This last Sunday, July 4th, The Oregonian had a
front page article about Annie Duke and her poker playing and how she now resides in Portland. A decent article actually, continuing with another full page in the front section.
Anyway, this inanity shows up in the opinion section today:""
Don't glorify addictions
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Your front-page article "Portland resident antes up for a poker life" (July 4) performed a public disservice by glorifying gambling.
You repeatedly state how much money a professional gambler can rake in (up to millions of dollars at a time) and never mention that, for every successful gambler, there are hundreds or thousands whose lives and families are destroyed.
You promote the profession of gambling as a good career path for the young, noting that last year's second-place winner in the World Series, who "pocketed $3.5 million, is a 23-year old college student."
Why should anyone pursue an education? The Portland-based gambling pro's brother dropped out of college in order to gamble. He "played 70 hours straight in a cocaine-bent game" and "transformed himself" into the "Zen-like 'Professor of Poker' who won more than a half-million dollars in two televised tournaments last year."
You describe casinos as "elegant" and poker players as "intelligent." You state that the Portland-based gambling pro "pals around" with movie star Ben Affleck. What a groovy lifestyle! Please stop glorifying addictions, particularly on Page One.
DAN MEEK Southwest Portland""
I shrug at this as I head off to the cardroom...
-bdy