How in the world is Annie Duke on this list

One of the best flirters ever in poker.

I do hear she gives great blowjobs

...Cherry broken...thank you, thank you

I mean the HoF qualifications are clearly divided into two groups:

• A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition
• Be a minimum of 40 years old at time of nomination
• Played for high stakes
• Played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers
• Stood the test of time

i.e. "The Players"

And...

• Or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.

i.e. "The Contributors"

And as such, I think they should be treated as separate groups in so much as that is possible.

For instance, Joe Torre is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame yet because he has only come up as a player and his best contributions to the sport have been as a manager. Same, Dick LeBeau and Mike Ditka are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as players, their primary contributions to football, even though they both have strong coaching resumes. I think the judge here should be based on either your contributions as a player or your influence as a contributor...otherwise this becomes a mess like the Rock and Roll HoF.

I realize this gets complicated with inductees like Mike Sexton (a contributor to me), Phil Hellmuth (a player, but complicated if you think about it) and Dan Harrington (split down the middle for me). Hell you can even make a strong case that Doyle Brunson should be in the hall twice, as a great player meeting all the criteria set for to qualify as a great player and as an indispensable contributor for Super Systems and as a worldwide ambassador for the game.

That being said, here's how I see it:

"The Players"

Hall of Famers: Barry Greenstein, John Juanda and Huck Seed

Close: Jennifer Harman-Traniello, Scotty Nguyen

Maybe I'm looking at this too softly or maybe there's just a glut of talent right now up for induction, but I think all five of these players will make it in eventually. I voted for Greenstein--both this year and last--and I think Huck Seed is a dramatically underrated player, both cash and tourney-wise. JJ is in a class just below that, in that I think he is a Hall of Famer but considering normally only two players are inducted per year I would place Seed and Greenstein ahead.

Scotty and Harman are Hall of Famers I think, but they're behind David Ulliott and Ted Forrest who really need to get some love next year.

"The Contributors"

Hall of Famers: Linda Johnson, Jack McClelland

Close: Tom McEvoy

No: Annie Duke, Marcel Luske

First of all, yes I separate Luske and Duke from the "Players" category. They don't, in my feeble mind, fulfill the whole range of qualifications to be inducted as a player but are at least interesting contributor candidates.

That being said, what happened with the voting on contributors for the HoF?!

Look, while I think Ulliott and Forrest should have made the final ballot I can see valid cases for the five players nominated. But the five contributors on this list looks is schizophrenic at best.

Linda should get in, her contributions as a poker ambassador has stood the test of time. Jack should also get in, likewise his influence on tournament direction is both legendary and long standing.

As for the other three...

McEvoy--who I consider a stronger candidate as a theorist than as the 1983 World Champion--over Sklansky, Caro and Robertie?

Luske over Euro ambassadors John Duthie, Bruno Fitoussi, Donna O'Dea, Jesse May and the Hendon Mob?

Duke over league innovators like Steve Lipscomb and John Duthie...again?

And what about Eric Drache, the satellite innovator? Robert Turner, the one who introduced Omaha to Vegas casinos? Or , dare I say, Chris Moneymaker for kicking this whole thing off?

Maybe I went too far at the end there, but I think the whole way contributors are selected needs to be looked at again. And also the limit on inductions per year.

My picks:

2011 - Greenstein and Seed
2012 - Benyamine* and Sklansky
2013 - David Ulliott and John Juanda
2014 - Daniel Negreanu* and Linda Johnson

*First-time eligible

I think Barry has done alot for the game via philanthropy, which has helped the image of poker during a time of scandal. (UB, AP, FTP...)

If only for his consistent relevance, calm demeanor, jaguar theft incident and love of asians, he should be in.

my vote goes for marcel have you guys hear his crossover cd hit more then just a game?

Some great tracks that got me through many fts

Annie Duke being on this list is an insult to poker.

I still like Annie but, she shouldn't be on the HoF, I'm Barry all day long

Did Annie help get women recognized in poker? Maybe that angle or something

Regarding his book, "Ace on the River", the poker advice was OK but I liked it most for the many pictures of various casinos. Collectors would probably like it for the photos.

Well she did win 2 million at the 2004 Tournament of Champions, and won the National Heads up Championship for 500,000. Also she probably brought more woman into the game.

And she's an enemy of Joan Rivers.

SCOTTY NGUYEN! ITS NO FUN WHEN SCOTTYS GOT THE GUN

Both very small field, invitational events. Those are her greatest poker achievements, winning an sng and a couple of hu matches vs. celebs and tournament pros.

Bringing more women to poker is negated by her bringing more people to UB.

+1 wow

thats disgusting

Barry and Johnson are sure things and both deserving asap. Huck Seed & McLelland are next on my list, the rest are kind of meh.

Barry and Huck and it's not really close.

Annie duke? Really? Never. It'd be like putting Russ Hamilton in the HoF. Wish we could revoke hellmuth as well.

Honestly, no one that was involved in FTP should be put on the ballot until people get their money back.

banana

I disagree with livegrinder's comment about revoking Hellmuth. His tournament results speak for themselves, and despite his demeanor at the tables, is a big draw for the average viewer, which only helps the game grow. He is a polarizing figure, but hall worthy in my opinion.

If you're going to have Jennifer Harman-Traniello in the Hall of Fame, and she is very worthy in my opinion, you must have Linda Johnson in first.

She's quietly brought women into the game, and has been an ambassador of poker for many years. She does this much in the Mike Sexton mold.....without a lot of fanfare. She got my vote.

Barry obviously is worthy as well. If I had a second vote, he gets it.

As for Annie Duke? Get her on WWE television, take a couple of choke slams from Kane, and get inducted into the WWE Celebrity Hall of Fame, much like Pete Rose.

My picks. Juanda, seed and Ted forrest.

the one who says baby a lot plus Barry G

BarryG endorsed Joe Sebok to clear the mess at UB
What a hero....... NOT

I don't know who Linda Johnson is. Is that bad?

? are you still mad at Barry for not giving you red status at pokerroad or what ever he didnt want to give you!!!

Do you have to be "old" to be elected ?

How's Juanda not a lock here Kevmath?