photo courtesy of NY Times

Steven Begleiter, the ex-Bear-Stearns head of corporate strategy, will be in 3rd place in chips when the final table reconvenes in November: A far cry from his situation over a year ago when Bear-Stearns was sold to JP Morgan Chase, thus ending the only job he'd had since graduating from college in 1984.

Begleiter had a major advantage when he entered the Main Event: He had a vacation to Europe already planned with his family. So, Begleiter was most likely playing without the nerves that afflict so many other players. If he busts out he goes to Europe -- a very nice consolation prize!

I'm planning on taking an over/under on Norman Chad's government bailout one-liners in a Begleiter hand: I figure two per hand, any takers?