WSOP: Gov. Sanford-Loser: Michael Jackson-Pathetic

Yesterday I played the No Limit Holdem triple chance event. Here you start with 3k in chips and can take an additional 3k in chips twice more at any time in the first three levels. The idea behind it is to create more action like in a re-buy event, but it falls miserably short of creating it. It would be much more interesting if everyone started with 2k in chips and had 5 add-ons that could only be used when they fell below 2k, and one could be saved for an add-on at the end of the third level. This would create the action of a re-buy event and bring strategy more into play.

Initially the event went ok for me, staying a little over average. I had one good hand when I limped in mid position with A 2 suited and the small blind called and the big blind checked. The flop came A K 2 with two clubs. I bet the pot and was raised all in by the big blind. I called and he showed K 2, and I doubled up. I made one bad lay down of A Q when a short stack on the button moved all in for about 5k in chips with the blinds 200-400. I was next to act, but noticed the big blind getting his 15k in chips ready to go. This can be a sign of strength, but usually means he has a medium strength hand and wants to intimidate me out of the hand. He turned out to have 10 10 and the short stack A 7, and with a queen coming on the flop I would have gotten a full double up. The end of the night was tough for me. I got miserably short and ended with 15k with the starting blinds at 600-1200. The last couple of hours I had Jeff Lisandro on my left with 120k in chips. Not the best position for me, but I squeaked by. He has had a great WSOP with 3 bracelets so far. He is a great guy and I am happy for him. My strategy today is to double up a couple of times early, if only it was that easy.

I have been getting up pretty early and wind up watching TV and writing. I cant help but be disgusted by the news and most current events. One thing I am finding entertaining and disturbing at the same time is how members of the self-proclaimed “Moral Majority” seem to have the same failings of mere mortals. Those with the loudest voice against are often times the worst offenders themselves. That insane evangelical minister Ted Haggard comes to mind, which preached about the evils of homosexuality by day and paid gay prostitutes by night.

With South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and Nevada Senator John Ensign being the latest to join the “No Family Values” club it amazes me how those living in the glass houses go around launching stones everywhere. I am not naïve, I am well aware that it goes on across party lines and throughout all walks of life, but I am tired of the holier than thou attitude by these blow hards. Perhaps the republican party better get to work on recalibrating there own family values and stop worrying about everyone else’s. Having Sanford on CNN continuously apologizing to everyone is really lame. How about let’s try something new and exciting, why not lead by example? I guess that’s too much to hope for. These are the same elected officials who legislate against poker and other freedoms. Perhaps they need to get their own house in order instead of telling us what to do. Sanford needs to man up and resign.

While I’m on a bit of a rant, and maybe I’m just a little bit insensitive, and while I enjoyed growing up with his music and I realize he was massively talented, but come on, Michael Jackson was a freak. Even if you forget about his obsession with plastic surgery and the “skin disease” which kept turning him white, how can you ignore his penchant for young boys? He may not of been found guilty of being a pedophile, but where there’s smoke there is fire. The financial settlements he gave the parents and the children, which has the appearance of buying off the victims is pretty clear. At least one of the settlements was eight figures, which if you assign some sort of value of damages; it must have been pretty severe. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by the media attention, after all it’s all about ratings and market share. I have heard several news people compare this to the death of JFK. Now come on and give me a break. Take a man who dedicated himself to making the world a better place, fought and was a hero in World War Two, and paid the ultimate price when he was assassinated. That’s about the same as a guy who lives in fantasy land, or is it wonder land, has sleep over’s with little boys and prances around a stage for huge amounts of money and according to media accounts, appears to have died from a medication induced cardiac arrest. Michael Jackson’s life was dedicated to his own vanity, and nothing more. Is it sad that he passed away, sure but I am much more saddened by lots of other events, which seem to happen to regular people on a regular basis. Now Jesse Jackson comes out of the wood work and starts demanding answers, the whole thing is nothing short of pathetic.