Last night was the start of our weekly World Series Main Event on ESPN. Thanks to the joys of TiVo, I watched it after putting the boys to bed. I sent Sweetie to the movie for a break, where she saw The Devil Wears Prada with Meryl Streep.
Observations from the ESPN coverage (just the first episode, didn’t see the second yet):
- Bundled Days 1A and 1B together (show Scotty Nguyen, who started 1A at the ESPN Feature Table then ended it at something like Table 5; see above)
- Bad read focusing on Hellmuth; they hadn’t planned to switch the ESPN Feature Table for some strange reason after he busted out very early (before dinner break)
- Their objective: show ESPN Feature Table, pick two stories to highlight, show a few pros bust out and make it, then move on. Is that all this is, just programming?
- Jumped right in without really getting into much of the backdrop; e.g., four first days, alternates, etc.
- Showed Allen Cunningham in his yellow dachsund shirt
- I am reminded why I just really don’t care for ESPN’s coverage. Everything about it is tired, and it really could use some spicing up and improvement. Spicing up is the wrong term; it could just use a new production with a new way of showing it, new music, new spiels.
- Helena Gannon from the Gutshot Poker Club was briefly on, showing her letter from her son.
- Amazingly, I was not on, nor was anyone I knew covering the event. Putting aside everyone else, it’s disappointing that I wasn’t on. I’m pretty sure I’ll be shown in the crowd eventually when we’re down to 27 or 45 with Jamie Gold’s crew, but they should have put me on.
- Reintroduced us to Annie Duke, so they’ll probably show her a good bit through this thing until she goes busto.
I’ve just never been much of a fan of ESPN’s coverage. I think Norm and Lon are tired; really, I think the whole thing is tired. It doesn’t compare to High Stakes Poker or WPT in terms of viewership.
Oh, and in case you’ve missed this breaking news: Jamie Gold is being sued for half his winnings, and Harrah’s still has his cash.
Snuck in a bit of NLHE last night while railbirding the WWdN (early). Congrats to Hoy outlasting 23skidoo for the grand prize. I’m hoping to make the Mook tonight on PokerStars for some nice R&R. Thanks for stopping by, and see you guys later.
Thanks for the breif sweat…hope to see you tonight. I\’m also hoping to get a blogger game at my new house in late Sept or October.
The thing I get really tired of is showing the same damn players over and over and over and over and over….you get the idea. The story they found on the guy with brain cancer, that’s great stuff. I really don’t need to see another hour of Hellmuth ever again. Now THAT’s a tired act.
Having said that, I do think Norm and Lon do a good job; I think they are handicapped by what ESPN chooses to show.
Still, I have to admit, I enjoyed the show.
cc…have you heard something about bugled chip counts or something like that