Why the WSOP Final Table PLAY Delay is BAD!!!
I know the story about the 2008 WSOP Final Table Delay broke over a week ago, but to be honest I had no idea what it was actually about. I kept hearing people talking about how they were delaying the final table and automatically assumed they were talking about delaying the airing of the final table… so what I thought, there usually is a delay between the time of the actual final table and the airing of it anyway, so I didn’t think this was anything big…. until today.
I was looking for some poker news today and found some links to the USA Today coverage of the final table delay, so I decided to take a closer look. Apparently, for those who are as oblivious as I am, ESPN wants to delay the actual PLAY of the final table 3 months! This is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. I can understand the point of view that the WSOP want to make it a big media spectacle and get people talking, but couldn’t they do that in say 2-3 weeks and not 3 months? So much can change in 3 months and it completely changes the game. Here are some of the reasons why I think this is a BAD move….
Reads/Tells – During play much of a players’ time at the table is looking for reads and tells on his opponents. Over a 3 month period, this player could discover these reads/tells and use them against his opponents.
Steroids – Oh wait, this is poker… I guess this wouldn’t apply.
Skill/Coaching – 3 months will allow players a ton of time to improve their game. This is NOT fair. Players should be playing at the final table with the same skill they used to get there.
Hitmen – After all, there is A LOT of money on the line. We live in scary times where you can have people taken out for 5 figures. All I gotta say is just hope you don’t get some shady people at that final table!
I agree that it will create a more interesting poker game, and possibly do some good to raise awareness for the game, but I just don’t think it really will be the same poker game that we have become accustomed to. Could you imagine if they started doing this at the Olympics!
gtycoon said
am May 16 2008 @ 9:54 pm
I don’t really like the 3-4 month wait either, but we’ll have to see what happens with it.
They think it will help hype up the final table and create more excitement leading up to it. Similar to how the two week wait for the Super Bowl does. Except this is 3-4 months.
ESPN just needs to start editing and airing the days of the main event as they happen. I’m sure they’d be able to have each day edited and put together for an episode in a quick amount of time.
Or maybe they need to move the main event to day 1 of the WSOP and then have the final table at the end of the WSOP.
Matusow Talks About the WSOP Final Table Delay said
am June 11 2008 @ 9:50 pm
[...] favorite poker player, Mike Matusow, talks about his thoughts on the WSOP Final Table Delay. Mike thinks that the delay is a bad idea and basically just a cashgrab for the WSOP. One thing [...]