The rest of the story....

After busting out of the Main Event, I still had 11 days in Vegas. I moved downtown to Binion's for the rest of the trip.

Binion's had a poker tournament at 10am, 2pm, 8pm, and 2am every day. I played in several of these, along with a couple of noon tournaments at Fitzgerald's.

My best finish was in a $70 tourney (with optional $40 rebuy) with a guaranteed prize pool of $10,000.

We started with 125 players. When we got down to 7 players, a deal was agreed to, with the chip leader getting $1500 and the rest of us getting $1100.

I made 3 final tables and cashed 5 times for a small overall profit of about $1400. I got on the list for cash games a couple of times but never played. There was always a waiting list and by the time my name got called I was gone or I had missed the page.

One night I was at the craps table a little before 2am. Gavin Smith, a very successful pro poker player, was at the table and obviously had consumed more than a few adult beverages.

When he and his buddies headed to the poker room to play in the 2am tourney, I tagged along.

As the tourney started, I was at the same table as Gavin. Knowing he liked proposition bets, I proposed a $100 "last longer" bet with him. The first of us to get busted from the tourney would pay the other, $100.

As he tipped the waitress $20 from his huge wad of cash, he accepted my bet. He was playing wildly and I thought it was a good bet.

A few hands into the tourney, I proposed another $100 prop bet. I bet the next 3-card flop we saw, would be mostly or all the same color. He could choose the color.

He said he'd take the bet, with the added stipulation that if all 3 cards were the same color, the loser would have to pay double ($200). I agreed, he chose "red", and we waited for the next flop to occur.

It was 2 red cards and one black. I paid him his $100 and the table got a good laugh.

I was later moved from his table but, periodically, he would loudly yell across the room "Where's your stack, Illinois Last Longer?" I'd report my status and he'd reply with his.

When we got down to the final 2 tables, I was reunited with him back at my table. I flopped bottom 2-pair and an opponent flopped a set, and I was out. I paid Gavin another $100 and wished the table good luck.

He was wild and crazy and it was a pleasure playing the tourney with him.

I played craps, slots, video poker, Let It Ride, and Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em and had some luck at all of them. I'd win enough each day to fund the next day as well as my food, cabs, and other expenses.

I got the "poker rate" for my room at Binion's ($29 per night), so my $1000 Pokerstars allotment covered my room and air fare.

My gambling winnings paid for everything else and I arrived back home with $200 more than I left with (not counting the WSOP poker bankroll).

It's been about 9 or 10 years since I've been to Binion's and there have been some changes. They were first bought out by Harrah's who wanted to obtain the rights to the WSOP. They soon sold off Binion's casino. Binion's changed hands again recently.

They used to offer "100 times" odds bets on the pass line, now it's "5 times". Cigarettes used to be free to players, now they're $6.

The beverage service was absolutely horrible and they have more than a few surly, disinterested dealers. The service and food at their cafe and snack bars was below average, again with unfriendly staff.

The new bean counters don't have the same approach to the customers as Benny Binion had. Poor guy's probably spinning in his grave.

I made it to a couple of shows. Trekked to the Sahara one night to see The Platters, The Coasters, and The Drifter's (more specifically The Platters, Beary Hobb's Drifters and Cornell Gunter's Coasters). Cost with tips and drinks was about $70 and well worth it.

Saw a "Country Superstars Tribute" show at Fitzgeralds with look-alike artists portraying Tim Mcgraw, Faith Hill, Shania Twain and others. $39.95 and not a bad show for the money.

Got my caricature drawn for $10.

Spent over $200 on cabs. Probably should have rented a car.

The Golden Nugget had a really talented gal in their Piano Bar Monday and Tuesday nights. I didn't care for the main act that was in the room the rest of the week.

A kiosk with an oxygen bar was just outside Binion's. They'd hook you up to scented oxygen and demonstrate their various massage tools on you for 15 minutes. You also got a bottle of vitamin water for the $16 fee.

I frequented this place daily, sometimes twice a day.

Spent about $800 on massages at $120 a pop. As usual, the best money I spent in Vegas.

All in all, a memorable experience.