The poker game had just broken and Matt Savage, Laurence Goldsmith, Andy Glazer, Mike Sexton, Chris Ferguson, Warren Karp, and I were sitting around chatting. Although it was midnight, we decided to go get something to eat.
Usually, I have an opinion on everything, but on this particular evening, I decided to just listen and record what was being discussed. Following are some topics discussed and opinions that were expressed during our tasty dinner.
1. Mike Sexton, who also always has an opinion and will adamantly argue his beliefs, led a discussion on whether or not headphones should be allowed at the final table of a tournament. He thinks that both cellular phones and headphones have no place at the final table. He went on to say, "In fact, if I ruled the poker world, players wouldn't even be allowed to wear dark glasses at the table!" Chris Ferguson then added his two cents worth, "That's right, I think players should have to play naked and wear heart monitors."
2. The image of naked poker players brought us to the next topic of how Andy Glazer initially met Phil Hellmuth. Both were naked in a hot tub at a spiritual-type retreat in California. Andy told the following story: "I was chatting with a friend when a stranger joined us in the hot tub. Several minutes later, I happened to mention something about a poker tournament, and the stranger's ears suddenly perked up. He asked me if I was a poker player, and I said I was. I asked if he played poker, and he told me that he played poker for a living. To make a long story short, the stranger (Phil Hellmuth) and I became good buddies, and have been friends ever since."
3. A discussion about prize-money breakdown in tournaments came next. The general consensus of the group was that the majority of poker players prefer expanded payouts. Someone commented, "It is the players who are being staked who want the top-heavy payouts, since they are not putting up their own money."
4. The next topic was the Tournament of Champions. Sexton believes the TOC would be a natural for the World Poker Tour if it were still in existence. Everyone agreed that it was a great tournament with a great format and hoped it would be brought back as part of the tournament scene soon.
5. Next, there was some discussion on making deals at the final table. Someone talked about the time that play was actually stopped during the World Series of Poker final event when it was heads up. He said, "The flop was already out and the players took a 20-minute timeout in the middle of the hand to discuss a deal." The consensus of this particular group was that deals are OK, as long as the players still play for a substantial amount of prize money so they will play to win.
6. A discussion then ensued on whether or not new players should be allowed to wait for the button to pass and post only one blind to enter the game, versus being required to post both blinds. Sexton was the only one to argue for requiring new players to post both blinds if they let the button pass.
7. Behavior at the table was the next topic, with a general agreement that the poker industry is moving in the right direction by trying to stop poor behavior and abuse through penalties and barring players when appropriate. "Player abuse has been greatly reduced in the last 20 years," said Sexton. We heard some horrific stories about abuses that were permitted in the past, and we all want cardroom personnel to crack down on poor behavior and abuse.
8. The success of the World Poker Tour was discussed. Everyone agreed that this televised series of major poker tournaments will help the exposure and growth of poker significantly. There are many players who are following the circuit and supporting WPT events. A tradition of presenting the prize money at the final table in unique ways has become part of the allure of the WPT. To date, the money has been brought to the final table in the following ways:
• Bellagio – presented on a beautiful solid silver tray by three lovely women
• Bicycle Casino – driven into the casino on the back of a Harley-Davidson
• Aruba – a snorkeler in mask and fins surrounded by bikini-clad women appeared from the ocean carrying a treasure chest full of money
• Costa Rica – two oxen, each weighing more than 1,000 pounds, entered the casino pulling a traditional ox cart full of money
I can hardly wait to see what the remaining members of the WPT have planned to top these extravaganzas.
Once the problems of the poker world were solved, we all went to our rooms and got some sleep.
Now, let's play poker!
Editor's note: For information about Card Player Cruises poker trips, please see the website at www.cardplayercruises.com, or call the CPC office at (702) 655-0919 in Las Vegas or (888) 999-4880.