What is it like to play in the World Series of Poker?

Jeff Smith, a recent entrant in a $1,500 Buy in Texas Hold 'Em No Limit event in the World Series of Poker, had some interesting experiences including sitting across from one of the best players in the world.

“The level of people that play is amazing,” Smith said. “As a matter of fact I sat down with (2004 WSOP Player of the Year) Daniel Negreanu and took $2,500 from him. I sat right across from him, that’s intimidating.”

Smith even remembers the first hand he had while at that table.

“I had Queen-Ace suited against Negreanu,” he said. “It was really funny because on that hand they had just moved me to the table and I had a nice stack of chips. So I’m trying to settle in and get my chips right and I was already in the hand because I was in the blind. I just looked at my cards, I didn’t even pay attention to the people that were at the table, it was good cards so I went in for $2,500.
"Negreanu and one other guy went in with me. On the flop there was a queen, I felt pretty secure and went in with another $2,500, that’s when Negreanu and the other guy both folded and I won the pot. That’s when I looked up and realized who I was playing against, that’s when I stopped playing."

Smith says the tournament is a completely different experience than the biweekly game he has with his friends.

“Every hour the blinds go up,” Smith said. “It’s extremely professional. You get a few breaks in between but for the most part you are playing poker for 10 hours. Your level of play also increases. I think I played some of the best poker I’ve ever played in my life, nothing like the back-yard poker we play here. You can’t play the same game with your friends."

Smith, who finished 148th in the tournament, remembers exactly what hand knocked him out.
"I went all in with a Q-10," he said. "Normally, under the circumstances, would have been a good hand. Unfortunately, he had K-10. A 10 came up on the flop so we each had a pair of 10s but he had the higher kicker and that held up.”

More with the Million Dollar Man

Following up with Ted DiBiase Sr., a.k.a. The Million Dollar Man, who is being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Saturday in Glendale, Ariz. This is the rest of the Q&A session I had with DiBiase, for more check out Thursday's editions of the Amarillo Globe-News and amarillo.com.

What are you most looking forward to during WrestleMania weekend?
“The cherry on top of the Sundae for me, and I’m really more excited about this than anything is that the next day I will see one of my boys (Ted DiBiase Jr.) have his first WrestleMania match. It’s huge. It is a defining moment. To me this will be his biggest match to date, since he started. Because it’s WrestleMania. He and Cody (Rhodes) are in there with one of the company’s top stars, with (Randy) Orton.”

Who is going to induct you at the ceremony?
“Not only am I being inducted into the hall of fame but two of my sons are going to do it. Two of the boys that are with the company, Ted who is going to have his first WrestleMania match that weekend, and Brett who is in the developmental program. They are the ones that are going to present me. That’s pretty special.”

How is Ted DiBiase Jr. doing in your eyes?
“He’s developing his own style. He is becoming his own character. In my opinion, I’m his dad so I might be a little biased, but I think he is doing a tremendous job of that. I watch him and I obviously see a lot of my mannerisms. My wife (Melanie) will sit there with me and say 'Oh my gosh, that’s just like watching you Ted.’ It’s pretty thrilling. Every Monday night is a special night for me, I never miss Raw now because my boy is there.”

NASCAR made the right call

Carl Edwards vs. Brad Keselowski

NASCAR fans across the nation are taking sides. Does Edwards deserve suspension or worse for his blatant act of spinning Keselowski and sending him into the air during the final laps of Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway? I say no, and NASCAR just happens to agree.

NASCAR announced a three-race probation period for Edwards Tuesday. In other words, a slap on the wrist. I applaud NASCAR for their decision. After telling the drivers in early January to "Have at it," the sanctioning body couldn't retain the same amount of respect if they would have suspended Edwards for his actions.

All Edwards did was send a message to Keselowski that his driving style needed to change. The young up-and-comer driving the No. 12 Penske Dodge has been involved, and caused, several accidents during his short time in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide series. Edwards had been a victim on two or three occasions himself, including earlier in Sunday's race, and decided he would act.

Some are calling for a more severe punishment for Edwards, but why? If Keselowski's car never flipped in the air I doubt we'd even be having this discussion. If Keselowski's car was spun in the opposite direction and just collided head on with the safer barrier, or was sent through the grass with all four wheels on the ground, nothing would have been made of this issue.

In the end, less needs to be made of what Edwards did and what he deserves while more emphasis should be placed on why these cars keep going airborne. I think most of the issues will be resolved when we see the spoiler back on the rear of the car and get rid of the wings.

What do you think? TAKE THE POLL

Chad Ochocinco has something in common with two HOF WRs

It's official. You can now mention Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson's name in the same sentence as Michael Irvin and Jerry Rice.

What do the three have in common? Ochocinco is now joining Irvin and Rice as a Dancing With the Stars contestant.

Too bad the other two danced long after their careers were over and not in the middle of it. Ochocinco needs to focus on tightening his cleats and less about slipping on his dancing shoes. He claims to be one of the best wide receivers in the game but has yet to prove it.

He will fall short once again when trying to imitate Irvin and Rice, who both made it to the finals of the show. My bet is Ochocinco doesn't make it to the final five.

Amarillo-area girls setting the tone.

The Amarillo-area girls had a strong first round. Advancing a majority of the wrestlers into the championship quarterfinals.
Caprock advanced four, Tascosa four out of five, Hereford had a few as well.

Looks like the top contenders on the girls side reside in Amarillo.

Rude awakening for Bushland's Gillmore

Crockett Gillmore entered today's tournament boasting a 24-0 record. His record at the end of round one action sits at 24-1.

Gillmore got beat by Rockwall-Heath's David Tanner in the first period of the match. In a battle for position Tanner reached back and flipped Gillmore over to his back. Gillmore was unable to fight for the entire period, getting pinned with 1:00 left in the first.

Regardless of what happens from this point forward, for Gillmore to have reached the state tournament in his first full season as a wrestler is an amazing accomplishment. The Texas state tournament is one of the toughest tournaments in the country and even the best wrestlers get beat.

Exciting day one action in Austin.

It has been an intense day of wrestling at the UIL State Wrestling Championships in Austin, and we aren't even through the first round yet.

The Amarillo-area is looking strong, losing only a few matches thus far.

Randall holds an early lead over Allen after John Mark Avila prevailed 10-8 over Roderick Gaines in a thriller.