Subject: WSOP not the world championship unless everyone gets to play.
Date: 22 Apr 2001 15:48:25 GMT
From: abloch@alum.mit.edu
Organization: NewsOne.Net - Free Usenet News via the Web - http://newsone.net/
Newsgroups: rec.gambling.poker
Followup-To: rec.gambling.poker

I flew out to Las Vegas for two weeks to play in the WSOP, and had plans to
return for the final event.  But when I heard that Binion's had kicked out
Paul Phillips, I immediately decided not to patronize Binions and posted my
decision on the BARGE and TARGET lists.  I now reiterate my boycott here.

My decision was based on free speech.  For those players who continue to play
at Binion's: even if you don't care enough about free speech to boycot the
WSOP, you should think about staying away from Binion's, because any victory
will forever be tarnished

Imagine if the PGA barred Tiger Woods and other top tournament pros from the
PGA Championship in August, just for talking with a reporter about a
controversial change in the compensation of tournament personnel.  The PGA
might try to call the winner the "world champion" of golf for 2001, but golf
fans wouldn't be fooled.

The equivalent of the PGA Championship in the world of poker is the
Championship Event of the World Series of Poker.  And, less than a month
before the Championship, the Horseshoe management has started banning top
contenders merely for speaking to reporters about how money coming from
players' tournament entries should be divided amongst tournament personnel.
No doubt, the Horseshoe Casino would like to call the winner of the WSOP
Championship Event this year's "World Champion."  But you shouldn't be
fooled.

The Horseshoe has barred Paul Phillips and Richard Tatalovich.  Who's next?
Binion's advertising boasts that "anyone over 21 years of age can enter and
compete," but, apparently, Binion's has their own flexible definition of
"anyone," much like their flexible definition of "tournament personnel" that
Phillips and Tatalovich complained of.

Lest you think that barring Phillips and Tatalovich will have little effect,
these are two strong players who have recent major No Limit wins.  In
February, Phillips took first place and $55,500 in a No Limit event at the
Commerce Casino's LA Poker Classic, and followed it up with second place for
$95,950 in the LA Poker Classic Championship final 6 days later.  In
December, Richard Tatalovich won $318,000 in the final event of the U.S.
Poker Championship held at the Taj Mahal.  Both players have won or put in
top money finishes in several other major tournaments this past year and are
arguably two of the top favorites to win the WSOP Championship Event.  Both
are probably underrated by many other top players.

Many other entrants from previous years and other poker players are refusing
to enter WSOP events or play any game at the Horseshoe, shocked at the
retaliation against Phillips and Tatalovich for exercising their freedom of
speech in a reasonable manner.  But many poker players are continuing to
remain at the WSOP, aparently enough unphased by these events that their
desire for fame, fortune, or just some action makes playing at the WSOP still
worthwhile.  To these poker players I ask:

    Without Phillips, Tatalovich, and many other top players, will
    the winner of this year's "Championship Event" really be a World
    Champion?  What if last year's champion, Chris Ferguson, also
    refuses to play?  Can a tournament be called a world championship
    if top contenders are barred for illegitimate reasons, and other top
    contenders refuse to enter?

The answer is No. Yes, Binion's Horseshoe Casino owns the rights to the words
"World Series of Poker".  Yes, the casino can call the final event the "World
Championship" and even decide who plays.  But, to most of the rest of the
poker world, this year's "World Championship" will be just like any other
poker tournament, if not less prestigious.  This year's winner may win more
money than in other tournaments, but, with 2 challengers barred from playing
and many others staying away, this year's winner cannot be called a champion.
 You can't have a world champion unless the world is invited.

Right now, the world champion is Chris Ferguson, with Tatalovich next in line,
and the same will be true after the WSOP unless Phillips and Tatalovich both
play.

Anyone playing at the WSOP for fun or just hoping to get lucky should find
someplace else to play -- the Bellagio, Mirage, or other casino in or out of
Las Vegas are all more pleasant, and more responsive and tolerant to
criticism.  Anyone planning to play the WSOP for fame should realize that
this year's prize isn't fame but shame.  And any serious players who can
afford not to play should realize it is in their best interests to sit these
events out.  If these players left, the only players remaining would be pros
who desperately need the earnings from the WSOP.  Good luck beating each
other, and the increased house rake.

Andrew Bloch
abloch@alum.mit.edu

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