dn latest blog entry

[HarryDemetriou 0]

Harry,Any thoughts on forming a players association to try to prevent the corporations from imposing their will on poker. We all know they make desicions based on profit, not the best interest of the game.Thanks,

I've been working on a players union/assoc for some time but to be realistic and honest its got about a 5% chance of getting established and will take at least another year to set up.

[jles96 0]

Dan is upset over a reduction in equity not a few pro's bumping players that qualified from the field which is not the case if I understand it right. also the Pro golf tour does this very thing every single week (obviuosly with the players knowledge) for the same exact reasons the TOC is doing it

Don't you see that this makes it VASTLY different? The fact that the players know and it's part of the rules makes it ok. What happened here is not ok at all. The players who qualified PIAD money out of their pocket for an opportunity that they weren't given. They paid to play only against qualifiers, and then it was opened to the whole world. Let's use an extreme example: let's say they justify the high % of juice because they are giving away a $2 million dollar freeroll. Then, a week before the event they announce that ANYONE can play if they buy in for $100. So now, your 1 in 109 chance has become a 1 in 3000 chance.

I agree 100%! If Harrah's decided they wanted to leave the door open for adding top pro's then they should have made a disclaimer upfront. Doyle, Johnny, and Phil had there opportunity to win a seat. They chose not to play in the circuit. This extra favoritism is uncalled for. They set the rules up front. PERIOD. At least we see what they are all about.

[ddudley 0]

Harry,Any thoughts on forming a players association to try to prevent the corporations from imposing their will on poker. We all know they make desicions based on profit, not the best interest of the game.Thanks,

I've been working on a players union/assoc for some time but to be realistic and honest its got about a 5% chance of getting established and will take at least another year to set up.

Have you spoken to Roy Cooke? I thought his ideas were great.Have you spoken to Daniel about helping out?I'm very passionate about this subject. If you need help I'm willing to voluteer my time for whatever you need. I'll even pay my own travel expenses, phone charges, etc.

[jles96 0]

DN is plain wrong about his view on letting non-qualifiers in the TOC. If the people putting up the $2 mill do not get a good tv rating ( return on investment) they will not have it in the future....oh I know he says they should have said there would be Sponsors exemptions from the beginning which they should have done but the bottom line is, this is really a freeroll and DN should have played better to get it...if he was one of the exemptions he'd feel different.

I posted my reply under the DN Journal Entry Tournament of champions section but DN is NOT wrong and has hit the nail on the head EXACTLY as to how I feel.I am disugusted by the WSOP changing the qualification rules in this way and take it as a personal insult......and as for people like myself and Daniel being non qualified..........well they could have easily changed the rules to allow both of us to be qualified and I guarantee you that Daniels participation would definitely help TV ratings.This freeroll is about those good enough and loyal enough to have played the circuit events and was introduced to reward those players and not just those lucky enough to be invited through a Mickey Mouse vote last year (Annie Duke won that one and was not entitled to be there imo).If they wanted a high profile "Celebrity" event then I would have had a 1 table tv event similar to last year and would have chosen the ten highest profile players.How I desperately wish that I had won a bracelet this year as then I could have been happy in the knowledge that I would never EVER have to play another one of their events.Now I want to win one or better still the main event for all the wrong reasons namely to refuse to give them an interview and be in a psotion where I can castigate them for treating myself and my peers so badly.

That could be the funniest thing I would ever see on ESPN. I would definately enjoy it.

[typesick 0]

i can definitely see both sides of this issue...

[Bohica 0]

Harry;I may not have the resources to pay my own expenses, etc. but I'm sure that I and many others on here are willing to help either you or Daniel (or both) in your efforts.Post and let us know what we can do to aid in your efforts.

[Fanatikk 0]

Okay if it's as simple as whether it's wrong or right, I guess I agree that it's wrong, but there's some gray area definitely.Did they raise the entry fees to get into these tournies to pay for the cost of the TOC? I'm assuming they didn't.Did the players playing in all these tournies really play the tournies to get into this TOC? I'm thinking99percent of the players would have participated either way.Are the people who are willing to give away $2mill with no entry fee completely evil and unappreciating the players involved by changing their own rules? I'd say maybe a little, but they didn't have to offer the freeroll in the first place.I'm just saying, sure it's a bit shady, but not something completely out of line. At least nothing to be flabbergasted about. If I had qualified and then found out Doyle, Chan and Hellmuth were going to be included, I would actually be quite thrilled. Sitting next to Doyle Brunson would never make me angry. That's something I could tell my grandchildren about. Of course, the smart one would say"yeah but grandpa, you lost $500 in equity!!!"

[HarryDemetriou 0]

Okay if it's as simple as whether it's wrong or right, I guess I agree that it's wrong, but there's some gray area definitely.Did they raise the entry fees to get into these tournies to pay for the cost of the TOC? I'm assuming they didn't.Did the players playing in all these tournies really play the tournies to get into this TOC? I'm thinking99percent of the players would have participated either way.Are the people who are willing to give away $2mill with no entry fee completely evil and unappreciating the players involved by changing their own rules? I'd say maybe a little, but they didn't have to offer the freeroll in the first place.I'm just saying, sure it's a bit shady, but not something completely out of line. At least nothing to be flabbergasted about. If I had qualified and then found out Doyle, Chan and Hellmuth were going to be included, I would actually be quite thrilled. Sitting next to Doyle Brunson would never make me angry. That's something I could tell my grandchildren about. Of course, the smart one would say"yeah but grandpa, you lost $500 in equity!!!"

Personally I would have to say that I extended my stay after The Commerce earlier this year in Feb so that I could go down to Rincon (San Diego and in the middle of nowhere) so I could play in the WSOP circuit event. I would not have gone there except for the freeroll tournament.Incidentally I was on the same table as Phil Helmuth and Phil Ivey at that tournament and witnessed Helmuth playing like a complete ass before going broke when it was obvious he was a mile behid his opponent.(He also lost a ridiculously large pot against Scotty Nguyen that he couldn't see coming - so much for his reading skills).I went further than him in that tournament and was very unlucky not to get to the chip lead or into the money when having KK cracked by David Levi's TT in a massive pot with him making a runner runner straight on me by the river.This is not a bad beat story but imo I should be in the freeroll rather than Phil Hellmuth as I outplayed and outlasted him in that wsop circuit event and should have been in the top 20 pt earners there had I not been unlucky.Maybe I'll write a letter telling them this because they should change the rules to allow anyone who went further than Phil Helmuth in that tournament in San Diego to play as it is blatantly obvious that we are all better than him.........

[MaltiMignun 0]

LMAO.Harry, there is one EASY way to make friends, and that's insulting Phil Hellmuth.signed,a new fan.I'll be at Foxwoods main event and Bellagio 5-diamond. I'd be happy to help any of your efforts in establishing a players union. Message me if you are interested in meeting at either of these events (not sure if you are planning on attending?).Or you can visit me at my site at www.darm.com

[mk 11]

LOLOLOL!!!nice post, harry.

[Fanatikk 0]

lol great story Harry. I see were you are coming from, but let me ask you this. Would you go if they called you tomorrow and gave you an invite?

[HarryDemetriou 0]

lol great story Harry. I see were you are coming from, but let me ask you this. Would you go if they called you tomorrow and gave you an invite?

As I said elsewhere...personally I would not accept the invitation but then I do not have to rely on poker for my livelihood and as such I am in no position to criticise anyone who accepts such an invitation especially when they are professional poker players and make their living from it. However I have not been placed in this position and as such it is a hypothetical answer and maybe I too would run up the arses of the Harrahs organization if they invited me.Somehting that has not been considered though is what happens if you are a sponsored player? Here in essence you have sold your soul and in many respects it is no longer solely your decision and your sponsors may insist on you taking up such an offer despite what your morals or conscience tells you.They pay you to advertise their brand and as such you are obliged to get them as much publicity as you can as after all thats why they pay you.Just thought I might show that there is another side to the coin and that I am aware that everything is not totally black and white.Still VERY wrong though imo.

[The Doctor 0]

I totally understand why Daniel would be upset. It is not like any of the players they added need 2 million, but some of the others do. Why make it harder for them to earn it?If you have rules than you should stick by the rules!

[adblock 0]

Look, it's ESPN's 2 million and frankly, I think they should be able to do what they want with the tournament. I could be wrong, but I don't think there was anyone out there that paid $10K to enter a circuit event just to qualify for the TOC. They paid to enter that particular tournament. If they happened to qualify, well, that's just gravy. I doubt if any of the players in the TOC were as upset and frustrated as DN. At least not enough to sit out of the tourney in protest. Danny, I appreciate your views on the game and most of the time I agree with you. However I think you've missed the mark here a bit.-ADB

[HarryDemetriou 0]

Look, it's ESPN's 2 million and frankly, I think they should be able to do what they want with the tournament. I could be wrong, but I don't think there was anyone out there that paid $10K to enter a circuit event just to qualify for the TOC. They paid to enter that particular tournament. If they happened to qualify, well, that's just gravy. I doubt if any of the players in the TOC were as upset and frustrated as DN. At least not enough to sit out of the tourney in protest. Danny, I appreciate your views on the game and most of the time I agree with you. However I think you've missed the mark here a bit.-ADB

Lets try and track down the players that Helmuth/Brunson/Chan have busted out of this tournament or taken chips off and ask them how they feel about it shall we?PS This money has come from players directly or indirectly from their entry fees in one form or another and although Harrahs didn't have to do this it certainly has only cost them a fraction of the money or should I say profit that they have made at the players expense over these series of tournaments.If ESPN paid it then I reckon they would do better using it to add prize money to events or reduce the entry fees proportionately on those events that they televise.

[Gypsie 0]

Not that my opinion matters, but I agree that if you set up rules and guidelines you should follow them. It is like playing Monopoly with your little brother only to find out that in the middle of the game he changed the rules on you. You just can't do that. Set it up with XXXX and follow it, don't throw a Y in there. Yes it's there 2 million, yes, they are trying to get ratings. But NO it's not right!!If you noticed, Helmuth, Chan, and Doyle are still in it, with Helmuth leading the way. It's just not fair!!!I think that the WSOP is no longer the crown jewel of poker and more along the lines of a three ring circus. COME ONE COME ALL!!!!!

[chrozzo 19]

Look, it's ESPN's 2 million and frankly, I think they should be able to do what they want with the tournament. I could be wrong, but I don't think there was anyone out there that paid $10K to enter a circuit event just to qualify for the TOC. They paid to enter that particular tournament. If they happened to qualify, well, that's just gravy. I doubt if any of the players in the TOC were as upset and frustrated as DN. At least not enough to sit out of the tourney in protest. Danny, I appreciate your views on the game and most of the time I agree with you. However I think you've missed the mark here a bit.-ADB

Those people signed up nowing that if they did not cash in that particular circuit event, they would be given the opportunity for another lucrative tournament spot. I believe many of them signed up hoping they would at least qualify.

[quixotic 0]

DN is plain wrong about his view on letting non-qualifiers in the TOC. If the people putting up the $2 mill do not get a good tv rating ( return on investment) they will not have it in the future....oh I know he says they should have said there would be Sponsors exemptions from the beginning which they should have done but the bottom line is, this is really a freeroll and DN should have played better to get it...if he was one of the exemptions he'd feel different.

You my friend are dead wrong. I have ran a business and work for many other business. The simple fact of the matter here is they should have been clear about their intentions from the start. In business it is the little details that count and if the TOC had stated from the get go there may be exemptions to spice up the show for the viewing audience then fine so be it. They however did not. They broke their verbal (may well have been writen I have no idea) contract. Yes it is a freeroll and chances are the players Daniel named wont voice a complaint the act however is wrong.In business the big deals worth alot of money are easy you know you have to do them right. It is the little details that seperate the good from the great. I couldnt agree more with Daniel's point of view.Regards

[HarryDemetriou 0]

BTW Some bookies had betting on this event in Europe.How would you feel if when they went to post for The Kentucky Derby and then they suddenly decided to allow Pleasantly Perfect as an older horse to run against mere three year olds?