Kane Kalas Explained

Kane Kalas
Birth Name:Kane Christopher Kalas
Birth Date:11 May 1989
Birth Place:Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation:Investor, Poker player, singer, broadcaster
Education:University of Miami

Kane Kalas (born May 11, 1989[1]) is an American investor, poker player, recording artist and broadcaster.[2] [3] [4]

Early life

Kane Kalas was born on May 11, 1989, and was raised in Media, Pennsylvania. He is the son of the Philadelphia Phillies play-by-play commentator and Baseball Hall of Fame member Harry Kalas and brother of Todd Kalas, the play-by-play commentator for the Houston Astros.[5] Kalas attended University of Miami.[6]

Music career

Kalas is known for performing "The Star-Spangled Banner", "God Bless America", and "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at Citizens Bank Park.[7] It is a Philadelphia Phillies tradition for Kalas to perform the national anthem at each year’s home opener and when the Phillies are in the playoffs.[8] [9] [10]

In 2008, Kalas performed "America, the Dream Goes On" at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. In 2009, Kalas sang "America the Beautiful" at the Media Memorial Day parade.[11] In 2022 he performed at the Media Eagles Pep Rally celebrating the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl appearance that year. He has performed in the professional operas Fidelio and Agostino and the Puchinni Clarinet.[12] [13]

In 2023, Kalas released an album titled High Hopes, dedicated to his father, Harry Kalas, and the city of Philadelphia. The cover album includes original compositions of 18 classic American Standards.[14]

Poker career

Kalas starting playing online poker professionally under the handle "NASCAR_1949" during his freshman year of college in 2008.[15] Between then and Poker Black Friday, Kalas competed in the largest cash games that have ever run online. He was a regular in Full Tilt Poker's Rail Heaven $500/$1000 No-limit Hold 'em games. During this time, Kalas made poker training videos for Pokernews Strategy, which later changed its name to Poker Phenoms.

Kalas' debut in televised poker occurred on the Fox Sports Network in September 2014, when he placed second in the WPT Borgata Poker Open for a total prize of over $500,000.[16] [17] [18]

Kalas was featured in ESPN's coverage of the 2015 World Series of Poker Main Event.

Kalas is the winner of the biggest pot in televised poker history. In May 2018, he won a $2,178,770 pot in the Triton Cash Game from the Triton Super High Roller series held in Montenegro.[19] [20] [21] [22]

In 2019, Upswing Poker released a Six-plus hold'em training course featuring Kalas as the instructor.[23]

Broadcasting

Kalas is a regular broadcaster of the World Series of Poker for PokerGo, PokerCentral, and CBS All Access.[24]

He has called play-by-play for a number of World Poker Tour events including PartyPoker's WPT Montreal, WPT Thunder Valley, WPT Deepstacks Parx, and WPT Borgata.[25]

He called play-by-play for the first broadcast of the Triton Super High Roller Series in Montenegro in May 2018.[26] [27]

When the Patrick Antonius Poker Challenge tournament and cash game series debuted in 2019, in Tallinn, Estonia, Kalas commentated the event. Kalas also commentated the “High Stakes Feud” grudge match between Daniel Negreanu and Doug Polk in 2020.[28]

Kalas has also broadcast events for the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, Live at the Bike, and the Borgata Poker Open.

Discography

Studio albums

Notes and References

  1. Book: Miller, Randy. Harry the K: The Remarkable Life of Harry Kalas. ReadHowYouWant. October 19, 2019. September 2010. 9781458760111.
  2. Web site: Hagen . Paul . March 31, 2016 . Harry Kalas' son shows passion for performing . September 3, 2018 . MLB.com.
  3. News: Schoen . David . June 22, 2017 . Poker pro Kane Kalas discovers voice in broadcast booth . September 3, 2018 . Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  4. News: Harry Kalas' Son Kane Making Own Name as Poker Pro - WSOP News. Pokerlistings. September 3, 2018.
  5. News: Stamm . Dan . April 13, 2009 . The Voice Is Silent, the Memories Live On . September 3, 2018 . NBC Chicago.
  6. News: Kane Kalas: At the Intersection of Broadcaster and Pro Poker Player. Bluff. October 19, 2019.
  7. News: Citizens Bank Park is set for opening day – South Philly Review. April 4, 2018. South Philly Review. September 4, 2018.
  8. News: Chaffin . Sean . April 19, 2018 . Poker and Crypto in Puerto Rico: Kalas Takes Talents to the Tropics . September 4, 2018 . PokerNews.
  9. News: Phillies to giveaway Harry Kalas replica statue. August 19, 2016. PHL17.com. September 4, 2018.
  10. News: April 15, 2009 . Phillies have big plans for Kalas tribute . September 4, 2018 . Press of Atlantic City.
  11. News: Klein . Michael . May 5, 2009 . Kane Kalas to sing at Media's Memorial Day parade . September 4, 2018 . Philly.com.
  12. Web site: A Poker Life: Kane Kalas - Poker News. Card Player. September 3, 2018.
  13. News: "Harry Kalas. He's Household". NBC 10 Philadelphia. September 4, 2018.
  14. Web site: Tanenbaum . Michael . April 7, 2023 . Kane Kalas, son of legendary Phillies broadcaster, releases album of familiar big band hits . April 30, 2023 . PhillyVoice . english.
  15. Web site: "lady marmelade" Gives Away $594K While Playing In Heaven • HighStakesReport™. www.highstakesreport.com. en. September 4, 2018.
  16. Web site: January 31, 2018 . Kane Kalas Lives Up To Family Name with Success in the Booth and On the Felt Main Tour WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Season 2017-2018 3 2,000/6,000-12,000 World Poker Tour . September 4, 2018 . World Poker Tour . en-US.
  17. News: McGuire . Pauly . May 21, 2018 . Koon, Kalas and the $2M pot . September 4, 2018 . Club Poker . en-US.
  18. Web site: Kane Kalas' profile on The Hendon Mob. The Hendon Mob Poker Database. en. September 4, 2018.
  19. News: Gibbs . Erik . May 23, 2018 . Jason Koon loses $2M cash pot, still wins over $4M in Triton madness . September 4, 2018 . CalvinAyre.com . en-US.
  20. News: Kane Kalas Beats Jason Koon In €2Million Record Breaking Cash Game Pot. HighstakesDB. September 4, 2018.
  21. News: Hartwell . Louis . May 20, 2018 . The elite go public at the Triton Super High Roller Series in Montenegro - Somuchpoker . September 4, 2018 . Somuchpoker . en-US.
  22. Web site: Pempus . Brian . May 21, 2018 . Jason Koon, Kane Kalas Play Monster $2M Poker Cash Game Pot . September 4, 2018 . CardPlayer.com . en.
  23. Web site: Kane Kalas . September 4, 2018 . WSOP.com.
  24. News: Triton Super High Roller Series Returns to Maestral Resort & Casino in May. April 26, 2018. Casino News Daily. September 4, 2018. en-US.
  25. News: Sofen . Jon . September 23, 2016 . WPT Borgata Poker Open 2016 Down to Final Table, Farid Jattin Leads . September 4, 2018 . Cardschat . en-US.
  26. Web site: Poker Stories: Poker Stories: Kane Kalas on Apple Podcasts . April 26, 2023 . Apple Podcasts . en-US.
  27. News: April 26, 2018 . Triton Super High Roller Series Returns to Maestral Resort & Casino in May . en-US . Casino News Daily . September 4, 2018.
  28. Web site: Schult . Steve . November 2, 2020 . Poker Pros Daniel Negreanu And Doug Polk To Start Grudge Match With Live Poker . 2024-04-07 . CardPlayer.com.
  29. Web site: Sofen . Jon . April 5, 2023 . Kane Kalas has 'High Hopes' for Album Dedicated to Baseball Broadcasting Legend Father . April 30, 2023 . PokerNews.com . en.