How to Always Take Home $ from Poker Tournaments!

The key to winning high stakes poker tournaments is very simple. Get paid to be there! I have managed to work my way into the World Poker Tour Crew! I announce the Final Table players to the crowd and then keep the audience entertained during the breaks. A poker hype man.

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I am currently siting in the wings watching The Bay 101 Shooting Star Bounty Tournament for Season 11 on WPT. I just introduced the 6 players, 4 Royal Flush Girls, WPT Anchor Kimberly Lansing, Poker Hall of Fame Member Mike Sexton and Former Tennis Champion Vince Van Patton. 

This crowd is filled with fans of local card player Joe Nyguen who holds 2.1 Million in chips as we start this final table. Seated to his left is 8 time WSOP Bracelet Winner Eric Seidel who is second in chips. Also at this table is the chip leader Paul Volpe who has now made it to back-to back WPT Final Tables which has never been done. 

I will only be in San Jose Shark Territory for less than 24 hours and I have already witnessed Shark overload. Those pesky Sharks colors are everywhere. Even at the Airport.

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Not real earning!

 

This is my 5th WPT event and I will be heading to Hollywood, FL next month for another gig at The Hard Rock Casino.

 

Road Trip to Bakersfield 2012-2013 Youth Hockey Skills Competition!

Friday Jan. 11th
 
Road trips always bring out good stories from your past, a memorable moment or weird bathroom tale seems to enter the conversation with regularity. This road trip was no exception. I was excited to get out of LA for awhile even if it was only for a few hours and head North on the 5 Freeway. This road trip was being led by Geoff Reader (Fan Development, Account Executive) and we had the pleasure of riding out of town with two LA KINGS Ice Crew members, Cassie (3rd year veteran) and Alexis (2nd year veteran). Our destination: Bakersfield, the ninth largest city in California.
 
This hockey season McDonalds is presenting the 2012-2013 LA KINGS Youth Hockey Skills Competition all across Southern California. These events are being run by the Fan Development Department, Chariot Staff and Ice Crew. I have been asked to Host/MC these events which allow me to visit some of the reasonably close rinks I haven’t been to yet as a representative of The LA KINGS.
 
Bakersfield is the second rink stop at The San Joaquin Community Hospital Ice Center next to the Rabobank Arena, home of The Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL 
 
The age divisions are broken down into 8 and under, 10U, 12U,14U,16U and 18U. Each competitors must compete in 3 skills, the Agility Race, Passing Accuracy and Hardest Shot.
 
The top 2 highest overall ranking competitors in each age division from each rink will advance to the semi-finals at Toyota Sports Center on Saturday March 9th. The finals will be on March 16th at Staples Center during intermissions of the LA KINGS game at 7:30. The goalie competition will be held at Staples Center on March 8th.
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Every participant who registers for the skills competition will be entered in a raffle for a $200 TeamLa gift card. The top 2 highest ranking overall competitors in each age division will receive 2 lower bowl tickets to the LA kings game on March 16th. (subject to change)
 
Every age division overall skater and goalie champion will win a personalized LA KINGS replica jersey and a signed LA KINGS canvas.
 
Upon arrival at The San Joaquin Community Hospital Ice Center several eager participants are already waiting in the lobby.  Spoke with a few parents before the event began. I asked them how they felt about the Kings reaching out into local communities. 
 
“It’s cool. It will help develop the grass roots for local hockey. More events create more interest and will lead to better players in Southern California. Especially since the Kings won it all” – Brent from Bakersfield 
 
“Anything to increase the fan base of The Kings is great” Steve from Tehachapi
 
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29 participants signed up for todays event. The only age division not represented was the 18U group.
 
The event went off without a hitch and 9 Bakersfield local kids advance to the Semi-finals in March including Local youth player Jagger Fair who advanced in his 10 & Under age division. Local media was in attendance and a group photo was taken of all 29 participants.
 
 A cold and breezy exit and off to LA before the Grapevine froze over!
 
Remaining prelims are as follows.
 
Simi Valley- Icoplex 
Sat. Jan. 19th 7:30 PM
 
Panorama City- LA KINGS Ice Center
Sat. Jan. 26th 10:45 AM
 
San Diego- Kroc Center
Friday Feb. 1st 5:45 PM
 
Cathedral City- Desert Ice Castle
Tues. Feb. 19th 5:15 PM
 
Pasadena- Pasadena Ice Skating Center
Tues. Feb. 19 6:00 PM
 
Goalie Competition
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Friday March 8th 6:30 PM
 

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Return of the Kings!

The end is near. The NHL and NHLPA have come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement, which should end the 113 day lockout and allow the NHL to start a shortened season with 48-50 games as soon as the deal is finalized.

The stalemate battle between the two sides has been ongoing since September and could end just in time before the projected ‘end of the line’ date for canceling the entire 2012-2013 Season. 

LA KINGS fans are rejoicing and it seems like an all is forgiven attitude is spreading across the Southland. Earlier today fans showed up to the LA KINGS VALEY ICE CENTER for a FanFest featuring Bailey, The LA Kings Ice Crew, Chariot Staff and Radio Play By Play Announcer Nick Nickson!

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(“The long wait is over, after 45 years, the Kings can wear their crown! The Los Angeles Kings have won the Stanley Cup!!!” – Nick Nickson)

 

 

 

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Raising our own banner!

I spoke with several Die Hard Kings fans throughout the outdoor event. An overwhelming sigh of relief has taken over the rabid fan base as excitement now dominates the Southern California hockey landscape.

“I feel great! It’s like a huge boulder has been lifted. Finally the REAL fans have a piece of their hearts back! At least I know I do. There is NOTHING in this world that puts a smile on my face like the smile I get when I am against the glass watching our boys warm up. It’s a true happiness.”

-Emad Elmaraghi from Playa Del Rey

 

The joy in The LA KINGS fans faces today was exactly what I needed to top off what has been a long awaited day for all hockey fans across the nation and around the world. Stay tuned for more info regarding scheduling and events.

24 Hours in Vegas for WPT

Sometimes when you travel Vegas it feels like you were there too long. Even if it was only for a few days you come back smelling of Newport smokes and desperation. Sunday 11/9 I had a great gig that would keep me in Vegas for 24 hours only. Perfect.

I was called in to hype up the crowd for The Doyle Brunson 5 Diamond Poker Classic. 503 entries @ $10,000 each. The final table for TV was set for 6 handed action featuring two pros returning to this event’s final table, a hooded figure, two first timers and a cattle buyer from texas. The main attraction for the small audience was Antonio ‘The Magician’ Esfandiari’ who is now the #1 All Time Tournament Poker Money Leader. This could have been his 3rd WPT Title to go along with his 2 WSOP Bracelets.

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1st Place Prize

 

 

 

The First place Prize was 1.2 Million and The WPT Championship Cup. The event was in The Grand Ballroom at The Luxurious Bellagio Hotel. The catering for crew was really good and the atmosphere was classy.

 

The only non-poker celeb in the house was 22 time Olympic Medal winner Michael Phelps who is friends with Esfandiari

 

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Phelps with Poker Hall of Fame Member Mike Sexton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even after I gave a few security guards some Chipotles cards I was still unable to sneak away with first prize.

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Million Dollar Flats

 

The tournament was finally over around midnight and we had a champion. Ravi Raghavan who started the final table as the small stack was able to conquer Esfandari with his AA against the Magician’s AK to knock out the obvious crowd favorite. Ravi is now a first time final table player and Champion for a WPT Title!

 

I managed to get back to LA in the morning unharmed and not smelling of old people or smoke.

The LAKE SHOW? With Jay Flats!

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Friday Night I had the pleasure of working with The Laker Youth Foundation as the host for a Laker Watch Party @ ESPN ZONE LA LIVE. After the popularity of the LA Kings 2012 Stanley Cup Playoff Watch Parties the management from Espn Zone asked me to host a regular season gathering for the Lakers while they were on the road facing off against Western Conference Rivals the OKC Thunder. Special Guest for the event was none other Laker Alumni Michael Cooper. Cooper played as a Laker for 12 seasons as a LAKER while scoring over 7700 points, 523 blocks and 3,66 assists. He is currently the Head Coach of the USC Women’s Basketball Team.

 

This event was my rookie debut for the Lake Show. The Main room and bar areas were filled with rowdy Laker fans. Foam fingers and t-shirts were everywhere! Image

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Also in attendance were several current Laker girls including Melissa, Maggie, Karla and Julie.
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Even though the Lakers were unable to finish a late game rally against the dynamic young Thunder team the event was still a huge success benefiting the Laker Youth Foundation. With both the silent auction and $1 raffle ticket sales we were able to raise over $2500 during the event. We raffled off warm-up jerseys, jackets and pants. Some of the top items were signed jerseys and balls.

Big thank you to the fans in attendance, Coach Cooper, The Laker Girls, the staff at The Espn Zone. I hope we can get together again soon for another party.Image

Here I am after a long day…

“Your Los Angeles Kings!” -David Courtney

The LA Kings lost a beloved family member today. David Courtney was a true professional.

“David was tremendously passionate about the Kings, our fans and the game of hockey. His time with the Kings dates back to the mid 1970s both in our PR office as our public relations director and also with work he did in our video department before he took over full-time Public Announcing duties at the Forum and STAPLES Center. In the arena he was an institution – he was the voice of the Kings – and his work added so much to the live, in-game experience for our fans as it did for the Clippers and Angels as well. Next season would have been David’ 35th year with our franchise, and on behalf of the entire Kings organization and AEG we are incredibly saddened by this news and we send our deepest condolences to his wife Janet and the rest of the Courtney family.”

– Kings President, Business Operations Luc Robitaille

I have had the pleasure of working with David over the past 5 seasons in and out of Staples Center. He was always giving good advice and was the easiest person to work with. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to work closely with David and learn from him how to be professional within the sports world. Over the summer we had several chances to just “hang out” with Lord Stanley’s Cup! What an amazing roller coaster all Kings went through this last season with the most EPIC outcome.

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Thank you David Courtney…