Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Housewife a star at poker tourney

Rose Richie stacks her chips during play Tuesday at the World Series of Poker. Photo by Jeff Scheid. Jimmy Kimmel's cousin out at World Series of Poker. Beyonce Knowles likeness appears at Madame Tussauds. Rapper 50 Cent attended "Mystere" on Monday night.

Florida housewife Rose Richie doesn't buy the weaker-sex argument.

The last woman left in the 35th World Series of Poker late Tuesday wasn't working on a concession speech.

"It's a predatory sport," said the 48-year-old mother of two who started the day in 13th place in the chip count with $225,400.

"But men forget that female lions do the hunting," she said.

Richie, who was among the 132 entries still alive late into Day 4, was in the hunt to be the event's first woman champion.

An amateur in her first live poker tournament, she qualified by winning an online event that cost $22 and turned into a $10,000 seat in a field of 2,576 contestants.

She's proven her toughness. Richie suffers from lupus and has required 16 medications to deal with it.

The previous highest finish by a woman was fifth by Barbara Enright of Los Angeles in 1995. She's the only woman to reach the final table of nine.

Dan Harrington, last year's third-place finisher, started Tuesday in 50th place with $142,000. Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, the 2000 champion, was in the top 70 with $127,000. Abe Mosseri was the chip leader at $335,300 when Day 4 began.

Cussin' Sal

One of the last celebrity entries in the World Series of Poker outlasted 85 percent of the record field of almost 2,600.

"Cousin Sal" Iacono, Jimmy Kimmel's cousin and a regular character on Kimmel's late-night talk show, was eliminated about 10:30 p.m. on Monday.

"You get bullied if you don't have a lot of chips," said Iacono, on the telephone from McCarran International Airport. He was up $50,000-$60,000 before he was knocked out by a pair of aces, the last one on the flop.

Iacono, who was featured on updates during Kimmel's show, usually plays an annoying character who often messes with the public as a phony DMV supervisor or coffee shop operator.

Decked out in cartoonish gramma glasses, a loud shirt and a cap that read "I'm A 7-Card Stud," Iacono's appearance didn't endear him to the more serious-minded gamblers.

"One guy with a pony tail and a toothpick thought I was making a mockery," Iacono said. "I told him the pony tail and toothpick gimmick was already taken."

The Scene and Heard

Beyonce Knowles' likeness has joined Britney Spears and J.Lo in Madame Tussauds new, interactive Divas Las Vegas attraction that officially launches today.

Sightings

Maria Shriver, lunching at Spago (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Tuesday. She was in town for a book signing for her children's book, "What's Happening to Grandpa?" ... Kix Brooks from the country group Brooks & Dunn at "Zumanity" (New York-New York) on Tuesday night. ... Adam Curry, former MTV veejay, spotted at Fashion Show Mall on Tuesday. ... Rapper 50 Cent attended "Mystere" (Treasure Island) on Monday night. ... Performing at Sunday's "Friends of Lorraine Hunt" fund-raiser at Fellini's on Charleston Boulevard: Rich Little, Frankie Randall, Sonny King, Dennis Bono, Tommy Deering, and Steve Rossi.

The Punch Line

"Hold 'em is to stud what chess is to checkers." -- Johnny Moss, 1973 winner of the World Series of Poker.

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.