Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006 | 8:47 a.m.
Jeff Haney's sports betting column appears Monday, Friday (gaming) and Wednesday (poker). Reach him at (702) 259-4041 or [email protected].
If you come across a poker game filled with major league baseball players, try to snag a seat.
Or at least put your initials on the waiting list.
It could pay off.
So says Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Cory Lidle, who knows a little something about the poker-playing habits of his baseball brethren.
"A table full of baseball players would be a very inviting table to sit at," said Lidle, who will host a celebrity poker tournament this weekend at the Palms. "They like poker, they have a lot of money, and they think they're much better than they really are."
Lidle, heading into his 10th season as a major league pitcher, began playing poker avidly three years ago -- "I caught the poker bug," he said -- and decided to model his poker tournament on the charity golf events many pro athletes organize.
The first Cory Lidle Celebrity Poker Tournament was held last year, and a portion of the proceeds from this weekend's event will again benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
More than 100 of the 180 seats for the tournament have been sold, with registration still open for the remainder. The $1,200 buy-in includes a cocktail reception at Ghostbar. The no-limit Texas hold 'em tournament begins at noon Saturday.
Each table of 10 players will include at least one athlete or celebrity.
Among those scheduled to play are Jermaine Dye (Chicago White Sox), Jason Giambi (New York Yankees), David Wells (Boston Red Sox), Eric Chavez (Oakland Athletics), Adam Dunn (Cincinnati Reds), Mike Lieberthal (Phillies), Jimmy Rollins (Phillies), Randy Wolf (Phillies) and Bret Saberhagen (two-time Cy Young Award winner).
Poker pro Thomas "Thunder" Keller, who won the $5,000 buy-in, no-limit hold 'em event in the 2004 World Series of Poker, also will compete in the tournament.
With the possible exception of Keller, Lidle makes himself a favorite in the field.
"I would describe the level of (poker) play of baseball players as well below average," said Lidle, whose other claim to fame is that he's a descendant of Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steamboat.
"There are some who are good, but I play a lot more than most of them. I understand the game; I understand how the numbers work. I don't always make the right decision, but I'm better than most of the guys I play against."
Like a lot of pro athletes, Lidle enjoys the action Las Vegas offers. But he's not so sure the city is ready for a major league team of its own.
"I know they're seriously talking about it, and I'd like to see it," said Lidle, who was 13-11 with a 4.53 ERA last season. "But when it comes down to it, I don't know if the city can support a (major league) baseball team.
"There are plenty of people in the city on any given day, but most of them are there for gambling, not to go see a baseball game."
Lidle compared the situation in Las Vegas to the one the Tampa Bay Devil Rays grapple with in Florida. Much of the team's supposed fan base consists of snowbirds with roots -- and rooting interests -- in colder climes.
"It seems like the only time that stadium gets filled up is when a team from New York comes in," Lidle said. And that's because of expat Yankees fans rather than Devil Rays loyalists, he pointed out.
Not long after his poker tournament winds up, Lidle will prepare for spring training in Clearwater, Fla., with a Phillies ballclub that has a revamped look after some offseason moves under new general manager Pat Gillick.
Philadelphia lost ace closer Billy Wagner, who signed a $43 million contract with the New York Mets as a free agent, replacing him with free agent Tom Gordon. The Phils traded veteran Jim Thome to the White Sox for Las Vegas resident Aaron Rowand, making more room in the lineup for rookie of the year Ryan Howard.
"Unfortunately we didn't get Billy Wagner back, but we got a great closer in Gordon. No one liked to see Thome go, but we have a great replacement in Howard," Lidle, 33, said. "Gillick has made a couple of big moves. We're definitely going to be competitive."
archive
