Ouchez: Hollywood Dave bows out :(

[Ouchez]

In last nights World Championship of BJ the "Bad Boy" of BJ, that Hi Energy, Effervescent, BJ Wizard and Child Prodigy, could not withstand the wiles of the 2 women sitting on either side of the *Grate One*.

Upon his humbling defeat he was to tell the interviewer that the women on his left "Didn't have a clue". But I think she may have had alot more of a clue than she put on.... or that the *Grate One* gave her credit for.

David also stated that if the game was decided on skill and not luck that he would have been the winner. I do agree with this as Hollywood is indeed a highly skilled player, in the truest sense...and....a Mensa member since 13 years old!

I found it interesting that when the chips were down and David was in trouble his non-stop rapid fire rap came to an end while his Pentium like brain became fully focused on the task at hand.

Hollywood will be sorely missed on this show as he is a great showman and a personality of his type means so much to the success of these particular programs.

There are few things worse on TV than watching a BJ game with a group of boring and unimaginative BJ experts. I think the Poker people have learned this and this is why they pull in the flamboyant types, like Phil, to make things entertaining.

As for David, I see a big future ahead for him, possibly playing the next..James Bond. Or better yet, Austin Powers.

AIF,
Ouchez.

[Neonbill]

> Hollywood will be sorely missed on this show
> as he is a great showman and a personality
> of his type means so much to the success of
> these particular programs.

The rounds I watched in which Dave was not a contestant were equally entertaining.
And the comment he made after he was knocked out was a cheap shot... apparently he thought the woman to his left "didn't have a clue" because she wasn't constantly telling everyone how good a BJ player she was, as Dave had felt it necessary to do.
If he was, as he stated, the most skillful player at the table, then why would he have to trash talk his opponents while they're trying to make betting decisions? This happened even more at the previous round Dave was in, where his 'skill' barely got him the wild card slot.
I rarely root for a player to lose, on TV, or in real life, but to be honest with you, I'm glad I won't have to endure Dave's incessant jaw flapping and other antics in the final rounds.
Maybe I should lighten up and look at it as 'entertainment', rather than a competition, but I play blackjack to relax; I get enough excitement at my day job. On the unfortunate occasions when I find myself at a casino BJ table where there's a 'Hollywood Dave' type, I move.

[Norm Wattenberger]

The players were not playing for relaxation. There was a quarter million at stake. (And other intangibles.) And they aren't playing against the dealer; they're playing against each other. And if you're forced to leave a good table because of someone else's antics; who loses out?

Not my style of play (or necesarily Dave's in a casino.) But personality can figure into tournament BJ play.

[Brick]

I think the point Neon's trying to make is... it can get very annoying when we're at a table and someone is trying to be the leader of the pack by jolting out at the way people play. If this keep's going on and on, I also leave the table. Nothing against Dave,but other players can indeed be very disturbing,especillay when they start attacking my OWN strategy decisions. These are "undesirable" conditions in my book.

[KidDangerous]

I think the point Norm is trying to make is thats part of the "Tournament" game. I agree 100% (never played in a tournament but the fact that you are against other players makes this point agreeable, Kind of like poker) Acting this way in a casino would probably result in undesirable a consequences. But in a tournament it's different. For a qarter million dollars I would come out on a tricycle, wearing a tootoo, honking a clown horn, picking my nose, and drooling if i thought it would get me one step closer to that money.

But, I think the point Neon and Brick are trying to make, that I agree with another 100%, is that if your tactics fail, someone overcomes you, have some professional class and don't leave the venue saying the people that are still playing at a table you aren't, don't have a clue. What they do have is a shot at the money still.

Kid

[bfbagain]

You know....ratings? You guys have heard of ratings haven't you?

It's an act. Also, getting into people's heads, on their nerves, might make them misbet. As Norm said, you're playing against the other players more than the house. There is some similarity to poker here.

You may want to cut him some slack here, but that's certainly up to you.

cheers
bfb

[Norm Wattenberger]

Yes and KidD got the point right. And there are also aspects in casino play. Next time someone chases you away from a table by criticizing you for taking the dealer?s bust card; consider the possibility that he?s not a ploppy at all. He just ?vants to be alone.? Greasy John was so outrageously annoying he was virtually guaranteed heads-up play. And he was very successful if the stories are to be believed. More than one way to skin a table.

[Battery]

> If he was, as he stated, the most skillful
> player at the table, then why would he have
> to trash talk his opponents while they're
> trying to make betting decisions? This
> happened even more at the previous round
> Dave was in, where his 'skill' barely got
> him the wild card slot.

> I rarely root for a player to lose, on TV,
> or in real life, but to be honest with you,
> I'm glad I won't have to endure Dave's
> incessant jaw flapping and other antics in
> the final rounds.

I'm with you completely. In the previous series he intentionally kept running off at the mouth as a competitor was trying to calculate his optimum bet.

Now reverse the situation. Would Dave say "turnabout is fair play" or would he become upset? Based on last night, I think we know the answer.

[Brick]

as a quiet mystery guy who always brought a bucket of greasy fried chicken to the tables. Imagine a huge fat greasy guy eating like a hog while performing persistent flatulations of dispersing foul oders and leaving a huge stain all over the table everytime he finished his session. I would think that alone is enough to get most us rambling on way.

[Hollywood Dave]

Thanks for all the feedback, both good and bad, to my tourney tantrum & tactics the other night! i will see many of you in the chat later tonight, but just a few notes...

YES, its an act. i am playing head-to-head with some of the best players in the world for a lot of money. i have studied tourney strategy until its pure instinct, i have written my own adaptations, and i have given careful consideration to the betting styles of my opponents so i can have the greatest possible edge over them. Then i layer in some good old-fashioned verbal smokescreen. You're damn right it can be annoying. Distracting, even. And forsooth -- RUN MY MOUTH while someone is trying to calculate an optimal bet? Shame on me! I better keep quiet so that my opponents have a stronger chance of BEATING ME, right? (heavy sarcasm intended here, folks). Believe it or not, I'm a different person when i'm not sitting at a tournament table! But while i am there, i am there to WIN. and i'm gonna do whatever it takes to make that possible...

So Yes, its a psychology game. And most definately a ratings game -- i'm an actor, after all. Being a camera whore is what i DO. The world of televised gambling has not only opened the door for this type of personality-driven play, but actually demands it. so no, i can't apologize for that. i maintain a fun, jovial attitude & believe me, i can most definately take what i dish out. i was really surprised that it took Joe and Kevin til the very last hand of the first round i played to start in on me... as you noticed, i just tuned them out. Made for some interesting TV though, no? Almost as if it was planned that way.... hmmmm....

As for Charlene, two things here, people. Had anyone else at that table won, you woulda heard me concede to their skill gracefully. For proof of this, just look at last year's World Series... MIT Mike beat me TWICE (qualifying round & final table) and i gave him nothing but respect for his skillful play. To this day, he and i maintain a friendly relationship based on mutual respect. And its important to note that i meant nothing personal by my Charlene comments after i busted out -- i'm sure she's a very nice person. But she said herself several times in the game "i have no idea what i'm doing" (also evidenced by her complete lack of correlative, contrarian, or progressive betting throughout the match -- the 3 building blocks of tourney play) as well as her having no clue what "BR1" was during a break... i won't go too far into it, but it was obvious by the kinds of sub-optimal bets she continually made, as well as her winning an inordinate number hands when she had $20,000 or more on the line, that LUCK was the key factor here. Which i pointed out in my final interview, in a style uniquely my own...

So, WHEN exactly are we doing World Series, Season 3? I got an axe to grind...

-holly d.

[Ouchez]

> Thanks for all the feedback, both good and
> bad, to my tourney tantrum & tactics the
> other night! i will see many of you in the
> chat later tonight, but just a few notes...

> YES, its an act. i am playing head-to-head
> with some of the best players in the world
> for a lot of money. i have studied tourney
> strategy until its pure instinct, i have
> written my own adaptations, and i have given
> careful consideration to the betting styles
> of my opponents so i can have the greatest
> possible edge over them. Then i layer in
> some good old-fashioned verbal smokescreen.
> You're damn right it can be annoying.
> Distracting, even. And forsooth -- RUN MY
> MOUTH while someone is trying to calculate
> an optimal bet? Shame on me! I better keep
> quiet so that my opponents have a stronger
> chance of BEATING ME, right? (heavy sarcasm
> intended here, folks). Believe it or not,
> I'm a different person when i'm not sitting
> at a tournament table! But while i am there,
> i am there to WIN. and i'm gonna do whatever
> it takes to make that possible...

I agree, whatever it takes, misleading and abusing ploppys, clearing a table by whatever means possible, co-opting a dealer or PC, it is a war.

> So Yes, its a psychology game. And most
> definately a ratings game -- i'm an actor,
> after all. Being a camera whore is what i
> DO. The world of televised gambling has not
> only opened the door for this type of
> personality-driven play, but actually
> demands it. so no, i can't apologize for
> that. i maintain a fun, jovial attitude
> & believe me, i can most definately take
> what i dish out. i was really surprised that
> it took Joe and Kevin til the very last hand
> of the first round i played to start in on
> me... as you noticed, i just tuned them out.
> Made for some interesting TV though, no?
> Almost as if it was planned that way....
> hmmmm....

you may be the next Phil H., the player everyone loves to hate.

> As for Charlene, two things here, people.
> Had anyone else at that table won, you
> woulda heard me concede to their skill
> gracefully. For proof of this, just look at
> last year's World Series... MIT Mike beat me
> TWICE (qualifying round & final table)
> and i gave him nothing but respect for his
> skillful play. To this day, he and i
> maintain a friendly relationship based on
> mutual respect. And its important to note
> that i meant nothing personal by my Charlene
> comments after i busted out -- i'm sure
> she's a very nice person. But she said
> herself several times in the game "i
> have no idea what i'm doing" (also
> evidenced by her complete lack of
> correlative, contrarian, or progressive
> betting throughout the match -- the 3
> building blocks of tourney play) as well as
> her having no clue what "BR1" was
> during a break... i won't go too far into
> it, but it was obvious by the kinds of
> sub-optimal bets she continually made, as
> well as her winning an inordinate number
> hands when she had $20,000 or more on the
> line, that LUCK was the key factor here.
> Which i pointed out in my final interview,
> in a style uniquely my own...

By downgrading herself I felt for sure she was misleading you all, putting you at ease while she chocked you out. Time will tell.

> So, WHEN exactly are we doing World Series,
> Season 3? I got an axe to grind...

> -holly d.

Ouchez.

[stainless steel rat]

> Thanks for all the feedback, both good and
> bad, to my tourney tantrum & tactics the
> other night! i will see many of you in the
> chat later tonight, but just a few notes...

> YES, its an act. i am playing head-to-head
> with some of the best players in the world
> for a lot of money. i have studied tourney
> strategy until its pure instinct, i have
> written my own adaptations, and i have given
> careful consideration to the betting styles
> of my opponents so i can have the greatest
> possible edge over them. Then i layer in
> some good old-fashioned verbal smokescreen.
> You're damn right it can be annoying.
> Distracting, even. And forsooth -- RUN MY
> MOUTH while someone is trying to calculate
> an optimal bet? Shame on me! I better keep
> quiet so that my opponents have a stronger
> chance of BEATING ME, right? (heavy sarcasm
> intended here, folks). Believe it or not,
> I'm a different person when i'm not sitting
> at a tournament table! But while i am there,
> i am there to WIN. and i'm gonna do whatever
> it takes to make that possible...

> So Yes, its a psychology game. And most
> definately a ratings game -- i'm an actor,
> after all. Being a camera whore is what i
> DO. The world of televised gambling has not
> only opened the door for this type of
> personality-driven play, but actually
> demands it. so no, i can't apologize for
> that. i maintain a fun, jovial attitude
> & believe me, i can most definately take
> what i dish out. i was really surprised that
> it took Joe and Kevin til the very last hand
> of the first round i played to start in on
> me... as you noticed, i just tuned them out.
> Made for some interesting TV though, no?
> Almost as if it was planned that way....
> hmmmm....

> As for Charlene, two things here, people.
> Had anyone else at that table won, you
> woulda heard me concede to their skill
> gracefully. For proof of this, just look at
> last year's World Series... MIT Mike beat me
> TWICE (qualifying round & final table)
> and i gave him nothing but respect for his
> skillful play. To this day, he and i
> maintain a friendly relationship based on
> mutual respect. And its important to note
> that i meant nothing personal by my Charlene
> comments after i busted out -- i'm sure
> she's a very nice person. But she said
> herself several times in the game "i
> have no idea what i'm doing" (also
> evidenced by her complete lack of
> correlative, contrarian, or progressive
> betting throughout the match -- the 3
> building blocks of tourney play) as well as
> her having no clue what "BR1" was
> during a break... i won't go too far into
> it, but it was obvious by the kinds of
> sub-optimal bets she continually made, as
> well as her winning an inordinate number
> hands when she had $20,000 or more on the
> line, that LUCK was the key factor here.
> Which i pointed out in my final interview,
> in a style uniquely my own...

> So, WHEN exactly are we doing World Series,
> Season 3? I got an axe to grind...

> -holly d.

Only two comments from someone much less experienced than you are.

1. I couldn't agree more about your behavior during the tournament. You really are there to win. If you can distract your opponents, that is just another skill you have available. If you mislead them about your intentions, ditto. If you get them a bit "steamed" it is doubtful their minds are as clear when in that state, which can only hurt them and help you.

2. The comment at the end, while true, really could have been avoided, IMHO. Of course, if you factor in the TVish part of things, perhaps it will play into the next tournament where they will show your comments again if you happen to end up at the same table. So long-term it might well turn out to be a stroke of genius, it just (to me and I can't speak for others) looked to be a swat at someone that beat you, whether it was skill or luck 99.9% of the audience won't have a clue...

Probably most of us here were pulling for you however, the only "stranger" I pulled for was Kimi, for a couple of "obvious" reasons.

[VerdugoJohn]

Well, congradulations. I wish I could rub elbows and sometimes lips with celebs like Shannon Elizabeth--she's nice, have her on more, as well as Gabi the volleyball player, and John Henson & Jason Alexander & Dean Superman are cool to have around too (but 86 Princess Leya, Tabitha the Biggest Loser, and the Baldwin Brothers). Your act worked last year as it landed you an Emcee job--MIT Mike was just not show business enough to for the gig--and dude, you are sooo television! (You know, even King Regis had a humble start).