Comments on: 2009 WSOP Media Conference Call Live Blogging

By: Kevin Mathers

Kevin Mathers — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:06:42 +0000

Haley,
I probably was going off last year’s figures to come up with the 295 figure, so am glad they’re planning for more tables this year. I don’t know why they’re making this log private, I’d have thought they’d want the poker community to see that they really are trying to crack down on bad behavior.
Since players are supposed to need a Total Rewards card, and show ID, it shouldn’t be that hard to identify someone, it’s not like John Smith is going to work.
The bracelet ceremony is a good idea, although maybe Jeffrey doesn’t want to stay up that late to give someone a bracelet and would rather wait until a decent hour to do the proceedings.
Re: The Champions Invitational, how many of those 25 (Brunson and Chan get counted twice to make it 27) are balancing appearing on TV vs. winning a 1970 Corvette and a trophy? Anyways, this response belongs over on Pokerati, bring on the hot chicks!

By: Haley

Haley — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:30:44 +0000

I was there, listening to someone named “Chops” going double-dippy on the questions himself and not mentioning it! And BJ, too. We had a long and detailed interview with Jack a few weeks ago and what they talked about today didn’t open up much truly new ground (though there were interesting details here and there), so I sat here and enjoyed the largely mainstream questions. Sometimes it’s instructive to see what others with different viewpoints target as the areas of greatest interest.
I do admit to chuckling at the thought of trying to track minor penalties for many dozens of unknown players, many of whom are likely to be uncooperative. Made me go look up this as a possible solution:
http://rfid.home.att.net/pet-chip.htm
One possible correction to what Kev posted — I think Jack said 306 total tables in there, but I have to go replay the file to be sure. I think that’s also still tentative based on installing some of the peripheral structures.

By: Danieldinho

Danieldinho — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:44:40 +0000

***I’m surprised at the lack of questions from the poker media this year***
LOL, maybe that’s why it was actually good this year.
I usually don’t join in the press conference fray, but kinda wished I had this year, when I realized it was being more informative than promotional. (still promotional, of course, but not as much as usual.)
P.S. I’m not used to having semi-intelligent convo in this space. Couldn’t this live-blogging have been brought to us by someone hot and semi-naked?

By: Kevin Mathers

Kevin Mathers — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:16:08 +0000

Did last year’s Gaming and Life Expo have strippers, I thought they were gone after 2007?
Since Russ is a Main Event Champion, he surely will get an invitation. Will he show up and the reception he gets depends upon Dave Farra tagging along to interview him as he ambles into the Rio.
Harrah’s allegedly has hired a former Party Gaming executive to handle the WSOP.com site among other duties, they seem to be optimistic that Barney Frank’s bill (to come out next week) means that the UIGEA may magically disappear in the somewhat near future.

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:53:16 +0000

Kevin,
It seemed like we could have asked as many questions as we wanted, but I didn’t think the answers were forthright so I didn’t see a point (and I was trying to be quiet because my sister just put her baby down for a nap in the next room). Next year I think we should get NVG in on the call.
Some others that didn’t get asked:
Will the pokerpalooza accept strip club exhibitors again this year?
When does the WSOP anticipate entering the online poker market in the US?
Was Russ Hamilton invited to the tournament of champions and if by some remote chance he accepted, would he be welcome by the WSOP?