My Side of the Story

[VanessaRousso]

To the 2+2 Forum,

I’d like a chance to respond to some of the comments that have been posted about me on this forum. First, I do want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout this tournament, I appreciate both the positive feedback and the constructive criticism.

I was really surprised and hurt to see the posting by Jean Gluck which accused me of bad etiquette, called me arrogant, and wondered why no one “punched me in the face.” This is especially so because I really respect Jean, and I have looked up to her as a woman and poker player for a while now.

But beyond having my feelings hurt, it is extremely important to me that I have an opportunity to let everyone know that the accusations are absolutely false.

I want to respond to Jean’s account of what happened at the WPT event—and separate fact from fiction:

1. I most certainly, absolutely, positively DID NOT slow roll Liz. I despise slow-rollers…have been on the receiving end of that before and it was not fun. I do not know how that very false rumor got started, but it is just that: an absolutely false rumor. I believe that there were many people there to see that as soon as Liz put her chips in the center I flipped my cards over and stated “I have quads.” In fact, I acted so quickly in flipping over and stating my hand that at first I was nervous she had not actually called (she didn’t say “I call”…she just put one stack of chips in the center…which I interpreted as a call…but after flipping over my cards I got nervous that she might not have actually called). Liz mucked her hand, but maintained that she had pocket jacks (which would have given her a full house on the turn). After she said that, I said, “Liz, wow, I got really lucky then with that river, sorry.” I genuinely look up to Liz and when I was interviewed later in the tournament I listed her as my role model…in fact if anyone has ever seen my pokerpages.com profile they know that the players I respect most are “the women”—I would not dare disrespect anyone, let alone Liz, by slow-rolling.

2. When I asked Freddy to show his cards to me after I called his re-raise and showed my pocket twos, I thought that I was entirely within my rights as a player as I had “paid to see,” and Freddy was sitting directly to my right and was playing fairly aggressively and I thought that being able to see what he re-raised me with would be valuable information. I never forced him to show, I never asked the dealer to show the cards, I simply turned to him and said: “Would you mind showing me? After all I did pay to see [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]” Freddy smiled, flipped over A9, and said he was impressed with my call. After some other players at the table told me it was bad etiquette to ask to see, I apologized profusely and let it be known to all that it was the unknowing mistake of an inexperienced player. Later in the day, in private, I apologized again to Freddy, and he said that he was not at all offended (as he also stated at the table in my defense). My intentions were certainly not to be rude or disrespectful at all. In fact, I really do pride myself for what I have always thought was classy and respectful (albeit sometimes goofy) table demeanor.

3. When I shook the hand of the player whose J-high flush I beat with my Q-high flush, it was after I flipped up my cards and directly after the dealer said “she has you covered.” It was not until after the chip count that the player realized he had a few chips left and was not eliminated. I would hope that, if anything, this shows that by shaking his hand I was trying to show good sportsmanship as well as sympathize with a player who definitely was dealt a cold blow by the cards.


Finally, I think it is obvious that I, as any 23-year old with so little relative experience should be, was scared XXX-less by playing with Doyle (and Freddy, and Phil, and Liz, and Evelyn, and Williams, and the list goes on). In fact, when I was playing with Barry Greenstein on day three I made it aware to all those at the table that I was grossly intimidated. I respect, admire, and look up to the players on the circuit who have proven themselves. However, that does not mean that I will just lay down and concede defeat. Please do not forget that this is a competition with a lot of money at stake. If I appeared confident at the tables it was just my attempt to appear prepared to handle the immense pressure I was under (so as not to appear weak to the other players). It certainly was not an attempt to be cocky or arrogant. I do not think I am the best poker player, the best female poker player—or anything even close. I think my performance demonstrates that I have potential, and I hope to actualize that potential.

Everyone knows that I am both young and relatively inexperienced in this industry, and I still have a lot to learn. If I made errors and stepped on anyone’s toes at the tournament, I not only sincerely apologize, but encourage him/her to personally raise the issue, and preferably in a private forum such as email.

I like to think of myself as someone willing to learn from mistakes and I understand that, like anyone, I may have to take my lumps along the way. People are entitled to their opinions and there may always be those that don’t like me or don’t like my game. However there is a big difference between “hot or not” posts and accusations of poor conduct and sportsmanship that could injure my career, especially, when they are totally false. It’s incredibly easy to start a rumor but incredibly difficult to stop one. It is very important to me that anyone interested enough to follow my game or post in these forums know the truth.

I sincerely hope that my future conduct at the table and performance on the tournament circuit will demonstrate to all that I am able to represent what the term “professional” implies.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Vanessa Rousso

[CaseS87]

good post. this will probably clear up all the flack you are getting.

i was almost positive that this was going to be a gimick post before i started reading it.

[AggroFish]

Very well written, GG too I'd be out 605 out of 605.

[henrikrh]

Havn't heard anything about this, I rarely stray into this forum, but if a person is forced to go this far to defend herself against an accusation of slowrolling then the accusers have really gone to far and are taking a small thing (that in this case never happened) way too seriously. Also, the OP should be more offended at the hot or not thread about her. I'd rather be a slow roller than be treated like a piece of meat for virgin internet nerds.

[EveOfDestruction]

Vanessa, I tracked your amazing performance during this last tournament...you're the nuts, girl! Don't let the haters drag you down, your response was a class act, all the way!

[Prodigy54321]

I have no clue as to who you are and am not familiar with what happened since I don't get the channel that airs WPT events..nor have I read any of the posts in the Hot or Not thread.

but after reading this post I must say that I am supremely embarassed for this entire forum [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

well done

[idrinkcoors]

[ QUOTE ]
virgin internet nerds.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey, you leave me out of this, understand?


I too think the response post was well written, and I can see how some things get misinterpreted.

[Rottersod]

Excellent post.

[okterrific]

I dont know if this is really Vanessa Rousso but it does not matter either way. You should just play your game and not care what others think or say about you b/c that could cost you $ in the end.

Also a pattern i noticed in regards to comments about women poker players. Whenever i see a women poker player brought up it always gets back to 2 things : 1.Shes a bitch, 2.shes not hot. Who gives a [censored] one way or the other? I dont enjoy watching male poker players more when they happen to be good looking or enjoy them less when they happen to be ugly. Seems so childish.
Just worry about yourself and your own game and ignore detractors.

[mephisto]

Thanks for post Vanessa, I think that clears up a lot of the accussations against you.

Btw, do you have any response to James Van Alstyne's remarks on the circuit about not shaking his hand after you were eliminated? After he received all the 'stories' about your slow roll play, he called your reaction 'poker justice'.

As well, I suggest you call the cardplayer circuit show out because they basically bad mouthed you at the 'final table preview show' and tried to ruin your reputation to potentially thousands of poker players worldwide. Just an idea to set the record straight there as well.

Thanks again for your post, my first thoughts of you as a classy and intelligent women poker player has been reinforced by this post and wish you the best poker success in the future.