DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “Two people can look at exactly the same thing and see something different.”

Today is Pearl Harbor Day. I remember it well when as an 8-year-old farmboy, my parents called me in to listen to the news on our old radio. War is such a terrible thing, we sometimes forget how costly it is in money and lives. I remember reading how we lost more American lives in Gettysburg than we lost in the entire Vietnam War. The Civil War was really dumb.

I’m not sure if I have the swine flu or not, but I certainly have some kind of bug. I’ve been taking flu shots for 20 years and have never had the flu since I started taking them. So this must be some kind of a different strain but I don’t have fever which goes along with the swine stuff. I’ll kick it in a few days, my immune system has always been strong.

I had a fundraiser for Congressman Pete King from New York at my home this past week. The Congressman is the strongest Republican supporter of the Barney Frank bill asking that online poker be legalized. All the interested poker players should Google Pete King and make a contribution to his campaign fund. We need all the help we can get in Washington.

It’s great to be home sleeping in my own bed. I’ve traveled so much this past year I’ve forgotten what a great family (and dogs) I’ve got. I’m going to do my best to curtail my traveling next year (even though I just made my airline reservations to London in January).

The tournament at the Bellagio is getting lots of players. Deservedly so, because I love the structure of the different tourneys. The slow structure makes for better players to be at the final tables which makes the TV shows better watching. And make no mistake about it, television is the main reason poker has done so well the past few years.

I keep getting Holiday cards from friends everywhere. That’s great, I appreciate them, but at the Brunson house it’s “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year”. Remember, Christmas celebrates Jesus Christ’s birthday!

-DB

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “Everyone has a gift, let it take you as far as it can.”

I enjoy reading other poker player’s blogs. I like reading the thoughts of the younger guys and their problems because I’ve been through just about all of what they say. So when I read Daniel Negreanu’s blog about the fact that he was unsure of what he wanted to do with his life. I thought to myself it’s too late for that little buddy. You are a poker player and it’s too late in life to do anything else. I went through the same struggles and then one day woke up that nobody has as good a life as poker players. I particularly like Lee Watkinson’s blog as he says what he thinks. Everybody likes Lee’s controversial remarks as evidenced by all the comments at the bottom of his page. Enjoy being poker players guys.

December is right around the corner and that month has lots of bad memories for me, but also some great Christmas times. Chip Reese and Benny Binion both died in December along with a host of high school and college friends. Also, Dec. 7th is when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor where my Dad’s brother was killed. I’ve lived through lots of wars, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and the latest wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and I lost family and friends in the 1st three. We still have our freedom and have a lot to be thankful as Thanksgiving approaches for all the sacrifices our military forces have made.

I look like I’ve been in a fight. The dermatologist took off nine spots on my face. He froze eight and removed a skin cancer off my lip. Now I can enjoy the fun stuff this week. I go to the dentist for some implants and later I get a colonoscopy. Can’t wait!

Time marches on. That’s something every poker player has to be aware of. I try to monitor my play regularly because of my age. I’m lucky to still be hanging in there but as I’ve always said, poker players tend to lose at least part of their game after reaching the age of 50. Even though I won 16 straight in TV cash games, I seem to have reverted to a defensive style of play that I’m not comfortable with. Even though the way your opponent plays dictates the way you play, I’ve found myself not following my instincts as I’ve always done. The truth is some of these “pros” play so bad in these games it’s hard to lose. More importantly, it seems I’m almost breaking even in the big cash games at the Bellagio.

Are today’s players better than the old timers? Nah, different but not better. I’ve always advised people to play at the level you can win at. I’m not sure I can move down and play in the smaller games. I’m going to give myself plenty of time, but if I don’t win in 2010, I’m gonna do it.

-DB

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “May the work that you have be the play that you love.”

There is finally some poker action in Bobby’s Room at the Bellagio.  We have lowered the stakes and more players are coming in. It’s really dumb to play so high no one except the ultra rich guys can play. I was completely exhausted when I got through traveling but after playing poker for 4 straight days, I feel great again. It is really amazing how playing helps me. I guess I’m a junkie after all these years.

DoylesRoom.com is putting on a “Twitter Followers Freeroll”  because I’ve got over 100,000 followers on Twitter. The winner gets a weekend in Vegas, dinner with me and partying with the young DoylesRoom pros. I guess they decided I couldn’t handle the partying and they may be right. The tournament is on this Sunday at 6pm Eastern time. I’ll tweet the password at 4pm Eastern the same day because our tournaments hold a few thousand players at a time. You have to have an account at DoylesRoom along with the password to play.

Cardoza publishing has already ordered the second printing of my autobiography because of the unexpected number of advance sells. It is going to hit the bookstores Nov. 10th and I’ve still got mixed feelings about writing this book.

I appreciate all the tweets, emails and phone calls expressing concerns over my toy poodle Casper. Casper jumped off a desk and knocked both his hips out of socket and Louise has to carry him everywhere because he can’t walk.  I should say couldn’t walk because he is able to walk on level ground now, he just can’t jump or put any weight on his back legs. Casper is tough and I expect him to last a lot longer as he is only 13 years old.

I’m back in retirement on pro football. I bet on Minn +6 points when Pitt made 2 defensive touchdowns in the last 5 minutes to beat me. I had Miami +6 against N.O. Saints and was ahead 24-3 at the half and lost. Then, I had Houston -3 and was ahead 21-0 at the half and managed to tie that one 24-21. I’m sure I’m going to get lots of sympathy, all poker players are unlucky when betting on sports.

-DB

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “Frame every disaster with these words: In five years, will it matter?”

I’ve been getting all kinds of feedback on my blog and twitter. I guess I had better be careful what I write and twitter about. It’s hard to believe how widespread these things have become. I usually just say what’s on my mind and sometimes it isn’t received well. I supposed I’ll just say that if you dislike what I write, don’t read it.

I just got back from New Orleans where I played in a tournament for VIPs of National Table Games. They are putting out a casino game called Doyle Brunson Hold’Em. It’s a fun game and already in some southern casinos.

The people in New Orleans must watch a lot of poker shows because I was recognized everywhere I went. The highlight of my trip was the charbroiled oysters. Drago’s Seafood Restaurant is famous for fixing big Gulf oysters loaded with butter and garlic. Delicious!

I went to the dentist today and have to have a root canal on one of my teeth. Like everyone, I really dislike sitting in a chair having my teeth drilled on. Later this year, I’m going to have some implants. That will be fun

It looks like the next month or so is going to be pretty packed for me. I’m doing a commercial for the M Casino so I’m not going to have time to go back up to Montana. Then, I leave for Budapest in early September to meet folks and speak at the Budapest Affiliate Conference for DoylesRoom.com. After that, I’m off to Nottingham for the English Poker Open and then back to Birmingham for the Caesar’s Cup.  I then go to London for a televised cash game and right after that the WSOP Europe begins’ where I’ll be playing in the main event.  I’ll finally make it back home to Vegas in early October.  That’s a lot of traveling for an old man and this may be the last time I cross the big pond.

We’re going to be shooting new videos for the Brunson 10 on DoylesRoom.  I’m anxious to meet these young men.  I’m particularly glad that Chip Reese’s nephew, Zach Clark, is one of the 10.  Everywhere I went in Montana made me think of Chip and what a great friend he was.

I hear they are playing incredible high limits at Bobby’s Room at the Bellagio. I’m going to check it out now that I’m back; but if what I hear is true, these guys have gone insane. I don’t feel like losing 4 or 5 million in one night!
-DB

DOYLISM OF THE DAY: “Take risks. Tomorrow you may not be able to do what you can today.”

When I played poker every day for seven straight weeks, I felt strong as a lion. Now after 3 days of not playing, I feel like a truck just ran over me. I bet a psychiatrist would have a field day trying to analyze poker players. Maybe we are addicted and we actually have withdrawal symptoms when we have no action. Of course the last three plays I made at Bobby’s Room, I lost 600K, 700K and 600K again. And yes, I was that much winner. I broke out almost exactly even. I’m sure those losses contributed to the blah feeling I’m now experiencing.

I just re-read the paragraph I just wrote and went to laughing. If you can’t handle the ups & downs, you better not get into the poker business. After 50 years of playing professionally, I should know that better than anyone. The sun is still going to come up in the east in the morning and a new day will begin. Hopefully, it will be a good one.

It’s almost time to vote for the 2009 inductees into the Poker Hall Of Fame and I’m unsure of who my choices will be. I’m leaning toward the older guys with my first choice being Mike Sexton. We have to pick two and I’m thinking hard about my other vote. Phil Ivey is the best player on the list, but he is only 33 years old. Chip Reese is the youngest player to be inducted at the age of 40. Phil is great, but he still isn’t Chip. Give Phil a few more years and he will certainly be elected. I’ll be cheering for him and Jeff Shulman in November at the WSOP final table.

I’m doing my best to get my work done for updating SS/2 along with editing my autobiography. I got a lot done but it’s really tough to sit at a desk all day long. My hat is off to the folks that do stuff like this for a living.

After going down to take care of the ticket I got in my new Escalade, I tried to figure out all the gadgets on it. After finding where the windshield wipers were, how to work the Onstar and how to turn the lift package off, I gave up. I think time has passed me by.

I had a great dinner last night at my son Todd’s house. Todd can really cook and goes to a lot of trouble to be sure it’s good. He should get a job as a chef somewhere. Jack Binion and his wife were there and we got to telling stories about the old days and really had lots of laughs. Everyone there said we should write a book about the Jack Struass, Jimmy Chagra, Sailor Roberts and Benny Binion tales we told.

I’ll tell you one of the Chagra stories. Jimmy Chagra was a big time dope dealer 30 years ago. He also allegedly hired Charles Harrelson (Woody’s dad) to kill a federal judge. Jimmy loved to gamble with us playing poker and golf, but he got sent to prison. He got out after 30 years and walked into Bobby’s Room at the Bellagio. He was watching us play and sweet little Jennifer Harman was loser. She turned around, cursed him and made him move. Then she lost another hand, called the floorman and demanded he be removed from the room. After he left, I told Jennifer who and what he was. She said she didn’t care if he was Al Capone, she didn’t want him watching anymore. That confirmed what I already knew. Don’t spit into the wind, don’t fool with Superman’s cape and don’t fool with Jennifer when she is losing

-DB

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