Will CardPlayer Magazine owner Jeff Shulman become poker’s biggest villain? In the interviews that followed the conclusion of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event on Wednesday, reporters were huddled around Jeff Shulman, who candidly shared his thoughts on WSOP management and the championship bracelet.
The following is a partial transcript of questions posed to Shulman following the 2009 November Nine being determined. WSOP officials declined comment.
WSOP Media: Does refusing to wear the bracelet have to do with CardPlayer not receiving media rights to the 2009 WSOP?
Shulman: When I thought I had a chance of winning [the Main Event] years ago, I said I wouldn’t ever wear it. I’m shocked that people wear those ugly things while they play. It has nothing to do with CardPlayer. It’s my lack of respect for the WSOP and the management and what they’ve done to all of the players. I don’t like it. Having said that, I still wouldn’t wear [the bracelet] if I were best friends with them. I’d probably just toss it or give it to a friend. I think there are other things to worry about in life besides trying to win a bracelet in poker.
Check out the audio: [audio:jeff-shulman.mp3]
I’m not a jewelry guy. It’s not my style. And they’re not even real bracelets anymore.
WSOP Media: You finished seventh in the 2000 WSOP Main Event. What happened?
Shulman: Ten years ago, I liked to play big pots. I was as weak-tight as possible. I was the worst person at the table and ran well for seven days. It’s that simple.
WSOP Media: Can you talk about this year’s final table?
Shulman: Obviously, Phil Ivey is a stud. There’s a guy to my left who has 50 million chips. Everyone’s playing well and they’re going to learn if they don’t know how between now and November.
WSOP Media: What are your plans between now and November?
Shulman: I won’t play. I may play in the Sunday tournaments, but I probably won’t even watch [the WSOP Main Event] on television because everyone will get so much coaching that I don’t want to pick up on anything.
WSOP Media: Do you primarily play by math or by instincts?
Shulman: I just played my cards this week. It was nothing special. I had aces seven times. I flopped a few sets. Any one of you guys could have made it with what I had. This is probably the worst poker I’ve played in five years. There are so many mistakes I’ve witnessed over the past couple of weeks that I just shut my eyes. A-J – You want to go bust in the WSOP with A-J? Go for it.
Poker News Daily: Were you surprised at how impatient everyone was?
Shulman: They don’t understand how to play the deep stack, I guess.
WSOP Media: Is the game getting tougher?
Shulman: This is the easiest field I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. Everyone talks about luck in poker, but the luck is all in the table draw. I was blessed with beautiful tables for the first couple of days.
I started trying when I was at the feature table and Elky [Bertrand Grospellier] was to my left. It was the first time I had a player at my table that I couldn’t run over and I’ve been on cruise control ever since.
WSOP Media: What does making the November Nine do for you professionally?
Shulman: Business will be great and we’ll get a bunch of exposure for CardPlayer and Spade Club. Maybe people without jobs will start playing. I don’t claim to be a poker pro and I don’t claim to put in any hours. I’m trying to play as few hours as possible.
Poker News Daily: Can you handle two more days of play in four months?
Shulman: Yeah. Right now, I’m running on fumes and haven’t slept too much in the last few days.
WSOP Media: You have a nonchalant attitude. Does that help you in tournaments like the Main Event?
Shulman: I feel like I’m on Adderall and everyone else is on Xanax.
We want to know what you think. Should Shulman walk away from the 2009 WSOP Main Event with his ninth place money? Should he have entered the tournament in the first place? Are his comments justified? Leave a comment here and let us know.