For Pride or Money - How do you play the game?

It’s 5:00 in the morning and “The Color of Money” is playing on the television.   I had fallen asleep on the couch, but my eyes crack open as I hear “Fast Eddie” say, “You don’t know whether to take it or not, do you?” proposing a $500 challenge match bet to Carmen, the girlfriend/manager of Vincent (played by Tom Cruise).

I didn’t like this movie the first time I saw it as I was ignorant to the subtlety of its messages.  But now, after studying with the very man who the story is fashioned around, I’m able to clearly identify the genius of its story line.  For me now, it’s more of a movie about how the choices we make define our character.

In the big pool tournament scene near the end of the movie, Eddie makes an interesting choice to walk over to Vincent and gives him back a “pay off” envelope. The subtlety is that Vincent knows this will taint Eddie’s victory and leave him with a feeling of being cheated.  We know this by Vincent’s core reaction in a later scene when Vincent shouts, “YOU USED ME!” Eddie “As-Ises” the moment by responding:

“You bet I did.  But at least you’re not back there in some storage room stocking shelves.  Let’s call it a wash.” 

In the middle of his next semi-final match, as he lines up a shot, he sees his reflection in the object ball.  He backs off, breaks down his cue stick, walks over to Vincent and puts the pay off money back in his arms. Eddie decides to forfeit the match and his chance at victory and the 50k first place prize, refusing to compromise himself in winning the game.  Interestingly, he displayed the thing that he preached at the beginning of the movie when he said, “You need to know whether to take the bet or not.” I believe that through the course of his relationship with Vincent, he changed.  He learned the value of the opposite of another one of his earlier statements.  Which was “money won is worth twice as much as money earned.” 

This time, “the take,” meant that he not only didn’t earn it, but that he himself was being hustled in a way.  He was now “the mark,” that he had so often made other people.  The mark not for money, but for his pride and character.  I believe that Vincent wanted to show off what he had been taught, throw it in the face of Eddie to give him a taste of what he had to sacrifice, and give him a taste of what it’s like to be used. 

Determined not to be anybody’s mark, he refocuses his efforts on training, raising his standards and getting back into competition.  He also makes the choice of not letting himself be bought.  Which, by the way, is a choice you gotta have the courage to make if you want to be great. 

The game of poker is tough man, it’s not for sissies.  You got to be able to handle losses and not cry about it, but pick yourself up, brush yourself off and get back in the ring. 

You gotta have integrity with yourself and others or you’ll continued to get hustled and used like an old beat up cue in some run down pool hall. 

I like the symbolism of the balabushka cue stick used in the movie.  It both, represents and inspires at the same time, perfection in the man who is aware of what he is holding.  Nothing major.  Really.  It’s only your destiny that hangs in the balance. 

It’s 6:30 am now as the birds begin to chirp and I’m tired.  It’s been a long journey.  Forgive me, please, for wanting to roll over and go back to sleep.  Carpe Diem Eddie, I miss ya.

Kenna

  

Differentiating Blog Posts

Those that know me, know that I tend to be very philosophical. In fact, in a recent poker game another player in the game talking about me exclaimed; “I’m playing with the fucking Socrates of poker!  Rather then continue to combine my life philosophy with poker, I’ve decided to create a separate blog that deals with just my perspectives and philosophy on life.  I will  be re-titling and keeping this blog just for poker.  So if you are more interested in my philosophical perspectives visit and subscribe to that blog.    I am also going to create a third blog (invitation only) just for family and close friends for deeper insights on my personal journey. 

It has always been a challenge for me to separate my personal life from my professional one. With my new blog focus, I will be able to differentiate and better serve the interests of those who are interested in just those particular subjects..  Thank you for joining me along this journey.  It is my goal that my blogs, whichever you choose to follow, will continue to enlighten, encourage and inspire you.

Enjoy the Journey,

Kenna James 

You can find my new life blog at:  kennajames.blogspot.com

It is entitled:  Life’s Journey is Here

Seminar - Workshop

I took the redeye to JFK in NYC last night and after a bumpy ride finished off the journey by waking up to an aborted landing.  That'll wake you up quick!  I guess there was a plane that still hadn't cleared the runway and just before we touched down, the pilot hit full throttle and took us on a steep ascent over the ocean.  After doing a fly around we touched down 20 minutes later and I was on my way to hosting my first seminar-workshop at the Albany Poker Club.

My focus was on presenting 10 workable Principles to help improve understanding and approach to the game of poker.  I covered strategies to improve on Perspective, Attitude, Emotional Control, Physical Tells,  and overall Play of Hands using logic and reason.  It was a great group, and we all left with some useful tools and a greater feeling of what it takes to win,  in a competitive game like poker.

I love teaching,  but I don't like traveling as much as I use to when I was playing full time on the World Poker Tour.  At one point,  I was playing in over 100 events a year, across 5 different countries.  Today I'm happy to just take an occasional trip to teach and play much closer to home.  Traveling takes its toll after awhile, especially if you have to keep dealing with aborted take offs and landings.  This was my 3rd one in my last 10 flights!  Sheesh.

Enjoy the Journey!

KJ

A Painful Lesson in Patience from being a Patient

I’m pretty much a wimp when it comes to physical pain, but unexpected events can come up where you simply don’t have a choice. Either you face it now, or continue to suffer the consequences of avoiding the problem.  One problem is the build up of infection which worsens the pain.  In fact, one thing I leaned on a recent visit to the dentist, was that removing an infection can cause more pain then extracting a tooth.

A little over a year ago I started feeling some discomfort in my jaw. It emanated from my tooth but it was much lower.  So I went to my dentist who was able to see a small dark spot at the bottom of a tooth where I had a root canal performed years before.  A small space had developed and we needed to go back in there and see what was going on and try and fill that space.  Space in life can be good, but inside teeth I discovered,  is very bad.  Bacteria and infection can set up camp and eventually start eating away at healthy tissue and bone, potentially creating a big problem. 

After that procedure the endodontist informed me that the area was filled but that the structure of the tooth was weak and it’s life expectancy was probably not more then a couple of years.  True to his word, 14 months after that visit the pain returned to my jaw and a boil appeared on my gum line around that tooth. There wasn’t a lot of pain, but when it burst and puss came out I knew it wasn’t a good sign.  So back to the dentist I went who now informed me that the tooth was dead and that an extraction was needed.  I’ve never had a tooth pulled before, and the only image I had in my mind was one from the moves, where a guy puts his foot on your chest and with a pair of pliers in your mouth wrenches out your tooth. Not a good visual. 

The oral surgeon I went to was a true professional.  He jokingly assured me that their methods of pulling teeth had improved over the years.  However,  because of the infection and the amount of pain that probably would be involved, suggested that I be put to sleep for the procedure.  That would require some preparation such as not eating for 12 hours previous, etc. so I would have go home and schedule the procedure for another day.  The other option, which I could do immediately, was to have just a local anesthetic and remain conscious through the procedure. Which, in itself, because of the infection and the brittle tooth could involve quite a bit of pain.  So this was the moment of truth for me. Face the pain consciously now, or come back later and be put to sleep.

Obviously there are additional risks when you are put to sleep,  but the upside is you don’t have to face the pain.  While contemplating my options, I remembered that Puggy Pearson, an old time poker player, died the night after going to the dentist and being put to sleep.  Knowing that risk was very slight, it still didn’t seem to make sense to take that path just to avoid the pain.  Secondly, from my personal experience, I know it’s more effective to handle something consciously rather then unconsciously.  So, I made the decision to face the procedure consciously and have it done right then.

They came in with this long needle and gave me a few shots to the jaw to numb the area and then I watched Seinfeld on the TV to find some humor and distraction while it took effect.  Fifteen minutes later, they came in for the kill.

Leaning almost on my back there was nothing now to distract me.  I knew I had to find something to look at to focus on as a distraction.  The only thing I could find was the dark flowing hair on the surgeons head.  So I started counting the hairs that were dangling from his head as he went in - Oweee! My eyes opened wide as the pain went deep. So excrutiating at one point that tears filled my eyes and I started to sweat.  I could feel the metal on my bone as he began twisting the tooth trying to pry the culprit loose from it’s forty year old home. I tightened my grip on the chair trying my best to hold my body in place. In my mouth they put what’s called “a block,” to prevent it from slamming shut.  There is also some gauze in there to soak up the blood.  At one point I couldn’t get enough air, and it felt like I was going to choke on it.  But it was as if he could read my mind, and he assured me he would remove it in just a moment.  That moment of helplessness and submission can be a very spiritual moment.  It was for me, as I found peace looking into the eyes of his assistant who was calm and smiling.

Finally, I was relieved when I saw this long thread and knew he was stitching up my gums.  At this point I couldn’t even feel the needle.  I was so relieved knowing that I had made it through the experience without “tapping out.”  I had faced the pain and bagged the badly infected tooth.

I now know what Webster means now when he defines the word patience as “suffering in place.”  For the word patient, comes from the word patience.  A trait, thanks to this experience, that I now have a greater understanding and capability of applying at the tables.  

Don't forget to brush your teeth and I'll see y'all smiling at the tables.

Kenna

     

A Lesson from Cats

My son and I have two pepper grey cats.  The one with heavy black stripes is named Maximus.  The one with more of a spotty black coat, is named Leonidis.  They're brothers and have distinctively different personalities.  Leondis is much more effectionate and cuddly, while Maximus is more intelligent and standoffish. 

It’s interesting to watch them interact, and display their love and affection for each other.  They often sleep together, literally intertwining their bodies, with a paw or a head, softly resting on the other.  Instead of just grooming themselves, they will often lick and groom each other.  Especially in those tough to reach areas like behind the head and ears.  Hopefully you are lucky enough to have someone like that in your life.  Someone to love, groom and have your back!

Animals, whether it be cats, dogs, birds, etc. can offer us vital clues on how to live and get along with each other better.  All we have to do is take the time to look, observe and apply what we see.  One lesson I learned from watching my cats is that when you fight, don't waste any time in making up.  After wrestling playfully one day, they appeared to be really fighting hard.  But as soon as it was over, they were back to grooming each other and sharing a bowl of Kibbles and Bits like nothing had happened.

In any close relationship, we can easily infringe on each others personal space and fights can break out.  Whether they be verbal or physical, to fight for our own personal space and boundaries is natural.  What isn't so natural, and what is the most  challenging is to "give way," which by the way is the definition of forgiveness, and move on.  The practical lesson is to get back to grooming anyone in which you’ve had any discourse, as soon as possible.  For the purpose of grooming is not just to clean and give a fresh appearance, but to show how much you care for the other person.  If you don’t care, do nothing and it will quickly begin eroding away.  If you do care, give way, and let go of the disagreements.  Completing this hate-love cycle, can not only cleanse your spirit, but also grow our relationships to an even greater depth of understanding, love and appreciation for everything the other person is, not just for what we want them to be.

Enjoy the Journey,

Kenna

PURPOSE and DETERMINATION - Keys to Victory at the 2011 WSOP

With the WSOP starting this week I thought I would just mention two principle words that will greatly affect who wins a bracelet and who doesn't.  Those two words are Purpose and Determination.  

DETERMINATION 

Determination is a word that may be easy to say, but not so easy to execute.  Which is the reason why so many experts and professionals quote it as a necessary quality needed to succeed.   While we think we may know what determination means, often times it is more of a generalized term or concept in our head.

The dictionary defines determination as:  "firmness of purpose; resoluteness" 

Which is why these two words go together.  You can't have one without the other.  They are in a sense married, and go together like peanut butter and jelly.  Like Laurel and Hardy.  Like...well, you get the idea.  Determination starts when your purpose encounters obstacles and challenges.  Any purpose without challenges is not much of a purpose.  When you encounter challenges,  is when the level of your  determination will be tested.  Your level of determination can actually determine who you are as a person, and what you will accomplish in this life.  Low levels of determination will produce little more then survival.  While high levels of determination, can produce a life worth living.

PURPOSE

One of the struggles early on in my life, was to have a clear and defined purpose for my actions.  Without a clear and defined purpose it becomes easy to drift, and rather difficult to be resolute at anything.  Your purpose, in the sense of your doing-ness in life, must be something that inspires you! Almost as much as breathing.  You don't think about breathing, you just do it.  Your purpose is such.  It's not something you have to think about because it is a part of who you are as a person.

If you are unsure of that, then that's when it becomes necessary to find a good coach, guide, or mentor to help you.  Btw, I happen to be available if you should qualify to be one of my students.  Luckily, I've had a few great teachers and mentors in my life, and who have given me the tools necessary to teach effectively.

So it takes both, purpose and determination, to accomplish anything significant in life.  Especially if it is something that requires a consistency of effort over a period of time.   Which is what it takes to win a WSOP bracelet in 2011.

Hope to see you in the winners circle this year!

Kenna James

Last Months Meanderings

It's been a month since I posted my last blog, and I apologize to those faithful readers who make the effort to tell me how much they enjoy it.  I love to write, but as a perfectionist, it takes a lot of time to quantify and lay out my thoughts on a page that serves a greater purpose then dumping the meanderings of my daily life.  That said, here are some of my meanderings in the past month.

Fast Eddie Felson, a mentor of mine, who is better known publicly as "Fast Eddie," Felson, has agreed to make a rare public appearance in speaking at my first Live Poker and Life Seminar at The Silverton Casino in Las Vegas in July.  The subject will be on how to become a professional.  The material which I've been in developing with Eddie is awesome, and I am looking forward to really making an impact on those players who really want to learn and understand what it takes, and how to do it.  It's not the kind of material you will find in any book, I can assure you.  Eddie's main purpose in teaching is help people operate and manage better, and I'm confident you will find his presentation compelling.

With only two weeks before the World Series,  I'm still looking for a sponsor for the series.   The one I had lined up backed out, so after training hard the last 3 months both physically and mentally, I may now have to play a different schedule of events then I had hoped.  Years ago I would have been crushed, but after 12 years, you learn to roll with the ups and downs of the business.

Heading to Vegas this weekend to support the Saphire Foundation for Prostate Cancer.  There's a poker tournament Sunday night at the Saphire Gentlemen's Club in Las Vegas, which I will be running and giving poker lessons.  Then a golf tournament on Monday which should be a hoot with the girls of Saphire acting as caddies.  The club has bought out the whole golf course, so it should be a lot of fun!

I was in the second row of the debut of the Glendale Pops Orchestra last night.  Kenny Loggins and David Benoit were the featured artists and they were awesome!  I also got to meet and go back stage with David Cassidy in another concert earlier this month.

On a rather personal note, this last month saw the death of my uncle George.  He was a great man, and a true cowboy.  Then there was the death of online poker which was a significant blow professionally. But I've learned that even though their are big swells, and low troughs in the games of poker and life, you don't have to rise and fall emotionally through the journey.  You just need to learn how to navigate and manage well.  I'm doing the best I can, and I hope you are too.

Enjoy the Journey,

Kenna James