After nearly a four-month wait, the World Series of Poker finally crowned its 2008 main-event champion at about 5:30 am Eastern time this morning. The heads-up duel went for just about four hours, but in true poker-on-TV fashion, will probably be edited down to four minutes when shown later tonight on ESPN.

(I could either put up a picture of the 9 dudes who played for the title, or I could put up this picture. Not a tough choice.)

The final nine players of the 6,844-person field were determined back in July, but they didn’t actually begin final-table play until Sunday morning. In the past, the winner would be known months before the footage was shown on TV. This new format allowed for “suspense” as the winner was determined after the deadline to be in today’s newspapers (because everyone gets their news in print format these days). Of course, through the magic of the internet, we know everything that happened (and ESPN is curiously running the result in its crawl. So much for trying to keep this secret until it airs.)

Spoiler alert, if you decide to click through:

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Joe Navarro’s job used to be figuring out if someone was lying about knowing where Osama bin Laden was hiding. He’s given up that job for one much more important: figuring out if someone’s going all in hoping for a high card.

(I interpret this pose as saying, “Buy My Book.”)

The former FBI body language expert will be in Las Vegas for a World Series of Poker Academy session, teaching players how to read their opponents. Considering we haven’t caught bin Laden, and poker is apparently a real sport now, I guess Navarro made a good career change.

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• DEADSPIN finds a fan who just couldn’t wait for Philly stores to carry new Elton Brand Sixers jerseys (sorry, Shawn Bradley).

• FOOD COURT LUNCH whips up an apology FIA boss Max Mosley might want to try out on his embarrassed wife of 48 years.

• BUGS & CRANKS feels they’re suited for the best job available in Boston - wearing the costume of Red Sox mascot Wally The Green Monster.

• The CLEVELAND LEADER finally sees a championship for the Ohio city in its sights, thanks to a local teacher at this year’s World Series of Poker.

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