Shuffling Up at the 2016 World Series of Poker
Another World Series of Poker begins tomorrow.
Out of the 47 series which have taken place since the first small gathering at the old Binion’s Horseshoe back in 1970, I’ve attended about half of them — at least in some capacity as either a player, writer, or executive. My first WSOP was in 1985.
For the past 15 years, I’ve worked under the official title of “Media Director,” which has in recent years become something of a nom de plume. Let’s face it. The media can’t be directed. The last thing I have is any control over the media. It’s like herding cats.
I think most of us would agree this is a transitional time for poker, as well as for the WSOP. Then again, the game is always in a state of transition. Everything’s changing constantly. No two years, nor two series, nor two tournaments are ever comparable.
Go around some time and ask poker champions who have won multiple gold bracelets about their experiences. Each will likely recall vastly different paths to those moments of glory. There will be vastly disparate emotional reactions to each accomplishment. In other words, some victories mean more than others.
Yet for some, just coming to Las Vegas and playing in a WSOP event is a bucket-list item, the realization of a lifetime dream. Some of the best stories each year are unknowingly scripted by hometown heroes who manage to win small-stakes satellites and play a single tournament for a pool of their poker friends back at home. There are stories of new poker players who travel from faraway places to participate in the WSOP for the first time. And, it’s not just about the players. One of the greatest joys of any tournament is hanging around a final table and watching the faces of family and friends cheering on the rail, their own dreams vicariously realized by someone whom they love reaching an important personal milestone.
Meanwhile, the Rio has become that broken-in pair of comfortable shoes with the heels worn down that we somehow can’t force ourselves to throw away. It gets us where we want to go. The Rio gets beaten up at times because it’s been the host venue for the past dozen years or so and while it’s easy to glance across the railroad tracks over to the Las Vegas Strip, point a finger, and say the WSOP belongs over there, the fact is — for its age and obvious occasional defects, the Rio serves its purposes very well. Just try driving on The Strip somewhere and walking from a parking garage into the casino, and see if you can do all that in the 5 minutes it takes given the current location. You can’t. That’s but one seemingly minor advantage to keeping things where they are, at least for now.
Unlike the more than 100,000 players from all over the world who will attend this year’s WSOP, I won’t be taking any financial risks — this, despite being stuck inside a casino for 52 straight days and nights. While players are faced with grueling decisions which might have life-altering consequences (where else can you come in anonymously, and just a few days later pay off your entire mortgage with hundreds of thousands to spare?), the only tough decisions I have are when to insert the occasional comma. I have the luxury of being one of the game’s dedicated civil servants, steadily accruing another paycheck while surrounded by people I know and thousands more that I don’t who are brave enough to post large sums of money and test their skills against the world’s best players. I believe the aspiration of all these players who are willing to take such a chance on themselves deserves our respect. It takes a very special person to post up $1,500 or $10,000 when that’s a lot of money to people and try to outmaneuver thousands of competitors. We often forget that’s a gutsy thing to do.
Usually, the days that precede the WSOP are the calm before the storm, but for me, this past week has been more like the storm before the calm. I’m looking forward to returning to the comfortable confines of the Rio once again, putting on that comfortable pair of old shoes, and reuniting with many dear friends, and renewing acquaintances. For me, the WSOP isn’t just the world’s premier poker extravaganza. It’s also the jump start to many old relationships and an energizer battery of life.
The 2016 WSOP officially begins Wednesday, June 1st. Cash games have just opened at the Rio as this is being written.
See you there!
Would suggest they don’t schedule Super Senior event on Fathers Day – some of us don’t have all that many years left to spend this day with our kids and grandkids- tried to talk to tornament director last year – but he was too busy
See you there Nolan! I will come by and say hello as I’ve done the last couple years. Thank you for all your hard work and great reads.
Looking forward to every word!
Rock on my Brother! (get to writing)
If you get a chance, view The trooper 97 blog. He gives a daily view of Vegas and the life of a 1-2 NLH grinder. Somewhere I heard a Pro say that only 3% of the of the grinder make money. Can that be possible?