Phil Ivey sitting out WSOP in protest-Running 2011 World Series of Poker thread

from what I have been reading, the WSOP sounds packed this year.

 

Good points, Pern. I don't think the game itself is a fad, but watching bigger tourneys on TV is on the downslope.

For a few years, I was in a weekly home game league that had 20 people strong every Monday. That league still goes on, but the weekly turnout is down to 12 or so most weeks. At $20/week, it wasn't a big pop financially, but when you factor in the $20, plus the gas money and whatever is spent on beer/food, it added up. If the impact is being felt at that level, it's certainly being felt at the casino level, where stakes are obviously higher.

 

Good personalities make good TV, and so do repeat personalities. It's just not that likely that someone will make a final table run a couple of years in a row, much less someone who viewers will care about.

Also, we're pretty much numb to any antics -- seeing Hellmuth throw a fit isn't as interesting as it was 6 years ago.

 

A lot of the people I know who play weren't playing with their expendable income.

 

A fair point ... I have a friend who was like that

 

So, you're saying it's soccer?

Seriously, I agree. I don't know how you could watch poker unless you play it. It's not like a spot where there is inherent drama or impressive physical feats. You really have to understand it to appreciate it, or even be entertained by it.

 

You can now bet on the WSOP:

 

Just saw where Phil Helmuth took home his third SECOND of the WSOP this year, finishing second to Brian Rast in the $50K Players Championship.

Hellmuth had a chip lead of $15M-$3M at one point and lost it all while chasing flushes.

Say what you want about him, but he's been playing some incredible poker this year and he's proving that he is the best tournament player of all time, if he already hasn't proved it.

 

Paul Pierce survives to second day:

http://eye-on-basketball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/30584415

 

If you haven't watched the "live" coverage on ESPN2 today, set your DVR or watch it Saturday. Really good. Interesting analysis. Gives you a much better idea of what it's really like, not the edited version they show on Tuesdays.

Esfandiari doing great analysis.

 

I agree because I play poker and I like trying to figure out what guys have.

But, that being said, I can't see how this is going to attract viewers because if you don't understand the game more than just a little, you have no idea what is going on.

And not seeing the hole cards makes it impossible to know what decisions a guy is making in hands where the action is very slow.

I understand what you are saying about the Tuesday show -but it is edited in a way that the casual fan can watch it, enjoy it and find it to be exciting.

 

Yeah. You're right. It's great for poker players, but not casual players. Probably getting awful ratings, but I like it.