The June 2008 insideSTL.com Girl Next Door

Since this has been "Embarrassingly Honest Week" in From The Desk of Tim McKernan (is it 3rd Person-NBA Player-Vile to type From The Desk of Tim McKernan if you're Tim McKernan? I kind of think it is), allow me to be honest once again:

I used to loathe/fear the Girl Next Door Parties. I didn't care to "emcee" them, and I feared that nobody would show up to them.

Those days are over. I look forward to these things.

And, tomorrow night at Lush, the June 2008 insideSTL.com Girl Next Door will be crowned...and I have a feeling it's going to be a pretty amusing evening.

As you can tell from the pictures of our four June 2008 GND's, it was a strong month. So, on top of the fact that Alyson, Amie, Brie, and Hana will be there (listed alphabetically so as not to show favoritism) along with all of their friends, many of the former Girl Next Door contestants will be on hand...and that's what's made these things so enjoyable over the last 7 or 8 months. You have a bunch of beautiful lassess hanging around a potpourri of creeps, and you have entertainment.

$500 is on the line tomorrow night at Lush. You can vote at Lush AND you can still vote on insideSTL.com up until Friday at 5 p.m. by clicking here.

Hopefully you'll be able to make it out to Lush Saturday night for the insideSTL.com June 2008 Girls Next Door Party presented by Bimmers 'R Us. And, if you can't, make sure to vote for your favorite GND online here at insideSTL.com.

The July 2008 insideSTL.com Girl Next Door And Cougar Next Door Party

Nothing creeps me out more---or should I say nothing makes me happier than---seeing how the Cougars Next Door page is actually getting more traffic this month than the Girls Next Door page.

Go figure.

Many of you are just twisted that way.

We've had some incredibly sexy ladies partake in the Cougars Next Door contest, and on Friday August 1st at Mike Shannon's Outfield, it'll be sensory overload as we'll be awarding the $500 prize for both the July 2008 insideSTL.com Cougar Next Door and the July 2008 Girl Next Door.

8 beautiful lasses competing for 2 $500 prizes will be on hand at Mike Shannon's following the Cardinals-Phillies' game. Former Cardinal and current friend of the show Steve Kline will be in attendance along with the usual cast of characters...so mark your calendars for the very first insideSTL.com Cougar And Girl Next Door Party Friday August 1st at Mike Shannon's.

If you or someone you know wants to get a free photo shoot with Jason Campagna of Sedura Photography and participate in the Girls Next Door or Cougars Next Door contest, email me at tmckernan@insidestl.com.

Online voting will get underway for July's GND's and CND's on July 28th.

And Then There Were None

All 4 members of my poker league...myself included...have busted out of the World Series of Poker. "The Governor" Sean Boles got bad beat out on Day 1B. You may have heard my story on Day 2A. Steve Stolze never was able to get the cards and went out on Day 2B...and our last hope at making the money went out yesterday.

Poker nerds, evaluate this hand, if you will. It's a fascinating one...if you're a poker nerd. If you're a normal human being with family, friends, and a career, you may want to just keep scrolling down:

Blinds at 700/1400. Antes at 200.

Action folds to Bugh on the button...with about 90k in chips.

Bugh has TdTc. Bugh raises the $1,400 big blind to $5,000 to go.

Small blind folds.

Big blind raises it 2x the raise to $10,000 to go.

Bugh calls.

Flop comes off 7c8cJs.

The big blind immediately fires at the pot with 20k. The big blind has just a few less chips than Bugh.

Bugh thinks for awhile, and he shoves all-in.

After the big blind goes into the tank, and then he calls.

The big blind turns over QhJd. He has top pair.

Bugh doesn't catch his T, gutshot straight, or runner runner clubs...and he's crippled.

2 hands later, in the big blind, he catches KQs. He goes all-in. Small blind calls him with A9. Bugh doesn't improve. End of tournament.

So, here's the question.

What could he have done differently on the TdTc hand?

He's kicking himself, but I really don't think it was played as badly as, say, my hand.

My two suggestions on what...if I had the time to evaluate the hand...I would've done:

1. Reraise the big blinds reraise to 25k. If he comes over the top with an all-in...which would be his only real option other than calling or laying it down...you either know you're beat...or he has AK, and do you want to put your tournament life at stake on a coin flip preflop? If he does that, he still has 65k in chips even if he has to lay it down preflop.

2. Fold when the big blind led out with a 20k bet after the flop. The big blind is almost pot committed at that point, so an all-in wasn't as devastating as it would normally be as far as a difficult decision goes...although he almost laid it down. Tough laydown with only one overcard and a gutshot, but I think that's the move there. Of course, this is coming from someone who could've laid down a hand and still had 20 orbits left...and failed to do so.

I feel bad for John. He's a great guy. First class person. And, I know the misery one feels when getting knocked out.

Poker nerds, what's your take on this one?

Log-in and post your comments below, or you can always email me at tmckernan@insidestl.com.