Jennifer Browning's blog

Frist Backs Out of 2008 Presidential Race

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 17:34:08 +0000

The father of UIGEA, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announced he will not seek presidency in 2008.

"In the Bible, God tells us for everything there is a season, and for me, for now, this season of being an elected official has come to a close. I do not intend to run for president in 2008."
- Bill Frist, AP story

But was it God or the Securities Exchange Commission investigation that helped Frist decide against a presidential run? According to an Associated Press story the SEC has been investigating Frist for over a year after allegations of insider trading through the sale of shares in HCA Inc., his family's hospital company. Frist denies any wrongdoing.

PartyPoker Still Alive in Texas

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 20:33:38 +0100

DALLAS--I decided to do some image hunting at the State Fair of Texas this weekend. About 50 feet inside Fair Park, towering over me was PartyPoker.net's white and green tent. I was a little shocked to see it in light of new laws and Party's American pull-outs ... but apparently it was merely a sign of Party's marketing left-overs.

Inside the tent, it seemed like business was running as usual. A hired Dallas marketing firm was operating the tent and cute girls in Party attire and khakis were giving away t-shirts and hats. Free tournaments boasting Party Poker luggage for the winner ran about every three hours.

I decided to stick around for the 4 pm tourney hoping to find out how my fellow Texans felt about the recent online gambling prohibition. I found only two who played online poker, and only one played for real money, former University of Michigan math professor Dr. Shane O'Neill (above). O'Neill said the new law was intrusive and described it as "pure robbery" of poker players rights, but said it wouldn't stop him from playing on Party. He plans to play under an "international alias" if his American Party account ends up giving him trouble. I imagine he won't be alone.

Missing Big Joe

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 21:01:43 +0100

NEW YORK--Big Joe busted into the green room while the guys were practicing. Turns out nobody knows Big Joe's full name...nobody. What we do know is he is a manager of musicians of some sort and that he is a riot. I wish he was playing with these guys, because TRUST ME...he would make good TV. He is full of himself, animated and he knows how to play poker. He likes the ladies too and the respect seems mutual in this photo to the right where he is posing with the Hold'em ladies.

Big Joe begged one of the producers to let him play, and with DJ Clue being late, he might have had his chance. Seems Big Joe will have to wait until they tape next Thursday. His episode would be one I want to watch.

Update: I just found Big Joe's MySpace page. Turns out he is Joseph "Big Joe" Sherman of New Era Management. Looks like not only is he an entertainment consultant, but he's looking for ladies for a new venture, Beautiful Women Modeling, Inc.

Hip Hop Hold'em in Spanish Harlem

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:21:07 +0100

NEW YORK--After a brisk walk around the Upper West Side, Harlem and a brief cab ride into Spanish Harlem, me, my J-Lo butt, and Spaceman are chillin' in the green room with some of the Hip Hop stars.

Spaceman is right, it's pretty evident that for the most part these guys don't know what they are doing, but they are having fun with it.

Queens and Tens Make Newhouse Borgata Champ

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 04:26:50 +0100

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ---So not a long night afterall. Mark Newhouse went all in on the button. Chris McCormack calls. Newhouse shows queens and McCormack turns over A-J. The board 5d-10s-4s-10c-Qs and Mark Newhouse wins the Borgata Open Championship earning him $1,519,020 and a seat at the WPT Championship at the Bellagio in April.

McCormack goes home a runner-up with $802,985 and Gonz has headed back to get a little shut-eye before heading off to Philly for his crack of dawn flight.

Down to Two

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 02:35:23 +0100

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--David Sklansky has left the building. Beginning the tournament with a little over 600,000 chips, Sklansky worked his way back to 3.2 million. He pushed it all in with fives against Chris McCormack who called with 10s. The board came 8-10-8-4-K giving McCormack a full house and an opportunity to face Mark Newhouse heads up at the Borgata Final Table. Sklansky leaves with third place and $419,040.

Chris McCormack (bottom right) has 9,715,000 chips and Mark Newhouse (bottom left) has 4,350,000.

Long Night Ahead

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 01:24:24 +0100

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ—While Gonz and Spaceman are arguing about who is going to get the “Out in a Blaise of Glory” headline, until Blaise Ingoglia busted out to Mark Newhouse, things have been pretty….well, just plain stale! Everyone at the final table has moved all in at least twice but the victor was always the low-stacked underdog. Media is packed on a couple of platforms behind the crowds making it difficult to see or hear anything….well except for, and God love her…Linda Johnson’s bad jokes.

Ingoglia is our first move to the end of this final table. I have a feeling it could be a long night…and for Gonz who flies out of Philly at 6 a.m. tomorrow…a long day ahead.

Mr. Sklansky, Did I See a Smile?

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 01:01:10 +0100

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--- So as Gonz has the over on the "David Sklansky Never Smiles" prop bet, I think I just saw at least evidence of a smirk when Sklansky went all in with 6-6. Blaise Ingoglia called with A-10. The turn showed a six giving Sklansky a set. Low stacked and doubling up through Ingoglia, surely that's worth more than a little smirk?

Hiding Behind Anthony Argila's Chips

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 23:55:59 +0100

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--Behind Anthony Argila's 1,350,000 chips are photos of his three-year-old son Antony George. Before the final table was underway, Linda Johnson asked him if he was looking for sympathy. Argila laughed a little and said, "Yes, take it easy on me."

Update: Apparently little Antony is guarding Daddy's chips well. Argila just doubled up through David Sklansky.

Well That Was Quick

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 01:32:25 +0100

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--Louis Russo (right) just busted. Mark Newhouse raised 125K and Russo went all in for 5K more. Chris Bell and Newhouse called. The flop came A-J-J. Newhouse and Bell checked to the river which showed K-7. Newhouse announced he had ten high. Bell showed K-10 for high pair. Russo held nines. He is out 7th for $209,521.

The following players will be on the televised final table which will begin tomorrow at 5 p.m. EST:

Anthony Argila
Chris Bell
Blaise Ingoglia
Chris McComack
Mark Newhouse
David Sklansky

Chris Bell Eliminates Shawn Chaconas

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 23:35:41 +0100

ATLANTIC CITY--Chris Bell(right) bet 110K pre-flop, Mark Newhouse called and Shawn Chaconas went all in with 770K. Newhouse folded. Bell called. Bell had kings which beat Chaconas' queens. The two were heads up earlier with the same hand, but Chaconas had folded that hand when Bell raised. Chanconas goes home with 9th place and $157,141

Anthony Argila just double up against Athanasios Diakos when he moved all pre-flop in with A-6. Diakos immediately called with K-J. An ace came on the river.

Players are now on dinner break.

Aces No Good for Brock Parker

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 21:36:12 +0100

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--The aces that Mark Newhouse busted were in Brock Parker's hands. Parker lost when Newhouse's nines gave him a flush on the river. Parker leaves with 10th place and $68,094.

So Far at the Borgata

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 18:22:57 +0100

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ—From Tahoe to Reno to LA to Atlanta to Cinicinnati… I finally arrived in AC after an 18-hour journey. Gonz and I got some dinner with Gavin Smith, Spaceman and some other media types last night…a nice little break from my journey, but my task master has ordered me back to work. So here's what's happening now.

The Borgata is a different scene from Harveys in Tahoe. The tournament has been moved to the poker room where they are down to two tables and 18 players. We play down to six today. There's more media here and a bit of a crowd watching.

Media is crowded around a few empty poker tables, but all is well as Lindsay, the WPT PR girl, brought a bunch of us some Starbucks…double shot latte and I’m good to go no matter how much I drank last night. Gonz and others are playing poker on PartyPoker and Gavin has just stopped over to say hello. Gavin and Peter Frank, one of the guys working on a poker documentary, reminded me that there is footage of me and Gavin singing "The Gambler" and something about professing our love to each other last night...oops sorry Dan.

So here's some poker news...Barry Greenstein busted out and Jennifer Tilly is still very much alive with lots of chips.

19 at Harveys

Sun, 17 Sep 2006 03:07:54 +0100

LAKE TAHOE, NV--Food and wine with a view is what the 19 Kitchen offers. Located on the 19th floor of Harveys, this restaurant definitely gives you a true dining experience. Creatively divided up into three sections, the menu offers small plates like tapas, sushi and oysters, and for a heartier appetite there are mini-Kobe beef burgers, filet mignon, lobster or other seafood options.

If you are willing to splurge a little, then don't waste time getting to the elevator. 19 has an extensive wine list, and the wait staff is very knowledgeable when it comes to pairing. I highly recommend the sea bass, which is served on a bed of risotto and grilled shrimp, but if you are a Kobe beef lover, then the little burger trio is a must. Served together on a plate as three tiny burgers, they might look dainty, but they are definitely a meal. No matter what your culinary delight might be, this is a meal to be enjoyed.

Oh and don't forget the fabulous view:

How Steve Irion REALLY Learned to Play

Sat, 16 Sep 2006 20:32:00 +0100

LAKE TAHOE, NV--Fishy Steve Irion begins today with 25,900 chips as he fights his way toward the bubble at the WSOP Lake Tahoe main event. (Eighteen players will get paid.) Last night Steve had a lot of big stories about big games in his Sacramento basement where he developed his skills, but his wife, Christine, sent me this photo of Steve (left) and Foxy (right), which tells a different story about where this contender really cut his teeth.