Sunday I decided to head down to the Rio and sweat the ladies event. I think poker is the only activity I know of that you can say you are “sweating” anything involving ladies and not end up on the opposite end of a restraining order, but then again if I try real hard I can accomplish anything, or so my mama always said.
The main purpose of my trip was to watch my friends *name drop alert* Linda Johnson, and Jan Fisher play in the event. Linda and Jan are the in-studio announcers for the World Poker Tour, and The Pro Poker Tour respectively.
Hailing from Texas it’s always nice having friends who appear on television and it not be on an episode of COPS. They were there to be part of the Elle team in the event, which included last years event winner Jennifer Tilly as well as a few other ladies. All of these ladies were playing for a charitable cause, I really don’t know what charity I just know it had something to do with chicks. But then I’m a guy, and about as charitable most of us guys get is helping some nineteen year old cutie from Omaha pay for her education at UNLV one dollar at a time.
I arrived a bit late, the event started at eleven in the morning and I arrived around three. I figured if Linda was playing in the event she would still be around because not only is she a good player but according to Jan, Linda has a “horsehoe up her ass” and gets really lucky.
Jan I knew would still be playing because she plays a tight solid game, and I couldn’t see her busting out that early in a two day tournament unless it was one of those hands you are destined to go out on like kings versus aces.
I had no trouble finding Jan, as I was glancing out over the field I saw her standing by her table so I hopped the velvet rope to say hello. Not only did I get a hug for my efforts, but I was also the recipient of MORE SWAG!!! (CLICK HERE FOR MY WSOP 2006 SWAG REPORT) And yes this swag which is a blue Card Player Cruises polo shirt fits me perfectly. Thank you Jan, and thank you Rita for bringing it down to the Rio. I also learned that Linda busted out earlier, and had already gone home.
I left Jan to her tournament, I didn’t want to be a bother and headed across the room to see who else might be playing. I didn’t see too many top female poker pros, I did see Jennifer Tilly though.
There are some great female poker players, and to just call them “great female poker players” is in my opinion a disservice to their talents because they are great players period. But once again I am a guy, and being that I love poker there is something hot about a poker playing babe who not only has the looks, but the skills to make most men run home crying to their wives.
The problem though with the phenomenal growth of poker though is there are many women who just because of their looks are getting a lot of undeserved recognition. To be a woman poker player now days if you have a hot body and know how to post a blind you will get a lot of attention. These poker “bunnies” (hmm…did I just coin a new term for a type of female fish) are like the kids wearing special helmets playing in sports at the YMCA, it doesn’t matter if their team wins EVERYONE gets a trophy.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t begrudge these women for making a name for themselves using their feminine wiles, we men are just stupid enough to fall for it. The thing is there are far more better female players out there, and I happen to think they are hot enough.
Some of my favorites I have listed below.
Jennifer Harman: Not only does she play in the biggest game in town, but she can melt your heart with those big baby blues and that coy little smile that crosses her lips. Probaby the only poker player out there that could crush you financially and afterwards you would go home and write sappy love poems to her. MARCO TRANIELLO YOU SHALL RUE THE DAY!!!
Cyndi Violette: She’s a bracelet holder and a woman who I consider to be the hottest M.I.L.F on the circuit. Macrobiotics does a body good.
Annie Duke: Under the proper care of a team of hair, makeup and fashion professionals Annie would rank second in my list of circuit M.I.L.F.’s. Some days she’s as hot as a jalapeno pepper, other days she looks kind of frumpy like someone’s Aunt Bertha who hasn’t yet grown out of her “hippy stage.” She too has her own bracelet and has proved her skills a number of times.
The day almost ended with Jan busting out somewhere around 200 out of a field that boasted over 1,100 players, Jan did one helluva job lasting so long. But as I was walking out I ran across her and Linda in the hallway and they invited me to dinner in the cafe. Their dinner plans started with three, then they picked me up. These two ladies are like human magnets, I don’t think there is anyone in the poker world pro and amateur alike that they do not know. Before it was all over with we had to add two more tables, and there was talk that more were coming.
My turkey club was excellent, and so was the conversation as always. All in all it was a mighty fine day, as is most days when it involves poker and the ladies.
