Rags to Riches: A Quixotic Journey to the '05 WSOP

Dumbass

2005-05-12T19:57:00.000-07:00

So far this week, I've broken rules 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8. I'll probably break #6 tomorrow. Good start so far. Wish me luck. bankroll = $60. Sponsor = $500. Public embarrasment = Priceless.

The Bankroll.

2005-05-09T16:43:00.000-07:00

Of course, all players must have a bankroll. You know, money set aside for poker playing. To make this just a little more interesting, I've started with $100 stake on Party Poker. Let's see if I can make my entry money by poker playing alone. Some of the parameters that I will follow are only playing in games where my bankroll is equal to 200 times the small blind. In this case, I can play in .50-$1.00 games and 5$ tournaments. I started with $100 on friday. As of this afternoon, I'm up to $213.63. At this point $2,000-$500 sponsor money-$213.63 bankroll=$1,286.37 to go! Maybe this IS doable.

I got a sponsor!

2005-05-08T19:35:00.000-07:00

That's right folks! My first sponsor. Remember, I'm trying to raise up about $2,000 bucks in the next month. I picked up my first sponsor when The Pen Guys, the company I work for, picked up about $500 of the tab. What do they get for that? Well, much like Chico's Bail Bonds sponsoring The Bad News Bears, They get their name on my hat and t-shirt. Don't forget, there's a chance that I might be seen on T.V. Last year's final table in the event I'm entering was aired on ESPN. They also show preliminary tables of interest on the same show. Who knows? Maybe you would like to sponsor me also? Let me want to know what you want me to do for your sponsorship and I will probably do it. Talents: Ummm, I'm a singer/guitar player. I'm uninhibited when it comes to doing what I need to do to get what I want. Maybe I could wear some of yo' fancy stuff too! E-mail me a request at bub66ohm@gmail.com. We are down to $1,500 kids! A quarter of the way there...

The Event

2005-05-06T19:50:00.000-07:00

Here is the event:

EVENT 4 TEXAS HOLD’EM (LIMIT)$1,500 BUY-INSunday, June 5, 2005, 12 P.M. SCHEDULE OF PLAY

LEVEL
BLINDS
LIMITS
1ST
$25-$25
$25-$50
2ND
$25-$50
$50-$100
3RD
$50-$100
$100-$200
4TH
$75- $150
$150- $300
Remove $25 Chips
5TH
$100-$200
$200-$400
6TH
$200-$300
$300-$600
7TH
$200-$400
$400-$800
8TH
$300-$600
$600-$1,200
9TH
$400-$800
$800-$1,600
Remove $100 Chips
10TH
$500-$1,000
$1,000-$2,000
11TH
$1,000-$1,500
$1,500-$3,000
Remove $500 Chips
12TH
$1,000-$2,000
$2,000-$4,000
13TH
$2,000-$3,000
$3,000-$6,000
14TH
$2,000-$4,000
$4,000-$8,000
15TH
$3,000-$5,000
$5,000-$10,000
16TH
$3,000-$6,000
$6,000-$12,000
17TH
$4,000-$8,000
$8,000-$16,000
Remove $1000 Chips
18TH
$5,000-$10,000
$10,000-$20,000
19TH
$10,000-$15,000
$15,000-$30,000
20TH
$10,000-$20,000
$20,000-$40,000
21ST
$15,000-$25,000
$25,000-$50,000
22ND
$20,000-$30,000
$30,000-$60,000
23RD
$20,000-$40,000
$40,000-$80,000
Players begin with $1,500 in tournament chips. All levels up to the final table will last 60 minutes. Final table levels will be 90 minutes. A 60-minute dinner break will follow level 6. Play will last the first day until we are down to the final table or upon completion of the 12th level (whichever comes first). Play will resume at 2 PM on June 6, 2005. 5% of the total entry pool will be withheld for the house. 3% of the total entry pool will be withheld for tournament staff.
2004 REIGNING CHAMPION
Aaron Katz $236,000
NUMBER OF 2004 ENTRIES 610

Things That I Should Probably Do To Avoid Embarrasing Myself In A Public Forum

2005-05-05T20:11:00.000-07:00

1. Stay off of drugs. Pretty simple no? Well, for most of you that would be a simple yes. I'm not so simple. I will read this everyday to remind myself.

2. Pass on refreshing alcoholic beverages. #2 on this list usually leads to #1. Besides, I need to keep a clear head.

3. Keep my son's crazy mother and her family at arm's length. I can't avoid her totally, seeing as they have my son. They like nothing better than messing with me, I will just have to keep it about my son.

4. Save money! Duh!

5. Play smart. If I go on tilt or am getting too tired, stop. Nothing but bad can happen when I get like this.

6. Avoid machines at the casino. A definite no-no if I'm going to put money away. Those goddamned video poker machines own me.

7. Stay focused. Don't get off on any strange tangents, i.e. new women, obsessions, or addictions.

8. Do what I say I'm going to do.

9. Pray.

10. Oh yeah, have fun!

What in the hell is this?

2005-05-04T20:31:00.000-07:00

Great Question! My goal since last year was to play in the 2005 World Series of Poker. No, not the main event. Although that would be nice. No, I just want to play in one of the preliminary events. A $1,500 buy in event. A limit poker tournament. Of course, life doesn't always go the way we plan. Especially not in my world. Women, drugs, alcohol, and natural acts of God have all conspired to sway me from my dream. Now I find myself up against it. I have one month to come up with $2,000 for my buy in and accomodations. Follow along as I try to make my dream a reality.