[gershenator1]

Considering all the success that classy players like Scott "BigRiskky" Clements, Jonathan Little, Jared Hamby, and Issac "WestMenloAA" Baron and players of that status have achieved recently why have they not been more involved in giving poker players a good name like Mike Sexton, Daniel Negreanu, Greg Raymer and Joe Hachem have? It seems to me they've been quite successful and could provide a big impact/influence on the online community and the younger demographic to stop all the terrible language that goes on and clean up the game from cheaters/multi-accounters and other shady activities that go on and give online poker and the younger genenration a more clean-cut "positive" image----- so why arn't they using their influence when so many people look up to them?

[Hanashk]

thats not what they signed up for.

[pwklbc]

When creating a post like such, you really shouldn't use peoples names as an example, 'cause now you're saying such and such isn't doing a sufficient job within the online community, which isn't fair to them.

They're not required to police immature's people behavior, and it's ridiculous for you to expect them to.

[elusively]

I agree it's not right for him to use peoples names, but I think you might be missing what he is saying.

He makes a valid point. Of course there is no obligation (or expectation) for any player to do this, but it could only help.

If you take his message at face-value, it makes sense.

[KCKyle]

why are 'positive images' necessary?

and dont go straight to cheating as a defense please, because for an autistic monkey this is obvious....id like to hear how cursing and strong language hurt poker....should we all be 'clean cut' cookie cutter mold lemmings and try to make the world better through poker or something?

[threebanger]

1. Not all of these players actually are classy. In fact, some of them (some not mentioned) would be horrible ambassadors and keeping them in the background is preferable.
2. Some of them are already doing what you're suggesting. I'm not really a "fan" of Waco or Hoosier for their games, I couldn't tell you if they're tag or lag or anything else, it's because they stood up and had their voice heard during all of these recent cheating incidents.
3. If poker wants to continue with the renegade, Wild West image that's fine, but it'll never gain full acceptance live or online as a legitimate sport or recreational activity or whatever you want to call it. A general code of conduct, like the one golf unofficially enforces, wouldn't hurt in making online poker more popular and accessible.

[thrasher]

Kyle...Sometimes when I go on a heater I'll send my mom $100 or so and she'll burn through it in a few hours playing micro NL. She recently told me to not bother sending her money because she doesn't like playing anymore, people are sometimes mean to her at the tables.

She is a 59 year old woman with free money and no clue how to play NLHE. She will never again be at yours or anyone else's table.

This is how cursing and strong language hurt poker.

[phish42O]

you are a good poster.

[timex]

If anyone who works for an online site is reading this, I would make a good ambassador for the younger community

[thefuture021]

lol @ joe hachem

[GambleAB 1. I'm awesome]

The onus shouldn't be on any player or group of people to try to change an image that has been born from 70 or so years of history. In fact, the notion that the "image" of poker hurts a good players profitability is, IMO, unfounded and based on nothing but personal preference.

[KCKyle]

ya....that is a rational fear, your 59 yo mother wont gamble your money because i offend her

gotcha

f

[thefuture021]

onus is my fourth favorite word

[ud2]

I could be completely off base here of course, as I have no financial records of anyone, but have you considered that the younger players you mentioned make their living from actively playing poker, while the others make at least a significant portion of their income from endorsement deals and other poker related business? I think this could significantly impact the amount of time and effort they might want to put into poker lobbying.

[brsavage Spontaneous Benefactor]

This is a great post. Forget the issue of poker. It is always wise for any successful young person to remember that their image and reputation can come back to haunt them if they don't protect it.

Why is it valuable? Because some don't realize the importance of having a good image/rep later on when a business opportunity is available or comes knocking, that is unless they are naive enough to simply think that winning at the table for the rest of their life is the answer.

Put yourself in a position where you can have income outside of playing coming into your bank account, it will make all the difference in the world.

For the record, the first time I met Riskky several years ago I knew he was not only a great player, but more importantly he is a class act who would make a great ambassador.

Also, AB, I know you probably have your perception based on some players who have had some bad reps still getting some sponsorship.

The reality is we don't see all the lost opportunitys that never happen for some players due to their reputations. Don't kid yourself, if your playing percentages business wise, and looking forward when REAL corporate sponsorship is possible, a good rep will mean a lot, and a bad one will exclude you from consideration with many companies.

[TMLMS13]

The only people who know who Scott "BigRiskky" Clements, Jonathan Little, Jared Hamby, and Issac "WestMenloAA" Baron are, are already playing online poker, ppl like Mike Sexton, Daniel Negreanu, Greg Raymer and Joe Hachem are more known to the people who dont already have an account cause they are on TV much more often,

thats the only reason most ppl are sponsored, bring more ppl in.

[thrasher]

She played poker like it was slot machine. A fish.

I'm left to assume that we should scare players like this away from the game and I'm the one that doesn't get it.

[jtown1010]

The only reasond people like Sexton, Negranue (LOL spelling), Raymer, and Hachem have their name is from doing well in live MTT's, these sites would be doing themselves a great service to sign the great young players now for pennies on the dollar, rather than wait for them to win some big shit and be an already marketable commodity. You could probably sign Timex, ActionJeff, Mr.Menlo, Waco, and THE D RY for what Joe Hachem costs, but the marketing guru's at pokerstars felt Joey was the better long term investment. I say they're mad, I say they should drop all the BS players they have under contract ASAP and invest most of their resourses into younger more talented players that have a much brighter future than anyone they currently have under contract. That would seem like the best idea if you want maximum exposure from live MTT's, but I'm no Stars marketing executive am I?

[FishOnTilt]

DPOTTZ AND BLADEAGE OBVVVVVVV.