Great start!!!
Saturday, June 27, 2009 - Brandon Cantu
Well ladies and gentlemen; I have officially completed a deal to become UltimateBet’s newest sponsored pro. It is an exciting step for me and I am thrilled to be a part UB, a team that features both Phil Hellmuth and Annie Duke. I believe UB has the best days ahead of them and I am certain that, not only do I feel I have much to contribute, I will be appreciated as an important asset to the team.
I attended Annie Duke’s charity event – “Sucking Out On The Rivers.” The event took place at the Hard Rock and obviously was a great way to raise more awareness and money following Annie’s Celebrity Apprentice run. The event was attended by pro players showing support. Andy Bloch, Joe Reitman, Joe Sebok, Howard Lederer, and now fellow UB teammates, Hollywood Dave and Matt Graham showed up, to name a few. The abundance of Annie impersonators and chill environment were added bonuses to the already good cause. Fun was had by all. I am a fan of the Hard Rock poker room. The bar is close and television sets are above most tables. As I stepped out for a phone call, I even spotted Phil Ivey throwing some dice.
All and all, it was the perfect day to announce that I was officially a member of UB. For me, joining a team is more than just putting on a patch. I want to be an active team member throughout. This event gave me an opportunity to do just that. From the red carpet to conduct some interviews to hanging out with some of the UB Pros, it was engaging. It was the ideal event that provided some excitement versus just a standard press release announcing my involvement.
Earlier, while I was working through my options for pro sponsorship, I strongly considered UB despite an unfortunate situation that had taken place. I must admit, I felt in the past as though UB handled things poorly. However, after spending time and working with Annie, my opinions have changed. I trust and know that she is monitoring all of UB and am confident that her involvement continues to translate over to other players’ opinions of the site. Not to mention Phil Hellmuth is also a friend. I know that both of these players would not continue to associate themselves to the brand should issues still remain potentially threatening. I believe UB has turned the corner and is committed to excellence. As I said, the best years of UB are ahead throughout online poker and I feel good about being a part of it as it happens.
As I look back on my first day on the clock for UB, I can recall a success: a great event showing UB Pros commitment to charitable causes, fellow UB Pros showing up to support and the fine environment throughout. This is a great start to what should be a very good year for both me and my UB team.
- Brandon Cantu
Tags: Annie Duke, Celebrity Apprentice, Hard Rock, Phil Hellmuth, Sucking out on the rivers, ub
