Don’t Be Such a Drag

When I read about Shaun Deeb, David Sesso, and other men playing in the Ladies Event at the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP), I just shook my head.  It was the same sort of slow, disappointed head shake that I would use while watching my daughter poke and prod my dog’s face for the 500th time only to get snapped at.  Both are just bad ideas that make me wonder what they were thinking.

I’m not so offended by the stunt that I’m going to call the guys idiots or draw some odd comparison to the BP oil spill like Dusty “Leatherass” Schmidt did in his blog.  But to me, it is still pretty unbelievable that some people would actually think that doing this was a good idea.  I know Deeb explained in a video message that he did it because he supports women in poker and was protesting gender segregation in tournaments, but I just don’t buy it.

At the beginning of his statement, which corresponds to published news reports, Deeb said that he lost a prop bet with his friends and, as a result, had to play in the Ladies Event dressed in drag.  So what was it?  Did you lose a bet or did you have some greater mission?  In my opinion, it appears to be the former.  It looks like Deeb, Sesso, and friends basically considered the Ladies Event a joke, which is why their punishment in the bet was to play in it.

I will give Sesso some credit, though.  In an interview with Poker News Daily, Sesso admitted that he realized it was wrong to infiltrate the women’s tournament and apologized for it.  But Deeb, in his video, tries to make us believe that, despite his saying so earlier, the prop bet was not the reason why he entered the tournament, but rather he wanted to stand up for gender equality.  Come on.  Over 1,000 women played in the tournament – obviously people like it.

It is so tilting to me when people complain about the Ladies Event, saying that women are just as capable and intelligent as men and don’t need a separate tournament.  For instance, Annie Duke, a well known opponent of women’s events, told this website, “Poker is not like tennis. Men are not mentally stronger than we are, so it makes no sense to separate it out. If there were a men’s-only event, people would be encouraging women to play.”

Women’s events do not exist because women can’t compete with men in at the WSOP.  They exist because, in general, women don’t compete with men at the WSOP.  I think we all know that the ratio of women to men at the WSOP is tiny.  So, one way to get more women involved is to have a tournament that caters to them.  It’s obvious and everyone has heard this reasoning before, but there are still people who discount it.

Women don’t need the Ladies Event, people over 50 years old don’t need a Seniors Event, and poker players in general don’t need a Hold’em/Omaha hybrid event.  But you know what?  They like them, and that’s what matters.  Of course, opponents will make the argument that just because people like something doesn’t mean it should exist.  Sure, but this is a poker tournament.  A women’s-only event doesn’t hurt anyone.  If it becomes unwanted, then the registration numbers will dwindle and the WSOP will do away with it.

“But Dan, if you think a women’s event is fine, do you think a men’s event is fine?”  That’s not the same thing, and you know it.  Live poker is already basically a men’s club, so take those inappropriate arguments somewhere else.

It is just mind-boggling to me that there are people who care so much about trying to make such an unimportant statement that they want to ruin something enjoyable and harmless like a poker tournament.  Put your energies and outrage into something that could really use some attention, not a fake women’s equality issue.  And for guys like Shaun Deeb who feel like crashing a party because they think they are better than the attendees, don’t get upset when people call you out on it.  You knew what people would think of you; don’t try to make us think you were making some heroic statement.