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Copyright © 2007 The Chronicle Journal
HEADLINE: Celebrities bring their game to the
World Series of Poker
Body:
At every World Series of Poker, actors and athletes who are stars
in their own right take a shot at the biggest poker prize alongside
professional gamblers and average dreamers.
While celebrities are ideal for marketers and sponsors, their
early exits in the US $10,000 buy-in main event leaves open the
question whether they are just here for fun and a quick TV soundbite
or willing to grind it out through hours of play over the poker
marathon of the year.
"To me, this is like, if you jog at all, it’s a kick
to be at the New York Marathon when it starts off," "Seinfeld"
actor Jason Alexander said. "You know you’re not going
to win, but you’re there. It’s pretty cool."
Several celebrities, however, have become part-time professional
poker players, too.
Jennifer Tilly, the Oscar-nominated actress who won the World
Series’ ladies event in 2005, made the money three times
in earlier events this year and is a regular in the poker world.
She said she puts in the hours required to become better, and
compared celebrities to other hopefuls who hold regular jobs but
hope to beat spectacular odds to win.
"The last few years, the person who won the World Series
was not a professional," she said. "It takes intuition
and skill and also a lot of luck. So really anybody can win the
World Series of Poker, even a celebrity."
Talk show host Montel Williams even held the chip lead for several
hours on Saturday, at one point amassing 150,000 in chips after
starting with 20,000.
But a few spectacularly bad calls later and he was back in the
pack, ending the day almost back where he began with 20,900.
Phil Gordon, a poker professional and expert commentator on the
"Celebrity Poker" series, said after analyzing many
celebrities’ play, he noted many were good, but could fall
victim to a catastrophic misstep.
"No-limit
Hold’em is a game of mistakes and it only takes one
big mistake to end your tournament life," he said. "These
guys are good enough to compete, but over the course of several
days, there are going to be multiple times where they’re
going to have a chance to make that big mistake."
Fran Pinchot, a player from Atlantic City, N.J., who has spent
50 years on the tables, said experience greatly outweighs celebrity
status.
"Quite a few celebrities do have several years of experience,
but they’re a small minority," he said. "The bottom
line is you’ve got to hold the cards."
Tilly showed some wisdom by losing only about 3,000 in chips
when her kings-full full house lost to the higher aces-full version.
And several celebrities have already made it through their first
day, including "Spiderman" actor Tobey Maguire and "Everybody
Loves Raymond" comedian Brad Garrett. However, former major
league slugger Jose Canseco was knocked out in just a few hours.)
Several people mentioned Maguire as the celebrity with the best
shot.
"He’s got the perfect disposition at the table, he’s
studied a lot, he plays in huge cash games," Gordon said.
"He definitely has a game that could get deep, maybe even
final table, maybe even win."
The stars also have access to an elite set of teachers who help
them bone up on their game.
"American Pie" star Shannon Elizabeth took copious
notes on her first day Sunday, and has pro Annie Duke as a personal
coach. She advanced to the semifinals of the NBC National Heads
Up tournament in March, defeating renowned players Jeff Madsen,
Barry Greenstein and Humberto Brenes.
"I’m trying to be a pro player so I’m hoping
people take me more seriously," she said.
Boxer Antonio Tarver called professional Phil Ivey his golfing
buddy and poker adviser.
"Just, you get the right mindset, just be patient and just
be calm. And that’s basically what his advice to me was.
Because the game don’t change," Tarver said. "It
all depends on the cards. If I catch ’em, I know how to
bet ’em."
Bodog
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