Buffalo, Interrupted

I was working on a post of resolutions, when my father contacted me. "I think I broke my hip -" were his exact words. We spent all day in the emergency room and it was painful for me to watch his discomfort. He's resting comfortably as I write this.

It was important for someone to be there for my dad today. That someone turned out to be me.

I play poker. I handicap sporting events. I'm a gambler. I'm a dreamer. I'm an idealist. I'm a romantic. I'm disenchanted with much of mainstream society. I'm Ralph Cramden with some tech skills. I'm Charlie Brown with some vices - The round-headed kid all grown up - Now at 40 hoping things will still work out, because some days hope is all you have, blockhead.

I had plenty of chances to move out of the sticks this past year. I could be in downtown Buffalo right now drinking after another Sabres win. I could be in NC eating the best BBQ on the planet and courting a belle or three. But I stayed in Prison City, NY and concentrated on the grind and my family.

Sometimes the boring, responsible decisions - the ones that go against every fiber of your being - are the correct plays.

Football Lock of the Week: NCAA, Boise State (+7.5) vs. Oklahoma. No way a team that scores so much should be getting over a TD. NFL, Falcons (+9.5) @ Eagles. Philly has only a home game to play for - Atlanta has a lot on the line. [2006 Record 19-13-1]

Happy Holidizzle

I've been playing SNG's like a madman this week. I'm actually only 1 for 8 in the new $16 Razz SNG's. A lot of bubbling going on there. Remember, sometimes playing good has to be a reward in itself.

I'm torn whether to concentrate on MTT's or SNG's. SNG's are the fastest way to rack up points, but MTT's have way more dead money.

The next fews days are filled with family activities, which usually wear me down. But for now, I'm feeling O.K. with everything.

Happy holidays and until next time, just remember: Huggles, not druggles.

Football Lock of the Week (Xmas Edition): NCAA, Utah (-2.5) vs. Tulsa. C-USA has not shown up in bowls lately. NFL, Eagles (+7) @ Cowboys. Philly with more to play for plus the points. [2006 Record 17-13-1]

I Have A Fever... Razz Fever

What can I say? I decided to spend my tournament day playing a few Razz tourneys, and I haven't stopped since. I've had multiple final tables in Razz MTT's, with two 1sts, three 2nd's. I also won several consecutive Razz SNG's. Too bad they were only $3.40 buyins. If this keeps up, I might have to write a book on playing Razz.

With my success, I emailed Poker Stars to see if they would offer Razz SNG's between $3.40 and $35. Gotta earn those FPP's! Much to my surprise, I received a personal reply:

"Hi 66Buffalo66,

Your suggestion seems quite logical. I've just added a $15+$1 Razz SNG. We'll see how this affects the traffic in the other Razz SNGs, and possibly add some more levels in the coming weeks.Thanks for writing to us with your idea. As you can see, PokerStars truly values player feedback, and we act on it whenever possible.

Regards,

Mike Jones
PokerStars Poker Room Management Team"

It makes a difference when a real person responds to your feedback and acts upon it. I'm not a big player by any means, but I feel treated as such.

To sum up: More Razz, less grind. Have a great weekend!

Football Lock of the Week: NFL, Jaguars (-3) @ Titans. Big playoff implications for Jacksonville. A must win. [2006 Record 17-12-1]

Same Old, Different Week

Another week at the virtual grind. (Or is that the real grind on the virtual felt?) I put a new wrinkle in my routine, reserving one day each week just for tournaments. I'm pleased to say I finished 3rd in a Razz MTT and 2nd in a NLHE MTT. Those tourneys do tend to take a lot out of you. But I guess it beats getting hammered at the cash table by O8 lemurs.

Review Me is sending more business my way. They've sponsored me once again - this time to review Card Supply.com's Texas Hold 'em Tables. I'm kind of surprised I was asked to review an E-commerce site, but 'tis the season for shopping!

The first thing you notice when you arrive at Texas Hold 'Em Tables... Is that they have a LOT of tables. Oodles of tables. I would venture to say that they offer every kind of Hold 'Em Table I've ever seen, with just one exception - The new electronic Hold 'Em Tables.

One neat feature is that they offer several poker tables with an option of a customized logo. Maybe some day when I start the Buffalo Hold 'Em Classic I'll spring for a few. Besides poker tables, they offer other types of gaming tables. Roulette table, anyone? Maybe you prefer a blackjack table. Perfect for the person starting their own casino (or casino school).

There are also multi-use tables (with a poker function), and board game tables (most with a chess function). And don't forget the poker table toppers for your existing table!

But wait, there's more... Cards and chips abound. Several styles of heavy chips are available, along with chip cases, racks, and complete sets. A few styles of cards, mostly plastic, are available in quantity. Sorry, no KEM brand cards.

Finally, There's a few novelty items available. Dealer buttons, electronic tournaments timers, and strong boxes round out the list. If you're lucky, maybe a clearance item or two will show up.

In all honesty, I cannot say how competitive Cardroom Supply.com's prices are, mostly because I'm not currently in the market for any of their offerings. I would think that a quick froogle search would bear out the results. It appears they offer quality items, but I would shop around to make sure you're getting the best price.

Football Lock of the Week: Since it's the only game left on the schedule, I'm taking Bears (-6) @ Rams. Even with the Chicago DT injury, St. Louis has let me down too many times already this year. [2006 Record 16-12-1]