If you remember that bet I had with Mack Rawden. A newsletter publisher, the bet was settled to this week. Mack published a most likely to die in 2010 list and I was on his list. I called him, laid him 10-1 for a $1,000 I would make it to 2011. Obviously, I won the bet and he sent a check to Jen Harman’s no Kill animal shelter. Thanks Mack, I’m glad I won.

I’ve heard of identity theft and I do not know if this qualifies but someone got my account number at my bank. They proceeded to write 135 checks in a little over a month for thousands of dollars. Pretty scary stuff, my private banker  said that was the most fraud he had even seen on one account, You should never keep very much money in your checking account.

When I came back from Costa Rica last week I noticed my passport was about to expire, I called the number in Los Angeles and the lady told me I had to absolutely come to L.A to renew it. I thought that was strange so I went to the internet and found a site that will renew it by mail. I don’t know why the woman told me I had to come to LA but I suppose I should try to contact her supervisor. That is a brutal mistake to make.

I didn’t realize that my saying I might move to CA because there was more poker there would cause so much talk. My move was pure speculation and probably won’t happen, I was just thinking. My life has been full of poker for over 50 years and I still enjoy the competition. I don’t feel like sitting in a rocker out by the pool waiting for the Grim Reaper to come knock on my door. It seems to me that when people completely retire they die much quicker than someone who still has goals and interest in life. I’m planning on winning more bracelets in the WSOP and perhaps winning a few more tournaments besides that. I know, I’m at least going to keep trying.

The Billy Walters segment about gambling on 60 Minutes is getting a lot of press. I watched it and laughed all the way though it, Billy lived 4 doors down from me and was Chip Reese’s next door neighbor on the Las Vegas Country Club in the early 80’s. The segment was very good and made Billy look very rich and successful, which he is today. But back in the 80’s times were tough for all gamblers and Billy was no exception. 60 Minutes talked about the good times and didn’t mention the bad, I’ll never forget when the police raided his house, put his sweet wife Susan in handcuffs and leg irons, and took them both to jail. I’ve got to give Billy credit he took sport betting to another level and left the tough times behind him.

I read on the internet about a bunch of youngsters that stole a vase with the ashes of a dead man inside. They took the vase to a nightclub and snorted the ashes as if it was cocaine. That may be the sickest thing I have ever heard.

DB-