All Canada baby: Toronto Rules!

Posted: March 11, 2008 09:14 AM

Thursday I flew up to Canada to do Ultimatebet.com's "Cross Canada Tour" with Mark "Poker Ho" Kroon, Gary "Debo34" Debernardi, "Krazy Kanuck" (Jim Worth) and Shawn Rice. We stayed downtown at the Sheraton hotel, and I came in Thursday night late and pretty tired. I stayed up late the night before playing Rolande De Wolfe Chinese poker for $500 a point, online: Rolande, from vacation in the Swiss Alps where he was skiing, and me at home. The swings were big, but we ended up about even. When I landed, I slept about four hours, and then the press started, big time!! First, we hit the "Edge" 102.1, where I had a great time with the hosts-Dean Blundell and Todd Shapiro. Next we went to a satellite radio show-"Hard Score Sports" with Chris Disero-which was again fun, and then I took a nap. Then I did a media lunch at "Atelier," where I won the table. The media guys in attendance represented: "The Toronto Sun," "Inside Entertainment magazine," "UMM," and the "Toronto Star." Afterwards, I actually checked my messages on my hotel phone, which I never do, and BNN (Business News Network) had called my hotel and wanted an interview. So we scheduled that after the national television show OTR ("Off the Record"). After all of that we did "Last Question" for TSN's "Sports Centre." I had so much fun on all the shows up there! But I really nailed OTR with Michael Landsburg. I was in all of the segments, and the energy was flying: Michael and I had FUN! We ended our interview at around 3:00 pm, and the show was out at 6:00 pm!! I watched myself--from the lobby--as we headed for our floor seats at the Raptors game. They played the Wizards. I sat next to Guess Jeans Super model and Absolute Poker model Serinda Swan, and I love that girl. Although she has other worldly looks, she is still: sharp, witty, confident, and she doesn't starve herself. Of course, my wife was a little steamed that UltimateBet.com and AbsolutePoker.com sent Serinda up there to hang out with us. OK honey, I understand, but I've been true to you for 19 years, give me some credit! Of course, my wife has a point, as I did hang out with Serinda all weekend, at both games, in the VIP sections of the clubs, and we shot some commercials together as well. If I was single, I would ask her out, but she might say no! On Friday I was so busy doing media, my documentary "Quest for Twelve," and taking meetings that we filmed the BNN segment from the OTR set! Thanks to OTR for the assist. After the game we went to a club where Moby was DJing at 1:00 am. We arrived at 11:30, but only then, and after another two hours, did I remember that I'm not a huge techno fan. It is Ok, but I would rather listen to Guns and Roses, Jay Z, 80's rock, 90's rock, modern rock, or rap, then I would techno. The online pros actually opted to go to bed early, so Serinda and I, and a couple others had to have a few extra drinks-"Crystal" champagne and Belvedere vodka with orange juice, cranberry juice and Pro Player (the energy drink)--in their honor!

I did control my alcohol intake, so that I didn't have a hangover when I woke up the next day at 9:30 am, ready to do a kick ass seminar. I must have signed 400 autographs, and had 200 pictures of me taken on Saturday, as well as I talked onstage for four hours, and shot 3 commercials-honey, that's why Serinda was there! After the seminar, we went to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game, and we sat in the third row behind the goalie. On Friday night at the Raptors game, they pulled me off of the floor to do an interview (unscheduled) in the third quarter for television, but on Saturday night I was mobbed by the fans! It was pretty sick. Many dozen's of people screaming my name, people fighting to get to me for autographs, wow, this poker stuff is really catching on!! Daniel Negreanu's was "There" as well, on the scoreboard that is, where they announced the "Daniel's Hand" as a Poker Stars promo, no last name necessary, nice. Afterward, we headed out to the VIP section of another club, and this time we stayed until closing time. Then a few of us, "Krazy Kanuck," Serrindah, KK's old girlfriend, and I played Chinese poker in my suite while I jammed some Jay-Z off of youtube. I "Won" the "Match" when I made four aces on the very last hand, with a flush in the middle, and with two fours on top (needle to De Wolfe: "Rolande, have you seen any aces?").

My next Canada Tour stop will be in Calgary on April 26, followed the very next day by Vancouver on April 27. On April 28, I shoot a cameo in Vancouver in the new movie "Shark out of Water" directed by, and written by Juan Reidinger.