Ben Mezrich Announces Book About Absolute Poker - Poker News

Per his appearance on CNBC's Squawk Box show, the author of Bringing Down The House and the Accidental Billionaires reported he is working on a book about "a bunch of college kids who launched the online poker world out of a dorm room" at the University of Montana.

You can see the clip yourself here:
http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000109317&play=1

As he did with the MIT blackjack team and the founders of Facebook, Mezrich has a tendency to distort or exaggerate a bit, so the idea that the AP folks "launched the online poker world" is par for the course. But I must say I'm intrigued.

Last edited by Wilbury Twist; 08-15-2012 at 06:07 PM. Reason: Typo.

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08-15-2012 , 06:16 PM

wuwut666

journeyman

Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 241

Scott Bell documentary + Haley's book and now this?

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08-15-2012 , 06:23 PM

Rob999

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Cool should be interesting

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08-15-2012 , 06:39 PM

Percival

journeyman

Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 321

"They're brilliant kids who built an empire in a way, and now they're being persecuted, because they did something to me that was very American." - Ben Mezrich

Facilitate convicted felons and known scumbags to cheat players out of millions, and not hold themselves accountable for lacking effective controls? is that what you mean Ben?

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08-15-2012 , 06:47 PM

ChipRick

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Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4,177

Quote:

Originally Posted by Percival

ugh

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08-15-2012 , 06:59 PM

Kirbynator

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Percival

Facilitate convicted felons and known scumbags to cheat players out of millions, and not hold themselves accountable for lacking effective controls? is that what you mean Ben?

sounds pretty american

or nigerian...

or... nvm.

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08-15-2012 , 07:14 PM

SumNewb

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Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 820

Intersection of 21 and The Social Network?

Of all the ways he could write this story he chose that one? Wow.

Wonder if he even knows how wrong he is...

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08-15-2012 , 08:02 PM

ElevenGrover

adept

Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,037

The good news is when Mezrich gets done, the players will not have lost a dime.

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08-15-2012 , 08:18 PM

CANUCKEH44

grinder

Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 643

Quote:

Originally Posted by Percival

Hear hear. +1

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08-15-2012 , 08:26 PM

#10

JA24

centurion

Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 107

Thievery and fraud are very American activities?

Damn ... he might be right

Then again ... litigation and jail also seem to be a very American activities, so it all relates I guess

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08-15-2012 , 08:32 PM

#11

DaycareInferno

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Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 18,286

writing ****ty books about poker is pretty american too imo.

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08-15-2012 , 08:35 PM

#12

SumNewb

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I sent him an email about this and got a response. He said he's very early in his research on this and would like to hear the other side of the story.

I am sending him a link to this thread - so make your case here for why the AP guys are not the best candidates to be played by Jesse Eisenberg, he'll probably read it.

I suggested Calvin Ayre instead.

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08-15-2012 , 08:49 PM

#13

Chuck Bass

World's Most Interesting Procrastinator

Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,390

Wait, what? He's going to make a book showing the guys behind Absolute Poker in positive light? That's going to take some skill.

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08-15-2012 , 08:53 PM

#14

JA24

centurion

Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 107

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck Bass

Wait, what? He's going to make a book showing the guys behind Absolute Poker in positive light? That's going to take some skill.

Well in order to get the chair to work, you need to have both a positive and negative charge to complete the circuit

I'm hoping this is the big finale to the story.

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08-15-2012 , 09:10 PM

#15

ElevenGrover

adept

Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,037

Quote:

Originally Posted by SumNewb

He said he's very early in his research on this and would like to hear the other side of the story.

There is another side to stealing 100% of the player's money and retiring to sunny southern climes? FWIW, Mezrich is Danielle Steele, not Hunter Thompson. At least you knew HST was making **** up, Mezrich wants you to believe his account is accurate.

The sick part is the AP guys have to be willing partners and probably will have a production company involved when the movie gets made. Since Affleck/Damon are already involved in an online poker property, I guess that leaves Tobey as Scott Tom? This is gonna get typhoon-class ugly.

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08-15-2012 , 09:15 PM

#16

tuccotrading

old hand

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,364

Quote:

Originally Posted by SumNewb

Great you wrote him. Great he responded; many authors would not. Kudos Ben.

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08-15-2012 , 09:18 PM

#17

CANUCKEH44

grinder

Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 643

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElevenGrover

And Jerry Mathers as the Beaver.

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08-15-2012 , 09:20 PM

#18

SumNewb

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ElevenGrover

There is another side to stealing 100% of the player's money and retiring to sunny southern climes?

The other side he is referring to is AP being cheating thieves

He doesn't seem to be aware of most of their shenanigans.

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08-15-2012 , 09:20 PM

#19

Ramon Scott

old hand

Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,355

OT, but one day the whole FTP/AP/UB thing will be the subject on CNBC's American Greed.

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08-15-2012 , 09:20 PM

#20

Wilbury Twist

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Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 5,393

Quote:

Originally Posted by SumNewb

In the off chance he visits this thread, perhaps it's worth compiling a "highlight reel" of posts and articles that can briefly but accurately paint the proper picture. The Cereus containment thread is too much, for example. But maybe Josem's Cliffs-style OP. Let's make sure the word "POTRIPPER" and the number 363 is on his brain before he gets too far in painting the AP owners as victims. Steven Levitt's article, since it's written for a non-poker crowd. Et cetera.

The idea that they started the online poker world is ludicrous, to say the least.

Edit: I could see Eisenberg as Nat Arem.

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08-15-2012 , 09:37 PM

#21

SumNewb

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Quote:

In the off chance he visits this thread, perhaps it's worth compiling a "highlight reel" of posts and articles that can briefly but accurately paint the proper picture.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Mezrich

I will definitely read it

Somebody want to put together cliffs notes for him?

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08-15-2012 , 09:59 PM

#22

28renton

old hand

Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,627

How about link him to the 60 minutes exposé? (was it 60 minutes? find it hard to believe he's writing a book on this and doesn't even know about the cheating scandal)