Televised Poker- Your opinions

[GUHoya07]

I HATE IT!!!

I don't know why a bunch of guys sitting around a table playing cards has to be on espn, this is not a sport.

I have nothing against people who are into poker, but I think they've gone too far with this. Its on all the time now, I just want to be able to watch real sports rather than having to deal with my roomate watching the world series of poker for hours.

Its obviously on because a lot of people enjoy watching it, but it is just really painful for me. What are your opinions?

[Cambridge]

I have to admit I watch it, but then again I get sucked into women's pool and billiards. You can pretty much sucker me into watching anything...Worlds Strongest Man...can't get enough....American Gladiator...I love it...Professional Dodgeball...man, best thing I've seen in a while!

In fact anyone catch the marathon they were running on the game show network over thanksgiving. Wow! Some of the most ridiculous atheletes ever. There was one 5'5" guy named Castanza who they called the "Handsome Butcher." He was skinny as a rail, knee high socks and a thick mustache...he was such a flashback to earlier era of sport...he could leap and do the splits, while flinging the dodgeball backhanded...incredible. I was mesmerized.

Needless to say,I have no life.

[GUHoya07]

I can go with pretty much all the stuff you mentioned other than poker. I end up watching all that ridculous stuff like World's Strongest Man and and so on but I just dont think Poker should be on ESPN cause its not really a sport in my opinion.

[CAHoya07]

There are a lot of things that are not sports on ESPN - the spelling bee being the most egregious one. That being said, I'm not a huge fan of poker and think it's getting a little annoying. I thought it was kinda fun to watch at first but now it's out of control. It seems to be here to stay, though, with a Poker TV series coming out on ESPN called Tilt (cringe).

I don't look at it as a bad thing though. Whenever poker comes on, I'll just do something else and try to convince myself I have a life outside of the ESPN networks.

[TrueHoyaBlue]

Hey, there's nothing wrong with a little Jeannette Lee on a weekday afternoon... making women's billiards worth watching for guys around the nation.


As far as poker, I would never put it on knowingly, but I've been know to get sucked into it when someone else is watching, or when I'm too lazy to change the channel.

[TBird41]

I used to watch poker all the time-since I'm into it, it was really interesting watching all the really good players. Now, however, w/ the increase in popularity, its basically become just another reality, w/ the corresponding annoying, attention grabbing contestants that come w/. There's something cool about Doyle Brunson or Johnny Chan-but random guys who are more style (and I use that term very loosely) over substance have ruined it on TV for me.

[Joe Hoya]

Obviously, since the consensus is that it sucks, I have to say I love the poker stuff. But to be honest, I do watch it when it's on, and I think that's a result of being a poker player myself. If I never played, I don't think I'd be as interested. I don't think it would make me interested if I wasn't already. But since alot (and I want to say most, but I have no empirical evidence of this) people play at least with friends and family, and maybe not even for money, people are interested in watching the best in the world compete on the grandest stage in their field. Plus, who doesn't love the witty interjections of Norman Chad?

(A: Everyone. But I digress.)

007, do you know that ESPN is an acronym? ESPN= Entertainment AND Sports Programming Network. Lots of people find poker entertaining (probably the players more than the game itself). Therefore, ESPN would be stupid not to show it if it garners ratings.

Poker isn't a sport, but neither is synchronized swimming, and neither is rhythmic gymnastics. They're in the Olympics. Poker shouldn't be, and it won't, but it's still compelling television from time to time if you know what's going on.

[CAHoya07]

I'd like to see the ratings for poker compared to other programs on ESPN. I'd venture to guess that it's slightly higher than others because of poker junkies like Joe Hoya that make up its loyal viewing audience.

Although I agree that rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming aren't really sports, they're more sports than poker and they don't dwarf the network as poker does. However, as long as it's getting ratings, I guess you can't really argue with that.

[Joe Hoya]

CAHoya07 said:

Although I agree that rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming aren't really sports, they're more sports than poker

How so?

The term "junkie" is not a flattering one. Just because you don't play or understand why some do does not mean you should compare those who do to addicts and drug users. I prefer the term "aficionado", thanks.

[CAHoya07]

I'm sorry, I was debating not using that word. Although I do know a few poker junkies, I shouldn't say you are one. How bout poker connoisseur, is that all right? ;D

I think those aforementioned "activities," as we'll call them, are more sports because they actually require athletic ability. They require working out, staying in shape, and being flexible, which are all qualities of a finely tuned athlete. Poker requires a sharp mind and keen instincts, but no athletic ability whatsoever.

[TBird41]

Yeah, even as a poker "aficienado", I'd have to say that poker players are not athletes. When the winner of the WSOP looks like he's within a year or two of his first heart attack, it kinda disqualifies Poker from being a "sport".

[Cambridge]

Apparently you haven't seen our (Sox) new third pitcher David Wells? Bada bing...all week folks, I'll be here all week.

[TrueHoyaBlue]

A). I do believe that being a sport, at the very minimum, should require some range of motion, other than walking to the table, picking up cards, and putting them down.

B). As a college hoops "junkie," I don't find the term to be derogatory at all, as it simply means someone who is willing to put one aspect of life above all others, at least for certain periods of time.

C). I think the popularity of WSOP, etc., stems from two major factors. 1. the resurgence of poker playing, and in particular, texas hold-em, around the country, and 2. the fact that ESPN has become quite good at installing a number of "reality tv-esque" features in the poker broadcasts, adding to the suspense and watchability of the programs.

[showcase]

I wouldn't go overboard in relying on a textual analysis of what makes up the ESPN acronym - after all, it is "Entertainment AND Sports," which arguably means their programming should qualify to some extent as both sports AND entertainment, even if the activity in question isn't universally accepted as either a sport or entertainment. Joe Hoya's interpretation lends itself more to "Entertainment OR Sports," in which case one would expect ESPN's programming to more closely resemble that of TNT, TBS, USA, etc.

Lest we get bogged down in quibbling over semantics, however, I think we could probably all agree that as long as ESPN isn't covering mahjong or shuffleboard tournaments at retirement centres, it's probably fulfilling its mission.

That said, it is my considered opinion that the WSOP is a total waste of TV time. However, as a point of reference, I also feel much the same way about golf, so value that opinion accordingly.


Come to think of it, rather than trying to decide whether Televised Poker is even worth the effort required to put it on TV in the first place as an absolute matter, we should attempt to find its place in the hierarchy of televised "sporting activities." For my part, I'd put it behind golf and NASCAR, but just ahead of, say, an equestrian event.

[showcase]

CambridgeHoya said:

Apparently you haven't seen our (Sox) new third pitcher David Wells? Bada bing...all week folks, I'll be here all week.

It's gold, Jerry, gold!