The time has arrived

Only nine remain

Its Here. The December nine is set for the 2009 Slow play Saloon Tournament of champions.

A wild year to say the least. We had new players emerge and founding league members struggle.

Several of you embarrassed yourselves along the way and still others built up your own playing reputation.

In this edition we will revisit some great and some not so great moments and players of 2009.

In no particular order

Who can forget our host's several inebriated showings. His consumption rivaling Boris Yeltsin, he imploded several times this year. Not one to take a bad beat well after a few cold ones, he was always good for at least one berating comment on his way to the rail. Just missing the top 9 this year is sure to leave a bad taste in his mouth and I'm sure 2010 will have him return to the top of his game.

Voted the best player in the league for 2009, Javier quietly slipped out of the top 9 and must contemplate his place amongst the elite players. His fellow players voted overwhelmingly earlier this year but he could not recover from back to back months losing with set over set. Another player that can put down the sauce he will have to do some soul searching over the holidays. Will he commit to the game, watch it on TV, practice online and return to greatness or will he be tuned to FOX for Dancing with the stars?

Ray had a great year but came up just outside of the promise land. A quiet player who fared well over the year just could not make the next step. A casualty of the huge jump in the unemployment rate the poker league hit the back burner for a month or so. He has since got back to work and is refocusing his efforts on 2010.

Dan K had a big win in November but not before he took a verbal tongue lashing from Aaron. Into the muck was a bold move from the rogaine chugging ambulance chaser. He has also shown flashes of brilliance over the few tournaments he attended but could not find a way to compete on the level needed to reserve a seat in December. If Aaron does not remove his name from the email invite list I'm sure he will try and step up his game for 2010 and make a run.

Pete has not been back for months. Since the bad luck hit he has not been able to stomach the game. Ending 2009 over 16 points out he will hopefully return to the game he loves with a new sense of urgency to win. 2010 will bring more bad beats, bad calls, bad folds and upset stomachs for all of us. Pete is sure to be on both sides of these events starting in January. He did finish ahead of Josh but most people did. Come back Pete, Ill save you a seat.

Dave R, the grumpiest player in the league by far but also the tannest. The only so called strait guy who goes to tanning salons had a good 2009 but could not commit to enough events. No play no points is the underlining issue with big Dave. When he shows he has a good chance to go far. A good player that was separated from the top players by a measly 14 points. Will he commit to the league in 2010, put down the spray on tanning lotion and bring his "A" game? Attendance will bring his success or it will bring failure again. January is the first test. Start studying.

Josh has quietly become the joke of the league. When poker was a game of luck he could not lose. 2007 had him win the Tournament of champions when everyone showed up just for the meatballs. Since then the league players have improved ten fold and Josh hasn't. A shell of a player that is now considered dead money most months. 2010 will be most important to Josh. He must shake off the sub par play that has embarrassed him for the past 2 years. I am willing to donate over $600 in free tutelage to improve his game going forward. A gift horse, Don't look it in the mouth.

A few others with attendance issues that cost them are Sean M, Mike M, John L and John P.

All were a few good months outside the leader board.

The top 9 players are all looking forward to a great game in December.

Vegas Projections

Nowik

Chris W

Matt

Steve D

R Paxi

Miller

Frank

Scott

Kyle

2010 is sure to bring some changes and Aaron is working on a few rules to make the league more fun. He is always open to suggestions so please feel free to email him with ideas.

Good luck and I hope to see you ALL in January.

Uptheodds.com

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Copyright - 2009

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should be mailed to:

Dan K

107 Handsoff lane

Snap finger, MO 75778