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Originally Posted by Mike Johnson
Are you suggesting that because Barry hasn't posted on 2+2 about any other debts that he may or may not have that he has no intention of paying those back either.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mersenneary
I don't understand at all the people who are negative on Barry about this. It's exactly what I think is best for players. Escrow perhaps better to set an example for other players,
but that's about it. wp.
Should Barry get negative feedback? Yes. Why? Because just like any type of celebrity, whether it be in sports or entertainment, are held in a higher standard in our society especially in a situation where the perception is the top poker pros(Ivey, PA, Dwan, Gus,Negreanu, Greenstein, Brunson, etc....) have millions of dollars in their bank accounts and live lavished lifestyles from their poker earnings. Players look up to these people the same way sports fans look up to their heroes on their favorite sports teams. When one of our heroes let us down we feel angry,hurt and bitter towards our heroes and this situation is no different and actually is worse when you consider
the players involved BORROWED money not from the company itself but the money of the players who look up to them.
And why didn't Barry accept responsibility for his actions? Not once in his statement did he apologize to the poker players or poker community for illegally taking money (player's money) he never paid back for several years? A simple:
"while it is a common practice in the gambling community to get credit from casinos (which I have paid back everytime) I have been negligent in paying back this loan. If I had known this money would eventually come out of the players pockets I would never had requested such a loan. I am sorry for what I have done and I will do my best to rectify my transgression to help the players receive their money." Without actually accepting his responsibility for his mistake he actually comes across much worse to the poker players who read his explanation.
Is Barry as bad as the other players involved? No he isn't. I really believe he is a good person at heart and has done great things for poker as well as raising money for different charities via his professional job which others have not. However, when his name is placed on the list of players who have basically borrowed money from the players who look up to them he without paying the company back he needs to come across a bit more understanding to the people who were affected by this situation.