Tuesday, September 8, 2009 - Scott Ian
It’s September and summer is “officially” over, the kids (if I had kids) are back at school and we’re on a fast train to Xmas, with one really nice stop on the way…Aruba.
I can’t believe it’s that time of year already. Twenty-five days until I’m in Aruba for UB’s tourney of tourneys. This is the big one my friends and it’s not to be missed.
This is going to be my third time in Aruba and I am looking forward to this trip even more than the previous two. It definitely doesn’t get old. It’s the one place I can play poker and relax at the same time. The poker environment in Aruba is as intense as anywhere but it’s much more kickback at the same time. I can only guess it’s the sea, the sun, the air, and the DRINKS! Can I get a bucket of Balashi’s over here right now?? If this is going to be your first time to Aruba, Balashi is the local beer and it’s good. There’s my tip of the week.
My first trip to Aruba was in 2007. I won my seat after winning the VH1 Rock & Roll Poker Tourney. I had just started playing poker seriously at the time and I have to admit I was really intimidated about Aruba. I had no idea what it was going to be like. It was also going to be my first big live tourney!! I was going there without knowing anyone except Phil Hellmuth Jr who I had met for five minutes. My fiancé Pearl and I got there and were immediately welcomed by Jo Priam and all of the UB pro’s, management and staff into the family. It’s that kind of atmosphere. UB really goes out of its way to make everyone feel like a part of the team in Aruba. You’ll see. There’s a reason for such strong brand loyalty and it all stems from how cool everyone that works for UB is. This may sound kiss-assy but it’s true. The hospitality provided for all is five-star.
We became fast friends with Phil and Debo and Poker Ho and Shawn Rice and Annie and her man Joe and Hollywood Dave and Wisco and Jim “Krazy Kanuck” Worth and Robert Williamson III etc etc. I got to play a lot of poker and even got some lessons from these masters while having a blast every night. It was a great way to go to poker school.
My first big tourney started OK and about half way through level three I ended up getting all my money in post flop with a set of J’s on a Q high board. Poker Ho was standing across the table from me and saw me shove and gave me a “You got the nuts?” kind of look. I raised my brows back at him thinking I was about to double up when the caller turned over his pair of Q’s and I was done. Oops. My first tourney and I’m out set over set. I wasn’t bummed at all; at that point in my poker career there was no way I could’ve folded. These days my Spider-Sense would’ve been going off like a fire alarm and I’d make an amazing lay down. At least in my dreams that’s what happens.
So I bust out on day one and I’ve got a week in paradise. That’s what’s great about Aruba. And, there’s so much poker going on non-stop that you’ll never be looking for a game. Last year I was heading to Aruba a different poker player. UB had signed me and I’d had a year of lessons and tourneys and thousands of hands played. I also knew everyone going in so it was basically going to be a poker vacation with my friends. Once again the whole operation was first class. I have to mention Matt Savage and his crew as well because he is a huge part of making this a great event. Matt’s tournament philosophy is to give the players great value for their money and this structure provides that.
I made it to day three last year and was grinding towards the bubble. I was short stacked about twenty-five from the money when I shoved UTG with KK. The BB talked and talked for three minutes and he finally calls with AJ. I was hoping to take the blinds and antes and keep grinding but a double up would’ve gotten me past the bubble for sure.
He flops and A and the turn and river show me no love at all and I am out. I couldn’t believe it. I had never made it to a day three before and I just couldn’t accept that I was done after all that work. I was going to win it; I couldn’t be out. I got up quickly and headed out of the room. I dimly remember Debo saying something to me from his table as I descended into a darkness that I was not familiar with. The walk back to my room took five minutes and by the time I got there I didn’t know what to do with myself. Pearl was in the room and she asked me what happened and I couldn’t even speak. I was sitting there with my head in my hands in disbelief that someone pulled the emergency brake and my tourney was over. Pearl told me she’d be down by the pool and to come meet her and the rest of our friends down there when I was ready. She’d also never seen me like this and decided it was probably best to get out of the way. It was the weirdest feeling, my sane brain was saying “dude, calm down it’s just a game and you’ll get’em next time” and my insane poker brain was saying “SCOTT SMASH AJ, SCOTT DESTROY YOU AAAARRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!” Interesting conversation my brain was having with itself. After a half an hour of trying to calm down crazy Scott-Hulk I got off my sorry ass and found Pearl at the pool. I grabbed a lounge chair, set it down in the shallow end of the pool, was handed a GIANT Pina Colada by Victor Bigio and I let Aruba wash the insanity away. And it did! Twenty minutes later my anger had melted away and it was all fun the rest of the trip. That’s Aruba.
Year three coming up, see you there my friends.
Cheers,
Scott
Tags: Annie Duke, Aruba, Debo, Hollywood Dave, Jo Priam, Krazy Kanuck, Matt Savage, P0ker H0, Phil Hellmuth, Play Poker, Robert Williamson III, ShawnRice, ub, Wisco
Comments (1)
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - P0ker H0
It’s great to be home after a long 5-day weekend getaway with the “boys”. It started last Thursday when John Orr, Jon Green, Wisco, and I flew from Madison, WI, out to Portland, OR, to meet up with Phil Hellmuth and a couple of other buddies, for a golf extravaganza. We got to golf at some of the nicest courses in the United States…..Pumpkin Ridge and Riverside. Two beautiful courses in Portland and some of the most unbelievable scenery there is! Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and the Columbia River were some of the sites we saw. There were many excellent restaurants, too. The food was unforgettable! Now I understand why Debo has been trying to get me out there for all these past years. Lots to see and do.
After arriving Thursday evening and a 4-hour poker session, we called it a night so we’d be in good shape for golfing in the morning. We headed out for Pumpkin Ridge on Friday, and wow, what a place! They treated us like kings (Not sure if that was because we were with Phil or not! ). I teamed up with Wisco and John Orr against Phil, Jon Green, and Jon’s brother-in-law Steve (an obvious ringer!). We sure took a thumping! Between Steve’s 300 yard drives, Jon’s irons, and Phil’s one-handed putting, we lost too much $$$$ to say in a blog. My wife might read this! That night I tried to get even by playing poker. I lost too much $$$$ to say in a blog. My wife might read this!
Saturday, same teams at Riverside this time. The course was a lot tougher and Phil wasn’t making his one-handed putts, so we broke about even for the day! So, I really felt more like a winner! We went to one of the nicest restaurants in Portland, El Gauchos, for dinner. After running up a bill of about $2400 between seven of us, Phil rented their cigar and wine room for a night of poker. The game was really wild. We played five-handed in a 5-10 game. Near the end of the night, I got into a big hand with Phil. Phil opened the pot for 25 and everybody called, as did I in the big blind with 5-8. The flop came 4-6-7 with two diamonds. The fact that I had the nuts made me feel good until Phil led out for 200. I reraised him 500 more, and he called. Phil was playing really loose all night, so I put him on either a diamond draw, a set, or who the heck knows with him! The next card off was the ten of diamonds. Now I’m in a tough spot. I have about $2700 in front of me, as does Phil. There is about $1500 in the pot. I don’t want to check raise here because knowing Phil he could have just about anything or just a diamond which I don’t want to let him see for free, or a free card for his set, two pair, or whatever. So I shove the $2700, like an idiot! Phil snap calls with the nuts and rakes about a 7K pot. GG me!
Sunday, Steve and Wisco were done playing golf. So, the new teams were John Orr paired up with Phil, and Jon Green with me. Jon and I golfed out of our minds and had Phil crying like a little baby, especially at the end when I won almost every dime back that I had lost the previous two days! (I called my wife. We took the house off the market! 
Weekends like this I’ll remember the rest of my life. But the one week I guarantee you’ll always remember is coming up in October….Aruba, Baby! See you on the beach! H0
Tags: Aruba, Debo34, Golf, John Orr, Jon Green, P0ker H0, Phil Hellmuth, Poker Poker Poker, Wisco
Comments (0)
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - Debo34
I can’t believe it…my son Jarod turns 15 this week! For those of you who have met him before he is a little taller than he was 3 years ago when I brought him to Aruba. WTF he is over 6′1″ tall now. He has been reading the learners permit book and is ready to go in and get that done. Now I know why my parents were the way they were. This next weekend I have plans to go up to Portland and meet up with the Wisconsin boys, H0, Wisco, Jon Green, and of course Phil to hang and do some golfing. Should be a fun time.
If you have read my last 2 blogs you know that they have been 2 of my ” favorite Aruba moments”. They are in no particular order, just fun memories I have of my 6 straight years going to Aruba. Aruba moment #3 – The Debo. This moment was pure circumstance, I believe it was Aruba 2006. This was the first year that Phil’s Penthouse party was partially planned. In previous years it was a small, impromptu get-together. Soon after word spread about the fun that was had at these parties and UB stepped in and gave it a little structure. So that day wisco, H0 and I were hanging with Phil watching college football before the party started. The people from the Radisson started coming in and bringing some food and drink to cater the party. The selection was fairly small for drinks, consisting of Champagne, Grey Goose vodka and for some reason they had a couple of bottles of watermelon pucker. Just before any of Phil’s guests arrived Wisco, his friend James (Madtownmell) Mell and myself headed to get a drink at the bar. Wisco asked what I thought we should drink and I told the bartender to give us 3 Vodka with Sprite and a splash of pucker. We made a toast and started drinking. After a couple rounds of these, Wisco and James decided this name needed a drink and decided this drink was forever to be called “the Debo”. As the night went on people would ask what we were drinking, and of course we would just simply say “the Debo”. By the end of the night I would estimate that 50+ people had a Debo in their hands at one time. When all was said and done 44 bottles of Grey Goose Vodka were empty.
The next night something funny happened. We were at the awards party at the Radisson pool and we walked by the bar, and the bartender who we still swear to this day was not at Phil’s party, yells out “Hey, you guys ready for a Debo”? We of course got a big kick out of this. The Debo is still a drink of choice for a few people on the island and has since spread to the drink menu at Players Sports bar in Madison, Wisconsin. I know from time to time The Debo is mentioned in the writings of UB blog master Gene Bromberg. He took a liking to the Debo on that first night and was cussing me the next day. Gene and I talked about ordering them at this year’s WSOP party but decided that the Debo should be reserved for Aruba. If you are one of the fortunate people who get to experience Aruba this year, come find me and your first Debo will be on me.
Debo
Tags: Aruba, Debo34, drinking, Gene Bromberg, Golf, Jon Green, P0ker H0, Phil Hellmuth, Radisson, ub, Wisco, WSOP
Comments (2)
