Love Nuke

Here’s time for yet another helping of  Hollywood News to keep you abreast of the latest in show-biz. In entertainment news, several A-list actors and directors  have been lining up a bevy of upcoming projects. Enough, suffice it to say, to keep them busy and us fans in anticipation.

Hollywood News Update: Catherina Zeta Jones Coming Back with a Boom

After a long absence from the celluloid, it looks like Catherine Zeta Jones intends to make up for that by the sheer weight of numbers. Piggybacking on the the word of her comeback is the news that she already has four projects lined up, and possibly more in the pipeline. Three of these are already in the post-production stage: Adam Shankman’s Rock of Ages oppsite Tom Cruise, romantic comedy Playing the Field with Gerard Butler and Stephen Frear’s Lay the Favorite co-starring Bruce Willis.

Now, she’s in talks to star in the Allen Hughes crime thriller Broken City that already includes Mark Wahlberg and Russel Crowe in the cast. Sketchy details about the plot-line reveal that the film follows an ex-cop (Wahlberg) in a good guy on the run story in the Chinatown mould.

Steven Soderbergh’s Twin Labors of Love Shaping Up

Director Steven Soderbergh’s HBO project, Behind the Candelabra, based on the life of legendary pianist Liberace and his  relationship with lover Scott Torson. Michael Douglas and Matt Damon have been roped in for the roles of Liberace and Torson, respectively.

In the meanwhile, another ambitious project of Soderbergh’s, the film version of the 60s espionage based TV show The Man from U.N.C.L.E., has recovered from the setback of losing its leading man. Soderbergh had intended for this movie to be the platform to reunite him with George Clooney; the actor, however, had to drop out of the project just prior to commencement of shooting. The reason for this, as has been reported in various film rags, is the reemergence of the back injury that Clooney had suffered on the sets of Syriana. Hollywood news has it that The Hangover actor Bradley Cooper is now being considered for the lead role of Napoleon Solo, past candidates for which include Johnny Depp and Matt Damon among others.

It is noteworthy that along with Magic Mike, these two films are the list three Soderbergh would be involved in. The man himself has already announced his intentions of retiring from film direction to pursue his interest in painting.

Hollywood News: Matt Damon’s Directorial Debut

Matt Damon, who’s often in Hollywood news for his love of poker as much as for his acting prowess, is all set to graduate to a stint behind the megaphone with the crime drama Father Daughter Time: A Tale of Armed Robbery and Eskimo Kisses. This newly announced Warner Bros. production is scheduled for a 2013 release. Damon has also co-written another unnamed Warner Bros. project with John Krasinski and Dave Eggers; Hollywood News has it that Damon is supposed to direct this drama film as well. After engaging us with diverse roles which included the quasi-Bond character Jason Bourne, it looks like the talented Mr. Ripley is all set to break out another facet of his talent.

That’s all for now, stay tuned to this entertainment news blog for the latest celebrity gossip and Hollywood news updates.

Hello and welcome to yet another update as we bring you the latest celebrity gossip and news from the world of entertainment.

Kutcher’s Hotel Fling, Sara Leal, Spills All in Exclusive Celebrity Gossip Interview

Starting with the juicier gossip: Sara Leal, the hitherto unknown 22-year-old whose only claimed to fame is her self-alleged affair with Ashton Kutcher, has spoken at length about the affair in her first interview with US Weekly. Leal has reportedly stated that Kutcher claimed to be separated from his wife, actress Demi Moore, when he entered the affair with Leal.

Leal’s rather detailed and sordid revelations have made her the darling of celebrity gossip paparazzi. Leal claims that he told a group of women, including herself, at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego, where they met. What makes Leal’s account more damning is her revelation that the ‘cheating’ took place on September 24^th, Kutcher and Moore’s sixth wedding anniversary, followed by the subsequent fling.

While  gossip rags have been quick to pounce on these revelations, making an instant celebrity out of 22-year old Leal, it is quite plain that her revelations will only harm all involved parties: Kutcher, Moore, and in the longer run, herself.

Celebrity Gossip: Diddy Saves Harlem Boys & Girls Club with Emergency Donation

Moving from salacious gossip to more heartwarming news, Sean “Diddy” Combs has recently come to the rescue of The Boys & Girls Club of Harlem, which was facing closure due to a cash crunch. As reported by some celebrity gossip papers, Combs donated $60,000 to the club.

Comb’s contribution would go a long way in directly benefiting underprivileged youth in the Harlem area, predominantly populated by those of African-American and Hispanic ethnicity. The club carries out educational recreational and social enrichment programs, which shall now resume after being interrupted due to the club’s financial difficulties.

Pressed for comment by some celebrity gossip publications, Diddy simply expressed his willingness to help, owing to past familiarity with the club: Diddy hails from Harlem himself.

Bravo Backs Bethenny Frankel’s Lost at Sea Story

Bethany Frankel, creator of “SkinnyGirl” and ex-New York Real Housewife, was recently subjected to rather scathing write-ups by celebrity gossip rags over the validity of her reported 20-hour ordeal of being stranded at sea. However, Bravo has jumped to her defense, reportedly confirming the story.

“It is accurate that Bethenny, Jason and their therapist were stranded at sea when the navigation on their boat broke during a taping for the new season of Bethenny Ever After,” a Bravo spokesperson said in a statement.

Frankel said she and husband, Jason, were lost at sea after the GPS on their boat malfunctioned. They had to wait 20 hours for the Coast Guard to come save them. However, one of the men who helped rescue them told some celebrity gosip publications that Frankel and her husband were fine. He claims it was staged for her reality show.

Keep reading for more celebrity gossip and entertainment news.

You know that we love to bring you the latest in entertainment news and celebrity gossip, so here’s another piece from our end. The year 2011 has just entered its last quarter, and its perhaps the right time to take a look at the actors who left a mark on 2011.

Entertainment News: Alex Pettyfer

This British youngster is fast becoming a favorite for the fantasy genre of movies, especially the ones adapted from literary sources. His film I am Number Four fared well at the B.O. even though it wasn’t very highly regarded by critics. His later release Beastly, a modern retelling of the classic fairytale Beauty and the Beast is another commercial success that was critically panned. In both of these, however, Pettyfer’s performance has been appreciated. With his third movie for the year, In Time (aka Now) lined up for a late October release, this is turning out to be quite a year for Alex Pettyfer. Not to mention that his looks have made him quite the darling of various entertainment news periodicals.

Entertainment News: Chris Hemsworth

Hemsworth was noted and widely appreciated when he played Captain Kirk’s father in the 2009 film Star Trek. His breakout role, and one which has really made him famous, didn’t come till he starred in and as Thor in 2011. A critical and commercial success, Hemsworth in Thor has also set high standards for his reprisal of the role in the highly-anticipated 2012 release The Avengers. Outside of his armor and cape superhero escapades, two of his long delayed releases, Red Dawn (remake of the 1984 film) and The Cabin in the Woods are also lined up for 2012.

Entertainment News: Anton Yelchin

Anton Yelchin has been around for quite a while, but his has been a case of slowly gradually into a finer actor as the spotlight steadily grows. Starting off as a child actor, he has finally begun to come of age as a performer. His first release of 2011, Like Crazy went on to win the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival; from then on, the year only got busier for young Yelchin. He starred in Jodie Foster’s Beaver, horror-comedy remake Fright Night, had a voice-role in the highly anticipated animated comedy Smurfs. Seeing as he’s also set to reprise his role as Pavel Chekov in the Star Trek sequel, as reported by several entertainment news publications, things can only get better from here for Anton Yelchin.

Entertainment News: Henry Cavill

Henry Cavill being cast as Superman in Zach Snyder’s Man of Steel has received a decidedly mixed reaction, from movie industry insiders and neutral observers alike. While some admired his work in The Tudors and considered him as having the right physique, there were quite a few who doubted if he could measure up to the actors who’ve donned the red cape in the past. For that matter, there were also those who’d prefer any of the other probables over Cavill to fill in the red boots. That movie, however, is not set for release till 2013. After being suitably impressed by his range of histrionic talent as seen in 2009′s Blood Creek and Whatever Works, we shall be watching out for the man in the year-end release Immortals co-starring Mickey Rourke and Freida Pinto.

So this was about the impressive actors we noted in 2011. For more entertainment news, stay tuned to this blog.

This week we’re bringing you material that is a little off the beaten celebrity gossip track. All you entertainment buffs out there already know about the recently concluded Toronto International Film Festival 2011 and its huge roster of over 200 feature films, including new works from Luc Besson, Francis Ford Copolla, Steve McQueen and Pedro Almodóvar among others.

Here’s a list of some of the must-watch titles being screened at the TIFF 2011.

Entertainment News: The Lady at TIFF 2011

The Lady is the astonishing saga of Aung San Suu Kyi and her struggle, the quest of the woman who’s at the heart of Burma‟s democracy movement, not budging from her Gandhian ideals in the face of a tyrannical junta. It also tells of her heartwarming relationship with husband Michael Aris; through the travails of distance, long separations, and the danger of being alone against a brutal regime, their love endures. Directed by the legendary Luc Besson, it is a tale of love and devotion against the backdrop of the political tumult prevalent in Burma.

Entertainment News: Machine Gun Preacher at TIFF 2011

Machine Gun Preacher is based on the inspiring true storyof Sam Childers, a former underworld figure, drug peddler and gun-runner who turns over a new leaf in the most absolute and drastic sense when he finds his calling to rescue hundreds of abducted and orphaned children in Africa. Gerard Butler  of 300 and Rocknrolla fame delivers a tour de force performance as Childers in a emotionally charged tale of violence and redemption.

Entertainment News: Winnie at TIFF 2011

Winnie portrays the life and times of Nelson Mandela’s better half Winnie Mandela: always in the spotlight, yet reticent and media-shy to the point of being mysterious. It tells a sensitive story about her life journey, the undying love between her and Nelson Mandela, and their struggles for democracy in South Africa. Winnie paints a vibrant picture of one of the world’s most remarkable women.

Entertainment News: In Darkness at TIFF 2011

In Darkness tells the true story of Leopold Socha, a sewer worker and petty thief in Nazi-occupied Lvov, Poland. Stumbling upon a group of Jews in the sewers, he agrees to hide them for a price. What starts out as a straightforward business arrangement becomes something unexpected, as they all try to outwit certain death during 14 months of intense danger. Starring Robert Wieçkiewicz and Benno Fürmann.

Entertainment News: We Need to Talk About Kevin at TIFF 2011

Based on a novel of the same name by Lionel Shriver, it is a gripping exploration of the pscychology of a teenage mass murderer, and of his mother coming to terms with the unthinkable deed done and searching for answers all the while. Directed by Lynne Ramsay and featuring a stunning performance by Tilda Swinton as Kevin’s mother, this is a movie you must watch.

These movies are but a small selection from the maelstrom of film-making and acting talent that Toronto International Film Festival offered in its 2011 edition.

We’ll keep bringing you more entertainment news and hot gossip, so watch this space.

Actor Andy Whitfield, who starred in the title role in the Roman-era period series “Spartacus,” passed away in Australia on Sunday, the 11th of September, at the age of 39.

Celebrity News: Snuffed out in his Prime

Andy Whitfield, the muscle-bound actor best remembered for playing the slave-gladiator Spartacus, lost the battle of his life to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a kind of blood cancer. The diagnosis had been confirmed in March 2010, as reported by some newspapers.

Andy Whitfield, aged 39, passed away on September 11, 2011

Andy Whitfield was born in Wales on July 17, 1972. He completed his education at the University of Sheffield, graduating with a degree in Engineering, and worked in that line for some time. In 1999, Andy Whitfield moved to Australia where he felt the calling of ashow-biz career; to that end, he attended Sydney’s Screenwise Film & TV School for Actors. Andy Whitfield went on to star in several Australian television serials, such as Opening Up, All Saints, The Strip, Packed to the Rafters and McLeod’s Daughters.
Whitfield first came to be noted for his performance in the Australian supernatural-themed movie Gabriel. His most memorable role came in the 2010 television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, shot in location in New Zealand. He played the title role of the historical figure Spartacus, a warrior forced to be a gladiator in the Roman arenas and who ultimately leads an uprising against his Roman masters (the Third Servile War).

After being diagnosed with the fatal disease last March, Whitfield underwent treatment in New Zealand; though this disrupted the production of the second season of the show, producers were quick to conceive and shoot a six-part prequel, which featured Whitfield in a brief voice-over. After an apparently successful course of treatment that led to his being declared cancer-free a few months after treatment, he suffered a relapse later in 2010 that forced him to quit the show.

His wife, Vashti, issued a statement on Sunday confirming the unfortunate demise of Andy Whitfield and thanking fans and well-wishers for the love and support that carried him through the eighteen-month long struggle with lymphoma.

Starz Network, the cable network that airs ‘Spartacus’ released a statement by CEO Chris Albrecht expressing sorrow, commending the stellar work done by Andy Whitfield and offering condolences to the bereaved family.

Andy Whitfield is survived by his wife Vashti and their two children.

For more celebrity news and gossip, keep watching this space.

Hip-hop superstar Eminem gave fans an extraordinary treat during his slot at Britain’s V Festival on Saturday night (20 Aug 11), when Rihanna joined him for a surprise duet.

Marshall Bruce Mathers III a.k.a Slim Shady a.k.a Eminem was headlining at the festival in Weston Park, Staffordshire when the Umbrella hit-maker, who played her own set on the Virgin Media Stage earlier in the evening, stepped on to the Main Stage.

Rihanna, who was wearing a black leather dress, amazed the crowd by teaming up with Eminem to sing their 2010 hit single “Love the Way You Lie”.

Earlier in his set, Eminem played some of his hits, as well as a medley of The Real Slim Shady, Without Me and My Name Is, in addition to songs, The Way I am, Stan and Cleaning Out My Closet.

Marshall Mathers has come a long way since dropping out of the 9th grade at the age of 17, He found a way to put across his zeal for language, as well as to release his youthful anger, through the up-and-coming musical genre of hip-hip. He identified with the nihilistic rage of late-1980s and early-1990s rap music, and he was particularly taken with N.W.A, an American hip hop group from Compton, California, widely considered one of the most influential acts of the gangster rap sub-genre. Eminem proved highly skilled at battle rhyming sessions and, regardless of his race , quickly became one of the most respected personality in the underground rap scene in Detroit.

Is Jennifer single Again??? This the most common question that can be heard after Jennifer herself has declared that she is getting separate from Marc, her third husband, after seven years of their marriage.

Lopez, 41, and Anthony, 42, were married secretly on June 5, 2004 at her home in Beverly Hills, California and have two children together, twins Max and Emme.
After her first marriage to Ojani Noa in 1997, and again in 2001 to her backup dancer Cris Judd, this will be Jennifer’s THIRD divorce whereas for Marc’s it will be his second divorce.

News of Lopez and Anthony’s split was announced late Friday, when the couple issued a joint statement.
The couple just released a statement, claiming, “We have decided to end our marriage. This was a very difficult decision. We have come to an amicable conclusion on all matters.”

So what next for the couple???
The couple will be working jointly in another program, South American talent competition Q’Viva (“The Chosen”). And, both Lopez and Anthony will both be on board when the show begins taping in the fall.

Names of few famous celebrities where making headlines last week for their alleged involvement in an illegal celebrity poker tournament. The name which was most dragged into the whole issue was Tobey Maguire who is facing lawsuit for his connections with former hedge fund manager Brad Ruderman. Apart from Tobey other celebrity names that were associated include Ben Affleck, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Matt Damon though none of them are facing any legal issues surrounding the controversy. The game, run by convicted con man and former hedge fund manager Brad Ruderman, attract a fairly well-heeled clientele of the Hollywood elite.

Tobey Maguire, star of the Spider-Man films, has hired a lawyer to argue that the poker gameisn’t illegal, as he’s being sued in connection with them and a $300,000 debt that was paid off with money Ruderman took from investors.

Reports now indicate that cocaine and hookers were also present at the games, with inside sources saying that

“It was known to a handful of us that one player would keep two hookers down the hall of the hotel in another room. He would disappear for 30-minutes at a time, leaving the main players in the game frustrated. In reality, he was getting to do blow (in a room with) two hookers.”

How Maguire plans to argue that a poker game run by a convicted con artist(a game in which Maguire himself is reported to have been winning over a million dollars a month in) ought to be interesting. But even more interesting than that is the unknown identity of the “one player”. No indication yet on who that might be, but it will probably be very newsworthy when it gets out, as it almost certainly will.

Peace made between Lady Gaga and Laurie Ann Gibson. Some had reported rumors of an impending split between the two: the pop star was accused of neglect because the choreographer ‘too busy with the preparations of “Dance Scene”, the reality show devoted to dance, after the United States, will debut’ in Italy June 12 at 20:30 on channel E!(124 Sky).The rumors of a possible rupture but are ‘already’ been denied by a spokesman for the singer.

Gibson has recently stated: “When I met Gaga she was still famous. I put all my determination, passion and professionalism ‘in working with her, because’ it was clear his stuff from a great artist.”Storm came back then.

Laurie Ann Gibson ‘was the author of some of the most’ important video clips of Lady Gaga, including “Alejandro”, “Poker Face”, “Love Game”, “Paparazzi” and the last “Judas” for which the choreographer has had to defend his client against charges of blasphemy.With “Dance Scene” Gibson back on camera after participating in the reality show “Making the Band” and the movie “Honey” (2003) with Jessica Alba.

Since Black Friday, online poker in the United States has never seen worse days, even after the UIGEA came into force in 2006 and the biggest poker site in the United States PartyPoker, withdrew from the U.S. market. Player poker online casual all levels of the chain for high stakes online pros and everything had to adapt to life with fewer poker sites in the United States.

Online poker pros who live in the U.S. and earned a living playing poker online now in financial difficulties, especially when a large portion of their portfolio and if some are still linked to the seizure of their online poker account. After moving to Europe, as difficult as it seems.

Such an online poker pro Brian Mogelefsky, who had left the family in North Carolina after being forced to close its mortgage business because of the national financial crisis, it is now facing another crisis, as its sole means of income Poker Online is annihilated by the Government of the United States.

Head of the Poker Players Alliance John Pappas says that Mogelefsky’s story is not rare, as 50,000 online poker players who made a living playing online poker are now out of work since Black Friday when Poker Stars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker were all shut down to US players. Now this sector of the US public has now joined the unemployed Americans group.

Some players whose cash is tied up in an account at one of these online poker sites that no longer accepts US players may or may not get their money back. If they had a Poker Stars account, their chances are better, as Poker Stars has paid out some players; therefore, it seems likely they will continue to make pay outs.

It may be months if ever before Full Tilt or Absolute pays back any of their former US players. Most have already accepted the fact that their money is gone.

Given the state of affairs in the U.S. market for online poker, professional poker players to leave their jobs, their businesses have closed, and depended on their revenue base online poker now face bleak financial times and is a new way of doing so month, whether to return to his original career or find new ones.

Steven Levitt, of “Freakonomics” fame, plays poker. His wife loves to play more than he does, as he has written on his blog.

It should be hardly surprising then that Mr. Levitt would take his analytical eye to the card game and revisit the age-old question of whether poker is a game of skill. The question is the subject of a new paper he wrote with Thomas Miles, one of his University of Chicago colleagues who was a former student. Their research could not be timelier.

The future of online poker is hazy after federal authorities last month shut down popular Internet poker sites and charged their founders with bank fraud and money laundering. The question of whether poker is a game of skill or luck goes to the heart of the debate over the legality of online poker. Games of chance are considered gambling under federal law.

Analyzing results from the 2010 World Series of Poker, the researchers looked at poker the way an investor would study a stock portfolio. They found that highly skilled players earned an average return on investment of more than 30 percent, compared with a 15.6 percent loss for all other players. They concluded that the large gap supported the idea that poker is a game of skill.

Mr. Levitt wrote on his Freakonomics blog earlier this month that “this finding has serious implications on the legality of online poker, as that debate is heavily dependent on whether the game is based on skill or luck.”

Other studies have come to the same conclusion, and yet state courts have consistently ruled that poker is gambling, said Chuck Humphrey, a Colorado lawyer who specializes in online gambling.

“It boils down to what the courts say,” Mr. Humphrey said.

Mr. Levitt became interested in studying poker after the passage of a federal anti-gambling law in 2006 that tried to shut down the online poker industry, Mr. Miles said.

Mr. Levitt could not be reached for an interview.

The 2006 law did not directly outlaw online poker sites but made it a federal crime to knowingly accept most forms of payment for Internet gambling. That move blocked access to U.S. banks, and thus, the ability to accept wagers from U.S. gamblers. Popular online poker sites took operations offshore and continued to operate.

Mr. Levitt has written that he found the logic underlying the 2006 law deeply flawed. Under the law, games of skill are exempted.

Mr. Levitt had a casual conversation about the gambling statute with Mr. Miles, a law professor who has a Ph.D. in economics.

When the World Series of Poker made its 2010 data available, “it appeared to us to be an ideal opportunity to test for the importance of skill in poker,” Mr. Miles said.

The annual event, held in Las Vegas, had 57 events last year that drew more than 32,000 participants. The researchers separated players they rated as highly skilled based on lists of rankings found in poker magazines and other sources. The pair found that the 720 players rated as highly skilled earned an average of $1,200 per tournament, while other players lost more than $400 on average

Small-screen stars of the big screen in competition at the home of the best poker Foundation Celebrity Poker Tournament Casino Royale. Celebrities, and honestly did quite well.

Professional poker player Annie Duke has been a fan favorite, but the winner WSOP not get to the final table with “American Pie” star Shannon Elizabeth and “Off the Map” actor Nicholas Gonzalez.

But the true stars of the show were the two charities that benefited from the event, SPCALA and the I’m Too Young For This Cancer Foundation—well and of course Corey Feldman.

According to H.O.M.E., the Celebrity Casino Royale poker tournament was a success and the foundation is now well “on its way” to reaching its $200,000 fundraising goal for the two non-profits.

Congrats on a successful event!

Photos below are Shannon Elizabeth, Nicholas Gonzalez, Tiffany Michelle, Maria Ho, The Miz, Carl Weathers, Michael Gladis, Josh Henderson, Annie Duke, and Alexis Bellino.

Female poker phenomenon, Women in Poker Hall of Fame inductee, and World Series of Poker bracelet-winner Jennifer Harman will host her fifth annual charity poker tournament benefiting the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Harman, 100 Hollywood celebrities, famous poker players, and industry VIPs will be available for photo opportunities and interviews.

A red-carpet walk with companion animals will start at 11 a.m. The tournament will start at 1. All proceeds will go to the charity, further enhancing the sanctuary, its services, and humane education.

There has never been a better opportunity for the Reno community to witness all of these players at one venue.

Laci Sopeland likes to thank all the volunteers who contributed to the third annual Lorraine Cline Memorial Poker Ride a great success.

“A big thank you to the family Cline Ranch in the OC bar,” he said. “It’s been a great day for many wonderful people and their families. We hope you all come back next year.”

A record number 205 poker hands were sold, but Sopeland says the number who went along just for the ride was much larger because it included some 18-years-of-age and under entrants prohibited from purchasing hands.

All proceeds from the ride will benefit local cancer victims and their families.

The Poker winners were: first, Shannon Hounshell, Payson, $300 payout and she donated $100 back; second, Jeremy Wilson, Globe, $200 payout and he donated $100 back; third, Denise Bishop, Phoenix, $100 payout and she donated it all back.

Softball stats

The official statistics from the Lady Longhorns’ 3-2 state opening round loss to Santa Cruz are in and they show that freshman Devann Runzo turned in a sterling pitching performance, giving up just one base hit, a single.

Offensively, the Horns pounded out seven hits and were led by senior Rylee Halenar who was 2-for-4.

Kaitlyn Wessel slugged a triple, Natalie Black had two singles and Taylor Petersen and Runzo each singled.

Petersen and Black each drove in a run.

Golf continues at PGC

Jan Parsons is touting the fun, camaraderie and skill enhancement that beginning women golfers can enjoy during the “Drive, Wine and Dine” nights and also the healthy competition that traditionally highlights the Wednesday Businessmen’s Twilight golf play.

The Drive, Wine and Dine events, which are priced $15 for each night, will be held at 5 p.m., May 17 and May 24.

Parsons says the sessions are designed to “teach golf basics, practice what you learn, eat, drink and socialize.”

She says the sessions are also for ladies who want to learn to play golf as well as those who are beginning golfers.

The weekly businessmen’s twilight league plays at 5 p.m. each Wednesday at PGC.

The fee is $25, which includes nine holes of golf, prize money and dinner catered by Teri’s Good Stuff.

Little League golf benefit

Payson Little League is hosting its annual benefit golf tournament on May 21 at Payson Golf Course.

The four-man scramble tees off at 8:30 a.m. with a shotgun start. The entry fee is $65 per player and is tax deductible.

The fee includes 18 holes of play, cart, catered lunch, prizes and contests.

Among the contests will be closest to the pin, longest drive and a “Las Vegas hole” where players can wager on whether they can slap a tee shot into a pre-drawn circle.

Also, Little League is in need of whole, prize and team sponsors.

Tournament co-director Duane Kaufman said the program of the Little League local desperately dependent on the funds earned in the annual tournament and invites all golfers to submit in support of Rim Country adolescents.

All poker fans must be familiar with the guy, behind the WSOP – World Series of Poker; yeah I am referring to Jeffrey Pollack. Jeffrey Pollack has rolled out new poker league for poker celebs only., solely for poker celebrities and poker pros.

Well it was often preached by him that poker could be anyone’s game. He used to tell that one should always remember that if you have got the poker skills into you, you’ve got that potential to make millions out of nothing. Now, however, he’s changing his tune. No fish allowed!

Pollack is launching a pro league aimed at showcasing poker’s biggest names including Phil Hellmuth, Scotty Nguyen, Vanessa Selbst, Chris Ferguson, Phil Ivey and Daniel Negrenu. However, it’s not just poker celebrities that are going to be the stars of Pollack’s league. He is basing his league off of overall consistent winnings and cashes, which leaves out 2006 WSOP winner Jamie Gold. After Gold’s $12 million win, he struggled to earn cashes in the poker circuit.

“I think I coined, ‘Anyone can enter; anyone can win,’ ” says Pollack. “… That’s great, and that’s the mantra for every other poker tournament. …This is about celebrating the best live event tournament players in the world.”

The eligibility rules were set by poker pro Annie Duke, who will not be among the pros in the league, but will serve as commissioner.

“It’s not that I’m happy about giving up poker (in the league). It’s that I would make the trade in order to be able to be able to execute this concept. It’s something that I’ve wanted to do,” Duke said. “We put a lot of thought into it just thinking about what it is that would define one of the best live tournament players in the world.”

Players who meet the criteria will be given cards for the first season were announced, with cards awarded based on major titles, and cashes. Players have to have had a lifetime achievement of wins and to have won since 2008.

“We wanted to make sure that we were grabbing the best of the best today,” Duke said.

Therefore, also ineligible is Chris Moneymaker, whose 2003 WSOP win helped to reinvent the poker industry.

Duke acknowledges Moneymaker’s contribution to the poker world, however, adding, Moneymaker is “on the bubble.” The list will be updated after Aug. 1 following this year’s WSOP Main Event.

In this poker league there is a buy-in of $20K and it is going to be held at the Palms Hotel and casino. There will be four “Main Events” held in August, September, December and February. The top 27 players advance to the championship Feb. 13-14 where contenders will vie for the $2.6 million in prize money. At present, there are all in all 218 players with tour cards. Well we cannot be a part of it but off course we can keep an eye on updates..!

Kevin Thurston played for 38 hours and beat 300 players to secure the second Grand Series of Poker Live (GSPO), Seville, Spain.

27-year old debt, part of his winnings to Lady Luck, who is busy with his pair of aces – the best cards can be the beginning of the game – during the nail-biting final against the elite of the poker world.

Meanwhile, regulars at his local pub, The Cellar House in Eaton, followed his every bit as they watched the match live from their bar stools.

Now, the punter plans to spend his winning on a trip to Las Vegas to contend for a £10m prize at the Betfair World Series.

Mr Thurston, of Threescore, Colney, said he was close to not taking part in the competition because he did not want to miss the Champions League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid.

He said: “The whole experience was surreal – I was really buzzing. In the final game a player raised, a player went all in and I had pocket aces- I was clear second with half a million chips.

“At one point during the final I decided to buy four bottles of champagne and give everyone in the front row glasses to thank them for watching for such a long time.

“When I got to the final two we had a 20 minute break and I looked at my phone and got all the messages of support from people in The Cellar House. It made me think – ‘I can do this’.

“At the end I couldn’t help thinking how close I was to winning it, but I soon realised just how much I had won.”

Kevin Thurston was first introduced to poker when he began playing above his dad’s pub in Brighton.

Since then, he has gone on to compete in poker tournaments in America as well as winning competitions at the Norwich Poker Club.

He decided to take part in the GSPO competition with his friend Sean Rowe after the pair won places, worth £3,500 each, on an online gambling site.

The event was held at the Gran Casino Aljarafe where more than 300 people spent four days competing for the first prize jackpot worth more than £80,000.

Mr Thurston, 27, who is a call centre manager for PLT marketing based in Norwich, said: “I had a feeling I was going to do well, but when i heard people back at home saying it, I started to believe the hype.

“My Facebook just exploded when I was on the final table. The guy who beat me was a world series bracelet winner, which is the highest tournament you can achieve, so I felt I did well to get that far.”

Landlord for The Cellar House pub on Eaton Road, Paul Malynn, said he was thrilled to see Mr Thurston do so well.

He said: “I am delighted for him. His friends were watching him in the pub and cheering him on. He has always been keen on his poker and he has even given up five-a-side football so he could concentrate on getting better.”

But Mr Thurston hasn’t been the only big Norfolk winner at the poker tables this year.

Spencer Benjafield, 24, of Great Yarmouth took home $75,000 at poker competition in February.

The off-shore worker beat celebrities including Gun ‘N Roses guitarist Slash, German tennis player Boris Becker and former England striker Teddy Sheringham at an event in the Bahamas.

Meanwhile, a Norwich band also struck lucky when they won enough money to record an album after a trip to Las Vegas.

At the musicians Rapp and Pete Lee, the Black Sharks won $ 10,000 at the tables and made sure that the famous producer Nick Brine, who worked in the Oasis, Arctic Monkeys and The Stone Roses.

The largest global brand in Paris, Bodog, began his series of 2011 World Series of Poker qualifiers. The Texas Hold’em poker players are invited to participate in multiple tournaments with the possibility of obtaining a seat for the start of the WSOP Main Event on July 7 in Las Vegas.

For as little as $1, players can enter Bodog Poker qualifying tournaments to be in with a chance of heading to Las Vegas, playing poker in the $9,000,000 Main Event and, of course, attending the legendary Bodog parties.

“Bodog has a long history of sending player to the WSOP and we would love another of our players to take a bracelet in 2011,” says Bodog Poker Manager Nicholas Sims. “Most poker players dream of ending up in Vegas partying, with a WSOP bracelet, not to mention the millions of dollars that can be won at WSOP.”

If you think you can’t, think again. Each Bodog poker player to participate in a qualifying tournament is 1 in 25 chance of winning a seat in the WSOP. But that’s not all, all players also benefit from custom Bodog poker experience at home.

Bill that would legalize Internet poker Iowa state seems to have little or no chance of passing in its current form, making Iowa the last to reject state laws regulating gambling line.

However, calculations can be definitively dead. Instead of calculating Likely to edit the report calls rather than gambling on the Internet from Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, which could give tips on how to improve the bill, and how it might affect the current state of the gaming industry gambling.

According to supporters of the bill, somewhere around 150,000 Iowans currently play online poker for real money. If the state were able to regulate online poker and keep that play on an in-state network, it is estimated that such a site could generate as much as $30 million in new tax revenue for Iowa each year.

The Iowa bill was less expensive and more focused than bills in other states, such as the one that was eventually vetoed by Governor Chris Christie in New Jersey. The bill would only have regulated online poker, without legalizing other Internet casino games. As with most bills proposed at the state-level, the legislation would only have legalized intrastate poker, meaning Iowans would only be able to play against each other.

However, opposition to the bill was strong from the moment it was proposed. Some Iowa legislators opposed the further expansion of gambling in the state on moral grounds, either opposing to gambling in general, or fearing those minors and those with gambling addictions would be able to gamble more easily if it were available online. Others were more concerned with how the proposed online poker room would affect Iowa’s existing casinos, especially if the legislation were later expanded to include other casino games.

Iowa is just one of many states considering online gambling as a means of increasing tax revenue. Other states are considering legislation such as Florida, New Jersey, Nevada, Hawaii and California.

These Texas HoldEm Tips for you to play like a poker expert and rake in the cash properly. Texas HoldEm is probably one of the most common variant of poker.

The popularity of the game was due to a televised event is very popular in the World Series of Poker, namely the WSOP and World Poker Tour

All famous poker players from online gaming or in any casino come to join this event. There are even special poker events where famous celebrities show their own talent in playing poker.

Texas HoldEm Tips – How to Master the Game
The important thing to master in the game of poker is your game face or what they commonly call the poker face. You should be able to bluff other players or do not let other players read your face.

Most good poker players are very observant; not only focusing on the possibilities of their cards but also weighing in their chances against other players.

Texas HoldEm Tips – Position
Your position against the dealer could play an important role also. Analyzing the cards of other players will be easier if you know what position you are in.

The “Early Position” refers to the players on the left side of the big blind. They should be the ones to act first before a flop.

After the first position, the following three players are referred to as the “Middle Position” players. Then lastly, next to the “Middle Position” is the “Late Position”.

Texas HoldEm Tips – More Expert Strategy Tips
Patience is also a key virtue in winning this game. If you have good cards and you are seated in the early position, then you should take the opportunity to raise the pot.

Having a high pair such as two Aces or Kings is a good reason to rise. You should also know when to fold. Like when you are in the late position and holding a small pair or a high card with a different pair, then it is the perfect time to decide whether to call or fold when a raise was made before you.

After analyzing the position and possible cards in hand of other players, you should now concentrate with the flop. Always remember that once the blind is posted, it is no longer yours.

It is often a mistake of many players that they try to defend the blind they posted which is wrong especially if you are holding a bad hand.

This will only make you lose more money. Know your statistics and do not rely on luck alone in poker. Analyzing the game will give you better chances of winning.

I’m sure you are well aware that you can use these tips to improve your Texas Holdem, a poker game, and you’re probably realizing how important it is to read this article. Well, well, to continue to learn more about holdem at this time, because the truly great poker players have created.

Actress Jennifer Tilly – well, sort of actress Jennifer Tilly – is one of 64 players converged on Las Vegas over the weekend, the seventh annual National Heads-Up Poker Championship at Caesar’s Palace.

Tilly, who returns for her sixth year of competition, readily admits she is addicted to poker.

“When I served in the role of a TV show or movie, I always wonder how it will affect my time to poker,” said Tilly, who was nominated for an Academy Award for “Bullets Over Broadway” in 1994 and played Now “Family Guy” character. “I’m not kidding. I totally feel the love of poker has led to a downward spiral in my acting career!”

The buy-in for invited players has increased this year from $20,000 to $25,000, and the first-place finisher will receive $750,000. The event will be taped for broadcast on NBC over six consecutive Sundays in April and May, and will also be covered on poker site. The first-round opponents for the brackets will be chosen at random during a draw party Thursday night with the competition beginning Friday.

Returning to compete are several of the world’s top poker pros, including defending champion Annie Duke, Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson, Chris Ferguson, Daniel Negreanu and 2010 World Series of Poker main event champion Jonathan Duhamel. Celebrities competing include Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith and actors Jason Alexander, Don Cheadle and Gabe Kaplan.

Tilly, who is currently dating pro player Phil Laak, has been playing poker for about 20 years. In 2005, she won a WSOP bracelet in the Ladies’ No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em event, outlasting 600 players. So she is passionate about this sport.

“This is not like riding a bike,” said Tilly. “We play a lot of staying alive. And that’s what I do.”