Poker News > Televised Poker Rocks by Linda Johnson


Televised Poker Rocks by Linda Johnson

By Linda Johnson - Nov 4th, 2009

I just returned from a wonderful nine-day Card Player Cruises trip to New England and Canada. The fall foliage was magnificent and the lobster and clams on the East Coast are much, much tastier than their counterparts on the West Coast. I also spent three nights in New York City on each end of the cruise. I’m a theater lover and managed to squeeze in seven Broadway shows. On my must-see recommendation list are Memphis, Superior Donuts, and Bye Bye Birdie. When I get home from an extended trip, I can hardly wait to catch up on my favorite television shows. Thank goodness for Tivo! I had so many shows waiting. Choices, choices, choices! The obvious choice for the first show I watched was Survivor (I haven’t missed an episode in 19 seasons). After Survivor, the next choice was close, but I opted for the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event on ESPN (Grey’s Anatomy, Dateline, 60 Minutes, Private Practice, The Good Wife, and Two and a Half Men could wait). I found myself taking notes to share with my Wednesday Poker Discussion Group, so I will share them with the Poker News Daily readers as well. With more than ...

Register for free to continue reading.

Related Articles

11 Comments

Peter Beck   November 4th, 2009 at 4:17 pm

I thought the hand between Shulman and Tamayo was pretty interesting. And it was good to learn new lingo (“sweaters”). But sorry, I’m still not sure what a stop and go is. Thanks for the article Linda.

Al   November 4th, 2009 at 5:00 pm

Great comments on the WSOP.
It was interesting to see the average age was 31 – thanks to internet poker.
Hope you still have the eight-track player!

Ruth Hall   November 4th, 2009 at 6:59 pm

As always, another excellent article written by Linda Johnson! It would be nice if the stop and go plays and squeeze plays were explained in more detail by Norman Chad. Maybe they just want to keep the WSOP on TV easy viewing for the general public and not get technical? Julie Schneider’s “stack em, stack em, to the top” cheer was like nails on a chalkboard, but she did get noticed. Let’s hope the final table will not be edited by ESPN like last year: I think the headsup action shown on TV was only 2 or 3 hands? Very disappointing! Thanks Linda for sharing your views & opinions! (p.s. My money is on Eric Buchman this year.)

Cheryl Logsdon   November 4th, 2009 at 10:32 pm

Here’s a high-five to ESPN’s coverage this year. I think they do a wonderful job of balancing the required TV drama moments with the real poker nitty-gritty. In this economy I am not surprised to see fewer women at the Main Event. We are generally the first in the family to make the sacrifices and put our own goals on hold while we make sure the kids have their schoolbooks and shoes. This PokerMom is looking forward to the day I can enter the Main Event, and when I do my one wish will be to “Run Like Moon.” I hope his lucky star is still shining next week!

Juli Sobka   November 5th, 2009 at 12:43 am

Again Linda, a very informative article. I’m not sure who I am rooting for. It’s between Phil Ivy and Darvin Moon. I just wish Norman Chad could be replaced. I’m really tired of hearing about all his ex-wives.

I do hope ESPN does a good job. Again, thanks for writing.

Jojo   November 5th, 2009 at 10:33 am

Great article Linda and very thought provoking – I too am a diehard “Survivor” fan AND avid followers of the WSOP by ESPN. I feel ESPN has done a great job of covering the play but could cut down the “witty reparteé” – Chad’s ex-wives are dead horses – and I agree with Ruth regarding Tom’s wife. . . Looking forward to the coverage of the November 9!
GO IVEY!

RI Red   November 6th, 2009 at 5:33 pm

Loved the article Linda, and I agree, much ado about nothing with the last woman standing! I liked ESPN’s coverage so far, I’m hoping they give us a lot more hand-to-hand coverage of the final fable. Love the interesting mix of players, and I’m with the Humpries, I really, really hope the 2009 winner is Mr. Phil Ivey!

sdjen   November 7th, 2009 at 2:42 am

Thanks for the article Linda…always enjoy and learn from reading them. I was surprised by many plays and wondered if it was the editing. It seemed like a lot of big hands were slow played and got burned this year.

I definitely agree about the last woman standing. Good for anyone to make it that far, man or woman. Can’t wait for the final table and your insight into that coverage.

bob fisher   November 8th, 2009 at 1:11 am

Being from New England I was reminded of the leaves turning and Maine lobsters and Ipswich clams. Thanks, Linda, for those reminders!

As for your TV watching, I’m glad you chose the WSOP. I never tire of hearing about poker, and as you know I love to listen to (and discuss) your insights and ideas. I will be thinking about your comments as I follow the final table playing out.

Also agree about Mike Sexton’s vast contributions to poker (and the community).

Thanks again.

Janice   November 8th, 2009 at 2:48 pm

Loved your article, Linda. I loved “sweaters” cheer. It sure brought in the human aspect. I enjoyed all the final table coverage and am anxious to see how ESPN edits it down for the viewing public. They sure have a lot of power in how poker will look to the world. Thnaks for sharing your thoughts with us. As always I loved “hearing” them.

Bella   November 8th, 2009 at 9:35 pm

FANTASTIC ARTICLE!!!

Leave a Comment