Saturday – I did my part in playing and MC'ing a poker tournament at Union Station for the Dallas Children's Hospital.  The event was beautifully run and successful.  Lisa Pavin took my son to sit on the floor of the Dallas Mavericks game, as Court Westcott offered up his tickets to my sons earlier in the week.  It was to be the two of them on the floor, but Nick had to bail.  Afterwards The Westcott's (Court and Jimmy Lou) and some of their friends and I all headed up to the Ghost Bar at the new W Club in downtown Dallas.  This was definitely a Vegas like bar, with a long line to get in, and hot music.  We ordered Dom Rose, but they were out, so we drank regular Dom.  Being a celebrity is a lot of fun in situations like this one.  VIP booth, no waiting in line, beautiful woman wanting to chat you up (yes, my wife knows all of this!), the DJ playing whatever you request, bouncers to walk you to the bathroom, etc…

Sunday – Carl Westcott and I played Dallas Country Club, which is one of the oldest golf courses in Texas.  Carl and I always have a great time hanging out, and at the golf course he always wins the money!  In this case $400; which is a record for our game.  I got to betting that I could hit a green 158 yards away at 2-to-1 odds…Anyway it was a lot of fun!  Then Carl Jimmy Lou, and I watched the World Series and went to bed early.

Monday – Tex Barch and his lovely wife joined the Pavin's, Wescott's and a few others for Monday Night Football in the Westcott's private box.  I always joke with the Westcott's about inviting myself to their houses and events, and this time I invited Tex and his wife as well!  It was a great time, and I even cancelled my flight to stick around for the night when we found out that T. O. (Terrell Owens) might want to meet us.  Former UCLA quarterback Cade McNown invited us to have a drink with T. O. (if T. O. was up for it).  Cade told us that T. O. is really a super nice guy, but that he gets portrayed much differently by the media.  I said that that sounds familiar…

We went to Ghost Bar for awhile and then Cade texted us to come by and say hello at Sam and Dick's steakhouse.  T. O. impressed us all by standing up to shake everyone's hands.  In my opinion too many celebs just do not do that.  That simple gesture takes only a few moments but shapes peoples' impressions of you.  That was a first class move all the way.  We were also smart enough to realize that T. O.'s table was full and that there were too many of us there to hang out and be a bother.  So the whole group left within five minutes.  Corey, Lisa, Court and I were hungry so we went back in and they opened up the kitchen for us, which is always pretty cool.  We had one hell of a steak, some Dom, and some Chateu Y' Quiem (my favorite wine).  About 45 minutes later, T. O. came over to say goodbye to us and shake our hands again.  One more class move on his part.  I asked him if he was down about the game and he said, "We had our opportunities, and we just didn't finish."  He seemed like he was in good spirits.

Meanwhile Cade and his wife were bouncing back-and-forth between T.O's table and our table for the full 45 minutes.  Cade seems like a great guy, and I know that my buddy David Norrie and his wife Pamela love Cade and his wife.  When the Norries hang out with you, that's a great sign that you're good people.  Of course Norrie and Cade were both old UCLA QB's…

Tuesday – I took a flight to Vegas after 4 hours of sleep.  I landed at 8:45 AM, and was scheduled to play in a NBC "Poker after Dark" tournament at 10:00 AM.  I played with Shawn Sheikan, Gus Hansen, Huck Seed, Steve Z, and Annie Duke.  I was tired, and Sheiky got to me a bit.  I went crazy over an etiquette issue (you'll have to watch the show!!) and stormed off of the set (and I thought that Poker Brat part of me was gone!).  I'm sure that it was great television.  However it was a bit too stressful for me.  Afterwards I watched the World Series game and went to bed at 9:30 PM.

Wednesday – I slept 13 hours and was ready to play another NBC "Poker after Dark" special.  It is a $20,000 buy-in winner take all affair.  This time I played with Sammy Farha, Andy Bloch, Phil Ivey, Mike Matusow, and Tony G.  What a lineup!  It was much less eventful than the first one for me.  I worked out that night, and went to the Bellagio for dinner by myself.  I lost $5,000 playing high limit slots.

Thursday – I didn't sleep well last night, but I was ready, I thought, to play great poker.  Doyle and I discussed the motivation problem we were having for these NBC "Poker after Dark" specials.  Certainly pride was on the line, and $20,000 apiece, but we both agreed that it was hard to get up for these events.  I mean they're not WSOP tournaments, or WPT tournaments and the prestige factor is a lot less.  Who cares if we win?  No one will remember…On the other hand, when you play WSOP events, then Doyle and I are both primed and ready to rock and roll!!!!  Still, I was mad this time and ready to win.  After all, I did not win one of my first two tournaments, and I hadn't played anywhere close to my best.  Today I played with Doyle Brunson, Erik Seidel, Phil "Unabomber" Laak, Antonio "the magician" Esfandiari, and Jennifer Harmon.  To me this was the toughest field yet.  Doyle and I have ten bracelets apiece, Erik has 6 or 7, and Jennifer has at least 2 (plus she plays in the biggest poker games in the world everyday and she plays hold'em at the highest level).  Even the newcomers Laak and Esfandiari are both Hold'em specialists and they both play Hold'em everyday.

After we finished I went to Matusow's house to hang out, watch the World Series game, and play Chinese poker.  After Mike beat me out of $5,400 at Chinese poker, he began to play online poker.  I was betting on Matusow (I had half of his action) as I watched him play.  At one point at UB and FTP we were losing over $60,000.  One hand came up where mike "Blew up" and bet $15,000 into a $10,000 pot with Kc-9c, and a board of As-6s-2s-3s.  When he bet the 15K I was sick!  After all, it was half my money that he just dusted off!!!  Meanwhile, three minutes after that hand ended I bet Mike $10,000 that the flop was not A-6-2.  Whoops!  The hand history proved me wrong, and I lost.  Oh well, at least it was to Mike.

Before the smoke cleared Mike won $51,000 for the night, and I was up half of that, minus the 10K side bet, plus another 2K side bet (on whether or not a player at the table was a particular player, he was) and $3,400 at Chinese poker.  So I still made $10,000 for the night.  Mike did much better, but at least we both won money!!