The Year That Was 2010

The Year That Was 2010

I am not sure how everyone's poker year was but I had a blast! Life itself as usual mimicked my poker game with its ups and downs, a lot a of downs actually in both but a lot of ups and many surprises too! I had a blast in January at the Aussie Millions Poker Championship covering the tournament for Australian Poker Weekly, Woman Poker Player Magazine and for my own eyes also. It was a treat to see Marsha Waggoner inducted into the Australian Poker Hall of Fame and to see Annette Obrestad win her event and a gold ring. It was also a blast railing Sorel Mizzi on the final table, I must not be very patriotic was my determination on that! 2 Aussies at the final table and I was sitting with crew huggy! January also saw me have a fabulous birthday, meet with friends in real life such as Erik Aude' & Barry Woods.

February I set sail to Sydney with my son to meet up with Barry and Allyn Shulman where I toured the cruise boat they were holidaying on, have some dinner at the RockPool and share some special moments with my son in the pouring rain at various Sydney attractions. Meeting up with Barry and Allyn was one of the years most memorable times! They are such fabulous people and I class them as great friends!

WTF Poker was soon born and i found myself teaming up firstly with Hannah Elizabeth who definitely brings the broad back into broadcasting, she is one hell of a lady! Global time was an issue with that little project so we parted ways and I again teamed up with another co-host David Saab. Again, a traveling pro and time constraints causing issues saw WTF poker go on hold till i can get my own head around it!

Womens Poker News at this stage was also starting to rock along, health saw me slow down on that one, lets face it - there are only so many things a woman can do! Between Dr battles, livers shutting down, endometriosis and 4 kids, I had so much to do! Priorities saw WPN (Womens Poker News) go on hold - rest assured it WILL be back though just like WTF Poker!

I however continued a little writing as the year went along for a lot of different poker media outlets including: Woman Poker Player Magazine, Australian Poker Weekly (who has now had it's 100th edition!), Canadian Poker Tour Magazine, IPPAGlobal, Poker Pro Magazine Online, Poker Pro Magazine Canada, Poker Pro Magazine Europe, Poker Pro Magazine USA and of course this blog (to name a few). I wonder at times why i am not writing for more Australian Magazines, I guess its my lack of patriotism as I have determined my work is of high quality!

The fabulous Pokeriety also started up on facebook and I am hoping that ALL of you have become part of Team Down Under Danielle - If you have not as yet join up! Pokeriety is the game of fun and its totally free for you all to play. I am hoping the coming year will see our team onslaught the rest of the world. Again, it seems I am not patriotic, I could just have team Australia or Team Down Under, I have far too many friends abroad! Team Down Under Danielle is an indicator that I simply come from Down Under and have a Team Down Under me too, it also matches the blog you read.

I played very little online poker at the start of the year as I was so busy battling health issues, kids and what not but that did not stop FeltStars approaching me about a nice sponsorship deal which thrilled me to pieces! Needless to say, I took the deal, signed the paper and started having interviews rather then getting other peoples stories. Quite a change in lifestyle there! I am proudly a Team FeltStars Pro, the only female and currently 1 of 2 Aussies. FeltStars is growing rapidly and I love being part of our fabulous hard working team! I had quite nice few wins and placings from here on in soaring my cash rate a little higher with further study on my game and what i was doing wrong. I also headed to represent FeltStars at the only 2 tourneys I have been physically able to this year: Melbourne Champs teams event and ladies event. The teams event I went out against a gutshot straight flush and the ladies event not only did i play like crap but my opponents were terrible as i copped beat after beat that was just unbelievable. I certainly made up for the beats that night with bourbons!

The end of the year has seen me join forces with Per Hagen and Joe Wass at Poker Publicist where we create BUZZ about YOU just alike I created buzz about myself to get everything i have gotten to date in this crazy world of poker. Want to get endorsements or a sponsorship deal? I am the person to see! Let's Buzz YOU!

The most amazing thing this year for me poker wise was co-writing the song I'm ALL IN with Jimmie Lee Jersey outlaw which is only a few weeks away from releasing. Certainly I am one to step outside the square and this little project placed a cherry on top of the years poker ice cream! If i am not touring next year to spend 12 hours at a time in tourneys which I might still not be physically fit for, I will be hanging out the top of Jimmies Limo with Tyrone, Jimmie and 4 kids by my side drinking JD's lol.

I cant complain about my health anymore, i have just been cleared by the doctor liver wise, "live as normal, don't get legless and do not take nurophen" were the most wonderful words I heard this year, other then I LOVE YOU from my kids, Tyrone and my family and friends. I have much support this year and have given more in return, I would really like to thank and make mention to a new few special friends and friends of old in no particular order. If I missed you off my list it is simply as I am emotional thinking of everyone!

Tyrone Hunter, My Kids, My brothers, sisters and parents, Maryann Morrison, Alfred Markarian, Michael Pickard, Team FeltStars, Aniket Warty, Matthew Moate and MITH, Jimmie Lee, Emma Grace, Den and Jen, Gary Benson, Marsha Waggoner, Ontilt Radio, Holdem Radio, barry and Allyn Shulman, Shane McDowell and Ontilt Clothing, APT, David Saab, Hannah Elisabeth, Queen Bee, Erik Aude', Constance Hammock, Barry Woods, Glen Franco, Amy and Jen from Womens Poker Hour, Joe and per Poker Publicist, Johnny QUADS! , PMS poker wear, ........ wow out of breath! ....... TJ from raise n fold, Chloe Rhys-Jones, rich, helle, odie (always in my mind) Ange my twin!!!!!!!! Look; there are FAR TOO MANY of you! Please add your name for me, we will be here ALL DAY otherwise lol. Add in comments and I will personally thank you! LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!! Happy New year 2011 everyone!

Lets hope we can legalize online poker worldwide! Here is a little drunken clip of me singing You're the Voice to top off my crazy year! Remember YOU ARE the VOICE, we all ARE! xoxo HAPPY NEW YEAR VOICES - THIS IS THE CLIP LOL!

Read More

Who is a Recognised Poker Player? The List That SHOCKED the World!

Who is a Recognised Poker Player? The List That SHOCKED the World!

I recently wrote an article on Maxim naming the 20 Hottest Female Poker Players. I endeavoured to ask my partner Tyrone; which poker hotties do you think made the list? Tyrone started to rattle off a few names such as Vanessa Rousso, Tiffany Michelle, Jennifer Tilly, Clonie Gowen, Beth Shak and then paused and said “I don’t know of any other women who would be on that list! There are 20?”

I started to name some more names of female poker players that Tyrone would know such as Pamela Anderson; let’s face it every man knows Pamela Anderson! He said “She plays poker?” I advised him that: “Not only does she play poker but she used to own her own online poker site”. Tyrone’s immediate response was a sarcastic one “Well that makes choosing the top 20 easy! Basically any woman who picks up a deck of cards could be in it!” I stopped, I thought and my jaw dropped. It dropped because for once when it came to poker he was right!

Really should the listed women be in the list? Does everyone know them? Hell; I don’t even know half of them! I expected to see Maria Ho in the list before any of these women. Pamela Anderson I understand being part of it; she deserves to be; I know she plays poker but so does Jennifer Hawkins and Jennifer Hawkins was MISS UNIVERSE and is SMOKING hot!

Doesn’t everyone know Jennifer Hawkins? Why wasn’t she on the list? She plays poker she is one of the world’s hottest women! My friend Jill Russin is smoking hot, she plays poker too! In-fact Lacey Jones the face of the Canadian Poker Tour didn’t even make the list! I am shocked! Shouldnt she be in it above ladies who just “pick up cards and claim to be a player”. Needless to say what about some of the names Tyrone mentioned? Beth Shak and Clonnie Gowen?

It brings me to name these ladies and question – Who is a recognised poker player and how do they get on these lists?

A recognised poker player in my opinion is someone who has achieved. These are the players should make lists for being “The Hottest Female Poker Players” not just someone who may have played a few times in their life! Most of the women listed seem to be randoms of the poker industry. Let me use an example. I will place the results of google searches and you decide how much these ladies PLAY POKER!

Odette Yustman:

Wikipedia says nothing about her playing poker

The Hendon Mob has no listing

Adding Poker to the search “Odette Yustman Poker”shows “Stepping out for a night of gaming action, Odette Yustman and Dave Annable attended the 8th Annual World Poker Tour Invitational”

Traci Bingham:

Wikipedia says nothing about her playing poker

The Hendon Mob has no listing

Adding Poker to the search “Traci Bingham Poker”shows The online casino site Empire Poker has tapped former ''Baywatch" star Traci Bingham to be the website's new spokesgirl. (Fair enough she is in there I guess!)

Jennie Garth:

Wikipedia says nothing about her playing poker

The Hendon Mob has no listing other than an article with her name in it

Adding Poker to the search “Jennie Garth Poker” shows a celebrity show down and a charity tournament result

My search for results for them stops here! It’s a waste of my time. For a list of the rest of the ladies click on this link www.womenspokernews.com and feel free to search the rest yourself.

I will do one last search: Let me show you one hotties results that should in my opinion be in the list, you can then decide what you think. Do you think that a player should more than just pick up a deck of cards now and again to be marked in our industry in any list of any size shape or form?

Beth Shak:

Wikipedia – Shows Poker life, poker career and relationship with Dan Shak poker player!

The Hendon Mob shows career winnings of $ 450,143.00

Add poker to the search “Beth Shak Poker” and the first listing is Beth Shak Professional Poker Player Official Site following another 163,000 poker related results!

I could do the same with Lacey Jones, Connie Glowen I am Sure! I could do the same with 200 other women who are serious in this poker industry!

Here is a list written by a man called John Bukenas I think it is more suitable!

1. Shannon Elizabeth
2. Jennifer Leigh
3. Isabelle Mercier
4. Liz Lieu
5. Erica Schoenberg
6. Vanessa Rousso
7. Clonie Gowen
8. Cyndy Violette
9. Cecilia Nordenstam
10. Lacey Jones
11. Evelyn Ng
12. Tiffany Michelle
13. Maria Ho
14. Chantel McNulty
15. Beth Shak
16. Mimi Rodgers
17. Jennifer Harmen
18. Jennifer Tilly
19. Kristy Gazes
20. Annie Duke

A recognised poker player is recognised for POKER – not the occasional shuffling of cards. It doesn't matter what list they are going on they should have the above criteria. Do tell me if you disagree!

Read More

Hot Beyond Hot

Hot Beyond Hot

We all see the words 'Hot and Chick' combined together in a sentence and what do we think? Most people think of a young, sensuous woman who is physically beautiful in every way. This is a very natural way to think. It has been implanted over periods of time into our brains a hot chick is SEXY, big breasted, has beautiful hair, face, legs you name it!

My name in the world of online gaming is none other than Hot Aussie Chick. I remember the first article ever written about me. The heading read “It’s All About Poker For Hot Aussie Chick!”. Indeed I was in shock especially when seeing the glamorous toned and over sexy picture of Pamela Anderson on the page next to me in almost full size! My tiny little picture was nothing on hers and one could never expect to see them self as a “Hot Aussie Chick” the way the world perceives one in any case.
I thought “Oh well! Hot Aussie Chick it is!” and took that name on board for the poker industry. Never for a second did I give a thought as to the expectations I would have to live up to and the personal physical maintenance involved. Regardless, the name stuck. I soon started writing for the publication with my column being called Hot Topics.

I gained excessive attention and suddenly found myself as a poker podcast segment host, for the Australian sector mainly. Again surprised, shocked and every other associated word that comes to mind when hearing my introduction – “Hi Your listening to poker down under and everywhere else with that Hot Aussie Chick Danielle Benham”.

It seemed there was no escaping this name. It stuck like glue. Panic set in as to whether I could live up to being a “Hot Chick”! This set me into a real spin. I was then on a mission. I went to such degree to decipher this word “Hot” it wasn’t funny. I looked up definitions in various dictionaries; I asked people “do you really think I am a “Hot Chick?””. The answer was always “Hell Yeah”. Although it seemed a pointless quest, I continued on this mission finally getting an answer which was more than philosophically right. I now knew why i was branded a “Hot Chick”.

To look at the real definitions of hot and take away the implanted slang and put it in the context of calling a woman “hot” now made sense. Let me explain how!

I was told by my philosophical friend and colleague that hot was more than just looks, it was a combination of things. Indeed he was right. Hot could be placed in front of many words. "a hot temper"; "a hot topic"; "a hot new book"; "a hot love affair"; "a hot argument". All of these things are not “hot” because of physical appearance. In fact, they are not physically attractive at all! A hot chick can be compared.

I realised I was being called hot for many reasons. I was smart, witty, on time, organised, fast and furious on a poker table, quick with compliments, on top of marketing, awesome with computers, knew my online gaming, full on in the poker world in every way indeed I was HOT – BURNING in fact!

I keep on top of my physical appearance as well as I can; regardless I will remain “hot” forever, maybe not a chick (being seen as a young lass), but for now I will accept the “chick” part of my name. Forever will I be in the poker industry and hot on the tails of the best online gaming systems, players and strategies. Forever will I burn less then expecting opponents at the poker table and each and every day my skills and abilities will only get better in every aspect of my career. Now that’s hot! In the industry of online gaming, specifically the poker side there are few “chicks” that go beyond a poker table. To all those that do, I call you HOT.

I hope after reading my first blog some embedding has left your brain on the typical “hot” definition. Next time someone says to you that “she is not hot” think beyond a physical appearance and remind the person telling you this, “physically; maybe not so, but she is smoking in every other way!”

Watch for my next blog, Becoming a Professional Poker Player! Indeed helping others do this is one HOT NICHE of mine ;)

Danielle - Aka - Hot Aussie Chick xoxoxoxo

Read More