bitch bitch bitch

Yesterday evening I went to play some poker at Hollywood Park, which is one of my favorite places to go, and Eric wanted me to write about it. But as an old school poker player, I hate reading and talking about poker sessions. What is an old school player?

• Purchased Supersystem when it was out of print and only available in hardback for $100.
  
• Was playing back when Hold em was called World Series of Poker.
  
• When going to a casino, it was a 50/50 split on Stud and Hold em tables. Most casinos now, you can't even find a Stud game.
  
• Only had two choices to play poker on the strip in Vegas; Monte Carlo and Mirage.
  
• You were the youngest person at the table by at least 30 years.
  
• You could not find clay poker chips at Walmart. When you ordered clay chips they were $1 per chip.
  
• It took months to plan and get enough people for a 16 person tournament.
  
  

There is nothing more annoying to me than some guy telling me about a hand that he lost, or how his pocket Aces didn't hold up. The thing that pisses me off is that it is usually due to improper betting (trying to slowplay a hand or not knowing when to raise) or that the player doesn't realize that he will eventually capitalize on people who try to draw a flush or straight on everyhand. That is why I don't talk to a lot of people at the table when I play, especially at Hollywood Park, because all it turns into is a bitch fest on how people are drawing out on good hands. That's all it seems to be now at the tables, a bunch of men almost in tears, complaining on hands they lost. What the fuck? If you want to complain, which I do at times, take a second to step away from the table, call your brother, and make it quick. When strangers complain to me, I usually make some stupid comments that offend them and it ends very awkwardly, so that is why I just sit there and either read or pick random horses. My method for picking horses has now changed to a junk hand that I have on the button. So if I get a 5-8 on the button, I'll fold and then find a race that has a 5-8 racing and do an exacta box.

I'm at a point in my poker playing life that I have probably lost and won on more strange hands that nothing surprises me so I don't care to much to read, write, or talk about it. So for you poker players that have only been playing for 1-2 years, there is nothing more annoying than listening to you on how you lost on 2 pair to a flush when it was clear that you lost because you bet improperly. There is nothing more annoying that watching you bitch and complain like a little girl when you lose. Shut up, suck it up, and learn from your mistakes. Take a second from your bitching and understand why that guy was able to pull something on the river from you. If you are smart enough, you will either realize that you did something wrong or that the other guy is a bad poker player and it will take a small amount of time to get your money back. Poker used to be played by a group of real men who would take you out back if you complained about losing, and now its played by a bunch of men who find reasons to complain so they can bond with their fellow complainers.

Anyway, I really wanted to talk how the demise of the married man can be blamed on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, but that will have to wait.

A's Notes: Another solid performance by the A's offense, even with Kotsay out with back spasms. Chavez's OPS has been over 1.000 and he fielding 100% better than a couple of weeks ago. Blanton must of seen the writing on the wall after Macha's comments the other day. Too bad its about 3 weeks too late though.

Other Notes: Jay, the top of the 9th of the Sox game might of been one of the ugliest half innings I've seen in sometime.

Picks: Big day today. I like a bunch of games so I will probably go 1-5.

Pittsburgh (Perez vs. Greisinger) +118 - Perez as a underdog at home?
Dodgers (Penny vs. Obermueller) -165 -NyQuil doesn't even have the sleeping power over the combination of Scully and a 2-1 Brewers/Dodgers game.
Cubs (Zambrano vs. Williams) +128 I-'m asking for it here with the Cubs going for a sweep against a very good Padres team. Heard Ron Cey on the radio the other day stating that this Cubs team matches up perfect with the Padres. Whatever, but I'll go with it.
Minnesota (Silva vs. Brown) +122 - In a must win game yesterday the Yanks just barely squeak out a win. I'm just so disappointed with this team.
A's (Haren vs. Gaudin) -138- Hot Hot Hot!!!!!
Indians Under 8 (-110) - I'm really hoping this Indians slide doesn't continue.

Yesterday :3-1 +200

YTD: 9-4 +505