World Series Money Frozen!!

By Steve DiMeglio, USA TODAY
What's won in Vegas stays in Vegas.
So it seems for World Series of Poker main event champion Jamie Gold, who won a record $12 million on Aug. 10 after outlasting 8,772 players in the largest live poker tournament in history.

A Las Vegas district court judge has issued a restraining order to prevent Gold from collecting his money until the settlement of a lawsuit brought by Bruce Crispin Leyser, a Los Angeles-based TV development executive.

In the lawsuit, filed Aug. 21 in Las Vegas District Court and obtained by USA TODAY, Leyser claims that Gold verbally promised to pay Leyser half of whatever he won at the WSOP.

Las Vegas Chief District Judge Kathy Hardcastle signed a temporary restraining order Aug. 21 preventing Gold from collecting his winnings from the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino, where the World Series was held, until at least Sept. 1, when the first court hearing in the case is scheduled.

Gold, a former Hollywood talent agent from Malibu, Calif., and currently a television producer, could have received the $12 million payment (minus taxes) via cashier's check, cash or wire transfer within hours after winning the tournament but declined to do so.

"Jamie Gold is disappointed the plaintiff, a person he has only known since July of this year, has elected to file litigation rather than continue the parties' discussions in an effort to find a resolution to this matter," Gold's lawyers said in a statement. "Gold believes strongly in the American judicial system and believes it is better to present his case there than to try the matter before the court of public opinion."

According to the complaint, Gold and Leyser met in July. Leyser claims he was approached by Gold, whose $10,000 entry fee was paid by online poker site Bodog.com, seeking assistance in finding celebrities to play under the Bodog label. If celebrities were found Bodog agreed to provide either Gold or Leyser a seat at the main event, and, according to the lawsuit, both players agreed that whoever received the seat would halve their winnings with the other.

The lawsuit claims Leyser found actors Matthew Lillard and Dax Shepard to play and wear the company's logo. Lillard played the role of Shaggy in two recent Scooby-Doo films. Shepard might be best known for his work on the MTV practical joke show, Punk'd.

According to the complaint, Gold left a telephone message for Leyser about three hours before the final table of the main event was to begin play on Aug. 10, reassuring Leyser that he would get half of whatever Gold won.

"I promise you — you can keep this recording on my word — there's no possible way you're not going to get half after taxes," Leyser claims that Gold said in the message. "So please just be with me. I can't imagine you're going to have a problem with it. I just don't want any stress about any money or any of that s—- going on today."

Leyser's attorney, Richard Schonfeld of Las Vegas, says his client's case is "exceptionally strong."

"As stated in the lawsuit, we have a recording where Gold gives his word that Leyser will get 50%," he says. "As well, in order for us to obtain the temporary restraining order, we had to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merit of the case. We met that burden."

Bodog officials say they worked with many agents, managers, publicists and other entertainment professionals to set up a celebrity team for the WSOP. Bodog says Gold was included in Team Bodog because of his aid in setting up the celebrities, his successful poker tournament background and his relationship with poker pro Johnny Chan, a two-time winner of the WSOP main event.

"We are unaware of any side deal (Gold) may have made in obtaining these celebrities," said a statement by Bodog officials on Thursday.

Gold signed a two-year deal with Bodog after the event for pro poker sponsorship and television production. His endorsement deal includes tournament buy-ins and promotional appearances, and a $1 million television production deal. The deal also includes a Jamie Gold table on Bodog.com, where Gold will play frequently.

World Series of Poker on Pay-per-View

Yes, I purchased the live final-table coverage and watched much of it for $25, which is a good deal for many hours of entertainment, especially in comparison to many $60 short title boxing bouts. Even without hole card cameras, there was enough action after the flop hit to make it fun to deduce hands. If the blinds were high, then preflop poker would have ruled, and the table would not have been nearly as entertaining.

I noticed the massive chip-leader, Jamie Gold, would take frequent breaks from the action. The dealer would pitch the cards to all the players and immediately muck Gold's hand. Even in a cash game, I avoid missing hands because I think of all the pocket aces and kings that are being mucked without ever being seen. Even paying a time charge bothers me, so my restroom breaks are often quick and rarely more than 2-hands long. I found it painful to watch Gold muck potentially premium hands in the most lucrative final table ever.

The hand that determined the third-place finisher, Michael Binger, was fascinating. Gold open-limped on the button. The small blind, Paul Wasicka, called, and Binger raised to 1.5m chips. The blinds were 200k-400k, as both limpers called. The flop came Tc-6s-5s. The small blind checked, Binger bet 3.5m, Gold moved all-in, and Wasicka agonized over the decision. He repeatedly said, "This is sick!" After several minutes, he folded, and Binger called 6.5m chips more instantly. Binger held ATo, and Gold had 4-3 offsuit. The seven of clubs hit the turn to complete Gold's straight draw, and the queen of spades hit the river.

Once Binger called, Wasicka said that held 8-7 of spades, which is a terrible fold. In a three-way situation, the small blind would have held 54% of the equity, AT would have won 29% of the time, and 43o would have scooped 17% of the time. If Wasicka called, there was even a small chance that Binger would have folded, in the chance to gain $2m should Gold have won the pot. In that scenario, Wasicka would have held nearly 80% of the equity, as his 8-high would have been ahead. Had Wasicka called, he would have won the pot and stood a much better chance heads-up. Instead, he entered heads-up play at a 6.5-1 chip disadvantage.

Guest Blogger Jake Barnes: 7 Rules of Being a Yankees Fan

Circle V Note: While I've got all these Wonkette hipsters here, I thought it would be fun to post this little tribute to the Yankees (note: I am a Nationals/ Royals/ Red Sox fan so don't send me your hate)

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Guest Blogger Jake Barnes:

So when I moved to New York, I was going to be a Mets fan. You know, I'm a small town kid and lifelong Royals fan. The Mets are harmless enough--Shea Stadium sucks, the team usually sucks, and Mr. Met is the lamest mascot ever created. Then I went to Yankee Stadium.

Everything changed.

I initially was going to write about why I decided to love the Yankees, but honestly--it's a pretty boring and straight-forward explanation. Like America, the Yankees are winners. Sure they're inefficient, outrageously arrogant, mean, and close-minded (how many Yankees fans even heard of Johnny Damon when he was a Royal?). But, like America (Iraq is like the Yankees, circa 1980s) they win and they've been winning for 90 years.

So instead of boring you with all the obvious reasons I'm a Yankees fan--I'm instead going to provide you with a rulebook on how to love the Yankees. Being a Yankees fan requires a different set of skills than being a fan of most teams.

RULE #1 LOYALTY IS NOT AN ISSUE
Loyalty is never really an issue because the Yankees are always good and besides, are you really ever going to root for some big square state team, or worse, the Mets? So loyalty is the default. Unlike teams that lose occasionally (of often like my beloved Royals) you are never asked, "are you sticking with them." Of course, this issue would never come up because of Rule #2

RULE #2 NEVER STOP TALKING YANKEES
True Yankee fans are constantly thinking about the current Yankee situation. Now, unlike college sports or any team with any sort of long-term vision, this does not mean you care at all about the minor league Yankees. Only "big-league" players matter. When is Shef coming back?
What is wrong with Randy? What "big league" players are we trading for?

Also, constantly wear Yankee attire. If at work, maybe have a Don Mattingly poster on the wall, or a wear a Yankee tie. Hat is standard of course--nothing weird, just the black hat--Yankees have tradition you know.

RULE #3 NEVER, EVER BE SATISFIED WITH ANYTHING LESS THAN A RING
Yankees don't care about making the playoffs, or the world series. Yankees care about winning the ring and will do anything to accomplish their goal.

Now this does not mean you get excited when you win. Indeed, you should merely appear slightly less tortured and nervous when you win the world series. Remember, championship is the baseline--you need to win just to back to normal. Anything less, be totally pissed.

RULE #4 SHOW NO LOYALTY TO INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS
We trade a player, a player gets injured and the Boss throws him out of the stadium--screw 'em. They aren't Yankees anymore. No loyalty when they come back to the stadium as members of a lesser team. On the flip side--hold no grudges. Johnny Damon's a Red Sock and he agrees to be a Yankee for a mere 4 million more dollars--he's a true Yankee.

RULE #5 YOU MUST LOVE "PROVEN" PLAYERS
Experienced major leaguers only please. We are not the Florida Marlins. We do not "develop" talent. We buy it.

RULE #6 LOVE "TRUE YANKEES"
This is tough because what's a "true Yankee" is generally dictated by the arbitrary whims of the masses. Jeter is a true Yankee. Bernie is. So's Damon. Donnie Baseball obviously counts. Randy not so much. You just have to follow the crowd. A-rod? Well that brings me to my final rule...

RULE #7 ALWAYS BOO A-ROD
Doesn't matter that he's the greatest player of all time. This is the Yankees and demand more than that. A-rod is expected to hit a grand slam every at-bat. 3-run homer? Why didn't you make your teammates better so there would be 3 runners on base? Base-hit, we're all over you.
Strike-out? Hard to believe even could even walk around. Even if he hits a game-winning grandslam, do not cheer. Be satisfied. We pay him 25 million freaking dollars. He should win two games a day.

So there have it. The seven rules of being a Yankee fan. Give in. You know you want to.

The "Blind World Series" to be held in Cleveland

People with disabilities never cease to amaze me. Ohio is playing host to the "Beep Ball" World Series, to be held from August 2 to August 5 at the Strongsville Soccer Complex. The sponsoring organization is the Cleveland Sight Center.

Blind people playing baseball. Unbelievable. Apparently the pitcher and catcher have to be able to see, at least well enough to play the positions. Others with sight must wear blindfolds. This is something I need to get out and watch.

According to Channel 7 in Tyler, Texas, the "Tyler Tigers" are coming all the way up here with the intention of winning the World Series.

Don't bet on it. The Astros and Rangers have never done it, so we're not exactly scared of the Tyler Tigers. Or the Austin Blackhawks for that matter.

But something must be done about this year's brackets. People, the tournament is in OHIO! The power is in your hands. That means you don't place the Cleveland Scrappers and the Columbus Vipers in the SAME bracket. And you certainly don't place both of them in the bracket with the team from Taiwan, who (let's face it) is probably going to dominate this thing.

Have you people never heard of rigging the brackets? It's a time-honored, well-respected, marketing tradition.

World Series by Renault News - McIntosh picks up point for 10th

Courtesy Stuart Morrison Public Relations

Round 4, World Series by Renault, Misano Circuit, Italy – Sean McIntosh was left to rue what might have been today as he salvaged a championship point from today’s 29-lap World Series by Renault race at Misano having spun himself out early in the proceedings. The 21-year-old Canadian, looking to rebound from yesterday’s DNF where he was taken out of the race, was looking strong in the early stages having climbed into the top-five ahead of his mandatory pit-stop but eventually crossed the line tenth, the final points paying position, following his self-inflicted error at Turn 13.

Race 2, Qualifying (Pole – Sebastian Vettel, 1m18.784s) An early candidate for provisional pole, the KTR racer trailed only Andy Soucek in the first- half of the session. Sean’s best lap, a 1m19.470s, was the fourth fastest in the group, just sixth tenths off of outright pole winner Sebastian Vettel while setting the Vancouver-native up with a seventh place grid slot – his second best of the season following yesterday’s sixth.

Race 2, 29 Laps (Winner – Sebastian Vettel, Carlin Motorsport) Up to fifth at the start, Sean was called to pit-lane for his mandatory stop at the end of lap six. Firing himself back out, it was on his second flying lap following the stop that Sean caught himself out at Turn 13, spinning the #6 KTR entry while losing valuable track time and position. He quickly regrouped but the damage had been done as Misano’s tight and twisty configuration made passing hard. Limiting the damage, Sean successfully clawed back a couple of places to break into the top-ten and the points at the checkered flag. Sean McIntosh - #6 Team KTR: “It’s frustrating to come away from the weekend with just one point when it should have been a lot more.

“Yesterday someone else took me out from what would have been a comfortable top-six finish and today I did it myself. We’ll move on from here, we made progress with the car set-up and that showed in qualifying. We have to move up onto the front two-rows now to maximize our chances of getting that first podium.”

The World Series by Renault heads to Spa, Belgium for Round 5, 28th-29th July.

Pictures from NY & DC

Stories will follow later, including the Producers, scalped Knicks tickets, rainy days in brooklyn, food galore, and of course the crazy woman that pulled out a knife behind me in mcdonalds in Washington. Til then, enjoy the pictures. =)

Random NY pic

Rasheed in Times Square

Me in Times Square

Oh, me again

Skating rink at Rockefeller Centre

Rasheed figuring out the subway system, poor guy was so lost :P

Part of NY sky line

NY at night from atop the Empire State building

And another

And now with me

One more

k, last one

Myself at the Knicks game

Myself and Rasheed sitting back enjoying the game

Woohoo Go KNICKS (but Raptors will always be my #1 team)

Alia would love this...

In DC by Capital Hill

DC is cold too, brr...

Rasheed with some random statue

Myself and Rasheed in DC

The MOMA

New baseball poll

It's time for a new baseball poll for the second half of the 2006 major league baseball season. Our recent poll titled "What should Major League Baseball do with the homerun records in response to the steroid abuse scandal?" yielded what I found to be a surprising final result.

51% voted to discount them altogether. 30% voted to leave the records as they are. 19% voted to put an asterisk next to players proven to have used substances. I expected the asterisk to be the lead vote getter, and for the discount them altogether to be second, and leaving the records as they are third. But that's why I conduct these baseball polls. To find out what others are thinking. Be sure to take part in my new baseball poll, which you'll find in the lower right hand side of this website. This poll is titled "Which is the most likely world series scenario?".

It's a little risky, because I only gave 5 possible AL scenarios, leaving out teams like Toronto and Texas, or Minnesota, who all may sneak in there. But it's pretty much a certainty that of the five teams I listed, one will make it to the world series. The National league scenario gives you an either/or selection. Either the Mets will go, or someone else. Anyway, cast a vote for the most likely scenario, and enjoy the second half of this surprising major league baseball season.

Mark C. - (Baseball News Headquarters)