My top 10 UB moments of 2007
Posted: 2008-01-07 16:33:41
Here is my top 10 list of the best things that have happened to UB over this past year. This might be a little tough as I am getting old and can't remember much about last week, lol. So forgive me if I leave something out.
1. The Aruba Classic Poker Tournament. This was the best time I had in Aruba of the 5 years I have been going. Seeing many of you is like seeing family that you love and wish to see more often. I could go on and on about the fun memories of the parties, times with friends and the cash games we played. It was a super time and I know it will be even better next year.
2. I have said this to many of my close friends, if I could buy stock in UB now would be the best time to buy because they have some really key people in key places of management who really have the passion and desire to make this an even better site. I won't name names but I was just in Costa Rica last month with P0ker H0 and Debo and we got to meet many of the people there and they kept us really busy for 4 days wanting our advice and opinions. We have heard many many things over the years and now I feel we have people who really care to listen and get the job done. It's never as fast as you would like and somethings have to wait til other projects happen and we understand that. The people we met in all departments were wonderful and I can't wait to go back and help all I can.
3. The Best Damn Poker Show will be airing in late January on Fox Sports, It's Phil's Team vs. Annie's Team, I was lucky enough to be asked to be Annie's coach on the TV show as P0ker H0 was asked to be Phil's coach. We shot this in 3 really long 12 to 14 hour days. It will make for 7 weeks of programing and it will be entertaining and a learning experience for us poker addicts who crave to learn and better our game. I hope we do many more of these shows and give many of the UB online players a shot at being on the show and having the experience of a lifetime. Check out one of the videos sent in by Keith Woernle who won his chance to have a video made http://youtube.com/watch?v=dxSAqhkUnVc. Well done Keith and super nice meeting you in L.A. and Vegas you are really funny and play damn good cards too. I really think this a great win/win situation for UB and everyone involved. It's always great watching Phil and Annie compete as they did for the WSOP Tourney of Champions a couple of years back where it was winner take all and Annie won two million dollars.
4. Phil Hellmuth winning bracelet # 11. Phil did this by defeating close to 3000 players at the WSOP in a 1500 NL tourney, These are very tough to win as you only start out with 3000 in chips. Love him or love to hate him, Phil is great for our game and best of luck on getting number twelve, Sir.
5. Annie going all the way to Washington to represent the game we all love. She is on the front line fighting for our personal freedoms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Annie is a super intelligent lady and not only a great player she is a wonderful teacher of the game of poker. I know I am very proud of her not only as a world class poker player but as a world class mother. Her kids mean everything to her and are always first in her life.
6. Added features like resizable tables where you can now more easily play more tables at once on a screen and great incentives like a bad beat jackpot and my addiction of Elimination Blackjack. I love the challenge of playing against world class players and trying to beat them at their own game. Watching players like Hollywood Dave play is a great learning experience and will better your game if you really take the time to study how he plays the game so well.
7. Promotions like the Best Damn Sports Show, Nightly Bountys, Ultimate Players Choice, Tournament Leaderboards, Turn Ultimate Points into cash and The Heads Up Smackdown along with other great ideas to keep UB fun and exciting. It gives you many chances to win your way into live tourneys of your choice and tons of ways to win an Aruba package. I just had a meeting this last week about something really exciting coming out scheduled out for late January that will be exciting and create a lot of buzz. It will be fun for everyone of all level of players.
8. Last year UB did a promotion with VH1 where Sully Erna of Godsmack, Vinnie Paul of Pantera, Ace Frehley of KISS, Dusty Hill of ZZ Top and Scott Ian of Anthrax all played and the winner won money for their charity and a 2007 Aruba package for themselves. Being a BIG KISS fan since I was a kid, I really would of loved to of seen Ace win this. Of course but that didn't happen. Mr. Scott Ian won this tourney and when I got to meet him and his girlfriend Pearl Aday in Aruba then I was really glad Scott had won this. He is a super great guy with a passion to really better his poker game and taking it serious.
Scott was down in L.A. as one of the celebrities invited to The Best Damn Poker Show. He played really well as you will soon see. Later again we meet at Phil's party in the Playboy Suite of the Palms Hotel and Casino along with Pearl and her band. They are soooooo talented. Do yourself a favor and check out her music on www.mother-pearl.com. Scott is in her band and they really rock as we all saw in Aruba. Sully was there at the party and sang a couple of songs and played drums on the song Highway To Hell from AC/DC. Sully is also a super talent and has a CD in the top 10 with a hit single of the Led Zeppelin song Good Times Bad Times. Trust me most bands butcher famous cover songs, Godsmack did it better than the original. Not only did Sully jam his ass off with Pearl and her band, He played poker all day at the Bellagio and took 2nd in the 5K two day event and won over $300,000. That's why I was late to the party! I'd rather root Sully on and watch him do well in the poker tourney. I am VERY proud of you Sir, WELL DONE!!! Could not have happened to a nicer man. Sully is so grounded and real to himself. You would never know he is the mega rock star he is by chatting or playing poker with this guy. He takes his poker VERY serious and along with Scott you will see many good results from these guys.
9. In Aruba many of the UB higher ups came down and had lots of meetings and had several days where they listened to the needs of their players and took lots of notes and showed a true caring on making UB the best site it can be. I have no doubt 2008 will be a great year for UB and all of us as players will reap the benefits of playing on an even better site as it will no doubt grow into the site who caters to it's valued customers. These guys are very serious about all this. They take great pride in having a great product.
10. UB is like a big family for many of us who have been lucky enough to meet at places like Aruba or other tourneys in the US. Features like Ultimate Buddy being added to the UB interface makes it easier to watch the pros, family members, friends and even the bad players so you can better your bankroll. To my extended family I thank you and can't wait to see you at many of the live events. I plan on playing this year in Aruba in late September. I have made so many great friends over the years and many of you are like brothers and sisters to me and I am super thankful.
I hope 2008 is the best year for you and you family and loved ones.
Proud UB Team Member
Shawn Rice
