Cheap Shirts and Slow Rolls.

Monday, 14 September 2009

Uttoxeter Races

Had an invite to the races with Betdaq earlier this week, the day didn't start well as l had been playing online most of the night and the struggle out of bed at twenty past twelve wasn't an ideal start. Now as alot of you know l'm not into trousers, shirts and shit like that, so when l looked in the wardrobe for some gear it was no surprise to find it all shoved in a corner folded up, fuck.

I hitched a lift to town where Greenwoods (suit shop) is the only decent clothes shop and l got a few bits and peices, its amazing how many deals there is for clothes at the minute, the trousers where £29.99, but for £35 you could get two pairs. The deal on the shirts was just as good with one for £19.99 or three for £30, happy days. One thing that was a bit of a shock for me was the fact that l had to get trousers with a waist size off 41in, for fucks sake its finally hit me, as well as a tight fucker, l'm a rite fat bastard, a wee bit more about that later on. I arrived at the Racecourse with 10 minutes before the 2.20 (first race) which had McCoy on the Hot Favourite. Before l arrived at the gate l had already done a chunk, as my esteemed guests for the day, Neil Blatchly and Kev Smith had put me on a cart donkey at Doncaster which l reckon was pulling stone out of a quarry in Hull the week before.

I was met at the gate with a big smile from Betdaq's rep. Tom Sloanes, a mackem in a suit, Jesus what next. This guy was great and a credit to Betdaq and he insured that me and the lads had a day to remember! Getting back to the first race and McCoy, as l was walking up the stairs to our box which was in the top tier of the Grandstand, l laid McCoy as l was on Tilt after the Doncaster donkey. l arrived at the Betdaq box which was the best on the course for views of the course, but the first view l found when l looked out was Blatch, Kev and my other guest Ken shouting McCoy across the line, Irish fucker he is. I don't how much Blatchly had on that winner but he showed me a ticket later in the day for a 7/2 winner which he had a bag on, old golden balls. The box was great and we had lovely food served by our personal host with free drinks all day, later in the day l judged the Best Turned Out in the ring and presented the prize to the Race Winner. I got out off it for the day with a 6/1 winner called Celtic Boy and overall it was a fantastic day which l thourghly enjoyed. My thanks to Betdaq, Tom, Russell, Andy, the other bloke who's name l've forgot and Uttoxeter Racecourse who made it a memorable day.

Spivver's World Open Satallite.

After the racing l travelled to Bridgenorth with Neil to play this Satallite for the $10K World Open. First time l've been even though l have been invited many other times, It was good craic for the most part and the majority of the lads are a great bunch. Mad Marty was there in fine form, Paul Jackson, Karl Marhenholz, Gez Bailey, Paul Grummit and a few of the Brummy regulars. I love playing with the Brummies as they are great craic and always very gracious when knocked out, but one bloke, Graham who l think was the Pub Landlord was a disgrace with his constant slow play, idiotic gibbering and slow rolls. I wont be rushing back anytime soon, that said, Spivver ran it all very well and its a cracking pub.

Irish Greyhound Derby 2009

Well Larky didn't make the final but did run on Saturday night in the Consolation Final finishing second. As alot of you will know now College Causeway won the Derby in exquisite style coming from 10 lenghts off the pace to pick Gingers Dog up on the line. After watching it 4 or 5 times this was a simply breath-taking run and l would rip my arm from the socket to watch him run against Westmead Hawk at Shelbourne's 550. At least l can say one off the greatest of all time stayed here at the kennels!

On a sad note l must give a mention to Ben"RookieITB"Turnstill's dog who broke his hock at Oxford the same night and was unfortunately put to sleep. I had the pleasure of meeting "Rodney" when Ben brought him to Luton Grosvenor one night. He was a lovely dog from a good litter and l know he will be sorely missed by Ben's family, RIP Rodney.

International Main Event

Played this last week and wish l hadn't bothered, very small field, more rules than an EPT Main Event in Colditz during the War without the bling. I was going well but fell foul to Nathan Lee who tried to make a move on the turn when l was holding Trips, he had a Straight Draw and hit on the river. Thank fuck as l couldn't wait to get out of the place, another place l won't be rushing back to. It amazes me sometimes, do the people who run these joints not realise the monstrous competition there is to get Poker Players through the doors, from the time you walk into the place, the experience should be a memorable one for the right reasons. My last memory of my time there was getting into a mini cab who they kindly called for me, so recommended by the Club, this bloke had a State of the Art SatNav and still ended up getting lost going to the Vic, the cab was stinking and he charged me the same as a Black Cab.

Blog - A - Lot

Amatay is a Blogger star at the best of times and recent posts haven't disappointed although l wouldn't be directing my mother there for any poker advice. The fact that his knob is stinking in his latest post adds a wee bit of spice!

When I'm coaching Online, which is once every three years or when people are really desparate, l always harp onto players about the importance of Mental Stability and Focus whilst playing. I know for a fact that this is a significantly weak part of my game when playing online and sometimes live. I will be reading Barry Carter's articles with interest as he talks with psychology expert, Jared Tendler.

Well known Irish player Dara"Doke"O'Kearney travelled to Dusk Till Dawn for their recent Dusty Bin weekend with Mick McCloskey and Liam Flood. I don't think he was all that impressed if I'm being honest, check his blog to see what he said.

The winner of the Dusty Bin event, James Keys is selling percentages for the Euro Championships, so give him a bell if you want a piece of this Ex Blackbelter.

Golf mad Steve Holden is getting a Blog facelift and is starting to pick up a few cashes after a lean spell, long may it continue.

The like able James Atkin hasn't updated this week as his newly born baby has finally arrived. Best of luck to him and his family, he deserves all the luck he gets as he is a lovely fella and I'm sure the entry telling us all about the new arrival will be worth waiting for.

Blonde favourite and recent FTOPS winner Richard Kellett is back and selling a few chunks for the upcoming live comps in London, he says the Blog will be updated regularly and when he gets to London he will be doing it daily, should be interesting if this talented young player has matured and learn't from his mistakes in the past. I keep saying it, Poker is a small community!

WCOOP

So far it has been bad but not really expensive as l have Satellited into most stuff, my best result so far has come in the $200r/b 2-7 Single Draw where l finished 31st after l made a bad call with a decent 8 low, he had a perfect 7. I got $1600 for the kitty, but was disappointed.

Next entry l'm going to talk about a system of Weight Loss l might be trying, it is my last option before l use a nail gun to staple my gut or l have a buttock removed. For now though l am off to sleep where l will be dreaming of winning a WCOOP event, because l have no chance of doing it in real life as l suck shit online. Nighty Night....

Very big night in Ireland.

Saturday, 5 September 2009

Well my good friends, tonight is a massive night for my good mucker, Keith. Slip the Lark will walk into the centre of the immaculate Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium in Dublin to limber up for an attempt at an almost impossible task, trying to reach a consecutive Irish Greyhound Derby Final. This is something that very few dogs have achieved and it would surely stamp his name in the history books, the dog definitely deserves it after last years heartbreak and words can't explain how Keith would feel about a second year in the Final. Good luck to all runners tonight, especially Larky! Click here to see him finish second last year, painful.


The Irishman

When l was a young lad, a great Uncle from America would come and stay regularly and tell us many stories from the States. One particular tale that always stood out for me was about his boss when he worked on the docks after arriving from our little village all them years before, the boss man was called Danny Greene and even though he never spoke with an Irish accent, his family roots where never in question. He would always wear green stuff, his car was green and he even wrote his subs for the workers in green ink. Uncle Patsy talked very fondly of how this big beast of a man looked out for the Irish!


At the time he was about, the Mafia was trying to take over all the various rackets and control the Union's but Greene stood up to them and after numerous bomb attempts on his life they finally got him outside his dentists. Greene killed a few Mafia hitmen before he went though and his story is remarkable, he is even credited with bringing the Mafia family in Cleveland to its knees and making them a laughing stock in the criminal underworld at that time.



The reason l mentioned this story is that my Great Uncle would always sing a song about Danny Greene and his courage, although he was a mobster Greene died potless as he always looked after the local Irish Community. I was mumbling the song a few months ago on the Golf Course with some friends and one of them says that they seen Vinnie Jones was making a film about some bloke called Danny Greene. As soon as l got back to the house l started GOOGLING and sure enough a film about Danny Greene, played by Ray Stevenson will hit the big screen later this year. It is called "The Irishman" and it has a few big names, l really hope they do a decent job as this is a great story about a real hard bastard who stood up to a bunch of bad fuckers.


Cardiff GUKPT

Very poor numbers this year and l can understand fully as there is a massive saturation of events at the minute, both here and Europe. The WCOOP doesn't help either, but after speaking to Raaby yesterday he was as upbeat as ever and l think he has every reason to be as they did still get a brave few for the Main Event. Jonathon did tell me that Cardiff is likely to be a Summer Series Event next Season and he was very excited about Grosvenor's recent additions in Coventry and Sheffield. This GUKPT will never die as long as Jonathon and his team are behind it, there is real passion to improve every year which is great for the customers. Unfortunately l didn't bother this year as l am a rite lazy bastard and couldn't be bothered with the 3hr drive. I will train it to London tomorrow however to give the International Main Event a crack.

WCOOP

I started tonight as l was banjaxed last night, l am concentrating on the Mixed Games and will post my results as and when l get any, so don't be holding your breath. Crap in the Omaha earlier but I am still in the $200 rebuy 2-7 Single Draw as l write this with 70 left, so l might get of to a good start.