TOP FIVE

The Holiday season is upon us. In order to better serve all of you out there we present you with a Top Five of best Christmas gifts.

(5) Speaking of World Series of Poker (see our featured article), an Xbox 360 would be cheaper than a Playstation 3 and the money you save could be put towards a WSOP: Tournament of Champions game.

(4) Blackberry Pearl: The newest smartphone can take digital pics and has a browser, which will allow you to play casino games anytime you want.

(3) Poker and blackjack folding table: Gifts for the gambling fan, 'nuff said.

(2) Better yet, why not go one step further and get a poker gift basket complete with chips, munchies, cards and carrying case.

(1) If all else fails cash is a good last resort.

POKER

We’re not marketing majors but we wouldn’t be surprised if online casinos covet dollars from males between the ages of 20 and 50.

With that said, Hugh Hefner and Chris Moneymaker might be sitting on a potential gold mine.

Playboy and Moneymaker Gaming are putting on a poker camp complete with instruction from qualified instructors and a party with Playboy bunnies at the Playboy mansion.

More information is available at www.playboypokercamp.com.

SPORTS

The holiday season will soon be upon us and all eyes in North America will be turned towards both the both the NFL and NCAA.

On the college front a number of stories are coming to the forefront.

The Heisman trophy will be awarded this Saturday and Ohio State QB Troy Smith who pretty much locked it up after an impressive showing against arch-rival Michigan. Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn could get a few votes.

Florida pole-vaulted ahead of Michigan largely on a 38-28 battle in the SEC title game against Arkansas and earned the right to battle Smith’s Ohio State Buckeyes in the BCS Championship January 8, 2006 in Glendale, Arizona.

On the NFL front, the “It” guy seems to be Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo. The Cowboys currently stand at the top of the NFC East division and more impressively, has the respect of Terrell Owens, for the time being at least. And as if Romo wasn’t feeling good enough, rumors are circulating that he and Jessica Simpson are dating.

Always ones to capitalize on gossip and the entertainment industry, various sports books are offering prop bets on the rumored couple. Bodog is offering a bet that the two will go public by Valentine’s Day 2007.

 

FEATURE

Hayden “Darth Vader” Christensen is set to play Phil “Poker Brat” Hellmuth in the upcoming movie, The Madison Kid, which will begin filming next spring. Christensen will join the likes of Michael Imperioli (Stu Ungar) in portraying professional poker players.

With that in mind, we at Winneronline.com present our dream list for casting for The 2006 World Series of Poker: The Movie.

Ed Norton as Daniel Negreanu

Ed Norton would play Daniel Negreanu. He has the look, he has the talent and on top of that, he has experience playing a poker player (Rounders).

Nikki Cox as Annie Duke

They both have red hair and they both are used to Vegas. Duke plays at the WSOP and Cox stars in the TV series Las Vegas.

Brett Favre as Howard Lederer

The Professor would be best played, in our opinion, by Brett Favre. Favre, like Lederer has a winning history, though not lately, and he can draw on his experience from his appearance on the movie “There’s Something About Mary,” to help portray Annie Duke’s brother.

Reggie Miller as Phil Ivey

I’ll bet you never thought you’d see lifetime Indiana Pacer in Houston or L.A. Laker colors. That would be the case if he were cast as Phil Ivey.

Cris Collinsworth as Phil Gordon

Another jock cast in our cast. Strangely enough, it’s the poker player that is taller and not the former WR.

Jackie Chan as Johnny Chan

Jack is related to John, like Rick is to Richard. Therefore Jackie will portray Johnny. The fact that they have the same last name is an added bonus.

Kristin Bell as Clonie Gowen

The lady who stars on the TV series named after a red planet will play the poker player who was named after a powerful storm.

Tom Arnold as Jamie Gold

Johnny Chan tutored Jamie Gold and Tom Arnold coupled with Jackie Chan would be comic gold.

Tzi Ma as Richard Lee

Slap a red San Antonio sweatshirt and about 20 pounds on the man who appeared in the movies Quiet American and Rush Hour and the TV series 24 and you’ve got someone who’s ready to play Richard Lee.

Joanna Krupa as herself

Don’t mess with perfection.

Meg Ryan as Cyndy Violette

Meg Ryan will broaden her horizons from an appearance in WSOP 2006: The Movie.