Archive for January 2006
Aussie Millions Final
January 25, 2006
The final table came down to veteran player and author Lee Nelson and Californian Robert Neary. In the end Lee had too big of a chip lead for the youngster to overcome and Lee finished him off winning the first prize. Lee Nelson teamed up with Blair Rodman to write the book Kill Phil which is getting rave reviews.
Final Table Results
1 Lee Nelson $1,000,000
2 Robert Neary $517,792
3 Nenad Medic $282,432
4 Shannon Shorr $203,979
5 Jeff Sealey $156,907
6 Russell Davies $125,525
The final table was followed by a party hosted by Crown CEO Richard Longhurst and was a great end to a fantastic trip and event. Our party which included many of the staff members carried on into the early morning and included some Karaoke(Danny don't quit your day job). I would like to personally thank Danny McDonough, Jim Preston, Jayne McKenzie, Carlene, and Johnno for all of their hospitality and hope Carlene has recovered from her nasty hangover.
Omaha/ 8 or Better.........Not!
January 11, 2006
I had an early meeting with Jesse Jones to discuss the WPA (World Poker Association) which is a players association that is trying to give players a voice in the industry which I support 100%. I was was about to go and the event that I had come early for the $1,100 Omaha/8 tournament when I saw Phil Ivey. He had just arrived and was wanting to play some golf and the only way I could miss the poker tournament happened. We were invited to play the exclusive Crown owned Capital Golf Course. I sold my ticket quickly to Marsha Waggoner and before I knew it I was in a limousene to the golf course with Phil, Kenna James and Jim Preston (Poker director). For those of you that don't know Phil Ivey is a very generous guy except when it comes to golf bets. I took way the worst of it and gave him 7 stokes a side. He beat me scratch on the front but was complaining down the stretch of jet lag and wanted to quit after 9. I couldn't believe it as we were the ONLY GROUP ON THE ENTIRE GOLF COURSE! We stopped at the turn of our own private golf course where they had lunch waiting for us. Kenna and I decided to finish on our own and he hurt my feelings when he said I was one of the worse golfers he had ever seen. I had lost $700 to him on the front and $600 to Ivey. As we were saying goodbye to Phil and Jim, phil said to Kenna whatever you bet Matt on the back I want it for double! I sucked it up and ended up breaking even with Kenna and losing only $200 to Phil. I had some friends and business associates coming in from Singapore that day and met them for dinner at a great resturant named Ezards. All in all another great day I just wish my wife was here.........I Miss Her!
Golf and Meetings
January 10, 2006
This day Michael Gracz showed up as did Blair Rodman (Writer of Kill Phil). Scott wanted payback but we played a team match together against Michael and Blair and I broke my own rule and bet against my partner. I have to saw this course was awesome except for one problem, they did not allow golf carts! I am not opposed to walking a course but the flies and heat were too much and we quit two holes early. Good thing though as I was wilting and I locked up a win of $1,400 against the boys. It was OK for Scott as well as he showed up only a little late for the speed tournament and made it though and eventually finished 2nd for $50,000. So far so good on the golf and I was still playing bad, but unfortunately golf for the trip (at least on the betting side) was not over. I returned bak to the Crown where I spent the rest day and night in meetings.
Golf With the Fish Man!
January 09, 2006
I had seen Scott Fishman the night before in the poker room and he suggested that we try and find a spot to play golf in the morning and it just so happened that I brought my clubs with me so I said yes. We were playing at a private club called Sanctuary Lakes and I was a little worried that I would be out of golf shape as I have not been able to play golf in a few months. We were scheduled to play with Michael Gracz (Party Poker Fame) and Dan Coupel (Party Poker Fame) but both of them flaked as Michael was stuck in a live game and Dan was a no show. I was right about the bad golf, but Scott gave me a fair spot of three stokes a side. It was a close match all the way through but I played well at the end and won $920. We had a lot of fun and we also made a friendly wager on the football game that I also won so all in all it was a good day for me. Whe I got back I scheduled a match for the following morning at another course called Kingston Heath.
Australia and Crown Towers
January 07, 2006
As I exit the airplane in Australia I feel the 80 degree weather and bu buzzing of flies around my head. I am not sure if it is the 24 hours of flying time without a shower or just that there is a lot of flies here but it does not matter as I am happy just to be back on the ground again. Danny McDonough (The Crown TD) has hooked me up in a big way, although I flew in with the Fox Sports Net crew I was the only one to have a limo waiting for me and some one at the door of the towers waiting for me to arrive. I had to wait for my room, but it was worth the wait as I received an end room which are the
Crown suites. Thanks Danny for the hook up! I had dinne with Gary Garcia and the FSN big shots who are producing the shows.
Off to Australia
January 05, 2006
I am losing a day of my life today as I head down under to Australia for the Aussie Millions event. Good news is I will get it back on the way home.
Happy New Year!
January 01, 2006
Happy New Year everyone, I promise to be much better in 2006 about updating my site. Maryann and I spent New Year's Eve at Howard and Suzie Lederer's house which has become a great safe and sane way to ring in the new year. Suzie always puts on a great party and there is the annual poker tournament at the house. This is a great way for me to realize that I am better off working in 2006 than becoming a player.
Shortly after midnight we headed over to Jennifer Harman and Marco's house with Mark and Mary Gregorich for a short visit that turned into us leaving at 5am (pregnant wife NOT happy). Carlos Mortenson, Erick Lindgren, Cissy Bottoms, and Daniel Negreanu were in attendance and of course poker was one of the topics. Daniel and I had a long talk about where poker is and where it is going. He talked of the upcoming tour and league and how can there be room for more poker. We both agree that if done right 2006 WILL be poker's best yet! He also talked about his new website and his battles with Dreamclown, his newest online enemy and how his online game was getting up to speed. Daniel promised that he would play more poker in 2006 and he seems much more focused this year than last. The topic then turned to religion and family and we headed home shortly after. One thing I learned after hanging out with pokers elite all night was that the poker industry is still wide open and 2006 is a critical year for all of us that make poker our life.