Lyle Berman Makes Final Table At Foxwoods
 

Does anyone else find it odd that Lyle Berman is allowed to play in the WPT events? I'm sure there is nothing fishy going on, but to the uneducated viewer it might look strange.

For instance I have heard that Bobby Baldwin, CEO of MGM/Mirage will not play poker in his casinos due to the image problem. So when he wants to play in the big game with the boys, they move it downtown to the Golden Nugget.

Anyways what I am really looking forward to is seeing if Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten say anything negative about his play during the broadcast.

Re: Lyle Berman Makes Final Table At Foxwoods
 

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone else find it odd that Lyle Berman is allowed to play in the WPT events? I'm sure there is nothing fishy going on, but to the uneducated viewer it might look strange.

For instance I have heard that Bobby Baldwin, CEO of MGM/Mirage will not play poker in his casinos due to the image problem. So when he wants to play in the big game with the boys, they move it downtown to the Golden Nugget.

Anyways what I am really looking forward to is seeing if Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten say anything negative about his play during the broadcast.

[/ QUOTE ]

Lyle was moved to my table early on the first day so we played together for about 9 hours. (I also ended up at his table on day two and he busted me out of the tournament.) I asked him this exact question on day one. He told me that there has been a lot of discussion about playing in these events with WPT management and lawyers. Obviously there is no direct conflict of interest because WPT just tapes the final table and the casino actually runs the event. The only reason for any discussion is because of appearance or outside perception. Apparently Lyle, the WPT and their lawyers are OK with it - otherwise he would not be playing.

On a side note - Lyle was fun to play with. He told some funny stories about the big game and its players and was generally interesting to talk to. I enjoyed playing with his son Brad last year and Lyle was a pleasure to play with as well. I hope he wins.

Re: Lyle Berman Makes Final Table At Foxwoods
 

Temp, have you turned pro? How many tournaments do you plan to play in 2006?

Re: Lyle Berman Makes Final Table At Foxwoods
 

I still resent Lyle horribly for crippling my stack at the WPF last year. In the fourth or fifth level, I had chipped away to about T18000. He raises the T200 blind to T800. I reraise to T2500 on the button with AKo. He calls with 9500 or so behind after the call. Flop K-7-7 two hearts. He checks, I push (in retrospect, this was debatable. If I bet the pot, am I really getting away from an additional 4500? No, might as well make a flush draw pay or hope for a call from QQ, JJ, TT, worse K, etc...) He instacalls with 78s and kills my stack. Down to about 6K. After a few all-in losses to short stacks, not able to turn around.

Fucking Lyle Berman...

Re: Lyle Berman Makes Final Table At Foxwoods
 

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Temp, have you turned pro? How many tournaments do you plan to play in 2006?

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I play poker for fun and it is strickly a hobby. I am sure I will play a few tournaments in 2006, but not many. Aside from having a job, I have two small children and poker is not very far up the priority list right now.

Re: Lyle Berman Makes Final Table At Foxwoods
 

I am unaware of this situation. Does Lyle work for the WPT?

Re: Lyle Berman Makes Final Table At Foxwoods
 

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I am unaware of this situation. Does Lyle work for the WPT?

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Not exactly.

Re: Lyle Berman Makes Final Table At Foxwoods
 

I believe Berman founded the WPT.

Vince

Re: Lyle Berman Makes Final Table At Foxwoods
 

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Does Lyle work for the WPT?

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He's the founder and CEO of the WPT.

Re: Lyle Berman Makes Final Table At Foxwoods
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Temp, have you turned pro? How many tournaments do you plan to play in 2006?

[/ QUOTE ]
I play poker for fun and it is strickly a hobby. I am sure I will play a few tournaments in 2006, but not many. Aside from having a job, I have two small children and poker is not very far up the priority list right now.

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Sounds like you've got your head screwed on proper. A rare touch of class in an otherwise less-than-classy pasttime.