Aside from my duties as Vikings reporter for KFAN Radio and my baseball/sabermetric musings around here, most of you probably know by now that I helped launch Minnesota Poker Magazine about six months ago.

The reception has been fantastic so far, and we thank everybody who’s helped us along the way.

But because I enjoy not having a social life and working 16 hours every day (sorry, friends and family, for being non-existent lately…), I have also teamed up with Bryan Mileski, as well as six casino/cardrooms statewide, to launch the Minnesota State Poker Tour.

These are BRACELET EVENTS with two-day main events and deep stack structures. Needless to say, the tour is going to be awesome!

Minnesota has always been an underrated poker hotbed, and we’re attempting to push things to the next level. You can read about details and locations at MinnesotaStatePokerTour.com, and we’ll be adding more items and specific information in the coming weeks.

The first event takes place December 9-14 at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN.

In 2010, we will hold events at Grand Casino Mille Lacs, Running Aces, Northern Lights, Jackpot Junction, Grand Casino Hinckley, and again at Canterbury.

So if I haven’t been diligent about returning phone calls or fulfilling friendship and family obligations lately, I apologize!

But now you know why