I wish that commercial would have held true, Phil Ivey was eliminated in seventh place at the Main Event of the World Series of Poker final table yesterday. Ivey is widely considered the greatest poker player in the world, though, and...

POKER STUD PHIL IVEY HAMMERS SPORTSBOOKS

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:09:00 -0500

Phil Ivey is good at poker. That’s bad for the people that have to sit as his table. It’s even worse for the sportsbooks. Ivey made it all the way to the final table at the World Series of Poker Main Event. Unfortunately for the sportsbooks, [...]

Phil Ivey Is Baller Status

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:52:26 -0500

Poker superstar Phil Ivey is the embodiment of recession proof. Not that I would suggest him to start a rap career, but he sure can back up the exaggerated wealth aspect. Coincidentally, his manager is Chris “Gotti” Lorenzo (Irv Gotti’s brother) but I doubt he’ll be grabbing the mic any time soon. Very low key [...]

Teddy KGB as Kenny Rogers...Or Something

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:57:00 -0500

I know in the classical sense of film and cinematography it's no epic movie. I don't care. Rounders is easily in my top 10. Just how high, I'd need some more time to determine. Teddy KGB is one of the huge reasons why. I am lucky enough to work with a team in the office that not only quotes the same movies with nearly equal aptitude, but who all honor and respect KGB at every opportunity -- and all in contextually relevant ways (which is of course the key to great quoting). If I h...

Finally see Jan Molby's mythical Lost Goal

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:38:36 -0500

That's a good goal, isn't it? Jan Molby scoring for Liverpool against Manchester United in a League Cup tie in 1985. You might wonder why exactly it deserves a blog post on a monday morning 24 years later though. Well, its because Molby's goal was thought to be lost forever, due to a TV Strike. Far from these modern times ...

Annie Duke Talks BwB Charity Shootout & Ante Up For Africa with Dan Levy

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:18:00 -0500

From On the DL Podcast:What started out as an idea to have a bunch of people from Blogs with Balls and Blog World network over the felt, turned into one of the best charity events any of us could have imagined.Annie Duke was gracious enough to let a bunch of bloggers use her name to promote a poker game we decided to run in Vegas -- and of course, turn the event into the Blogs with Balls Charity Poker Shootout where we raised $10,000 for Ante Up for Africa.Dan catches up with Annie to recap a...

Chiefs At Washington…A Postgame Examination

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:56:04 -0500

My girl and I sat on her couch eating Mexican food and watching the pregame. She had her Tony G. jersey on and eventually convinced her to change to a Larry Johnson, I just can’t get past the hard feelings I still hold for Tony. As the game progressed, I watched with interest, but I wasn’t [...]

NFLPA Chief Smith is Feeling the Heat

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:49:00 -0500

Smith on SportsAnalysis: NFLPA Chief Smith is feeling heat from the membershipThere is no question that NFLPA Director DeMaurice Smith is feeling the heat from his membership about taking a strong stand in negotiations. Today, Smith said that the discipline powers that NFL Commissioner Goodell and his office have been exercising will be up for negotiations in the next collective bargaining agreement. The issue was raised by several recent suspensions issued by Goodell.This is not a positive s...

PHIL IVEY MAKES THE FINAL TABLE AT WSOP

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:54:31 -0500

Unicorn Dealer is sick of reminding you guys to stop splashing the pot. One of the better aspects of a slower news day in sports is that you can lead off with a poker story, and do we have one: Phil Ivey (left), who many consider the greatest poker player in the world, made it to [...]

Interview With The Agent: Per Hagen

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:17:04 -0500

Per Hagen founded the player agency Poker Icons (http://www.pokericons.com/) in 2006, and just recently, Vegas Group merged with the company.

Per is a Norwegian (34) who lives in the suburbs outside of Oslo. He is married and has a daughter (8). Per has been working as an executive sales director for many years and has a Bachelors degree in Science Business - Communications. Per has always been fascinated by new and exciting industries - and although the (online) gambling industry was hardly new in 2006, he still decided that it was somewhat untouched when it came to agencies; and that made Per start up Poker Icons.

Richard Kimsey: Why did you decide to found a poker agency and how was the idea formulated?

Per Hagen: The idea of founding Poker Icons came about after discovering that the industry was still very much booming in 2006, and a lot of sites were sponsoring players, but with no real plan, capacity or focus on how to optimize the relationship between them and the player. I could also see that the players really needed someone to help them managing their careers in many ways. So I started up with a few players focusing on Europe and online talents, and now we are 40+ from all over the world. Most of them are really big winners who are young and dominating both online and live poker. We also have a selection of US players on our list, and by the end of 2009 we expect to have about 100 players in total with offices all over the world.

Richard Kimsey: What is a typical day for you, if there is one?

Per Hagen: Since we work over all the time zones in the world it's pretty much a 24/7 job. I wake up to approx 30 waiting e-mails and IM's, read through the latest poker/industry news and articles. Check in with some of the players and partners, have a brief meeting with the others in the company - before starting the nitty-gritty. No 2 days are identical, but we have a clear strategy we follow, so it's important for us to stay on track. There are always great new opportunities, but I think it's important to look for synergetic effects in everything you do, have a clear idea on where you want to go, and keep focus on how you can get there.

Richard Kimsey: Why do you feel there is a need for representation of poker players and when did this become relevant? Was this needed before the big boom when the World Series of Poker began becoming popular on ESPN?

Per Hagen: The boom obviously started when WSOP started to get TV attention and it just continues to grow. This means that the players are getting more and more exposure, not only in poker, but also from general media. In addition the sponsors have now become much more focused on actually using the players they sponsor in campaigns and such. This means that there is now much more pressure on the players, and there is a need for poker agencies like ours. We help both the sponsors and players so their partnership runs smoothly. We also handle most of the media for the players.

Richard Kimsey: How does the exposure of the sport on ESPN and other networks benefit your company?

Per Hagen: Every time the sport is aired in a positive way and environment, this benefits the industry. It's good to see that mainstream media is also starting to give it some attention.

Richard Kimsey: As far as contract negotiations, what do you try to get for your clients and how do you angle the negotiations for a poker player?

Per Hagen: For us it's important to find the right sponsor for our players, and vice versa. No players are alike, so it's really important to map out the players wishes and try to negotiate a deal with the sponsors so they both know in advance what they will be getting (besides the financial part) from each other, and establish some routines to make sure they both follow up on it.

Richard Kimsey: What kind of marketing opportunities do you find for your clients and what kind of demand is there for them?

Per Hagen: Poker Icons mainly work with high profiled players that get a lot of media attention and exposure. They write blogs, articles, books, do TV shows and figure on the biggest poker media's front covers.

Richard Kimsey: What other services does your agency perform for its clients and how do you feel those services give the clients an advantage?

Per Hagen: Poker Icons provides a full poker player agency service, we have a separate marketing team that does a lot of marketing jobs for our partners, we recruit staff for poker jobs, do poker productions and arrange poker events also.

Richard Kimsey: How do you recruit your clients and what kind of competition is there with other poker agencies?

Per Hagen: First of all the players have to be really good poker players, but it's also very important that the players are marketable, and if he/she hails from an area of the world which is targeted by the biggest sponsors - that's a big bonus. As far as competition goes, I actually think competition is good. Even though we are the biggest agency in Europe and a close number 2 in the world - we do our own thing and don't really compete so to say with the others. We are blessed with a long list of satisfied poker players, and they are really good ambassadors for us. I think that's the best marketing we could do.

Richard Kimsey: Do you feel that poker agencies are a growing industry?

Per Hagen: It's a very niche industry, so I don't think anyone could just start up. It takes time to build up a relationship with a big player base and you have to prove your worth to the sponsors before you are accepted in. I think it would be very hard for someone else to start up now. The market is pretty much taken by us and the other US focused agency.

Richard Kimsey: What would you say to someone trying to break into the industry?

Per Hagen: Good Luck - and don't forget that there is something called moral and ethics

Richard Kimsey: Do you offer any internship opportunities?

Per Hagen: Yes

Poker Pro Kills Parents To Cover Debt, Cops Say

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:33:09 -0500

From the ?it?s only surprising that you?re surprised? department, authorities say that the parents of a debt-ridden, compulsive gambler were killed by ? shocker ? their debt-ridden, compulsive gambler Ernest Scherer III was arrested in Las Vegas and charged yesterday with the murder of ...

Charity Poker Events Hosted by Harman

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:49:41 -0500

Charity Poker Events Hosted by As I was driving back from LA last weekend, a friend of mine said ?Jennifer who? after I mentioned Harman. For those out of the poker-loop, Jennifer Harman is the only woman to hold TWO WSOP bracelets, granted, I?m straying from my usual ?hot pro athletes ...

The FTT Guide To Televised Poker

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:37:36 -0500

I'll level with you, Dear Reader... I've been watching *way* too much televised poker recently. It's all part of, oddly, trying to get in better physical shape and reduce down to my college weight (I'm less than 10 pounds away, but those are, of course, the hardest). I also play enough poker, ...

Seattle Slew - Horse Racing Legend

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 21:24:14 -0500

Seattle Slew is still the only undefeated Triple Crown champion. His name is known even to many who don't follow horse racing and one of the most beloved horses in racing.On February 15, 1974 a daughter of the good stallion Poker foaled a dark brown colt. White Horse Acres Farm near Lexington ...

No LUCK in poker

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:42:34 -0500

Poker is a game of chance (wait im not finished), yes skill is required but no matter how much skill you have you can not just make that king magicly come up on the river to make your gutshot straight draw. With that said I love taking chances, there is nothing better than sitting down at ...

Black Jack Multiple Deck Master Chart Quiz (See if you know the Strategy)

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:47:36 -0500

QUIZ ON BASIC BLACKJACK STRATEGY ACCORDING TO THE ATLANTIC CITY MASTER CHART, BASED ON A MULTIPLE DECK SHOE WHERE DOUBLE DOWN PREMITTED AND SPLITTING PREMITTED WITH NO SURRENDER ALLOWED.

Poker Betting Systems

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:22:07 -0500

Here are the best poker betting systems on the market without any question. Whether it's playing Online Poker, playing contests at sports bars or hosting your own poker and casino nights, we have great instructional material. And if you do host, check our Guy Store for great poker ...

Tony Cascarino: Footballer, Pundit and Poker Junkie

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:14:53 -0500

Poker is all about competition.?? Its rush stems from the risk, reward, guile and ultimate satisfaction from conquering an opponent and, of course, the money. It sounds an awful lot like professional football, so it???s not a great surprise that footballers would peruse the top poker sites or know where to find the best poker rooms.?? [...]

The Poker Tournament Story

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:31:28 -0500

So hey. I've got a little time off from the Thanksgiving holidays. And I've been good, too, with a ton of work done at the day job. For the year, I'm up in my house game, and down only a few hundred in casinos. Clearly, it's time to try my hand at a small money hold'em tournament, especially ...

Randy's Report: Peanut Poker In The Peanut Gallery

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:28:41 -0500

It's crazy how different the world can look from one day to the next. One Sunday I hit the snooze two or three times then finally crawl out of bed and pour coffee down my throat. The next one I'm awake before the buzz checking Addict before I head to KC. Some ...

Peter Eastgate Wins The World Series Of Poker, Right To Bang Cocktail Waitresses Two At A Time

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:48:04 -0500

As friends from Denmark jumped around and shouted in the seating area, Eastgate displayed hardly a hint of a smile while posing for photos in front of cash piled on the green felt table.

"I guess I haven't really realized how big this is," said Eastgate, who erased the youngest-winner record set ...

Excuse Me, Mr. Pit Boss...

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:21:07 -0500

But the gentleman at my table has a real "Phil Helmuth" funk wafting from his person. Gambler Makes Stink About Casino Ejection Due To B.O.: "ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- A Brooklyn man who went on a shower-less 17-hour gambling spree at a New Jersey casino is demanding an apology for being ejected because of his body odor." And Fox Philly wants to know what you think of the ejection.

Man loves his "Pot-Limit" Omaha...

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:10:19 -0500

The News is Good. A man tries to gamble his stickiest of the sticky icky.

The Duality of Sweatpants and Bentleys

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:10:59 -0500

It's Hitmen and Larceny at the World Series of Poker. A former main event champion is at the forefront.

Babe-A-Day! : Shannon Elizabeth, The Hottest Poker Babe on Earth!

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:50:48 -0500

The World Series of Poker Has commenced, And for you That aren't Poker nuts, That means... It's Shannon Elizabeth Time!

10 Reasons You Wont Win The WSOP

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:15:04 -0500

With the World Series of Poker well underway at the Rio in Las Vegas, we thought we'd take this moment to share with you 10 reasons why you won't be winning this years WSOP main event.

Best Bonuses in Online Poker Rooms

Sun, 18 May 2008 15:40:20 -0500

Get the best in online poker information and updated poker promotions, WSOP info and top bonuses from the most popular poker rooms on the web at All Sports Locks.

World Series of Poker has New Format

Thu, 01 May 2008 16:39:47 -0500

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) announced today that it would be introducing a new format for the $10,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em Championship that will delay the start of the final table for three months. The annual poker tournament will run from May 30 to July 14. The Main Event will begin on July 3 and last until that final day, at which point the final table will be formed. The remaining nine players will then have three months until play resumes on November 9. They will play down to two players that day and finish play the following day.

ePassporte Ceases as Deposit Option at Online Poker Rooms

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:57:21 -0500

Ace High_Pino at PokerOwnage was at it again over the weekend with his almost first out of the gates news breaking story regarding ePassporte and follow-ups. ePassporte, a global processor of online finances, ceases being a deposit option at online poker rooms in the US. The company used to allow instant transfers of money from checking accounts, credit and debit cards but they are following in NETeller's place in "closing its doors" to the US. For more in-depth detail, please see the following links at PokerOwnage: ePassporte Shutting Down to U.S. Online Poker Players? Poker Rumor Confirmed: ePassporte Is Shutting Down To U.S. Poker Players. Michael J. Garcia: Online Poker Player Enemy #1 - Again. Poker Echecks are quickly picking up the pieces and getting the word out there about their services. Not all are utilizing PokerEchecks, but two prominent online poker rooms do, FullTiltPoker.com and PokerStars.com. The cool thing about Poker Echecks is they don't charge any type of fees to their depositors. Also, as soon as you deposit your funds they are immediately available for you to play. ePassporte however, charged both deposit and withdrawal fees and on average it took around 2 days for you to play. Sport Tidbits: The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) is the primary culprit in the closing of ePassporte and others like them. It was signed into US Law via the Safe Port Act on October 13, 2006 by President George W. Bush. The UIGEA was basically slipped into the port security act without really being read. The UIGEA states that US based financial institutions are not allowed to transfer monies from online casinos to US players. The Act itself doesn't make prevent US Players from online gambling, it just makes it more challenging due to extremely limited options to deposit and transfer funds.

Fossilman: Bugs & Cranks Interviews World Series Champion Greg Raymer

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:00:19 -0500

Shortly before the Thanksgiving holiday Raymer took time out of his hectic schedule to hold a brief conversation with Bugs & Cranks. We discussed why he thinks 2003 Main Event winner Chris Moneymaker gets a bad rap (and my boy Dan Milian is a dead-ringer), the Poker Brat, whether reads or math are more important at the table, and revealed that even he has been called a donkey