The Name Game
Every month when I get my issue of Bluff Magazine, I flip right to “Check” with Ed Moncada (page 36). Without a doubt, this is my favorite section of the magazine. For me, it’s the perfect metaphor for poker and I hope the rest of the poker media take note.
I know that some people enjoy following $10,000 main events and the big name pros – and I do, too.
I have a number of friends that have made a well-deserved name for themselves in this game. But poker coverage shouldn’t just be about the “name game.” There are some great players out there that have built enviable tournament track records. And it should be the media’s job to get the word out on these players.
Today, as I write this, I’m watching the final table of the $1,500 No Limit Hold’em event at the Gold Strike’s WPO.
There are no television poker celebs here, but I know many of these players by reputation, if not personally. Together, they have scores of quality money finishes. And I’ll guarantee that the one who takes home a hard earned bracelet will likely remain an “unknown.”
These are not the Cinderellas of poker, hoping for a lucky shot at the glass slipper. These are savvy, quality players. They work at their craft. They part with their hard earned money to put their skill on the line. These players are the lifeblood of poker. They symbolize what makes this game great. Those with skill and talent, no matter who they are, can prevail.
When my wife Tina and I started PokerPages.com, there were few poker celebrities. We dedicated our site to all players. We have a player statistics database that encompasses almost every preliminary and main event played in the last five years.
Last year, we launched a new player ranking system, focusing specifically on players that enter events with a buy-in of less than $1,000. After all, why should bankroll be the key indicator of poker prowess?
I applaud Bluff for dedicating space, month after month, to the players that represent our sport with their skill, their dedication, and their victories, if not their notoriety.
And I can only hope that the rest of the poker media start to recognize the wealth of talent in the pool of Joe Pokers.
Mark Napolitano is the founder and owner of PokerPages.com. Mark has most recently moneyed in both the 2005 WPO and WSOP Championship events.
