Michael Craig's Journal

A tradition at the WSOP since time immemorial is the Media Tournament. Originally conceived by Eric Drache and Jack Binion to teach the media about the news story they were about to report – and to put a few bucks in the pockets of reporters they were pleased just to have show up – it offered bragging rights, cash prizes, a reunion with comrades, and some of the worst poker imaginable. Traditionally, the winner was some guy who wrote a column for CARD PLAYER whose real job was cleaning up in the $30-$60 Stud came at the Golden Nugget.  Harrah’s made a mess of the event, though initially I didn’t blame them. They took over the World Series at the last minute in 2004 and tried injecting a little glamour – granted Harrah’s-style glamour – into an event that didn’t need it, but what did they know? 

In 2005, they decided to stick the headliners at all Harrah’s properties into the tournament and bill it as the “Celebrity/Media Event.” Penn Jillette is a cool draw and he knows a thing or two about poker. Otherwise, though, it was a silly gesture, though I got to see close-up exactly HOW MUCH older Clint Holmes looks compared with his picture on the marquee. 

I could only imagine what ridiculous show Harrah’s had in mind to simulate a news conference this year. 

And, literally, I can only imagine it. I am scribbling this down in a notebook outside the Masquerade Showroom. I’ve boycotted the news conference (though not the Media Tournament, assuming it’s giving out cash prizes this year). As I write this, members of the media are filing out of the just-started conference at a rate of two per ten seconds. 

I signed up this morning for the Tournament as instructed. I was then told that seat assignments would not been given out until 2:45 PM, at the Masquerade Showroom immediately before the start of the press conference. 

Peter Alson joined me, Jay Greenspan, and Eric Raskin of ALL IN Magazine in line and asked what would otherwise have been a logical question: ‘Why do we have to go here to get our seat assignments if we already registered?” 

Why is the buffet at the back of the casino? 

The Media Tournament is not, as advertised, a freeroll. The cost of entry: sitting through Harrah’s press conference. 

The line was very long, snaking past the blackjack pit. As 2:45 PM approached, WSOP employees walked through, saying, “The press conference is about to start. You can go in and get your seats later.” 

At least half a dozen times, I smiled and said, “No thanks, I’d rather wait in line than come back.” 

Just as I got to the front of the line, they determined I wasn’t getting the hint. Brett Berhardt, a member of the WSOP Staff, instructed the seat assignors, “Don’t give out any more seats until after the press conference.” 

I shoved my way to a seat but Jay Greenspan, Eric Raskin, Nick Geber  - BLUFF paid a fortune to Harrah’s for the privilege of broadcasting the Series on satellite radio – and others were out of luck. 

They had to brave the propaganda talk and get their seats after (in what could conceivably be another long line).
Even though I got my seat, I didn’t like this at all. I started complaining to Berhardt, who continued announcing that seat assignments would not be given out until after the press conference. 

I peered at his ID badge to get his name. (It was in small letters so I had to peer.) He asked what I was doing and I told him: noting his name for the story. 

“What story?” 

“About how you made people wait in line to get their seats when you could have given them out at registration. You forced us to do this to attend the press conference, then denied some of us seats so we’d have to endure the press conference.”
“Look, this is a fun event. This is a charity event – “ 

I walked away and plopped myself against a pillar in front of the Showroom and started writing this entry. 

“This is a fun event,” he repeated. “This is a charity event.” 

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 27th, 2006 at 9:44 pm and is filed under My favourites:.