i think the best way to affect these guys isn't to ban them from events but to encourage them to show up because theres a lot of people who want to know where they are

but yeah the getting these guys to cooperate is def a good thing

Sparky, i think its à bad idea to use the WSOP as leverage against these guys. WSOP is like the holy grail of poker and I don't think we should be interfering with its holiness despie the cause being noble.

all of below is just my opinion. if it doesn't make sense feel free to rip it apart or whatever. I haven't had my coffee yet...

the wsop is one of the biggest leeches on the poker economy. if the people that owned it really wanted it to have such status they'd try doing a few things without the bottom line in mind. that series of tournaments takes more money out of the economy than just about any other while providing a sub par product. the tournaments have poor structure, bad dealers, constant screw-ups (lost or too many chips, marked cards, etc) and high rake. They make money on player's likenesses by showing the tournaments on tv but none of that money makes it back to the players. They even limit your ability to wear sponsorship logos on tv. And the bracelet is losing it's luster as the history of the tournament has been lost during it's growth and corporatization.

I'm not anti-WSOP as I get that it's a fun way for poker players to hang out for the summer and the tournaments attract lots of rec players. But the holy grail aspect revolved around a smaller series that had buy-ins that were really high (buy-ins aren't that high anymore due to inflation) that attracted a group of old school gamblers that battled it out in old vegas. The last vestiges of that tournament died in 2005, and while it's been replaced with one hell of a spectacle it isn't imo a sacred event. It's a corporate cash grab that owns the most famous name in the game.

my argument for leveraging WSOP as well as any other tournament series or online site is that those are the ways these thieves make their living. If they are going to steal our money I'm not going to support businesses that will give them money. If they are allowed to play major tournaments, accept sponsorship deals, etc these guys can continue to find ways to cash in on the celebrity that they lucked into based on timing and nothing else. Even if such a protest doesn't work it may force news organizations in the poker world to discuss it and in the process inform more people of the actions of the FTP crooks.

Can't argue with that. Well written. I've only been to the series one year (2009) and really don't have that much experience of it. I'm still uncertain about dragging a third party in to this, holy or not. But yeah these sobs need to get punished some how. Hopefully US of A will punish them, the right way by sentencing them to jail.

Daniel Negreanu on Lederer/Ferguson/Bitar. It's nice to hear but it's still not getting us our money back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLiGJFTSMZ4#t=5m56s

**** **** **** **** ****

+1.... i need this money soon.

Don't hold your breath.

We would be lucky if we get our money back in 2012.

fyp

Is FTP down? Can't log in. Is our money still safe there?

This response (understand it is satire) belongs as a new post in the NVP forum - would be sure to become a classic thread

any tips on things to do/not to do in Riga/Latvia? heading over for the weekend for mates stag do there are about 25 of us. Really looking for stuff to do in evening think we are bobsledding and other dangerous activities during the day but no plans for evenings out.

when i was there the bobsled was closed but i remember it being some sort of no snow bobsledding (summer). we ended up paddling down some river for an hour. it was ok, i wouldnt recommend the longer trip. probably not a great stag activity though

why riga? its really far and i didnt see it being a great party spot. im sure you guys will have a great time regardless of location but riga just seems like an odd choice

Ummmm go chase hot euro girls?

my vote went to amsterdam, my mate saw bobsledding and decided that was it he had to go check it out so thats where we are going, i def agree wit you lots of better places to go.

I've already had the stern conversation from my GF, was in my office and she comes in stands in front of me with her arms crossed and in no uncertain terms told me the consequences of any future actions I may be considering while away with the boys in europe.

if i was planning a stag in europe balmers in interlaken switzerland http://www.balmers.com/en/activities/summer.html would be my first choice by a long shot. that place is legit. a distant second would be prague with all the degen stuff like casinos and strip clubs.

I've been to Interlaken. Unbelievable scenery. Didn't do any of that cool stuff though. ^

huge mistake imo. so much fun

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I agree Interlaken is incredible but you have to keep in mind that it is February and most of the activities you guys are referring to will be unavailable.

I've never been to Riga but everyone I talked to said it was one of their favorites and an unbelievable place to party. Going to be cold as balls though - head south IMO

I LOL at so few things, but this was glorious. Thx sir.

Interlaken is awesome... and balmers is a sweet hostel.

**Official Interlaken thread imo**

+1 for interlaken being the nuts

well I'm on a 43 BI DS (25 under EV) in the last 36k hands. time to quit poker?