DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “It’s choice, not chance, that determines our destiny.”

The most I had ever paid for a hamburger was $10, which I thought was foolish.  Yesterday, I went to Red Rock Casino to go to a movie with my pal Jack Binion.  We stopped in a gourmet hamburger place in the Red Rock and got a $14.75 burger.  It was a big restaurant but almost completely empty.  The way the economy is right now, this is going to be tough for them to survive.  The first thing people cut out is going out for lunch and dinner.  I personally would rather have a whopper from Burger King, anyway.

The election is finally over and I’m glad.  Martin Luther King said that someday, men would be judged by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin.  Looks like that day has come; with Obama being our first African-American president.  I voted for McCain because of some personal beliefs, but now that America has spoken, Obama is my president and I’ll support him in any way that I can.  I can only hope he will be able to turn our country around.  President Obama is one of the best speakers I’ve ever heard.

I get asked a lot where I get the Doylisms I use to start my blog.  A few of them are from me, but most of them are from things that I have read.  They come from all walks of life and from different folks.  I read a lot when I have time and I’ve taken the thoughts of a lot of authors, all the way from Will Rogers to Winston Churchill.  There is a lot of wisdom in books if we take the time to find it.

I didn’t go to Foxwoods for their WPT tournament.  Besides the fact I’m trying to stop traveling so much, my plate is so full now I don’t have any time.  I have to do a book signing at the Rio that I committed to and also have to appear in their “pro pit”.  The Hall of Fame induction is Sunday and I have to make the introduction speech for my pal Dewey Tomko.  I also have to do two shows for the Real Deal because most of their pros are out of town.  I’m also addressing some issues with Microgaming, DoylesRoom’s software provider.  Everything will work out, but it takes time and effort.

Daniel:  What do I do wrong?

Caddie: Sir, you spend so much time in bunkers, you get mail addressed to Hitler!

-DB

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “Remember that great achievements sometimes involve great risks.”

Back from London and feeling like that train ran over me again. My wife wanted to go upstairs and make love.  I told her to choose one or the other, I couldn’t do both.  I don’t think I was completely over my trip to Macau but I felt I had to go to WSOPE.  There were lots of improvements over last year and whoever was responsible for the structure of the games should be complimented.  There was tons of play because the limits went up very slowly.  Also, there was only one casino hosting the event, which made it easier.

I know London is supposed to have great food, I just haven’t found it.  My favorite spot was Subway, which was located next to my hotel.  Of course it is twice as expensive, but so is everything else over there.  I thought I played good because I went deep in all three of the poker tournaments I played in.  One thing I noticed was how much better the Europeans play Hold’em.  The Scandinavian players, and there were 5 of them at my table in the main event, were really impressive.  The last I heard, John Juanda was the only American left.

In the HORSE tournament there were 8 American pros at my table.  Talk about a bad draw!  Chad Brown, Max Pescatori, John Juanda and 4 other pros were waiting on me.  I really don’t mind who is at my table for HORSE because most of the guys have at least one bad game.

I played last year’s WSOP Main Event winner, Annette Obrestad, in a heads-up match for ESPN.  We started with 20,000 dollars each and it was supposed to be two out of three, but I held some lucky cards and beat her the first two.  She seemed to be comfortable and played well.  It was a good thing for poker that she won the 2007 WSOPE.

I just watched the vice presidential candidates and was impressed with both.  Palin was supposed to take a beating but she held her won.  It will be interesting to see who the media thought won.  I read Lee Watkinson’s blog and I’m glad to see another poker player get passionate about politics.  I always have e-mails and discussions with Daniel Negreanu and Eric Seidel.  Of course, I was a George W. Bush man last election, so I’m listening to everyone now.  I still haven’t made up my mind but everyone should get out and vote.

-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: “You never test the depth of the water with both feet.”

The more I read and hear about the upcoming presidential election, the more confused I am. It looks like McCain is going to be the GOP nominee. My problem with him is his age and his opposition to gambling. I admire his record and have great admiration for that part of his life, but how can I vote for anyone that is against gambling?

It’s probably going to be Hillary or Obama for the Democrats. I think Obama has a lot of charisma and I hear he plays poker. I like that but some of the other things I read really upset me. I don’t know what is exactly true but I am going to research some things. Was his mother an atheist? Was Obama raised as a Muslim? Is it true his church won’t allow white people? All I know is where there is smoke, there is usually fire. Hillary seems to be the most qualified candidate but I can’t deny the fact that it bothers me that she is a woman. I thought Bill Clinton was a great president and he would be a plus if she is elected. I don’t know yet how I’m going to vote.

Watching the news about all the storms back in the south, it takes me back to my childhood in Texas. We had an underground cellar where we went many a time when we had tornado watches, those things are really scary. I saw houses leveled and completely destroyed. I know that my brother in law swears a tornado picked up one his cows, carried it over a mile away and sat it down unharmed. My grandson lives in Montana where my family has a lot of property and the snow has the roads impassable. Whatever, I am glad I am here where there are no tornados, no snow, and most of the time, great weather.

I’m still trying to get out of this funk I’ve been in for the past six weeks. Try as hard as I can, it seems I sit around doing nothing and feeling depressed. Tuesday, I’m heading to Los Angeles and the Commerce Casino for the WPT tournament. I’ll be there for three weeks and I’m going to play a lot of poker. -DB