Shawn Marion playing in the World Series of Poker

Last year it was LA Lakers back-up guard, Jordan Farmar playing in the WSOP, this year its Dallas Mavericks swingman Shawn Marion.

I was checking out the coverage on Poker News when I saw his face on one of their videos. Check out the interview here.

Here's a story about Marion playing in the World Series, click on the title to read the full story.

Shawn Marion tries his hand at the World Series of Poker Main Event | Dallas Mavericks Blog | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | The Dallas Morning News
Posted at 11:00 PM on Mon., Jul. 5, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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While a number of the NBA's finest are trying to secure millions in the free agent market, the Dallas Mavericks' Shawn Marion is trying to get millions in a different way: at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

Marion participated in Day 1 of the Main Event on Monday. Due to the growing popularity of the event, there are four separate 'Day 1s' where players begin the tournament. Monday's was the first possible day to start. A number of other athletes and celebrities will also try their hand over the next three days. According to a report in USA Today, former Cowboy legends Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman will both play during Thursday's Day 1 action.

Last year's winner, 21-year-old Joe Cada, received $8.5 million.

Off-season ... time to go to work

I was on Dime this morning and they had a story including a video about Gilbert Arenas and the work he's been doing this off-season to get back in shape after being sidelined for much of the last two seasons.

After that I stumbled across a series of videos on YouTube from what was obviously a TV show last year called "NBA Fit". Its essentially a behind the scenes look at the work-outs that rookies and NBA players did to prepare for last season.

The first series follows the rookies: Derrick Rose, Brook Lopez, Robin Lopez, Jason Thompson and Ryan Anderson. The second series follows Loul Deng, Gilbert Arenas, Jordan Farmar and Glen Davis. Each series consists of 3 episodes, I've just posted one from each series but you can find the others on YouTube. They're well worth checking out in full when you have time. If you're an up and coming player there are a lot of great lessons you can learn from them ... success leaves clues.

I've put up the second video from the second series because it starts with Gilbert Arenas working on his shooting. 100,000 made shots in 70 days ... it takes that sort of dedication to be the best.

Jordan Farmar - World Series of Poker update

My post earlier in the week about Jordan Farmer playing in the World Series of Poker turned out to be extremely popular (views wise) so its time to update everyone on his progress.

Its not too hard to make it through day 1 at the World Series, the blinds are low and slow and if you stay out of trouble and play tight you can essentially cruise through to day 2 (apologies if I talk too much poker speak).

Despite my low expectations for Jordan, he did indeed continue to do well on day 1d and was well placed going in to day 2. I was updating my mates via e-mail as to his progress and with about 2000 players left on day 2b (the field is so large still they have two different day 2's) Jordan had chipped up to 160,000 and was in the top 20!

Going in to day 3 tomorrow after a rest day for the field today, Farmar has slipped a little from those lofty heights but still has a healthy stack of roughly 75,000. He obviously lost a few big hands late in the day. The next challenge for Jordan is to make it "in the money" which means top 600 (out of 6500 starters) who receive $21,000. Sure, its pocket-change for an NBA player, even for a young back-up point guard like Jordan, but it would be a good achievement to cash in the World Series.

For our Aussie readers, also of note from the Main Event is cricket legend Shane Warne. After he finished just out of the money last year, he's doing very well so far with just over 170,000 chips. The other well-known Aussie is 2005 champion Joe Hachem who has just under 140,000 in chips.

Jordan Farmar and his p p p p poker face

Jordan Farmar at the World Series of Poker?

So you've just won the NBA Championship title, its the off-season and time to relax ... what to do? If you're Jordan Farmar back-up point guard for the LA Lakers apparently you head to Vegas for the World Series of Poker!

In my other life outside of basketball and work, I'm an aspiring poker player and have been keeping a close eye on the World Series. I was quite surprised to see this hand come up on Poker News and had to do a little research to veryify it was indeed Farmar from the Lakers:

Farmar Commits, Reaps Reward

A player in late position raised and both Jordan Farmar (small blind) and Robert Varkonyi (big blind) called, creating a pot of about 6,000. The flop came . Farmar and Varkonyi checked, the preflop raiser continued with a bet of 5,075, Farmar called, and Varkonyi got out of the way.

The turn was the . Farmar checked, his opponent made a hefty bet of 17,075, and Farmar said "I can't turn back now" as he made the call.

The river was the . Farmar again checked, and his opponent pushed all in for 27,000 -- just a couple thousand more than Farmar's stack. Farmar called relatively quickly, turning over for two pair. His opponent mucked.

Farmar picks up a lot of chips on that one, as well as some kudos from some of his tablemates for the river call. He catapults up to 95,000.

Great work from Jordan and this pot put him in to the top 10 chip-counts of day 1d with a few sessions left to play. I'd be surprised if his run continues too much further, but if it does I'll certainly keep you updated.

Jordan Farmar at the World Series of Poker, pictured with Lou Diamond Phillips, Marlon Wayans, Torrie Wilson, (ex-NBA'er) John Salley