I Love The Commish!
I love Jeffrey Pollack. No. Really. I do. I love him. That is one amazing dude. So Jeffrey is The Commissioner of The World Series of Poker. He has done an amazing job with that brand and that tournament series, really reaching out and making a partnership with the players to create what is, without a doubt, the premier brand in poker. Today was the annual media briefing leading into the WSOP and, of course, Joan Rivers and her poker players are beyond white trash commentary came up. Here is the article from The Associated Press. After reading it you will get why Jeffrey is so awesome.
Poker series commissioner digs at Joan Rivers
By OSKAR GARCIA, Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
(04-28) 17:19 PDT LAS VEGAS, (AP) —
The commissioner of the World Series of Poker commissioner said Tuesday that he thinks that cardplayer Annie Duke’s presence on reality show “Celebrity Apprentice” will be good for the game, despite repeated insults thrown at Duke and the profession by Joan Rivers.
Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack mentioned Rivers’ name unexpectedly during a news conference when a reporter asked him if he thought a woman would eventually win the series’ no-limit Texas Hold ‘em main event.
“We would love to see a woman win the main event … unless that woman happens to be Joan Rivers,” Pollack said.
Pollack said during the same news conference that series organizers planned to monitor players’ conduct more closely during the tournaments to more effectively dole out punishments for violations like taunting at the table.
The 75-year-old comedian called Duke a “Nazi” and said all poker players were “beyond white trash” in an episode of the NBC show that aired Sunday. Rivers’ anger at Duke built over several episodes, but she unleashed her fury after her daughter Melissa was fired by Donald Trump on the reality show.
“Your people, you give money with blood on it,” Rivers said.
“I met your people in Vegas for 40 years. None of them have last names, none of them,” Rivers told Duke. “You’re a poker player, a poker player. That’s beyond white trash.”
Duke, who won a gold bracelet and nearly $138,000 in 2004 for winning an Omaha High-Low tournament, responded by saying that poker players are “the most awesome people in the world.”
Pollack said he believed Duke’s presence on the show represented a “quantum leap” for poker in terms of its place in mainstream popular culture.
“Annie is representing poker players beautifully. I think she’s playing the game masterfully,” Pollack said. “We think the net effect is that it’s going to be very good for poker and for the World Series of Poker.”
Pollack and other organizers said they revamped their system of warnings and penalties for the series after several incidents, including poker superstar Phil Hellmuth calling another player an “idiot” during the main event, violating tournament rules.
“After the episode with Phil in the main event last year, we said publicly we’re going to review our system of warnings and penalties. We have done that,” Pollack said. “We saw a couple of things last year that we weren’t too pleased with or proud of and recognized that some changes needed to be made.”
Pollack said tournament officials starting this year will keep a written log of warnings and penalties, using it to better determine appropriate punishments when rules are violated.
“Our intention is to make sure that the behavior of a few does not impact the experience of the many,” Pollack said before mentioning “Celebrity Apprentice” again.
“Anyone who thinks that poker players are anything other than a great group of people, that represent not only America and the world, is absolutely wrong,” he said. “No one will defend the honor of poker players more than the WSOP.”
Funny Joan would say that… as you are standing outside of Donald Trump’s office on national TV. I’d say you have made it a bit farther than the average poker player.
Obv. if any poker player can make it into the mainstream, this would be good for poker and good for the WSOP.
I think You are doing a GREAT job. I also think JR was totally out of line. I watch all of Y’all play when you are on TV. I think it takes a lot of intelligence to play poker. Not so much to host shows and trash talk people.
The main reason I decided to watch Celebrity Apprentice this season is because I found out you were going to be on. I love watching you play poker. Joan has issues as does Melissa. Joan doesn’t think before she speaks. She has attacked and made many different groups of people mad. I had fun watching Melissa’s melt down last night. I hope you win the Celebrity Apprentice.
Celebrity Apprentice is a game and, like Poker, it’s meant to be played. The Rivers duo were outplayed, and their behavior the other night was the definition of SORE LOSERS.
More power to you. Go Team Duke!!
But one question still burns… will we be allowed to say “whore pit viper” at the tables?
Annie, you are playing Celebrity Apprentice just like you play poker and that is to win. You have made your own mark in the world, remember that.
Although there are many talented people on the show, the fact is that Melissa Rivers would have never been a household name without the assistance of her overbearing mother.
Both Joan and Melissa are both behaving like the a spoiled rotten child who hasn’t gotten their way. They should both be embarassed about their behavior on national tv. Sad. Donald should fire them both! I know I would if I was in his chair in that boardroom.
I’m glad to hear they are reviewing the rules and tightening up some more behavior, but I feel they are about 3 yrs late getting on the ball with this. The more newbies who jump into the WSOP the more it turns into a circus.
I wish they would re-instill the integrity I’ve always witnessed in the game, to the point of a tennis match. Insist, demand, honor at all times during the game. When just a few nuts show up smelly, yelling, horrible hygiene, and flared egos and tempers, it hurts all of poker imo, and hurts everyone at the WSOP.
Personally I’d like to see them ban walking away from the table when you’re in a hand, masks of any kind (costumes are fine but no masks), and insist on some decorum at the table, good manners, dignity and good hygiene.
…and while I’m dreaming, if they could just stop the gum chewing.. ugh!
To: Joan+Melissa Rosenberg (fake..real names)
What would you know about good manners, decorum, dignity and no masks (your wearing plastic ones)!
Your creepy – both of you!
I am sooooo happy to hear about the changes in penalties. Phil Helmuth HAS to be a great player with his accomplishments. Yet, when I think of him, I visualize his tantrums not his good plays.
Other posters are correct that the circus atmosphere is a long way from gentlemens (and ladies) poker. Fortunatly, I live in Las Vegas. I have been to many days of WSOP events as a spectator. Trust me the main body of players who love the game are well behaved and very cordial. Just name any other sport where you can ask a PRO for a picture or an autograph and get a pleasant response.
Many fans might be surprised to learn that it is a very open atmosphere. Spilling the beans here, there is no admission fee to walk the rail and watch any number of celebs play. Las Vegas still has a few local treasures and WSOP is one of the best. I will be there a lot this year. I hope I get to shake Annie’s hand for a job well done on CA. Oh, who am I trying to kid. I am just an old man infatuated with a smart woman.
Can you imagine the penalties Joan and Melissa would have received for their meltdown?
The clock with the suspension times would have been turning like a windmill.
I can’t believe that Phil Hellmuth looks like an amateur as far as tantrums are compared to them.
Yea.. give my head a shake.. but Phil only gets a bronze medal.
I agree that the commissioner needed to crack down on the rules as long as it is for everyone.
But….A big part of poker is table image. Phil
definitely has his own table image.
As far as joan’s remarks go about poker players was a huge mistake on her part. Poker has done so much all over the world for charity. She should also stop and think that she raised her spoiled brat from shows in Vegas.
Also someone should tell her that a big part of Mr. Trumps empire is from casino’s. I think all his casino’s do play poker………..LOL
Shame on you Joan.
Annie I am proud to say I am a poker player you have been a good ambassador of your sport.
I am so glad you did not allow them to back you into a corner. Also by the same token I was happy you did not lower yourself to their standards.
GOOD LUCK ANNIE
The grand daddy of poker speaks out
http://www.doylesroom.com/blog/?p=184
graceful, intelligent, highly respected, Doyle (Dolly) Brunson.
HEADS UP FOR PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE BACK AND FORTHS OF JOAN AND ANNIE…..joan shot ellen degeneres today and it will air tomorrow. im sure annie will be discussed….
Joan and Melissa=the “River Rats”! Once again( on the Ellen Show) they reared their ugly heads and showed millions of people how low one can go!
Hopefully they’ll not come out of this professionally unscathed.
I watched CA religiously this season because of Herschel Walker, since of course, being a GA boy and a football fan, I have always liked him. I stayed even after he left, because of Annie. I knew her from watching Poker over the last few years, but her name was one among many players. Not so anymore. She may not be the top Poker player (but any day now), but she’s got to be the most well-known after all this. And she’s a great image for Poker. And following her here and on Twitter, I also see she’s a great person and very real..
Keep on being you Annie. We’re behind you.
Hi Annie,
I have no doubt in my mind about you beating face lift joan rivers in the apprentice, you have my vote. i hate people who try to knock down other people joan only showed her true colors,
she to me is a loser and her daughter is a spoiled brat and has big issues she better see a shrink their behavior is unexceptible for the world to see.Annie in my book your the best
go girl.
I just wanted to say I have never heard of your talents until this season’s Celebrity Apprentice.After a couple episodes I felt you would be going all the way to the top!I was right.I watched the Ellen clip and I appreciate the comment in which you basically said never let them see you down and respond to bad critisism.You seem like someone who has a good personality.U’r funny,a hardworker I only assume that comes from a great up-bringing.No one deserves personal attacks, she’s just jelious cause u got $Richy,Rich$ Friends!I know you won already but can’t wait to see it on tv.Loved u’r jingle and u’r boardroom exit had me going watery eyed 2.Glad you give ladies a good name, keep up all u’r hard work, cause u deserve all the rewards.
Have to say was not a fan (nor against for that matter) of either Annie or Joan but as the season progressed I could not help but side with Joan. She clearly was more professional and apt to run a business. Main reason is her ability to get along with people even ones she had prior issues with. She did not agree with Clint when he was PM but dutifully supported him. I know we saw edited versions but what we did see I feel did not put Annie in a good light. Look what she said about Tom Green after he didn’t go along with her Joan bashing tonight. It was getting old. Also the Donald should have most definitely fired Brandi not Melissa. She was PM and failed. That epi was great for you really did get to see the real Annie and yes it was exactly like high school. Melissa was so right. She was totally set up and called it from the get go on tape. I had to tell my husband sadly that girls like Annie and Brandi do set up other women on a daily basis and play so innocent later. Again I was not rooting for any of these woman to begin with.
Annie is someone you may want to work for you in the right role. I think one where men who liked to be told their jobs and what to do (yes there are people that have no problem with that) In that scenario she would shine. She would get the job done and done well. Annie is a bit too rough around the edges for most environments IMHO. Glad money was not the primary factor for winning but Annie did raise a lot and that is definitely something to respect her for. She made the Donald happy and gave the Apprentice some great ratings! All in all good TV viewing. I’m sure Annie will do very well even though she did not win The Apprentice she won in other ways and we will see more of her in the future.
Peace!
I think Donald Trump made a bad decision last night. After watching his show from day 1, this is the first time I totally disagreed with his decision. I felt he chose the winner based on television ratings and not the celebrity performance. You played the game with dignity throughout the season and I have been rooting for you from the beginning. Yes, you talk too much – but you admit it. So does Joan but she doesn’t admit and Trump pretty much let her talk and cut you off numerous times. When I finish this message, I am off to write him and let him know that he has lost a loyal viewer because of his choices. Good luck in your future endeavors. Thanks.
Annie-I have to say you so should have won last night. I was so dissappointed you handled yourself beautifully. You are truly grace under pressure. Maybe you can teach a class in that?