Shronk

I didn't quite know what to write about about Shronk. I had to let it sink in before I could wrap my head around it.

I've known the guy for a few years. We weren't close friends, I don't think I have his phone number in my address book, but we could share a beer and a story together.

We never worked together directly, but during the WSOP we would interact daily to organize Cardplayer interviews and videos with the pros from Full Tilt. I got to know this... awkward, funny person during the '07 series and he immediately struck me as someone that would keep things interesting with just his basic perception and reaction to the insane world that we were working in.

In the summer of '07, there was a world series of roshambo tournament and Shronk was on interview duty for Cardplayer. He also got to play the tournament for Mike Matusow because Mike, believe it or not, was still in a tournament, and didn't want to come down to the Rio at 9AM. This being a story about Shronk, we met in the 2nd round.

Shronk catches a hot one at 3:10 in.

Having only known Shronk for a few weeks, I knew him well enough that I could do some physical comedy on him and he would roll with it. So I slapped him after beating him. He laughed it up and we bro'd up shortly after.

When I was running Pokerwire, having resurrected the Circuit, aka Pokerwire Radio, aka PokerRoad Radio, Shronk came to me and asked if Pokernews could do a feature on the new show. He only wanted to do it because he was a fan of the show. Plain and simple. You don't see much of that in poker media, or any industry for that matter.

After I left the working poker world for a life of luxury at the small stakes, I saw less of Shronk. I would randomly run into him at the televised tournaments that I would play and I would undoubtedly get some kinda of random story from him about traveling to Korea or Australia and getting some virus from eating the local cuisine late at night. None of it was surprising. It was Shronk. You'd expect that kinda of story from him every tournament.

It was a let down when he didn't tell you about going to the hospital or getting stuck in some foreign airport for 2 days. You always needed a Shronk story to keep you in a positive attitude because... it wasn't happening to you. Like watching Jerry Springer.

But it didn't really seem to bother Shronk. It was all a part of the ride for him. Acceptance and experience. I think he had fun.

The last time I saw Shronk was at the Dream Team Poker tournament at Caesars. He was prepping the radio show when I walked over to say hi. He went into another story, that escapes me, before I was lured away by a green bottle. I remember saying "see you later" as I walked away.

Brutal.

Pokerroad Radio did an amazing tribute show for Shronk. Please listen. Even if you didn't know him, by the end of the show, he'll be your friend.



JDN

The Legends of Poker at the Bike Main Event and something about WPT

No funny intros here. Its go time at the Bike. Until I run into Gavin. We chat for a few, catching up on the last few weeks while I miss the first orbit.

Ok! Now its go time!


Table 15 seat 5

Table draw:
Seat 1: the quiet Asian. Definately non-sag
Seat 2: rwg
Seat 3: surfer dude with Patrick Swazye Point Break high lights
Seat 4: rpg
Seat 5: jdn
Seat 6: Kyle "krisqueen or Queenkris" Wilson. A Canadian.
Seat 7: rpg
Seat 8: rag non-sag
Seat 9: Jean-Robert "I was on surviver and I have a French sounding name" Bellande

I make the first break without winning a hand but retain a chip count of 28K. How boring.

Finally win my first pot of the day with an hour left in the 2nd level.

I take 6K from Jean-Robert when I call him down with 99 on a board of 2 2 4 3 4. Up to 34K.

Daniel Negreanu is involved in a heavy flirt session with Amanda Leatherman. Kinda creepy. Does she know that he's Canadian? He's also apparently on the same Olympic team as Ali Nejad. They're both wearing Jamaica jerseys. Daniel has matching head phones and Ali has the matching shoes. I wonder if they do the two man luge. That should be the sequel to Cool Runnings. Aliwood and Kid Poker in the winter Olympics representing Jamaica. Oh the calamity.

I asked Kyle is he was embarrassed that Daniel was a Canadian too and he said, "He's French Canadian. This is expected."

Apparently there was some sort of unknown bounty on Jean-Robert. The RPG in seat 7 just called Bobby's all in of 6500 with A5 off. Bobby has JJ and I know I don't really have to finish the story. Bye bye Jean-Robert.

I smell a shipment of fail on the horizon. Wait for it. Waaaait for it. Ahhh there it is.

Going into the hand I have 40K. Coming out, I got 6K.

With blinds at 75/150 it's limped 3 ways to me in the small blind. I look down at 2 red jacks (my best preflop hand in 3 tourneys) and I raise to 650.

Two callers and the flop falls 6h Qh 8h. I bet 1500 and the sagish rag in seat reraises to 4500. I call. The turn is the Ah. I really like this card (famous last words). It gives me the 2nd nut flush and I don't think he's got Kh. Cause who raises with the 2nd nut flush draw? SAGs that's who.

He bets 8000. I'm thinking he's either got a small flush or a set. Smaller flush makes more sense since he limped preflop. I had also played with him for a couple of hours with the day before in the satellite. So my read was that he was a retarded player. And I still think it's the correct read. Just not on that hand.

So I call the turn bet. The river is some lame card of no consequence. And I check again to him. He stands up. Shakes his head. Does Hollywood thing before moving in. I can't help but call off the 17K and he shows me the KhQs. Bah.

6K going into the 2nd break. I guess that's still 30 big blinds. Short stack ninja time.

At break I get roped into singing "I fucked Erick Lindgren" with 15 other players. We were anchored by The Chainsaw. Very odd.

Jesus was also there, so I heard Jesus say fuck. Awesome. I don't think I've ever heard Chris Ferguson cuss. I was sandwiched between Scott Clements and Danny Wong. Guess it could have been worse.

I guess its for EDog's Bday. It should be on RAWvegas sometime this week. Nothing like the internets keep a 6 month old joke going. Very Niiiice.

In the 3rd level I fold till I see AK. I shove and get called by QQ. No help and I'm out.

At least there's not much traffic on Sundays.

JDN