Michael Craig's Journal

Believe it or not, I am NOT going to go crazy-ass on CARD PLAYER, even though their September 27 issue (another Jamie Gold cover) just showed up in the Wynn poker room today. Based on my theories of karma, this post, which will tell you about one or two correct things the magazine did, will motivate them to trash me.

So just to cover myself, I’ll also tell you about some of their usual ridiculousness. See, there’s something for everybody. Whether you loathe CARD PLAYER or are simply disgusted by them, I’ve got something for you.

First nice thing: they don’t have a single awful photo of Jamie Gold in their profile of him. This is not damning with faint praise. CARD PLAYER is legendary for their puff pieces accompanied by at least one mug-shot or plastic-surgery-clinic-exit photo of the subject. No matter how fawning their copy, their subjects must regard the attention as a stab in the back when they see those pictures.

Let me add that Jamie gave a very frank assessment of his final table opponents, and said something about Allen Cunningham that’s going to shock a lot of people, and he had to know it would shock a lot of people: “I don’t think he played his best. I think that I would have been in a lot more trouble if he had been more focused and on his A-game.”

My instant reaction when I read that was, “Who on Earth does this nobody think he is, riding through the final table with a 90 foot horseshoe up his ass, even thinking he understands Allen Cunningham’s game?”

But kudos to Jamie for having the guts to say it and for CARD PLAYER to print it.

Second nice thing: Michael Kaplan is now affiliated with the mag, which automatically means whatever he does will make that portion of the magazine professional. (If they let him run the thing, it might actually turn out good.) In this issue, he interviews Steve Zolotow. The piece is an example/contrast of what’s good and bad about (a) professional writers, and (b) undirected hacks.

Michael’s title is “Unconventional Roads Well-Travelled … to Success: The gambling life of Steve ‘Zee’ Zolotow.” On the cover, however, someone at the magazine translated that into “Steve Zolotow: Life in the Fast Lane.”

Unfortunately, the piece is a Q & A. The difference between Michael and the usual suspects is still apparent, but is less than in a narrative piece. The proof is in the introduction, which is just 3 paragraphs. First, there is a great tidbit just tossed in as a delicious appetizer: backgammon legend Paul Magriel lives on Steve’s property. Second, a good writer simply knows how to consolidate information. When you have to TELL something rather than SHOW it to readers, doing with with a lot of information in a short space is almost as good as showing it. This is a terrific quote in that regard:

“The point here is that Steve Zolotow illustrates the possibility of being able to make it in the gambling world without hitting the marketing jackpot (Phil Hellmuth), being the best (Chip Reese), or enduring wild swings (Gus Hansen). Instead, Zee has done well by devoting his life to figuring out games, getting better than enough of his opponents, remaining disciplined, and capitalizing on other players’ mistakes. Along the way, he’s won two WSOP bracelets and finished in the Series money 31 times. Beyond poker, Zee has also excelled at backgammon, klabiash, chess, and sports betting.”

I don’t even know what klabiash is. And the point is actually that Zee is a boring sort or pro who has succeeded without being newsworthy. But what a great way to make that point. I’m honestly interested in what he’s going to get out of Steve.

Then there are the photos. There is an excellent one of Steve reading and one of him playing pool. But there are two identical photos of him at a poker table, one with a hat and one without. And one of him in a Full Tilt basketball jersey holding a basketball. Zee is in great shape for 61 years old but it’s not a great shot. And the pictures are a reminder that Full Tilt Poker, an advertiser, actually makes the editorial decisions at the magazine.

Other than that, there is more to laugh AT than WITH. Some of it is the writing, some of it the bizarre editorial sensibilities.

* There’s an article called “The Cold Hard Facts - Leyser v. Gold $6 Million Lawsuit”, by the vivacious Lisa Wheeler. The first problem is they just printed something that appeared as breaking news on the web site long after subsequent events changed the story. The piece says that the $12 million is frozen “until Tuesday, September 5.” No mention that September 5 has passed or that the court modified the order to freeze just half the $12 million.

* The article is way too long. The actual “cold hard facts” are pretty short. There’s a lot of extraneous, frankly silly information. “Leyser … was drawn to Los Angeles in pursuit of sunshine, fame, and fortune.” “Then over the course of two weeks following the WSOP, he rose from being the subject of gossip to world fame - while possibly acquiring a fortune.”

*Someone should have vetted the piece for the legalese. The complaint “included an application for temporary restraint from the $12 million.” Continuing the theme of mixing the facts with some fanciful blend of allegory, “Just two weeks prior, several hundred pounds of crisp, cool $100 bills poured freely over the felt of the final table. Now it’s destined to remain imprisoned within Rio vaults for another 15 days.” (Civil rights lawyers, to the trenches! Set that money free! Release the shackles restraining it!)

Amid the stories that Amy Calistri and Tim Lavalli are uncovering about the incompetence of Harrah’s during the WSOP, CP has not only neglected every single one, but they are running features praising Harrah’s for, in this issue, having good tournament announcers for final tables. I’m not going to deny that they did a good job, but is that really where to focus - to the complete exclusion of the glaring problems of Harrah’s stewardship of the Series - your coverage on Harrah’s and the Series?

There’s a page-long ad for Full Tilt’s Aussie Millions qualifiers, dressed up as a news story. And a similar one for PartyPoker’s latest promotion. Almost a page (with two pictures) of the Paddy Power Strip Poker Championship. (I assume, any day now, Paddy Poker will sign as an advertiser of CARD PLAYER and we’ll be treated to a cover on the third poker dynasty, the first two being Full Tilt and Naked Poker. (By the way, I can almost understand getting in bed with Full Tilt Poker. Someone might say, “We’re dirtying ourselves with their money by letting them control our content, but at least we can get access to Chris Ferguson, Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, Phil Ivey, etc. It’s wrong, but at least we’re getting that access.” But what do you get from sleeping with Naked Poker, except maybe the clap?

I’m not going to blame CARD PLAYER for this, but somebody in writing or editing should have caught this. There is an articletisement about Daniel Negreanu looking for another protege on his site. It’s a pretty straightforward piece and it lists all the things you get if you win - buy-ins to 4 $10k-entry tournaments, expense money, a nice watch. But here’s the kicker: ” … and, as a bonus, if the protege wins any of the tournaments in which he’s entered, he will be given an opportunity to sign with Poker Royalty, an agency that represents some of the world’s top poker players.”

Wow, an opportunity to hire an agent. And not just any agent. This agent. It’s like Brian Balsbaugh (who has been friendly with me on the few occasions I’ve met him, and I congratulate him on being a new dad) is employing Daniel as his press gang.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 21st, 2006 at 1:44 am and is filed under Categorized.