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Why Sportsmen Play Poker

RSS / Editor / 18 January 2008 / 1 Comments

ON the Forums, richpickns wonders: "Sports players turning into poker players when they retire." Discuss.

Shane Warne is taking up the card, and putting down his mobile phone. And Betfair has Sam Torrance.

But what other sportsmen have played poker?

Richpickns recalls: "And Teddy Sheringham - apparently not bad; Boris Becker - no idea; Steve Davis - cashed at a WSOP main event I think?"

Broken resolutions notes: "some dont even wait till they retire and their sporting performance suffers as a result eg. mark Williams."

And why do they play?

Helmuthian Folds knows: "Most of these ex-sports stars aren't that good at all. You see them in these big tourneys because they are stinking rich and can afford the entry fee and some will get sponsored because they are famous and not because of their ability. Results dont mean that much either on a one off basis. e.g. Helen Chamberlain was 2nd in Poker Million and she laughs everytime she has a really good hand and has very very limited ability."

Is it all just a marketing exercise? Do they play because poker is big news? Or do sportsmen and women make better poker players?

Play the sport of kings and knaves - with a bonus

Tags: Celebrity

Comments (1)

  1. apal | 18 January 2008

    It kind of turns my stomach when I see or read about celebrity poker players - much in the same way when you hear about pop stars playing in charity football matches.

    It's all about exposure and poker's popularity certainly helps people with their profile.

    I've nothing against Sam Torrance but I'm not particularly interested in reading his blog as I don't think he could tell me too much that would improve my game.

    Perhaps it's not aimed at me but more for the golf fans who visit the site.

    On this website I like Ben Grundy, Matt Broughton and of course Annette - but only if they are writing about poker.

    The last thing I want to hear is Annette talking about the total goals market in a Serie A game or the Milky Bar Kid telling me to lay Kauto Star in the Gold Cup because I won't be reading it.

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