Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

So. Before the ME began, I had a list of people I hoped would win the WSOP, obviously speaking from a "Good for the game" point of view.

I wanted a woman to win.
I wanted a teenager to win.
I wanted someone good looking to win.
I wanted a poker celebrity to win.
I wanted a poker pro celebrity to win.
I wanted a complete retard to win.

Here's what I didn't want to win:

Anyone old
Anyone who didn't speak english
Anyone who didn't want to represent the game
Anyone rich
Anyone who represented themself very poorly at the table
Anyone who would cause "average people" to dislike them at the table.

Jamie Gold is middle aged. I think an [censored] at the table. Nobody has ever heard of him. He's not good looking. He's not a chick. He doesn't want to represent the game(ala Raymer).

Could anyone worse have won? Am I really off here? I just don't see this guy attracting ANYONE new to the game.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

OMG ONE TIME

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT TTTTTTTTTTTT

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

I dont think you are far off at all.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

Before this goes any further. I do want to state one time before going any further that I am ONLY talking about from a poker point of view.

I have all the compassion in the world for a guy who's Dad has an incurable disease, and is going to help contribute to that cause.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

He seemed like a really nice guy in the interview...really torn up about his Dad.

I guess we'll see how ESPN portrays him in the taped coverage, that's what counts anyway.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

Yeah.. this is -EV.

It may encourage more donks to play like him, limping a ton and talking about their hands (lol). But, this is the first WSOP ME FT where bullying was really blatant (I think), so this'll probably hurt our ability to bully tables a lot.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

I agree to some extent. I think Technologic would have been a GREAT winner (young, Asian). I could see Technologic on poker site TV ads, etc a lot easier than someone like Jamie Gold.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

To me I guess it all depends on how much marketing he wants to do.

Before today, all he talked about in interviews was how he didn't want the responsibility. Now after watching the interview, and seeing him swing himself into full blown PR mode, he looks like he may be more inviting.

Someone with a background in PR would be awesome for the game if they were willing to really work at the responsibility.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

[ QUOTE ]

I wanted a teenager to win.


[/ QUOTE ]

That's not even possible.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

Bryan,

I don't think you could possibly be more wrong, especially in your exagerration of "Worst Possible Winner". You mean to insinuate that he is the worst of anyone, or worst of the final table? Because in both cases I think you would be wrong, as I would take Gold over half of the final table.

The exit interview and what Gold is doing with the money has shown that Gold is a pretty cool guy.

And let's be honest, everyone is gonna question at some point if they can handle being the world champion and the celebrity that comes with it.

Furthermore, there are hundreds of people in the poker world I can name off of the top of my head who would prove to be worse than Gold. By far.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

I don't see Gold as bad for poker, especially if he donates a large chunk to charity. He's well-spoken, outgoing and played very well at the final table. Seemed to wear his heart on his sleeve a bit, and the dad phone will make everyone go soft over him (as it's obviously going to be shown on ESPN). In short, if he wants to step up I think he can be awesome.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

Honestly, ZBT, I think I'd be a much worse winner 'for poker'. Sure, I love playing poker, but I sure hate people. I just wouldn't be at all comfortable as an ambassador. Gold may well be - we'll find out.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

And from a "poker" perspective Bryan, let's go down the list:

I would take Gold over Richard Lee, Dan Nassif, and Rhett Butler by about 100 miles, as they are all middle aged and old donks, one of which has a fetish for the Alamo and the other two were the nits that I always saw at Turning Stone.

"Anyone old"
-hes not exactly old

"Anyone who didn't speak english"
-hes got that covered

"Anyone who didn't want to represent the game"
-if u understand that hes an agent for a living and is behind the scenes, then u can understand that in his line of work why there would be some initial doubt that would go along with the celebrity of representing the game.

"Anyone rich"
-I think this is ludicrous. I would rather see a rich man win and give the money towards people with Lou Geighrigs and those who cannot eat than some tard with a 15k bankroll now be set for life and put all the money towards excess and zero contribution to society. just another reason i hate poker. but i'm digressing.

"Anyone who represented themself very poorly at the table"
-gold was guilty of this a little, but how is he that much worse than daniel N.? it's gamesmanship, big deal. its not like he's like Bigler, berating people, or like Hellmuth or Matusow just straight being a-holes.

"Anyone who would cause "average people" to dislike them at the table."
-this didnt seem to be the case, if u would ask technologic, and though hes an insane starcraft duke azn-nerd I would consider him fairly "average"

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

[ QUOTE ]

Honestly, ZBT, I think I'd be a much worse winner 'for poker'. Sure, I love playing poker, but I sure hate people. I just wouldn't be at all comfortable as an ambassador. Gold may well be - we'll find out.

[/ QUOTE ]

same.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

Not trying to get all PC on you, ZBT, but why is speaking English important from an EV perspective? I guess in some ways it would make for a better ambassador for the game, but I think a lot of English-speaking people (Americans, anyway) kind of fetishize "fun" foreigners who don't speak English very well. I'm thinking of an Humberto Brenes type here, someone whose funny and playful nature is exaggerated by his accent and limited English. I think it can contribute to someone's charisma.

I agree that a non-English speaking [censored] would be worse than an English speaking one.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Anyone old

[/ QUOTE ]
I take offense. Poker point of view or not.

Enough bracelets are being taken down by young cocky hot shots.

Poker is about more than having the fearlessness and in-exhaustable energy of a 26 year old college drop-out.

Life experience and maturity are very fine qualities, and claiming it would be "-EV" for poker to see them take the high seat for once is little short of ludicrous.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

Is it -EV to feel embarrassed by what the OP has posted? I hope we don't get too many people reading this thread. I had so much more respect for the OP before this thread. It's almost sickening.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Is it -EV to feel embarrassed by what the OP has posted? I hope we don't get too many people reading this thread. I had so much more respect for the OP before this thread. It's almost sickening.

[/ QUOTE ]

?

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

Very lame thread.

Signed,
middle-aged donk

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

This thread really pisses me off.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Very lame thread.

Signed,
middle-aged donk that hates dealing with people

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Very lame thread.

Signed,
middle-aged donk

[/ QUOTE ]

i didn"t realize that disagreeing with someone was synomous with thinking they"ve started a lame thread.

how is this post not relevant? some people are going to attract more new players than others. is jamie gold one of them? maybe, maybe not. OP says no.

why should that piss people off?

zip

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

whats wrong with this thread?
i thought jamie gold was a big douche from watching him. but then i read a little bit about him and than watched his cardplayer interview and i thought he was actually pretty cool

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

i dont think gold is an ideal champion but there could be worse.
- someone who is rich from outside of poker without an interesting story.
gold had a somewhat interesting job, etc.
i think it would have been worse if a hedge fund manager who did not plan on giving his money to charity won.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

I've been trying to formulate my opinion of Gold. Initially, it pissed me off that he was like "if I win I'm going to give the money to my dad, because I want him to live comfortably." I respect that dedication, but my cynical side was like "wtf dude??? you're a celebrity agent, you make enough that you should be doing that anyway." I don't know if he'll be good for the game, but I'm sure ESPN knows it's in everyone's best interest to portray the winner as a gentleman and not as an [censored], even if someone like Tony G won, I'm sure they'd FIND A WAY to make him likeable. ESPN doesn't seem to know dick about poker, but they usually get the marketing aspect right, so hopefully it's not an issue.

As a total sidebar, I almost made a post about this, but decided against it. After the king of spades flopped when Allen Cunningham was all-in, I felt about as depressed as I did every year (except last year) when my Sox made their last out, ending their season. You just feel so crushed, because you just believe so strongly that they'll win. After Doug got knocked out, even when Allen was shortstacked, I was so confident he would come back. I don't know, I was really really crushed. Anyone else feel this way? Sorry for the flame, but I'm sulking and I just had to get it out...

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

I just have a personal issue with calling someone who is 36..."middle-aged". Ouch.

Edmond

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I just have a personal issue with calling someone who is 36..."middle-aged". Ouch.

Edmond

[/ QUOTE ]

Is the average life span of a white American male not 72? 72/2 = ?

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

It's nice to see the player who outplayed the table win.
I have NO doubt that anyone who can win the ME, loves the game and will be a great spokesperson.

I do think his table etiquette could use a little work, but I'm sure he will be able to rise to the challenge and behave more like a champion at the table. The world is full of champions with poor table manners.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

I think he's just fine. Not sure what the problem is.

People need to stop having all this pre-conceived notions about what the WSOP champ SHOULD be.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

But we would all make so much more money if a hot, teenage, English speaking, retarded woman that desperately wanted to represent the game won!

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

[ QUOTE ]
But we would all make so much more money if a hot, teenage, English speaking, retarded woman that desperately wanted to represent the game won!

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think he's just fine. Not sure what the problem is.

People need to stop having all this pre-conceived notions about what the WSOP champ SHOULD be.

[/ QUOTE ]

Im with Kramer - This guy (or, more precisely, his stack) dominated the WSOP for three days. End of story.

The fact that he has hesitations about the post-victory "responsibilities" is a reflection of his maturity, not his disrespect for the game.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am older than Gold - so I may be biased [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

[ QUOTE ]
He's not good looking

[/ QUOTE ]

He's better looking than most WSOP champions.

Also, would it be better for the game if Allen Cunningham won? Then the public would think that you need to be a professional to win at poker.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

the average age might be 72 (probably slightly higher) but if you reach 36 your average age expectancy i beleive is closer to 80 (the average age gets brought down by infant deaths)

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Very lame thread.

Signed,
middle-aged donk

[/ QUOTE ]

i didn"t realize that disagreeing with someone was synomous with thinking they"ve started a lame thread.

how is this post not relevant? some people are going to attract more new players than others. is jamie gold one of them? maybe, maybe not. OP says no.

why should that piss people off?

zip

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you serious, or joking. Did you not read the OPs first post at all? If he simply said something similar to what you said (some players will attract more players than others) thats one thing. Even THAT is debatable. Think about it...moneymaker, raymer, and hachem win and they are not teen aged kids. YET teen aged kids and young 20 somethings are basically the BOOM in online poker at least. So, another middle aged guy wins, that wont deter new teen and 20 something donks from signing up I assure you.

But that's a debate. What the OP said wasn't. What the OP said was [censored], and as I've said, I lost complete respect for him. What a freaking douche.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Also, would it be better for the game if Allen Cunningham won? Then the public would think that you need to be a professional to win at poker.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you know how few people knew that Allen Cunningham won WSOP player of the year last year? He's not an outspoken pro, and it's sick how little-known he is. On another note, I honestly do not think it matters who wins the world series. There are enough monday morning quarterbacks that people will think that they could do it no matter who wins. I just wish Allen would have won because I can guarantee you winning would have meant more to him than anyone else at the table. I really respected how many times he got knocked down and recovered. He lost a lot of chips a lot of times and fought back every time.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

I really wanted Allen to win.

But I feel, Jamie played really good poker and he's a deserving champion. I just don't get all the hate for the guy.
Also, I don't understand why a teenage (young) player winning would be good for the game; outside of some of you guys feeling identified with such player, I just can't see the +EV of such occurrence.
I prefer an influx of middle-aged new players who feel identified with Gold driven to the game, they already have good jobs, win good money and most probably will be recreational players.
Why would you want an influx of even more teenage players to the game? If they are bad players, they leave almost no money in the poker economy since they don't have it and if they're good they'll make the game more difficult for us.

I think Jamie Gold will be a good ambassador for poker.

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Jamie Gold is middle aged.

[/ QUOTE ]

Isn't he younger than Raymer and Hachem?

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

I think the worst possible winner for bringing new people to the game would have been someone who makes poker seem inaccessible . In other words, a math guy. Jamie Gold is not a math guy, he won by bluffing and having good cards at the right time and psyching people out. Hey, I can do that!

If he gets portrayed as a villain, that's fine too, it works for Pro Wrestling.

<font color="white"> (This assumes that "good for the game" means bringing new people in. I have said in other forums that I wouldn't mind math guys doing well, for other reasons.) </font>

Re: Jamie Gold...Worst Possible Winner?
 

2+2 personal ads:

Forum mod seeks attractive, poor, retarded, english speaking, celebrity female poker professional, who is well mannered and friendly at the poker table, between the ages of 13-19 and is inclined to ambassadorial activities for the next 12 months(for winning world series of poker, friends or "more").

[img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]