Research Triangle Park, North Carolina  
Triangle Poker Journal™
Covering Local News on America's Favorite Game

                              www.trianglepokerjournal.com                                                                                      

OK, so you're sitting at home, minding your own business, maybe playing a little online poker to pass the time.  The phone rings.  You've been invited to a huge party at the Playboy Mansion -- yes the one legendary Hugh Hefner lives in with his three girlfriends -- and the party is tomorrow.   Oh, and you get to bring a friend.   And it's all paid for.

This story is only marginally about poker.  It's really about one lucky bastard (and I use that term with the utmost respect) who got an incredible lucky break.  Derek called around more than a few people asking them to go.  Most could not get away so quickly.  Finally, Derek's friend Chris Newsome, also of Greensboro, said yes.   

Derek Johnson received this phone call on July 11.  By the morning of July 12, he and Chris were on their way all expenses paid to Los Angeles, compliments of Bombshell Poker.  Derek logged the second most number of hours online and the #1 guy couldn't make the trip.  Bombshell paid for everything and now features pictures of their epic adventure at www.bombshellpoker.com.  Triangle Poker Journal has a more extensive picture collection (rated PG-13) located here.

After landing at LAX, the Bombshell-provided limo took them to their hotel and later to a pre-party at Boa.  Around 9:30pm, they were off to the mansion.  Tonight's event was a fundraiser for charity.  Derek learned Bombshell had shelled out $1500 each for tickets.  This was getting to be one heck of a prize.

At the party, "there were Bombshell Girls (women who work for the poker site) at one poker table dealing.  I hung out with a lot of famous people I didn't know."  Besides TV and movie celebs, there were also some ex-49'er players there.  Did Derek get to talk with the man, Hugh Hefner?  "I saw Hef briefly at the beginning but I didn't get to talk to him."  And of course, bunnies everywhere.  They got back to the hotel about 2:30am and a few hours later were on a plane back to the Triangle.

Like a true LA party, this one gave gift bags, said Derek, that made their way quickly to their girlfriends.  How did the girlfriends feel about the trip?  They were "pretty supportive" of this ultimate male adventure.

What about those friends he called that decided not to go?  "They are kicking themselves," said Derek.  Who could blame them?