The Sh*t & The Fan

'I don't take steroids, but I have taken steroids in the past... Do you know why I stopped taking them? Because of the Wellness Policy. Because I knew that having a job with the WWE was way more important than the 10 pounds of extra muscle that the steroids gave me...'
-Ken Anderson AKA Ken Kennedy in an interview with The Sun newspaper earlier this month.

The lies and spin created by the WWE and its superstars in the media over the last few weeks has finally bitten them on the ass. A Sports Illustrated investigation into steroid distribution that had been ongoing since early this year has named and shamed a list of wrestlers.

In the weeks after these names were listed, the WWE defended its Wellness Policy by claiming that all these cases were deemed obsolete because the purchases were made before the policy was introduced.

SI.com has listed the dates the deliveries were made and they were sent out after the testing process was brought into the company.

The WWE has suspended ten unnamed performers in light of these reports. It will be hard for the company to keep those performers' identities hidden as we have a list of names from the report and some of them were in major storylines on television this past week.

Those wrestlers listed are;Ken Kennedy, Chavo Guerrero, Gregory Helms, Randy Orton, John Morrison, Sho Funaki, Charlie Haas, Umaga, William Regal, Edge and Sylvain Grenier*.

Brian Adams, Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero were also named in the list of customers.

As a fan this doesn't shock me. I have grown up watching wrestling and lived through the first steroid scandal to hit the WWE. They did their damage control back then, as well.

This time it is a lot more different. People have died believed to be due to the enhancement drugs they have been using. The company brought in a programme to detect and eradicate the use of these substances and it has clearly been a smoke-screen.

A clear smoke-screen? Irony at it's finest.

* I listed the performers under their stage names. The reports have them listed under both their real and professinal monikers.

In For A Dollar

Paddy Power Poker had a $1 tournament yesterday where the winner was awarded with the first seat available for the Irish Open which will be held next Spring.

I gave it a go.

Qualifying for the Irish Open has been one of my goals ever since I started playing poker. I have come very close to securing a place at the Dublin event but have always fallen short.

Last year was the closest I had got to winning a seat. I was in a freeroll and made it to the final table but it ended in a calamitous way.

The desk I was sitting at decided to fall apart and I spent the latter part of the game with my leg holding up the keyboard tray.

I ended up in third place. Close but no cigar.

I got the email from the company telling me about the $1 chance for a seat and took up the opportunity. Over four hundred players took part. I ended up in 314th place.

They say 'you've got to be in it to win it'. They forget to tell you about the losing.

Bullet Points

It's just gone half past seven and I think it's time to do an early morning post. I'm short on ideas, though.

The best way to handle this is to do it Jim Ross style with the random points.

* I played in another Head Hunter game last night. I paid $5 to enter and walked away with three bounties which totalled up to a little over $7. A two dollar profit.

*I watched the UFC event on Sunday night. A good show. Randy Couture is a legend!

*Monday Night Raw was so-so. A few good angles but not many matches.

*Bret Hart has an autobiography coming out by the end of the year. Some people have looked at the manuscript and said it is going to be brilliant.

*Bad news for that Spanish player who died after collapsing on the pitch on Saturday night.

*I MIGHT be in an imprtant poker tourney tonight. More on this if I win. If. I. Win.

*Another goalless game for Cardiff at Ninian Park last night.

*The NCAA Football season starts later this week. It will be the first time I will able to catch the college football as I have only just started to the NASN sports channel on cable.

That's it. I can't think of anything else. I'm spent!

Until tomorrow.

Ole

I think it's only appropriate to mention Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in today's post.

I'm not a Manchester United fan - as you are all aware - but I am a football fan and it was sad to hear that he had to retire after a knee injury hadn't fully recovered.

The Norwegian player made football matches exciting. I cannot remember how many games I saw him come on as a substitute in the latter moments and scored the winning goal.

His most successful moment will have to be that time he scored the decisive goal the Champion's League final against Bayern Munich in 1999.

Summerslam 2007

Well, what did I think of last night's main event?

The match that I said was the only one I was looking forward to at Summerslam was the only one I missed.

I fell asleep during the Great Khali versus Batista fight and woke up an hour or so later.

Cena won, though. I called it right. Again.



I just found out that Hulk Hogan's son, Nick, was involved in a terrible car accident. A car crashed into a palm tree. Nick and his passenger are both in serious conditions in hospital after being cut free and airlifted from the scene.

A One Match Show

It's the annual WWE Summerslam show tonight and I am not really looking forward to it.

I have probably watched the most WWE I have in years in the build-up to tonight's pay-per-view and I admit that the company has done a good job in the weeks leading to the show.

But.

I am not interested in seeing Triple H returning to face King Booker. The return of The Game will mean one thing - overexposure. The people will have enough of seeing him by the end of the year.

Rey Mysterio is also returning. That's good news to his hordes of fans. Not me.

The only match I have a keen interest in is John Cena defending the WWE belt against Randy Orton.

This match has been built brilliantly. Orton looks unstoppable and it could see the title change hands after eleven months in the hands of Cena. I hope it isn't, though. Cena has impressed me as champ and there could be a good feud in Orton and Cena.

Orton winning the belt will only lead to Triple H regaining the title sooner rather than later.

Anarchy In The UK

Sometimes I don't understand this world.

I have been watching the coverage of the murder of eleven-year old Rhys Jones. It's just made me realise how terrible this country has become for gun crime.

The boy was shot in the car park of the pub near his home.

Police believe the crime was related to a gang war. Rhys was the innocent victim who was certainly at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Just the other day there was a noting that it was twenty years since the Hungerford massacre. In the two decades since that madman, Michael Ryan shot dead Innocent people we have seen a lot of killings related to guns.

I don't really know what can be done to stop it, either. They had a gun amnesty in the late 1990's in the wake of the Dunblane murders.

But the crimes will continue to happen. And that's the thing that scares me about the society we are bringing up today's children in.

As we learnt this week - some kids won't have a chance to prosper in this environment.

Not A Lot To Talk About

It's another one of those days where I am lost for words.

I can't seem to think what to write about. So I am just going to phone this one in.

My pick for the weekend footy - Newcastle to beat Boro.

My pick for the weekend weather - Hot.

Back tomorrow.

Three Strikes And Out

I think I have used up all my chances at qualifying for the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE).

I have been in three qualifiers and haven't been successful in any.

I just got knocked out of one with three eights, I was beaten by a flush.

Tonight's Predictions

I think I wrote a little too much last night so I am going to do a short one today with my guesses on tonight's Internationals.

England 1 Germany 1
Scotland 4 S. Africa 0
Denmark 2 Rep of Ireland 1
N. Ireland 5 Lechtenstein 0
Bulgaria 1 Wales 2

Evening Update -

Actual scores were:
England 1 Germany 2
Scotland 1 S Africa 0
Denmark 0 Rep of Ireland 4
N. Ireland 3 Lechtenstein 1
Bulgaria 0 Wales 1

Johnny

I was looking at the MSN website this evening and there was an article about Dirty Dancing celebrating twenty years. Reading the brief write-up reminded me of 1987. It seems I have been doing that a lot lately.

If you recall, in October of last year I mentioned that one of the songs in the movie was one of the 'soundtracks of my life' as I heard it non-stop in Germany in '87. If you haven't read the post go back and look it explains the whole Germany thing.

1987 was the year I 'officially' met my Mother's sister. her husband and children. I had met them years earlier but I didn't remember them as I was too young. Yes - I didn't remember something. For those who comment on my good memory cut out and keep the last sentence. You may never see it again.

That time in Germany was one of the most special times I can remember. It was heartbreaking to leave. I even feigned an illness on the day we were set to fly out in the hope it would keep me there a little longer. It didn't work.

Nor did it work when I tried it again in 1988!

I can't really pinpoint what it was about staying in Germany but one of the main things was my cousins. I looked up to them like brothers. A brother was something I missed out on so for those weeks in Germany my three male cousins became my big brothers. I also had two older sisters if you count the female members of the family but I had that back at home with my cousins who were around loads when I was growing up.

William was the eldest and I don't remember much from him (okay, I forgot something again!). I recall he had amazing artistic ability.

Sean was the one closer to age to me. I copied him in so many ways. When he liked skateboarding, I did. When he would have spiked hair, so did I. When he fought with me, I fought back.

Then there was John.

Johnny was the one who came to collect us from the airport with my Uncle Dennis. I remember seeing him and he had long blonde hair and was the tallest 'sonofabitch' you could ever see.

In the year or so after our first visit to Germany Johnny came over to stay with us for a period of time. He took my Sister's room. She took mine and I had a choice to make. Sleep on a camp-bed in my room or go in there with my cousin. I picked the latter.

Those months he stayed were great. In hindsight I probably didn't appreciate it as much as I do now but it was a good time.

In the mid 1990's - after spending time in England - the family were back in the United States and we lost contact.

Until two weeks ago.

My Aunt rang us up and she gave me her email address. A few days later I got an email from John and I signed up with AOL to chat to him. It was great catching up. The last time we had spoke was 1991 so we had a lot to catch up on.

He's done alright for himself. He has a family of his own with a successful job.

Head Games

I entered a $20 Head Hunter tournament on William Hill Poker last night and ended up making a few enemies as well as $249.

This game is different to most tournaments in that you can start winning money from the get-go. You pay the buy-in and a part of it is donated to the prize pool. The other portion of the buy-in is added as a bounty on your head and if someone were to eliminate you from the game then you take the amount that is on their head. Most of it goes to your account but a small portion of it is added to the bounty on your head to make things more interesting as the game progresses.
I disposed of a few people early on and had already broke even. I thought I would just play a little bit madder than usual because I had everything to gain and nothing to lose.

One player took offence to my playing style by calling me 'lucky'. In order to provoke him a bit more I purposely made an erroneous comment. I asked him 'as Tina Turner would say what's luck got to do got to do with it?'

A few hands later I angered another opponent. As all swear words are banned on the program he knew a way around the censorship. He made sure he had spaces between the letters 'C,U' -yes, you know what's next - 'N,T'.

My response to his comment was 'don't hate the playa, hate the game' a quote that was said by Booker T in WCW during the early 2000's when he was taking a cheap shot at Triple H in the then WWF.

At one point I was the number one person on the player list. I had over $40 on my head after knocking nine people out.

My final hand was a pair of eights up against Big Slick. My rival hit a king on the board and my night ended.

I finished off in fourth place. I won $129 for the place and made an additional $120.64 for the nine bounties I had picked up along the way.

£120 isn't bad for two and a half hours work!

Blind

I didn't buy a copy of the Racing & Football Outlook on Tuesday so I had to make my football selections blind.

And what a shambles the super Heinz turned out to be.

I had Hinckley, Plymouth, Yeovil, Barnet, Duisberg, Aberyswyth and York as my selections at 10p a bet.

Only one won. Yeovil.

York play on Monday but the bet is already a loser so it doesn't really matter whether they win or not. At odds of 2/1 it is looking doubtful they will win, either.

The Media Frenzy pt.4

Side by side at the Garden, their boyhood dreams finally realized, the easy going, Mexican-born Guerrero and the intense, Canadian-born Benoit stood on the mountaintop, seemingly in peak physical form.

Within a little more than three years, both would be dead.

-The Washington Post, Thursday August 16th 2007

Paul Farhi - a staff writer for the Washington Post - has written the best piece in regards to the drug and steroid culture within the world of wrestling.

'Death Grip - Pro Wrestlers' Grim Cycle: Pain, Drugs and Doom' is the first article by a mainstream writer who seems to get it.

His use of wording is incredible. As an example his descriptive analogy of the friendship that existed between Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero was through 'thin times and thickening bodies'. How powerful is that sentence?

The piece uses both Benoit and Guerrero as the examples of the culture which is sweeping through the industry. The writer uses their career high as a launching pad for the article.

The final moments of Wrestlemania XX was the professional highlight for both of these wrestlers. The writer realises this and sends the reader straight back down to earth with the acknowledgement that neither man will live to see Wrestlemania XXIV.

The piece also quotes many of the people who have appeared in the reporting of the troubles associated with the business.

Professional wrestling writers; Dave Meltzer and Wade Keller make astute observations on the situation. The latter even calls for mandatory time off for all performers. An avenue the companies should consider in the wake of the deaths.

Marc Mero and Konnan - two of the most outspoken wrestlers who have appeared in the news in recent weeks - are also quoted. Their analysis is more truthful than that of the current stars who are trying to defend the business that pays their bills.

I cannot even give this article justice. You need to check it out for yourself on the website of the Washington Post. It is a real eye opener.

I hope the Congressmen were alert when commuting to work on Thursday morning.

The End Of The Run Is Nigh?

It looks like the run of daily entries is about to hit a roadblock.

My parents and Josh are going away this weekend so I may end up going to stay at my sister's house for a few days. They have a computer but I am not sure if they are connected to the Internet.

What am I going to do!?

It is still 50-50 on whether I end up getting bored enough with everyone around here away (all my friends are on holiday as well). I may end up enjoying the peace and quiet and decide to stay after all.

I have a special write-up tomorrow. I need to do some background research on it first but keep your eyes peeled for it. It should be a good 'un.

And if there is a few days without a post remind yourself of one famous quote from an Austrian android that is the Californian governor. Because I will be.

The King Is Dead

I was sitting down for lunch with Josh when he brought up Elvis Presley.

He had been interested in the celebrity ever since he saw an impersonator at a cabaret while on holiday two years ago. The current air-time dedicated to the thirty years since Elvis' passing has once again piqued some wonder in the child.

'How did Elvis die?' He asked me.

Stumbling for a correct answer to give a child I just said he fell asleep when he was sitting on the toilet and the angels came to take him away.

'He couldn't have died of old age, though. He was young.' Was the response I got totally making more sense than my angels coming to take him away theory. I had to think of a perfect reply.

And out came something even worse.

'God wanted to have a concert so he got the angels to collect him.'

I think he accepted that answer but I could still see the little lad sitting there trying to think of more Elvis related questions.

Adams & The Media

The media did jump on the death of Brian Adams.

In the last ten years when many wrestlers passed away the news didn't make it to the mainstream. Now - after the Benoit tragedy - there seems to be major interest from the US Government and media.

Below are links to the coverage from CNN in America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkhiqwRtrN8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opmAcKZobKA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcjLBHb6px8

Crush

Brian Adams who became popular in the WWF as Crush was found dead at his home yesterday.

The wrestler becomes yet another name in a long list of stars who have passed away long before their time.

This death may create interest from the media in light of the letters sent from US Congress to the WWE. Adams was once charged with steroid and gun handling. It may make for a news angle if they delve into his past.

My own personal memories of the wrestler are based on what I saw in the magazines and television.
In the numerous times I went to see a WWF or WCW show he was never on the card so I have no story on seeing him live.
I do recall when he was repackaged as a babyface in 1992 and appeared in a copy of WWF Magazine in his new ring attire.
He was once a member of Demolition and wore the black leather with studs but now that he was a good guy he wore a bright purple and yellow costume with 'CRUSH' written across it.
I thought the colour was great so drew a picture of him using the felt pen set I had bought that weekend.
As for matches - I will always remember his angle with Doink leading to their match at Wrestlemania IX (above). His heel turn and feud with Randy Savage that was concluded in a falls count anywhere match at Wrestlemania X will also be a memory I have of the man from Kona, Hawaii.

Sprinting Ahead

It was a great start to my fantasy football team. I managed to secure fifty-two points.

The Paltalk Premiership - a small mini league I am a part of - has nineteen players and I am currently in third place.

The main rival I have in this league is Nigel Thomas (turbo_chef). His finishing higher than me last season has haunted me for weeks due to his constant reminders.

I started off eleven points better than him so it is currently 1-0 to me.

I would always remind him that it's a marathon and not a sprint, though.

They Should

Manchester United SHOULD beat Reading

Arsenal SHOULD beat Fulham

Chelsea SHOULD beat Birmingham

But will they?

I Remember Olwen

I didn't have the privilege of meeting three of my grandparents. They had all died before I was born. I did know my Nan but my time with her was short as she passed away when I was three or four.

I knew my Aunt Olwen, though.

She was like a grandparent to me. She was here every year for Christmas making sure she stayed over the night before so she could witness my sister and I opening our presents.

And then there were the Saturdays.

My Mother would work and my Father would be playing rugby so she would look after us at her flat.

I could sit here writing all day about some of my fond memories of those Saturdays. Instead I will do quick points of some of my classic memories.

I remember her walking to the shopping area in her neighbourhood and on the walk there I was telling her a tall-tale about how I was friends with Barry McGuigan and that I had boxed with him when I was in Ireland visiting family. In hindsight, she knew I was full of it but she played along with me and let me live my lie.

I remember the black and white television she had. We would watch the Saturday morning shows on there. The most notable one being the wrestling. It was on one of these weekends that ITV aired an exclusive match from Madison Square Garden featuring an American wrestler who came to the ring with a helmet with a fist coming out of it. A few years later the wrestler would become one of my heroes - Hulk Hogan.

I remember her buying me these sticky spider toys that glowed in the dark. I then wrote a short story featuring them. She them asked me to write a story about princesses and princes rather than spiders. So I did. But the spiders made an appearance in it anyway!

She passed away eight years ago today.

Sure, I didn't have any grandparents around me when I was growing up but Aunt Olwen made up for it.

The Day Before

Another season is almost upon us.

This year I have decided on not doing a season bet due to having to take care of matters close to home. It would be a waste of money if I were to place a bet on the season and have to wait nine months or more before a payout.

If I did do a bet I would make two notable changes.

For the first time in doing these season bets I will give up on Celtic and Real Madrid and go with Rangers and Barcelona.

I have not been inspired by the Spanish team in recent years and they were lucky to have walked away with the La Liga title last season. They also have made a lot of changes since the Summer and a lot of faces have left.

Barcelona, on the other hand, seem to be turning the disaster of 2006/7 into a positive and Thierry Henry will be the signing of the season.

Rangers have failed to win the Scottish Premier for a while now. I just have this feeling the changing of the guard is about to take place. If last week's results are anything to go by - I am going to be right.

Afternoon Update - I have placed a season bet after all! I was checking my emails and there was an offer from Bet365. All I had to do was stake up to £25 on football bets and they would give me a free bet to that value. I decided I would take up this offer and did a season Goliath bet for £24.70 and then use up the free bet on a Goliath for tomorrow's matches.

A New Hart Beats

I am looking forward to the WWE debut of the all new Hart Foundation.

The group - all relatives of the Hart family - are currently in the developmental territory that is the training ground for future talent before they are called up to the main roster.

The threesome consists of Teddy Hart, Nattie Neidhart and Harry Smith.

Teddy Hart is a nephew of Bret Hart. He is quite a controversial figure on the independent scene as he is a bit eccentric. People think he has the talent to make an impact on the business but his immaturity will be his downfall.

Nattie is the daughter of Jim 'The Anvil' Neidhart which makes her another Hart as her father is married to one of the Hart sisters.

Harry Smith is the son of Diana Hart and the late 'British Bulldog' Davey Boy Smith.

The original Hart Foundation were a WWF tag team comprising of Bret and Jim Neidhart. They were a popular fixture in the company from the mid 80's to early 90's until the Hitman was pushed as a singles star.

In 1997 the Hart Foundation was reformed as part of a USA versus Canada feud. This time the team consisted of the Hitman and the Anvil as well as Owen Hart, the British Bulldog and Brian Pillman.

The irony of all ironies is that ten years later only Bret and Jim - the original Hart Foundation - are living.

The new stable will hopefully further the legacy.

At A Loss

I am suffering with a loss of words. I cannot think what to type today.

So I will leave it like this.

The New Sky NFL Season

Sky Sports have improved their coverage of the NFL for the forthcoming season. And I am looking forward to it.

The channel has included a few of the preseason games as well as having aired this past Sunday's Hall of Fame game between New Orleans and Pittsburgh.

They have also secured live Sunday and Monday Night Football games. These games were once a part of Channel Five's coverage of the sport.

The inclusion of the late game on Sundays mean that there will be triple-headers instead of the double shots that were a regular Sunday fixture.

More games for them. Less sleep for me!

Outplayed

I finished in twenty-seventh place in a $5 tournament that consisted of over one thousand players last night.

I was awarded £39.93 for the placing. I was slightly disappointed as I had a feeling I could have went further but a bluff I made was called and it ended my night.

That one play was the worst I played all night, though.

There were two hands I played last night that I will never forget as it showed how mature I have become in the short time I have been paying poker.

Both hands involved me holding AA in the hole.

There was an all-in before I was to act. I was sitting in middle position so I thought it wold be best if I called it in the hope of luring more players into the pot.

No one else called the bet so it was just me and him. He turned over a pair of tens and another ten came out on the flop.

Luck was on my side as the community cards were full of spades so we both split the pot with a shared flush.

A number of hands later the same player made an all-in move again. I had aces - this time he had to lose.

As I was the small blind I had a choice to make. I either called the all-in or moved all-in myself. I still wanted to get as much out of the hand as I could and the opponent in the big blind had yet to make his call.

I thought it would be best if I moved all-in as well. The big blind would either fold with nothing or remember that I called with aces so would discount me having a good pair and make a call with whatever he had.

He was holding a pair of eights, the other player had an ace and a queen. Both players exited the game after I won the hand.

Back To Winning Ways

I did a Super Heinz yesterday and had six out of the seven selections win for me.

The twelve pound stake turned into £80.87 by yesterday evening when the final result was confirmed.

I had Cardiff, Middlesborough and Portsmouth to win their matches. I also picked there being more than two and a half goals in Rosenborg .v. Stabaek and IFK Marienhamn .v. FC KoTeePee.

The losing bet was on Juventus who I thought would beat Sunderland. The game ended up being a 1-1 draw.

The final match on the slip was Ajax .v. Arsenal. I needed the Gunners to win the game. It took eighty-eight minutes for a goal to be scored but it was a score I welcomed as it gave me an extra win and ensured the bet was an even profitable one.

APAT On My Back

I got a shock when I was picking up my post from the porch yesterday afternoon.

There was a parcel addressed to me laying on the mat. I wasn't expecting anything so curiosity got the better of me and I opened the package immediately.

The handwriting on the parcel looked similar to my sister's so I thought it may have been something from her. I pulled out the item inside and it was a green box.

'Hmm,' I wondered. I had no idea what it could be so I opened the case.

And there in front of me was a bronze APAT medal.

I didn't realise the Amateur Poker Association & Tour give out runner-up prizes to people placed second and third in their online tournaments. I just thought it was to those playing in the live tournaments.

This medal has the APAT logo on the front with 'National Poker Championship' on its other side. The box has 'Australian Amateur Open 2007' engraved on the inside. It looks really nice.

As I like showing off things like this I have totally gone overboard in winding my parents up about this this weekend. I have attempted to get room for it in the cabinet where my father holds his rugby and skittle awards.

I am, of course, copying Kurt Angle and his infatuation with the Olympic gold medal he won in 1996. I remember seeing the skits of him when he first debuted for the WWE and how he bored people in the backstage segments where he was showing them his medals.

The classic moment came last night when my parents were arranging where to go for Sunday lunch as they are celebrating their anniversary. I asked what was going to happen to me and my father quickly said 'You can stay home and polish your medal'.

That was no way to speak to a bronze medallist!

2.5*

WWE went into panic mode after the ratings for this past Monday's episode of Raw came in.

The company were already reeling after making a 3.4 rating a week earlier. The rating was the lowest in nine years. Seven days later - they beat that record.

Nielson results showed that Monday's show did a 2.5. A drop of twenty-six percent from the week previous.

The Benoit aftermath may have been one of the factors surrounding the mass exodus of viewers. The injury list has probably not helped, either.

On the company's website yesterday they announced the return of Mr. McMahon. Ratings had dropped in the weeks following his 'death' from a storyline standpoint but it is hard to pinpoint the loss of McMahon as being one of the key reasons behind the drop as the Benoit deaths happened within a fortnight of the limousine blowing up.

The 2.5 rating may also be contested within the next few days as a number of wrestling news sites have revealed that Nielson have informed the WWE that there was a technical issue in the calculating of television ratings from Monday night.

A revised rating is expected within the next few hours. Whether it will put smiles on the WWE's faces is another thing.

A Year Older

It seems like only yesterday that I was typing on here that it was my mother's birthday.

On my Father's birthday I said he was 'the man' well, that must mean my Mum is...THE WOMAN!

Another Pay-out

I made another pay-out in a $5 tournament on Blue Square Poker last night.

This is becoming quite a common thing at the moment. I am playing some good poker on this site. If I am not cashing in I am coming close to the bubble.

Last night's game did have it's moments, though.

At some points I was low on chips but I hit some good cards that steamrolled me back into the prizepool zone.

I even won two hands holding a pair of queens. That's a shock, huh?

Ironically it was a pair of queens that ended my night as my jacks went up against them and I finished off in thirteenth place.

There were five hundred and fifty-six participants so my $5 entry became $27.80 due to my placing in the list.