By Sharla Allard/ Correspondent

Martha Stewart was released from prison today after serving 5 months.

The Poker Web exclusive has talked with inmate Sandy 'The River Bitch' Waldsgamburg who apparently was up and personal with Martha Stewart here at the federal prison for women in Alderson, W.Va. Our interview starts in the visitors hall where I your favorite exclusive reporter Mo Kings awaits Sandy Waldsgamburg the lady who has answered our ad for an exclusive interview with poker playing ladies who roughed it in prison with Martha Stewart. As our interview begins we point out that this is the oldest womans prison in America it has housed many famous inmates such as Billie Holiday and would be presidental assassins. Weather outside 16 degrees.

Mo: Sandy, I have to ask how did you get your nick name 'the River Bitch'?

Sandy: Well my real home is by the Miami River and one dayz i waz axked that i should F#%#$@ some guy and I sayz yes but when i got...

Mo: Heyy! look at the time and we really have to get going on this interview about Martha so let us begin...

Mo: Hey Sandy ever share quality time with Martha?

Sandy: I is sure we had quality time t'ether. I'z means thats after 5 long months of hard time ya know? Its a shame what theyzz done to that ole girl.

Mo: Did Martha ever admit her guilt behind bars to you.

Sandy: Now why you go an axks me that? You know i'z tell you no- ting. Martha was wrong-ed by the f*%#%@ prosecutors faults. That's what they did to me, you know when i was being arrested by the feds, they planted all that kid por-----------------on my Ass! And ---

Mo: Hey There big girl, let's stay on track with Martha. We can do your story after this one. Is that ok?

Sandy: Ok for now but i still Knows the prosecutors did me wrong also.

Mo: Do you play poker in federal prison Sandy?

Sandy: What? You muszz be Crazyy! Corse wez do. Man you talk'n to the Baddest and Meanest Bitch on the River. And don't look at me like that punk.

Mo: who me?

Sandy: Yez you?

Mo: What did I do?

Sandy: Woow sorry Mo i just had a fed flashy backy, nothing waz just my mind think'n crazy, prison does that sometimes. Listen poker is very very big in prison. We stays up late in the joint play'n that new crazy game' Texas Hang'em.

Mo: Don't you mean Hold'em?

Sandy: Naw I meanz hang'em. It's like hold'em xcept when you get to the river and you lose we possey Ass your Ass and Hang you over the rafters with a noose for 15 secs. One time we waz...

Mo: Possey Ass your Ass? I don't think we need that much detail Sandy, but that does add a different twist to the game though.

Sandy: Ahuh Ahuh Ahuh Ahuh, I gots you didn't I? You Realyz thinks we play like that? Ahuh Ahuh Ahuh Ahuh(Sandy's laugh). Come on we love the game of Poke Her in prison. I mean Poker. Ahuh Ahuh Ahuh Ahuh.

That laugh really got to me your roving reporter, at this stage of the interview Sandy was really looking at me crossed eyed.

Mo: Sandy how did you and Martha meet?

Sandy: Wellz one night we was play'n poker and she was in the 5-10 game we'd started up. I was hold'en pocket A's and I had noticed this whitey chick just hold'n on to her cards you know like a girl. It was mak';n me sick. So i go in and check the first hand and then it comes to Martha and she raises me. I look at her Crazy like 'Bitch' im the only Bitch on the cell block and you ain't know'n wha cha do'n. So iZ callz her. Then comes the flop an 8,J,2 everybody folds except Martha who raises 2 packs marlboro's reds my favorites! I callz and let her go, I knowz she's bluff'n me. Can you believe it, me?? The Baddest Bluffenest Bitch on the block.

Mo: No i can'ts believe it, wait now i'm talk'n like her. I mean no i can't believe it?

Sandy: Any ways i'm a wantn those reds and that night i feeln luckyz. So next comes the flop it's another J. Iz think it was of hearts, Damn i just love hearts. Hey Guy you love hearts as much as I do'z?

Mo: You talk'n to me?

Sandy: Whyz yes who else? listen man you got about 15 min after the intervie----

Mo: Wowww Sandy that seems very excititng however let's finish the story.

Sandy: Ahuh Ahuh Ahuh Ahuh, Gots youz again! Ahuh Ahuh Ahuh Ahuh!

That laugh again.

Sandy: Ok anyways Now Iz hold'n two pair and i knowz i has her beat, We bet again i raised this time 2 more packs of Marlboros Red! I wasz lovn' life. Then came the River. it was a 4 of spades. When i's start jump'm up and down, Iz reach for the pot when all of a sudden i hear Martha says

'Take Your Hands off my Winnings Bitch', then she throws down her cards she had poket 4's, 'I do believe i have you beat'! My mouth just dropped.

Mo: You must of wanted to kill???

Sandy: Yes i did, but Martha kindly gave me all the cigarettes. she said 'here you go honey, i don't smoke and smoking is bad for your health but River Bitch i just think your cool'. And that's how we b'came friends. She taught me how to focus my anger by crocheing, and teaching me how i could become independant from any Man Bitch around. Get the picture?

Mo: I think i do. One thing puzzles me though before we set up the interview you told me you where an experienced poker player?

Sandy: I be.

Mo: Then why'd you tell me the second flop dropped a 'J'

Sandy: Its did!

Mo: Listen here 'River Bitch', any experienced poker player knows the second drop is called 'the turn' so where do you get off.

Sandy: Wait?

Mo: Wait wait for what? Your pulling my leg aren't you?

Sandy: No it's not like that, I just..

Mo: Oh my God, This is fake isn't it? You never met Martha Stewart? You brought me down here to Alderson, W.Va Federal Woman's Prison for what?

Sandy: I was lonely, i Needed to talk to a Man, be with a man. A poke Her Man. I mean your ad did ask for someone with poke her experience. didn't it?

Mo: a Poke Her Man what are you nuts? Poker the card game, Texas hold'em etc. You know what this interview is over River Bitch.

Sandy: No wait you did say something about 15min.

Mo: Auggggggg I'm Out interview End Now! Guards let me out of here!

As it turns out our interview with Sandy 'The River Bitch' Waldgamburg was a total flake, a bluff. Hope you learned our tell. For all in good faith we wish the best for Martha Stewart and all poker players around the world whether free or behind bars we love you all. Take care from Beautiful Costa Rica. This is Mo Kings out for the day. Keep coming back we love to have you keep coming back.

ESPN today announced ESPN Poker Club, a multi-faceted poker initiative that will reach across many divisions of the Worldwide Leader In Sports, including ESPN.com, ESPN Wireless, ESPN Books and ESPN Enterprises, the company's brand extension and new business development arm. The initiative kicks off today with the new ESPN Poker Club on ESPN.com, which includes the site's new free online poker game. The first 11 weeks of play on ESPN.com will be exclusively devoted to the Degree(R) All-In Poker Challenge, with the tournament winner earning a seat in the Harrah's 2005 World Series of Poker courtesy of Degree(R). In coming months the initiative will also launch a wireless poker game; a poker-related book from ESPN Books by syndicated poker columnist Steve Rosenbloom; DVD's of the 2004 World Series of Poker and the ESPN Original Entertainment series TILT; and a line of high-end poker-related consumer products.

Beginning today, poker fans will find an entire section of ESPN.com dedicated to the game they love - including a free online poker game for users over the age of 18. Created by game developer Micropower, the game allows poker aficionados of every skill level to choose from six different games: Texas Hold'Em, 7 Card Stud, 7 Card Hi/Lo, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo and 5 Card Stud. After an initial software download, ESPN.com users can compete against other ESPN Poker Club players at online poker tables in single- and multi-table tournaments.

In addition, ESPN Poker Club on ESPN.com will feature a robust collection of editorial content including "How To Play" information on each of the games offered, tips for playing winning poker, answers to frequently asked poker questions, and exclusive columns from ESPN's "Jackpot" Jay Lovinger, poker guru Phil Gordon and more.

The 11-week Degree(R) All-In Poker Challenge on ESPN.com is a series of weekly qualifying tournaments that lead to a final 500-player tournament in May, with the winner earning a seat in the Harrah's 2005 World Series of Poker courtesy of Degree(R). The Degree(R) All-In Poker Challenge is the only completely free way online to earn a seat in the Harrah's 2005 World Series of Poker.

Each Sunday at 2 p.m. ET for 10 weeks, ESPN.com will hold a Sunday Qualifying Tournament for the Degree(R) All-In Poker Challenge that will include all players that qualified in the week prior. The top 50 players each Sunday will earn a seat in the Finals tournament beginning May 15 at 2 p.m. ET. The winner of the Finals tournament will earn the seat in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas in June.

Each week, players will have four ways to earn a spot into the weekly Sunday Qualifying tournament:

• Play 750 hands during the week from any combination of the games offered
  
• Win five single-table tournaments (10 players, available at any time)
  
• Win one multi-table tournament (30 players, start every 20 minutes)
  
• Finish high enough in the rankings of a Big Play tournament (one per day, 8 p.m. ET )*

In order to play in the Degree(R) All-In Poker Challenge fans must be 21 years old, download the ESPN.com online poker game and register a player profile. All players will begin with 1000 points worth of chips, and will be eligible to get more chips twice each day.

The new PokerTrails.com website, featuring news, tournament coverage, and poker-related articles promises to be a permanent place for poker enthusiasts to find poker tournament coverage.

With the help of a World Champion, as well as a lot of up-and-coming poker professionals, PokerTrails.com will cover the tournament poker circuit all year. Along the way, PokerTrails will feature some of the best poker-related news, articles, gossip, and coverage of online poker on the Internet.

'We plan on covering poker tournaments and everything else about poker in ways people haven't done before,' said Brett Jungblut, CEO of PokerTrails.com 'We want to be the one-stop on the web for poker information.'

Featuring live tournament coverage by Jon Eaton, who recently covered the World Poker Open, PokerTrails will be covering almost every major tournament stop this year, including extensive World Series Of Poker Coverage.

The site will also host the PokerTrails Player Of The Year rankings. 'The idea is to present the first and only award for the best overall online player,' Eaton said. 'No one else has a rankings system for it, so we want to be the first to jump into that area.'

Big News Network.com (UPI)

Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown host Phil Gordon is preparing to defend his world poker title.

Gordon made a fortune by age 26 as a computer programmer, traveled the world, then turned to his passion -- becoming a professional poker player, the San Jose Mercury News reported Tuesday.

Five years ago, people would laugh at such a description. But today, Gordon hosts Bravo's third highest rated program and has become a celebrity in his own right. He is credited with a nationwide rise in the popularity of poker.

His Bravo show begins its new season Tuesday night and Gordon travels to San Jose Monday to defend his title in the World Poker Tour Shooting Star Tournament.

Gordon told the Mercury News the thought processes in computer programming and playing poker are the same.

It takes an analytical mind, Gordon told the newspaper. If you can apply an algorithm to figuring out the technology of your opponents, you're one step up.

HOW SILICON VALLEY TECHIE BECAME GAME'S 'AMBASSADOR'

By Mark Emmons
Mercury New

Phil Gordon knows the exact moment he became a poker player. It was 1 a.m. on a Wednesday in 1991 at San Jose's Garden City Casino.

He had just arrived in Silicon Valley from his home in Georgia, and was stunned to learn that card clubs such as Garden City were legal in California.

By 6 a.m., he was broke.

"I maxed out my ATM card," Gordon said. "But it was a good investment."

As the poker craze sweeps the country, Gordon has become one of its most visible faces as the expert host on Bravo's "Celebrity Poker Showdown." He got in -- or, as they say in poker, all in -- this pop culture fad on the ground floor in the late 1990s, becoming a top-flight player who has an estimated $1.2 million in tournament winnings.

But that windfall only came after Gordon made a bundle as a Silicon Valley software programmer who retired at 26, first to travel the globe, then to pursue his passion at the poker table.

"I've been extraordinarily lucky," Gordon said. "I couldn't have had better timing when I moved to California. Once I stopped doing the high-tech thing and got done backpacking around the world, it was just in time for the World Poker Tour to start up."

But Gordon also has made his own luck by playing his cards right.

Monday he'll be back in the city where he first decided to take cards seriously as he defends his World Poker Tour Shooting Star Tournament title at the Bay 101 card club. He left last year's event with the $360,000 top prize.

Tonight also marks the debut of the current season's championship of "Celebrity Poker Showdown" -- a program that has made Gordon, 34, a minor star.

"He's the goodwill ambassador of poker," said actor Josh Malina, a producer of the Bravo show.

HOW SILICON VALLEY TECHIE BECAME GAME'S 'AMBASSADOR'

By Mark Emmons
Mercury New

From tech to tables

Gordon has come a long way from being just another whip-smart techie -- he's now recognized wherever he goes. At the same time, his skills translated well to poker, which might explain why a number of top players -- such as Paul Phillips and Barry Greenstein -- have their roots in Silicon Valley.

"The thought processes that make you a good programmer can also make you a good poker player," Gordon said. "It takes an analytical mind. If you can apply an algorithm to figuring out the technology of your opponents, you're one step up."

Let's just say that for Gordon, and those like him, poker is not just a game.

He first learned it as a boy from his great-aunt Lib, who taught him a game called Whores, Fours and One-eyed Jacks. But it was in Silicon Valley that his interest turned into a passion. Gordon took part in a weekly home game hosted by a fellow high-tech worker he met at Garden City, Rafe Furst.

A bright guy who skipped two years of high school before attending Georgia Tech to study computer science, Gordon did artificial intelligence research at Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. in one of his first jobs. Even then, Gordon was thinking about turning the poker thing into a full-time gig. But Jim McGuire, who helped hire Gordon at Lockheed, persuaded him to join a start-up he was co-founding: Netsys Technologies, which would design a network debugging tool.

"The idea that a start-up was a gamble appealed to him," McGuire said. "But we always knew that high tech was just a means to an end for him."

Gordon said he was "chained to my desk for four solid years writing software." It paid off. Cisco Systems bought Netsys in 1996. Gordon stayed with Cisco for a few months before deciding he had enough money.

He declines to say exactly how much because he doesn't want to sound like he's flaunting it, although Gordon said he made more in high tech than he has at the poker table.

"But I'm rapidly closing in with tournament winnings," Gordon added.

HOW SILICON VALLEY TECHIE BECAME GAME'S 'AMBASSADOR'

By Mark Emmons
Mercury New

New frontier

He spent a few years traveling the world -- doing stuff, according to his Web site, like diving with sharks, tracking gorillas and dodging kangaroos -- before getting serious about poker.

Gordon made a splash in the poker world by finishing fourth at the 2001 World Series of Poker title event. A year later, the day he won a World Poker Tour event, Lib died of cancer -- which is why Gordon encourages players to donate a percentage of their winnings to cancer research.

Just as he was becoming a notable player, the poker boom began. While Sin City's slogan is "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," poker left town years ago, shuffling its way across the country and the Internet.

Some might add that it has spread like a plague. Experts caution that the poker rage is swelling the ranks of compulsive gamblers as well as hooking minors.

Less controversial is a spike in poker-related accessories, furniture and ratings. Poker is successful reality TV, as well.

Gordon's participation in the Bravo program was another stroke of good fortune. He met actor Hank Azaria, who has been hosting a home game for Hollywood friends for years. Azaria put him in touch with his poker cronies Malina and Andrew Hill Newman, who were hatching an idea about a poker program with celebrities. They wanted to know if Gordon was interested.

Gordon's eager reaction: How much do I have to pay?

"It's surreal watching my friend become a star," Furst said. "Seeing him spoofed on `Saturday Night Live' was just weird."

The show features actors -- some A-list, more B-list -- and sports figures such as Ray Romano, Heather Graham and Curt Schilling playing no-limit Texas hold 'em -- the current poker game of choice.

The idea of watching poker on TV might not sound riveting. But new technology -- tiny "lipstick cameras" that allow viewers to see the players' hidden cards -- makes it strangely captivating.

"Celebrity Poker Showdown" has the third-highest ratings of any Bravo program, and it outdraws the shows that feature real pros.

"You can't watch our show for good poker," said Gordon, who is single and lives in Las Vegas. "People tune in to watch the celebrities and hopefully get hooked on the poker."

HOW SILICON VALLEY TECHIE BECAME GAME'S 'AMBASSADOR'

By Mark Emmons
Mercury New

Expert analysis

Gordon, who is 6-foot-9, concedes he was lousy in front of the camera at first. But now he seems comfortable. As comedian co-host Dave Foley dishes one-liners, the affable Gordon provides an air of legitimacy with his poker knowledge.

He also offers a subtle refutation to the idea that top players are seedy characters. He acts like what he was -- a programmer.

Brandi Chastain, the San Jose soccer star who appeared on the show this season, believes Gordon's calm nature might be a key to his poker success.

"I think part of the difficulty players have in reading Phil is that he is genuinely laid-back," Chastain said in an e-mail. "The anxiety or excitement of the situation isn't apparent with him. So he uses that to his advantage."

Gordon makes no claims of being the best poker player around -- he ranks himself in the top 100. But Gordon, who has a book out called "Poker: The Real Deal," believes he's a good teacher. That skill comes in handy on the TV show, Malina said. Not only do viewers learn about the game, but so do the celebrities, because Gordon works with them before the program is taped.

"He's a major factor in the success of the show," said Malina, whose credits include "The West Wing." "If you read the message boards online, people love him -- women in particular. Phil has his own legion of fans."

Five years ago, people laughed when Gordon described himself as a professional poker player. Not anymore.

"I had good times in Silicon Valley," he said. "But I'm so glad I'm not a computer programmer anymore."

He's going to keep playing this hot hand.

While many telecasts and organizations thought he might slip or taint the well famed awards it was rather nice to see an added spice to the pagantry. Clint Eastwood won for best director and best picture. His picture with those 2 oscars seemed a picture for a pocket ace hand.

Our congratulations to the winners. Complete Academy Award Listings.

Picture: "Million Dollar Baby."

Actor: Jamie Foxx, "Ray."

Actress: Hilary Swank, "Million Dollar Baby."

Supporting Actor: Morgan Freeman, "Million Dollar Baby."

Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, "The Aviator."

Director: Clint Eastwood, "Million Dollar Baby."

Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, "Sideways."

Original Screenplay: Charlie Kaufman, Michel Gondry and Pierre Bismuth, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."

Art Direction: "The Aviator."

Cinematography: "The Aviator."

Film Editing: "The Aviator."

Visual Effects: "Spider-Man 2."

Sound Mixing: "Ray."

Sound Editing: "The Incredibles."

Original Score: "Finding Neverland."

Original Song: "Al Otro Lado Del Rio" from "The Motorcycle Diaries."

Costume: "The Aviator."

Makeup: "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events."

Foreign Film: "The Sea Inside" (Spain).

Animated Feature: "The Incredibles."

Animated Short: "Ryan."

Documentary Feature: "Born Into Brothels."

Documentary Short: "Mighty Times: The Children's March."

Live Action Short: "Wasp."

Oscar winners previously announced this year:

Honorary Academy Award: Sidney Lumet.

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: Roger Mayer.

Gordon E. Sawyer Award (technical achievement): Takuo Miyagishima.

Scientific and Technical Oscars: Horst Burbulla, Jean-Marie Lavalou, Alain Masseron and David Samuelson.

Final note. If your watching the awards please make sure you schedule a poker hand in between commercials. Hope your favorite won and as 'Dirty Harry' use to say 'Go ahead, Make my Day'!

February 28, 2005
The best URL for an online poker school is now available for purchase. The auction started on eBay Friday, February 25th, and will remain at auction for 10 days.

(PRWEB) -- The online auction can be viewed here http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46687&item=3877626741&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
The URL has long been used as the top affiliate for PokerSchoolOnline.Com. Over the years thousands upon thousands of poker scholars have come through these portals in search of a safe harbor to learn a tough game.

There is no better virtual real estate for an internet-based poker school, and with its history and type in value, it would be like a 2 year head start for an entry level company. It is the only type-in url of its kind.

If the sale goes through, it is unlikely that this opportunity will ever present itself again. Escrow services will be provided by Escrow.Com, a trusted and established leader in online transactions. Interested parties are encouraged to visit www.pokerschool.com for further information, and to review more in-detail information.

Note: PokerSchool.Com is an affiliate of PokerSchoolOnline.Com, they are entirely separate, and the sale of PokerSchool.Com will in no way affect membership or practices of PokerSchoolOnline.Com past, present, or future!

February 28, 2005

The Ongoing Debate Will be Settled ... The World's Finest Poker Players Call Each Other's Bluff's and Aim to Prove Who is the More Skilled Gender...Monday February 28, 6:00 am ET

SANTA MONICA, Calif., /PRNewswire/ -- The name calling has been done, sarcastic punches thrown, and the men have won every single previous match in the series -- it all comes down to the final table of six players in GSN's POKER ROYALE: BATTLE OF THE SEXES where on Friday, March 4 at 9:00PM ET/PT one gender will prove once and for all who is better skilled at No Limit Texas Hold'Em. Will the men blitz the women, or can the ladies strut their stuff and walk away with the title of the stronger gender and a cash prize of $130,000?

The men took the $10,000 pot in all of the previous six episodes. Now based on their performance in those episodes, the top three point leaders for the men and women will face off for the championship. The players who earned those spots are Kathy Liebert, Evelyn Ng, Karina Jett, Antonio Esfandiari, Layne Flack and Amir Vahedi.

According to Liebert, "Men think women can't play poker! Well, they're going to discover that under-estimating women is a big mistake. The male ego is going to be their downfall." She continues, "These guys think women are easy to read but we women know how to deceive them and they will fall right into our web. The guys are going down."

Layne Flack says, "If poker relates to anything like it does in life, then I am sure the women will beat us down far enough to where they may pull into the lead once in a while."

POKER ROYALE: BATTLE OF THE SEXES is hosted by radio personality Tom Leykis, along with co-host Kennedy, and color commentator and poker pro, Robert Williamson III. The previous six episodes winners include: Amir Vahedi, Antonio Esfandiari, Layne Flack, Paul Wolfe, Amir Vahedi (again) and Greg Raymer.

GSN, the Network for Games, is the only U.S. television network dedicated to game-related programming and interactive game playing. The network features game shows, reality series, light sports, documentaries and casino games. GSN is the industry leader in interactivity and as such allows viewers a chance to win prizes by playing along with GSN's televised games via GSN.com. Reaching 56 million Nielsen homes, GSN is distributed in the U.S. through all major cable systems and satellite providers. The network is jointly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Media Corporation. For further media information, visit GSN's press website at corp.gsn.com.

Source: GSN