February 24, 2010
How did online poker get started? While some of those who are newer to poker may feel as if online poker has always existed, the reality is that online poker is a relatively new phenomenon. The Internet has only been available for commercial use for a couple of decades, and the technology for conventional online poker only available for a single decade. Nevertheless, the online game has completely permeated the poker world.
Online Poker: The Beginning
Without the Internet, of course, there could be no online poker. In the early days of the Internet, real time communication was a challenge. The Internet was mostly used to transmit large packets of information from one computer to another. Jarkko Oikarinen, an Internet visionary, saw a different use. He created IRC, or Internet Relay Chat, in 1988. IRC was the first instant messaging system. As soon as two people could communicate effectively online, poker players saw the applications for their favorite game, and IRC poker began. There were no graphics and no real money was exchanged, but IRC poker was the predecessor of something big.
Online Poker: The Sites
In 1998, the company Planet Poker introduced the first truly effective online poker software, complete with graphics and the ability for people to play real poker against each other in real time. Planet Poker took a risk, but one that paid off. Online poker took off fast, although at the time traffic was limited to an elite group of people who enjoyed gambling or cards and who were Internet savvy. Still, it was enough to keep Planet Poker going, and to inspire new poker sites like Paradise Poker and Pacific Poker.
Online Poker: The Current Era
Companies like PartyPoker, PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker took online poker to a new level. PartyPoker did it through a heavy advertising campaign using their spokesman Mike Sexton and the World Poker Tour, also offering a chance to win a seat on a poker tournament cruise, the PartyPoker Million. Full Tilt Poker did it by hiring as many name pros to play on their site as they could get. PokerStars did it by offering more tournaments and more satellites than ever before. When one of those satellite winners, Chris Moneymaker, won the World Series of Poker main event, online poker reached heights no one could have anticipated, and though its growth was slowed a bit by American anti-online gaming legislation in 2006, it is still a huge industry today.
January 20, 2010
A lot of people are starting to wonder is playing in online casinos is becoming a socially acceptable activity. Sure, in the past, when you told your friends that you were playing roulette or any other online casino game instead of going to a movie with them, they would have thought you were a gambling addict. But now, it seems it is becoming a socially acceptable form of entertainment for a person from almost any demographic.
Every time you turn on the TV or surf the Internet, you are seeing more advertisements, news articles and blog posts about online casino games and making money playing in an online casino. And now, people don’t seem to be phased by it. They are more likely to actually sign up for one of these online casinos and give it a shot. They are more open minded about the idea, and that is one of the first stepping stones towards social acceptance.
More people are even starting to skip their planned casino outings, opting to stay home, have people over, and play online casino games with their friends in the comfort of their home. They don’t feel embarrassed about playing online casino games any more.
In the span of a few years, playing online casino games has gone from being frowned upon and believed to be an activity for compulsive gamblers to a socially acceptable pastime for young and old alike.
November 26, 2009
When the rapper R.A. the Rugged Man was on radio to promote his new album a couple of weeks ago he started talking about boxing. The people in the studio discussed some of America’s biggest names in boxing, and when they came to Floyd Mayweather, R.A said something that most boxing fans already know: Mayweather is a talented fighter but no longer challenges himself against the toughest competition. Nowadays he just looks for easy wins.
Guess what happened. Taking some time off playing casino games in Las Vegas, Mayweather decided to call up the radio station to take on R.A in a
verbal fight.
R.A won on knock out after two rounds.
Rugged Man vs. Mayweather Round 1
Rugged Man vs. Mayweather Round 2
June 16, 2009
If you have never heard Scott Ferrall on Howard 101, you really need to take advantage of an uncensored take on sports. In my mind, the comments and vulgarity make it the best sports talk show on radio. He is a huge Pittsburgh fan however which may turn some people off to his antics but just listen to this and think that he rooting for your team and he will become a revolutionary in sports radio.
▶ June 16, 2009
Here is one video that I found on Huffington Post that has yet to be taken off of youtube. In true Artie fashion, after Buck mentions that TMZ is his favorite website, he asked if his second favortie was suckingcock.com. The man is a legend and would be perfect taking over as host of the Sports Soup cause that guy makes the show actually suck cock. Also, check out the OT part of the show where it really gets ugly and the shit hits the fan when Artie starts talking about jizz.
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▶ May 26, 2009
A staple from the online video scene for a while now recently went to a Bulls game and proved himself once again. Here are parts 1 and 2 from Mr. Chi City’s experience with floor seats, definitely make sure you check out when he just rips Starbury during the pregame warmups about that head tattoo that makes Steve-O’s tattoo artist look like a modern day Van Gogh or some shit.
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▶ May 20, 2009
This comes from Chad Ford’s latest mock draft and had to be the easiest speculation that he has ever made. Here is the rundown of how the Utah Jazz fill their roster.
1. Look for whitest American (ex. Matt Harpring)
2. Find white Foreigner (ex. Mehmet Okur, AK47)
3. Find black guy who went to a good school (ex. Brevin Knight, Carlos Boozer)
4. Look for best players (ex. Deron Williams)
I also think it’s hilarious how Ford tries to gloss over these facts in his “analysis”
May 13, 2009
This film by Todd Phillips, the guy who brought you Old School and Road Trip, comes the next great buddy comedy called The Hangover. I’m just glad Tyson was in it so I had the smallest bit of reason to post this.
▶ May 11, 2009
In watching Howard TV that last few days, there has been a lot of conversation regarding Gary throwing out the first pitch at a Mets game. Well, it happened this Sunday and the talk he had with a sports psychologist obviously didn’t do the trick. Stay tuned as I try to find a nice little story about Bob Uecker from Howard TV.
▶ May 10, 2009
David Feherty, the Irishman golf commentator for CBS dropped this bomb in a magzine article. He had this to say in a discussion centered on former President Bush moving to Feherty place of residence, Dallas, “From my own experience visiting the troops in the Middle East … despite how the conflict has been portrayed …, if you gave any U.S. soldier a gun with two bullets in it, and he found himself in an elevator with Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Osama bin Laden, there’s a good chance that Nancy Pelosi would get shot twice, and Harry Reid and bin Laden would be strangled to death.” He eventually apologized for the comment, but man, I can’t wait to see him go head to head with one of those political talking heads. Classic television would clearly ensue.
May 4, 2009
This interview with Erin Andrews truly shows how much better Miss Kolber truly is. EA is talking about crying during Sleepless in Seattle and reading TMZ, while if this same interview was done with Suzy I feel the answers would be a little bit different. I could see Kolber reading WithLeather and only admit to crying after she sees a perfectly executed sweep block from the left guard. This might sound a little dykey on Kolber’s part or gay on my part, but I just don’t want to be stuck talking about who Perez Hilton thinks is going to be next to come out of the closet which is almost assured after hearing the thoughts of Andrews. Oh and I could guess Suzy’s dream date, he’s commonly known as The Second Coming.
April 22, 2009
This comes from Collegehumor and is classic.
Sports are much different in college than they were in high school. In high school sports were all about school spirit, competition, and winning. In college sports are about trying to impress other people and having something to talk about to strangers at parties. This is why you must be very careful about which sports you play on the weekends. Here is what you are saying when you pick your sport in college.
April 13, 2009
I just came back from the bar so, enough said. However, you can only imagine the amount of beer that she is going to make unsuspected college co-eds drink when she comes to America for a real education. Hopefully, her ping pong skills will not lead to a life of gambling, sex and alcohol. Man, I can’t wait for the next John Daly.
April 9, 2009
Taking a page out of Major League, a high school baseball team in Tampa recently killed a snake and buried on their field to hopefully turn around their season. The coach of the team was present and has since been removed from his position.The greatest thing would be if PETA started showing up at this team’s games living their new slogan, I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur. 
March 30, 2009
My personal friends over at FATAWESOME have ventured into the sports world with their videos. Start protecting your manhood, because they will soon castrate the entire sports community.
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Right now...
- The History Of Online Poker
- Is playing in online casinos becoming a socially acceptable activity?
- Mayweather knocked out
- Scott Ferrall Shakes It Up
- Artie Lange Goes Off On Joe Buck Live
Links
- Blast Magazine - The Online Magazine
- Off the Record Sports - With Micah Warren
- PRrag: All the news that’s fit to spin - John Guilfoil
- Right In My Mouth Radio - Believe the Hype
- TIGG on Ballhype - Ballhype
- TIGG on Twitter - Twitter
- Was He On MTV’s True Life - BetUS.com
