If you listen to PokerWire Radio, you probably know there's a bet between the hosts as to whether Brad Pitt will be in attendance at the "Ante Up for Africa" charity poker tournament. The brain child of poker pro Annie Duke and actor Don Cheadle, this is a great event that will help raise awareness and support for the victims of the genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
Gavin, Joe and Joe's wager, of course, isn't about Pitt's commitment to a very worthy cause, just his availability on that particular day. So, in honor of the bet, here's some highly accurate, completely made up, odds on other celebrities who have expressed interest in participating in "Ante Up for Africa."
George Clooney: He's won "World's Sexiest Man" so many times People Magazine might have to ban him from the competition. The Ocean's series appears to be his only real connection with poker/gambling. That being said, he's known for his work with charitable/non-profit organizations, and why wouldn't the "World's Sexiest Man" want a good excuse to come to Vegas? Still, he's a long shot. Odds: 80-to-1
Brad Pitt: See above...only add a wife and three kids to the equation. Odds: 100-to-1
Matt Damon: How could Mike McD not be a lock for this event? Easy, the guy who played him hasn't been seen in a card room since making Rounders references was cool. Still, Damon did play in the 1998 main event, he's friends with former poker regular Ben Affleck, and healways seems to step it up when necessary. Odds: 75-to-1
Ben Affleck: This guy used to play a lot of poker and he was once mentored by "Ante Up for Africa" co-founder, Annie Duke. Unfortunately, fans couldn't separate the guy who just wanted to sit at the table, from the guy who starred in Armageddon, and many believe the constant hounding burned him out. Now he's married and has a kid...but I think Ol' Ben still loves the game. Odds: 70-to-1
Jennifer Tilly: She dates Phil Laak, plays in WSOP and WPT events, and once gave Patrik Antonius credit for quad kings against her full house on Poker After Dark (PA had 10-8). Odds: 2-to-1
Hank Azaria: Played in last year's main event, and even made calls and folds using the voices of his Simpsons' characters Moe and Apu. Odds: 7-to-2
Danny Masterson: Played in last year's main event. Also, has participated in numerous poker shows and is supposedly a regular on the Hollywood home game circuit. Odds: 7-to-2
Mekhi Phifer: Played in last year's main event, ER’s on summer break, and I don't think they'll be making an 8 Mile: The Sequel anytime soon. Odds: 7-to-2
Charles Barkley: The biggest sports name on the list of potential participants, I don't know how much poker Sir Charles actually plays. He is, however, an admitted gambling degen and estimates his loses at the table games to be in the area of $30 million. Odds: 10-to-1
For more information on how you can help the people of Darfur and others in need around the world visit www.theirc.org and www.enoughproject.com
I feel like a proud parent. More specifically, I feel like the proud parent of a thirty-something year-old, Bacardi-and-Coke-loving Canadian. Congratulations to Gavin Smith - the chipleader going into the final table of the $1,500 pot-limit hold'em event. Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, Gavin and I work together on PokerWire Radio. He's the best kind of co-worker: unpredictable, occasionally professional, and absolutely hilarious. Whether he's cracking us up with a classic Gavinism, threatening to quit the show, or socking me in the arm (what bruise?), it's always a good time.
Fantasy ANYTHING rocks. Fantasy football, fantasy baseball, fantasy midget-tossing, fantasy fantasy...it's all good, I'm in. And now, thanks to the God-Of-Stuff-Guys-Like-To-Do, there's fantasy poker. I'm playing in the PokerWire Radio league on Full Tilt. This means my competition is Gavin Smith, Joe Sebok, Joe Stapleton, Really Good Producer Jeremy, LA Mike, JDN (the PW head-honcho) and any of our listerners who signed up.
Here's the scene: I'm up in my room at the Mandalay, the infamous LA Mike is hanging out (crushing an online tourney as usual), and I'm thinking, "hey, I should blog about some random s&@t."
Hey kids - Joe Stapleton here - host of PokerWire Radio. I just wanted to let y'all know that Erica Schoenberg is going to be our guest on the show tonight.
Today's episode: Gavin can't win with aces, Sebok can't get action on his aces, and Mizrachi has to muck a full house. Tune in to hear their strategy tips!
Poker strategy, racism and WSOP bracelet winner Jon Friedberg.
