WSOP communications director Seth Palansky, in response to a Gary Wise question on his podcast that mainstream media did not embrace the November Nine as was hoped, mentioned that two members of the November Nine turned down appearances on two mainstream programs (specifically the Tonight Show and Ellen). Palansky also made comments to the effect that players should take more initiative to get mainstream attention instead of the same 12 players everyone knows.

Reaction?

The other 7 weren't offered anything mainstream? The tonight show was a pretty huge mistake imo

Who turned down Tonight's show? Dennis? Whoever it was definatly messed up on that, to be able to go on to a widely viewed show and make poker seem legitimate would have been great for the game and whoever was invited for the interview.

i'm guessing it all depends on the type of person and situation. not everyone is a fame seeking whore regardless of what the media may show us today. maybe some folk do JUST wanna play poker these days. i don't see the two people turning down the appearances as a bad thing at all. for example, the two people could have been chino and kelly, they go on the show, gain massive hype and/or talk themselves up, and in the end they lose, possibly feel dumb for going on a show like that, etc. . .

When I heard the Tonight Show mention, Dennis was the first person who came to mind. It wasn't mentioned when these appearances were to take place, but maybe someone else decided for them it wasn't a good idea.

the whole reason for the 4 month delay was to hype themselves up. imo you cant be 'just' and poker player playing the main event final table. as you cant be 'just' a basketball player starting in the NBA championship.

I don't really agree. It's just dum gambling. You can do whatever the hell you feel like.

Shouldn't you be out shining the top of your head?

for real. just bc someone luckboxes a tourney, they are not obligated to be some ambassador or crusader for poker. all they owe "the game" is the rake.

Is this really the best you have?

I love that there are constant calls from players for a bigger piece of the pie while this is a prevailing opinon. Like it or not, the world is going to watch you closely if you win the ME (or make the final table asusming the N9 is continued), and everyone knows it going in.

wouldnt suprise me if one of the guys was Lyon Schwartz that dude hates the press after he was knocked out i over heard a reporter ask him for a interview, Schwartz replyed with "what are you gonna ask me I just want to get my money and to get the FXXX out of here."

Which world are we talking about? I don't think the real world pays much attention to who wins the WSOP, and beside a core group of fans and observers, no one cares. Are you in fact suggesting that the individual who wins owes some kind of debt to the game? The amount of promotion/self promotion a winner chooses to deal with seems to me like a personal choice.

I can`t imagine anyone really turning down The Today Show or other mainstream media opportunities - they owe it to poker, and it`s definitely a big vehicle for promoting themselves...

I`m not really sure I believe the OP - but everyone`s different.

Given they all got pokerstars / full tilt sponsorships, the best thing they could possibly do would be to attract attention...

Pretty sure you're wrong Shane. The winner gets announced in every major news outlet. At least for that moment, people are watching, and for the next year, the guy with the title gets as much mainstream buzz as anyone in the game.

I'm not saying that anyone owes anyone anything, just that you can't have your cake and eat it too.