Fresh LuckyDog Poker columns about two of poker’s biggest issues now are posted on this site. Check them out if you missed their recent print publication.

One LDP article tackles the future of online poker, which is tangled in a legal mess created by the as-yet-unenforceable UIGEA and promising but so-far-frustrating legal attempts to secure people’s freedom to play online in safe, regulated conditions.

The other addresses Scotty Nguyen’s shocking display of bad behavior as seen on ESPN’s telecast of the 2008 WSOP H.O.R.S.E. tournament last week. The article clearly cites rules he violated without any punishment by chicken-crap tournament officials.

Your comments on both topics are welcome.

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THE LATEST:(as of Wednesday, Aug. 27)

After anti-Internet gambling language was removed from the GOP party platform Tuesday, complaints from conservative groups triggered the quick restoration of the language.

Kendal Unrah of Colorado reportedly sponsored the amendment to re-instate the clause. In doing so, he was quoted as saying: “Internet gambling represents the most invasive and addictive form of gambling in our history.”

The GOP platform committee meets again Wednesday to write a final version of the 2008 platform document to be presented and voted on by the convention delegates.

Persons wishing to express an opinion to the committee can do so at gopplatform2008.com.
(more…)

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Hoyt Corkins was robbed!

Not by some online donkey who hit a two-outer on the river but by burglars who lifted a ton of key possessions — including two WSOP gold bracelets — from his home in Spanish Trails, Las Vegas, while Hoyt was on vacation.

PokerNews.com has today’s story here...

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NOTE: SCOTTY NGUYEN’S APOLOGY, AS IT APPEARED AT CARDPLAYER.COM, NOW INCLUDED UNDER COMMENTS.

Say it ain’t so…

Scotty Nguyen, who I picked in a column two years ago as one of the most-fun players to have at a dream table…

Scotty Nguyen, who I was rooting for in the WSOP main event last year until his meltdown…

Scotty Nguyen, whose high profile means so much to the public image of poker…

Well, on TV Tuesday night, that same Scotty Nguyen was a jerk.

Scotty Nguyen

It was painful to watch the second hour of ESPN’s telecast of the World Series $50K H.O.R.S.E. event — every pro’s most-coveted bracelet.

So many f-bombs. Taunting. Threatening. Tossing insults.

He made a mysterious “gift” laydown face-up of the better hand against short-stacked Erick Lindgren with cards to come — a move that on TV seemed calculated to feed the shocked Lindgren much-needed chips so they both could battle against the other remaining player, Michael DeMichele. DeMichele finished second anyhow.

Nguyen even delivered a blistering verbal attack on the Rio Casino’s wait staff, demanding another beer.

In a word, the self-proclaimed Prince of Poker’s actions were disgraceful.

The same goes for the tournament officials that night. They let the darkness get completely out of hand. If an unknown player had said that many vicious f-bombs, he might have been disqualified and certainly would have been penalized. Being a drunken star wearing a lot of bling shouldn’t get you a pass on breaking the rules.

Yet, sad as it was to watch, I’m glad ESPN and the announcers presented what really happened. Kudos to Lon and Norman for spot-on descriptions of the craziness. The telecast now stands as the No. 1 example of how players — both famous and unknown — SHOULD NOT act at the poker table. Poker boot camps should show the tape to novice players to shame them away from unacceptable behavior.

Toughest to swallow: Scotty’s actions were an insult to the memory of the late Chip Reese, the first winner of the $50K event in 2006, who, even before that victory, was considered by many to be the greatest all-around player ever. No debate on this: He was a true professional and gentleman at the poker table.

Seeing Scotty Nguyen hoist the Reese Memorial Trophy at the end was sickening. The only good thing was he set down his bottle of beer first and didn’t drop the damned thing.

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NEWS RELEASE

Golden Nugget hosts 2009 season of NBC’s Poker After Dark

LAS VEGAS (Aug. 18) – Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino executives announced today that the legendary downtown property has signed an agreement with the producers of NBC’s Poker After Dark to host the 2009 season of the popular television series.

The first 60 episodes of the nightly hour-long show, now hosted by popular model Leeann Tweeden, will be filmed in the property’s newest events center, The Grand, Oct. 26 through Nov. 5.
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…if Kelly Kim pulls off his amazing short-stack survival mode again in November!

Proof of his end-game tenacity was evident again early this morning. More on that in a minute.

Kim, you may recall, seemed destined to be the “bubble boy” last month at the World Series of Poker main event when only 10 players remained. Just nine would advance to the final-table spectacle on Nov. 9.

Kelly Kim

He had just 4.4M chips when 10-handed play began, less than half the stack size of the next two lowest competitors and waaaay below chip leaders Dennis Phillips and Scott Montgomery, both of whom sat behind stacks of more than 20M.

From Vegas, I wrote in a live blog entry that, although Kim was the shortest stack, “anything can happen” in tournament poker.

What happened was a remarkable display of patience and timing by Kim, a 31-year-old Korean-born poker pro from Whittier, Calif., who used to work as a business analyst.
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Poker players who have been following the online cheating scandals involving the Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker sites will want to read this three-part interview with Paul Leggett, chief operating officer of Tokwiro Enterprises ENRG, which owns the two sites.

“California” Jen Newell, who writes for pokerworks.com and also blogs for pokerati.com, scored the interview with Leggett in the hopes of clearing up questions about how the cheating happened and what is being done about it.

She writes:

“The interview was a satisfying one, despite Mr. Leggett’s inability or unwillingness to answer certain questions due to the understandable legal limits as to what can be disclosed when litigation is pending. What came from this question and answer session was a better appreciation of the steps that have been and will be taken by Tokwiro to improve security on Absolute Poker and UltimateBet, as well as the current status of the investigation and a bit of insight into the timeline of the release of further information and customer reimbursements.”

Click here to read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

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Here’s another open-to-the-public charity poker event on the West Coast that sounds like a fun time for a good cause, if you happen to plan on being in the L.A. area the middle of next month. Lots of celebs to hang with and much more…

The news release follows:

MONTE CARLO NIGHT…
FOR THE BENEFIT OF COUNCILMAN GREIG SMITH LAPD DEVONSHIRE AREA YOUTH CENTER

Hosted by Nancy Cartwright (the voice of Bart Simpson) with Poker Committee Chairperson Jamie Gold (2006 WSOP Main Event Winner)

Saturday, September 20, 4:30 PM Poker Players, 6 PM Party

Monte Carlo Night hosted by voiceover icon Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson) at her home, to benefit Devonshire PALS new Youth Center for at-risk kids. No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em with celebrities and poker pros.

Mary Jones (2006 WSOP Ladies Event Champion) will hold a “poker boot camp” before the tournament, Dorian Harewood will teach and host Black Jack, and roulette is added this year.

Celebrities expected to attend include Brad Garrett, Kirstie Alley, Camryn Manheim, Nathan Osmond, David Osmond, Kristoff St. John, Sinbad, Mickey Dolenz, Stefanie Schaeffer, Tom Kenny and many more.

Poker pros anticipated include Jamie Gold, Jennifer Harman, Todd Brunson, Men “The Master” Nguyen, Van Nguyen, Sammy Farha, Kristy Gazes, Marco Traniello, Kenna James, Marsha Waggoner and Barbara Enright.

The evening will include dinner, open bar, entertainment, dancing, as well as great raffle and auction prizes including memorabilia and one-of-a-kind experiences.

LOCATION: Nancy Cartwright’s home, Northridge (address to be provided with tickets)
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC – $500 per person includes Texas Hold ‘Em Buy-in and the party; $250 per person for non-players. The top five players will each receive a seat to a World Series of Poker Tournament.

For tickets and information, (818) 882-7336 or log onto www.devonshire-pals.org

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Tiffany Michelle is interviewed on camera at the Rio just minutes after busting out 17th in the 2008 WSOP Main Event.

NOTE: This open letter to Tiffany Michelle, 17th-place finisher and the last woman standing in the WSOP Main Event, was posted today by Justin Shronk, a former co-worker of Tiffany’s at PokerNews, on his pokerroad.com site. It deals with her decision to represent Ultimate Bet, which, along with sister online poker site Absolute Poker, has been making headlines for months regarding an alleged cheating scandal. I thought you’d find it interesting. — LuckyDog

BACKGROUND BY JUSTIN SHRONK: I worked with Tiffany Michelle as Multimedia Manager for PokerNews from February to October of ‘07. Tiffany was our first on-camera hostess at the LAPC in February ‘07 and we worked together everyday at the ‘07 WSOP. I still consider her a good friend and respected colleague.

Tiff,

As is everyone that knows you, I’m really proud of what you did in the recent WSOP Main Event – and not just for placing 17th, someone does that every year. I took genuine joy in watching the poise with which you handled yourself every single day of the tournament. Maybe it was the lack of testosterone, or maybe it was your experience in front of cameras and crowds, but it’s not often you see a first-timer displaying more class than a lot of the players who’ve been there before.
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