Strike Up The Band
2008-05-30 23:51:11
By: Gene Bromberg
As the players filed into the Amazon Room for the first event of the 2008 World Series of Poker there was an audible buzz in the air. A buzz that was quickly replaced by a blast of trumpets and the boom of a big bass drum. As all eyes turned to the rear of the room the UNLV Marching Band strode around the room playing a rousing rendition of Viva Las Vegas.
It was a little bit hokey, a little bit corny...but it was also kinda neat. It was Vegas, y'know, unexpected and over the top and a bit too loud. Any chance that today's event (and the WSOP in general) would get off to a quiet start quickly came to an end. I don't think the dealers sitting right in front of the horn section would care for a repeat performance, but it was a fun way to kick things off.
We've eliminated about half the 352 players who ponied up the $10,000 to play in today's event. Reading various forums and blogs few thought that this event would crack the 300 mark, and we easily cleared that. There weren't any maddening lines (though tomorrow's $1,500 NLHE event might prove a bigger challenge) and for the most part things went off without a hitch. My biggest complaint is that McFadden's, the pub that replaced the beloved Tilted Kilt, is horribly overpriced. Not only that, for some reason they have duelling piano players banging away at the ivories at volumes that make your teeth hurt. The joint has hardwood floors and low ceilings, all that noise makes it impossible to hear, talk, properly digest your food...
But I digress. A good start to the 2008 World Series. Just have 54 tournaments and 6 1/2 weeks to go.
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