Sleep With the Fishes, Dine on the Whales

Gulf Coast Poker Winners Week at WSOP Nola As many of you probably know, Harrah’s New Orleans partnered with www.gulfcoastpoker.net to get local poker enthusiasts into WSOP Circuit Event tournaments for free. Poker room manager Chase Haydel gave away over two hundred seats, and seven of them were part of GCP’s social media giveaway. After catching up with most of these recipients, I’m pleased to share a few of their stories. ** Originally from Spokane, Washington, Todd Cowan moved to the Gulf South in 1997 on assignment as a locomotive engineer. In those early years, he often played 10/20 limit hold ‘em at the Isle of Capri in Lake Charles (not to be confused with the Pile of Debris on Lake Marl). After Chris Moneymaker lit the no-limit hold ‘em world on fire, Todd traveled to Las Vegas in 2005 and enjoyed the highlight of his poker career: a victory in the $1,000 Bellagio Weekly NLH Tournament for $45,396. This year, thanks to his free seat, Todd entered Event #1:...

I'm looking forward to the Beau Rivage's Million Dollar Heater which begins... tomorrow. Somewhat fairly well known on the Gulf Coast is Kenny Milam and Charlie Gelvin's annual prop bet decided by the Arkansas-LSU football game.  Last year Kenny had to play day one of the re-entry event in a dress.  Good sport that he was, he did so.  This year the loser (again, Kenny the Arkansas fan) has to shave his entire head.  That includes that cigarette and coffee imbued flavor savor of a mustache for Kenny (look at that in all it's glory in the pic) which makes sense as Charlie has, shall we say, a "fuller" head of hair.  What will they think of next year?  Also, guys, why not throw in the LSU-Arkansas basketball battles for another prop bet? That's not the only prop bet that will be settled this weekend.  Known perhaps only by the participants themselves is a weight loss bet for me.  In late October I weighed (a gross!) 232 pounds.  I challen...