Thursday, December 29, 2005
The Greatest Game on Earth
While sitting back and taking it easy by not going to work :), I've been watching the 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event. And it's reminded me why I've started playing in the first place.
You have a chance to sit down and play against some of the world's greats: Doyle Brunson, Dan Harrington, Phil Ivey, Gus Hansen, Daniel Negreanu. They're all there. Can you sign up to play hockey and skate with Joe Sakic? Can you try to go up to bat and hit a home run in the World Series while Roger Clemmons is throwing rockets at you? No chance, but in poker, it's possible. And not only that, you even have a chance to win.
Some of the best poker players are white, black, Asian, male, female...doesn't matter. They come from all corners of the globe. I think the only continent not represented is Antarctica.
Some are immigrants with little education and have become world champions, like Scotty Nguyen. Some have earned their PhDs, like 2000 champion Chris Ferguson, who graduated from UCLA majoring in computer science, specializing in artificial intelligence.
I've read about a poker player who is blind. His wife accompanies him to the table, and whispers in his ear the cards played and what bets are being made.
I watch in amazement when I see amateur Thomas Rockwell play. He lost the use of his arms in a motorcycle accident. He brings a small wooden ramp to the table, and he uses his feet to slide the cards up the ramp so he can see what he's holding, as well as push the chips back and forth when he's betting.
There's Buddy Williams, a 30 year pro who has been bound to a wheelchair since childhood. And he's made it to the final table on the World Poker Tour.
Age is irrelevant. Of course, you need to be at least 21 years old if you play in Las Vegas, but the 2005 World Series featured the oldest entrant ever, at 90 years of age. Think he's not feisty? He got a 10 minute penalty for cursing at one point. They also showed a hand he won, making quad 5s. I dream of making quads!
A real dream I have though is to one day play at the World Series or World Poker Tour, and it's not an unrealistic goal, either. No matter how many bad beats I get, or how long a streak of cold cards I'm dealt, the charm of poker will always be there, and I will always be at the table in hopes to get lucky.
Poker: All welcome.
# posted by SBP : 5:16 PM
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Rob!
I'm certain at birth you must have had your tear ducts removed or something. BUT THAT'S OK! Thanks for being a regular visitor of the blog.
In any World Series sanctioned poker tournament, cursing is forbidden. If you swear at the table, you cannot play a hand for 10 minutes. If you repeat the offense, additional 10 minute penalties may be imposed. In fact, 2005 main event's 9th place finisher, Mike Matusow, did not play a hand for 40 minutes at one point for repeated violation of this rule. I have no problems with this. Nothing wrong with running a tournament as civil as possible, although trash talk is permitted you still need to choose your words carefully.
To your second point, the official language of these tournaments is English. You can be penalized for talking or communicating in any other language, for the simple reason you can give or receive information about your hand that could make for an unfair advantage against the other players. I have no problems with this rule, either.
Finally...sorry buddy, but there HAS been crying in poker. One guy at this year's World Series was in tears telling the other players to stop and wait for this guy to come back from break before they played. Another guy who called an all-in with a king-high flush who was beaten by an ace-high flush looked like he was going to run home to mamma. In the early days of poker, you'd draw your six shooter and be done with it, but now, pass the hanky.
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I'm certain at birth you must have had your tear ducts removed or something. BUT THAT'S OK! Thanks for being a regular visitor of the blog.
In any World Series sanctioned poker tournament, cursing is forbidden. If you swear at the table, you cannot play a hand for 10 minutes. If you repeat the offense, additional 10 minute penalties may be imposed. In fact, 2005 main event's 9th place finisher, Mike Matusow, did not play a hand for 40 minutes at one point for repeated violation of this rule. I have no problems with this. Nothing wrong with running a tournament as civil as possible, although trash talk is permitted you still need to choose your words carefully.
To your second point, the official language of these tournaments is English. You can be penalized for talking or communicating in any other language, for the simple reason you can give or receive information about your hand that could make for an unfair advantage against the other players. I have no problems with this rule, either.
Finally...sorry buddy, but there HAS been crying in poker. One guy at this year's World Series was in tears telling the other players to stop and wait for this guy to come back from break before they played. Another guy who called an all-in with a king-high flush who was beaten by an ace-high flush looked like he was going to run home to mamma. In the early days of poker, you'd draw your six shooter and be done with it, but now, pass the hanky.
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