The Afterglow of the WTP Open at Binion's 2007

Hello to everyone who happens by. I have been back from Las Vegas for about a week now and some of the things that didn't seem to have any meaning are beginning to gel now.

I have to say I LOVED my time at Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel. Poker brought me to Las Vegas. Not so much my own play but the play of my family. That's okay though because for the two years I have been involved in poker I have loved the game. I have had a friend come to my house to prepare my wife and I for our big splash into the murky waters of poker. I really, REALLY want to improve my game. I have been acting primarily as a Tournament Director in the local poker league and as a result my game has suffered.

Enough about that; back to Binion's. When I completed my reservations for the trip from Dundalk to Las Vegas I began to anticipate going to the land of poker. I wanted to see the Poker hall of Fame. I hoped to see a star or two but that wasn't the point.

I was in the land that all gamblers yearn to visit. I was there in LAS VEGAS, NEVADA.

I watched daily as round after round of cards flew through the air to all who would dare to sit down at the tables.

I could do this I think to myself. I could take one hundred dollars from my pocket, sit my tired butt down and play real live event poker with the modern grinders like a modern day gladiator or bull fighter.

"That's bull," I thought to myself shortly after the fantasy reeled through my head. These guys aren't here to play league poker for points in a bar in Baltimore. These guys are playing for their mortgage money, their gas and electric bills their car payments. The old guys might even be playing for cash to pay for the perscription the doctor just ordered.

Now that I have had time to let all this settle I have to admit that although we kid ourselves into believing that we can play poker most of the people in Baltimore haven't got a freaking clue what it would really be like to grind it out for lights in your house or gas in your car or maybe the choice between your next six pack or drinking water for the evening.

I forced myself to take a hard look at what was going on at the tables as the week progressed. As a tournament director in my league and being a bit anal about things like rules and directions I realized that I was at least partially to blame. I watched as the Directors in Binion's drew cards for the players that were registered each assigned a table and seat completely at random. The players each moved to those assigned seats without question, comment, or whining about not liking to play against so and so. As the play began everything went off seamlessly. When players were taken out of play the dealers would call out "open seat on seventy-two." The directors would report to that table and remove the seat card for the next table to be broken.

If I had known perhaps things would be different now. Now that I DO know I promise I will make the changes to assure that the tournaments I am in control of are operated in a more professional manner. I am open to suggestions on how to make my tournaments better (read more professionally).

I want to make a written commitment to everyone that knows me in Dundalk and in the city of Baltimore:

I am fully committed to bringing big league style poker to this area. I want to commit myself to being the absolute best Tournament Director in this area. When I am not in the act of directing I plan to do the very best I can to play as professionally as this limited environment allows.

Stick with me this could be a great ride. Even if the results aren't so great right off the bat the games will still be a great time.

Have a great time and enjoy the draw.

Tom Dishon Sr.
Tom_from_Dundalk