Random Thoughts and Distorted Views.

Today marks the first Saturday of College Football. In some ways this day is like Christmas, in that it comes once a year. In other ways, its totally better than Christmas, because its COLLEGE FUCKING FOOTBALL. Going to college for 3 years in Bumblefuck PA at a small division 3 school, I never really experienced the typical college town atmosphere. However, now living in Tallahassee, I am very amped on drunken towns and wasted co-eds. All I know is that this shit better be good, because itll be about the only way to justify living in a city with traffic so bad.

Growing up in Florida, one would imagine that I would have allegiance to either UF or FSU, like so many other people in this state. One would further deduce that since I chose Tallahassee, my team of choice would be the Florida State Seminoles. However, assuming these things would make the proverbial ass of both you and me (Please forgive my mistakes there english gods). I am 100% Irish fan, Gold and Blue, through and through. I love everything that Notre Dame stands for, and if you catch me watching Rudy towards the end, youll likely notice that my visine totally missed my eyes. Do not be alarmed - it is simply inaccuracy due to the movie's TOTAL AWESOMENESS.

Last year for Christmas, my dad got me two tickets to Notre Dame vs LSU in New Orleans Sugar Bowl. Although the Irish got spanked, I had an absolute blast, and was a very great experience. (I wrote a blog while there after the game, the same day that I had been drunk for about 18 hours straight, perhaps Ill repost it here soon)

Unfortunately, this year looks to be a rebuilding year for the Irish. That's ok though. Bad years make the good ones so much sweeter. Plus Jimmy Clausen is gonna have to get some experience sometime, so might as well make it this year.

On the poker front, I played some cash games and a 100 MTT at the local cardroom yesterday. I played 1-2 nl first, bought in for gigantic 100 max, and got sat at a new, loose table. The player to my immediate right was maybe the perfect target. Rediculously loose (trying to catch runner straight cards with 7 hi), deeep deeep pockets, and starting to drink. I had chipped up to about 120 when the following hand came up.

LAGRO donk straddles UTG to 4. I look down at qh10h. I opt to limp due to people not really playing at his straddles. Folds to BB who calls, and utg checks. Flop is 10 7 3 rainbow. BB checks, Lagro bets 6, I raise to 15, bb folds bettor calls. Turn brings another 7, pairing the board. He checks, I bet 21 of my 91 behind, and he check raises all in. It was a pretty good bet, but my image of him was so bad that I couldn't justify folding. The river bricked, and he showed 10,2, with my Queen playing and boosting up my stack.

Later I misread a loose button raisor who I had played with before. We got it in and his 1010 owned my 88. Until the lucky 8ball hit the turn, and I had a stack.

My next to last hand, the lagro player raises it to 12 after winning about a 170 buck pot. I looked down at 99. If he had 100 or less, I woulda repopped, but he was a little deeper so I was hoping for an optimal flop to felt him (again). 2 other people called, and we saw a 4 way flop of 9 6 2, two clubs. It checks to me and I fire 30 into the pot. I get one caller, a good younger player who had about 50 bucks in front when I had sat down, and about 950 an hour and a half later. Turn brings an 8 of spades, bringing the board 9862, double suited. I debated checking, but fired 40 into the pot. To my surprise, the player jams all in. BARF. I start counting, and it looked like there was about 350 in the pot to my 200 behind. I counted out and really wanted to believe that he had a super draw, such as a7cc, etc. He told me to just lay it down, and for the most part I believed after that I was beat. I still took some time to think about my decision, before finally folding my 99 face up. He showed 10c7c. Guess I shoulda checked :)

As for the tournament, I never really got things going. The structure was as close to a turbo as I had seen, and when the blinds had hit 4/800/50 in the 6th level, I needed a spot. UTG 8 handed, my first card is an ace. I dont even look at the 2nd card. My image was very tight and I had only shown down 1 hand, my a9 vs 55 in a race I lost where there was a rediculous amount of dead money in the pot. So I shoved 3 BBs in, and even though I had no chips at all, I truly believed I had some fold equity. Yes, the players were so bad, with stacks so low, that players would fold for less than 2 more bbs. It folds to the sb, who calls. He flips kq, and so I know I at least got the better half of a race. My other card is a 6, I flop an ace but he flops a gutshot for broadway, and turns the 4 out jack. Such is poker.

Today Ill be driving out to Biloxi, after I take in some Irish Football. In fact, 5 minutes to game time. GO IRISH!