The World Series of Poker is never without drama. After all, we as poker journalists would have nothing to write about if every event ran smoothly and no controversial calls were made. Speaking of hullabaloos, Mike Matusow (pictured) won a massive pot with about two-dozen players left in a $2,500 Omaha/Seven-Card Stud High-Low event this year and, according to PokerNews, “celebrated the only way he knows how: screaming in joy while circling the table and proclaiming the tournament all but over.”

That act proved to be a momentum-changer, as WSOP floorman Dave Lamb slapped Matusow with a one-round penalty. When Matusow returned, he imploded and busted from the tournament within an hour.

Then, it was onto Twitter, where Matusow fired off this series of comments: “This was worst ruling in poker history. When you fight for 24 hours of poker play on a nub and win a 200K pot and scream… and am forced to miss a round, this is unjust. Something really needs to be done by disgusting floor decisions that can change the outcome of someone playing for $250K. Again, no excuses, I played poorly after this unjust ruling, but [given the] emotional person I am, it just wasn’t right. GL to everyone left in the tournament, [but] if it were Hellmuth or Negreanu or Ivey, there’s no way they make this disgusting ruling.”

Speaking of Daniel Negreanu (pictured), shortly thereafter, the Canadian and front man for PokerStars published his thoughts on his personal blog. Negreanu argued, “This wouldn’t even happen in sports, as refs are typically very careful to call tacky fouls or penalties late in the game, and Mike’s ‘outburst’ hurt no one.”

When World Cup goals are scored, for example, group pile-ons occur, so why should poker shun celebrations? Is our game destined to be a painful-to-watch, rather-tune-into-paint-drying sport? According to many laymen this author has talked to, it already has.

According to Negreanu, Matusow received no warning. “Kid Poker” offered up the following words of advice for WSOP staff: “Poker is supposed to be fun, guys, it’s not war. There is no need for a Nazi-like enforcement of rules that don’t accomplish what they are designed to accomplish. If you are a tournament director, you would be wise to take a chill pill, keep it friendly, issue warnings followed by penalties when necessary, and do as little as possible to affect the outcome of tournaments that you haven’t risked a penny to play.”

Also commenting on the incident was 13-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth (pictured), whom Matusow referenced in his series of Tweets. Hellmuth wrote on Twitter, “@TheMouthMatusow received one of worst @WSOP penalties ever! The whole table begged the floor man not to give Mikey a penalty. #CmonGuys.”

The day after the ruling, WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel called Matusow and, according to PokerNews, said, “We don’t even have that penalty anymore. We got rid of that two years ago.” WSOP Vice President Ty Stewart clarified on Twitter, “There will be no mall cops on the WSOP staff and the words ‘excessive celebration’ should never be spoken by a TD.”

We should point out there were rumblings from Allen Kessler on Two Plus Two that Matusow had cursed at Lamb prior to the penalty being assessed. Also, there were reports that Lamb had asked Matusow not to use f-bombs earlier in the day.

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