BY TOM SOMACH

News and notes from the 2007 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas:

A blind poker player will compete in the main event of the WSOP.

Jason Holbrook, 37, of Bakersfield, Calif., USA, qualified for the main event by winning a satellite qualifying tournament earlier this year at the Golden West Casino in Bakersfield.

Holbrook lost his sight in a tragic truck accident in 1991, but has continued his lifelong love affair with poker ever since.

So how does a blind player know when he’s the, uh, big blind?

With a little help from a friend, of course.

When Holbrook plays poker, he has a sighted companion whisper in his ear what his hole cards are, what the community cards are and how much the other players have bet.

The companion can also tell Holbrook what cards the other players have turned over, how many chips they and he have left and where the dealer’s button is.

The companion may not, however, offer Holbrook any advice on how to play the hand.

Incidentally, Holbrook will not be the only nhandicapped player at this year’s main event.

Earlier this year, a tournament was held in Illinois for deaf poker players only, with the winner earning a seat at this year’s WSOP main event.

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The nephew of Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan is working as a student intern at the WSOP.

Heath Shanahan, a 21-year-old senior and marketing major at Ball State University in Indiana, is working in the WSOP press office at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino off the famed Las Vegas Strip, assisting reporters covering the WSOP.

He tells PokerHelper.com that his dream job upon graduation is to work at ESPN.

He is a Colts fan.

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Most celebrities who play in celebrity poker tournaments don’t know how to play poker very well–they are usually invited for the “cache” of their names and the publicity they will generate for the event.

Some celebs, however, really do know how to play the game.

One such celebrity is comedian Norm MacDonald, the former “Saturday Night Live” star who was famously fired from the popular TV show a few years back.

He competed in WSOP Event #28, a $3,000 buy-in, no-limit Texas hold ‘em tournament and finished in 20th place, winning $14,608.

He also entered the WSOP main event last year.

A self-confessed degenerate gambler, MacDonald has admitted to losing huge sums of money betting on sports.

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Another celebrity whose poker skills are legit is comedian and “Welcome Back, Kotter” star Gabe Kaplan.

Kaplan, who once graced the cover of “Gambling Times” magazine because of his poker know-how, is entered in WSOP Event #39, a $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. tournament with a top prize of over $2 million.

With such a hefty entry fee, it’s obvious “Kotter” has been winning a lot of poker tourneys lately–or else those TV residual checks are still coming in.