Cocktails! ... Cocktails?? ...
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There is a new rule in effect today at the Rio that is causing some commotion amongst the spectators.
It began a few hours ago when we tried to order a water from the cocktail servers at our media desk, as we often do. The media is notorious for tipping well, yet we were refused service. The server told us, "I'd love to serve you, but we had a meeting today, and we're no longer allowed to give you water." That raised our eyebrows, but fortunately, we know the location of every free, clean water dispensary in the building. So we forgot about it for a little while.
But the issue has reappeared here at the final table. Michael Mizrachi's wife is on the rail with David Levi, and the two of them just asked a server for water. She looked confused and frustrated herself, and she told them she wasn't able to serve them. Mrs. Grinder was likewise confused: "I don't understand. They were letting us buy drinks at the last final table." After a little poking on our part, we've learned that Harrah's is no longer serving drinks to anyone other than players and supervisors, effective today.
A short while later, the server came back to our final table rail, and she brought Mrs. Grinder a beer and a water with her apologies. Apparently, immediate family members are still allowed drinks, but everyone else will have to go to the cash bar and buy their own water or cocktails. "Even first cousins," said one of the bosses.
We're anxious to see what effect this has on the spectators, but we're already envisioning some sparsely populated, rather quiet and unexciting final table galleries without the proper free alcohol to keep things lubricated.