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