Full Tilt Poker's Last Stand?

In case you had not heard or read the latest news from the Alderney Gaming Commission ...


29 June 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Release
 
Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) has today issued Hearing Notices under Regulation 46 of its Regulations to Vantage Ltd, Oxalic Ltd, Filco Ltd and Orinic Ltd, collectively trading as FULL TILT POKER.


In addition, AGCC has issued Suspension Notices under Regulation 47 to the above named companies requiring them to suspend all operations with immediate effect.

The decision to suspend these licenses follows a special investigation prompted by the indictments unsealed by US Attorney General’s Office in the Southern District of New York on 15 April 2011, during which grounds were found to indicate that these licensees and their business associates were operating contrary to Alderney legislation. The nature of the findings necessitated the taking of immediate action in the public interest.

Andre Wilsenach, the Executive Director of the Alderney Gambling Control Commission says: ‘The decision to suspend the eGambling licence was in the public interest and, because of the seriousness and urgency of the matter, it required that immediate action be taken ahead of the regulatory hearing.’

Any further announcements on this matter can be found on the website of AGCC at http://www.gamblingcontrol.org/


I believe the odds of us getting our money just went down. With Tilt being shut down until the a hearing on July 26, however, Full Tilt's hand might be forced -- and we might still get our money back. Maybe I am a dreamer, but I would rather look at the positives at this point since there is nothing we can do anyway but wait. Of course, Full Tilt has already kept us waiting ... and waiting ... and waiting ...

Bye Bye Blago

A jury was finally able to give ex-Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich all that he deserved. On behalf of the honest citizens of Illinois, I thank you.

Blago -- meet Bubba. See if you can talk your way out of THAT.

Doubleheader: Blasts from the Past

A short trip to the local grocery store this afternoon resulted in more than a few cans of soup and a loaf of bread. Fortunately, memories are free.

Karen

I spotted Karen as she passed right in front of me. Maybe just better to head down another aisle, I thought.

I was a dirt-poor student in my second year of graduate school. Karen and I were in the same campus service club. She was very attractive and had a fun personality. However, she had been dating Dave -- a rich guy and Mr. Party Central. As far as I knew, they were not dating each other exclusively. Karen seemed to show some interest in me, and I kept hoping that perhaps an opportunity might arise. The opportunity came.

After an evening club meeting, Karen announced "I'm heading back to my place for a few beers -- anybody want to come?" I was one of a few people in the area, and thought that this was a primo invitation --- for me! I agreed and went back to Karen's place with her. A few beers later and it was time to make my move. Success!

After a relatively innocent passion session, I sat back and said "I had a feeling this was going to happen." Much to my surprise, Karen answered "Well, it was a surprise to me." Damn.

I took Karen out on a real date -- to a local popular Chinese restaurant  -- and had a good time. However, he date cost me every spare cent I had. I knew that she would still probably continue dating Dave. So ... for the first -- and last -- time in my life, I let a relationship go for purely economic reasons.

We bumped into each other other a few minutes after I spotted her, and we had a very nice conversation. Her daughter soon joined us, and we talked about the excitement of the daughter's upcoming first year in college. I wished the girl well and then said goodbye to her mom. I wondered how much, if any, story telling happened after I left.

Amanda

I thought I spotted Amanda, but I wasn't sure it was her. She had changed somewhat over the years.

I had recently started a new job. Amanda came in with her mother, seeking my professional assistance. Amanda was quite attractive, bright, and personable, but had a bad experience at her first college. She was determined to get off to a better start the second time around.

She got herself back into good academic standing, then transferred to another school. We had developed a warm relationship, and I was happy to see her move on. Several years later, she was back and again needed my assistance. I was able to help her again, and then she was gone.

I run into Amanda every few years. She's changed a little as we all do. It always takes me a few seconds to make sure it is her, but her warm smile and friendly "hi" usually confirm it. She appears to be doing well, and I always like to think that I played at least some small part in her success. In my profession, it is not unusual to be unsure if you really helped someone. Sometimes, though, you get a pretty good idea.

I paid for my groceries and headed back home. Sometimes memories just make you feel ready to face the challenges of the day.

Congrats to Memphis MOJO -- 76th in WSOP Seniors Championship

A big congratulations to Memphis MOJO, who finished 76th out of 3752 runners in WSOP Event #30 -- Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Championship. Way to go, Dave!

I will try to channel the MOJO mojo in Las Vegas!

Off to Las Vegas on Sunday

Vacation from work began at 5:01 pm last Thursday -- and that means it is time to head to Las Vegas!

Home base this trip will be Bally's. Bally's is my favorite poker room, and staying at the hotel just makes everything much easier. Yes -- I have been known to not leave my seat at the table until well after the morning sun has first apppeared.

A few months ago Josie (who had been  ... uhh ... drinking) gave me a hard time for taking all my trips to Las Vegas but rarely playing any tournaments. I love playing the cash games in Las Vegas and had grabbed my ankles more than once in tournaments there. And ... there is nothing like playing for hours, only to come up empty handed.

However, I have to admit that I have been wondering just how I would do in some of the Las Vegas tournaments at this stage of my poker life. So ... I have mapped out several of the better tournaments to play this time around. I am taking a pass on the WSOP unless I head to the Rio take a chance or two on satellites.

btw -- I did have at least some success a few years ago, including chopping two tournaments at Caesar's and one at Stardust. I hope to have some good news to report when I return.

An Open Letter to LeBron James

Dear LeBron:

Another NBA season has come and gone, and again you are without a championship. If fact, things appear even worse since it now seems that half the world hates your guts. Did it really have to be that way? Is there hope for your future?

I do not know who advises you, but whatever they are getting paid is waaaay too much. I'll tell you what -- hire me at a decent wage and I promise to have the world loving you again in no time. Well -- let me change that statement a bit -- I will attempt to undo most of the damage you created for yourself this past year. I'll leave the miracles to the Man upstairs.

Now, first a confession: I am not the biggest NBA fan in the world. I just have not liked the product very much since Michael Jordan's second retirement -- the one that should have been final. I knew about you, but was not all-consumed the way many Cavs fans probably were. I know you have heard most of this before, but sometimes I wonder if mega-stars like yourself ever listen to a sane, logical voice. I don't hate you but I will never be mistaken for a "yes man." That being said, let's chat about the past year ...

1) Leaving Cleveland -- There was no way that this ever works out. You can't dump the girl who loves you no matter what. Sometimes you have to leave, but you can at least minimize the damage.

What you should have said; "I have made the difficult decision to leave the Cavaliers. I will be forever grateful to the fans of Cleveland for their support." This should have been said early and up front out of respect to the team, the fans, and the owner.

2) The Decision -- Probably the absolute worst decision by a professional athlete in recent memory. No matter who you ended up with, this debacle was designed to piss off everyone else. Anyone who had anything to do with it should be kept as far away from you as possible.

What you should have done: Have a press conference, announce your decision, take difficult questions.

3) Over-the-top celebration in Miami -- We all expect fanfare when a big-time athlete comes to our team, but this extravaganza was just too much to stomach. A little humility thrown into the process might have gone a long way.

4) Playoff performance -- When you are The Man, you have to be the man when it counts most (see Michael Jordan). Having stretches of greatness mixed in with stretches of mediocrity just doesn't cut it. Deferring shots and opportunities to teammates at crunch time shows a lack of confidence and a lack of the chutzpah the greatest have as part of their being. Even if you made a great effort and fell short (see Dwyane Wade), you would garner respect. Disappearing during the NBA Finals is not an option.

5) Bitterness -- Next time keep your mouth shut after you lose. The fans are the ones who have provided you this fantastic lifestyle. How about a little respect for them?

What you should have said: "I would like to congratulate the Dallas Mavericks on winning the NBA title. They are a class act and did what they needed to do at the right times. I am disappointed for myself, my teammates, and the Heat fans. I will learn from this defeat and come back even more determined and prepared than I was this season. It will be a long summer. I pledge my best efforts to bring a championship to Heat fans in 2012."

Oh yeah -- no more flopping in high profile games. That type of action is not befitting of the most talented player in the game today. And no more mocking of an athlete who stuck with it and brought a championship to his team and city (see Dirk Nowitski). Be on your best bevavior, act like a man, and show that you have the gumption to kick ass all next season and not stop until the championship trophy is in your hands. If you want to be judged with the all-time greats there are still many steps to be taken.

I am also available for consulting -- at a price that a wealthy guy like you can easily afford. Give me a chance. I mean really -- could I mess things up any worse than they are now?

Sincerely,

lightning36

NumbBono cashes in HORSE at the WSOP; Congrats to the Dallas Mavericks

A big congratulations to NumbBono for placing 56th in the 2011 WSOP Event #17 HORSE tournament. Numb had been crushing some of the low buy-in HORSE events at Full Tilt Poker over the past year or so. It is certainly no surprise to me that he went so deep (963 entrants) in his first WSOP event. Great job, Numb!

Congratulations to the Dallas Mavericks, winners of their first NBA title. I am not a Mavs fan, but they seem to be a classy team -- unlike their opponent, the Heat. I'll write more about the Heat when things in my life slow down a bit, but suffice it to say that LeBron and Wade didn't live up to their own hype. Actually, Chris Bosh was pretty good throughout the playoffs, but he didn't get the help he needed from the other stars on the team.

Only four more days of work until I get some much needed vacation time. Las Vegas is now less than a week away. Ahhhh ...

Welcome to Our World: The People of the Great State of Illinois Share ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich with the World

Yes ... F*** us all!

The "F" bomb echoed through the courtroom Wednesday in Rod Blagojevich's corruption retrial, as recorded phone calls were played between the former Illinois governor and his then Deputy Governor Bob Greenlee.


Greenlee testified that Blagojevich told him he wanted to use the appointment of the Senate seat to help him remain relevant on the national stage. Blagojevich was hoping to be made Secretary of Health and Human Services in exchange for appointing Obama Senior Advisor Valerie Jarret to the senate seat, according to Greenlee. An ambassadorship was also of interest to Blagojevich, so Greenlee made a list of of which appointments could be most influential.


When Blagojevich learned the opportunities he was hoping for likely were not going to occur, a very frustrated Blagojevich was heard on a recorded phone call with Greenlee saying he thought his hopes for a national office position were dashed. "My upward trajectory is f***ing stalled if not f***ing ruined by Obama!" Blago is heard saying. "His election blocks me now from any upward movement...Now is the time to put my f***ing wife and children first...I f***ing busted my a**...I fought every f***ing special interest out there to prevent them from raising taxes and all I got is 13%! (approval rating in Illinois) F*** them!"

Courtesy of www.foxnews.com  May 11, 2011

And if that wasn't enough ...

He has compared himself to Gandhi and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He has drawn parallels between himself and Winston Churchill as well as Abraham Lincoln.


But during his fifth day on the witness stand, even Rod Blagojevich managed to startle observers with a new one:

If he had appointed himself to the U.S. Senate seat in 2008, he would have traveled to Afghanistan to try to hunt down one Osama bin Laden.

His lawyer, Aaron Goldstein, asked if Blagojevich talked about appointing himself to the Senate “in exchange for going to Afghanistan and hunting down Osama bin Laden.”

“Yes,” A straight-faced Blagojevich replied, bringing yet another prosecution objection, hushed snickers and head-scratching in the courtroom.

Courtesy of Natasha Korecki www.suntimes.com  June 3, 2011


I hope you enjoyed our special brand of Illinois entertainment.

Have a great weekend!