NFL Linebackers, John McEnroe, and the WSOP

[PDosterM]

In recent years I have grown weary of watching NFL linebackers go into these almost choreographed celebrations after they make a tackle. One tackle! Give me a break.

I see a similar trend in the World Series of Poker and other televised tournaments. Someone wins a hand, leaps up, makes whooping sounds, high fives his friends, and hugs his mother. One hand! Give me a break.

I understand that televising poker has been of tremendous benefit to the game, but there seems to be a downside as well. I would hate to see this behavior become accepted.

I just finished watching the WSOP Tournament of Champions. Phil Helmuth’s behavior when he took second place is exactly what one would expect if John McEnroe played cards instead of tennis. There is already a level of rudeness in cardrooms by a few players, and I worry that Helmuth adds respectability to this style.

With the exception of sunglass and the Oscar winning “let-me-agonize-about-whether-to-raise-with-the-nuts” acting, the cardroom in which I play hasn’t seen a great deal of WSOP antics emulation.

My question is: are any of you beginning to see some of the more egregious behaviors cropping up where you play?

[Gimpy]

Where I play it is a good reason to have your hand crushed in a car door.

[Peter Harris]

not yet. But as i direct most tournaments at our uni society, i would not tolerate the lower edges of WSOP behaviour.

Yesterday (on TV) i saw Greg Raymer receiving a torrent of abuse from a player at the WSOP after the latter check-raised Greg. He then offered to shake hands with Greg and Greg refused. Good for him, i hope that guy was felled by Greg's own hand later in the tournament.

I would not tolerate swearing or other abuse at the table and would be sure to penalize players who did. We haven't had the problem yet, and we will have zero tolerance of it when it comes in. You're right though, it is a problem that may emerge soon.

Regards,
Pete Harris

[Al Schoonmaker]

I am just finishing up a "Card Player column, "Anger Management, Part II, Aggravating Factors."
It lists TV first and internet poker second. The LV cardrooms are inundated with people who don't know how to behave, and it makes some people extremely angry.
I don't know what is happening in other parts of the country.
Some people get so far out of line that I have left a few games. I don't want to become angry, and I know my tolerance for these antics is limited.
Regards,
Al

[BugSplatt]

I think I read this story in Card Player a couple of years ago:

Medium limit game, a few guys in a pot at some cardroom, there is a bet, and one individual goes into the "big ponder" as he lifts his cap, wipes his brow, rubs his eyes, hums and haws, etc. Finally, the dealer said to him, "Sir, when you are done acting, it's your turn to act."

Bug

[cepstrum]

Hi Dr. Al -

It's not just cardrooms. People in general have no idea how to behave in public today. And this seems to affect all demographics, with the possible exception of senior citizens.

For instance, here at CMU, laptop web surfing for porn (with the sound on!) has become a non-trivial problem during big lectures. Few of those caught have any notion that this might be unacceptable. It's not expressly prohibited in the student handbook, I guess.

Good Luck

Cepstrum

[goldcowboy]

Greg didn't directly take out Matusow, but he later severely crippled him to the point that Matusow couldn't survive. Matusow acted like a complete and utter ass.

[Peter Harris]

i saw the last hand last night; if Fossilman had played the hand where matusow busted he would have flopped a set and kicked him out.

nevertheless, Matusow did act very badly, and i would have called a TD over to give him a verbal warning. It'd look good on TV seeing someone be ostracised for such foul language.

Regards,
Pete Harris

[Al Schoonmaker]

You wrote: "It'd look good on TV seeing someone be ostracised for such foul language."
I agree, but it almost certainly will not happen. The TV producers and directors ENCOURAGE players to act like louts. They want "dramatic value."
Linda Johnson and others have tried to tell them that poker players value self-control, but she has admitted it's hopeless. If the TV people had their way, broadcasts would be a combination of pro wrestling and The Jerry Springer Show.
The players know that the more stupidly they act, the greater their chances to be on TV.
Get used to it. We're going to see a LOT more of it, and it will get worse.
Yuck.
Regards,
Al

[garyc8]

When a player is misbehaving badly it is important for the other players to let him know they disapprove. We as players must help police this garbage. If one player is abusing another, it applies more social pressure if a third and fourth party tell him to stop it.

Example:
This weekend a decent player (who's usually a pretty nice guy) got KK beat on the river by a weak player who called a pre-flop raise from sb w/ A6o, and caught an A on the end.
This weak player seems to have a habit of drawing out on this particular decent player.
The decent player was frustrated and he'd clearly had a few drinks. He continued grumbling and criticizing the weak player's play for some time. The weak player eventually got very angry and began to snap back at the drunk who would not let it go.
Finally, I looked down the table and snarled at the drunk "Shut the hell up!"
He claimed he would say whatever he wanted to with a weak attempt at defiance, but quieted down just the same.