WSOP Report #1

I left Saturday, June 4th. My daughter and I flew out of Logan and arrived in Las Vegas at noon. It is her coming of age trip with daddy. Corny, I know, but meaningful to us both. I'm looking to show her my adult poker world; she's curious to see it and to experience some of it for herself.

We rented our car at Fox Rentals after a ridiculously long wait for a car (about 45 minutes). Something about arriving in Las Vegas that has me itching to get on my way -- and makes waiting in line seem even more frustrating than normal. I think it's the psychological trap that many tourists to this town fall victim to at the poker table. They may have the patience of the Sphynx at home -- when games and action are at their own pace -- but come to LV and they are just burning to play -- and jettison their patience at the airport.

We met Alan Schoonmaker -- the psychologist and poker writer -- for lunch at what turned out to be an excellent Indian lunch at Gaylord's restaurant at the Rio. I tried to use my $25 gift certificate that I purchased for $2 on restaurants.com -- but the fine print only allowed it at dinner time. And this was a late lunch so, as they say in this town, no dice. No matter, the lunch was a well-stocked, delicious buffet that was reasonably priced. And the conversation with Alan was, shall we say, priceless!

After lunch a leisurely stroll through the poker excitement that defines the Rio during these six glorious weeks of championship action. We walked to the media room -- all the way in the back of the convention center off to the right. It was depopulated of media folks, save for three WSOP employees working the desk. Though they had my name and my clearance as a poker journalist, they apologized for not having my credentials ready. I asked if Seth Palansky, the able media guru for the WSOP, was about and was told they'd give me a call when he came in. I never got the call. (What, with a thousand journalists and many bracelet events a day, he doesn't have time to stop what he's doing to make this minor journalist happy!) No matter. I dropped off my laptop, plugged it in to recharge, and was off with my daughter to take a look at the tournament and live action.

She was not disappointed. I bumped into a couple of folks who knew me, establishing my poker bona fides for her I guess. We briefly watched some live action and then went off to check in at the registration desk. Folks complain about the long waits here. I guess the key is checking in at about 3:45 on a Saturday. Absolutely no waiting. A lovely Rio employee welcomed me, had my name ready, gave me my two keys, asked if there was anything else we needed, and sent me on my way with a smile in under three minutes. Life is grand. Thank you Caesar's.

Our room is spacious, high up on the 21st floor. We have a southwest facing view and thick blackout curtains to keep the sunlight from greeting us too early in the intense Las Vegas morning. Good thing. We plan to be up late -- with a small tournament at the Poker Palace planned -- and some late night action after that.