Advanced praises of the book go as follow:
"The loud narcissism and adolescent degeneracy of these talented 'ballas' ain't pretty, but the testosterroneous world of high-stakes online poker in America before Black Friday, in all its doomed glory, steadily throbs in Grotenstein and Reback's swift prose."
—James McManus, New York Times bestselling author of Positively Fifth Street
“An infectious tale, told with the speed of a rocket sled, SHIP IT HOLLA BALLAS! Puts us in with a gang of under-age poker geniuses as they turn Las Vegas on its ear, making off with the gelt as well as the girls.”
—Bruce Porter, New York Times bestselling author of Blow
Around the time of the popularity of Facebook beginning to rocket up, so was online poker’s, leading to about a dozen college dropouts and high school kids to seek and implement knowledge of poker through the internet. Realising the value of the medium in gaining fame, Michigan State University dropout ‘Good2cu’ initiates the crew that is to become known as Ship It Holla Ballas!, accompanied by a dedicated website to publish the details of their successes as well as their “outrageous exploits including dancing with strippers, crashing a BMW, and literally swimming with sharks,” the official press release reads.
Were these kids living the dream or were just total idiots? Their prowess at the poker tables soon became unquestioned, for sure: some of them are now among the most renowned and established high stakes pros. Does the name ‘durrrr’ ring a bell, anyone? Yes, the guy who won a $1.1 million pot from poker legend Phil Ivey. On TV.
Indeed, the guys got bored of online play alone and went on to undertake adventures like entering the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, “where they flaunt their new found wealth, drinking heavily (thanks to fake IDs), frequenting strip clubs, and, of course, cheering each other on at the gambling table with their patented “Ship It Holla” shout-out. In fact, in one night, after TheUsher wins $284,000 at the 2006 World Series of Poker, he and his fellow Ballas blow $40,000 in the famous Spearmint Rhino strip club.”
Of course, 15 April, 2011 marked the end of the Ship It Holla Ballas! as well. Some of the crew went broke, losing the income to maintain their newly acquired, luxury way of life, while others managed to make it to among the best all-time pros. “Collectively they won close to $20 million in live tournaments and perhaps another $20 million in live cash games and online, making them »the most successful poker crew of all time. And they’re all still under thirty. «”
About the authors:
Jonathan Grotenstein is a former professional poker player and the author and co-author of eight books. His first book, Poker: The Real Deal (with Phil Gordon), remains one of the bestselling poker books of all time.
Storms Reback is a former professional poker player and the co-author of two books, including All In: The (Almost) Entirely True Story of the World Series of Poker (with Jonathan Grotenstein).
"The loud narcissism and adolescent degeneracy of these talented 'ballas' ain't pretty, but the testosterroneous world of high-stakes online poker in America before Black Friday, in all its doomed glory, steadily throbs in Grotenstein and Reback's swift prose."
—James McManus, New York Times bestselling author of Positively Fifth Street
“An infectious tale, told with the speed of a rocket sled, SHIP IT HOLLA BALLAS! Puts us in with a gang of under-age poker geniuses as they turn Las Vegas on its ear, making off with the gelt as well as the girls.”
—Bruce Porter, New York Times bestselling author of Blow
Around the time of the popularity of Facebook beginning to rocket up, so was online poker’s, leading to about a dozen college dropouts and high school kids to seek and implement knowledge of poker through the internet. Realising the value of the medium in gaining fame, Michigan State University dropout ‘Good2cu’ initiates the crew that is to become known as Ship It Holla Ballas!, accompanied by a dedicated website to publish the details of their successes as well as their “outrageous exploits including dancing with strippers, crashing a BMW, and literally swimming with sharks,” the official press release reads.
Were these kids living the dream or were just total idiots? Their prowess at the poker tables soon became unquestioned, for sure: some of them are now among the most renowned and established high stakes pros. Does the name ‘durrrr’ ring a bell, anyone? Yes, the guy who won a $1.1 million pot from poker legend Phil Ivey. On TV.
Indeed, the guys got bored of online play alone and went on to undertake adventures like entering the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, “where they flaunt their new found wealth, drinking heavily (thanks to fake IDs), frequenting strip clubs, and, of course, cheering each other on at the gambling table with their patented “Ship It Holla” shout-out. In fact, in one night, after TheUsher wins $284,000 at the 2006 World Series of Poker, he and his fellow Ballas blow $40,000 in the famous Spearmint Rhino strip club.”
Of course, 15 April, 2011 marked the end of the Ship It Holla Ballas! as well. Some of the crew went broke, losing the income to maintain their newly acquired, luxury way of life, while others managed to make it to among the best all-time pros. “Collectively they won close to $20 million in live tournaments and perhaps another $20 million in live cash games and online, making them »the most successful poker crew of all time. And they’re all still under thirty. «”
About the authors:
Jonathan Grotenstein is a former professional poker player and the author and co-author of eight books. His first book, Poker: The Real Deal (with Phil Gordon), remains one of the bestselling poker books of all time.
Storms Reback is a former professional poker player and the co-author of two books, including All In: The (Almost) Entirely True Story of the World Series of Poker (with Jonathan Grotenstein).
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