Big One for One Drop

Its CANADA DAY today any Canadians left in it? :)

Quote: coilman

Its CANADA DAY today any Canadians left in it? :)

Danny Negreanu

Quote: coilman

Its CANADA DAY today any Canadians left in it? :)

Isn't it funny how all the successful Canadians spend all their time in the United States and consider themselves Americans?

Quote: AxelWolf

Isn't it funny how all the successful Canadians spend all their time in the United States and consider themselves Americans?

Although that is true for many Negreanu isn't one of them. Always shows his Canadian roots.

It does work the other way as well. All the successfull American actors spend their time in Vancouver :-)

I would be all about Negreanu winning. He is a good dude and always represents himself in the best way possible.

Just goes to show that you don't need to be a brat to be popular, although for some people I guess it doesn't hurt :)

Quote: kenarman

Although that is true for many Negreanu isn't one of them. Always shows his Canadian roots.

It does work the other way as well. All the successfull American actors spend their time in Vancouver :-)

I have nothing against Canada, eh. Vancouver is real close to where I grew up. I was pisses if I got a canadian coin when I was a kid ( it meant no video game and less candy.

Quote: Tomspur

I would be all about Negreanu winning. He is a good dude and always represents himself in the best way possible.

Just goes to show that you don't need to be a brat to be popular, although for some people I guess it doesn't hurt :)

I had/have a twitter account and he was the only one that I was following. I hope he takes it down.

We are heads up.

Chip stacks:

Coleman 68.5
Negreanu 57.4

i am super sweating at this point - my buddy took a 5k piece of negraneau and I took 10 percent of that for some rooting interest- 500 will return me almost 7500 go meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

lots of other people I know took a piece also, i wanted to take more but he was sold out before I had a chance

Quote: strictlyAP

i am super sweating at this point - my buddy took a 5k piece of negraneau and I took 10 percent of that for some rooting interest- 500 will return me almost 7500 go meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Coleman is solid but it really will come down to cards here.

Wishinig you all the best my bud!

deleted

Quote: kenarman

Although that is true for many Negreanu isn't one of them. Always shows his Canadian roots.

It does work the other way as well. All the successfull American actors spend their time in Vancouver :-)

Danny showed a Las Vegas address for a lot of years. But with Black Friday he moved back to Toronto, or at least changed his address back to Toronto so he could play online poker and keep fronting for Poker Stars.

Winner acts unusual at the end.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/jul/02/reserved-star-or-rich-scrub-daniel-colman-creates-/

Quote: Ahigh

Winner acts unusual at the end.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/jul/02/reserved-star-or-rich-scrub-daniel-colman-creates-/

Wow that was harsh on him. I really think who ever wrote that was a prick. We don't know what was going on with him or why he didn't want to do an interview. It could have been any number of things. Perhaps he just broke up with the love of his life.

If I had to guess, I can only imagine he was depressed that he had such a small percentage of himself (probably not even 10%). It must really suck to win that much, then have to fork over 15 million to all the other people.

Well say if he had an even smaller percentage of himself in the event, say something less than a zero share, maybe a lot less, and a guy called Vinny the Razor is among the stakers...

...I could totally see him feeling a little under the weather & quickly excusing himself.

Quote: AxelWolf

Wow that was harsh on him. I really think who ever wrote that was a prick. We don't know what was going on with him or why he didn't want to do an interview. It could have been any number of things. Perhaps he just broke up with the love of his life.

If I had to guess, I can only imagine he was depressed that he had such a small percentage of himself (probably not even 10%). It must really suck to win that much, then have to fork over 15 million to all the other people.

On the other hand, without OPM he wouldn't have been in the tournament. I would have looked at it like it was a golden opportunity. He really kind of blew it as far as getting endorsement deals. I bet Voulgaris had pieces of the top two and cashed pretty good.

Quote: AxelWolf

Wow that was harsh on him. I really think who ever wrote that was a prick. We don't know what was going on with him or why he didn't want to do an interview. It could have been any number of things. Perhaps he just broke up with the love of his life.

If I had to guess, I can only imagine he was depressed that he had such a small percentage of himself (probably not even 10%). It must really suck to win that much, then have to fork over 15 million to all the other people.

I respect his desire to not speak. The one part of the article that I take issue with is this.

"Colman or one of his handlers appeared to state he had, “no interest in promoting poker,” on his way out the door."

I also wonder what the tax implications are for him. We obviously is going to have to pay taxes on the 15 mil but can he write off the 13 mil that he is going to have to pay out? Do those people also have to pay a gift tax?

Quote: AxelWolf

Wow that was harsh on him. I really think who ever wrote that was a prick. We don't know what was going on with him or why he didn't want to do an interview. It could have been any number of things.

Here is his response on 2 + 2:

I really don't owe anyone an explanation but Ill give one...

First off, I don't owe poker a single thing. I've been fortunate enough to benefit financially from this game, but I have played it long enough to see the ugly side of this world. It is not a game where the pros are always happy and living a fulfilling life. To have a job where you are at the mercy of variance can be insanely stressful and can lead to a lot of unhealthy habits. I would never in a million years recommend for someone to try and make it as a poker pro.

It is also not a game where the amateurs are always happy to be losing their money for the sake of entertainment. The losers lose way more money at this game then winners are winning. A lot of this is money they cant afford to lose. This is fine of course because if someone is dumb enough to gamble with money they cant afford to lose, that's their problem. Im not really buying that though. In a perfect world, markets are based on informed consumers making rational transactions. In reality sadly that's not the case, markets are based on advertising trying to play on peoples impulses and targeting their weaknesses in order for them to make irrational decisions. I get it if someone wants to go and play poker on their own free will, but I don't agree with gambling being advertised just like I don't agree with cigarettes and alcohol being advertised.

It bothers me that people care so much about poker's well being. As poker is a game that has such a net negative effect on the people playing it. Both financially and emotionally.

As for promoting myself, I feel that individual achievements should rarely be celebrated. I am not going to take part in it for others and I wouldn't want it for myself. If you wonder why our society is so infatuated by individuals and their success, and being a baller, it is not that way for no reason. It is their because it serves a clear purpose. If you get people to look up to someone and adhere to the "gain wealth, forget all but self" motto, then you can get them to ignore the social contract which is very good for power systems. Also it serves as a means of distraction to get people to not pay attention to the things that do matter.

These are just my personal views. And yes, I realize I am conflicted. I capitalize off this game that targets peoples weaknesses. I do enjoy it, I love the strategy part of it, but I do see it as a very dark game.

Happy to read any ones opinions that could convince me otherwise of my views.

Quote: GWAE

I respect his desire to not speak. The one part of the article that I take issue with is this.

"Colman or one of his handlers appeared to state he had, “no interest in promoting poker,” on his way out the door."

I also wonder what the tax implications are for him. We obviously is going to have to pay taxes on the 15 mil but can he write off the 13 mil that he is going to have to pay out? Do those people also have to pay a gift tax?

There is a tax form for splitting of gambling winnings. I can't remember the number of the form but it has been posted here before. I'm sure they all cover their butts with it.

Quote: VCUSkyhawk

Here is his response on 2 + 2:

I really don't owe anyone an explanation but Ill give one...



It bothers me that people care so much about poker's well being. As poker is a game that has such a net negative effect on the people playing it. Both financially and emotionally.



Happy to read any ones opinions that could convince me otherwise of my views.

Must be worried about PSUMike1999

Quote: VCUSkyhawk

Here is his response on 2 + 2:

I really don't owe anyone an explanation but Ill give one...

First off, I don't owe poker a single thing. I've been fortunate enough to benefit financially from this game, but I have played it long enough to see the ugly side of this world. It is not a game where the pros are always happy and living a fulfilling life. To have a job where you are at the mercy of variance can be insanely stressful and can lead to a lot of unhealthy habits. I would never in a million years recommend for someone to try and make it as a poker pro.

It is also not a game where the amateurs are always happy to be losing their money for the sake of entertainment. The losers lose way more money at this game then winners are winning. A lot of this is money they cant afford to lose. This is fine of course because if someone is dumb enough to gamble with money they cant afford to lose, that's their problem. Im not really buying that though. In a perfect world, markets are based on informed consumers making rational transactions. In reality sadly that's not the case, markets are based on advertising trying to play on peoples impulses and targeting their weaknesses in order for them to make irrational decisions. I get it if someone wants to go and play poker on their own free will, but I don't agree with gambling being advertised just like I don't agree with cigarettes and alcohol being advertised.

It bothers me that people care so much about poker's well being. As poker is a game that has such a net negative effect on the people playing it. Both financially and emotionally.

As for promoting myself, I feel that individual achievements should rarely be celebrated. I am not going to take part in it for others and I wouldn't want it for myself. If you wonder why our society is so infatuated by individuals and their success, and being a baller, it is not that way for no reason. It is their because it serves a clear purpose. If you get people to look up to someone and adhere to the "gain wealth, forget all but self" motto, then you can get them to ignore the social contract which is very good for power systems. Also it serves as a means of distraction to get people to not pay attention to the things that do matter.

These are just my personal views. And yes, I realize I am conflicted. I capitalize off this game that targets peoples weaknesses. I do enjoy it, I love the strategy part of it, but I do see it as a very dark game.

Happy to read any ones opinions that could convince me otherwise of my views.

"Boo Hoo Hoo! I won all that money from others and I'm not happy about it." Bullshit! Get the hell out.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showpost.php?p=43862667&postcount=2553

Here's the link to the post for anyone who cares to create an account and tell him what they think.

When my current employer told me back in 2005 that they wanted to get into gambling software, I was morally conflicted. I had the same exact thing happen back in 1998 when I worked for Neil Nicastro and he wanted me to add gambling features to a video game and he told me he would do what he had to do to make it legal as it worked with politicians already to do that (he was in charge of Midway games at the time, which I think owned WMS gaming -- not sure the details on the connections really).

I respect this guy's opinion about not wanting to promote poker and also to share his views on how the overall game has negative effects on other people.

It's very true that MUCH of the BIG money made in gambling is made from folks who have troubles.

Just read the reports on the disproportionate amount of revenue made from videos from people who smoke cigarettes. (IE: research for why changing to no-smoking policy kills revenue).

Quote: mickeycrimm

"Boo Hoo Hoo! I won all that money from others and I'm not happy about it." Bullshit! Get the hell out.

agreed. Before I insult him and really say how I feel I better make sure he is not a member here first.

Quote: mickeycrimm

"Boo Hoo Hoo! I won all that money from others and I'm not happy about it." Bullshit! Get the hell out.

While I do not agree with his morose feelings about the poker world, he had every right to dodge the interviews. He really doesn't owe them a damn thing. The guy who wrote that article came off as a whinny dick.

I knew a winning poker player who had total disdain for the way casinos beat people out of their money. But, evidently, HE didn't have a problem beating poker players out of their money.

Quote: mickeycrimm

I knew a winning poker player who had total disdain for the way casinos beat people out of their money. But, evidently, HE didn't have a problem beating poker players out of their money.

Reminds me of a quote from Fredrick Nietzsche:

"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you."

He seems to think of himself, at least in part, as an existential poker player.

His comments were unusually self-effacing, articulate, and heartfelt.

Kudos, dude.

deleted

I absolutely agree with the author. Most of the time you are playing against the team either at the table or against a well financed organization. Chances of an individual player are zero. Nobody has enough money to sustain the downward swings. The game can fool everyone and it looks that it's you, yourself did not play correctly. It is a bad game, don't play it.

Quote: mickeycrimm

"Boo Hoo Hoo! I won all that money from others and I'm not happy about it." Bullshit! Get the hell out.

I like what he has to say and respect him for it even though I don't completely agree with it. I think we have all done things that have conflicted us but we did them anyway.

He is such a hypocrite. How can you possibly have all of these bad feelings about the game and the degenerates who play it yet you have no problems taking their money. If he really feels this way then he should just stop playing. If enough people stop then the games will end and that should make him happy. But instead of doing that, he will just take the money from the people whom he thinks shouldn't be gambling and then proceed wine about it and the system.

Quote: GWAE

He is such a hypocrite. How can you possibly have all of these bad feelings about the game and the degenerates who play it yet you have no problems taking their money.

Many women have the same attitude toward men and marriage.

Wicked world.

Okay then, so he cashed out and left. Fine. I'm good with that. I prefer that to the sort of preening & strutting & crowing by some in poker (some of whom likely would have trouble handling a paper route) taking themselves & their infinitesimally tiny little over-hyped subculture waaaaaay too seriously. But I don't see any reason to be "conflicted" about regarding the poker world as chock full of degenerate scumbags, and then taking their money. Seems like a fine idea to me, a useful public service along the way & kinda the whole point of the game; I have a somewhat similar opinion, view it as a mechanism for fleecing pompous asses and narcissistic degenerates, and I set out do exactly that when I can manage it, happily including drunks & lunatics & garden variety imbeciles with the table mix wherever I can find them playing my little games. But, why is he then explaining himself, of all places, to 2+2 for crissakes? Cash-out & leave with the money, without promoting anything or anyone you don't care to, but climb down off the cross because there are more useful things that could be done with the wood.

I think when you play a WSOP bracelet event, especially the biggest prize pool tournament, you know going in what is expected if you win. Imagine if the winner of the flagship Main Event denied any of the usual interviews.

I think it would have been lots of fun if the young fellow at the final table of the Main Event a few years ago, who was wanted for probation violations related to his career as a smash & grab car burglar, was greeted at the table by his probation officer with a different kind of bracelet. But alas, he cleared up the "misunderstanding" with his P.O. before playing the final table.

I very much appreciated what Dan Coleman had to say, though I disagreed with some of it. I found it profound and introspective. I don't know him, so I think he should get some latitude on the hypocrisy charge. He paid, in whatever fashion, to be in the event, and wasn't paid to be there, to be interviewed, or to endorse the charity, the WSOP, or be gracious; he was just there to play poker.

FWIW, 2+2 claims to have verified that Sheldon Adelson backed him.

Quote: beachbumbabs

FWIW, 2+2 claims to have verified that Sheldon Adelson backed him.

interesting. From what I got out of his statement he believes poker is generally bad for society. Or was it just the promoting of poker as a viable way to make money? Sheldon owns casinos that promote poker. Was he conflicted? I really dont understand what the deal was.

Possibly the guy owes so much money to backers and poker loans, he is still in the hole even after winning this event. Perhaps he had no choice to play even tho he didn't want to?

Something is missing in all this, that's for sure.

Quote: AxelWolf

Something is missing in all this, that's for sure.

I disagree. He doesn't want to do interviews, so what? He has no obligation to do so. Whether that is a smart move, it probably isn't. He will never get a better chance to do endorsements.

Perhaps following this debacle the WSOP as well as Laliberte will have some contract signing going on for the final table or something?

Perhaps something like, "if you win or place in the top 3 you have to do interviews as well as speaking events and public appearances for the year you are champion".

I'm sure people do this for beauty pageants all the time and I'm sure this happens to the Main event champion. Perhaps this tourney will be next?

Quote: mickeycrimm

Danny showed a Las Vegas address for a lot of years. But with Black Friday he moved back to Toronto, or at least changed his address back to Toronto so he could play online poker and keep fronting for Poker Stars.

Yes he lived in Vegas because that was the place to try and take his sport to the next level. For him to have stayed in Toronto playing poker professionally would have been like a player with skills in football staying in the CFL when the NFL was calling. Even when he lived in Vegas and before Black Friday he would come to Canadian events that none of the other pros would come to. He never hid the fact he was Canadian and like all of us and always displayed what a hockey nut he is.

Quote: Deucekies

Quote: DrawingDead

WSOP Main Event entrants

2010: 7,319

2011: 6,865

2012: 6,598

2013: 6,352

2014: (?)

But, I suspect they may report increased total WSOP revenue again, because Caesars keeps increasing the number of events.

The guaranteed $10m first place might attract more players this year.

I didn't say so at the time, but I thought you'd probably be mistaken about that. Looks like you were right.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/jul/07/wsop-main-event-draws-biggest-field-2011-make-62-m/

Quote: Case Keefer - Las Vegas Sun

The 6,683 entrants bested the fields from both 2013, 6,352 players, and 2012, 6,598 players.

So:

2010: 7,319

2011: 6,865

2012: 6,598

2013: 6,352

2014: 6,683

Quote: Deucekies

I think when you play a WSOP bracelet event, especially the biggest prize pool tournament, you know going in what is expected if you win. Imagine if the winner of the flagship Main Event denied any of the usual interviews.

Expected by whom?

He can do whatever he wants. If interviews are required, they can add it to the agreement when you sign up for the tournament. If not, it's optional. I completely respect his right to not want to speak publicly or make appearances. He owes nothing to anyone.

Quote: AxiomOfChoice

Expected by whom?

He can do whatever he wants. If interviews are required, they can add it to the agreement when you sign up for the tournament. If not, it's optional. I completely respect his right to not want to speak publicly or make appearances. He owes nothing to anyone.

That's not true. He owes the people who took a piece of him :)

I think in the Main Event rules the winner has certain obligations, in fact the final 9 have obligations to fullfill according to the tournament bylaws I believe.

Quote: Tomspur

That's not true. He owes the people who took a piece of him :)

I think in the Main Event rules the winner has certain obligations, in fact the final 9 have obligations to fullfill according to the tournament bylaws I believe.

Well that would be interesting to try to deny them payment of the prize pool which they won on the felt. And what might then happen to that prize money from the players' tournament buy-ins? It is not money that belongs to Caesars Entertainment, and they are not free to keep any part of it beyond the published tournament juice. This is not a beauty pageant which involves some compensation from the promoter's funds for some future public relations services. The prize pool (after admin fee) can only be paid to players. It is nobody else's money.

My first mandatory interview after winning a high profile tournament if such a thing existed:

PR Flunky: So Mr. Dead, how does it feel winning the Great Donkey Extravaganza?

DD: It feels like Caesars sucks.

PR Flunky: What does it mean to you to win this Donkey Event bracelet?

DD: It means Caesars sucks.

PR Flunky: What was the most difficult part of the tournament?

DD: Showing up for this lame interview, because Caesars sucks.

PR Flunky: And what will you do with the gazillion dollars now?

DD: Tell everyone that Caesars sucks.

I predict Caesars would shortly relieve me of the obligation to continue with further interviews if such existed.

Quote: DrawingDead

Well that would be interesting to try to deny them payment of the prize pool which they won on the felt. And what might then happen to that prize money from the players' tournament buy-ins? It is not money that belongs to Caesars Entertainment, and they are not free to keep any part of it beyond the published tournament juice. This is not a beauty pageant which involves some compensation from the promoter's funds for some future public relations services. The prize pool (after admin fee) can only be paid to players. It is nobody else's money.

I'd assume that they could sue him for breach of contract. Not that they would necessarily win.