Lifestyle
Taming the Hockey Playoff Beard
The Kings are just one win away from securing their first Stanley Cup championship. There are so many reasons why they’ve gotten this far. Quick has been outstanding in goal, Kopitar has a nose for the net and of course there’s LA’s dominant performance on the road. But I like to think that the team’s success is due to something more mysterious, something more magical. I’m speaking of course about the epic hockey playoff beard resting on the face of MANjr’s Danny Dabiri.
Considering that the Kings have done so well since Danny started growing his hockey playoff beard, you would think that this sacred Persian face-rug would be off limits, something not to be tampered with. But you would be wrong.
Sometimes you just need to clean up your face. So with a 3-1 Stanley Cup final lead secured, the MANjr team felt confident enough to suggest that it was time for a trim. Nothing drastic, mind you. Just enough of a trim so that Mr. Dabiri could go about his business while also respecting the contribution that his hockey playoff beard has clearly had on the 2012 NHL playoffs. It’s arguably been the deciding factor in the inevitable championship that the Los Angeles Kings are about to secure.
So trim Danny we did. As part of the Go With a Real Pro Challenge, Phillips Norelco hooked us up with a Vacuum Stubble and Beard Trimmer Pro (QT4070) that gave Dabee an edge when taking on this hockey playoff beard challenge. We put the trimmer to use and we were satisfied with the results.
The Vacuum Stubble and Beard Trimmer Pro has a ridiculous 18 settings, from 0.5mm to 18mm. Whether you’re going for minimalist stub or well-maintained business beard, this trimmer will clean up your face without making a big mess.
It works for even the toughest facial hair. This thing trimmed Danny’s think neck curtain there’s no tomorrow. He got full-on beard-definition, a clear neck-line and he straightened his cheek fur in just a few minutes. The stubble comb made an even pass all around. That’s pretty much all that you can ask for from a beard trimming device.
Here’s what Danny looked like before his Stanley Cup trim:
Here’s what Danny looked like after a few minutes of trimming:
As you can see, we didn’t want Danny to lose the full hockey playoff beard effect, but we did want the guy to have some more definition. After the trim, the man can now see his neck. He can also recognize his cheeks. The respect and trustworthiness that comes with beard growth is still there, but the guy doesn’t look half as scruffy as he did before.
If your hockey playoff beard is getting a little out of control, and you want to go from scruffy to professional, then this Phillips Norelco trimmer device is probably worth testing out.
Jun 8th
Support the Families of Our Troops with the King of Beers
It’s Memorial Day Weekend and that means summer has officially started. It’s time for more pool time, BBQs, beach trips, bike rides and good ole fashion warm weather hangouts. Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day dates back to the end of the Civil War. The holiday has become a day of remembrance for all those who have died in service of our nation.
Most people associate Memorial Day with neighborhood grills and get-togethers, but what if you could combine your weekend party agenda with a gesture of appreciation for the families of our troops?
That’s where Budweiser comes in. Budweiser cans and bottles have gotten a patriotic makeover, but the new early summer packaging isn’t just for show. From now until June 7, Budweiser will contribute a portion of all sales (as much as $2.5 million) to Folds of Honor Foundation, an organization that provides post-secondary educational scholarships for families of U.S. military personnel who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty. The campaign is part of a larger “Red, White and Blue Summer” effort from the King of Beers. The summer effort includes tie-ins to Major League Baseball, NASCAR and the 2012 Olympics.
So keep your eye out for the stars and stripes this weekend. If you‘re grabbing some brews for a BBQ, consider the dual-purpose gesture of a Budweiser Heavy purchase. You’ll be keeping things festive while also helping out a good cause.
Have a safe and happy weekend!
May 26th
Philips Norelco Go With a Real Pro Challenge
Here at MANjr, we support things like sports and facial hair. So when Philips Norelco approached us to participate in their Go With a Real Pro Challenge, we gladly accepted. The challenge is a celebration of one of the most time-honored traditions in sports, the hockey playoff beard. According to Wikipedia, this tradition was started back in the 1980s by the New York Islanders.
Essentially, when a hockey team enters the playoffs, players are supposed to ditch the blades and start growing out their facial hair. This tradition has extended to every level of hockey, from the pros to the minor leagues to colleges, high schools and even overseas. Fans have gotten in on the action as well, and a special campaign called Beard-a-Thon was created back in 2009 that encouraged fans to grow out their own beards for charity.
So as you can see, this hockey playoff beard is no joke. It’s a sacred, chin-warming tradition that has produced plenty of inspirational moments. We’re happy to enter into this tradition with our own hockey playoff beard participant, MANjr writer Danny Dabiri.
Danny Dabiri is no stranger to the importance of the playoff beard. Having grown up an avid sports fan, Dabiri’s love for hockey dates way back to the days when he played Blades of Steel on the NES and NHL 93 for the Sega Genesis. Dabiri’s hockey playoff beard journey is just getting started. After about a week of non-shaving, here’s the result:
As you can see, Danny’s hockey playoff beard journey is just getting underway. Philips Norelco hooked us up with some products that will help guide Danny through this whisker-filled journey of his. We received a PowerTouch with Aquatec AT830 shaver and a Vacuum Stubble and Beard Trimmer Pro from Philips Norelco. The goal is to grow out a solid hockey playoff beard and maintain it with the trimmer so things don’t get too out of control. We’ll document Danny’s journey into beardom and keep you posted on the progress of his chin curtain.
Even after one week, Dabiri’s already noticing a change in his game. People just seem more reverent and respectful ever since he ditched the everyday shaving routine. He wears his cheek fuzz like a badge of honor, and it just so happens that ever since he stopped shaving, the Los Angeles Kings haven’t lost a playoff game. Just sayin’.
Check back with us to see Dabiri’s beard voyage unfold. We’ll keep you up-to-date on the progress of his neck mullet and how his newfound beard-force is impacting his everyday life.
May 18th
Win a Year’s Supply of Edge Shave Gel
Do you want to win a year’s supply of shaving gel? Of course you do! We’re teaming up with Edge Shave Gel to give one lucky reader a year’s supply of high-tech shaving support. That’s right, you could score 12 bottles of shave gel and save a bunch of cash over the next year (or longer, depending on your level of beard force).
It’s all part of Edge Shave Gel’s a new social media campaign that’s designed to make men more “well endowed.” Jason Jones (The Daily Show) is working with Edge Shave Gel as an “Edge Fund Manager.” His role is to personally select men to receive “Edge Endowments” in the range of 50 bucks all the way up to $10,000.
To enter to win one of these Edge Endowments, head over to Twitter and send a tweet to Jones at @EdgeShaveZone. Use the hashtag #WellEndowed and tell the man why you need an Edge Endowment and how you will spend it. The following prizes are available:
- 1 Grand Prize Winner will receive a $10,000 cash Edge Endowment
- 130 First Prize Winners will receive a $1,000 cash Edge Endowment
- 130 First Prize Winners will receive a $50 cash Edge Endowment
Every week until August 19, Jones will meet with a panel and disperse chunks of this $145,000 prize pool. Contest participants are limited to 25 entries a day. For more information, visit www.edgeshave.com.
To enter our MANjr Edge Shave Gel Giveaway, just follow us on Twitter @MANjrcom and send us an email below. We will pick a winner at random next Wednesday. The winner will get to choose the type of Edge Shave Gel that best fits his shaving needs. Good luck!
May 16th
Ahnu Woodacre Review
I’m not a big running guy. Never was. Recently, though I started running on the regular. What can I say, I was getting large and it was just time to get fit. It happens to us all. Well, it didn’t take me long to realize that running on a daily basis sucks without proper running shoes. The day-to-day Sauconys just weren’t cutting it. I would get random-ass pains like mid-shin and I felt like I was coming down with early onset plantar fasciitis. I needed an upgrade. I needed shoes that were designed for actual running. As luck would have it, Ahnu sent us a pair of Ahnu Woodacre running shoes to review. And I’ve been really happy with them.
As soon as the Gargoyle-colored kicks arrived at my door, I put ‘em to use. They arrived pre-laced and all tied up. I didn’t bother wearing them around the house to break them in. I just slipped them on and started running.
I haven’t had to untie them since. You can slip right in them and you don’t have to labor your way through breaking them in. The shoes provide arch, heel and toe support that just fits right. The tongue and heel have these V-shape cuts so they just form-fit to your foot with minimal movement. There’s padding for the bottom of your feet, but nothing that would be described as over-cushy. I have pretty wide feet, but these things seem to contour well to almost any foot shape.
I live in Southern California, so I haven’t tested these things in serious terrain or hazardous weather conditions. But they’re designed to be “light enough for running and tough enough for hiking.” The Ahnu NUMENTUM™ HIKE technology and Traverse Technology provide extra stability that’s designed to center and guide your foot for a balanced and stable stride. These shoes are super breathable and the red and black Gargolye color combo perfectly matches my red and black track suit (note: your preferred track suit colors may vary).
So like I said, I’m not big on running. I’m just getting comfortable with daily jogs and such. I’ve never been professionally fitted for running shoes, but I just like how the Ahnu Woodacre shoes fit on my feet. There’s no wiggle room, but there’s no overcompensation in the support areas either. You just slip ‘em on and they work.
You can find these shoes online for around $100. If you don’t want to invest in crazy-expensive running shoes, but you want something sporty and form-fitting that’ll provide proper support and a little bit of style, these kicks are definitely worth checking out.
May 16th
Wonawatch.com Free Rolex Auction
Do you want a chance to win a free Rolex? Sure you do! Thanks to the fine folks at Wonawatch.com, a brand new Rolex will be awarded to a lucky winner for absolutely no cost whatsoever. That’s right. No gimmicks and no purchase necessary to earn a place at the table and press your luck in hopes of attaining a world famous luxury watch.
These days, there are so many other auction sites that offer consumers an effective forum to acquire goods of all kinds. Sites like Quibids.com and Beezid.com are on the rise. At Wonawatch.com, their specific focus is providing high end quality timepieces at a reasonable price. We had the opportunity to catch up with Alex Tima from Wonawatch to get a better understanding of how the auction works.
DD: What prompted you to make the site?
AT: I’ve been in the retail watch industry over 10 years and there are so many watches I would like to own but can’t afford so I wanted give everyone the opportunity to acquire a quality watch at a bargain price.
DD: How do I earn free bid points to participate in free point auctions?
AT: You can earn a free bid every 24 hours simply by logging in to wonawatch.com as long as you are a member.
DD: What makes your site different than other penny auction sites?
AT: It’s a penny auction site that is dedicated to watch enthusiasts and provides a forum for them to win watches at a fraction of the retail price.
DD: Assuming you win a watch, how do you receive it?
AT: It’s shipped to your house within 2-3 days at a standard shipping charge.
DD: Are the watches one size fits all?
AT: Well, leather bracelets can fit everybody but a metal bracelet must be sized at a local jewelry or watch store.
DD: What if I want a watch that’s not on your site?
AT: Send us an email about the watch and we will auction it within 72 hours.
DD: How does a seated auction work?
AT: Each auction has a minimum number of seats needed for the auction to go live once the seats are filled. For example, if there are 10 seats, all 10 must be filled before the auction begins. At that point it turns into a penny auction which is when the item prices increase by one cent. The process continues until time has elapsed but the timer will add 10 seconds after each bid.
DD: What price range of watches do you offer?
AT: We offer a wide variety ranging from 30 bucks to 100 grand if you so desire.
DD: How is the price for a seat in an auction determined?
AT: Seat price is determined by the retail value of each watch. Generally seats for watches that cost aero to 1,000 will be $1 a seat per bid. 1,000 to 5,000 will be 5 bucks. 5,000 to 10,000 will be $10 and so on and so forth.
DD: What are the bid packages?
AT: Bid packages are required if you want to play on paid auctions. They come in a variety of packages ranging from 10 to 1,500.
DD: What’s difference between a paid auction and free point auction?
AT: Paid auctions require purchase of a bid package to participate while free point auctions only require membership to participate.
DD: So you can really win a free Rolex?
AT: Yes, absolutely. This is our inaugural giveaway and we encourage everyone to participate. We need 10,000 members/seats for the auction to go live and there is absolutely no purchase necessary or gimmicks of any kind. Someone is going home with a brand new Rolex.
DD: Are all the watches brand new?
AT: No, we will also be offering vintage and pre-owned watches as well consider the huge secondary market for watches.
DD: How long will the Rolex auction run?
AT: The auction will last three months until July 13, 2012. So signup and collect your prize. Best of luck.
So there you have it folks. It’s pretty simple. Go to Wonawatch.com and register as a member to earn a bid and the chance to win a free Rolex. I’ve already secured my membership. Remember to log in daily to acquire more free bids and increase your odds of taking home some hardware. Spread the word, tell your friends and family and best of luck to everybody, especially me.
May 8th
Bud Light Lime-a-Rita Cinco De Mayo Launch Party in Vegas
It was a fun weekend in Vegas. The weather was great, it was Cinco de Mayo and you had quality sports on at all times (Mayweather-Cotto, the Kentucky Derby, playoff basketball and hockey games, the English F.A. Cup, baseball, etc.). It was a good time to schedule a Vegas trip.
I was in town for a bachelor party, and we all spent the day on Saturday soaking up some sun poolside at the Mandalay Bay. The whole crew went to the Bud Light Lime-a-Rita Cinco de Mayo launch party and we all had a blast.
The launch party wasn’t overly packed, which was a good thing. Maria Menounos hosted the event in a green bikini and she got some pool time in with the rest of the crowd. There was good music, cool people, tasty pretzels and all the Bud Light, Bud Light Lime and Bud Light Lime-a-Rita you could drink.
The Bud Light Lime-a-Rita is more marg than brew. It’s a malt beverage that’s pretty refreshing on a hot day, but it’s just way better when served cold, ideally over ice. The taste is a bit acidic, but if you enjoy margaritas, this sensation will be nothing new to you. This isn’t the kind of beverage that you want to slam back to back to back to back. It’s more of a nice sipping compliment to a warm day of beer drinking.
But back to the party. The music was solid throughout and Jermaine Dupree took over DJ duties for bit and really got the crowd going. Nelly was there having fun on the stage by the pool. I saw this guy trying to pull off the Will.i.am look and I thought to myself, whoa guy, that’s a strong look to try to pull off. But he was real convincing about it, and I’m like 95 percent sure that it wasn’t an imitation. Will he was indeed.
So with the summer season right around the corner, this Bud Light Lime-a-Rita stuff is worth checking out. It’s a mellow malt beverage that provides some chill, revitalizing refreshment and serves as a great compliment to pool party beer drinking.
May 7th
Maria Menounos Interview
It’s a Cinco de Mayo weekend, people! And if you’re having a hard time deciding what to drink – beers or margaritas – Bud Light has a solution for you. The Bud Light Lime-a-Rita is an 8oz can of 8% alcohol that’s a combination of weekend-ready margarita and a splash of Bud Light Lime. Best served over ice, this malt beverage will take the guesswork out of your weekend drinking plans. It’s an all-in-one, all-inclusive answer to your Cinco de Mayo party needs.
To celebrate the launch of Bud Light Lime-a-Rita, we spent a few minutes chatting with the beverage’s lovely spokeswoman, Maria Menounos. Menounos was born in Massachusetts. Her parents are Greek immigrants and she can speak fluent Greek and Spanish. In addition to being an absolute stone-cold fox, Maria balances a sporty/beauty pageant/journalism background with acting, TV hosting, celebrity dancing and even professional wrestling duties. Basically she does it all.
And when she’s not putting up perfect scores on Dancing with the Stars, interviewing President Obama and the First Family, catching touchdowns from Joe Montana, winning tag team matches at Wrestlemania or losing Super Bowl bets that require her to sport a bikini in the middle of winter, Menounous still finds time to enjoy a beer or a marg or in this case, a beer-marg combo like the Lime-a-Rita.
We talked with Maria about the upcoming Bud Light Lime-a-Rita kickoff party this weekend at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, dominating dancing and wrestling, staying so damn fit, what her Greek parents think about her racy photo shoots and a whole lot more. Here’s the full interview:
We’re heading out to the kickoff party in Vegas this weekend. We’ll let you know how it goes! Have a safe and fun Cinco!
May 4th
Kate Upton Battles Jason Pierre-Paul at the AXE Sport Blast 2-in-1 Shower Gel + Shampoo Launch
A day before the 2012 NFL Draft, AXE held a last-minute display of athleticism in the AXE Sport Blast Combine House in New York City. This was not another pre-draft workout for college football players vying for the 253 available NFL draft slots. It was a friendly combine competition between Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and super-sexy supermodel Kate Upton.
Upton and Pierre-Paul went head-to-head in a balance beam competition and took part in an intense table tennis battle. The event was organized to promote the launch of AXE Sport Blast 2-in-1 Shower Gel + Shampoo, a new combo shower product that’ll leave you energized and happy that you made such efficient use of your shower time.
And hey, we’ll take advantage of any opportunity we can get to post photos of Kate Upton:
Apr 30th
Interview with WPT’s Vince Van Patten
Vince Van Patten is an interesting dude. The guy can trace his lineage back to King Roland of the Planet Druidia (Princess Vespa’s father in Spaceballs), but he’s true royalty in his own right. The “King of the Hollywood Home Game” started acting when he was 9 years old, appearing in stuff like Bonanza, Adam 12, The Bionic Boy, Dirty Dozen III and Rock ‘n’ Roll High School. In 1979 he was the ATP Rookie of the Year and in 1981, Van Patten defeated John McEnroe to win the Seiko World Super Tennis tournament in Tokyo, Japan.
He’s equal parts Hollywood and approachable. He’s been a top flight athlete and a stud poker player. He’s a fierce competitor and yet totally chill to chat with. The guy has tried his hand at acting, pro tennis, writing, directing, producing and professional poker. Van Patten cashed at the Main Event in 2010 and for 10 seasons, he’s shared hosting duties (and tons of witty banter) with Mike Sexton on the Word Poker Tour.
The WPT airs on Fox Sports Net and is broadcast globally in over 150 countries. The 10th season of the WPT is sponsored by ClubWPT.com, a membership site that features a sweepstakes-based poker club and is available in 35 states in the US.
I had a chance to chat with Vince about tennis, high profile poker tournaments, his favorite players on the tour, common mistakes amateurs make, Mike Sexton’s gymnastic skills and quality celebrity poker players. Here’s the interview:
CS: What’s your favorite stop on the world poker tour?
VVP: I’m going to have to go with Paris.
CS: Paris? Yeah.
VVP: Yeah. We spent 12 days there this year because we get a lot of publicity for the European markets and all. I love to run and jog and everything so I ran all through Paris, played poker at the casino, just had a great time. It’s always so much fun. How do you beat that? But I have to tell you, right after that we went to Venice, Italy – just got back a few weeks ago – and it has the oldest casino in the world. It was built in the 1600s and that’s my favorite place – the most beautiful casino and I just had an amazing time there, too. That is the charm of the World Poker Tour. We truly do travel the world and we see the best casinos in the world.
CS: You guys also broadcast globally, for years now. Do you find that people recognize you when you go to these different venues across the world?
VVP: Yeah. You know I guess we got pretty popular over in Europe with the show because it’s showing throughout the world. So yeah, they all know Mike and I and it’s like family time even when we’re in Europe. It’s just like family.
CS: So I read today that Mike went to Ohio State on a full scholarship for gymnastics?
VVP: Yeah.
CS: Has he ever given you any gymnastics pointers?
VVP: He’s pretty humble about that.
CS: (laughs)
VVP: He obviously was as great athlete and then he retired from that and he has become a great poker player. But he doesn’t ever mention his gymnastics. I don’t know what happened. He always says his brother was even a better. Over the years we’ve played a little tennis, he tries that. He’s a good athlete so when he tries, even though he never played tennis, he wasn’t bad at that. He’s a good ping-pong player, too. He’s actually a decent athlete.
CS: So speaking of decent athletes, I know you beat John McEnroe back in 1981. How did that feel and was he pissed off?
VVP: Oh man I tell you, yeah. I beat him in ’81 at the Seiko tournament. And it’s great to beat the number one player, you know. I was top 25 in the world and to beat him was especially – because you know, he basically stole 5 points a match by intimidating the linesman.
CS: (laughs)
VVP: So when you can beat him and tries everything, everything to win—it doesn’t matter how he gets there, he wants to finish first. And I had to stay really strong and it was the win of my life and I’m very proud of it. If I was distracted for 10 seconds I would have lost, that’s how good I had to play, so it was a great accomplishment for me. I’m proud of it.
CS: Do you agree with McEnroe’s opinion that US tennis has hit an all-time low in terms of the talent that we put forward versus the rest of the world?
VVP: Well I think it was just a matter of time. The hungriest athletes are going to wind up being the best all things considered. So you figure, America are we hungry enough? Are we doing all the right things to breed the best tennis players? Now I do think that we do have, for some strange reason, our tennis players do have more heart than anyone in the world. So when an American player plays they have no quit in them. They don’t really have excuses. And I really respect the American athletes for that. But saying that, I think these other third world countries and over in Russia and these other countries all they have is to train their kids to be the best, that’s it. They know that to get out of the squalor they have to get out of, to live the good life, they have to give a little bit more. And that is showing and perhaps that’s why guys from, you know, Spain and Russia are becoming the best in the world.
CS: So you think that preparation is what provides that edge?
VVP: I do. I think it’s preparation. I think it’s desperation. And are we desperate enough to breed more champions in America? I think that is the question.
CS: Gotcha. So when you’re announcing tournaments do you think that plays to your advantage when you play against some of these same guys?
VVP: Absolutely. It’s a big advantage. Now just a couple of years ago they allowed us in the World Poker Tour – Mike and I – to start playing tournaments if we wanted to. And because of my family commitments with three children, I have chosen to play like one or two. But Mike has chosen to play and did quite well. He made the final table and I know that’s because of the history we have of seeing every move. You know it’s like we’re doing our homework week after week, week in and week out. We know the players so when we’re at the table and you’re up against these guys, yes, it’s going to help. It’s like studying the films in the NFL.
CS: Do some of the players get a little bit bitter about that?
VVP: Not at all. Nowadays everything is open. Everyone has the opportunity to look at every WPT tape and every great player and see their tendencies, you know?
CS: Right, it’s not just you guys.
VVP: Mike and I are forced to because we do the show and then we do the studio work, so we’re forced to. And we make our notes. So I play a lot of cash games still and when I meet them at the cash games, you know, I’ve taken the notes and I kind of know how these guys play. It does help.
CS: What do you think is more stressful? A high stakes cash game or some of these high profile tournaments?
VVP: I think usually you’re a tournament player or you’re a cash game player.
CS: Right.
VVP: I played the Main Event at the World Series and I cashed last year. Five days going. It’s fun, it’s a time commitment, and it’s a whole different groove you have to get into. Where cash, I love the feeling that you can play fast, you can bust out, you can take some money and walk away in two hours.
CS: Yeah leave whenever, right.
VVP: Yeah. Eat when you want.
CS: (Laughs)
VVP: And come back an hour later after a dinner break that you decide on. I like the freedom you have in a cash game. That saying, tournaments are usually profitable and feature guys with a different mentality. They love that and they won’t play a cash game. So it’s just completely different, both stressful in their own way. You’ve got to figure out what kind of animal you are and what you want to play.
CS: How do you keep yourself sharp at the table when you’re sitting down for a long day of poker playing?
VVP: If you want to be a winner you’d better know how to do that. You’ve got to know how to stay sharp. If you really don’t care, if you’re just there to have some fun and see how it goes, you know, you’ve given away a huge edge. You’re probably going to lose. I want to be worked out before, like exercise and everything. I want to feel good. I want to feel fresh. And I like getting in the game early because I want to know how these guys are playing. Who’s losing after three hours? It’s a big advantage.
CS: Right.
VVP: Who’s winning? How have they played? Really studying the table. So it’s just a matter of being attentive, wanting it bad, wanting a win result bad. It’s not even about the win result necessarily; it’s about how well are you playing. Are you winning on your own level of playing, you know? If you lost $5,000 that day, but any other ordinary player would lose $8,500, that’s a win in the long run. So that’s what you’ve got to really figure in to it all. I just like to feel good and confident and eager to be there. Otherwise I won’t be there.
CS: What are some of the biggest mistakes that amateur players make?
VVP: I see a lot of amateur players at a final table doing really well and they really do have a lot of tells still at the table, especially a lot of guys that came from online. And they’re projecting just too much. They’re giving away too many hints at the table, body language and shaking of their heads and all that. The really great ones don’t give you anything. They’re a wall. And that’s what you really have to attain, I believe, to be a great player. You can’t give away tells like that. And these guys sometimes don’t even know it.
CS: You mentioned internet poker. How do you think the US ban on internet poker has impacted the WPT over the years?
VVP: Oh I think a lot more online guys are now playing in casinos and playing in tournaments. I think it’s not much of a difference. I mean a lot of guys, you know they were doing well online, they had a lot of loose cash and now there’s not quite as many players with that kind of cash running around.
CS: Right.
VVP: Tightened things up a bit.
CS: Who is a player you think we should watch for this season in the World Poker Tour?
VVP: Well it’s always shocking because you get all these big names—you’ve got 500 big names in poker now, and then the final tables are all unknowns.
CS: Right.
VVP: You know there’s a list of young guys that are terrific and it’s the greatest game of all because there’s still that luck factor. And that means anyone can win and anyone can do it these days and become a TV star, a poker star. It is exciting. I’m a fan of Jonathan Little. I’m a fan of Doc Sands. That’s some of the younger guys. I think Will Failla – “Will the Thrill”– is an exciting player. I’m not going to put him in the class of his own—well he’s up there, he’s a fine player, but just for pure charisma I like “Will The Thrill.” Dwyte Pilgrim, great personality. I mean if “Will The Thrill” or Dwyte would have made it on the World Poker Tour in the first three seasons, they would have been the biggest things in poker, bar none. It’s just, as the years go by it just all gets diluted a little bit and you’ve got to fight a little bit harder for that stardom. But these guys are charismatic and interesting players and have a lot to say at the table. They make great TV time. So it is fun to watch. Still great. Better than ever.
CS: Who would you say is the most entertaining player at the table?
VVP: Well I always look out for Tony G.
CS: Yeah!
VVP: He’s really an air bag, you know.
CS: (Laughs) yeah.
VVP: He’s great with the insults and funny at the same time. And I’ll put Helmuth right up there, too. I still enjoy Phil Helmuth. You know he’s just fun to laugh at. His own frustrations out on the table, it’s classic. Those two guys are fantastic. So I enjoy the characters. I think most people really do. It’s just fun to watch when you see their cards, you see their frustration, you see what they’re doing, and on top of that they’re great players. It’s truly exciting.
CS: So do you think that Phil Helmuth or Tony G have mellowed out over the years or do they still bring the same ferocity each time?
VVP: Oh I think Helmuth has mellowed a little bit. I think he’s become such a big name in the game and he’s happy with his life and he’s made a lot of money with it, and actually he’s kind of getting it that “hey yeah, I was acting like kind of a jerk” and I’ll go along with some of that but, you know, I’ve seen him pull back too in a moment where he could have, you know, gone over the top like the old Phil.
CS: Right.
VVP: Now he’s sort of protecting himself, saying “hey I’m gonna roll with this one” and it’s good to see. As for Tony G I haven’t seen him play enough tournaments lately to see how crazy he gets. But he never was his own worst enemy. He never looked like the fool, in my opinion. He always made other people look like the fool.
CS: (laughs) right.
VVP: And he actually was kind of right. I mean he was just a great trash talker that could get underneath other people’s skin. Did he go too far? Yes, on many occasions. But he still was entertaining and he always helped his game and I never felt like “oh this guy’s an idiot”, you know? “He’s a fool”. Whereas others truly come off going “ugh, go home.”
CS: So what do you think is the most overrated starting hand in hold ‘em?
VVP: That’s a good question. Hmm … you know … I’m very open to hands. I just feel like every hand is either your best friend or your worst enemy. That goes for aces, that goes for ace-king, and jack-ten and diamonds and pair fours. I’ve seen so many that it’s just—you know more people get knocked out on ace-queen over the years than any other hand. So if you have to go with one that really seems to make a lot of people go broke I would say it’s ace-queen.
CS: Okay. Fair. Now what does an amateur player need to do to get to the next level, start appearing in tournaments and really step up their game?
VVP: I think an amateur player really has to study, know it, and get a better poker face.
CS: (laughs)
VVP: Take their ego out of the game, and really want it bad. You’ve got to hate to lose and love to win. And you’ve got to be 100% focused and excited or don’t bother. And you have to have great restraint when things are going bad. Do you have that character? Do you have the heart when things are going bad not to tick off? Not to go into a different mode of bad play? If you do, you’ll be the next superstar. If you don’t, you’ll be another hack and you should stay away.
CS: When poker players have success how much of it do you think is attributed to math, an analytical mindset and understanding the odds versus just a gut feeling that you get from a straight time-on task?
VVP: I think there’s 80% of the mathematical nowadays and about 20% of gut and moves and heart. But you know, you can know every move in poker. You can see every move and know what you’re supposed to do, but the tendencies to make a bad decision at that point are very great. Probably up to 80% you won’t do the right thing. Only the 20% of the top people are doing the right thing when they’re really supposed to. And that takes heart, character, wisdom and bravery.
CS: Do you think there should be a main event with only poker pros where you kind of get the best of the best squaring off against each other?
VVP: No. No I’ve always been against that, I think it’s boring. I think a lot of the top poker big names are very boring. A lot of unknown poker names are playing just as good poker, right? So you have to see better poker. What TV really needs to see is more characters
CS: Right.
VVP: You want to feature excellent, top notch players, but also the great characters of the game that have something to say, that’s good TV watching. Otherwise I don’t think it matters.
CS: Would you rather win Wimbledon or the World Series main event?
VVP: Oh. Well to be honest with you, I would be so excited to win the World Series of course, but there’s so much luck involved, you’d never get the appreciation or you could always say “yeah you know how lucky I had to be to get that run?”And I would know that. So that wouldn’t mean as much. You win Wimbledon, you know you are the best in the world. No one is better. There was no luck involved. So I think for me to win a major tennis event would be more satisfying.
CS: What kind of bankroll do I need to get in on those pot limit cash games in Beverly Hills?
VVP: It’ll vary now but when I was playing—and I’m still playing some but I’m playing smaller games now, not as big. But there’s so many games in Los Angeles that are like home games and I’m not playing but I’ve heard games are going where they play for $100,000, win or lose. But they have all different kinds of games where you can win or lose $2,000 to $10,000 to $20,000. Pick your choice of what you want to lose or win.
CS: (laughs)
VVP: All around town I get all kinds of texts about playing this game or playing that game, but I’m down to one a week and I play a nice social game and it’s just kind of fun.
CS: I know there are tons of celebrity poker players out there and you have the moniker of being the “King of the Hollywood Home Games.” Or at least previously like you said. Who are some underrated celebrities? I mean we know like the Ben Afflecks, Tobey Maguires and these kind of guys, but who’s little bit more under the radar?
VVP: Jennifer Tilly is a nice player. The girl who played in American Beauty – Mea Suvari, she’s a great player. She played our celebrity tournament and she’s like, really good. She had great instincts and a poker face and saw through people. She would be one in my opinion. Hank Azaria is a nice player.
CS: Does he do voices at the table?
VVP: Yeah (laughs) he’s always doing something.
CS: (Laughs)
VVP: Doing all kind of characters. He has a weekly game which I play once in a while and he does all kind of characters (laughs). But he loves poker, loves poker.
CS: Last question, who’s the nicest poker player out there? Like just the best all around person?
VVP: Andy Frankenberger.
CS: Okay.
VVP: I like Andy Frankenberger. I like his demeanor, I like his intelligence. He’s a classy guy. I respect him a lot. But there’s lot, there’s a lot of those guys.
Apr 9th
