The tour finishes up

Posted: 2008-05-05 16:55:10
By: Shawn Rice

Hello UBers
 
We finished our Cross Canadian Tour up in Calgary and Vancouver, the turn out was awesome and the people where overly nice.
 
On the flight from Vegas to Calgary we had a layover in Vancouver and on the first leg of the flight me and Poker Ho didn't sit by each other and I figured this cost me at least $1500 in money I would of won in Chinese Poker being it was a long flight. He got a lil stuck at the Vancouver Airport and in no time I was beating as soon as the plane got in the air. We got in really late into Calgary and had to be up about 9am and that's tough for poker players as I usually see 9 am from still being up.
 
The seminars went great and they loved the Phil stories and his advise about bankroll management and Ho and myself went over online cash game play with recorded videos I had done a while back. Annie rocked the place as she is truly the best teacher in poker. If you ever get a chance do your poker game a favor and see her and take plenty of notes. Alex Outhred was also here this trip and he is wonderful at these seminars as he is becoming a true expert at these.
  
As we were getting ready for our limo to the airport we were playing Chinese for $50 a point and I was up $1400 as I was really catching some big hands. We get to the airport and  they recognized me and Phil at the ticket counter and give me and Ho an upgrade to first class so we can play Chinese with Phil. Alex traded tickets with Annie so we could all play four handed. This free first class ticket cost me $1600 and I lost back all I had won playing Chinese plus some. As we landed in Vancouver at baggage claim I saw something a little shocking as 5 or 6 guys came up with photos of Phil and Annie and wanted them to sign tons of pics and take pictures with them. They were there just to meet them as they got off the plane in Vancouver.
 
We got to the Marriott Pinnacle in Vancouver in two different limos from the airport. Our group was the Chinese poker bunch and I think I lose $400 overall and Alex threw the party as Ho and Phil both did really well. We check in to our room and this room  was amazing as it was somewhat rounded with tons of windows and a really classy place. Ho's room had an even better view then mine as he could see planes landing onto a near by lake. We all go out to eat that evening and they start playing "The Gambler" as we are there eating and Phil is having his share of drinks and singing every word, I would be fine if I never heard him sing it again, lol. Annie ordered for Ho and myself as we are still doing our 10K weight loss bet and me and Ho added two more bets for 2k each. One is I am betting he will not lose 50lbs total and the other is he will not make a WSOP final table, Now I hope I lose the 2nd bet as I will probably have a % of Ho in most every event he plans on playing. Also joining us was AP and Guess supermodel Serinda Swan. This is the only woman I ever met that TV or magazines don't do her justice. She is that pretty and really a wonderful personality and smart too. Kinda reminds me of the movie Weird Science were the built the perfect woman. Check out her site. See if I am bluffing or not.
 
The next day we do our seminar and native Brad Booth shows up and tells a few interesting stories and talks about his big bluff on High Stakes poker and what was going into his mind as he bluffed Phil Ivey with a $250,000 bet. He said something to the affect he now gained "bluff equity for life" meaning that now if there is ever a time he is involved in a monster pot they know he is likely to be bluffing and will often get his big hands called.
  
After the seminars Ho and myself went over a lil UB stuff about the new tourney schedule and Phil invited us to a local casino where they are filming a movie where Phil had several lines and I was asked to be involved in a nonspeaking cameo for the movie called "Shark Out of Water". Meeting us at the casino was Brad Booth and he took us out in his Hummer and treated us to a nice dinner and let me tell you, Brad is an awesome guy and hope he continues to do well in the poker world.
   
I had to get up really early on less than 3 hours sleep as i had an early flight and had to go through customs and was lucky enough to get a direct flight to Dallas and they only wanted $300 and something to upgrade to first class. I thought this was the deal of a lifetime and I wanted to catch up on some much needed sleep. I played online most all night and went to a local poker game in Lubbock and won a little and got to see a few of the people I invited to the Caesars Palace Advanced Poker Camp. I am not sure i want them playing all that good, maybe that was a mistake on my part, lol. I have played tons online this past week and we are doing lots of promos on UB with the new tourney schedule and WSOP freeroll packages. I am in Amarillo this weekend visiting friends and watching Keanu play roller hockey. Keanu is 13 years old and starting living with me when he was less than 3 months old and we have always been very close and he is like a son to me and really makes my life really enjoyable. I am very lucky to have kept this relationship and can't wait to see him grow up to follow his passions. Trust me I live a very blessed life and I value all my friends and family and even my UB family.

Proud UB Team Member