shagztoriches

I have actually plugged many leaks in my game. Looking back at hand histories I very rarely put a good portion of my chips in the pot without having the best of it. I have been bluffing at the right time, making tough, but good, laydowns, and I have been identifying the playing styles of most of the people at my table and doing my best to exploit it. I am playing the best poker of my life, and I have never lost so much playing before (Just to keep things in perspective, I am not talking about huge amounts of money. I may deposit fifty bucks a week). What usually happens is, I make it down to about the last 35%-40% of the players in a MTT. I'll find QQ or JJ in mid position, and make a standard raise (3x or 4x the blind). I am usually right around the average stack, probably around 15x to 20x the blind. I have been showing premium hands for the most part when making this raise. The bet comes down to the blinds, and I will see an all-in from the BB or SB that would have about 75% of my stack covered. My read would be, either a small pocket pair or A 10 or better. I call, and just as I suspected, he/she turns over AQ. Of course, the three outer hits the turn and severely cripples me, and the jackass goes on to place in the money.

Now don't get me wrong, this is not meant to be a bad beat story, but to make a point. My point is, PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO PLAY POKER. Let me say that again, PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO PLAY POKER. That is why time and time again, you see people pushing with marginal hands like AQ or AJ when they have more than enough chips to not have to gamble. They are afraid of being outplayed on the flop, and are not disciplined enough to throw it away. So, what does this mean for me? Do I just quit playing poker, or do I adjust and make one more go of it. I think I need to take one more shot. This is something that I really enjoy doing. What I am going to do is play less MTT, and focus more on sitties. And play tight, but with controlled aggression.


EDITORIAL, NFL AND NCAA PICKS AND A RANT

In case you have been living in a hole this week, Fisher DeBerry this week characterized African-American athletes, and I'm paraphrasing here, as "faster". That clip has been played at nauseum this week, with TV reporters taking this opportunity to get on their soap boxes and tell us how "insensitive and racist" this remark was. I do have one question about this situation. What was the question that he was answering? Or, did he just get done reading his injury report and opened his weekly "state of the team " speech with that remark? The national media is really good at shaping a story into something that can get ratings, hits on web sites, or sell newspapers. The way to do that is by hiding the context under which some remarks are made. While I do think his remarks may be a bit insensitive, taking into consideration the times we are living in, I find this in no way, shape or form racist. The media and our social leaders seem hell bent on pointing out our differences. If we were able to accept each other as just "human beings", not as African American, White, Chinese, Middle Eastern, etc., comments like that would not seem insensitive. As a matter of fact, there would be no need for that statement at all. But there are barriers that we all have a hand in putting up, and there will always be someone there to take advantage of that. Until we do something about that, we will be listening to this shit. I would break into "I'd like to teach the world to sing", but I forgot the words.

An now my look into this week's games:

Ohio State at Minnesota
Can A.J. Hawk stop Laurence Maroney and the potent Golden Gopher attack? That answer is contingent on which Buckeyes offense shows up on Saturday. If Ohio State can win the time of possession battle and keep their All American linebackers fresh into the fourth quarter, they should keep Maroney in check. My opinion, Maroney's Heisman hype is over, and Ohio State wins 31-14.

Purdue at Penn State
Purdue is on a slippery slope, going 0-4 in conference play. And many had them as favorites to with the Big Ten (Tsk Tsk). Even without D-Will, the Lions have shown a home run hitting offense, and their defense should make Purdue look like Morgan Ensberg with 2 men on and 2 outs. PSU rolls, 38-17.

Georgia at Florida
Florida has turned out to be the most overrated team in all of college football. Chris Leak is just having a horrible year. He is having problems with Urban Meyer's spread offense and with injuries. However they are playing at the swamp, they still have a good defense, and Georgia has Joe Tereshinski starting at QB, a career special teamer. If this game was between the hedges, I'd give Georgia the benefit of the doubt. However, an inexperienced QB making his first college start at the swamp = ass whipping. Florida 20-6.

Arizona at Dallas
Well, finally the Drew Bledsoe we all have come to know has shown himself. See what happens when you get up in this guy's grill? However, Arizona will not get to Bledsoe. He should have a good passing day, and the 'Boys roll 21-10.

Washington at NY Football Giants
When was the last time a defensive coach had to game plan for Mark Brunell? To give you an idea, lets look at the top 5 albums from that year:
1. Mariah Carey - Daydream
2. Alanis Morrisette - Jagged Little Pill
3. Janet Jackson - Design of a Decade
4. Hootie and the Blowfish - Cracked Rear View
5. Greenday - Insomniac

Damn, I forgot how much I loved Hootie. Oh, Redskins win 28-24. (Nothing i can do, I only wanna be with you...)

Kansas City at San Diego
I said last week that I think the Chargers are the second best team in the league, and I won't back off that statement. I think if they make the playoffs they will be a very dangerous team, but they need to close out games. They start this week, San Diego 24-17.

Philadelphia at Denver
I will admit, I did not expect the defensive performance that my Birds showed last week against LT and the Chargers. What concerns me in this weeks game is McNabb's conditioning while breathing in the Mile Hile air. It is imperative that Philadelphia establishes some sort of a running game against an athletic Broncos defense. They will be flying all over the place coming off that loss. Of course, that loss could press "No Mistake" Jake Plummer into making, um.., mistakes! I think the score will be lower than people think, and the Broncos will be sent well on their way to their usual mid season tail spin. Eagles 17-10.

Now some random rants:

Can we please stop with the "We've been waiting for 136 years for a World Series" bullshit!! Boston had Bill Russell, Larry Bird, and Tom Brady to comfort them through the years. As for Chicago, Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan? Enough said. Come to Philly where we have had Lenny Dykstra, Reggie White, Randall Cunningham, Eric Lindros, Allen Iverson, and Donovan McNabb to tickle our ass with a feather. Red Sox Nation and all three "real" White Sox fans can kiss my rosie red ass.

Watching the Astros offense was like watching a dog hump a coffee table, a lot of effort and no pay off, but still entertaining in a sick way. Bud Selig or Rupert Murdoch, please start that dumbass pregame show at 7pm eastern time. I understand you want the West Coast to see the game, but no one will lose sleep over not seeing Kevin Kennedy and that amazon breaking down the game, badly I might add.

The NBA starts next week, and I really couldn't care less. I am a huge basketball fan, but I am just so sick and tired of the pro game. I think the dress code is stupid. I don't care of these guys come in wearing a camouflage thong with a bazooka strapped around their shoulder. But STOP BITCHING ABOUT IT!! Is it really that hard to put on a collared shirt you assholes! Also, a memo to David Stern. Why don't you fix that shit you pawn off as basketball to the American public before you change the image of your players. Do we really need the Toronto Raptors, the Memphis Grizzlies, the Charlotte Bobcats and the New Orleans Hornets? NO, YOU DON'T!! Maybe if you get rid of these teams that nobody cares about, I don't have to watch Tony Massenberg trot off the bench for his 53rd pro team in 55 years.

I think people are too hard on Phil Hellmuth. I do understand Wil Wheatons http://wilwheaton.typepad.com/ point that Hellmuth should have a little more restraint as a 9 time bracelet winner. But more times than not, Phil's actually right. I think the poker boom is great, however you see both on the internet and in B&M games players pushing marginal hands without any thought of what the other players are holding. Last time I checked, they were playing the world championship of poker, not craps. Learn the game, pick up a fucking book, you may become a better player and *gasp* make a good laydown or two.

Thats it for today. If you need me this weekend, I'll be watching football or staring at the fucking walls. And remember, don't go through life drunk , fat and stupid. Take care.