In Search of a Lost Continent

More than a foot of snow has fallen in America's Midwest. Weary winter-bound travelers in Cincinnati found themselves trapped at the airport for more than two days. One woman reported spending 17 hours confined in her car on an interstate highway. Thousands of people couldn't make trips home for the holidays.

And while America froze over, dozens of poker players sat back and dreamed of lost continent, a wealthy society submerged under sea water. Surrounded by snow-packed states, they dreamed of Atlantis. More to the point, they dreamed of the Atlantis Resort and the possibility of raking a final pot that could turn them into a millionaire and vault them to instant poker celebrity.

Beginning January 5, 2005, PokerStars.com will host the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure at the Atlantis Resort and Casino in the Bahamas. After what is sure to be several days of intense play, the event will culminate at the final table which will eventually be broadcast on the Travel Channel's wildly successful World Poker Tour series.

In this instant society, where blogs can reach the mainland as fast as phone calls, PokerStars.com has seen fit to conscript me as the eyes and ears of the unfortunate mainlanders who are unable to take time off to go in search of the lost continent. In addition to the notepads, laptop, camera, and voice recorder, I'll bring with me years of poker, blogging, and journalistic experience. I'm a professional broadcast journalist, freelance writer, and amateur but avid poker player. I'm a frequent contributor to ALL IN magazine and proud charter contributor for the Up For Poker blog. If you find any reason to contact me in the coming weeks or during the tournament, feel free to use the e-mail link on the right side of this page.

This blog will endeavor to be more than a place to find tournament standings and chip counts. While you're sure to find that information here, readers can expect to find much more, including but not limited to:

• Daily tournament reports and updated chip-counts and standings as they become available
  
• Player profiles of both the pros and soon-to-be pros as the tournament progresses
  
• Photographs of all the action on the tables and off
  
• Behind the scenes stories of the tournament and side action
  
• Much more (I'm open to suggestions, so feel free to e-mail me with your ideas)

While we still have a couple of weeks before we can find our way to the islands, feel free to bookmark this site now and pass it on to your family and friends. Phone calls from the islands are notoriously expensive. Consider this blog your coconut telegraph to the mainland.

For more information on the tournament, you can click over to PokerStars.com's Caribbean Poker Adventure page.

If you'll be in the Bahamas that week, track me down. Your mom might like to hear how you're faring. Plus, I've allotted enough space in my sympathetic brain for ten bad beat stories a day.
You just can't beat blogger therapy.

In the meantime, trim your hangnails, find a good seat cushion, and pack for the tropics. Because, last I heard, it won't be snowing on Atlantis.