I understand why ESPN/WSOP is doing the whole stretching out of the main event so that the final table comes a few months after the elimination happens. But, seriously, what’s the point? You’re trying to drag an event that takes days into a months long one. In case you hadn’t heard, plenty of people have tried to stretch things out (see Harry Potter or the Matrix) but it doesn’t work. You just annoy people and increase the chances that people won’t be as fucking interested in the end.
But, the thing is…at least with 6 month waits between movies, you can still bank on the fact that you (ideally) don’t know what’s going to happen next. But, the November 9 are posted on the WSOP site’s front page…and Full Tilt Poker’s got ads in the middle of the main event playback talking about Phil Ivey’s November 9 spot. Granted, I actually DID check the WSOP site to see who’s at the final table but it’s like reading the last page of a book (or the second to last page in this case).
Meanwhile, I’m still watching the action from day five two months after the main event actually happened. Sure, I like that I get to watch poker for longer than a few days a year. But, it’s a bit weaker than how it used to be because I know so-and-so will likely lose that all-in they’re facing right now because they’re not on the November 9 list. What? Phil Ivey’s seeing his stack dwindle…no problem, he’s already at the final table. No suspense there.
There’s got to be a better way. It’s also a bit cheap. Why not just cover more of the WSOP events (there are plenty of WSOP and other poker events all year long)? It’s one thing to be milked by a commercial enterprise…it’s another to be OBVIOUSLY milked…in plain sight. I don’t care about your stupid sponsors. Deliver the goods or find another job.
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Tags: World Series of Poker