Hypothetical - Winning the WSOP ME

[dmk]

Preface:

I have a very introverted personality. I'm loose around friends/family, but around people I don't know, I'm pretty quiet and soft-spoken. I don't even like dealing with people I don't really know. Last year my local newspaper wanted to do a story on me because I was playing in the ME - I didn't call back. It wasn't worth the effort to me.

Hypothetical:

I win the WSOP ME.

Issue/Question:

Is it my obligation to promote poker? I'm obviously not the type of person that cares for the publicity, etc. After winning 10 million, I'd personally rather just chill w/ some friends/family and not ever do any radio/television/anything. But, do I owe it to the community?

Thanks for the answers. I'm just anticipating what I'll have to deal w/ in a few weeks.

[i am run]

i dont think you "owe it to the community".. you play cards, it just so happens a lot of people are watching.
example is dan harrington.. minus his successfully published books.

[Schaefer]

Obviously you have no obligation to anyone. However, it would be silly to miss out on the millions you could make from endorsements. I've always said that if I were to win the ME I'd sell out for 2 years in every imaginable way then quit poker forever. Fun to dream about.

[ravenfan1733]

If you win $10M, take a couple thousand and enroll in a Dale Carnegie public speaking class.

Raymer makes like $5K to $15K (or more) per public appearance - easy money you probably don't want to miss out on.

GL

[benza13]

You don't have to do anything, but you will have opportunities for millions of dollars from this that won't require much more than appearing in some commercials and on some talk shows and stuff that you would be a fool to turn down.

BTW, I have the same type of personality, but would have no problem capitalizing on a major tourney win.

[boc4life]

What's the deal with all the "You could make more money!!" posts? Isn't $10 million enough to live on these days?

[FCBLComish]

[ QUOTE ]
If you win $10M, take a couple thousand and enroll in a Dale Carnegie public speaking class.


[/ QUOTE ]

As a Dale Carnegie graduate, I can attest that it would be money well spent! The class will help you with public speaking, and a whole lot more.

[Some Pig]

Agreed.

After the 4th class, he'll be totally unshy. Half-way through the course, he'll be very comfortable speaking in public.

I saw miracles among my classmates and myself in that class. Lots and lots of positive re-inforcements. It was fun whacking those rolled newspapers. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Solitare]

You will also be able to hire people to run interference for you. Agent, publicist, lawyer -- all will take care of a lot of the interactions with people you have never met that you will face. You could even hire a friend or family member you trust to be your "personal manager" to deal with your interactions with the agent/publicist/lawyer.

$10M will bring you a lot of attention, but you will also be able to afford different means to shield you from that attention.

[GTL]

perfect strangers will recognize you on the street and want autographs and things like that. Its entirely up to you if you want to go the endorsement route. I'm not sure if I would be able to pass up the kind of money you I can make from endorsements when I win this year.

[D.H.]

[ QUOTE ]
Raymer makes like $5K to $15K (or more) per public appearance - easy money you probably don't want to miss out on.

[/ QUOTE ]

If he prefers a life chilling out with friends and family I doubt that he'll care about that extra money when he's got 10 million.

[Beachman42]

D -

I think you have to go with your conscience here. Do you have to graft a celeb personality & do TV spots? Only if you find them ++EV. Do you need to continue to share your knowledge with the poker community? I don't see how winning the ME would change you that much to stop what you are already doing. I truly hope you go deep & take it down (esp. since I'm not playing /images/graemlins/wink.gif), but I don't think it will change who you really are.

I look at Greg Raymer as the best example of a winner who has given back. I don't percieve his image as being over the top, as he says - "same guy, nicer watch!"

GL & go deep!

[Zetack]

[ QUOTE ]
Obviously you have no obligation to anyone. However, it would be silly to miss out on the millions you could make from endorsements. I've always said that if I were to win the ME I'd sell out for 2 years in every imaginable way then quit poker forever. Fun to dream about.

[/ QUOTE ]

Quitting poker forever is fun dream about? Um...what mental institution has internet access these days?

[UATrewqaz]

After winning the tourney thank Satan for helping you win, do some Nazi salutes, and rub feces all over yourself and run around the casino screaming profanities and racial slurs.

Nobody will go near you again.