Warriors win again!

My wife said it early in the game, "It's just not as fun to be here tonight as it was Friday night." Of course, she made that statement early in the second quarter, when the Mavs were up 8 points. And, we did win the game by 30 points Friday night; so I saw her point. From then on though, it was one heck of a game! This time ESPN knew I was in the house, although they didn't show me on the broadcast. I figured out why so many people shouted my name Friday night, but so few asked for autographs. Security stops all of the autograph seekers, even if they are ten years old; so that not many people could get close to me to ask me for an autograph.

I was impressed by the Warrior's effort and fight. They just kept on coming, minute after minute, quarter after quarter, all the way to the buzzer. I put out my hand to Mark Cuban, but I do not think that he knew who I was, and he didn't shake it. I was going to say, "Good luck tonight." I do not think that he was dissing me, I think that he just didn't notice. My theory is that: if Cuban knew who I was, then he would have noticed. In any case, at half-time, I had to run out to the parking lot and meet "Triple A" to have my tire changed. On the way, I ran into the Mav's free throw coach, and he stopped me, and we chatted a bit. He seemed like a good guy. I should have asked him which Mavs players liked to play poker. I finally worked out on Sunday, going for a long run! (Good job Phil!)

Monday was a tough day for me poker-wise. I went "Flat" on UltimateBet. First, I bought in for $8,000 and played $80-$160 ace-to-five triple draw heads up with "School Bus" (Doc). If you know triple draw, then you know who Doc is. He plays the game great (and is a legend in triple draw), but I have beaten him many times before. In any case, I felt like I played well, but stuff happens. One hand I had 6-5-4-3-A pat, Doc capped it with me, drew two cards, and made a 6-4-3-2-A. We capped it again on the next street, then I just called on the next two rounds of betting. Tough beat, but that's poker.

Next I sat down in the $150-$300 game with "piejay." Piejay is a great limit Hold'em player. He has won money on every site, plays in tons of WSOP tournaments, and knows limit Hold'em. However, I know piejay's game, I know how he plays ace high, how he plays top pair, middle pair, etc…He knows my game as well. I sat down with $6,000, but I wasn't winning any pots. In my first 34 pots, I won 11, and many of those were small. I was doing a lot of folding, just waiting for a big hand to start me up. Another player joined us, and pretty soon I lost the $6,000. I do remember one hand where the new player raised my on the button, and I re-raised with 5-5. I hadn't been doing any re-raising, and everyone knew it. So they knew I had something. Anyway, the flop was 9-6-2, and the player showed me 9-6 off suit, sigh. I rebought for $4,000, lost that as well. Then I rebought for $1,400 or so, and lost that. Whoops, no more money left in my UB account!

I didn't lose too much relative to the game size, but I hate going broke online! I'm talking to a national restaurant chain about doing a commercial for them, but it doesn't look like the money will be enough. There is another restaurant chain lurking…I will give you names later, if I have permission.

Thursday I tape with ESPN at noon in Vegas, then at 2:30 pm I play NBC's "Poker after Dark" with the headliners (the six of us they use in the promotions and the pre-game promos). My opponents are Jennifer Harmon, Howard "The professor" Lederer, Phil Ivey, Gus Hansen, and Chris "Jesus" Ferguson. I also tape "Poker after Dark" on Sunday and Monday.

Friday at 6:00 pm PST I do a "teleclass" for iamplify.com, where I answer questions online for an hour. I'm not sure how you can join the class, but check out iamplify.com or blackbeltphil.com.

I have been drinking Pro Player (drinkproplayer.com) everyday, and it is so delicious, it is almost addicting. Plus, my coffee (white chocolate mocha) is way more fattening, and has about the same amount of caffeine as the 16 ounce Pro Player, so it is an easy switch. Tastes great, less filling!! Look for me to be wearing some Pro Player gear during the WSOP.