All-in

Since flights were so expensive getting out of Phoenix on Tuesday - and, as it turned out, I needed to be in Arizona for a victory press conference anyway - my flight back to Florida doesn't leave until the morning. That meant I had a free night here this evening so I decided to test out the local poker room.

Poker has been an interest of mine for about six years. I started playing seriously after stumbling upon a tournament in Biloxi when I was on a weekend trip there with The Fiancee (then The Girlfriend) during our senior year at Emory. I managed to finish second and win $500, quickly hooking me to the game.

For about eight months after I graduated, poker was actually my main source of income. I played constantly - traveling casinos to Las Vegas, Mississippi, Connecticut and Atlantic City - and joined an underground club in Manhattan that was similar to ones you might have seen in "Rounders" (minus the scary Russians).

Anyway, since becoming a sports writer I haven't been able to play nearly as often but I still love a good tournament. With some time to kill, I hit up Fort McDowell Casino and played the 7 p.m. no-limit hold 'em tournament. Long story short? I lasted about two hours, finishing somewhere around 30th out of 90 people (no cash, sadly). The atmosphere was nice though, and I'd definitely recommend checking out "The Fort" or Casino Arizona if you get out here.