Fire Jack Effel Now!!!!

[vendbien]

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10. His first WSOP experience was in 2005. He was brought in by Kenny Lambert Jr. who (like his father) has been summarily 'relieved' of all of his recent positions for reasons that a lot of people know but can't talk about. Jack Effel was Kenny's 'Bag Man' and the 'Dalmation' to Kenny's 'Clydesdale' Johnny Grooms. All of the above were summarily fired with 2 days remaining in the 2005 WSOP (although Grooms probably shouldn't have been - see 'guilt by association').

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Sorry I don't speak "Soprano's", could someone translate this paragraph into English.....

Ummm If Johnny Groom was fired with 2 days to go in the 05 series what was he doing running the Circuit event in Tunica three weeks later (I know this cause I saw him there and at the WSOP....) If I'm not mistaken he also ran the Bally's Circuit event as well. But hey lets not let facts get in the way of colorful tales of bagmen, Dalmations and Clydesdales whatever the hell that means..... and I beleive he also ran the second circuit event in Tunica in January of 2006....

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I was at the meeting the morning that the '05 WSOP championship event was down to 3 Tables. Lambert, Effel and, unfortunately, Grooms were told they were released from the WSOP and would not be asked back (Grooms later was, but turned it down). They still had contracts for the two upcoming Circuit Events that Harrahs felt they needed to continue... plus the above 3 already had other ties to those venues.
There were 19 more players in the Championship Event than registrations and buy-ins, and it had been Lambert's idea to put out many 'dead stacks' to accomodate late arrivals. Accounting found this to be the root of the problem and Harrah's determined that there was intent to circumvent procedures.

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The 'dalmation - Clydesdale' reference goes back to horsedrawn fire wagons. To keep the Clydesdales happy, it was found that dalmations somehow soothed the horses - much the same way that Lambert's 'star player' and key selling point for the staff he wanted to bring in, Johnny Grooms, wanted to bring along his friend, Effel. Effel later did an 'end run' around the WSOP division and got appointed head of Poker Operations (outside of Las Vegas which had its own separate division) a position he then used to backdoor himself into the WSOP in '06 and '07.

[vendbien]

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Whoever said Jack Effel is a standup guy doesn't really know him. He simply slithered his way into a position WAY over his head.

I met Jack in San Diego 2.5 years ago. He reminds me of a vulture of sorts. Sort of goofy and ugly, scavenging around and ending up with things that no one else really wanted. (girls, jobs, and barbers would all seem to fit in that category).

Now he has a job he can't do. Its not his fault he can't do it, he just doesn't have the skills. He tries to do things to give the WSOP the appearance of success. However, its just not working. Sort of like buying a homely chick fake boobs to try to make her seem more attractive. Um, just doesn't work.

Jack is great with paperwork. He sucks at people skills. He really knows very little about poker and poker players. He has no charisma. He is goofy looking.

Bring back Matt or Johnny. Or give the gig to Jimmy.

As long as Jack is in the drivers seat the WSOP will continue to be a cluster****.

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You are so dead on it's scary... to the point of making me now feel sorry for him. Cautionary tale here... be careful what you ask for, Jack. You just might get it.

[youngpoker]

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Whoever said Jack Effel is a standup guy doesn't really know him. He simply slithered his way into a position WAY over his head.

I met Jack in San Diego 2.5 years ago. He reminds me of a vulture of sorts. Sort of goofy and ugly, scavenging around and ending up with things that no one else really wanted. (girls, jobs, and barbers would all seem to fit in that category).

Now he has a job he can't do. Its not his fault he can't do it, he just doesn't have the skills. He tries to do things to give the WSOP the appearance of success. However, its just not working. Sort of like buying a homely chick fake boobs to try to make her seem more attractive. Um, just doesn't work.

Jack is great with paperwork. He sucks at people skills. He really knows very little about poker and poker players. He has no charisma. He is goofy looking.

Bring back Matt or Johnny. Or give the gig to Jimmy.

As long as Jack is in the drivers seat the WSOP will continue to be a cluster****.

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You are so dead on it's scary... to the point of making me now feel sorry for him. Cautionary tale here... be careful what you ask for, Jack. You just might get it.

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Hi Vince

[JohnnyGroomsTD]

Hello all,
I have refrained from posting here lately, as it just adds fuel to the fire. I have read various complaints, issues, problems, stories, and other things here that i will neither comment on or speculate about.

What I will comment on is the endless trashing of a guy who always did a good job as my assistant and co-director. The negative commentary on Jack is frustrating to me. Having been in that position, and knowing the issues he is dealing with, I wish, just once, many of his detractors would get the opportunity to experience the pressures of that position for one day. Not a hard day, like four or five events going, day one, or day one of the main event. Just a normal day. Jack is by no means doing a perfect job, as no tournament director at the WSOP has ever done a perfect job. Managing a staff that size and being responsible for every mistake or problem is the hardest thing I have ever endured an any capacity. He will not receive credit for any positives, and will be scapegoated for every bad situation or decision that happens. I am sure ENE will read this and pass along a hello to Jack for me. He and I had a conversation a week ago and talked a little about the Series this year. My comment to him was "Heavy is the head that wears the crown." I echo Matt's comment that many don't understand the difficulty of that position, and I wish Jack and the WSOP staff well for the remaining events.

I do have one other thing to add. There was a post about the circumstances of the "release" of myself, Ken , and Jack. I do not remember it working out that way, and am shocked to learn that anyone other than an executive who still works at the WSOP was responsible for that decision, or that any employee below the executive level was privvy to a meeting that basically relieved the TD, the director of OPs for the WSOP, and the assistant TD of their duties. As for the decision on the 19 stacks, that was specifically and unequivically not a decision made by Ken Lambert. No dead stacks were left in play at all. Every stack not having a name assigned to it was removed by myself, Janis Sexton, or Jack Effel. The names of those players were kept on a list, along with table and seat numbers of no-shows picked up. I addressed this in my post on rgp 2 years ago. The only person that ever countermanded a decision I made was not Ken. He respected my opinion enough to let my decisions on operations stand. I was overruled on some occasions by a Harrah's executive. I also ate a $9,000 mistake by my staff, as per the same exec. So be it.

Please, stop the Jack-bashing.

Johnny Grooms

[RR]

Johnny, dont' be such a stranger around these parts.

Randy

[JohnnyGroomsTD]

LOL,
Randy, good to hear from you. I have kept less track of WSOP and forums this year, as it is a litle frustrating to me. Are you still at one of the station casinos or am i misinformed.??

[RR]

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LOL,
Randy, good to hear from you. I have kept less track of WSOP and forums this year, as it is a litle frustrating to me. Are you still at one of the station casinos or am i misinformed.??

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You are misinformed. I am in Colorado. Give my best to everyone in Tunica.

[suzy89222]

another old tunica friend here, johnny...hint-lived across the hall from you...female roommate of "superman" who thought she was a good player, but later realized she sucked at the time.

people seem to like you here. im not surprised.

[Clayton]

for a long time reading this thread i was 95% sure princessENE was elaine miller. bahahahaha. oops!

anyways, if someone of Effel's authority could have done something about the tent when it was 100degrees, and did not, I dont care how bullheaded he is or what caliber his decisionmaking is, I question his ability to be a decent human being. putting people into a 100 degree tent and just standing on the sideline when there are options to get people out of such an inhumane setting is just wrong.

and i dont know you mr. grooms, for i am just a young internet kid =(

[drewjustdrew]

Johnny, please refrain from talking to Randy. Have you seen his tournament results? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]