Poker Hall of Famer and World Series of Poker bracelet holder, Mike Sexton, critized the World Series of Poker in a post on the partypoker blog and it brought an immediate response from Ty Stewart.
Mike Sexton has called out the World Series of Poker (WSOP), and unlike the time I was called out by Chris Malone in the school playground, after a particularly challenging game of British Bulldogs, they have not backed down. Ty Stewart was reading. Ty Stewart wasn’t hiding.
If you write a blog post you are expecting comments. You want comments. It’s one of the pivotal points of the exercise. You know that people are interested when they take the time to respond. However, when you receive a comment, that is longer than your original blog post, you know you have struck an emotional chord. Sexton hurt Stewart’s feelings, and he let him know about it.
I like it when two stalwarts of the poker community butt heads. It intrigues me. You know that deep down they want to rip each other’s hearts out, but they can’t. They have to show a modicum of respect, whilst at the same time being pissed off. Sexton and Stewart have done this in their glove slapping exercise.
Sexton doesn’t like the November Nine. Join the club. I don’t think I have spoken to anybody outside of the WSOP that does. Another issue that brings a bad taste to his mouth is the sheer number of events that the WSOP now put on, including events outside of the US. He is also slightly irritated by the Player of the Year (POY) race including events held in other parts of the globe.
Sexton writes: “While I do love the WSOP, my concerns are clear to see. They’re attempting to strengthen their bottom line (which we all understand and appreciate), but in doing so, are diluting their product (i.e. The value of the bracelet).
I imagine Stewart sensed an overwhelming sense of hypocrisy with this statement. The type of which would have had him thrusting his head through his kitchen window, and stabbing his heart with a wooden spoon. Poker is all about money. There isn’t a Whole Foods amongst us. Any poker company that says they serve the customer first, and the shareholders second, are not playing with a full deck. That’s not the way our business works. I wish it did, but it doesn’t.
