WIL WHEATON dot NET: Where is my mind?: devil's haircut

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September 17, 2004

devil's haircut

I had a fantastic time in Las Vegas! I was there >24 hours, which is the perfect amount of time for me to be there, I've discovered. I'm working on my trip report, but I've got some real work to do today, and I probably won't have time to finish it until the weekend.

While I was on my way home yesterday, I actually managed to audioblog a little bit about the trip, so go listen, and then read this cool interview I did with Poker Lizard dot Com:

PokerLizard: Do you have any plans to play in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in the future?

Wil: I was just reading Howard Lederer's website for his 2003 WSOP reports and something really struck me at the very beginning, he said, NOW This is Howard Lederer were talking about, he said, "I've been playing all year long in No-Limit tournament games to get ready for the World Series because I never felt I was ready enough to play in that game."

If HOWARD LEDERER feels that he has to spend a year on top of all his other experience to play in the No-Limit tournaments, I probably have a LOOONG way to go before I can compete and play competitively at that level.

I had fun with that interview, even though I was steaming from a really bad beat (or misread, depending on who you ask). But the really cool thing is that my interview is right next to an interview with Daniel Negreanu, who is one of the nicest people I've ever met, and certainly the kindest professional poker player I've ever met. It's nice to keep good company.

Also, I discovered a wonderful review of Just A Geek over at Apple Lust dot Com:

Let's get this out of the way right now: if you come to this book looking for Star Trek gossip and wry recollections of life among the Klingons, you're going to be disappointed. Wil Wheaton's autobiographic melange of weblog and memoir is something far, far more important.

For a world where fame is instant and independent of talent, and where reality television cranks out disposable celebrities willingly sell their souls for fifteen minutes of fame, Wheaton has written an intelligent and honest warning. Like the slave who whispered "Memento Homo" into the ear of the Roman general enjoying a Triumph, Wheaton reminds us that celebrities are as vulnerable to the vicissitudes of fate as the rest of us. Starring in a hit TV show or getting an Oscar nomination in no way guarantees that the casting calls and party invitations will continue to come.

Oh! And before I forget, this Saturday night at ACME, we're opening a brand new sketch comedy show. I'm not in this one, (my show opens in 10 weeks) but I was with the cast when they wrote it (we all write our shows together) and it's hilarious. Tickets are only 15 bucks, there's a great bar next door, and there is 500% of the USRDA of funny on the stage.

Posted by wil at September 17, 2004 07:54 AM

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Comments

You are awesome Wil! Keep it up and perhaps we WILL see you next to some of the top tier poker players in the world!

Cool! First post! :)

Posted by: Greg at September 17, 2004 08:02 AM

Hi Wil,

Just read that review on applelust.com - nice one. Should go some way to making up for the crap EW came out with the other day.

Rob

Posted by: rob at September 17, 2004 08:05 AM

good to hear the trip went well! cant wait to read about your meeing with a capital M!

Posted by: Joseph Driscoll at September 17, 2004 08:46 AM

Okay how long do I have to wait to read "fish on"?

Posted by: neph at September 17, 2004 08:56 AM

neph: it's in my iBook. As soon as my iBook comes out of her coma, I'll post it.

Posted by: wil at September 17, 2004 09:05 AM

Has Vince McMahon and the WWE jumped onto the poker bandwagon yet? Get someone who looks like Farha, only with Madasow's personality. Call the finishing hold "The All In" or "Dead Money".

Posted by: Fred at September 17, 2004 09:08 AM

Wil, wish I could see the sketch comedy show. God, I haven't done sketch in ages. I've been too busy working on my improv comedy company in Houston.

Hope they have a great show! Glad to hear your trip went well.
~ Dawn Piccini

Posted by: Dawn Piccini at September 17, 2004 09:09 AM

so, you there there over 24 hrs? or less then 24 hrs? ;)

just curious!

and i'm not hating -- just asking. ;)

nags

Posted by: Nags at September 17, 2004 09:30 AM

The review rocked, I told you you were loved and admired. I wanna see you on Bravo's celebrity Poker Showdown, you could so kick Sean Astin's behind (did you see that episode...it was sad:(, he really sucked...hobbit can't play poker (*hangs head sadly). Anyway, I wanna know about Super Robot Monkey Hyperforce Team Go! Please talk about the weirdness of this interesting show.

Posted by: Beth at September 17, 2004 09:56 AM

Wil, the Poker Lizard interview was great (even if their editor needs some punctuation lessons). You know what Howard Lederer was doing when he made those comments, of course: psyching out his potential opponents in the WSOP.

Did you know that Sklansky and Malmuth have a new book out - "Small Stakes Hold 'Em" is the title, I think, and they co-wrote it with someone whose name escapes me, a low-limit expert that they recruited to help them. I intend to pick that up soon.

Looking forward to your appearances on WPT!

Posted by: Dave Westbay at September 17, 2004 10:09 AM

Great post! I was looking around your website for the Wil Wheaton Dot Net version of Radio Free Burito.

Any thoughts of bringing that back.....

Posted by: Chris at September 17, 2004 10:10 AM

Hey, did you hear Tom Tomorrow wants to let his blog "go dark for a while"? Aack!
The Pixies are having a concert at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley.... I think this weekend.
as an aside, imho: Sean Astin is cute. Not that anyone cares.
OHOH and thanks for the Odelay reference! I love that CD.

Posted by: seasnail at September 17, 2004 10:24 AM

Wil, great interview at Poker Lizard. I know it sucks getting beat by trip-threes, but does it really do anyone any good to get mad at someone for staying in the pot no matter what cards they have? If the guy got to see a flot for a little bit of money he certialny earn it back real quick when he makes a set. Arieh (can't remember his first name) who was 3rd in the WSOP this year was a real ass and commented about people coming in with what he considered less than great hands. Does that mean that Gus Hansen is a bad player because he plays a lot of junk hands?

Just wondering, I don't want the only celebrity poker player I care about to yell at me some day if I am sitting next to him when I take the pot with a set of twos.

Posted by: james at September 17, 2004 10:34 AM

Glad you had fun in Vegas, Wil! And YAY for the good review! You deserve it! :o)

Posted by: Kimberly at September 17, 2004 11:35 AM

Hiya Wil! Glad you enjoyed your time in Vegas!

In reply to seasnail: Elijah is cuter :p

Posted by: DeQ at September 17, 2004 12:05 PM

I'm inclined to completely agree with applelust's review. I bought JaG yesterday, started reading it yesterday, finished it yesterday, and am definitely still loving it today. Awesome job, Wil!

Now I just need to get Dancing Barefoot...

Posted by: Chris the Tiki Guy at September 17, 2004 12:37 PM

When you feel good enough to play in the WSOP, I bet us readers would be willing to invest in the $10k fee to get you into the tournament (for a share of the winnings in return -- I'm not suggesting any sort of charity).

Of course, you would have to blog in between tables.

Posted by: Alan at September 17, 2004 01:50 PM

Dear Wil,

It must be wonderful to be compared to "Garrison Keillor". Just a warning though - On one of his recent show, he mentioned that he never aspired to be a "sex symbol for mature women". However, do proudly note that people from many generations have appreciated your writings on your blogs and your two books.

Posted by: Stephanie at September 17, 2004 02:26 PM

Hey, I play at pokerroom.com, too! I play as raccoonx in the 5-10 "play money" rooms, cause I'm no where good enough to bet REAL money. If you see me, say hi! I promise to keep your secret identity a secret! :D

Posted by: brandon at September 17, 2004 03:24 PM

From an e-newsletter in Tacoma, WA:

This Saturday's WebTalk Radio show will feature actor and author Wil Wheaton, who is best known for his portrayal of Wesley Crusher on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and for his starring role in the mid-eighties film "Stand By Me."

Wheaton, who now runs a web log WilWheaton.net, will discuss his most recently published book, "Just A Geek: Unflinchingly honest tales of the pursuit of life, love, and fulfillment beyond the Starship Enterprise."

"WebTalk Radio" will be webcast on www.webtalkradio.com anytime after noon on Sept. 18th. The show also will air at 10 p.m. Sept. 21 on KVTI-90.9FM.

Have fun, Wil!

Posted by: Nathe at September 17, 2004 04:33 PM

to NAGS:

Wil said he was in Las Vegas MORE THAN 24 hours which means he could have been there a week and is not telling us. (He still may be there.)

Freeman :)

Posted by: Freeman in Louisiana at September 17, 2004 06:33 PM

Glad your Vegas trip went well. Congrats on the good review!

Posted by: Viki at September 17, 2004 06:51 PM

wish I was closer so I could go to that comedy show, but T.O.'s a little further than an overnight trip... 'course, we have some pretty good laughing spots here ourselves

great review - if I wasn't convinced before (and I was), I would be now!

safe journeys...D

Posted by: Dee at September 17, 2004 07:31 PM

erm. I messed up. It should be "

That's what I get for trying to out-geek myself.

Posted by: wil at September 17, 2004 10:26 PM

YEAH WIL! nothing like an audblog to bring something interesting into my day!

oh...and randomly I was looking through your gallery - never knew you were left handed. :) kickass

Posted by: Fiona from Boston at September 17, 2004 10:39 PM

enjoy reading the post, even after jager and running from the police for misc reasons. i'm entering a tourny a friend runs w/ a 150 bone entry fee and the winner(out of a few hundo ppl) wins the 10k needed for entrance at wsop. btw, i'm a damn, DAMN good poker player.

peace

Posted by: Master P at September 18, 2004 12:44 AM

Rock on Wil! Glad Vegas was a worthy trip. The review is excellent, and deservedly so. The poker interview? Yep, we might have to pool the Monkeys and get that guy some basic elementary school punctuation lessons, but an excellent interview none-the-less.

I'm gonna jump on the Curious Monkey bandwagon as well. Does this Meeting with a capital "M" involve an NDA, or are you just keeping us in suspense?

And for Pete's sake, man, CALL SEAN!!! Forget the "he's done more movies and had more success" jitters that keep you from doing so. You're a successful author now! Give him a call, shoot the shit, catch up... But just do it already!

Posted by: Eric In Pa at September 18, 2004 02:52 AM

Now... ain't that better than the EW review? ;-)

Posted by: Nadia at September 18, 2004 03:45 AM

Wil, it occurs to me that your opinion on the way Gus H plays is probably not uncommon, especially with people who've played for a long time. First of all, I think the game has room for all sorts of styles, and Gus is just one more. But I also think that the game is changing. The old customs are being pushed aside, just as (forgive me) D. B. is being pushed aside. (There I didn't actually say his name, lest the heavens open up and obliterate me). D.B. couldn't likely win a big tournament anymore. Why? Because everyone will take him on. He's left with playing tight, and losing a lot even then because there is always someone ready to call him. Gus has found a style that intimidates other players. People are afraid to take him on. It's serving him well at this point. Heck, even his haircut adds to his success. As people get to really understand his current style (which will happen with time), Gus will become less effective with it. If he's a good player, he'll adapt. If he's not, he'll become a footnote.

Now I'm talking about this because I sort of consider you one of the old guard. You've been playing since before a lot of us knew holdem existed. I would bet my left ear lobe (ew, not really) that you feel very traditional about your poker, that you respect the customs, and the old players immensely. I hear that when you talk poker. Gus doesn't fit that. But he *is* making it work right now. Why? He's adapting to the changes.

The game landscape is changing, and WPT is responsible for a lot of it. We get to see the cards. We get to read the players. We get to learn all about them. And the shows are hugely popular, easily accessible to the next wannabe hotshot. If *I* was a competative player, I would stay the hell away from WPT. They're just giving all your secrets away. The greatest commodity in poker is hiding behind the muck. I wouldn't sell that for a billion dollars.

Posted by: anc at September 18, 2004 06:42 AM

strike that. I would sell it for a billion dollars. cuz I'd have a fucking billion dollars! ahhhhhk

that security code thing got shorter again. do you have monkeys messin with things? :)

Posted by: anc at September 18, 2004 09:32 AM

So glad the trip went well for you! Welcome back!

Posted by: Sue at September 18, 2004 10:22 AM

more stuff that may not matter:
here's how my paranoid mind would work if I were in Wil's shoes about Sean... *sigh*
right? If he is interested at all, he'll check out my book and contact me.
is that childish?
insecure?
wrong?
help me out here.
Wil: got JAG, stayed up reading it, til the toothpicks holding my eyes open snapped and I passed out. It's a great read. that reviewer just doesn't get you like we monkeys do!

Posted by: seasnail at September 18, 2004 10:41 AM

DeQ: if you like ppl whose eyes are always in an expression dire despair/horror! frodo would be nowhere without sam. okay... this has to stop!

Posted by: seasnail at September 18, 2004 10:45 AM

Wil,

*erm. I messed up. It should be " * ?????
It should be

Freeman :)

Posted by: Freeman in Louisiana at September 18, 2004 01:20 PM

Hmmmm. It seems the "less than" symbol is not printing in the comment section.

Freeman :(

Posted by: Freeman in Louisiana at September 18, 2004 01:22 PM

seasnail: LOL Don't get me wrong. Sam is one of the best! Sorry to get off topic, but I couldn't resist!

Posted by: DeQ at September 18, 2004 01:38 PM

dont worry about the read Wil. Glad to see the other interview went well!

Posted by: Bryan K at September 18, 2004 06:35 PM

Poker, Wil? Poker? Real money comes from owning the casino, not playing in one. (You could call it "WWDN's Posse" or some-such...)

Posted by: alumiCool17 at September 19, 2004 06:18 AM

hmm, I'm trying to post something and it won't let me. There's something it doesn't like, but I don't know what part. I wish it gave me some sort of clue. Oh well.

Posted by: anc at September 19, 2004 06:56 AM

To Freeman:

Man, it is good to see you posting again. I was a bit worried after your last evacuation post. I hope and pray you and yours are okay and your house is still intact.

Sorry wil, to abuse your blog with this post.

Leon

Posted by: Leon at September 19, 2004 09:15 AM

I'd have to agree -- 24 hours is more than enough time spent in Las Vegas. I spent four days last February, much to the detriment of my checking account.

Posted by: Derek at September 19, 2004 10:24 AM

to ANC: if you are trying to post the "less than" symbol, it deletes everything after the symbol--don't ask me why.

to LEON: thanks for your prayers. The hurricane turned at the last minute and missed us.

My apologies, also, to Wil for using this website for personal messages.

Freeman

Posted by: Freeman in Louisiana at September 19, 2004 12:43 PM

Sorry, Wil, last intrusion--
to Leon: my email address is mrfreeman2@aol.com

Freeman

Posted by: Freeman in Louisiana at September 19, 2004 02:41 PM

Wil,
Sounds like you had a nice trip. See not everyone hates your book. I guess you will just have to wright for the people who do.

Posted by: Fabian at September 19, 2004 05:28 PM

Wil, glad to see you surface in such a positive way, surprise that a poker hobby+ was the way back into many people view.
2005 WSOP