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Well I'm back on terra firma after an exhausting trip over the pond to continue my charity work. My colleagues explained that the USA has been suffering as a result of a global credit crunch, so I went over to Vegas and assisted in rejuvenating their economy by dumping cash in various watering holes and casinos. People think it's easy, but they forget how long it takes: playing cards for hours on end; then sitting in bars consoling yourself, drinking and telling stories - all the time handing over dollars whilst ensuring people don't feel guilty for receiving them.
Obviously the highlight was Marty's victory but the trip had other saving graces. Meeting Tim Cullinane and watching him crush the opposition (until being cruelly outdrawn) was a high point; lunch with Padraig Parkinson and many of the up and coming Irish poker players was another. Two very good friends of mine had a decent run at the main event finishing 171st and 75th respectively; getting to play in a couple of decent tournaments and venues I hadn't experienced before also added to my overall enjoyment (Caesars and The Venetian). I am looking forward to sponsoring a few more pro's next year as well as having a few more qualifiers to baby-sit.
I never leave Vegas without having learnt something about myself and this trip was no exception. This year I learnt not to agree to go for a 'quiet' drink with 12 or more Irish poker players (at least never at the same time). Having a 'quiet' drink with these chaps led to another new experience: The White Russian. I was happily necking bottles of some American fizzy lager whilst all around me people seemed to be drinking glasses of milk. Now I know Irishmen are fond of a glass or two of milk but drinking it with a straw? Further investigation revealed the truth: the milk coloured liquid was the aforementioned White Russian. I was dubious to say the least about trying this flavour of the month until a companion pointed out,
"If these Irish lads are drinking it, it can't be that bad and anyway one of them told me it's good for lining the stomach".
That's pretty much the last thing I remember from Vegas 2008.
I hope you enjoyed these short instalments from overseas. Now it's all about planning and preparing our stab at one of the biggest offline events in Europe, the IPO. Please come and join us at the event, it should be a lot of fun and it will be definitely be value. You never know, I may even buy you my new favourite drink!
Comments (4)
Great blog, you can beat Vegas.