WSOP "My son dropped out of college to internet poker and we're proud?

[RoundersRocks!]

Does anyone else think that segment in the WSOP an coverage was irresponsible, for alot of reasons? Does ESPN have any official response to charges that they are glorifying gambling?
Just curious.

[Paxosmotic]

ESPN is not our moral barometer and why shouldn't parents be proud of a successful child?

[shaniac]

Reporting on the dynamics and thoughts of one of the players and his parents is not promoting gambling any more than broadcasting a poker tournament tournament in the first place.

There's nothing wrong with dropping out of school to try something unconventional, and there's nothing irresponsible about documenting it.

[Steve00007]

[ QUOTE ]
Reporting on the dynamics and thoughts of one of the players and his parents is not promoting gambling any more than broadcasting a poker tournament tournament in the first place.
/quote]

It may not be promoting gambling any more than broadcasting a poker tournament, but that's not the issue here. Some kids will watch a poker tournament without ever thinking that they should drop out of school to play poker. However, when you bring up the idea during the tournament, and show a person who seems to be successful after making that choice, a lot more people will come up with the idea to also drop out of school to play poker. Even if they don't drop out of school, they may get lazy when it comes to their studies. It's not the promotion of gambling itself that many people could have a problem with; it's the promotion of the idea to drop out of school in order to pursue a gambling career.

[Shilly]

Who was this said about?

[lighterjobs]

[ QUOTE ]
Who was this said about?

[/ QUOTE ]

gambleab

[RoundersRocks!]

I personally have no problem with it either, don't get me wrong. I am just saying I would like to see ESPN document a kid who dropped out of college to play poker and regrets it everyonce in awhile.

I know alot of kids who dropped out to play personally though, and that is why this particlar segment probably irked me.

That was just meant as an example though, my real question was does ESPN have any response to criticisms?

[Jim T]

Does ESPN have a similar responsibility to document the huge number of HS kids and college students who delusionally believe that they will make it as a professional athlete and don't bother study enought to get the free education that they "won't need"?

[Steve00007]

-[ QUOTE ]
Does ESPN have a similar responsibility to document the huge number of HS kids and college students who delusionally believe that they will make it as a professional athlete and don't bother study enought to get the free education that they "won't need"?

[/ QUOTE ]

Education can help aspiring poker players quite a bit. I'd much rather try to become proficient in poker with strong backgrounds in math and English than try to succeed at poker without those skills. Moreover, if someone is poorly educated, and doesn't have much experience and knowledge when it comes to studying, it will be much more difficult for that person to pick up poker books and learn the game. Philosophy can be helpful as well, and there may be some other useful subjects that I haven't thought of yet.

[Voltron87]

parents should not be proud of this, that doesnt mean college kids shouldnt play poker, but if i dropped out of college to play poker professionally unless i become incredibly rich (making 200K a year is not rich) i would view my life as a failure in many ways.