Bellagio 15k, Timberlake Pro Am, Packers Game, Vegas, Vegas, Vegas!!

I have been very lucky in poker and in life, and I recognize that I am truly blessed!  This is no religious statement, but I say a hearty "Thank you" to the powers that be.  For my part, I donate money to charity every year, I send an endless stream of "Swag" (signed books, signed pics, hats, shirts, and bobble head dolls) to charity auctions, I do not do drugs, I do not abuse alcohol, I emcee charity events (like my upcoming www.Holdemforheroes.com), and I stay loyal and true to my wife and children.  By acting above the rim ethically, and morallylike never cheating on my wifeI feel a bigger sense of entitlement in life in general.  And yes, I know, my going off at the poker tables is a strike against me!!

It is not easy to feel great about owning all of the records at the WSOP, being really wealthy (at least on paper!), being happily married for almost twenty years, writing a best-selling book, hosting my own TV shows, being on 12 million beer cans, being stopped in the street everyday like I'm someone special, etc.  Who am I to deserve all of this?  I am just a man from Madison, Wisconsin who had average grades and an average childhood.  A man that dropped out of college!  But because I strive to do the right thing at all times, because I strive to be a really good husband and father, because I give money, time, and effort to charity, I feel OK about all of the huge blessings that I have received.  As time passes, I feel better and better about my life, my blessings, and the person that I am.  And I will continue to play poker with passion and purpose, to stay loyal to my wife and kids, to give my money and resources to those in need, to try my hardest to win more WSOP bracelets, and to try to hold onto all of my WSOP records!  Of course, I have Johnny Chan, Doyle Brunson, Erik Seidel, and Phil Ivey on my tail!

Now, let's get to what the heck I've been doing lately, and what I will be doing in the near future!  You can check out my Tweets, about one or two per day at: www.twitter.com/phil_hellmuth.  Two weeks ago I had the honor of meeting Justin Timberlake at his PGA Tour event in Las Vegas for Shriners.  I am a big fan of his, and he was a nice guy, as reported.  Justin likes poker, but he doesn't play as much anymore because he doesn't like to take his friends money.  There is a cool picture of Justin, Alice Cooper, Kenny G, and I up at my Twitter.  After playing the Pro-am Weds, I went straight to Jeff Shulman's house for five hours to give him lessons for the "November Nine."  Of course, Jeff is already an accomplished player, but we all can benefit from having a coach that we respect.  I have over 50 final tables in Hold'em, so I'm not a bad choice!  Jeff is playing great, and he has a great chance to win if he is reading his opponents well on November seventh and ninth.  The rest of the week I worked with Jeff, his father Barry Shulman (who just won the WSOPE main event! who is giving who lessons here!?!), Diego, Adam, and a few others.  I learned something myself as we discussed hands, tactics, and the best possible strategies for winning.  Diego knew every opponent, their tendencies, and we all talked extensively about what the other eight would be attempting to do.  We played a simulated final seven, final six, final five, final four, and final three, with actual chip counts and we all "Played" parts as "November Nine" players.  We even read a bunch of hand histories!

I flew home Friday night and received news that my publicist Lara Miller was able to secure sideline passes for the Green Bay Packers home game at Lambeau Field vs. the Vikings on Nov 1.  The return of Brett Favre!!  I am a huge Favre fan, and a huge Packer fan.  My dad has been an avid Packer fan for 50 years, and he has never been to Lambeau Fieldneither have I--but now I can take him there in style.  I did bring my father to the Super Bowl in San Diego when the Packers played Denver, but we lost.  I fly to Green Bay Saturday, and then back to Vegas on Monday.
It's Wednesday now, and I just landed back here in Vegas.  Tonight I do some local NBC news interview, and then I will be in bed early as I seem to wake up exhausted every day (this sucks!).  I'm tired every morning I guess because I have been on the move so much (London, Aruba, San Antonio, Vegas), and maybe my equipment for my sleep apnea breathing machine needs to be replaced.  I hate waking up tired, I had a lifetime of this before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and the breathing machine phase of my life began

I want to be fresh because I play "Poker after Dark" $20,000 buy in tournament tomorrow with Phil Laak, Antonio, Annette Obrestad, Mike Matusow, and I believe, EDOG.  Then Friday I film another "Poker after Dark" $20,000 buy in tournament with Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, and four qualifiers.

After the Packer's game this weekend I have to shoot ESPN News and radio stuff Tuesday night, then I film a segment for ESPN Weds for the "November Nine" show with Doyle, Chan, me and Iveythis should be fun!  Also, I have to coach Jeff, maybe Tues and Weds for a few hours, although I believe that he is 90% ready now.  Then I film more "Poker after Dark," (but this time cash games) next Thurs ($50,000 buy in) and Fri ($100,000 buy in), then next Saturday the "November Nine" starts at the Rio Hotel at noon, and I will be there all day to support Jeff.  Vegas, Vegas, Vegas!!

Learn more about Phil at www.PhilHellmuth.com and visit his web store at www.PokerBrat.com