John Caldwell

After spending about 14 hours over two days in media row at the delayed final table of the World Series of Poker's main event, I offer the following observations.

It wasn't quite gold for record-setting Olympian Michael Phelps, but it was a nice showing nonetheless. Phelps was spotted recently at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, playing in the room's $1,570-buyin event at the Caesars Poker Classic. Phelps, who admits a love for online poker and is now testing his water wings in the brick-and-mortar version of the game, final-tabled the event, finishing a solid ninth in a field of 187 and won $5,213.

ITALY A BIG HIT

Republican Platform:

POKER PLAYER WINS MONEY, GOES TO BROTHEL, GETS ROBBED

According to the Times of Malta, James Mercieca was leaving a casino in Gzira, up $500 for the night and feeling good about himself, when a woman called him from across a dark street. Mercieca went across to investigate and was led into a room where a second woman was waiting. Just as the second woman took down James' pants, and he thought he was in business, a man brandishing a big knife entered the room, the women took most-but not all-of Mercieca's winnings, and before he knew it, he was back on the street with about $40 on him.

WSOP IN FULL SWING

THIS WEEK MARKS THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF MONEYMAKER

JEN HARMAN RAISES OVER $300,000 FOR THE NEVADA SPCA

I recently attended the charity poker event of the year, the Jennifer Harman Nevada SPCA fundraiser at the Venetian. Hundreds of players came out to support the event, including Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey, and many more luminaries from the world of poker. For the second straight year, Doyle auctioned the hat right off his head as some lucky bidder won the right to claim Doyle's ten gallon hat.

HARMAN FUNDRAISER ONE OF THE BIGGEST OF THE YEAR

POKER MOVIE - THE GRAND IS A WILD RIDE