Hey, You're Not Too Bad Yourself...

"Yeah Michele, those Entities are some sexy pigs..."

Our favorite poker cougar Michele Lewis debuted her first Girl on Girl column in the latest Bluff Magazine. The interviewee: poker hottie Erica Schoenberg.

The topic of Wicked Chops Poker came up in one of the questions. The copy and pasting of that is seen below:

ML:  You get a lot of coverage, specifically from Wicked Chops Poker... are you flattered by their coverage or do you think they’re just a bunch of sexist pigs? 

ES:  Well, I don’t think you can deny that much of what they write is sexist, but I still think it’s pretty hilarious.  I mostly find it flattering and amusing whenever they mention me!  You know you’ve arrived when Wicked Chops talks about you…

Wait wait wait. "sexist pigs" or "sexy pigs?" Clearly Matt Parvis and Lance Bradley missed that in the editing process. Michele, turn your articles in sooner so they have time to catch such errors, ok? 

Girl on Girl at the 2008 WSOP: Gloria Balding

The below is WCP contributor Michele Lewis' latest interview in her "Girl on Girl" series at the WSOP featuring interviews with some of the coolest, hottest girls in poker. Check out Michele's blog at michelelewis.com.
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As the 2008 World Series of Poker goes from serious to seriously serious this week, I somehow managed to get in a few minutes with Bluff's super busy producer and occasional on-air talent Gloria Balding. A regular fixture at the WSOP and tournaments around the world, Gloria got her start in the poker world after a chance visit to Las Vegas to see this year's The Last Woman Standing^TM Tiffany Michelle during the 2006 WSOP. That trip landed her an administrative job with Bluff, which evolved into production.

Don’t fret if you’re unable to catch Balding on the floor at the Rio as you can find her on ESPN 360, Bluff and the World Series of Poker site. In our chat, Balding shares how WSOP commish and famed blogger Jeffrey Pollack busted her checking out Wicked Chops Poker's Girls on the Rail, and why she's qualified to be a cougar.

Hump to the jump to read more about Gloria Balding in this series of Girl on Girl at the 2008 WSOP

Girl on Girl at the 2008 WSOP: Maria Ho

The below is Michele Lewis' latest interview in her "Girl on Girl" series at the WSOP featuring interviews with some of the coolest, hottest girls in poker. Check out Michele's blog at michelelewis.com.

Maria Ho is looking to prove that last year wasn't a fluke at the 2008 WSOP Main Event.

Maria Ho will forever be known as the "Last Woman Standing" at the 2007 WSOP Main Event after she outlasted all other woman hopefuls to finish 38th and cash $237,865. Ho's beeing playing poker professionally for the past few years and her success has landed her major coverage as well as a spot on Team Bodog.

Also impressive... she holds a communications degree from the University of California and likes to slow dance with Tiffany Michelle.  But you can read all about that stuff after you hump to the jump.

Girl on Girl at the 2008 WSOP: Liz Lieu

The below is WCP contributor Michele Lewis' latest interview in her "Girl on Girl" series at the WSOP featuring interviews with some of the coolest, hottest girls in poker. Check out Michele's blog at michelelewis.com.

Liz Lieu is an obvious pick for Girl on Girl at the 2008 WSOP. The girl is smokin' hot, super funny and plays poker like a pro.  OK, so she is a pro poker player but just because someone is a pro poker player doesn't necessarily mean they play like a pro poker player. 

Lieu was an easy interview as she always has something enlightening or funny to say.  I had a chance to catch up about her experiences this year in poker, life and the 2008 WSOP.  And of course... and how much she likes to read Wicked Chops Poker.

Hump to the jump for more Liz Lieu...

Girl on Girl at the WSOP: There's Something About Amanda Leatherman

The below is WCP contributor Michele Lewis' latest interview in her "Girl on Girl" series at the WSOP. Stay tuned for more interviews with some of the coolest, hottest girls in poker. Check out Michele's blog at michelelewis.com.

Girl on Girl at the 2008 WSOP is a great way to start off Monday morning.  And who better than Amanda Leatherman of PokerRoad and PokerNews (photo above playing in the 2008 World Series of Poker Ladies Event).  Leatherman can easily be perceived as just a cute petite blonde; however, don't think for a second her strength is synonymous with her size.  She may be a tiny... but she walks tall, speaks her mind and has a sharp sense of humor.  Leatherman concocts her skills of wit, professionalism and girl-next-door appeal to create interviews that get to the point yet are fun and entertaining. For example, she managed to host Phil Hellmuth shotgunning a beer then ended the interview before a possible "Frank the Tank" streak.

Again, some might think it's just her beauty encouraging the constant double-takes, but I disagree.  I think she has a way of making one feel as though they already know her or ... they really want to get to know her (and I don't mean sexually).  Last week, Leatherman was sweet enough to answer some questions about who is hot and how she landed in Las Vegas to travel the world.  Thump to the jump to read something about Amanda...

Girl on Girl at the 2008 WSOP: Tiffany Michelle Interview with Michele Lewis

The below is WCP contributor Michele Lewis' first interview in her "Girl on Girl" series at the WSOP. Stay tuned for more interviews with some of the coolest, hottest girls in poker. Check out Michele's blog at michelelewis.com.

I finally had a chance to chat with Tiffany Michelle (above), known on WCP as the girl with two first names. We hooked up in the quiet WSOP Poker Kitchen this week to discuss the little things in life. Tiffany Michelle is a sweet, friendly Gemini who enjoys singing, acting, music and loves animals… OK, I’ll stop with the Playboy-like description. Seriously though, she does have many talents, including playing the piano since she was six, a self-taught guitarist and a successful songwriter.

After finding success in the Hollywood cash games and live tournaments at the Hustler Casino she suddenly found herself on the Bombshell Poker Team for a week at the 2006 WSOP. A simple one week WSOP gig multiplied into six when she was approached by Nick Geber to interview for Bluff. Today, Tiffany Michelle spends less time playing live poker as she’s traveling the world interviewing pros for PokerNews; however, don’t be fooled as she’s often online playing under the name HotChipz. And even though she looks like just another pretty face, she is in fact, well spoken and takes pride in her work.

Interested in finding out what she thinks of the 2008 World Series of Poker, who is the sexpot of poker, what she looks for in a guy and how you may or may not get a date with her through MySpace? Then hump to the jump...

2008 WSOP Update: Poker Pro Erick Lindgren Goes for Bracelet #2 + Some Dude Gives a Lot of Money to Charity

We didn't do a full update yesterday from the WSOP, mostly because one development truly left us horrified. We didn't know how to report it. Because it surely had to have been made up. Seriously, who does what we are about to report? What kind of a person would do this? Definitely not anybody we know, that's for sure.

:: Event #14 ($10,000 Seven Card Stud) - We spent a good portion of the day yesterday trying to verify this story because it seemed like something out of a Jerry Bruckheimer movie. A very bad Jerry Bruckheimer movie with no explosions. But apparently it's true. Eric Brooks won his first WSOP bracelet (and making his first cash too) in Event #14, the Seven Card Stud World Championship. He subsequently then GAVE ALL OF THE PRIZE MONEY--$415,856 TO BE EXACT--TO CHARITY. Read that last sentence again. Is he flipping crazy? Aren't there laws that prevent mentally deranged people from doing shit like this? We're not sure what this country is coming to, but we are sure it's a place we don't want to be. Full results here.

:: Event #15 ($1,000 Ladies Only) - Read about Glum Girl Svetlana Gromenkova and her thrilling victory here.

:: Event #16 ($2,000 Limit Omaha Hi-Low) - Chalk up yet another Omaha final table to The Intense Stare of Scott Clements. However, do not chalk up another bracelet. He finished seventh, banking $36,232. Instead, the tourney was taken down by Justin Guarini Andrew Brown. This is Brown's first WSOP bracelet, banking $226,483 and denying Ted Forrest, who finished second, his sixth. Get full results here.

:: Event #17 ($1,500 NLH Shoot-Out) - "Friends and family" final table won by Jason Young. Full results here.

:: Event #18 ($10,000 2-7 Lowball w/ Rebuys) - Always a "who's who" event with big names galore. Full Tilt Poker pro Erick Lindgren, who could easily run away with 2008 World Series of Poker Player of the Year honors, takes a massive chip to the final table, stacked at 1,104,000. He's followed by Barry Greenstein (541,000), super skinny Mike Matusow (520,000), Jeffrey Lisandro (461,000), David Benyamine (410,000), Tony G (394,000), and last year's POY, Tom Schneider (162,000). First place pays $537,682. Get final table updates starting at 3pm PST here.

:: Event #19 ($1,500 Pot Limit Omaha) - Fast play in this one, as 759 entered and only 46 remain. Vanessa Selbst, a woma--, a woma--, ugh, a woman, is big stacked with 203,600. Other big name big stacks include Nam Le (59,500) and Chau Giang (58,300). Get full chip counts here.

:: Event #20 ($2,000 Limit Hold'em) - The last tourney of the day saw 479 enter. Play concluded with 125 remaining. The chip leader is Daniel Makowsky, stacked at 49,200. World renown cougar and WCP guest blogger Michele Lewis was eliminated towards the end of the day, but gave us some "big ups" (her words) in this interview with hottie Tiffany Michelle. Also in the event but eliminated was NWP's Bryan Micon. Watch his latest Degenerate Update below. Get full Event #20 chip counts here.

2008 WSOP Band of Bloggers: Get full recaps and payouts from WorldSeriesofPoker.com here. Get Dr. Pauly's take on WSOP happenings here. Gary Wise has some thoughts here. Please please don't forget Pokerati here. And get Poker Prof's recap and more photos here.

WSOP Not Planning to Move to Caesars

(Post by Michele Lewis, a cougar. Read more from Michele on her blog michelelewis.com)

At the 2007 World Series of Poker I posted on Pokerati things going on in the Amazon room. This year I will do the same but possibly eliminate Amazon Room from headlines because I'm convinced the 2009 WSOP will be at Caesars Palace. OK, I'm not really convinced because transferring the location wouldn't have been exactly prudent in the middle of a leveraged buyout, especially during the subprime mortgage crisis.

Nonetheless, since the 2005 WSOP, many speculate a move because someone heard from a stripper...who is friends with a dealer... who may or may not have heard from a pro... who knows the guy at the valet really well. Despite the constant gossip, Jeffrey Pollack continues to explain the Rio provides an easy flow and user-friendly structure for the WSOP brand.

So, I asked him to clarify any assumptions, rumors and expectations. Pollack stated today:

“The rumor about a move to Caesars is completely without merit. The Rio is the home of the WSOP and a terrific home at that. There is no discussion about moving from the Rio.”

There you have it…print it, fold it and take it to your table to let your dealer and opponents know the (current) facts. You might also want to tell them it’s common business practice of corporations to keep things quiet until it is a done deal or the time is right. Yet, that very thought keeps me hopeful while thinking of WSOP dinner breaks at Raos rather than Sao Paulo.

PS – I don’t have any pictures of hot chicks. Perhaps someone can take some of the Rio's Sapphire Pool girls on break at Starbucks, which is next to the Sao Paulo Café. Provided they say "yes" which is not the new "no."

WSOP News Flash – Marcel Luske Seen Wearing Jeans

(Post by Michele Lewis, a woman. Read more from Michele on her blog michelelewis.com.)

Inside the WSOP Amazon Ballroom is serious business for players such as Patrik "not a hot chick" Antonius (right photo); however, step into the hallways and you will find a WSOP - Wanderer Seeking Out Pros for a light, to change 100 for a Krispy Kreme donut and whine a bad beat story to people that are looking for a light to curb the desire to buy a Krispy Kreme donut and hide from the players they owe money that whine bad beat stories. Whew, what a run-on.

Not WSOPing, I bumped into Marcel Luske who (looking suave but not Gerado Rico suave) was wearing jeans instead of a suit. Normally, I would post something really important like “Today I saw a guy wearing jeans at the WSOP” or “ I saw Phil Ivey wearing a Full Tilt hat” but this was a rare moment in poker. I had just posted Jeffrey Pollack and Luske were not wearing matching suits on Friday. Which was poker sarcasm because poker sarcasm is allowed on WCP as opposed to other sites where poker sarcasm is not allowed.

Turns out...

Doyle Brunson Opens the 2008 WSOP and Cougar Accepts WCP Invite

It was no surprise when WCP asked “a woman” to write on their site but it was quite the shocker when they chose “a woman” who hadn’t undressed for money. Nonetheless, it was a quick affirmative as I knew I would have full access to their private jet and yacht. We debated… In the Cage with a Cougar, Five Minutes with a Cougar, The Cougar’s Roar and settled on The Cougar Corner.

They call me the Cougar for at least two of the following reasons:

1. It’s an inside joke.
2. I married a man 392 days my junior.
3. It makes the 1/3 of WCP married to a Cougar feel better.
4. Cougar halts at the border of offensiveness and my husband scares them.
5. I attended Cougar classes here.

However, last night between their beer bongs, SEXT* messages (to their current and first wives) and casino streaking, they couldn’t decide what exactly qualified one as a Cougar. Did she hunt or just prefer younger men? Should Cougars be at least 40 years-old with relations averaging a ten year age difference? Did a Cougar need to be a fan of the Chippendale dancers?

In Cougar summary, it doesn’t matter because they’ve branded me with the nickname and now, since several people addressed me as Cougar yesterday at the 2008 WSOP, I guess it’s “Time to Say Goodbye” to nickname numero uno…the Black Widow.

Hump to the jump for WSOP updates.