Why The 2008 World Series Of Poker (WSOP) Is Being Delayed Until October
Well, the summer usually holds the 2008 WSOP for fans from all around the world to enjoy.
A time when Vegas is hopping with tourists and flight packages are at their best but this year a little change has taken place.
Instead of competing with baseball for optimal ratings, the World Series of Poker final table will be held at a time when both college football and basketball are being played.
Then of course, there is the NFL, which we're still wondering who wants to compete with them? However, the powers-to-be feel it's a necessary move even though many of the players are torn by the new decision.
The most controversial thought that could prove to be a great point was made by former champion Greg Raymer.
According to information on the Launch Poker website, Raymer believes the layoff will allow players to be coached on each of the finalists for longer periods of time.
This could be a major disadvantage for those who aren't normally sitting at the final table.
Other poker stars like Victor Ramdin had a different point of view.
In an interview he had, the thought was that this will go on to prove just how good the great players are.
He continues to say in a snippet from Launch Poker that, basically, while many people feel it's all about the cards being hot and cold, this will prove it's more than that.
This isn't word for word, but the idea Ramdin was trying to get across is a good one as well.
We're pretty sure the emotions of fans will be mixed, considering we normally see the event many months after it has already ended.
Now, with ESPN having monumental influence, they felt it was time to try to get the final table in as much real-time as possible.
While many understand the concept, others have a feeling the ratings will fall off the charts then years prior.
It's almost like trying to put a new TV pilot in the same time slot as American Idol.
If you are a player then you can understand the fits some of them are expressing.
When you're preparing for an event, you never have everything set up to get all the way to the final table and then stop only to start again much later.
It's kind of like those $120,000 take all tournaments you find on television at two o' clock in the morning with the celebrity players.
It will end up feeling like an in between event to the other tournaments around the country.
Only time will tell whether or not this kind of move by ESPN and the 2008 WSOP will pay off.
Going up against the likes of the NFL alone will cause problems, but then adding NCAA football and basketball to the list will only make it more difficult.
Then again, it wasn't that long ago people were thinking that televised poker was going to be boring and not worth the trouble.
Look where they are now.
Maybe ESPN knows what they're doing and we're all just afraid of the change.
Stay tuned.
A time when Vegas is hopping with tourists and flight packages are at their best but this year a little change has taken place.
Instead of competing with baseball for optimal ratings, the World Series of Poker final table will be held at a time when both college football and basketball are being played.
Then of course, there is the NFL, which we're still wondering who wants to compete with them? However, the powers-to-be feel it's a necessary move even though many of the players are torn by the new decision.
The most controversial thought that could prove to be a great point was made by former champion Greg Raymer.
According to information on the Launch Poker website, Raymer believes the layoff will allow players to be coached on each of the finalists for longer periods of time.
This could be a major disadvantage for those who aren't normally sitting at the final table.
Other poker stars like Victor Ramdin had a different point of view.
In an interview he had, the thought was that this will go on to prove just how good the great players are.
He continues to say in a snippet from Launch Poker that, basically, while many people feel it's all about the cards being hot and cold, this will prove it's more than that.
This isn't word for word, but the idea Ramdin was trying to get across is a good one as well.
We're pretty sure the emotions of fans will be mixed, considering we normally see the event many months after it has already ended.
Now, with ESPN having monumental influence, they felt it was time to try to get the final table in as much real-time as possible.
While many understand the concept, others have a feeling the ratings will fall off the charts then years prior.
It's almost like trying to put a new TV pilot in the same time slot as American Idol.
If you are a player then you can understand the fits some of them are expressing.
When you're preparing for an event, you never have everything set up to get all the way to the final table and then stop only to start again much later.
It's kind of like those $120,000 take all tournaments you find on television at two o' clock in the morning with the celebrity players.
It will end up feeling like an in between event to the other tournaments around the country.
Only time will tell whether or not this kind of move by ESPN and the 2008 WSOP will pay off.
Going up against the likes of the NFL alone will cause problems, but then adding NCAA football and basketball to the list will only make it more difficult.
Then again, it wasn't that long ago people were thinking that televised poker was going to be boring and not worth the trouble.
Look where they are now.
Maybe ESPN knows what they're doing and we're all just afraid of the change.
Stay tuned.