It's been a long time - far too long - since my last post. Then again, the last few months have been nothing short of insane. In a good way.
Long story short, I'm back in the grind, having now hung up my last media pass on the back of my office door. It is true - my career in poker journalism, and all the perks that came with it, has come to an end. But boy, oh boy, it was one helluva ride.
And with the one-year anniversary of my trip to Las Vegas coming up, there has been a pang of sadness when I think about what could have been. A return trip to the World Series of Poker? Perhaps another stint or two on the Asia Pacific Poker Tour? Even taking a trip out to Europe for one of their many poker events?
Who knows? All I know is that I've had my fair share of run-good and now I'm cashing out while I'm ahead. GG Lando, thanks for playing.
Anyway, now that I've got the sentimental stuff out of the way, I thought it would be nice to be able to share some of my personal highlights with you. There's been a fair bit of copy I've managed to churn out over the years (most of which has been online), but I wanted to take the opportunity to share some of my favourite articles with you.
I'll do my best to post them as regularly as I can, but with the hours I'm working these days, that may not be a possibility. But hey - it's not like anybody's checking back all that often, right?
So here goes - my first LandoNation: From the Archives.
This article was written for the PokerStars Blog during the 2011 APPT Melbourne Main Event as the "opener" for Day 4. By my own admission, I did borrow the idea from my mentor, Sean Callander, who had touched on this piece of infamous sporting history in a previous APPT feature article when we worked in Auckland together in 2009, but I thought, "What better way to try and drudge up the trans-Tasman rivalry before the final table than to discuss 'Underarm '81'?"
The end result: a heated heads-up war of attrition between Australian Poker Hall of Famer Leo Boxell and Kiwi young gun Phillip Willcocks. There was a lot riding on Willcocks' shoulders, having come so close to a win previously on the ANZPT circuit during the 2009 Queensland event, but Boxell was pulling out all the stops to win that elusive major title - his first since 2000. With his wife Beverley watching on, Boxell emerged the victor, much to the delight of the huge contingent of Aussie pros on the rail.
Now, I'm not saying that this article was responsible for the love lost between Boxell and Willcocks, but it sure did reflect the emotion and the intensity we all felt in the Crown Poker Room as we watched on that night. Indeed, it was probably my most favourite piece that I've ever written, so without further ado, I present: "Australia's Shameful Slowroll".
When it comes to international sporting rivalries, there are few that compare to the one between Australia and New Zealand. Even if you're not from either country, it's not hard to get caught up in the cross-fire between the two nations.
No matter what the game - be it cricket, rugby, netball or soccer - those who don our national colours of green and gold are always up to show the "All-Blacks" just how it's done, and vice-versa. It's always a fierce contest, laced with the occasional dust-up, but always plenty of trash talk and chest-beating.
Most of it, of course, is all in good fun. After all, we go way back and have been there for each other through thick and thin: the most-recognised bond between us is encapsulated in the ANZACs (Australia & New Zealand Army Corps), where our soldiers have served side-by-side in times of war.
However, there was one dark moment in our shared history that nearly tore the alliance - and the two countries - apart.
Rewind back to the summer of 1981 - almost 30 years ago to the day. The setting: the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It was the third one-day international cricket match in a best-of-five finals series between Australia and New Zealand. The arena was packed with more than 100,000 screaming fans and it was do-or-die out there for both teams.
New Zealand were down by six runs with one ball remaining in the final over. Greg Chappell, the captain of the Australian side, called in his brother Trevor after using up his best bowlers. Despite Trevor having already taken two wickets, it wasn't enough for Greg to be convinced that his younger brother could deliver.
In a moment of madness, Greg took it upon himself to do the unthinkable. In poker terms, he decided to angle-shoot for the win.
After consulting with the umpires and the New Zealand batsmen, Greg ordered Trevor to deliver the last ball of the over underarm, which at that time was technically legal, but in terms of playing in the spirit of the game - well, as the saying goes - it's just not cricket.
As their older brother Ian watched on helplessly in the commentary box, Trevor stepped up to the crease and proceeded to roll the ball down the pitch. The ball skidded along the ground towards Brian McKenchie (the New Zealand batsman on strike) and he was forced into playing a defensive stroke before tossing his bat away in disgust as he stormed off the field.
Although Australia won the game to take the lead in the series 2-1, even their fans booed the team as they headed back to the pavillion. In front of a sold-out crowd at the MCG, with millions more watching on television around the world, Australia had blatantly committed the sickest sporting "slowroll" in history.
The fallout from the incident was ugly. The Chappells became social pariahs and the International Cricket Council, the sport's governing body, immediately changed the rules to make it illegal to bowl underarm. Naturally, it became the major talking point at water-coolers and breakfast tables nation-wide in both countries and created a global media frenzy.
Even the leaders of both countries spoke out in condemnation of the team's actions. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser said that it was "contrary to the traditions of the game", but New Zealand Prime Minister was more blunt in his response: "[It was] the most disgusting incident I can recall in the history of cricket ... it was an act of true cowardice and I consider it appropriate that the Australian team were wearing yellow."
We're hoping that nothing controversial like this occurs today at the final table of the PokerStars.net APPT Melbourne Main Event, but one thing's for certain - this Trans-Tasman battle will be one for the ages. Play will get underway at 2:10pm local time (GMT +10), so be sure to keep your browsers locked to the PokerStars Blog as we bring you live updates from Crown Casino!
Long story short, I'm back in the grind, having now hung up my last media pass on the back of my office door. It is true - my career in poker journalism, and all the perks that came with it, has come to an end. But boy, oh boy, it was one helluva ride.
And with the one-year anniversary of my trip to Las Vegas coming up, there has been a pang of sadness when I think about what could have been. A return trip to the World Series of Poker? Perhaps another stint or two on the Asia Pacific Poker Tour? Even taking a trip out to Europe for one of their many poker events?
Who knows? All I know is that I've had my fair share of run-good and now I'm cashing out while I'm ahead. GG Lando, thanks for playing.
Anyway, now that I've got the sentimental stuff out of the way, I thought it would be nice to be able to share some of my personal highlights with you. There's been a fair bit of copy I've managed to churn out over the years (most of which has been online), but I wanted to take the opportunity to share some of my favourite articles with you.
I'll do my best to post them as regularly as I can, but with the hours I'm working these days, that may not be a possibility. But hey - it's not like anybody's checking back all that often, right?
So here goes - my first LandoNation: From the Archives.
* * * * *
This article was written for the PokerStars Blog during the 2011 APPT Melbourne Main Event as the "opener" for Day 4. By my own admission, I did borrow the idea from my mentor, Sean Callander, who had touched on this piece of infamous sporting history in a previous APPT feature article when we worked in Auckland together in 2009, but I thought, "What better way to try and drudge up the trans-Tasman rivalry before the final table than to discuss 'Underarm '81'?"
The end result: a heated heads-up war of attrition between Australian Poker Hall of Famer Leo Boxell and Kiwi young gun Phillip Willcocks. There was a lot riding on Willcocks' shoulders, having come so close to a win previously on the ANZPT circuit during the 2009 Queensland event, but Boxell was pulling out all the stops to win that elusive major title - his first since 2000. With his wife Beverley watching on, Boxell emerged the victor, much to the delight of the huge contingent of Aussie pros on the rail.
Now, I'm not saying that this article was responsible for the love lost between Boxell and Willcocks, but it sure did reflect the emotion and the intensity we all felt in the Crown Poker Room as we watched on that night. Indeed, it was probably my most favourite piece that I've ever written, so without further ado, I present: "Australia's Shameful Slowroll".
* * * * *
When it comes to international sporting rivalries, there are few that compare to the one between Australia and New Zealand. Even if you're not from either country, it's not hard to get caught up in the cross-fire between the two nations.
No matter what the game - be it cricket, rugby, netball or soccer - those who don our national colours of green and gold are always up to show the "All-Blacks" just how it's done, and vice-versa. It's always a fierce contest, laced with the occasional dust-up, but always plenty of trash talk and chest-beating.
Come at me, bru!
However, there was one dark moment in our shared history that nearly tore the alliance - and the two countries - apart.
Rewind back to the summer of 1981 - almost 30 years ago to the day. The setting: the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It was the third one-day international cricket match in a best-of-five finals series between Australia and New Zealand. The arena was packed with more than 100,000 screaming fans and it was do-or-die out there for both teams.
New Zealand were down by six runs with one ball remaining in the final over. Greg Chappell, the captain of the Australian side, called in his brother Trevor after using up his best bowlers. Despite Trevor having already taken two wickets, it wasn't enough for Greg to be convinced that his younger brother could deliver.
In a moment of madness, Greg took it upon himself to do the unthinkable. In poker terms, he decided to angle-shoot for the win.
After consulting with the umpires and the New Zealand batsmen, Greg ordered Trevor to deliver the last ball of the over underarm, which at that time was technically legal, but in terms of playing in the spirit of the game - well, as the saying goes - it's just not cricket.
The horrific images of "Underarm '81" still make any Aussie or Kiwi sports fan cringe to this day
As their older brother Ian watched on helplessly in the commentary box, Trevor stepped up to the crease and proceeded to roll the ball down the pitch. The ball skidded along the ground towards Brian McKenchie (the New Zealand batsman on strike) and he was forced into playing a defensive stroke before tossing his bat away in disgust as he stormed off the field.
Although Australia won the game to take the lead in the series 2-1, even their fans booed the team as they headed back to the pavillion. In front of a sold-out crowd at the MCG, with millions more watching on television around the world, Australia had blatantly committed the sickest sporting "slowroll" in history.
The fallout from the incident was ugly. The Chappells became social pariahs and the International Cricket Council, the sport's governing body, immediately changed the rules to make it illegal to bowl underarm. Naturally, it became the major talking point at water-coolers and breakfast tables nation-wide in both countries and created a global media frenzy.
Even the leaders of both countries spoke out in condemnation of the team's actions. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser said that it was "contrary to the traditions of the game", but New Zealand Prime Minister was more blunt in his response: "[It was] the most disgusting incident I can recall in the history of cricket ... it was an act of true cowardice and I consider it appropriate that the Australian team were wearing yellow."
We're hoping that nothing controversial like this occurs today at the final table of the PokerStars.net APPT Melbourne Main Event, but one thing's for certain - this Trans-Tasman battle will be one for the ages. Play will get underway at 2:10pm local time (GMT +10), so be sure to keep your browsers locked to the PokerStars Blog as we bring you live updates from Crown Casino!
