Last night these guys and girls were snowboarding on the specially built mountain in the Hard Rock Casino parking lot. As I arrived this afternoon all that was left were hundreds of empty beer cans. Amazing that some recycler hadn't volunteered to clear them up (You get a better rate in Baker, CA than in Vegas; I'll let Kramer and Newman explain that one). Those xtreme sportsters who were not in the UMC hospital spent a wet afternoon playing poker under the expert eye of Matt Savage. Partying was to follow with a concert by SoCal band, Agent Orange, who played last month in the Anarchy Library in Downey. I must look that place up when I visit the Commerce next month.

This was not anarchist poker though. The table cloths were specially made, the chips too, with Red Bull sponsorship and as I mentioned Matt Savage was the TD. He also ran sit n go's for players KOed from the main tournament. The buy in range was $20 to $100 and proved a popular idea.

No pro poker players entered although pro baseball player, Cory Lidle, played. He put his experience to good use and made it into the money.

The press release promised appearances by Jeff Brushie, Dave Duncan, John Parker, Dennis McCoy, JP Walker and Marc Montoy. I nearly cried off as it was raining outside; that is how xtreme I am. (Pretty fearless on a horse though.)

No free food or even Red Bulls this time around. No wonder Mike Paulle didn't show. One player wrapped his t shirt around his head. I took his photo. He said, "I look pretty wasted." Maybe that?s why he was wearing his t shirt on his head or maybe he was protecting his favourite baseball cap from the rain.

From my vantage point the players seemed to be taking the game seriously and why not as the winner received a seat in this years WSOP main event and $10,000 in cash.
The event attracted fifty-six starters who each received $1500 in chips. The tournament was organized by Kelly Flynn, a Denver resident and winner of Cory Lidles tournament.
Once they had played down to the final table they had to take an extended dinner break so that Agent Orange could soundcheck.

I was impressed by the genuine family atmosphere these guys generated. Matt Savage will be in action again on Monday at the Palms with a tournament for NASCAR drivers. I have yet to attend a tournament for poker players this year in Vegas! As nobody was about to board over one of the poker tables I left to take on the xtreme risk of crossing the road in front of all the taxi drivers outside on Paradise Road.