Subject: Re: What's With Nick Behnen? Date: 28 Jun 2001 19:25:54 GMT From: rthom15733@aol.com (RThom15733) Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com Newsgroups: rec.gambling.poker I keep reading all your posts concerning the WSOP 2001, yet you know very little, if anything of what went on behind the scenes, what really happened to the 3% toke money, what Becky did or didn't do and so forth. You couldn't know because you won't privy to that information, nor were you part of the immediate tournament staff that the was responsible for running the tournament or having to deal with the day to day decision making of the Behnun family, Nick included. You mentioned that none of the tournament staff has posted anything about the situation and what really happened at the WSOP 2001. So you know, my name is Robert W. Thompson II, I am Bob Thompson's son and Cathi Wood's brother. I was also part of the immediate tournament staff, I helped with the day to day operations of the tournament, as well as the before hand planning and organizing of the tournament. I 'm the one that introduced you (Razzo) to players at the Hollywood Park Casino Sport of Kings Poker tournament in March of 2000, of which I am the Tournament Director and have been since 1997. I explained to the players about your web site and what you are trying to do for poker, which when you stick to what you know, you contribute in a positive manner to poker and the poker world in general. As far the money Nick handed out on Sunday, April 22 during the evening, it was a dog and pony show to make them like they cared about the dealers and that the dealers were going to be well compensated for their work. He had security (Henry, who I happen to like, as well as most of the security personal who work or worked for the Horseshoe) call the dealers over to give them money. He also had some of the Brush personal, as well as the Dealer Coordinator called over to receive some of the money. If you think this was done out the kindness of his heart, than you are either very naive, just plain stupid, or a major league brown noser. He thanked them for doing a good job and so forth. It was all an act, because nothing had been decided at that time about how the 3% was going to be distributed. This was because Becky Behnun wanted to keep all the 3% to pay for wages and saleries.Their was talk of a walk out and the Behnuns were worried they wouldn't have anybody to deal the tournament. This happened before the Gaming Control Board told Becky she couldn't keep any of the money. When she was told by that Gaming Control Board that she couldn't keep any of the money, that's went she started to negotiate with dealers. This happened 5-7 days into the tournament. I quess she figured if she could keep the dealers working, she wouldn't have to worry about the rest of the tournament staff walking out, as we were replaceable. I was called over by a lady that was sitting with Nick. When I walk over to him, he said "your Bob Thompson, you have a lot money," at which time I went back to running the tournament. I would've never walked their on my own, as I won't degrade myself to ask for some BS bribe money to keep everybody working, while skirting the real issues. As far as us not posting the facts about this years WSOP, that is because we are in the process of trying to recoup the money that is owed to tournament staff and the people that weren't compensated adequately by the Behnun family. I will tell you this, they screwed the dealers, yourself included if you dealt any tournament downs, the tournament personnel and have went out of the way to ruin the WSOP, which is the biggest and most presitiges poker tournament in the world. The WSOP is like the Super Bowl of Football, the World Series of Baseball, NBA Basketball Championship and so forth. Nothing in poker compares to the WSOP. It should be criminal what they've done to destroy the tournament. So you know, when it's alright for us to make a post, I will post the facts about this years WSOP, including paperwork that was sent to the Gaming Control Board. Robert W. Thompson II