A Day In The Life...

My Super Silly, Nerdy, Manly Blog

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:47:13 -0700

Alright, so I nerded out this past week and majorly got my "man" on. First, Maria Ho and I found ourselves in the middle of Nowhere, Oklahoma... ok, maybe the city is technically called "Durant". WHY would we venture so far from our LA or Vegas roots, you ask? Basically, there are only two reasons: #1. Poker (obv) and #2. Charity or a good cause (obv, again)... and just for fun lets throw a third reason in there #3. Guys. I'm not sure that Oklahoma is known for being swarmed with young hotties but Shawn Marion (a super tall, hunky drink o'water) was there and that was enough for me (he's a friend... I'm allowed to say that. No need to alert TMZ. This is mostly an attempt to prove my femininity after all the manly activities I'm about to dish on).

Shawn was hosting a celebrity charity poker tournament at Choctaw Casino & Resort, which is basically like an oasis in the middle of a cow field (they'll even tell you that). Their staff was amazing, their rooms were gorgeous and their outdoor pool area could give a Hawaiian resort a run for it's money, which is where Maria and I spent our first evening... no complaints. The next day, we got our poker on, raising money for Shawn Marion's foundation, with all the proceeds going towards single mothers. Annie Duke, TJ Cloutier and Mark Cuban also joined us for the event. We all commented on how extremely nice every single person we encountered was. I didn't have great expectations going into the Oklahoma weekend but after a fun time playing poker with the locals, meeting some wonderful Amazing Race fans and randomly ending up at the only bar nearby, where our group danced the night away... I wasn't ready to go home.

From poker with the bball crew in Oklahoma to... video games in Hollywood?!?!?! Yeah, my life is weird. I got back to LA and was somehow thrown into a cluster of poker players who'd be going head to head with some video gamers (technically the CEO of Blizzard Entertainment and his programmers) to play a little game called, Starcraft... maybe you've heard of it. The only redeeming part of the day was that after playing Starcraft (and obviously getting our asses beat) we then got to take the gamers to a more familiar terrain... the felt, for a little Texas Hold 'Em! This was all apart of a segment that KTLA was shooting, which I'm sure you'll be seeing clips of in the near future.

Video games, sports bars, poker, basketball people... I feel like I need to put on some lipstick, or go buy a purse... neither of which really interest me, so I suppose I'm in the right line of work :-)

Next up, I'm off to terrorize the UK and play some 'Late Night Poker'. Hopefully I'll come home a few pounds richer... not "heavier".

Girl’s Time (My Thoughts on the WSOP Ladies Event)

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:32:10 -0700

So this week I played the $1k WSOP Ladies event at the Rio. It was the deepest I've gone so far in a WSOP tournament this summer and I was happy to make it to dinner break (that's good), however I busted out at the very end of the day (not good)... but I played some really good poker for ten hours (good!)... inevitably I got it all in with top two, KQ and the darn river brought my opponent their set (not good). But that's not what I'm here to talk about. The Ladies Event always stirs up a lot of controversy and I'm asked by several people and media personnel for a quote or my personal thoughts on the event... so let's just get it all out there. Here ya go!

*I feel like ladies only poker tournaments originated from a good place. The heart BEHIND the Ladies Event has good intentions. Poker by nature is a "man's game" a "boy's club" so they created a Ladies Event to get more women interested in playing poker and help them feel comfortable coming into the game.

*Women have notoriously fought for equality in every area of life. So I do understand when players (male or female) feel like there is a double standard by having a Ladies Only Event. If the guys tried to have a "Men's Only" Event, as women we'd throw a fit about that... I'D throw a fit about that. It'd be completely unfair!

*Therefore, I feel fairly neutral about the whole thing. I understand why its in existence and think that it promotes good things, however you won't see me complain when a man wants to enter the tournament because fair is fair. I think the important thing to do is look at the nature of the event. Look at the history of the event. Really people.... it's just one day a year. Stop being so fussy!

The reason I play and don't take a stand against it like some female players feel the need to is #1. I personally feel that it's important to have a presence in the event. As you can imagine, I don't get to encounter many women when I sit down at the poker tables day after day, month after month. I enjoy conversing with the women who play in the WSOP Ladies Event; hearing their stories, their aspirations and encouraging them in their game, woman to woman. That's one-on-one time that wouldn't happen otherwise. I understand that there are several aspiring female players who look up to me for some reason or another and sometimes all they need is a friendly kick in the butt from someone who's been there and gets it, to tell them, "Girl, have some confidence and go play with the boys! You can do it."

#2. As a poker player I feel like playing the Ladies Event is good value, simply because it specifically attracts a majority of amateur players. I'd rather play a $1k tournament any day of the week against amateur/hobby players than against pros who play on a regular basis and make their living at the game... plain and simple. It's just a good business decision.

#3. Because it's fun. It's one day that a bunch of women who usually stand on the rail, sweating their husbands, boyfriends, fathers and sons can climb under the rope, sit down at a table and enjoy a poker game with the girls. I really don't think anyone ever intended for this event to spark such political debate, division and controversy.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I have respect for the women that stand by their own personal convictions and take a stand by not playing, i.e. Annie Duke, Annette Obrestad etc. yet I have no qualms with the women who chose to have a little fun, gather up a gaggle of their girlfriends and play a little social game of poker without a bunch of "stinky men" around. In the grand scheme of things, I think there are bigger issue to grab a picket and march for, but maybe that's just little ole me and my little ole opinion.

...And for the guys that dress up in drag and give the Ladies Event a shot, well I think that's pretty hilarious. It was quite amusing to see the entire Rio, filled with all women (just for that single day) erupt with applause when one of the few men, who did decide to enter the tournament got knocked out and was ushered from the card room to the sound of women in unison applauding at their defeat. Its just one day boys, let the girls have their fun... and ladies, grow some balls and get out there and play with the big boys. ;-) You can do it!

A Poem for my mama on Mother’s Day

Sun, 9 May 2010 18:03:43 -0700

She took me to piano lessons
And let me quit tap when the teacher scared me
When I said I wanted to be a pageant girl
The next day we went dress shopping

My softball, volleyball, soccer fan
Always on the sidelines, snacks on hand
And when theatre became my new hobby
She'd be there with roses in the lobby

Taxi driver, back and forth
Youth group, drama team, any and every sport
Always prepared for a backstage need
Or offer a healing kiss for a scraped knee
She's been the ideal assistant
Best of all she charged no fees

When I started playing poker
Lord knows she hoped her
Daughter would grow out of that phase real soon
But with every loss and every win
I'd come home to see her grin
She never asked me to fit in
To her own plan

Thank you Mom
For letting me be me
For sacrificing your life
To help me succeed
Every step along the way
I have heard you cheering
Loudly, quietly, from near and far
Everywhere I go, there you are

The woman who I've become
Is wholly infused with her love
And today when people tell me
"You're talented, pretty, kind, or witty"
I know that who they really see
Is my mom inside of me

My March Madness

Sat, 3 Apr 2010 14:23:14 -0700

Can't lie, March was pretty terrific. While all ya'll were busy with basketball, brackets and all that NCAA stuff... I was occupied with other sports; baseball and skiing!

Maria and I headed off to Phoenix Arizona for the 2nd Annual Ante Up for Autism. While there we got to catch a Dodger Spring Training game, celebrate Maria's birthday in Scottsdale with our Globetrotter boys, join in the festivities at the Phoenix Suns Annual Celebrity Shootout, hang out with Matt Kemp and Dave Stewart's families and most importantly, raise money for a beautiful cause, TACA; Talk About Curing Autism. I was incredibly touched by the stories I heard and all the passionate people involved with TACA. It was beautiful to see so many athletes and baseball pros rally around Matt Kemp and Dave Stewart to support this event. Of course the celebrity poker tournament was a blast. Maria and I somehow convinced our Globetrotter boys, Flight Time and Big Easy to make an appearance and join us at the poker tables! I'm pretty sure Flight Time (Herb) has lifetime bragging rights for beating me out of a few hands and finishing better than me in the tourney. He was carrying around the chip set that he won like it was a World Series of Poker bracelet!

Shortly after that trip I headed to Reno for another cool charity event. I joined several of my poker pro and celebrity pals for the V Foundation's charity poker tournament. Of course, after making it deep in the tourney I knew I had NO SHOT the moment I sat down at Brandon Cantu's table - aka THE LUCKIEST PLAYER ON EARTH. I got all in with 10s verses his 7s and obviously he went four to a flush to knock me out... which is what we call getting "CANTU-ED"! On this trip we were all able to get out of the casino for the day and hit the ski slopes! It was pretty funny to see so many poker players out of their element, wrapped up in scarves, beanies, winter jackets and boots, trudging through the snow. ESPN was covering our "poker and powder" weekend which included a Celebrity Poker Pro ski race. I was hopeful about my first heat, racing against Liv Boeree but a last minute change paired me against Antonio Esfandiari. I grew up skiing and thought I'd had a decent chance against that goofball, especially when the little Hustler told me he MAYBE skis once a year. Needless to say, Antonio SCHOOLED ME! It wasn't even close. I was kinda just happy just to make it down the icy hill without a major wipeout, which the TV cameras would have been delighted to catch. I also felt like less of a loser when Antonio went on to beat every other racer and win the entire thing! Nice job Esfandiari.... WE SHALL MEET AGAIN!

I will leave you with this: Spring is here and I'm enjoying new friends, new adventures, new love, and the new life popping up all around me. I hope you are as well.

My Full February

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:14:26 -0800

Well, we're only two months into 2010 and things have already been jam packed but I'm having a BLAST!

I headed to The Bahamas at the beginning of January to play in the Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure. Unfortunately the weather was windy, rainy and cold so after busting from the main event we didn't opt to stay and lounge on the beach as planned.

After a quick stop in Vegas for the Heartland Poker Tour's Celebrity Charity Tournament (made it down to the last two tables) and Main Event (made it deep into Day 2) I was able to squeeze my sun time in a few weeks later in Panama where I headed to play the Poker Hispano Tour's $1500 event.

It's always fascinating to play poker in other countries. When I went to buy into the PHT Main Event the guy at registration automatically handed me a $100 satellite slip. When I clarified that I wanted to buy into the $1500 MAIN EVENT (in my broken Spanish) he froze and looked at me like I was crazy. He began arguing with the other registration staff to confirm that I was ALLOWED to enter the $1500 Main Event, ha ha. Needless to say, I was the ONLY female playing the tournament and I didn't see a single other woman playing cards in the casino so his surprised response was understandable.

I wasn't too disappointed when I busted from the tournament because it meant that I got to adventure around Panama. I enjoyed some incredible meals, bar hopping in the heart of the city, touring the old town, visiting one of the 8 World Wonders - the Panama Canal, and somehow ended up hanging out with some of my Supercross buddies who were in town for the an FMX Freestyle showcase.

Next on the travel schedule was another trip to Vegas to play in the Trash Talk Poker Championship which raised money for the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program. I had a really fun time at this tournament, as I do with most Celeb Charity events and to top it off I got to see my girl Trishelle win the entire thing! Two days later I was at a final table myself in one of the Venetian Deepstack $335 tournaments. I took 8th place out of almost 200 players. Later in the week I went from the poker tables to the basketball court! Maria and I were asked to join our Amazing Race cast mates Big Easy & Flight Time in their Harlem Globetrotter show at the Orleans Arena. Poker has definitely opened up some awesome doors for me, one of which was being on The Amazing Race last season and THAT show has opened even more doors for me. Although Maria's and my basketball game is not up to par with the Globetrotters we had the time of our life and cherished the opportunity to be apart of a show that is so loved, legendary and global.

Since then I've been enjoying some downtime at home in Los Angeles for the past couple weeks, playing online and a few of the LAPC event. I played one of my favorite tournaments this past weekend, the WPT Celebrity Poker Invitational. Out of almost 600 players I made it to day two and down to seven tables, getting knocked out in 60th-ish place by Ricki Lake... my AK v. A7 never had a shot against Ricki who was running pretty hot!

No matter how many poker bad beats I suffer I have NOTHING to complain about. There's always a new adventure coming around the corner. In fact, I have plenty of trips, tournaments and events scheduled in the coming months to look forward to... so check back soon.

xx Tiffany