Commentary

The buzz

By Times staff writers
Published February 27, 2005

OVERRATED

Collective bargaining agreements

RPI rankings

Gary Player

The medium-range jump shot

1. Wants to be called Fred instead of Melissa.

2. Bench presses sister 100 times every night before bed.

3. Spends more money on Clearasil than car insurance.

4. Caught looking for toupees online.

5. Wears wristband with inscription What Would Jose Do?

Steve Shannon, coach of the United Hockey League's Motor City Mechanics, has been suspended without pay for the season for offering his players a $200 bounty to take out an opposing player on the ice. ... A man who ran onto a soccer field in the United Kingdom and break-danced naked was banned from matches for three years. He attended the game with his girlfriend's boss. Make that ex-girlfriend. Yep, she dumped him.

Among the myriad signs that poker is a big deal today is the success of Super System, Doyle Brunson's 1978 book widely considered the Bible of the game. When it was first published, the cover price was $100 and copies were scarce.

Now, it's a mainstay on the amazon.com top 100 sales list and if you call a local bookstore asking for it, they'll know exactly what you're talking about, as if you were ordering The DaVinci Code.

But as unique as the original was, there was no way a sequel could match it. But, of course Brunson tried, since the book was guaranteed to make a fortune in today's poker market. But recreational players, especially those cramming local card rooms for $2 Texas hold 'em and no-limit tournaments, would be better served to save their $34.95.

Like the original, Super System 2 is a collection of advice from top pros on various games, but variety is not the spice of today's poker, like it or not. Chapters on seven-card stud high-low split eight-or-better (that's one game!), triple draw and pot-limit Omaha make this an incredibly comprehensive volume, but do you play any of those games? You won't find them at Derby Lane.

Brunson's own advice on no-limit hold 'em (starting on page 527 of this tome) is worth the time, but too many other parts miss the mark.

Times staff writers Rick Stroud, Keith Niebuhr and John Schwarb compiled this report, which used information from other news organizations.

[Last modified February 27, 2005, 06:41:54]