Subject: Lunch With Becky Date: 24 Apr 2001 06:13:24 GMT From: dsklansky@aol.com (Dsklansky) Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com Newsgroups: rec.gambling.poker Becky Behnen invited me to lunch today where we talked about the controversy, among other things. In a nutshell she felt personally insulted by the two players who had critical comments about the tournament that were printed in the RJ. She said that the comments were innaccurate (and went into some detail explaining why) but that wasn't really the point. To her, the World Series of Poker was a tradition started by her father that basically entailed almost a family get together hosted by the Horseshoe. She claimed not to make money on it, at least not directly, yet tremendous effort is put into it. Believe it or not the word she used to describe the two players was "rude". You could almost say they hurt her feelings. It offended her that they would not come to her personally with their complaints rather than going to the press. Isn't that the polite thing to do with someone who offers you their hospitality? She said that she considers The WSOP something she extends invitations for, almost as if she was inviting people to her house. And she does not want impolite negative people in her house. Though I can't be sure whether she was being disengeuous with me or not, the fact that she offered to unbar them if they apologized lends credence to her words. By an apology I don't think she meant they had to retract their dislike of the 3% deal, but rather apoligize for their badmouthing without talking to her first. In other words she seemed to have taken this real personal. The 1st amendment seemed the furthest thing from her mind as was scaring people into never criticizing her casino. (To those who say she was putting on an act for me I will invoke my skills as a poker player and say I doubt it.) In reply I told her that I thought it was naive to still consider the WSOP the freindly reunion it once was. Most of the players don't even know her. Furthermore her tournament is not only a premier event but is also regarded by everyone as the World's Championship. Disregarding the fact that barring someone for exercising free speech is repugnant to many, we also have the fact that the victories will be slightly tainted given the forced absence of two players. (As an aside; Doyle and Chip are NOT barred.) Thus it seemed to me that at the least, these guys should be allowed to play tournaments even if they are to "impolite" to have access to their restaurants. She did not give me a definitive reply. David Sklansky