Reflections of a poker player ... and baseball fan

Times photo   |   Scott Keeler

I'm not usually the reflective one (Chris does plenty of reflecting for both of us), but as I gave my ticket to the smiling lady at the turnstile and schlepped my $1 hot dogs and 2-for-$5 cans of Coors Light to my seat behind third base, how could I not reflect?

About 19 months ago, our lawmakers betrayed us. They didn't just betray poker players when they slipped a poorly worded attempt to stop online gambling into an important piece of legislation late in the night. No, that kind of cowardly legislating betrayed all Americans. And I was upset about it. I pondered the future of the game I love, and whether I'd still be able to log on late at night and find some folks from around the world ready to play Pot-Limit Omaha 8 for $5. Back then, I had to calm my good friend Chris down often. I tried to be the voice of reason, insisting that all of this wasn't as bad as it looked. But deep in the back of my mind, I always wondered whether I was right.

And at the time, playing poker live in Tampa Bay wasn't all that attractive. Bet limits of $2. Tournaments capped at $45 with ridiculous house fees. I began to wonder whether the only time I'd get to play cards was going to be in our less-than-regular home game or my not-as-frequent-as-I'd-like trips to places with more sensible laws.

So that's when I decided to buy season tickets to the Clearwater Threshers, a Class A farm team for the Philadelphia Phillies who play in a beautiful stadium not far at all from my house. The price was fair, and if I didn't use a ticket, I could trade it in for another one later. I'll give this a try, I remember telling myself. I have to have something to do to take my mind off not playing poker if I comes to that.

Well, since then, much has changed. Online poker sites eventually found ways around the law, and those folks charged with enforcing it eventually admitted what we always knew - that it was just a bad law. Florida lawmakers bumped bet limits to $5. They allowed no-limit hold'em, and gave us real tournaments. They let card rooms stay open year-round. And, wouldn't you know it, my home game finally did get on a regular schedule. Those thoughts deep in the back of my mind were proved wrong.

But something else changed. I fell in love with going to the ballpark. With cheering for Lou Marson. With watching the manager oddly drag his foot around third base at the beginning of every inning. With standing on my feet, waiting for the final strike, the final out, of the championship game.

Laura and I made great friends. They had been good friends, but when they started going to the ballpark with us, they become great friends. Some of the best. And we hang out with them just about every weekend now, ballgame or not.

All of this because of a stupid law that I cursed. The world does work in weird ways.

All of this means I don't play as much poker as I used to, though not a day goes by without me thinking about poker. As I sat at the baseball game the other night, I wondered whether my poker has suffered from all of this.

No.

It hasn't.

It's gotten better.

We're all wired differently, but my fuel has always been variety. Ever since high school, I've overbooked my life. Done way more than most people can handle. Perhaps way more than I can handle. But being busy is what keeps me pushing forward.

I don't keep good records. I don't know for sure whether I've won more money at poker since that evil law passed than I did before. But I do know that when I play poker now, more or less it's because I want to, not simply because I can. That's an odd statement, I know, because I've never not wanted to play poker. But convenience isn't necessarily a good thing. When I play now, it's because I want to. And I'm in the right frame of mind. I'm focused.

And that - that is what makes me a better poker player than I ever have been.

- SCOTT

Comments

[Chi-Guy]

Wow!

Reflective is right. I teared up reading it.... Seriously though. Baseball season has started here in Chicago and my focus always turns to Wrigley field during the warmer months. I play lot of on-line poker in the winter time because hey, in Chicago, it is damn cold in the winter.

Since my recent trips to Vegas, on-line poker just isn't as much fun. I prefer a million times over, playing live. Yes, the hands take 3 times as long but you get to talk to people, make friends, and the tables tend to be softer. ON my last trip, I met a 91 year old local who brought a disposable camera and took a photo of me at the table. We talked about poker and life. When I returned from my vacation, he had already developed the film (who uses film anymore?) and mailed me the photos. As far as I remember, nobody on-line has ever sent me anything in the mail. I have been called a donk for calling a pre-flop raise with a suited KQ and then sucking out on pocket aces. Gee. I guess I should fold QK suited on the button every time!

But, continuing with Scott's theme, it is important for everyone to answer the question, "Why do I play poker?". I like it because it it a good way to kill time while I am on my exercise bike, learning, challenging, etc. I don't play to earn money. I know how to win at the limits I play. IT is good practice for live play. I know how to lose, while learning other games. I protect my small bankroll, enjoy the game, but I don't let it replace important things in my life. Win or lose, my on-line play has no effect on my financial position. I have been nursing the same $200 bankroll for a year now. My profits from my last trip to Vegas are about to to be invested in a Charity tournament with every big poker name there is. I don't expect to win a tournament with all the big name pros but I will get some great photos, stories, and some Nevada animals will get their lives saved. Jen Harman is using her poker fame to help build and develop an animal sanctuary.

Brian

[Zerb]

Blog post of the year.

And I agree with every word of it.

wp sir.

[Chris Cosenza]

How can a blog post be best of the year and not mention RCGs?

[Erwin Blonk]

So it is true, baseball is for wimps, football is for Real Men(tm) ;)

As for poker it's even fair to say I love pot limit Omaha, not poker in general. For example, I was hooked on the online updates for the WSOP PLO championship, while I can't watch no limit holdem on TV for more than 5 minutes. I'd love to see PLO on TV, so I'm glad I can at least watch some on YouTube. Until a year ago I played all kinds of poker, not anymore.
So there you have it, this is why I play: for this one particular game, the rollercoaster of poker.

[simple0010]

Great post Scott. I also enjoy going to baseball games. It's a great way to spend an afternoon or evening. I'll 2nd the blog post of the year comment.

[aces88ss]

Scott, excellent post.

[MacDaddyo]

Great stuff Scott! My wife always tells me "everything happens for a reason" and your story validates this theory once again, although the Chris "verse" Fasso match race might be a tough one to rationalize.

Good luck in Vegas this week. I look forward to hearing your report(s) on the trip. I'm headed out there myself in a couple of weeks so I'm hoping to pick up some good tips that I can put to use while I'm there.

[MacDaddyo]

Great stuff Scott! My wife always tells me "everything happens for a reason" and your story validates this theory once again, although the Chris "verse" Fasso match race might be a tough one to rationalize.

Good luck in Vegas this week. I look forward to hearing your report(s) on the trip. I'm headed out there myself in a couple of weeks so I'm hoping to pick up some good tips that I can put to use while I'm there.