Poker Dying out?

[cutesquirrel]

Hmm. Thnx. I will think abt that. Perhaps some other time though. :P

[Lanzalot]

Seems like this topic gets brought up every other week or so. The growth of poker HAD to slow down somewhat as we are a few years past the tipping point now.

IMHO, it will only take another Chris Moneymaker-type story to give it another huge boost. I think that most people don't realize what a gift to poker he was. It wasn't just him being an unknown amateur--it was his aura, for the lack of a better term. He just LOOKS like a regular dude, somebody you would expect to see stocking boxes at WalMart. Plus, he was a Southerner with a noticeable accent. Admit it, we Americans, we tend to think that people with Southern accents are less intelligent. Not true of course, but that's the perception. He was just the perfect guy at the perfect time. The best thing that could happen now is for an African-American or female to win it. Another huge shot in the arm then.

So, poker had to slowdown somewhat, b/c the growth was abnormally brisk due to the intersection of factors that were beyond perfect (Moneymaker+ubiquity of internet+reality TV phenomenon+young people with large amounts of disposable cash+small but ardent player base already in place=explosion).

For me, I will start worrying when rooms here in the US start shrinking or closing. Till then, play on.

[surfinillini]

wasn't hachem a moneymaker type story?

[Lanzalot]

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wasn't hachem a moneymaker type story?

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Hachem was a PPP, wasn't he? The guy plunked down the $10k to enter the Main Event. He was a chiropractor and then switched to being a financial consultant. Not quite the same "everyman" or "average Joe" appeal as Moneymaker, IMO. Dannenman had more of the average guy appeal in that final, I think, even though he too was a consultant. Clearly a subjective call and room for disagreement here. Just don't think either of them was the gift that CM was.

[stigmata]

Hachem wasn't American though....

[drewjustdrew]

As a player before the boom, I assure you there will always be plenty of fish if you are a decent player. No worries.

[george w]

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Admit it, we Americans, we tend to think that people with Southern accents are less intelligent.

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huh?

[EvilSmurf]

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Hachem wasn't American though...

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Firstly Hachem wasn't a "financial consultant" when he, he was a pro poker player, even before he won the WSOP. He bought a buy-in to a prelim event (1,500 NLH R+A iirc) and came 10th, then decided to buy in to the ME. You're right, he wasn't American, he was Lebanese born Australian and has really helped the growth of the game down here in Australia.

[Lanzalot]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Admit it, we Americans, we tend to think that people with Southern accents are less intelligent.

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huh?

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Yeah, living here in the Northeast my whole life, I think that is clearly the perception. Perception, now--not the actual truth. I am not trying to start a Civil War here. I don't think this kind of thinking is relegated only to the NE, either. It played a part in the way the public and media regarded CM, IMHO.

Edit: I should have been more clear in my original sentence, it is a little poorly written. Obviously, people from the South probably do not think this way or at least are much less likely to think this way.

[MikeSmith]

there are donks starting college every august with nothing to do and extra cash