Please Help Mitchell Brown

Help Mitchell Brown

My G10 arrived... just in time for The Open

Heh. If only that was a true statement. I would love to play in The Open... but I know it will never happen. Unless I quit my job today, practice for about 5 years and then win the US Amateur match play event... then I would automatically get the invite.

I caved in the face of my old driver (Ping G2) and when I brought it to the head pro at my course he said he would take care of it. I pushed him each week for about a month. They were taking their sweet ass time with it since it was a warranty replacement. It was on the slow boat snail mail train and I couldn't exactly complain about it since when it arrived I would be one brand new Ping G10 driver richer.

It arrived yesterday and I am heading straight to the range after work... surprised?

What a deal though. I pound the shit out of this thing for 4 years and finally cave in the face. I send it back and they send me a brand new one - two generations newer!

The Open starts tonight at 11pm PST. I'll be setting the PVR and watching it all weekend then heading to the course in the afternoon.

Hey guess who's playing live poker with F.I.G. (fuel is gay) this Friday? Moi. It's a $60 ($10 bounty) tournament. Should be fun filled with rusty moves and fishy suckouts. It's the FCPC motto...

Have a good weekend, and GOOOOOOO TIGER and GOOOOOOO PHIL (Ivey).

Golf mode... Life mode...

Playing tons of golf... probably too much if that is even possible in my world...

It rained today... it was long overdue...

I've made some decisions recently... most will remain unwritten...

People first, employees second... it seems so obvious to me...

I hit a 340 yard drive last week... it was downhill and I only made par...

I read and cheer about other people playing poker in the WSOP ME... because I am in life mode...

Ball game tomorrow... Golf the day after that...

Michael Jackson has left the building...

...and so has my mustache.

I did way too many of those Jager Bomb thingys and drank too many Buds way too early in the morning on the golf courses. 72 holes in 2 days takes it's toll.

First round - played well as I didn't crack my first beer until the 6th hole. I shot 74 going 2 under on the back as my inital buzz was in full effect.

Second round - shot 86. super drunk. I even tried (once again) to shot gun a beer and was (once again) unsuccessful. Dry heave on the 33rd hole of the day. LOL

Did I ever tell you that I can't burp?

Woke up on Saturday morning at 6am. The lack of sleep was comparable to a Vegas Trip. 12 homies with mustaches ripped it up for the cup for 72 holes. It was awesome.

Third round - 7:10 was the first time. shot 74 again. We were on the patio drinking and figuring out the final scramble teams by noon and were back on the course at 2:20.

Fourth round - I was teamed with the new guy. The rookie. The same rookie that took $20 off of me in three flips of the coin. Somewhere about the fourth hole I realized how much better I can play if I don't drink many (if not any) beers during a round. Noted.

One poker game broke out late night. It was a $5 game (yes, $5 American) and I didn't show up in time so they didn't let me buy in. There must have been 200 BB's each to start the thing. I laughed. I played one hand for one guy taking a pee break and flopped a straight. Good times.

I flipped coins with one guy (my partner for the tournament 4th round) and he beat me 3 times straight. It was cheaper than the casino I skipped out on when I found out they didn't have a poker room. Probably a good thing.

I returned through the border Sunday morning with $ix dollars American. What a trip.

MJ is dead and will be compared to Elvis for many decades in so many ways. I hear he has over 100 songs recorded for release. I just watched that video that Bayne posted. Memories.

Watch out for Joe Jackson...

Congrats to Hoy for winning 51K. That is pretty cool considering it was a 2 day $560 buyin.

Chopper!

The Mustache Cup

I have a beard.

It will become a mustache (moustache) is 48 hours.

We are playing 72 holes in in 2 days.

This is the reason I am not making a trip to Vegas (same weekend, sorta).

We created a new blog to chronicle such events (past and present).

Figure out which pic is me and win a prize.

Hopefully a blogger or two cashes in another WSOP event... GOOD LUCK.

We should be hitting up a local casino in Bellingham... live poker baby!!

Go Stoner!!

Stoner has just started Day 3 and has already made his presence felt. How can one of the chip leaders, after making it through 2 tough days and getting down to the final three tables make such a bone head move?

From Pokernews:


Glines Doubles Back
The play is excruciatingly slow to start off the day, with very few big pots being played. We did have one big battle just fought at Table 151 though. Joe Bartholdi raised it up from the cutoff seat, and Shawn Glines three-bet from the small blind. Bartholdi shoved, and Glines called all in for 555,000 total.

Showdown
Bartholdi: two black eights!! LOL are you kidding me? 4B shove?
Glines: AKo
The board ran Ad 3d 10c Ah 2d

giving Glines the winning trips and doubling him up over 1.1 million.

Go Stoner go!!!!

LJ!!!

19.2K!!! I know she is frustrated in not making the final table, but she played her way, and didn't fold to the final table like some other loser might.

What a run!! Day 2 went super late and I basically woke up and checked on whether she was still alive... and of course she was!! She's a tournament player damn it!!! I was so nervous and basically followed all of day 3 until my ball game started. Then I got the text updates from Fuel via Lucko. I can't imagine how he was feeling!! Nervous is probably an understatement. Now he's heading out to meet up with her and is playing in an event this weekend. Take it down dude!! Final table that bitch and then make it happen!

US Open weekend, so I'll be watching golf. I probably won't watch as much as I did the Masters, but I'll be watching the leaderboard via my itouch whenever I get the chance. I hope it doesn't rain here, I want to play some golf!

I shot even par yesterday, so that was nice to get back at it. I chipped in for eagle on the 9th and then had the chance for my second eagle on the 18th but lipped out the putt and lost our match 1 down. My scratch league team sucks! We are 1-4 this season and are getting crushed almost every match. Losing at home is the worst.

Hopefully the US Open doesn't get rained out. If the elements give them trouble then Tiger's chance will be even greater for a repeat.

Go Tiger!

Quickie Questions

Do you link up your blog on your facebook account?

Do you keep them seperate?

For work purposes or other?

What about twitter/facebook/blog? /other?

Game 7 Game Day

Further to yesterday's post I stumbled upon a great informative read for you hockey lovers.

Check it out. Pay special attention the to the #1 ranked of all time. I went downtown after game 7 and joined in on the riots. It was nuts! I saw a molotov coctail blow up only 30 yards from me when it was tossed against the side of a bank. My buddy was beside the guy who was shot with a rubber bullet in the head. Ahhh memories of mayhem. I wonder if the losing city will riot tonight?

You want to talk bad beats? I have a baseball game tonight at 6:30... right in the MIDDLE of game 7. Thankfully I have the PVR set, but I know I won't be able to help myself and will find out the results via handheld devices.

I plan on heading straight to the sports bar from work to watch the first period, have a brewski and some grub. Then it's off to play some buzzed baseball.

Maybe the game will go to triple OT as I predicted earlier and I will be able to catch all of the on-the-endge-of-my-seat action after our game is over. Please let it be a quick ball game. One time.

Game 7 - Season two comes to an end

There is nothing like it in sports. I dare you to compare any other playoff format that demands more respect. Think about it. You have to win 16 games in the playoffs in order be named the world's best team. In the NFL... you have to win 4, ok maybe even just 3 if you are good enough.

Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals takes place tomorrow night. The Penguins are in tough as a team has not won a game 7 as a visitor since something like 1971. Nuts. Says something about playing well during the regular season to earn that President's Trophy. It takes 82 games during season one to ensure you have home ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Unlike the MLB where they leave that to be decided by an All Star game...

I believe I actually picked Pittsburg to win the Stanley Cup so I am sticking with it... even though they will be in very tough. This should be a low scoring game and I'm actually hoping for something along the lines of triple overtime please.

That would be an unbelievable way to end a very exciting season two now wouldn't it?

I predict Malkin scores the game winner for Pittsburgh in overtime or Detroit kicks the crap out of them and confirms that they truly are a dynasty and this thing is over by the second period.

It will come down to goaltending. If Fleury can stand on his head and Osgood can be his average self we will have a battle that will last until the final shot rings off the back of the net and the lamp is lite one last time. The Cup will be hoisted in approximately 32 hours and I can't wait to see how it turns out.

A message for Alcanthang

YOU DA MAN!!!!

That is all.

5 more days off

So what do you do when you've just had five days off? Well, in my world you work two days... and then take 5 more off!!

I've tried to put down how the tournament went on Monday and Tuesday... and if you haven't guessed by now... I'm still pretty furious at myself for letting it slip away. So I doubt I will get to it anytime soon, but it has brought up some great golf memories of my past and let's just say it's not the first time I've choked and lost. The bottom line is - I will be a better player because of it. That is all I can keep telling myself... that in order to succeed, I must fail.

Just as in poker, golf is a game that takes time to learn. It takes time to know what to do in certain situations during the round. When to push for it, and when to hang back and wait for your moment to attack. I'll always be learning both, no doubt.

Anyway, I'll keep this short as I still need to get a lot done before I leave for another 5 day holiday in the hot sun of the Okanagan. Chick's ball tournament FTW! I can't really complain about going to a hotel for 4 nights with a girls ball team of 15, drinking as many beers as I can whilst sitting by the pool. Waking up the next day and playing golf and then coming back for another meating on the BBQ (yes, meating, not meeting... get it?). We even have a putting green at our hotel... can it get any better? Ok topless baseball might be better...

Good luck to all those TOC seat holders and I hope to read about a couple of winners that I actually know. People who supported and played in the TOC all season long. Someone like Al would be nice (we all want him to go don't we?), or Chad so he could take the whole mother down since I believe he has the best chance to do so. Or HeffMike, Queeny, LJ or someone else from that crew (you know who you are). Anyone but Fuel... oh no wait... he didn't get a ticket either! All I know is that I want to cheer for the next Iggy... so who's it gonna be?

Whoever it is, they will deserve it because there is some tough competition to get through... and then there are the other people who have TOC seats and still have no idea how they got them. One more lucky tournament for two people and their life could potentially change forever!

Take it down!

Finished bogey bogey to lose by one... I hate losing. I need to get tournament tough, and I'm not talking about poker anymore. All about golf now.

Golf only. Live Poker for fun only.


Get serious.

Writing for the sake of writing

I just checked my stats and I gotta say, for the 10 days off of not posting anything... a lot of you still come here to check on me... and I appreciate it. It's either that or they use this space as a port hole to other blogs. I use to do the same until I found bloglines.

The WSOP has started in case you were wondering. To tell you the truth I haven't had that much of a desire to check on things just yet. I know I know, its relatively early and I think the $40K NL tourney is past day 1. Go Moneymaker Go. Make us proud.

I seriously only check Dr. Pauly and Wicked Chops because its all I have time for and I know I will get quality stuff, especially at Pauly's blogs. I've said this before and I'l say it again - Dr. Pauly lays down the best stuff day in and day out, hands down. If you are reading this and think I should add you to my short list... let me know and I will check it out. Often I am soooo out of the loop as to what is going on in the poker world that I just revert back to old faithful. The Doc, not to be confused with The Doc.

I've played two of the nicest courses in Canada this week. Top notch first class all the way. The first one was at Capilano and the second was yesterday at Shaughnessy. Links in previous posts, go and check them out. My game has been less than stellar. In fact I am yet to shoot under par this year! I am not even close either, but still kickin' it around in the mid 70's. I'll make 3-4 birdies and then have a few really bad holes too where I either three putt or knock it O.B. (out of bounds) or in the water and manage to make the all mighty double bogey. It sucks. I feel like I am close, but I really need to just practice more. Short game is where I will save me some strokes and some cash.

I have a two day tournament starting on Monday. Should be a good one. I've finished second in it before so I really would like to take it down. I think this is the last year before they rip the course apart... time to get it done.

Ok gotta go. Later.

Mental Notes and Predictions

In no particular order:

• Complete your own due diligence before hitting the post button
• Think before you act, don't just act
• The Detroit Red Wings might not lose another another game in the playoffs this year
• It's none of my business what other people think of me
• Supportive people will always be supportive
• LeBron is one sick sick athletic powehouse that will be unstoppable for years to come
• I need to continue playing poker with a purpose
• My mother turns sixty in ten days
• Recess Rampage will have rake back at Full Tilt one day
• Tiger Woods will win one of the last three majors this year, which is easier than saying that he won't
• Try and rewatch every L O S T episode you can before season 7 starts
• There is always room for improvement, so keep practicing... take a lesson maybe?

Good call Crackn'

Deep Stack Finale seems so obvious... and it comes as no surprise that the idea came from one of the better players in this crew of donkey's.

Side note: Is Chad in the TOC yet?

I am too lazy to look it up... not that it matters in the discussion... because I think he is being sincere about his opinion, regardless of whether he is already in or not. If he isn't, then I wish him luck (and to be serious, luck is all he really needs) in getting there because it would be great to see him in the Main Event ala Iggy of 08'.

Side ote #2: I've only met Chad once and don't really consider him a friend in the blogging world... not by choice of course, but that's just how it has worked out over time.

As I sit here on Victoria Day (Stat day woot) and catch up on some blogs and other PVR'd stuff I also (once again) contemplate what I want out of this space. I continue to talk less and less about poker and more about golf and baseball and anything NOT poker. Sure I continue to relay my opinions on the current BBT4 and any other poker news I find write worthy, but honestly I really have no time or desire to really give it the effort I once did.

I often wonder what others think of this blog. I mean let's face it, it lacks content, the links are out dated, it often is just a rehash of what you could find in much more depth elsewhere, it's inaccurate in that I am obviously NOT an "Under Par Poker Player" and I when I think back about... I doubt I ever was. I used the ad money to finance my bankroll - specifically the WPBT aka the BBT... I've just never advanced much further as a player... and I have no one to blame but myself.

I am just confused as to where to go next. As my bankroll sits idle and slowly disinigrates with each bad bank roll management decision I realize that I am only delaying the inevitable. As some of my long time readers would know, I have only ever dropped $50 onto Full Tilt when I started up my account in the summer of 2006. This also coincided with when I bought my first laptop. It made sense to be able to play in front of the TV and sit by Lola while we watched her shows together. I quickly realized that this was bad way to go about getting better and instead of making the changes, I just kept playing that way. Obviously there have been times where I have been minorly successful, but nothing to link up here that is for sure. However, I can specifically remember those instances and the fact that I was focused, sober and had the TV off is no coincidence.

Now, as I sit here, I am not sure what makes sense anymore when it comes to playing poker. I mean players are getting younger, smarter and better faster than ever. It is virtually impossible to keep up and think that you are not giving up an edge that someone else is willing to put in the time for. I don't rack up the points, I don't have a rakeback account. I don't win medals and I don't play in private freerolls. I have accepted the fact that I only play for fun, but the competitive spirit inside of me just won't let me quit. I won't, that is not who I am. I still want to win when I sit down at the table. I want all of the chips, that will never change. What I really need to accept is the fact that I won't get any better if I don't put in the work. Do I get better at golf by playing less? I rest my case.

I did, however, sign up for Truly Free Poker Training today... ironic?... no, just supportive.

I really like the BBT. I like what it represents and I like the fact that anyone can play in it. However, my opinion is that when you are giving away a seat to the Main Event, that the seat should be won with skill. Learned skill. Sure there is luck involved, but some of that can be equalized with a better structure... and that is where I can't agree more with Chad.

Let the cream rise to the top Full Tilt. Make it happen Al... you have a knack for pulling it off so I don't see why it couldn't happen in this instance. The blogs continue to pimp Full Tilt for free and I think those who have earned a TOC seat should be rewarded with a final tournament that will best represent the community. If that happens... good luck to those who donked a seat already because the dead money factor will certainly be increased.

GL seat holders.

I laugh at...

...those people who still do not know how to chop a tournament. It is so simple it makes my head spin. You ship all of your chips to the person you want to win... make sense?

...those people who think they are better than others because of their occupation or size of their bank account. Random I know, but I still laugh.

...those people who wear big huge ugly sunglasses. They only wear them to cover their ugly faces. The bigger the glasses, the uglier the person is what I always say.

...those people who still come here for poker content. One day I will make up for it... maybe.

...the fact that I have only played in one BBT4 in May.

...myself, because I still think about blogging more than I actually read them or write in my own. If only there were 30 hours in a day I'd have so much more to contribute.

...the fact that I only have a few hours left before I head to the Okanagan to play golf at Talking Rock and Rivershore on Friday and Saturday. Super pumped!

Have a good weekend poker donks.

Randomness

Henrik Stenson - it was only a matter of time. Tiger brought his D game in the final round.

Manny oh Manny - you are screwed.

The Canucks are on the verge of elimination... could be costly. I still have faith that they will pull it off though. Goooooooooooooooooo!

I have three poker books that I have not even cracked yet. It is annoying, but I am so busy with life stuff that I just don't make the effort or the time to sit down and read. I figure if I am not trying to get better (or care about getting better) at poker then what is the point. Dust.

I have a shit ton of golf scheduled for the next month or so. I'll be playing some of the nicest private courses in my area. It helps that I am now the scratch league captain, so I can just pick myself... LOL but seriously, our team sucks and we will struggle all year to get a few wins. Playing the away courses is awesome though, especially at courses like Capilano and Shaughnessy.

My Brutes are finally starting to gain some ground... Level 5 baby! Many of you will laugh at that because I am still so far away from beating some of you its not funny. I think Spstoner is like level 30 or something ridiculous. He crushes just like he crushes satellites.

Have a good week everyone. I'll be golfing, not playing poker...

Mookie Frog Day, pass it on...

Who doesn't want to participate in Mookie Frogday?

If it rains, I'll be there....

Random pics lifted from Jamy. He came up with idea from what I can remember... I call it pure genius. Who doesn't want 9 Donkavtars with stalking capabilities all at the same table... make that 8 tables.

Good luck. It's been all A-listers for the past while... can you make it happen?

Rusty Seven's

Rust.

I fourbet 7's (just typing that makes me feel sick) and get called by KK (weird) while I am on the phone with Lola. Mistake.

I get deepish in the GutterballChasers and forget about the points and the money bubble and play recklessly after losing a flip (which was also reckless). Finished 16th lol.

Smart.

Little poker in my future unless it rains the next two days. I'll be watching the Canucks instead.

Might see you at the Mookie. Might.