CBS columnist bashes gambling, WSOP

[Vidocq]

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Just posted a response at espn

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VNH

[yimyammer]

Below is a response I'm about to send, please offer any corrections or improvements so I can edit before I send it.

For the TL;DR crowd, you better stop here.

Did you do any research whatsoever before writing your story on poker or did you just cherry pick the information that supports your own preconceived bias?

Are you incapable of making a rational analysis of the evidence?

Casinos are not profitable because they thrive on degenerates and everyone who gambles is not a degenerate or an addict.

I suppose you think all black people love watermelon and chicken too?

You would never write something that outrageous, would you? Oh wait, you already did!

If what you said were true, every gambler would be broke and there would be no casinos because there would be no one with money to gamble. Casinos rely on the steady flow of responsible individuals who come to entertain themselves with money they can afford to lose.

Yes, this is not only possible, it’s true.

The vast, overwhelming majority of the people who choose to gamble do so responsibly. I would contend that people spend more money on a ski trip or a trip to a beach than they do when they decide to spend a few days in Vegas or time in a casino. There’s a saying, “you can skin a sheep once, or sheer it for a lifetime”. Look it up, think about it.

There are “beach bums” and “ski bums” that some would consider to be degenerates because they are not pursuing the typical career path of most Americans. Is that going to be your next witch hunt?

I agree that all people cannot control themselves and some people allow gambling to wreak havoc on their lives, but the same can be said of virtually anything. Hell, there are people that literally eat themselves to the point that they have to be cut out of their homes!

Surely you would never suggest we outlaw food or state that eating is the “celebration of the sad and the stupid”?

I contend that people that play poker are some of the smartest and most creative people on the planet, especially those at its highest levels.

I would also contend that a poker table is the most non-racist, peaceful place on the planet. No one cares what color you are, what religion you are, what gender you are, whether you’re gay or straight.

I’ve seen lonely old men forgotten by their families, too engrossed in their own lives to spend time with him anymore find comfort, camaraderie, friendship and a way to keep his mind sharp by playing this game.

You’ll see men and women who are Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Jew, Palestinian, Jordanian, Iraqi, Lebanese, black white, gay or straight, you name it. The poker table might be the most tolerant & peaceful place on the planet.

The skills required to play well include cunning, guile, mathematics, psychology, focus, courage, patience and self control just to name a few.

How about looking at the game of poker at a deeper level?

Poker is a reflection of life. Like in life, people make mistakes, do stupid things, get addicted to food, sex, alcohol, drugs, work, adrenaline, money, power, etc, etc.

Is it that shocking that some people that play poker choose to allow it to ruin their lives?

Should we all be punished/broad-brushed because of the actions of a few?

You broad-brushed a huge number of people with a single stroke when you said”

"High-stakes gambling is for addicts and idiots, which makes the World Series of Poker a celebration of the sad and the stupid."

You could not have made a more misinformed and incorrect statement and you need to be more careful when you broad-brush millions of people. Yes, I said millions. Expand your research and you will see that this game is played and enjoyed by millions upon millions of responsible people from all over the world

I have played poker for the last ten years for fun and recreation. I have won over 5 figures with my hobby and even played in the WSOP ME. I graduated Cum Laude, passed the CPA exam in one attempt, taught myself architecture, started my own construction business and build some of the best homes in the country. Yet, when I am in the company of the people who excel at poker, I feel like an idiot.

Take some time to look into the people who play this game. You’ll find many people like me and many more who put me to shame that are valedictorians, hold PhD’s, senators, presidents, professors, math genius’s, etc, etc.

If you decide to expand your mind and your research, get ready to be humbled because you are about to meet some of the most brilliant and interesting people on the planet.

Here’s hoping your next story is more intriguing, less biased and more factual than your last

[Bidz]

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Just posted a response at espn

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so awesome

very nicely done

[aislephive]

Great article WHP, couldn't have said it better myself (obv).

[PokeReader]

I suggest you also send a copy to the CBS Sports complaint section, I think this may get more weight this way, as I am not sure anyone but him sees his personal responses.

[wisehandpoker]

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I suggest you also send a copy to the CBS Sports complaint section, I think this may get more weight this way, as I am not sure anyone but him sees his personal responses.

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Hey guys, thanks for the kind words. It was pretty easy to write...amazing what an emotional response can do.

I've just sent an e-mail to cbssportsline informing them that I'll be urging my readers to boycott the site and station until either a well-researched article with an apology is posted on their site, or until Mr. Doyel is fired. I hope some of you will follow suit; strength in numbers and all that.

Gary

[PokeReader]

Just so the link would be obvious I am posting it again so it isn't buried in the thread.


http://www.sportsline.com/help/contactus

[yimyammer]

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I suggest you also send a copy to the CBS Sports complaint section, I think this may get more weight this way, as I am not sure anyone but him sees his personal responses.

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Hey guys, thanks for the kind words. It was pretty easy to write...amazing what an emotional response can do.

I've just sent an e-mail to cbssportsline informing them that I'll be urging my readers to boycott the site and station until either a well-researched article with an apology is posted on their site, or until Mr. Doyel is fired. I hope some of you will follow suit; strength in numbers and all that.

Gary

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What email address did you use? I had a hard time finding anything other than responding to the writer.

nice article by the way

[PokeReader]

The one posted directly above, (and did I say email, no I said link), which I reposted because I was a pain to find, here it is again, one post down. If you want to send complaints to the article click below, you will need to fill out a form, with your info and complaint. I think you may need to be registered with CBSSportline.com to send a complaint, but am not sure about that.

http://www.sportsline.com/help/contactus

[yimyammer]

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The one posted directly above, (and did I say email, no I said link), which I reposted because I was a pain to find, here it is again, one post down. If you want to send complaints to the article click below, you will need to fill out a form, with your info and complaint. I think you may need to be registered with CBSSportline.com to send a complaint, but am not sure about that.

http://www.sportsline.com/help/contactus

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Man I read your post twice and for some reason I thought it was the link to the article, brain dead as usual.........

Thanks bro.