Subject: Mike Caro not supporting WSOP (for now) Date: 22 Apr 2001 11:17:21 -0700 From: Paul Phillips Organization: A droolingly well-maintained Debian GNU/Linux InterNetNews site Newsgroups: rec.gambling.poker Mike gave me permission to post this. Topic: Mike Caro will not attend the WSOP Conf: MCU Poker Forum From: Mike Caro mikecaro@planetpoker.com Date: Sunday, April 22, 2001 10:15 AM Please pass this along. I will not be attending the World Series of Poker this year, unless circumstances change. I had no definitive plans to do so, anyway, except that I was strongly considering the final main event and the lowball event. The management at Binion's Horseshoe Hotel and Casino has chosen to exclude two prominent players from their premises. They are Paul Phillips and Richard Tatalovich. Richard is currently the title-holder at another major poker event. Although I'm still investigating, and I haven't yet interviewed the principals on the Horseshoe side (I hope to today), it is clear to me that these barrings (certainly Paul's) were largely a result of comments they were quoted as making in a Las Vegas Review Journal article. These comments related to dissention about how a new three-percent fee -- that was being subtracted from the normal prize pools -- would be distributed. In my mind, the comments (solicited by the reporter) weren't even very negative. But even had they been, a practice of excluding players for expressing personal opinions diminishes the role of the WSOP. It is chilling to learn that other players are remaining mum for fear of also being barred. If the events are not open to all honest players who conduct themselves appropriately, these are not truly world championships. While I'm still in the process of sorting this out, and it has been taking some time, I think it is important for you to know that as of now, I cannot support this year's WSOP. Straight Flushes, Mike Caro