[Truthiness24]

I know some of the folks you speak of, and you are totally right. But those are not the same people. Those are not the same people you should worry about.

For example, I play in a home game (no rake) that is a $100NLH tourney followed by a 1-2 NL dealers choice cash game. There are some average players and there are between 2 and 4 pro level players. All the fish quit playing the game. The fish all play in those cheesy charity games and bar games.

I also know of the underground games where they charge a $5 rake and $10 when the pot exceeds a certain amount, $300 I think. There are more than a few solid players in there too.

More than a few players that presently avoid the tracks because of the gripes raised in this thread will try the games now, and they will clean up. They are guys with really good jobs that would otherwise be pros, they are online sharps, they are casual but solid players -- and they are all looking forward to the same thing that you are.

Fortunately though, they are NOT outsiders. The price of poker is still too expensive to attract fresh blood. And this may be the only good thing about the new law -- that the true poker pro (and the baggage that comes with) will not be coming to FL this year.