DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “In the valley of the blind, the one eyed man is king.”

The Celebrity Apprentice is over. What a joke! If Donald Trump was really hiring someone, who do you think he would pick? I think that when Joan Rivers threatened to not come back, Trump assured her she would be the winner. That’s just my opinion, but they certainly got great ratings for the show. I thought it was impossible for anyone to outtalk Annie, but Joan started screaming everytime Annie tried to say anything and Trump allowed it. As to the remark about Annie’s friends being in the Mafia, I’m from Texas and we have possums, raccoons and skunks. There is no such animal as Mafia down there. I like everyone on the show (even Melissa) except the winner. But it goes back to the old saying, “That’s why they make chocolate and vanilla.”

The month before the WSOP is the slowest time of the year for poker. Everyone is home preparing for the long grind that’s coming. It will be interesting to see how the recession affects the number of players in each event. Because of the internet poker sites sending players, I feel it won’t be down more than 10-20 percent from last year. I’ve always said the best barometer of the economy is the poker players. If they have money, the economy is ok, if they don’t, look out because hard times are coming.

I’m completely lost on what is going on in the gambling world. Since I had this sinus lift by the dentist, I’ve hardly gone out of the house. I don’t know if there is any golf action but I’m pretty sure there hasn’t been any poker games. Mostly because of boredom, I’ve been betting on the NBA playoffs with terrible results. I thought the Lakers would be the champion but now I can’t see anyone beating Cleveland. But the way I’m going you should bet against that.

We have two bounty tournaments at DoylesRoom, Doyle’s Bounty and Beat The Brunsons. It is a pleasant break to play in those every week. I don’t do too well in these tourneys but my daughter Pam is smoking. I think I probably get too impatient.

I also was supposed to go to Montana for Todd’s tournament. My face is so black and blue and sore, I’ve decided to stay home. I was really looking forward to going because that is my favorite place in the whole world. It reminds me of Texas when I was growing up. Everybody knows everybody and folks will help you in any way they can. Great place and the temperature was 44 degrees last night.

-DB

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “Success comes in cans. Failure comes in can’ts.”

Every time I get discouraged I remember what my dad used to tell me.  He said:  “You can’t win if you don’t begin.”  I went out early in the $10K Limit tournament and felt bad because I not only couldn’t win a hand, I was moved to Phil Ivey’s table and we played props and I lost almost $200K to him as he went broke before I did.  Then I took off yesterday and played in a great cash game where I sailed off $150K more.  It’s pretty hard now to go play in a $5K stud 8 or better tournament but I guess I have to put my bad times behind me and go try.  It seems to be harder to regroup as I get older.

On the bright side, my sister and her family visited and it’s always good to see them.  Also two cousins I hadn’t seen for a long time were here and that was nice.  I also feel physically strong and keep swimming each morning so maybe I’ll turn things around.

I hedged my series bet on the Celtics.  I took the Lakers +4 ½ points for $70K and if I lose it, I will win a $100K bet on the series.   It is nice to get in position like this because you can middle these games.  Obviously it is hard to get here but the way I’m running, I prefer to cinch a win.

I’m trying to fix my schedule where I will be well rested for the $50K HORSE Tournament because that is the big one for most of the pros.  The $10K main event is so large; it’s unlikely any of the pros will ever have a chance to win it.  It will be special for me because they are going to name the $50K HORSE after my pal Chip Reese, so I’m bringing my A game when they ring the bell for that one. – DB

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “To ignore the facts does not change the facts.”

I read Daniel’s blog and he is right about he and I having some heated emails back and forth about the upcoming Presidential election. At least we are both concerned about what is happening in the United States. He is 100% for Obama and while I am actually leaning that way myself, I get hot under the collar when anybody is totally adamant about controversial things. It is actually funny, and here is the last email between us until yesterday. Daniel had just called me a naive old man.

Daniel: Obama has accomplished 50 times more than Hillary in the Senate – in much less time. He, from the beginning, was against the war in Iraq – Hillary voted for it. He is by far the candidate that would change the world view of America. The less people that hate America the less enemies you create around the world. He has a lot of work to do cleaning up George W’s mess.

Doyle: I don’t want to continue these discussions because I think you are the naive one when you say things like this. Obama’s record is a disaster and not anywhere close to Hillary, much less 50 times better. You are one hard-headed Canadian and won’t change one idea when you think you are right. At least I look at both sides and say, “Well, maybe.” I guess that is why you are an excellent poker player – you go with your gut. I often wondered where Todd came from. Now I know your parents had another baby boy and slipped him into the Brunson crib because you sound exactly like him.

Isn’t that hilarious? We sound just like two college kids having a bull session. All I know is something had better happen in America in a hurry or we are going to have some hard times. $5 a gallon gasoline is just around the corner.

After going to the dentist and having three teeth filled, I came back home in time to bet on my next door neighbor, Lebron James as his Cleveland team took on the Boston Celtics. I took nine points and went over 179 and never came close on either bet. These NBA playoffs have been a nightmare for me. One thing for sure, I’m not betting against the Lakers anymore. Kobe Bryant is awesome. He may be better than Michael Jordan was and that’s really saying something.

By the way, Daniel, as my son Todd told you, go back to Canada. You aren’t even a USA Citizen! – DB

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it’s called the present.”

I don’t like writing about unpleasant stuff but in the last month or so lots of bad things have been coming my way. I’ve always heard that deaths come 3 at a time and while I don’t believe in that mumbo-jumbo stuff, I am amazed how often it seems to be true. After Chip Reese died, it was two weeks and then I heard that one of my college teammates, Garland Proffit, had passed. We called him the “gentle giant” because he was 6′11″ tall and a very passive man. Then, this morning, I got a call from Texas that my high school girlfriend had died. I hope that ends the death calls for a while. The older we get I guess the more of them we will get.

We finally had a game at Bobby’s Room at the Bellagio. Guy Laliberte, the owner of “Cirque du Soleil”, and listed by Forbes as the 562nd richest man in the world, came to town from Canada and sparked the local pros because Guy is an action person. Not only that he makes almost two million dollars each and every day from his shows, he can play as high as anyone wants and it doesn’t matter to him.

I saw his automobile when I parked on the valet. It was a Bugatti, or something like that. The engine was open in the back of the car; it looked like an airplane engine. This car is supposedly the fastest car in the world and there are only like 50 of them. When I got inside, I asked Guy how much did that thing cost. He told me $1,400,000! I asked him what happens if something goes wrong with the car. I know it has to be a big problem getting it serviced. He replied, “Oh, I bought two of them so I would have a back up”. LOL.

I was embarrassed to drive my 2 year old Lincoln Town Car up beside his car. I wonder what it would be like to have that much money.

The game was great but I still don’t feel up to par, so I took my own advice “If you aren’t at your best, you shouldn’t play.” I quit $60k loser, but had mixed feelings about my decision to quit. Games like this one don’t come along everyday. The pots were huge and everyone was really gambling, but you gotta do what you think is best. If you don’t, you will never survive in high stakes poker.

If you’ve been watching any NBA, you can see how great a player my next door neighbor is. LeBron James is going to be the greatest player of all time. He is absolutely amazing. I get all the NBA games on DSS and I watch him every night. He is only 22 years old and is a complete player with all the skills. Also, seems to be a nice kid with his head on straight.-DB