Why is poker still on ESPN?

[lcarus]

I thought this fad died already. For a while, poker was on multiple channels all the effing time. That was a couple years ago. Then I stopped seeing it. Now I turn it to ESPN today, and the WSOP is on. So do they only show the WSOP now days? I like poker, but I don't get how anyone could want to watch people play. Furthermore, it shouldn't be on ESPN.

[BWillie]

Poker is still big, there just aren't as many casual fans as there used to be. Still gets pretty good ratings. There are many other things to fill espns spots this time of the year. Better than 90% of the Olympics.

[mcaj22]

i dont understand why ESPN will cover something like Poker, "entertainment" and never a single coverage of WWE. I know wrestling is "fake" but those guys are far more athletic, fit, and professionally athletic to take bumps and spots over a bunch of dudes sitting in chairs having food, drinks and messages brought to them while they look at two cards for 12 hours at a time

[lcarus]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

i dont understand why ESPN will cover something like Poker, "entertainment" and never a single coverage of WWE. I know wrestling is "fake" but those guys are far more athletic, fit, and professionally athletic to take bumps and spots over a bunch of dudes sitting in chairs having food, drinks and messages brought to them while they look at two cards for 12 hours at a time

Well pro wrestling is more like scripted entertainment. That's probably why they don't cover it.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja

they still show it on multiple channels. I think its died down alot since you cant play for money on the internet like u used too. lol

Yeah, poker is still alive and well. I think the thing people love about poker is anybody can play, the average joe can play against the pros and conceivably win. It's an exhilarating thought and such a beautiful game.

Still tons of poker on NBC Sports, Fox Sports Net, and some of the other sports channels such as the World Poker Tour and even some smaller stuff like the Heartland Poker tour. Being I'm primarily a cash game player, I really enjoy Poker After Dark. The only real reason they aren't making current episodes is because Full Tilt was sponsering it. They don't really currently have a sponser. Poker Stars would do it but they don't really want to piss the DOJ off in hopes they can re-enter the US market when it's legal.

Originally Posted by frazod

The thing I hate is that Texas Hold 'Em is apparently THE ONLY POKER GAME ANYBODY IS ALLOWED TO PLAY ANYMORE. Seriously, when the hell did that happen?

Basically once ESPN + hole card cam + Chris Moneymaker. There are still tons of WSOP events for other lesser played games. Omaha Hi otherwise just known now as "Omaha" is becoming the new holdem. It is probably going to be the new "hold 'em" to some degree. I honestly don't find stud and omaha hi lo very interesting, but I know the older crowd loves those games.

Originally Posted by lcarus

When I was in Vegas with my friend, we played at a 1-3 limit table at Excalibur. It was money central. Lots of noob drunk tourists filter in and out and just play for fun. We sat there for a few hours and walked away with about 300 each.

One of the great things about live poker is most ppl can sit there for a long time and enjoy it. It's not like blackjack or slots where you can be busto in 5 minutes much of the time. That can happen in poker too on any given hand, but you can play hours and hours. Chat it up with other degens, get free drinks, and really have a good time. It's a shame so many ppl are afraid to give it a try in the casino. I cannot understand how sitting at a slot machine staring into the abyss is fun, but to each their own.

Originally Posted by Bump

ya but you don't usually see them at another final table. The real pro's always seem to make it pretty far in tourney's consistently. Like Phil Helmuth, he always seems to make the final table.

If you talk to many in the poker community, Phil Hellmuth is not respected near as much as he is on TV, at least as far as Hold 'em. His game really hasn't evolved and he won most of his bracelets before so many people learned how to play the game at a high level. He's not a bad player by any means, but I doubt he could even beat Mid-Stakes or Small Stakes No Limit Hold 'Em as far as online cash games. He plays in like every WSOP event as well.

Originally Posted by Lumpy

I haven't played online all that much ever since they put the kibosh on real cash gaming. It's not that I don't think it's "cool" anymore, but it takes away from the experience when you're not playing w/ your hard-earned money. People are also way more cautious w/ the way they play when their money is on the line.

I prefer a real challenge by playing against experienced players. That's why I've always preferred RL games over online. Staring a person in the eyes, watching their body language, shit-talking, etc. That is what makes poker interesting and fun.

You actually can play in many places online still to this day. I've been playing online 3-4 times a week ever since FTP & Stars got busted by the DOJ w/out any problems. That is the biggest thing that has lowered the interest in poker is the lack of availability or at least perception of online poker. So many people think it's rigged (it's not), and it's much more difficult to deposit than it was in the Party Poker days in 2005. The live poker players I play with have no idea you can still play online and think it's "illegal". It's not technically illegal for you to play, the government isn't going to take your money, isn't going to come down on you like you were downloading torrents or something. It's only illegal to host, ie - the ppl running the poker site. Eventually, there should be state backed legislation for online poker. It will probably be backed by Caesars, hopefully real money Zynga Poker can even come about. I would be ecstatic, and you would see people flock to online poker if it was backed by a familar entity & the govt.

As far as "Real Life" games compared to online, I think you have it backwards. It's a well known fact that live games are so much more easier than online it's not even funny. You don't have tons of multi tabling pros, you have so many more recreational players. A 1/3 No Limit Casino game is much easier than .05/.10 games online these days, I'm not even joking. But you are right, there is no substitute in live poker. I play tons online, and I always have the itch to play live.

If any of you are interested in playing online, please let me know. Tons of games still going. There is the Merge Network which even has a Bad Beat Jackpot that gets up over 1 million. A guy from Lawrence, KS won it last year even. Theres the Lock Poker/Cake Poker that is going strong. I can help get you set up, even get you rakeback and help you deposit. Checks on the Merge Network are only taking 1-2 weeks nowadays as well. I love talking poker so if any of you are out there hit me up on skype to discuss strat or shoot the shit. I'd be willing to even stake some of you if you put in a large amt of hands and could show that you are at least break even player online or try to help get you there.

[Lumpy]

Originally Posted by BWillie007

You actually can play in many places online still to this day.

Yeah, there are a few sites that my boss plays on, but he misses the old sites.

Originally Posted by BWillie007

As far as "Real Life" games compared to online, I think you have it backwards. It's a well known fact that live games are so much more easier than online it's not even funny. You don't have tons of multi tabling pros, you have so many more recreational players. A 1/3 No Limit Casino game is much easier than .05/.10 games online these days, I'm not even joking. But you are right, there is no substitute in live poker. I play tons online, and I always have the itch to play live.

I don't believe that I stated anything about live play being more difficult than online play. If you took it that way, then perhaps I should have worded my posts differently. I couldn't agree w/ you more on the subject.

When I began playing, I started out online, (mainly to learn the game and see how people bet). Gonzo and his buddy joined a poker league and I soon followed. I remember being extremely nervous the first few times that I played. Imagine a chick walking into a bar and playing poker against mostly men, (there were also a few females). We were playing poker twice a week for a few years and even won entries into the finals. Then... we had a child. Buh-bye poker!

I think the best part about playing live poker is getting to know your opponents. Gonzo and I made some really good friends, got to know their families, and even went out w/ them outside of poker. Whenever we do get to make it to the bar for a game, we get a huge welcome, (usually followed w/ free beer, lol).

It's a great feeling to play live, (the atmosphere, the people, the friendly trash-talk, etc.). I'm hoping that we'll be able to get back into it again. Maybe one of these days.

[MahiMike]

Who's ESPN? I seriously never watch that channel anymore.

[Bump]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

They show golf on TV, so why not poker?

and nascar...

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

At least they walk the course in golf.

What ever happened to that golf cart guy?

[luv]

Originally Posted by Lumpy

That's another problem w/ play money games. I would be at a table of decent players, then an all-in idiot would show up. I usually reported them to the site admin when it was obvious that they had no intentions of actually playing.

What sites did you play on? I was on Ultimate Bet, PokerStars, and Full Tilt.

I couldn't even tell you anymore. I didn't play that often, and I've slept since then.