WIL WHEATON dot NET: 1.5

Great story. Like an old fashioned cliff hanger. Not to kiss & tell but how good was the return on your initial investment?

Way cool Wil! I'm proud of you.

I can't wait to go home tonight and play poker. Great story, Wil.

Definitley awesome ending!

Very nice story. You are a celebrity in my book. Much more so than Fred Savage anyway...

Cool story Wil. Maybe when JAG comes out Bravo will see you in a new light. BTW--It's Gates birthday today.

Outstanding job, Wil!
Making it to the top 10% consistently is what tournament pro play is all about. Sometimes the cards will help, sometimes they hurt. But good play like that will ensure that when the QQ comes to *you*, you will be ready.
Great writing.
And given the law of Bacon (as in Kevin), you were exposed to (however many players remember you * 2^6 - 1) people, you *gotta* be headed to celebrity poker! Or something. :)

Man Wil, that is a great story! Congrats. And you know, you should give Sean a call. You've got nothing to lose, and I'm sure he'd be just as happy to hear from you.

You took some risks in that poker game, but picking up the phone and calling an old friend sounds like a cinch (to use a poker term).

Go Wil! Delightful 4-part story. Almost makes me want to look up all the jargon so I could have followed it better :) but I got the gist.

Way to go, Uncle Willie! I'm sure once JAG comes out, and hits the Best Seller lists, ol' Bravo'll come beatin' down Uncle Willie's door! Sweet!
You should definitely put this story in your next book. I haven't read anything I enjoyed this much in a while.

Screw Bravo, you're better than a celebrity. You're a writer! I'd pick Alan Moore over Dudley Moore any day of the week.

What what a great read! I've read your site for about six months and this is the best I've seen, I'll definatly pick up a copy of your books when they come out.

If you want to place this with a magazine, you need to find the right market for it. Research magazines that might be interested in it. Write to them for their submission guidelines. Write a query for this article, submit it, and see what they say. Buy a copy of (or get an online subscription to) Writer's Market to learn more about markets and query writing. Don't try to sell to a magazine it's not right for, do your research first. This piece is good--go for it!

"Because I'm not a celebrity," I say. "At least, not in the way it matters to Bravo."

"Aw, fuck them. You can play here whenever you want."

Yeah, Mr. Webmaster had it right. Fuck them. Dude, you're a celebrity. You've got a metric assload of people who will back that up. Hell, some of us have, on our Lists of Reasons To Be Famous, so I can meet Uncle Willy.

You rock. And you did a hell of a lot better in that game than I would have. Mostly because I am teh suk with anything but blackjack. :)

really swell story, Wil ... thanks for posting it! and third place in your first for-money game? that's freakin' rad.

You are a fantastic writer!! and obviously not bad at poker either.

I spent the whole morning checking to see if the final part was posted. You were able to capture the atmosphere perfectly, it was like actually watching it all happen. Superb.

Thanks for the sweet tale and the great ending. I think you've really shown off your writing talents with this series :)

Huh... haven't read such good poker since Mamet's book Make-Believe Town.

Good Work.

Wow... I just de-muffined myself.

-dr.nik-

Wil: That was one great read. Thanks!

I can't recall the last time I saw someone maintain tension like that ove such a long period. That and the use of the serial format, which I love, makes this the most enjoyable thing I've read in recent memory. You are an artist, Wil, and that will show in everything you turn your hand to. I look forward to reading your books in the near future.

Hey, congrats on coming in 3rd. You did a hell of a lot better than I would have done!

You are an amazing writer.

Call your friend. Who cares if your careers have diverged and who cares if he's the it thing right now? He's still your friend right?

Congrats on the good game and commiserations on the loss.

hey wil,
that was some of the best writing i have read in a really really long time!

from part one of the story i was hooked! Great job in the game, you did soooo well!! as we say in the UK, Well Done!!!!!

take care
rach

ps...sean astin rocks!! (as do you!!!! - Of course!!!!) :-)

Wil, you're my favorite! I know JACK about poker but I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

Woah. Great writing!

Just call him, Wil. A person who thought enough of your friendship to present you with a gift as lasting a timepiece would be happy to hear from you.

Right on, man... You obviously earned some respect in that room.

I totally agree with Shelby that you should try to sell that story. Poker is hot-hot-hot right now, and especially in the wake of Celebrity Poker Showdown, I'm betting there are more than a couple of mens' magazines (Details, Maxim, etc.) who would love to buy a well-told tale from a guy who's just celebrity enough to still have name recognition in their target market, but regular-guy enough for the readers to identify with you the way we do. It could quite possibly even earn you a seat at a CPS table. Either way, what better timing - and what better way - to get your name in pop culture circulation (so to speak), what with your book release pending?

Awww. But you finished in the money, right? so rock on.

Your writing is cinematic, and wonderful.

(applause, shrieks of delight, feet stomping floor)

In the words of What's-Her-Face (member of the Teen Girl Squad), "That's AWESOME!"

Too bad you didn't win it all, but, as I've heard Scotty Nguyen say, "That's no-limit, baby!" Well done!

I say you should enter the WSOP, if you can spare the $10K entry fee. Looks like you'd do well enough to get through a couple days of the tourney, at least...and your story would probably catch ESPN's eye, too. And who knows? If some newbie who won his seat in a $40 Internet tournament can go all the way at Binion's, maybe you can too.

Or maybe you should just challenge Frakes and Spiner to a little tournament of your own...:-)

Ok; I don't know how to play poker, but I've read through the rules links. Why do you (Wil) know what Mrs. Beautiful's cards are before the flop? The rules page for that game said that the players turn over their private cards at the end of the game, after the last card is put on the table.

Yes, call him Wil. And boy oh boy - I loved the part about Jessie - heck, you just about even turned me on ;-)

Great.Fucking. Story.
Holy shit,Wil this has to be the best damn blog entry since your pirate speak entry. You have got what it takes to write, my man, and don't let anyone say otherwise. Keep up the great work! This is really great material.

Great story, one small detail caught my eye as a possible error. Could be I'm wrong here by not knowing enough about hold-em, but in the last hand, didn't Mrs. Beautiful take the lead on the flop with Q's over Mr. Director's J's?

Great read though. Loved the last bit with the bartender girl. You got bigger cojones than me to write like that where the wife can see it. ;-)

This is one of the best entries you've wrote yet. Hopefully you'll continue going there and we'll continue reading about it!

Makes me want to stop playing poker at the casino and find myself an "illegal" game. ;-)

Very cool Wil. I sent this to all my friends. Hope to see you on Bravo sometime.

Good lord, man. That was brilliant. Like a Guiness commercial, "Brilliant!" I've been an avid fan of poker for a while now and always look forward to your columns on them. Not that there have been many, but this four-part telling is fantastic.

BTW, has anyone started a letter-writing campaign to get you in Bravo's next season of Celeb Poker? This needs to be done. WW is a much bigger celebrity than half the shmucks they have had on. Not to discredit said shmucks, most of whom I appreciate even in obscurity, but come on... don't disregard your celebrity just because some hokey cable network overlooked you.

Whew...what a poker lesson, this coming from a girl who knows all she knows about poker from playing Yahtzee way too much...wonderful read, too! I lerve a good cliffhanger.

Oh to have your life Wil. Great story, and great night!

See ya at Penguicon in April. =)

Great story Wil! Oh to have your life. =)

See ya at Penguicon in April.

Sorry about the double post all.

Call Sean, he didn't give ME no watch!!

Wow.

I don't even know how to play poker and I was totally hooked! It'll only be a matter of time before you start getting attention due to your excellent writing. Even though I live in Australia, I'll be very sure to buy JAG when it comes out.

FABULOUS! Win, lose or draw that was one hell of a ride! It just proves what WE already know, when the chips are down Uncle Willy has what it takes!

BTW: Call Sean...friends are friends no matter how far apart their roads have taken them!

Hot damn, Wil. You're a good actor, man, but you are turning into a fantastic writer. I've read both "Bringing Down the House" and "Positvely 5th Street" recently, and I have to say that you convey the suspense of real gambling at least as well as McManus. Keep up the good work.

Awesome story, Wil. Truly.

And also - thank you.

There's no way for you to know, and no way for me to tell you, how much I appreciate the laughs, excitement and enjoyment that your writing has given me, in what was an otherwise utterly bleak and painful week.

Again, thank you.

That was an awesome story - I liked how you built up the tension and then went into an aside before you went into the finish - this was great writing. You should add it to JAG if it's not to late.

You rock Wil!!

Wil,

I was riveted, really. It has made me want to start playing poker!!

John

I am a huge poker/hold'em fan, and this was an awesome story. So very captivating. Thanks for posting it.

My gawd Wil! I'm going to be late for work because I had to finish reading that! Utterly fantastic.

Hey Wil,

Well-composed! Definitely one of the best "shorts" I've ever read. Speaking of Sean Astin, (since his name appeared here a couple of times) did you see the episode of VEGAS last night on NBC? He was a guest star, and he definitely showed some skin (and lots of chest hair) in one of the scenes. Thought I'd share!

Lizette from S.F.

This is really a fantastic story, Wil. I sincerely hope you'll be publishing it somewhere other than the web because I would love to have a copy of this that I can stuff in a bag and take with me on plane rides ;) A very well-executed short story.

Great ending, Wil. Yeah, you lost, but you did way better than Shane apparently does, and at least you got to get in a final rib on Mr. Lawyer. I think they'll all have a better measure of respect for you next time you play. And you got a free seat for the next game, can't beat that...

You know what? Heck with the Oscar insanity. Call Sean. Sean Astin is known throughout the industry as a decent caliber guy. Just dial him up and shoot the breeze. I'll bet you guys will have plenty to talk about. Don't give in to jealousy, just call him...

Hey. Tell that coat check girl at the Odessa that you know this rock star wannabe from Central Pennsylvania... Nevermind. I'll just be hiding over here...

I was sitting here listening to some jazz and as I read this post I realised I was sucked right into the mood and the story.

It's the kind of writing that makes you look up when you finished and you realise it's light outside and you've read through the night and into the next day without noticing.

That's the kind of writing thats the hardest to do.

Good work Wil!

From what you've told us, Wil, you played pretty well. Short-stacked with ATh with the button calling, I probably would've done the same as you. Probably your best chance before you got blinded out, anyway.

Sounds to me like on the flop you had five outs, though (the three aces and the two tens) -- any single heart doesn't give you jack, so you shouldn't count those as outs if you're attempting to do the math. That is, if you get a single heart on the last two cards, you still lose the hand. Once you got the heart on the turn, you can count the remaining eight hearts as outs. But of course none of this matters since you were already all-in :-)

Great story, though. Thanks for such a riveting read!

Man! That was great! It felt like I was right there watching the whole thing! I hope you go to the next one and tell us all about it!

Wil,

If you're ever on the east coast, moreso in the tri-state area, I've got some games out here. You name the limit, I can find you a game.

Will

I've been reading the journal of your journies for a while now and was too shy to send you a reply before.

Thank you for sharing it and your life...if I wasn't a fan before (and I was), then I'm a big fan now (and I am.)

Great story. You should get O'Reilly to sponsor you in the WSOP so you can write a book about the experience. I'd buy it.

Oh, and don't think another second about pushing all -in with ATs, as short stacked as you seemed to be, that's an automatic play. Well done.

Well played... well written... well done.

Awesome story Wil! I've been riveted since part one! Congrats on placing third. Not bad for your first time out!!!

And, not that advice from someone like me matters, but I'd give Sean a call. You might be surprised. Rekindling old friendships are one of the greatest things in life.

I like Adam's idea. Hell, I'd read a book about poker if you wrote it!

1)Great job Will!

2)Call Sean!

3)Are you going to post the results from your first D&D session soon?

Awesome story, Wil! Can't wait to hear about the next game.

"Since Sean and I worked together on Toy Soldiers, our careers have taken wildly different paths, and each time I look at this innocent timepiece, I feel a twinge of sadness and regret. Occasionally jealousy."

That made me feel a little sad to read that, but it's those human touches that make your stories so great.

You get better all the time. Actor, writer, now poker playing stud. I can't wait to read your books.

That is so incredibly cool!
I would be proud finishing 3rd if I were you.. that is pretty darn good for a first game like that.
I can definately see you in the big tournament in vegas someday.

You must try.. it is a moral imperative.

What can I say, that hasn't already been said many times over, Wil? Awesome story, kept me on the edge of my seat until the end, very funny, quite imformative (if you understand poker, which I do NOT)and making me look forward to your new book.

Call Sean and re-connect. It's a good thing.

Take care,
Mark

Wil, I know zip about poker, but I really enjoyed the entire four part story and the style in which you wrote it.

Thanks for the entertainment.

Well, Wil... I was certainly rooting for you. If the blinds were eating you up that much it's possible you were playing a little too conservatively with just three players left.

ATs is certainly the kind of hand you push all-in on when short-stacked and just three left. The odds of one of the other two players having a stronger starting hand are slim. You made the right play.

And as far as your outs go... after the flop, your only true outs were the other 10's and other A's (5 outs), plus, you can add about 2 outs any time you have a runner going (i.e. two cards to a flush or two cards to a straight).

Finally, Mr. Director didn't quite suckout on Mrs. Beautiful... when the money made it into the pot, he was actually the favorite.

Another brilliant chapter... can't wait to try and get you in our next online tourney! :-)

Great read Wil, looks like you got your mojo back.

Btw.. if you do call Sean, make sure you have a dictionary handy. I'm still snickering at his use of the phrase "internecine strife" at the SAG awards. And if you think that's crazy, listen to the cast commentary on either of the first two LotR movies. My wife and I were rolling our eyes throughout. Don't get me wrong, I thought Sean was fantastic in the movies, he's just very earnest, which I find amusing for some reason.

Tim

We want to you finish JAG first. But after that you should seriously consider poker tournaments. You really might get a great book out of it. The popularity of poker is a splode right now and there is surely room for another good book about it. Plus the exposure might be good for JAG, if you get to the final table or something.

Wil,

Totally awesome! I actually skipped an episode of
Star Trek in order to read your post. "... not a
celebrity"? I'll bet 99% of your readers are
Trekkies--how else would we know you? You are a
CELEBRITY !!!

Your friend, Freeman.

Wil,

You're the man!

I would never have the balls to do what you did, even if I did live in LA.

This has to be one for JAG 2!

For what it's worth, I'd pay to see you on CPS, they need some real poker players!

Wil,

Absolutely fantastic writing. I know it's been said before here, and many times at that, but you are truly a talented writer. You inspire me.

This was the best series of stories I have ever seen from you.

Well written and entertaining.

Thanks!

Very well done, Wil. Nicely structured and atmospheric - I felt like I was looking over your shoulder watching it all happen.

I would say that finishing third in your first real tournament *should* make you feel on top of the world. Hell, I finished first in a play-money on-line tournament last night, and I felt like I had just won the lottery!

I'm looking forward to reading your next poker story. Try not to make us wait too long, 'k?

Awesome story there Wil! Sounds like a great time was had. Hey, can I get Jessie's number off that card she gave you? Sounds like just my type of woman!

Sex, alcohol, and gambling....sounds like a winning movie to me! ;-)

Great. Now I want to play poker. I don't even know how.

Congrats on the game. Nice little flirtation action too.

OK. So I read a lot, and I consider myself quite a connoisseur of the short story. (In particular, I think Stephen King can tell a story like no other. The guy's just amazing.) Anyway, the point is - that was one of the best short stories I've ever read. Fact, fiction, installment, whatever, that was just great fun. Wil, IMHO, your best work thusfar. Thanks for a good read.

Very nicely done!

A game of Hearts is about the limit of my gaming skills, but the crisp writing really held my attention.

John

Amazingly well rendered story. I don't agree with most of your positions politically, but I have to say that I think your writing (at least at your site for now) is some of the most articulate work I've read from any of your contemporaries. I will immediately buy anything I see with your name on it, just please don't start producing bobble-heads. Good luck in your life.

I must beg to differ with you, Wil. You're more of a celebrity than 9/10 of the people I saw on CPS on Bravo. Maybe it's because I'm terminally average, maybe it's because I don't spend a lot of time watching TV or going to the movies, but if they hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known most of their players from Adam or Eve. You, on the other hand, would have been a recognizable (and welcome) face.

Way to go! Awesome story!

I know jack about poker, but I read these entries with great interest. You are *such* a compelling story-teller, it's ridiculous.

I have to say that as usual, your writing is gripping, always leaving us wanting more. I know alot of people have already said this but, call Sean, I'm pretty sure that you'll feel better in the end. And, forget that scummy agent,(it's so hard to find someone loyal.) Find another, you never know what happen in the future. Seriously.

Hi Wil!
Although I think it was kind of mean to make us wait for each installment, I absolutely could not wait to read them as you posted them. Hell, I even got myself an RSS reader so I would know when it posted! LOL This entire site is a great case study for community building - YOU are a great story. What a great example you are to so many that only *think* they know how to incorporate their talents into a career. Would you mind being the subject of a business article? Thanks for sharing. :)
~Ginger aka 'the WebWench'

Wil
I have always loved you as an actor, I accidently came across this site and I must say it's great. This is the second night I've stood up and read your stories. I think you are incredibly gifted. Please don't stop being you, I think its great and so do so many others. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself, just look at how many lives you've touched and how they still care.

great story wil. sincerely! only one question though...did lardass have to pay to get in the game??

yeah, im a tool its true.

but it really was a great piece of writing, i enjoyed it a lot. reminded me of oceans 11 or something like that.

Whew! Thanks goodness the story's done! You really left us hanging there, Wil. Great work, and I didn't even understand the poker-talk. But I understood the tension.

And, yay!, I was right. You did name drop Sean in the first part for a reason. Call the guy, already. Do we monkeys always have to push you? First Isaac Hayes, now Sean Astin. Call to congratulate him, if nothing else. His character showed real heart in LOTR and from what I've read and seen of him, the man is like that himself.

No wonder you're a writer now. Acting is a waste of your talents. Hot damn. And go call Sean. HE played a guy with big feet, he didn't dump you or anything. :)

Hmph. Ya know, maybe acting was the wrong line fo work for you, you should have spent those formative years writing hardboiled fiction. You would have raked in the bucks....

Wil, good job. Third in your first tournament - that's quite the accomplishment! I'm envious.

Speaking of envious, tell Jessie to give me a call if she's ever in Boston!

... as if.

Great story Wil...I was dying to know how it ended and it was driving me nuts that you were doing it one WEEKDAY at a time. Damnit, why can't you post over the weekend. I don't know the rules (and I didn't bother to read them) and I still felt the tension of what was going on. Just all around great story telling.

http://journals.aol.com/jeffcomedy/Whatthehell

This is the "Contact Us" link for Bravo TV. I suggest that anyone wanting to see Wil on the next Celebrity Poker Showdown hit that link and tell them so.

I just sent them a glowing recommendation, emphasizing not only Wil's celebrity credentials but his poker skill, pointing them to the four parts of this story as a shining example.

Do it today.

...and turns over Siegfried and Roy.
Two. Fucking. Queens.

That comment was classic, Wil.

Way to go on the tournament.

Bravo, by the way, would have you.
/me wishes he had the money for poker tournaments.

Great story.

\m/Breakin' the law\m/

Great one Wil. Good on ya!

Fucking great. That's the best story ive ever read here. It actually wouldn't have been as fun if you won. Nobody likes a winner.

Great story! I'd love to know what the return on your investment was too. Percentages is cool... no need to talk cash numbers. ;)

Hey Wil,

I've been reading your blog for quite sometime now. Your site is one of the places I go to get away from everything else. Anyway, "lying in odessa" is by far one of the best reads on the web. I found myself looking forward to reading the next part. Now that it's over I wish there was more to the story.

Charlie

I never leave comments here--but I'm just checking in to say that I read your site regularly and enjoy it!

Regarding Craig Steffen's comment: "Ok; I don't know how to play poker, but I've read through the rules links. Why do you (Wil) know what Mrs. Beautiful's cards are before the flop? The rules page for that game said that the players turn over their private cards at the end of the game, after the last card is put on the table."

Craig, in head to head play (only 2 players left), once one of the players is called all-in, no further betting is done. The cards are simply turned over, and the game is in the hands of fickle fate. The dealer serves up the remaining community cards and then you find out who won. If Wil and the other player had not been all-in, there would have been the potential for more betting, so the pocket cards would be kept hidden, as the links said.

I went to Bravo's site and put in my recommendation for Wil!

It was a good story Wil. I no nothing about poker but I was racing to the end to see how it turned out. I was sad to read that bit about you and Sean. I know what it's like to lose contact with a friend you wish you had kept in touch with. I also know the joy of reconnecting. Pick up the phone, call him. Tell him about this story you just wrote and how it got you thinking of him. We'll all be waiting to hear how it goes!

The sum total of my poker knowledge stems from watching Celebrity Poker Showdown, but this was a fantastic story. A compelling read, with plenty of suspense and great imagery. I totally felt like I was there.

Also? Call Sean. :)

That was every bit as good as the game chapters in POSITIVELY FIFTH STREET. You finished higher, too! Top notch work: you had me riveted by the end of the third installment.

One more thing, if Fred Savage qualifies as a "celebrity", I'm pretty sure you would too.

Did the Bravo comment thingy too..

This 4 part series was THE BEST writing you have
ever posted!!

Let's help get this man on Cel.Poker!!

Bravo Wil!! Excellente!!

That was fucking amazing. I love that story, especially the continuity with the watch that Sean gave you. "For the first time ages, I don't feel like a loser." Wow, even Wil Wheaton feels like a loser?

I can't wait for Just A Geek! Keep up the good work, man!

Laura

Wil,

I've been reading your all-encompassing, mighty blog here for at least a year now, and this is the first time I felt compelled to do anything more than just read. Not that I haven't enjoyed what you've done here in the past (obviously, I wouldn't have returned otherwise), but this is, without a doubt (at least in my mind), the greatest writing I've seen from you here. I'll keep my fingers crossed that there's more to follow. *wink, wink...nudge, nudge*

-Pat

Fantastic story. Very well written.
I'm impressed. And I'm picky :-)

Writers are 50 times more interesting
than actors. And don't you forget it.

Write On!
Yetzirah

Great job, Wil -- I'm proud of you. Third place for a rookie is awesome. I think you earned more than your winnings; sounds like you earned a hell of a lot of respect. Nice job.

"Siegfried and Roy" for 2Q? God, that is freakin' hilarious; I had to stifle my laughs so my boss wouldn't come out and see what was so funny. Doubt they'd use THAT on the WPT broadcasts.

Speaking of WPT, got a tournament here in San Jose this week; even if you lose you can win $5K by busting out one of the "celebrities" in the match (James Woods, others). It'll be on the Travel Channel in June; I'd damn well better have my cable back by then! Maybe next year you can get in the action -- just don't borrow Data's eyeshade. ;)

Great story...I may have to do a cut and paste so I can put it in my "keepers" file.

I jnow jack squat about Poker, and I didn't read the Lingo Links you provided, in an attempt to understand how I might sound to some people talking about computers, when they have NO IDEA.

Know what? It was STILL a great story, in fact, my ignorance of the terminology made it all seem even more cool. Incredible writing!

Oh, and one more thing...

CALL SEAN!!!

Tell him we all said so...especially now that you've got fatherhood in common. Get the kids all together and go crazy!

Dude did you call Sean? You really should. I don't think he would think of you as a loser. I just read recently an interview of his where he recounts that he was working as an usher in a theater sweeping up popcorn when Corey freakin Haim shows up for the premiere of The Lost Boys. Give him a call.

Great story, Wil! I kept waiting for Mike Hammer to make an appearance. To me it had that kind of a feeling about it...

Loved the story, and how it was told. I couldn't wait until your next installment. Maybe you should put that into your next book. I enjoyed reading it.

Congratulations on making 3rd in your first out-of-the-home-not-with-friends game! :)

Truly remarkable story! Again, the movie that I was playing in my head was amazing, as your poker tale, and more a tale of the players that make poker what it is, spun out in my head.

Your talent as a writer are great, and I have a feeling that one day this will be a screenplay, starring our favorite blogger/king of the web, Wil Fucking Wheaton.

Thanks for the story,

Leo
Philadelphia

What a great story. I actually couldn't wait each day to read it at work. And on a side note - my name is Jessie, which I thought was kind of neat. But I definitely was not there that night. :)

Good story Wil but unless I missed something, Mr. Director seemed to come out of nowhere. Did I miss an intro or should we assume it doesn't matter?

Damn, Wil! That was a great story. It got me to thinking about putting together a game.

I'd like to first say that I'm actually not here as a fan of your acting forays. When Penny Arcade linked you, I, though I hate to admit it, clicked the link mainly due to boredom. Where I expected to find the whinings of a washed up former actor, I instead caught a glimpse into the life of a brilliant writer, a stepfather who anyone would be happy to have, and (near as I can tell) a devoted husband.

In other words, you rock, and I'm looking forward to JAG hitting the shelves.

Now, onto your latest writing gem. I'm a huge fan of hold'em (though a horrible player) and this story caught the excitment of the game perfectly. I'd rant and rave about the greatness of the story for several more pages, but I fear this little post is quite long enough.

Before I end this, I will say one thing. Sometimes the hardest thing in the world is to re-connect with someone who drifted away, or who you drifted from. There is always the chance that they will blow you off, or be the person that you feared they would be. But most often, they will just be glad to hear from you. It's good to spend time with old friends. In other words, like so many others... Call Sean, if you haven't already.

I am so proud of you. You are so fucking cool. I swear.
And dude. Bravo is full of shit. You've always deserved to be on Celebrity Poker. I mean come ON, Tom Green was on the other day. You are so much cooler than him.
And dude, you should totally call Sean Astin. Because yeah. He's cool. Not like I'd know from personal experience, but yeah.

Good story Wil. This is A-list stuff.

Excellent story. You did great for you first tournament!

Why don't you join the 2+2 online forum. If you really like poker so much, it's the best place i've ever found to discuss poker. Lotta pro's on there, including Malmuth, Sklansky, Zee (it's their site so duh) and other 2+2 authors.

Very entertaining.

Great story! The serial format, though torture for us readers, was a great choice too. I can't remember being held in such suspense by anything I've read on the internet.

Thanks.

I feel like I just read the best book in a long while!! You've had me on the edge of my seat for a few days now... and I have to say, the ending is perfect. ;) I look forward to "the sequel."

And I do hope that you will call Sean. I've found that even after time has passed... there is nothing like catching up with an old friend.

Wil,
That is a great story. Now you know what will come out of your head after a good poker night.

FG

sounds like some good solid play. excellent job!

if you can handle yourself this well, you can do very solidly in a 3/6 or 4/8 or probably even a 6/12 game in a legal room in vegas -- someplace kind of fishie like the bellagio on a friday night into saturday morning.

Well done on third place -- I've played a few "legal" tourneys over at the bike, and got "into the money" the first couple of times as well [in, get this, OMAHA hi/low! ] (for the rest of you non-poker readers, The Omaha variant of holdem is the reason cardrooms serve tylenol...) Never made third though -- I think something like 5th has been about the best. (OTOH, I've won a "jackpot" by losing w/four queens, but so far as "poker" is concerned, that's kind of like collecting the jailbird pot in Monopoly by landing on free parking -- an unofficial variant that everyone plays...)

Seriously, though, you should be ready for when Bravo does call -- as people have pointed out, if Fred is considered "star" material, YOU should have no problem getting in, and after your loyal readers have all clicked the link provided by Erbo, I'm sure you'll be hearing from them soon :)

In the meantime, you really should consider the local/legal cardrooms around here -- they DO have regular tournament play games with VERY modest "buy-ins" [like $15, however they do allow "rebuys" for the first hour, which can easily get to $100 if you're not careful...]

p.s. 1: someone mentioned "finding a magazine that would publish this" -- for this there is one more reason to visit a "real" casino: to pick up a copy of poker player magazine :)

p.s. 2: For the guy wondering about where "Mr. Director" came in, recall part four was mostly "final table" action -- usually a tourney will start with several tables; as players lose and leave the game, they will consolidate players onto fewer tables. I'd imagine he originally started on one of the other tables. [but you're right -- from the point of view "of a story", Wil forgot to "introduce him to the reader"]

Great story, Wil! Like many of the other posters here, I know very little about poker, but this story had me rivetted from first to last. The serial format is definitely a good idea - I wrote to Bravo too and told 'em I give their poker show Three Thumbs Up on my Tivo if they had you on :)

And give Sean a call too. Tell him we pushed you into it, if he gives you a hard time. He knows what power a fanbase can have - did you see how the LotR cast/crew went to the fan party BEFORE going to the official New Line party ?

That is an *incredible* story, and a great piece of writing. I'm especially thrilled because I understood most of the poker terms! Good job, Wil!

Wil, I found a link to your page and story on a poker website! Thank you for this beautifully written piece that had me smiling the whole way through.

For those of us who dare to dream poker dreams.. I thank you. You've very effectively put into words the rollercoaster ride that has us addicted to this crazy game.
Bravo!
We BETTER see you on the next Celeb. Poker Challenge!

Well done, it's no Positively Fifth Street but then again you didn't
careen off into a bunch of Sylvia Plath quotes,
so very well done!

I'd be stunned if you couldn't get this picked up by a men's magazine, Maxim, Playboy, etc
and possibly roll it into a Celebrity Poker
appearance.

But then again I'm equally stunned that Brennon Braga hasn't picked you up as the evil mastermind
behind the plot to make the Xindi destroy earth
just to fek with everyone's heads. So what do I know?

Wil, thanks for the fun read. Someone posted on wptfan.com about contacting Bravo to get Wil on Celebrity Poker. The "I feel like Howard fucking Lederer" bit had me laughing out loud so I had to make it the wptfan.com quote of the day. Wil, if you want, I'll ask Phil Gordon about how to get on Celebrity Poker, but I think they've already selected the celebrities for the next season.

Holy shit. Andy Bloch?!

I love watching you play, man. I'm gonna try to make it down to Commerce tomorrow. I hope you make the final table. :)

third place?!? You suck!

Actually, that is pretty damn cool.

I'm playing tonight. Whoo hoo! Congrats Wil, next time - do even better, Moneymaker.

You know, I never thought much about you as an actor. Toy Soldiers, that guy on Star Trek, you didn't seem like a person that'd get much in the way of screen time. Call it bad luck combined with typecasting if you want.

The thing is after reading your story, trying to determine if it's fact or fiction, I've decided my initial conclusions were correct.

I now believe you'd be one--hell--of a screenwriter.

May you kick ass in all your creative literature, Wil Wheaton.

Great story, and good luck next time.

By the way, just a little hint... the girl at the end, cashing you out? Next time, you might want to tip her.

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