WSOP Main Event Held in November?
This Thursday on RoundersRadio, the Lou Krieger show interviewed Jeffery Pollack, the commissioner of the World Series of Poker to discuss changes made to the WSOP format ... one change is to push the final table back to November. The final nine will battle it out until they reach the final two and then play a heads up match the next day.Press release
Of course the commissioner sees no ill effect with the current course the WSOP has taken and he suggests there are benefits for the final table players (via endorsement deals and coaching) but what if they get a poker degenerate? Some less than saintly players out there. Makes for good reality tv I guess but it does place the focus outside the felt.
NOW the side show begins ... introduce the homeless poker buddy that claims collusion with player X a few years ago, the girlfriend and baby he has ignored, the IRS ready to collect back taxes, other poker players ready to give their 2 cents worth, mother crying because she has not seen her son in 5 years, lawsuits claiming a stake percentage, business partner wronged, etc etc etc.
Who cares? What about these cons?
- All players can have coaches ... changing the play and outcome of the game.
- No reliable feel or reads on players after the 3-4 month delay.
- Unwelcomed intrusion in personal life???
- Possible no show at the final table.
- Collusion or side deals creating a tainted final event.
- Inability to play in events (or attend family/business functions) that are scheduled for November.
- Sponsorship deal for reaching the final table is not a given.
What tells could a pro pick up on?
Jamie Gold won the 2006 main event by applying pressure with his stack while telling the opponent the true strength or weakness of his hand. We could see it at home, screaming to call or fold, and then see the other players make the wrong move ... but at the table no one knew Gold's style. What would have happened if professional poker player like Allen Cunningham had months to pick up Gold's physical or stylistic tells?
Is this good for poker?
Corporate America put poker players in tents last year ... this year they are sticking the players out to dry for a higher profit margin. Pollack said the delay will give the players an “unprecedented opportunity to capture the world’s attention” with the help of ESPN and the world’s media outlets. This just in, not everyone wants to be a celebrity ... and those that do will have no problem with or without the format change.
Corporate greed has turned this once hallowed poker event into a side show. Good for poker? Time will tell. But poker is meant to be a game of skill, luck, stamina and momentum ... let it play out as it was meant to be.
Who's Money is it?
It hit me why I am bothered by the change ... it is the players' money. What sport do you pay a huge entry fee and then are told to wait months to declare a winner? SuperBowl? MLB World Series? Horse Racing? NASCAR? No!
In professional sports or other public events, the money comes from sponsors, TV revenue, or the patrons themselves, poker players put up 100% of the prize pool (minus admin fees of course). Harrahs or ESPN does not fund the prize pool ... they award the winner with the players' moneys!
Harrahs and ESPN make a large amount of coin for hosting, producing and airing the WSOP. If they were providing/funding the prize pool for the Main Event then I understand the hoops they are making the final table players dance through. The extra revenue generated by this change benefits Harrahs, ESPN, and any other sponsors involved with this event.
Dance monkey dance ... you are on camera, entertain us while we profit from it!
1. This change was made to increase revenue. I asked him what would make it a success and his response was typical PR about promoting poker but in the end he admitted it was to make more money by creating more of a buzz.
Corporate greed has turned this once hallowed poker event into a side show. Good for poker? Time will tell. But poker is meant to be a game of skill, luck, stamina and momentum ... let it play out as it was meant to be.Who's Money is it?
It hit me why I am bothered by the change ... it is the players' money. What sport do you pay a huge entry fee and then are told to wait months to declare a winner? SuperBowl? MLB World Series? Horse Racing? NASCAR? No!
In professional sports or other public events, the money comes from sponsors, TV revenue, or the patrons themselves, poker players put up 100% of the prize pool (minus admin fees of course). Harrahs or ESPN does not fund the prize pool ... they award the winner with the players' moneys!
Harrahs and ESPN make a large amount of coin for hosting, producing and airing the WSOP. If they were providing/funding the prize pool for the Main Event then I understand the hoops they are making the final table players dance through. The extra revenue generated by this change benefits Harrahs, ESPN, and any other sponsors involved with this event.
Dance monkey dance ... you are on camera, entertain us while we profit from it!
A few Weeks Later
Monday May 12, 2008
I had an interesting 40 minute Q&A session with Bernard Lee on RoundersRadio (Bernard Lee writes for ESPN and the Boston Herald, and has his own talk radio program in Boston) ... this is what I got:
1. This change was made to increase revenue. I asked him what would make it a success and his response was typical PR about promoting poker but in the end he admitted it was to make more money by creating more of a buzz.
2. On the issue of collusion ... it will be addressed but nothing out side "a talking to" and the "ban for life" if caught.
3. He conceded the fact the tournament outcome would change (or at least be influenced) because of issues like stamina and momentum. The delay will aid those that need the break to re-evaluate their play or just to tired to focus.
4. The interest on funds held will be paid to the current pay structure of the final table ... 9th place will get nothing additional. So basically they get their own money with less interest then they might have earn on their own.
5. We talked about the intrusion in a player's personal life ... I have to admit it is a small thing compared million of dollars that are available in endorsement deals and the intrusion will happen to all the players chasing the golden egg. I ended up agreeing this is a non-issue in the grand scheme.
After some reflection I have come up to the same conclusion ... I don't care for the change. They changed the cards last year (which they quickly discovered was a mistake), placed people in tents, isolated players on the final table to help tv ratings, etc etc etc ... they were also clearly overwhelmed by the volume of players during the WSOP ... I see no reason that this is another mistake for Harrahs. I could be wrong.
Possible Solution?
You want to increase ratings to help generate more revenue? Bring back the Tournament of Champions! ... but with a twist. Every bracelet winner goes into a heads up match ... Jerry Yang (Main Event Winner) vs Freddy Deeb ($50,000 HORSE Winner) ... heck you could invite WSOPE players ... to me that is good tv with an international audience!!!
After some reflection I have come up to the same conclusion ... I don't care for the change. They changed the cards last year (which they quickly discovered was a mistake), placed people in tents, isolated players on the final table to help tv ratings, etc etc etc ... they were also clearly overwhelmed by the volume of players during the WSOP ... I see no reason that this is another mistake for Harrahs. I could be wrong.
Possible Solution?
You want to increase ratings to help generate more revenue? Bring back the Tournament of Champions! ... but with a twist. Every bracelet winner goes into a heads up match ... Jerry Yang (Main Event Winner) vs Freddy Deeb ($50,000 HORSE Winner) ... heck you could invite WSOPE players ... to me that is good tv with an international audience!!!
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