I promised myself that I would wait until I got home tonight to post my review of the trip. However, now that I see Leland's and Derek's reviews up - plus that fact that I am getting NO work done today after the red eye flight - that promise is out the window.
1) Results: Well, I lost again, but only lost the money I "intended" to lose. Had to make an emergency withdrawal just to have a cushion Saturday night - and didn't lose any of that money. So no harm, no foul.
1a) But the best result is that I had great fun. Friday night was a night I won't forget for a long time. Dinner, gambling, instant messaging with a stranded friend still sitting at the slots at Imperial Palace because he can't cross the street.. good times. Even if that was after the St Patrick's Day Massacre.
2) I have to echo Derek's comments about the Monte Carlo. A disappointing experience. Some examples:
a) Derek & I at the craps table Thu morning - 6 am? - and NO service at all for drinks. None.
b) The sports book lines were horrendous. Period. I know a lot of the people betting are novices, but you shouldn't be in line at 8:15 for a 9:20 tipoff and seriously wonder if you will get the bets in on time.
c) I lost a pot in poker when the dealer dealt the turn before I called.....the resulting "do-over" caused me to lose. Yes, I am a bit bitter.
d) Why are all the table games surrounded by slots? I don't want to hear bells and whistles when splitting 7's.
The funny thing is that Kermit and Steve (who was absent this trip, due to twins born in November) were trying to convince me to get reservations elsewhere, and Don is not overly impressed with the Monte. I think we will be somewhere else next year.
3) I should just throw a dart against the wall when doing NCAA B picks. I think I overthought too much. Friday I went 5-14, including a stellar 1-9 in the morning session. If you are betting $11 a game, it's not bad; if you are betting $77 a game, and are getting scoring updates during that losing streak on the golf course - well, it makes you a little queasy. Argh. Final result: 27-37-1 over the 4 days. More post-mortem analysis on this to come.
4) This was the least amount of time I spent gambling at the tables - and surprisingly, I have no regrets. I avoided any "international incidents" (like from 2003, losing $700 at one sitting at a craps table), and that was a plus. I see what Kermit did this trip - he treated it more like a vacation, visiting the spa each day - not a bad idea at all.
5) I'm glad Don could come; we had lots of fun and Don certainly enjoyed everyone's company. (I'm sure he can speak for himself in the comments, especially about his big "win" Friday night at dinner. By the way - how does he answer co-workers who ask how he did at Vegas? He was up a small amount in "real gambling", but down $600 for the trip....) And Wiz - Don is expecting some lessons from you on $1/$2 no-limit so that the drunk college kids can be an ATM for him as well.
5a) Kermit, again, was a source of great entertainment on the trip as well - sorry your stay was too short. We will change that next year, won't we? Next time you'll know not to clean your ball when lifting (Rule 22!) And Steve and I will monitor you at all times to make sure you stay away from "Flaming 7s". Jees, I have to monitor Kermit, Derek, Wiz....
5b) And, of course, it was great to gamble with Derek, Leland, Wiz (I'm embarrassed to say that I forgot how much fun he is to gamble with) and especially Carol. Great form and poise at the craps table for the rookie from Arizona.
6) If you thought the Monte Carlo dealers were crap, you should see the Aladdin staff. Wow. Gives new meaning to "Crusty, bitter old men".
7) About the notebook - the notebook is there to keep track of results for each gaming session and where all the money goes. My two roommates have the same diary; they may a little more conspicuous in their note-taking.
8) I can't believe I didn't open the trip with a Tom Collins. The whole trip got better results-wise after that Tom Collins on Friday night. Damn.
9) I've got to pace myself better. Every trip to Vegas I do this - stay up too late, get up too early, and by the 3rd night (Saturday) I am D-E-A-D. Sorry I missed the steakhouse; I felt like I was about to fall asleep at the dinner table with Kermit. I've got to get more sleep during the trip.
10) What can I say about Card Sharks? What a great game - it's a shame the MGM is going to take it away. I need to start a petition to keep it alive somewhere - maybe Circus Circus would be the right place for it. It's a perfect game for drunk men to yell "Higher!" "Lower!" "Change that Card!".
And we heard the impossible at the table - the dealer yelling "One Black Out" to Don on Sunday evening. I bet Don's $100 chip from Card Sharks has been sitting in that rack since January.
11) $10 craps is not for me. It's much more enjoyable to play $5 craps when planning long sessions.
12) About the 16-vs-10 incident; I didn't mind it so much that he did that, but the way he acted while staying on 16. It felt like he was being arrogant, thinking he knows more than us rubes about the "book". If he defused the situation by joking it off, saying "I know it is wrong, but it is one of my personal rules - I hope you don't mind", it would have warmed him up with the group. But the air of superiority when he did it just reeked of Ivy-league arrogance that I abhor.
13) Don and I found our new jobs when we retire and have our wives support us at age 50: setting obscure lines at the books. Like, for instance, someone needs to set Women's second round lines in a timely manner. We knew that Purdue and UCLA would meet in the second round - a game set for Tuesday - at 2 pm Pacific; as of 8 pm Pacific, no line was set. (Don visited 3 casinos for the line; no luck). C'mon - 6 hours is more than enough time.
(By the way, if you had the Lady Southern Jaguars and +68.5 points, you still lost).
14) Finally, about my wardrobe: you can make fun of it all you want, but here is the quote from Leland Saturday night:
"It is clear that Eric is the more well-dressed of the Zahn brothers."
I rest my case.
I know I've forgotten many other moments on this trip; I'll fill comments in this post and others with those.
3 comments:
5a - did you actually call a penalty while playing golf?
Staying on 16 - why I order Jack Daniels on the rocks in LV. So I can't break a beer bottle on the table and grind it in someone's mug. I can't imagine what would result if I was arrogance. You guys must have the patience of Saints (or the drunkedness of Aaron Brooks).
Wow, what a trip. Would have posted last night, but needed to spend some time with my wife (I didn't forget everything in Vegas).
1) Going in I expected to win at Poker and lose everywhere else. The exact opposite happened.
2) I can only take Poker in 2-3 hour segments. After that my brain needs a rest to get refocused.
3) I have GOT to learn the No Limit Cash game (completely different than Limit). Wiz, you were right, its an ATM machine waiting for a withdrawl.
4) Eric and Kermit don't hit the range in the winter, I do. Always bet on me in the early spring. Wiz, glad I could help you out.
5) Yes, we called the penalty on the course. It was obvious and blatant. I even told Kermit not to clean his ball but he claims to not have heard me.
6) The Monte was ok, its just that there are better places.
7) My new favorite game, Pai Gow.
8) A special thanks to Leland, Wiz and Derek for picking up my dinner on Saturday. A class move. Looking forward to gambling with you guys next year.
9) I hate that continuously dispensing shuffling machine at the Mirage BJ table. Why should I trust the casino here? Cards go in one end and poof, come out the other. Please keep all cards in plain view for all to see.
10) $5 craps is where its at, except for the horrific dealers at the Aladdin.
11) Its Tuesday morning. I got 8 continuous hours of sleep last night, and I still hurt. Now thats the sign of a good trip.
rrd: The golf incident occured on the 18th green in a match that was all square. I started dancing and yelling from the front bunker when I learned what Kermit did (Kermit and Don were both behind the green).
The 16-vs-10 incident did turn ugly. I'm sure you've read Derek's post; there was a inescapable feeling of tension and anger for the next 10-20 minutes.
And I am still tired, even after 8.5 hours of sleep.
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