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poker must be an event at the olympics

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damuskul13

Prospect

Joined: May, 2012

Posts: 453

Posted: Jul. 29, 2012 - 2:03 PM ET #1

imo it is a sport, and require skills.. maybe a heads up event or mtt with one player for each country

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binogo

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Posts: 117

Posted: Jul. 29, 2012 - 2:27 PM ET #2

bogo

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Baby_BA

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Joined: Feb, 2011

Posts: 19550

Posted: Jul. 29, 2012 - 3:12 PM ET #3

Good idea. It would be better than most of the dumb shit they have now...

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damuskul13

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Joined: May, 2012

Posts: 453

Posted: Jul. 29, 2012 - 10:46 PM ET #4

Quote Originally Posted by binogo:

bogo

your' name speaks for itself

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damuskul13

Prospect

Joined: May, 2012

Posts: 453

Posted: Jul. 29, 2012 - 10:53 PM ET #5

Quote Originally Posted by Baby_BA:

Good idea. It would be better than most of the dumb shit they have now...

how exciting would that be

it also gives equal chances for each country because ultimate bad beat could happen to anyone

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Ktrain

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Joined: Oct, 2009

Posts: 6580

Posted: Jul. 30, 2012 - 12:52 AM ET #6

Quote Originally Posted by damuskul13:

imo it is a sport, and require skills.. maybe a heads up event or mtt with one player for each country

How is poker a sport? Please explain that to me. I'm not saying every Olympic event IS a sport. But poker most definitely is not a sport. What athletic requirements are there to play poker?

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damuskul13

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Joined: May, 2012

Posts: 453

Posted: Jul. 30, 2012 - 5:56 AM ET #7

Quote Originally Posted by Ktrain:

How is poker a sport? Please explain that to me. I'm not saying every Olympic event IS a sport. But poker most definitely is not a sport. What athletic requirements are there to play poker?

you just don't get the idea

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Ktrain

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Joined: Oct, 2009

Posts: 6580

Posted: Jul. 30, 2012 - 10:13 PM ET #8

I'm not sure it belongs in the Olympics considering how much luck is involved in winning a tournament. On that note however, it could be argued that sports decided purely by judges are skewed also.

However, one thing that poker is not, is a sport.

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Baby_BA

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Posted: Jul. 31, 2012 - 11:20 PM ET #9

I don't think its a sport either, and I can't see why real poker players (or fans) would be interested without cash payouts.

But I still think it would be more interesting than most of what they have....

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damuskul13

Prospect

Joined: May, 2012

Posts: 453

Posted: Jul. 31, 2012 - 11:32 PM ET #10

Quote Originally Posted by Baby_BA:

I don't think its a sport either, and I can't see why real poker players (or fans) would be interested without cash payouts.

But I still think it would be more interesting than most of what they have....

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damuskul13

Prospect

Joined: May, 2012

Posts: 453

Posted: Jul. 31, 2012 - 11:33 PM ET #11

Quote Originally Posted by Baby_BA:

I don't think its a sport either, and I can't see why real poker players (or fans) would be interested without cash payouts.

But I still think it would be more interesting than most of what they have....

exactly what i mean here

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Ktrain

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Joined: Oct, 2009

Posts: 6580

Posted: Aug. 1, 2012 - 1:00 AM ET #12

Quote Originally Posted by Baby_BA:

I don't think its a sport either, and I can't see why real poker players (or fans) would be interested without cash payouts.

But I still think it would be more interesting than most of what they have....

I definitely agree that it is more interesting than most of the Olympics. I haven't watched any Olympic coverage for the most part. Maybe just a bit in passing a tv at the gym.

But when I walk past a tv with poker on I always stop and watch the hand play out. Even if I don't know what tourney/game it is or who is even in the hand.

I agree it is more interesting. Disagree that it belongs in the Olympics.

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damuskul13

Prospect

Joined: May, 2012

Posts: 453

Posted: Aug. 1, 2012 - 11:18 AM ET #13

Quote Originally Posted by Ktrain:

I definitely agree that it is more interesting than most of the Olympics. I haven't watched any Olympic coverage for the most part. Maybe just a bit in passing a tv at the gym.

But when I walk past a tv with poker on I always stop and watch the hand play out. Even if I don't know what tourney/game it is or who is even in the hand.

I agree it is more interesting. Disagree that it belongs in the Olympics.

seems ironic!.. you maybe right it's not a sport for some reasons, but 'comm on, you find it interesting, yet disagree?.. Anyway, it was just an idea,but looking forward on it for the coming years

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TRAIN69

Legend

Joined: Oct, 2002

Posts: 54633

Posted: Aug. 2, 2012 - 11:33 PM ET #14

Poker is a game. Most games are sports. Would you consider chess a sport?

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Ktrain

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Joined: Oct, 2009

Posts: 6580

Posted: Aug. 3, 2012 - 1:06 AM ET #15

Quote Originally Posted by damuskul13:

seems ironic!.. you maybe right it's not a sport for some reasons, but 'comm on, you find it interesting, yet disagree?.. Anyway, it was just an idea,but looking forward on it for the coming years

Not quite sure what is so ironic about it. I think I am completely right that it is not a sport. But then again there are plenty of Olympic events that aren't true sports, but contests of skill.

I believe that "sports" require at least some form of athletic inclination. I don't consider NASCAR a sport either, but rather a contest of skill.

I don't think that Poker belongs in the Olympics for other reasons than it not being a sport though. I just think there would be to much luck involved in earning medals for the event. I just couldn't imagine someone hitting a couple of two or three outers to win a gold medal. It just wouldn't seem right to me. I would also have concerns about the players actually caring about earning a medal, since the biggest motivation in poker is money more so than prestige. I would also think that you would start to see more medals end up on ebay or in pawn stores as players need cash for entry fees during down times.

As I said before, I think poker is very interesting and far more interesting than a lot of Olympic events. I haven't watched any significant amount of Olympic coverage yet. But I don't think that Poker belongs in the Olympics for the reasons I mentioned before.

Oh and for the record, I am not a huge fan of sports that are subjectively judged like gymnastics and figure skating. Not trying to hate on those sports but most viewers, myself included, have no idea how those sports are judged and what the criteria are.

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Ktrain

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Joined: Oct, 2009

Posts: 6580

Posted: Aug. 3, 2012 - 1:07 AM ET #16

Quote Originally Posted by TRAIN69:

Poker is a game. Most games are sports. Would you consider chess a sport?

Who are you asking Train?

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wizardofroz

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Joined: Oct, 2004

Posts: 6724

Posted: Aug. 3, 2012 - 6:32 AM ET #17

How is poker a sport? Please explain that to me. I'm not saying every Olympic event IS a sport. But poker most definitely is not a sport. What athletic requirements are there to play poker?

I do occasionally watch poker on TV in short bursts, but have virtually no interest in the Olympics, regardless of the sport.

But poker is a very demanding SPORT that requires a great deal of physical talent and athleticism. That is why I have so much respect for this poker player/athlete:

https://www.google.com/imgres?q=greg+raymer+fat&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1161&bih=551&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnso&tbnid=M1Qj1DpEz7DkdM:&imgrefurl=https://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2009_pokerstars_caribbean_adventure/2009/2009-pca-fossilman-on-the-up-035441.html&docid=sva9LnSOm4Th0M&imgurl=https://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_2953.jpg&w=333&h=500&ei=wacbUL7QOcXg0QGs0oCYBw&zoom=1

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TRAIN69

Legend

Joined: Oct, 2002

Posts: 54633

Posted: Aug. 3, 2012 - 10:45 AM ET #18

Quote Originally Posted by Ktrain:

Who are you asking Train?

The forum in general. Just because you do something sitting down doesnt mean it doesnt require talent. How is curling a sport? Why is swimming a sport? How is running a sport? How is gymnastics a sport?

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Ktrain

Captain

Joined: Oct, 2009

Posts: 6580

Posted: Aug. 4, 2012 - 4:16 PM ET #19

Train,

I'm not saying it doesn't require talent. I am saying it doesn't require athleticism and isn't a sport. The most athletic feat I witnessed a poker player make at a table was a guy using his feet to play. He was doing that because he didn't have any arms.

Btw I laughed at wizards response with Raymer. That was hilarious Wiz!

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Michfan15

All-Star

Joined: Oct, 2008

Posts: 11310

Posted: Aug. 6, 2012 - 4:09 PM ET #20

it should be a sport but how could you make it competitve unless playing for money? each olympian stakes themselves? do you have a cash game where you buy in proportional to your country's GDP? hahaha imagine a 1/2 NL game USA guy gets to buy-in 300 a guy from kenya gets $15

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Ktrain

Captain

Joined: Oct, 2009

Posts: 6580

Posted: Aug. 6, 2012 - 9:06 PM ET #21

It should be a competition......not a sport. Big difference.

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damuskul13

Prospect

Joined: May, 2012

Posts: 453

Posted: Aug. 7, 2012 - 12:31 PM ET #22

whatever you think about it, whether a sport or not, the point is why not give it a shot at the olympics? It has too much luck involved, but it is part of it.. wizardofroz is right it is a very demanding sport and only special players eventually excel,just like any event at the olympics..

michfan: it should be mtt style and not cash game.. equal starting chips and the last 3 gets the medal

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Ktrain

Captain

Joined: Oct, 2009

Posts: 6580

Posted: Aug. 7, 2012 - 1:04 PM ET #23

I'm all for ignoring the athletic/sport debate about Poker being an Olympic event because there are plenty of events in the Olympics that aren't "sports".

My concern is how seriously players would take the competition. If the main prize in all of poker is the World Series Main Event with its $8 million or so pay day, how much would these guys/girls really care about a gold medal?

Not only that but we have seen WSOP bracelets appear in pawn shops for sale before. I don't think the IOC would be thrilled to have a gold medal up on Ebay(not sure if that has ever happened before).

Personally I can't see anyway the IOC would ever even consider poker becoming an event. I also think that the badminton guys tanking matches and the Irish guy that bet on another competitor in his event(supposedly) aren't going to help poker's cause since it would be inviting even more gambling into the equation.

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damuskul13

Prospect

Joined: May, 2012

Posts: 453

Posted: Aug. 7, 2012 - 7:42 PM ET #24

i see your reasoning there ktrain, you're basically judging that the medal would go on ebay or pawn stars, well it doesn't apply to everyone, hence we had seen it before so if it results to such,then it would be nothing new..

about your concern,players would be serious as they are playing for pride and honor of their respective countries,just like lebron, kobe and the gang risking their multi million contracts to play for the country..

Lastly, you serious? concern about gambling? man, it has been there ever since.. we shouldn't even be here in this forum if there's no gambling, it shouldn't be a concern

Thanks for your opinion though

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Ktrain

Captain

Joined: Oct, 2009

Posts: 6580

Posted: Aug. 8, 2012 - 2:46 AM ET #25

How do you know that the players would take it seriously? The only thing these guys take seriously is the money aspect of poker. I think some players might take it seriously, but I could see others flaking out on the competition. Another factor, especially when comparing the dream team members, is that all of those guys are millionaires many times over. You could theoretically send an Olympic poker plays to the games when he is hurting for cash. These guys take serious swings in money on occasion. How much would a player be influenced by that? How much would he care about a medal at that point? How much money would it take for him to throw the competition?

Now I realize you could apply those questions to all Olympic events. Only difference is that for almost every other event the Olympics is the pinnacle of their competition. For poker it's not, it's the WSOP Main Event.

I would be more concerned about these guys gambling because that is what they do for fun, as well as for a living. Look at all the prop bets that go on with these guys when they aren't playing. I'm not dumb and I know that Olympians are going to bet and occasionally influence the outcomes of vents if they can. But with poker players you may see the efforts to do this increase dramatically. Especially in sports where athletes don't necessarily make a lot of money.

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poker must be an event at the olympics

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