Who is Poker's Greatest Ambassador?

wisehandpoker · #1 02-15-2007, 10:43 PM

I know this is a little cheesy as topic matter goes, but I'm genuinely curious to hear people's answers to the topic question.

Watching Mike Sexton on Poker After Dark this week, my thoughts concerning his calibre as a public representative and lover of the game have only been re-confirmed.

Throughout the episode, he's deflected subtle, potentially inflamatory comments with class. Despite his informed table-mates, he's told stories with enthusiasm while still managing to cater to the uninitiated viewers at home. He's displayed warmth towards and spoken highly of everyone around him.

Considering his very public face, his platform and his charitable efforts as part of the equation, Mike is poker's greatest ambassador to my mind. Agree? Disagree? If not him, who?

New2NL · #2 02-15-2007, 11:15 PM

Christopher Moneymaker

Peter McDermott · #3 02-15-2007, 11:20 PM

Tony G. -- no contest.

CaryDarling · #4 02-15-2007, 11:52 PM

Linda Johnson would definitely be in the running for a vote...she has done a bunch for poker...one of the reasons she was awarded the Brian Saltus award this last year.

pokerraja · #5 02-15-2007, 11:58 PM

i agree with your Mike Sexton comments. he seems very likeable from what I have seen, and of course very knowledgable on poker history. but i think Doyle Brunson has been poker's greatest ambassador up till now. of course as he is getting older his role will get smaller and smaller.

CaseS87 · #6 02-16-2007, 12:10 AM

Jamie Gold.

beaver · #7 02-16-2007, 12:11 AM

Agree 100% - Sexton is extremely classy, and even people not as familiar with the game know his name because of the WPT exposure.

S.B.T.C [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

TStoneMBD · #8 02-16-2007, 03:53 PM

mike sexton is the second most annoying poker commentator on the planet. him and the first most annoying poker commentator singlehandedly caused me to no longer watch their poker show.

i would hardly consider mike sexton the ambassador of poker. maybe the baboon of poker at best.

Don Olney · #9 02-16-2007, 04:14 PM

WOW, this is a hard one.
Sexton is a great guy. Seems to be liked by 99% of the players here in Vegas. Gives a lot back to the game. But he may be a little behind in PROMOTING the game to the general public.

Doyle, Reese, Ivey, Daniel N., Barry G and the crew are not doing much to ENHANCE poker in the public eye.

Phil H. is just a TURD when it comes to image.

Linda Johnson, who I just love to death is not there. She should be in the Hall of Fame (I still have yet to hear back from Card Player or Binions on how one gets nominated for this.Kind of strange since Linda has a connection with Carp Player).
Raymer (sp) is out.

Gold--- NO WAY

Howard L., Annie Duke-- Nope, not enough money init for them.

As I see it. No one has stepped up to the plate as of yet to be THE AMBASSADOR of poker.

wisehandpoker · #10 02-16-2007, 04:31 PM

[ QUOTE ]
WOW, this is a hard one.
Sexton is a great guy. Seems to be liked by 99% of the players here in Vegas. Gives a lot back to the game. But he may be a little behind in PROMOTING the game to the general public.

Doyle, Reese, Ivey, Daniel N., Barry G and the crew are not doing much to ENHANCE poker in the public eye.

Phil H. is just a TURD when it comes to image.

Linda Johnson, who I just love to death is not there. She should be in the Hall of Fame (I still have yet to hear back from Card Player or Binions on how one gets nominated for this.Kind of strange since Linda has a connection with Carp Player).
Raymer (sp) is out.

Gold--- NO WAY

Howard L., Annie Duke-- Nope, not enough money init for them.

As I see it. No one has stepped up to the plate as of yet to be THE AMBASSADOR of poker.

[/ QUOTE ]

I had a conversation with Jay Heimowitz at Borgata last month where he told me the Hall of Fame selection process was as simple as Jack Binion choosing someone. Apparently, Jay went to Jack and asked that Pug Pearson be considered, and Jack responded by making Pug that year's inductee. No votes involved. Kind of makes the whole enterprise a little dubious, but I'm a big Jack Binion fan as stewardship of the game goes. I think the integrity hasn't been compromised as a result. though I'd love to see something more official be set up.

edit: I agree that Linda is one of our best, but I wonder how well the public knows her, if at all.