Crazy Summer and Lots More Fun to Come!!!

Wow it's been a crazy few months!

I know that a lot of my fellow poker players loathe the idea of being stuck in an expensive desert all summer. This year I was craving not only some distance from the issues at home, but also I couldn't wait to play cards again!!!

In the months leading up to WSOP, I had a lot going on with my family. It was very stressful on me, and required that I take time away from playing so to help tend to the issues at home. The end of Bay101 Shooting Stars(March) marked the last time I'd played cards. It wasn't until WSOP that I was able to find a valid reason to leave home to go do work! I was thankful. I really do love working. I love playing. I love interacting with people. I missed so much of it in my time at home. My days were spent tending to my elderly grandmother in her residence, and handling other issues that seemed to arise each day. Thankfully, her in-home caretaker is amazing and was able to tend to her continued care while I went to Vegas to play. I was sooo ready and amped to play, see my friends again, mix and mingle!

The summer started off ok. I still had a lot of family issues haunting me across phone lines stretching the span of the country. I was still running deep in events, and was able to stay focused. Some days, I'd receive a frantic phone call from a relative back at home, and I still found myself able to play well. Even more importantly, I was able to keep up with thinking positively! Each day at the tables, regardless of what was on my plate elsewhere, I found myself at peace... even happy. I'd reflect upon my own moments of candid laughter with my tablemates... and it gave me a sense of internalized self-pride...to know that I was able to smile, thoroughly enjoy life experiences and the people around me... despite all the noise in my personal on-goings. You know those moments when you pat yourself on the back for handling a situation better than you may have in the past... well, I was thankful to have had an experience that challenged me to grow and I'm thankful that I found it in myself to be a better "me" than I may have ever been before.

Half Truths in the Media. Who Woulda Thunk It

So, for those who have not seen or witnessed the lashing I'm getting on twitter, here is an update.

Yesterday, while playing in a $1500 event at Rio, a PokerNews reporter took some extremely selectively worded notes on a hand that went down at my table. The exchange that was noted within the article that was thereby produced on the PokerNews website cast me in a very negative light, and honestly I think it is quite unfair and unethical reporting(to knowingly post partial information to paint an ugly picture of someone just so they can say they have an interesting story on a notable player in level 1 when little else of interest is happening).

I'm here to give the entire scope of the situation that had really occurred, as opposed to the partial story that most of you may have read online.

My opponent, who was in position, put in a bet on the river, which I called. I, without any intention of asking this gentleman to table his hand, tabled my own since I could tell by his body language that I had the winner.

From Flush Draws to Family Drama... Part 1- The Glitz

Hi guys n gals.

I know it's been a long time since I've last written. Let's catch up!

The new year has brought with it some amazing opportunities and also a bit of drama.
For the sake of weeding out rants of my personal life, I'll dedicate this blog to mostly the topic of poker and will cover some more personal topics in my next blog(coming soon!).

The goal after WSOP was to grind hard, which as you all probably know, I did for most of the fall season. The fall brought me a victory in Hammond, IN's WSOPC, good for my first WSOP jewelry... and it also brought me a deep run and another shot at 700k+ 1st prize money in the WPT Montreal Main Event.

Early into the new year, I played what is probably my favorite series ever, the Borgata Winter Open WPT. While it was a fun series, it didn't prove as fruitful as I would have liked. Thanks to WPT for making the trip a great one, as I got to do coverage for the live stream of the BWO WPT Main Event final table, alongside Tony Dunst and Jon Little.

I also got the amazing chance to take part, as a guest trainer, in Lee Childs' "Inside the Minds" training course held at the Borgata. This was a great experience for me. I found that I thoroughly enjoy teaching others. I hope to do more in this area as opportunities present themselves. The close of the BWO meant it was time to pack up the home I'd lived in all winter(in AC), and that it was again time to hit the road for my spring schedule. Sadly, along with the move, I had to deal with losing someone I thought was a friend.

Some Time Off the Grind, and New Opportunities A'Comin! **If you've ever wanted to train with me, READ THIS**

Hey everyone!

How you doing? Oh yea? That's great(or not great, depending on your response). Me? I'm amazing!

I finally took some time off for myself. This past year has been a majorrr grind. I've played a seemingly endless schedule, and have probably had more trips this year than I have total trips combined for all other years of my career. It was fun, exciting, profitable, and exhausting!

Now, after a year+ on the sicko grind, I've decided to treat myself to a trip. Right now, I'm en route to some great destinations by way of cruise ship. I stop at San Jaun,  St. Thomas, Sint Maarten, and the Dominican Republic. I have some amazing excursions planned....

...scuba'ing with sea turtles and in the beautiful reefs in St. Thomas...

Thanks For Before... but Now I Need You Guys Again!!! Help!

Aside from actual poker play, I've had some other pretty awesome stuff happen for my career this month. I did what I've heard is one of my best and most intimate interviews this month. For those who may be interested who missed it:

  
Click HERE to listen to The Chirp Herm Show Ft. Host Mark Dipthrong Herm and Guest Amanda 'TheRealMander' Musumeci.



I've recently come to find that I've been officially invited to be a Shooting Star in the Bay101 Shooting Star Pro Bounty Event. This event looks like a ton of fun each year. For me to be put into such an elite group that comprise this Shooting Star roster is a huge honor. A big thanks to Matt Savage of WPT and also all my friends and supporters that showed support to get me voted in! The event will be held in early March, 2013. Can't wait to tear it up in San Jose!!

Whewww! That Was a Jam-Packed November!!! Tales from the road...

Well, we're coming to the close of another month. It's been an insane one for sure. I'm tellin you... these weeks, months, and years grinding away at poker all seem to flyyy by.

A lot of cool stuff happened this month. I started off with my trip to Jacksonville, Florida to play the WPT Jacksonville Main Event. It seems like the deck and I were at war throughout this tourney. Despite the cards not going my way, I still really enjoyed sitting at one of the toughest tables I've had this year...

                                     Seat 1: Tony Dunst Seat 2: Me Seat 3: Matt Stout Seat 4: Jonathan Little Seat 5: Chad Batista Seat 7: Todd Terry Seat 8: Nick Grippo