DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “If a man has done his best, what else is there?”

While it’s nice to be back in Vegas from Montana, I’ll barely get unpacked before it’s time for Todd and I to go to Macau for 9 or 10 days.  We are going to play in the APT and look things over.  I’ve heard a lot about China but have never been.  We’ll be taking a helicopter tour of Hong Kong before we settle in Macau. It’s a long flight to China but worth it since it might be a while before we can go back.  My pal Jack Binion is going with us and he knows his way around because he worked there with Steve Wynn for 6 months.

My toy poodle, Casper, injured himself in Montana.  He was chasing the golf cart I was driving and ran into a hidden hole, dislocating his left shoulder.  We have to do our best to keep him inactive, but it is impossible.  When he gets excited, he is as quick as that Jamaican runner, “Lightning” Bolt.  I hope he doesn’t hurt himself again.  He did add two more victims to his “bite list” while we were in Montana.

The Olympics have really slowed down the poker games, both live and online poker tournaments.  Everyone watches NBC every night instead of playing poker.  I don’t blame them because I get goosebumps watching the great athletes compete.  I even found myself cheering for Misty May and her partner in the beach volleyball finals.  That was the first time I had ever seen that sport and it was cool.  I can’t wait until the distance races start but I’m afraid I’ll miss them on this trip to China.

I hate to miss the Bike tournament because that is where I won my only WPT event.  I’ve always been partial to the Bicycle Club from the old days when George Hardy ran it.  I won lots of money there so that probably makes me fonder of it.

I heard Daniel N. got all the money in his golf matches.  I don’t know how, because his caddy talked to me and said Daniel asked him if he could get to the green with a 5-iron.  His caddy told him “Eventually”.

-DB

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “The One thing you can give and still keep is…your word.”

Looks like everything is winding down now in the poker world.  The WSOP is over for now and the Bellagio WPT is over.  Most of the cash game players are leaving town and so I am finally going to get to Montana for a much needed rest.  I guess I will drive for two days where I can take my dogs; plus loading the Escalade down with stuff I’m going to need.  I’ve hired a house sitter to take care of things while I am gone.

Congratulations to the WPT winners.  I was pulling for David Benyamine to win but his second place finish along with Ralph Perry’s fourth place upholds ‘The Big Game’s’ honor.  I saw when David lost a couple of tough hands in the heads-up.  I’m sure Mike Watson is a worthy champion even though I haven’t played with him that I can remember.

I see where the WPT has been signed on by Fox Sports Network.  That is probably a good move for them even though I have some personal problems with the Network.  They went back on their word on an issue a few years back.  I didn’t understand it at the time and still don’t.  Their excuse was ‘business is business’.  Most folks don’t put the same value on keeping their word as I do.  I might not play in any more WPT tournaments but that would probably be stupid on my part.  I remember the old saying, “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.”

If you haven’t played online poker at DoylesRoom you haven’t lived.  We have a rabbit cam that flashes what the next card would have been after you or your opponent folds; just another way to torture yourself and second guess what you should have done.  Just go to options and check ‘show rabbit cam cards’ and you will see how much fun it is to see what would have happened.  Just another improvement on what I believe is the best poker software in the poker sites.

I’m pretty sure we are going to have another golf tournament on ESPN in early October.  High Stakes Entertainment secured a golf course near Orlando, Florida for the event.  That is a good choice because the players can bring their families for a nice vacation.  There are many theme parks, including Disney World, nearby.  There has to be at least a Two Million Dollar prize pool so it will be interesting to say the least.

My autobiography has been put on hold for another year.  My publisher didn’t think the book was ready yet.  It wasn’t my decision but I feel badly for my co-author, Mike Cochran, who has put a lot of time and effort into getting the book written.  Mike is an old friend from way back in college but there is really nothing I can do about it.  Actually it will be easier on me to wait because my plate is full for the next few months and I couldn’t promote the book like they want me to.

I’ve been watching the Maverick Marathon I tivoed during the WSOP.   The Starz Network had a 24 hour showing from the Western Channel on DSS.  They had a lot of poker players giving their remembrances of the series starring James Garner and Jack Kelley.  They had more shots of me than anyone else because I was the only one old enough to remember when Maverick first came on in 1957.  Scotty Nguyen, Hoyt Corkins, Mike Caro, Vanessa Russo, and T. J. Cloutier all had spots on the promos.  What I don’t understand is not one person has ever mentioned seeing it on T.V.  So many folks come up and say, “I watch you on T.V. all the time.”  Could it be that I am the only cowboy left? 

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “Failure is caused more by lack of determination than lack of talent.”

The worst day of the year is usually when you get knocked out of the Main Event.  This year for me it was a relief to get it over with.  I spent three days signing books and autographs on the stage of the Expo.  It was 4-5 hours and I felt totally exhausted when it was over.  I’ve never felt like not playing any form of poker as I did when I sat down for the first hand.  I guess we live and learn and I’ll never work like that before a poker game again.  I was embarrassed by the way I played but there isn’t much you can do with no enthusiasm.  Poker is so much mental but you can’t go back, only forward.

I’m trying to get enough energy to get to Montana and try to regroup.  Maybe this is just part of getting old but I’ve always laughed at people when they said they were tired.  I guess I was blessed with great endurance but it is catching up to me now.

Well, that’s enough whimpering about me.  When I look at the leaders in the WSOP I only recognize a few names.  I’m pulling for all the pros that are left but it is going to be extremely difficult.  It was good to see the number of entries didn’t go down and if the internet sites ever get going again, there is no telling where the WSOP will go.

My daughter, Pam, didn’t get to play at the WSOP because she had to have a stomach hernia repaired.  It’s too bad because she was really looking forward to it.  To make matters worse, her little toy poodle has a life threatening illness that the doctors can’t pin point.  I feel terrible for her because I know she is a real dog lover as I am.

The title of “The Last Brunson Standing” goes to Todd’s wife, Anjela, who made it to the second day with over 40,000 in chips.  Besides being a pretty good poker player, I think she is one of the best looking women poker players.  I am going down tomorrow to cheer her on.  Someone has to hold up the family name.  Todd and I certainly didn’t.

Country Western singer Andy Griggs who is representing DoylesRoom did himself proud by making it to the second day with over 60,000 in chips.  Andy sang the National Anthem one day and a song off his new album, “It’s All About The Money” the next day.  Andy hasn’t played much poker so I’ll be there to root for him along with Anjela. – DB

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “In order to see the rainbow, you have to endure the rain.”

Hooray. I can’t believe I’m here. Montana is finally a reality. Louise and I flew in a couple of nights ago and it’s even better than I remember. The temperature is 50 degrees and it is misting rain and even a little snow at night. Everything is just beginning to turn green after a hard winter. I actually like this overcast weather because it is something we never see in Vegas.

After I got settled into my house near Rollins I looked out of my office at a beautiful sight. We are on the Flathead Lake, the biggest natural lake West of the Mississippi, and it looked like a picture postcard with the sky blue water of the lake framed by the snowcapped mountains. Flathead Lake is about 50 miles long and 12 miles wide. It is 400 feet deep in some spots and that is a lot of water. It is fed by natural springs and snow melting off the mountains. They tell me it completely empties out and refills with new water every four years as opposed to the 20 years it takes most lakes. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost two years since I was here. My grandson Jeff and his family live here and does a great job taking care of our numerous properties here.

You haven’t lived until you have flown commercial with two very spoiled dogs. Casper and Cutie didn’t like the idea of having to stay zipped up in their bags and everyone on the plane knew about it as they barked, growled and whined all the way. The stewardess had to make me put Casper back in his case after I tried to hold him. We have always flown private when we take the dogs, but with the high cost of gasoline it has gotten very expensive so we decided to try our luck with a commercial flight. Never again! If I don’t want to pay for a private plane, I’ll drive. Casper got even when we went over to one of our properties near Lakeside. Jeff was fixing up the house and one of the workmen tried to pet him and Casper bit his 40th victim.

There were deer running everywhere and wild turkeys were walking down by the spring-fed stream that cascades across our yard on its way to the Lake. I love watching the dogs chase the Canadian Geese [reminded me of Daniel] off our yard. After an afternoon of watching them romp on the lush grass, I told Louise I sure would like to have another puppy. She went ballistic and screamed at me, “Another dog like Casper would send me to an early grave.” I jokingly told her, “too late, that ship has already sailed.” She didn’t think that was funny and she gave me the silent treatment the rest of the day. She thought she was punishing me, little did she know I really enjoyed it. – DB

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “I’m trying to become the person my dog thinks I am.”

I’ve been a dog lover all my life. I’ve had everything from a Toy Poodle (Casper, my dog now) to a German Shepherd, and they are all great dogs. They don’t care if you are winner or loser, sick or well, rich or poor. They give you unconditional love and welcome you home every time you leave. So when Jennifer Harman asked me to go to an event for homeless dogs, I went. The press was there in force, so you will see it on TV if you look for it. What a great facility! Each dog up for adoption had his own kennel. No animal is put to sleep unless they are completely hopeless. I went through looking at all the great dogs. One brown terrier came bounding over to me, pawing at his cage, licking my hand and trying to get to me. I petted him for a while and noticed that all the dogs have their name on their cage. As I started to leave, I looked at the name and he was named Chip. I almost lost it when I read that.

There has been a game every night at Bobby’s Room at the Bellagio since we lowered the limits. We have taken out most of the no-limit and pot-limit games, and it seems that is what most of the players want. Anything suits me, just to keep the action going.

It’s my understanding the World Poker Tour is going to have a special event at the upcoming tournament at the Bellagio. They are going to give very nice bracelets to all the WPT winners from the last six years. I think that is a nice gesture, but it seems like it is copying the WSOP and their race for bracelets. I have a WPT win from the Legends Tournament, so some member of my family will get another bracelet. The only bracelet I’ve ever worn is the one that the Bellagio gave me for the tournament that bears my name. It’s very light and has my Stetson outlined with diamonds. I like it a lot.

Also, I understand they are going to have a tribute to Chip Reese during the party. That fine, Chip certainly deserves everything the poker world can give his memory. The only problem is they expect me to speak again and it just starts the hurt again for me. I guess I’ll suck it up and tell again what a special person Chip was. – DB

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