As I said, it is not a sport, but gambling. This what you condemnd Pete Rose.for. You must be hypocritical to alow this to happen. Or maybe the money must be to good from the sponsors which you acquire to put it on your network that you don't give a damn. I would appreciate an answer to why you allow this to happen. If so, I for one will talk down ESPN as much as I can. Thank you, Claude Moss
2006-12-18 14:35:14 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Games & Recreation ➔ Gambling
This site is really designed for people to post questions, and get answers rather than for people to spout opinions and look for others who think like them.
Poker is a massively popular game in the US. In fact in terms of TV sports it is third only to auto racing and football. 70 million packs of playing cards are sold in America every year. In a recent survey 90% of Americans opposed a Federal ban on playing poker.
With facts like this, it is clear that you are completely out of step with mainstream American opinion. Millions of Americans enjoy watching and playing poker. Who are you to tell them this is wrong?
The American TV networks are showing viewers what they want. If people like you are so offended by some people playing a skill game with cards, then simply change channel. No one is forcing you to watch the game. I personally don't like watching Baseball. Baseball is nothing more than a bunch of drugged up freaks running around in circles. How about boxing, wrestling, or ultimate fighting? That's just a bunch of ugly men beating each other up. That's not a sport, that's just some guys assaulting each other and glorifying violence.
As you can see, you can make up an argument against any sport that you don't like. But despite my personal dislike for certain sports, I am not demanding that they be removed from the air. I am not personally threatening to 'talk down' a network for showing a sport I don't like. That's just childish nonsense.
America is a democracy. Networks will show only what gets the ratings. People clearly like to watch poker, and there's no harm in that. So stop calling for a ban on things that people enjoy. In a free country things should not be banned or censored, especially something as harmless as playing cards.
And before you try to argue about the harm gambling can do to a compulsive gambler just remember that you can make all the same arguments about sex, violence, guns, drinking, drugs etc. These acts are depicted all the time on TV, despite the harm they can do. I don't want to live in a society like China, where the government tries to censor anything mildly objectionable for the greater good of society.
2006-12-19 01:48:49 · answer #1 · answered by ZCT 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There's nothing really for me to add that some of the above-posters haven't already said - but I did want to "chip" in.
Your "question" (it's not actually a question but a rant) shows you to be very uninformed in this particular subject matter - and your rant, Claude, also shows some severe logical flaws.
Pete Rose wasn't condemned for gambling. He was condemned for gambling on baseball - and worse - on his own team - while he was involved in the game. He blatantly violated the laws of baseball....and I'm not sure how he placed his bets - but I'm guessing they weren't legal, either. It was illegal AND unethical - which is why Rose was condemned. If, while playing baseball, Rose liked to put some money on the roulette wheel or bet on horses - no one ever would have said anything.
Poker is NOT a sport - there are very few people who would disagree with that. It is gambling - in a sense - as you are wagering money on a result that is partially influenced by luck.
However - anyone who is remotely knowledgeable about poker knows that OVER THE LONG RUN - luck is less a factor & skill is more a factor. Over the long run - skilled players will win & unskilled players will lose - that's the bottom line. So - yes - over the short-term, I can see how one would think poker is pure luck & pure "gambling". But - over the long run - it most certainly isn't.
Poker is a game of skill - go to your local book store - and there's probably an entire shelf of poker strategy books. Pick one up and flip through it - you might be surprised to find out how much theory & strategy there really is to the game. Those of us who play love to watch it on TV because we recognize the skill & theory behind some of the plays.
I'd say - in the future - before you start a rant - educate yourself just a little bit on what it is you're ranting about - because - it's pretty clear to everyone here - that you know very little about what you're talking about here.
2006-12-19 08:35:41 · answer #2 · answered by captain2man 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pete Rose bet on baseball while he was a manager in the league. That is what he got in trouble for, not just because he was gambling. He was gambling on a sport that he was involved in which is against the rules. Also, ESPN certainly was not responsible for Pete Rose getting in trouble.
Poker is not illegal, so why shouldn't it be allowed on TV? You are right it's not a sport and you are right it is gambling, but so what? Gambling is not illegal either. Poker is a game of skill played with money, what's wrong with stations putting it on TV or people wanting to watch it on TV?
It sounds to me like you might need to find yourself a hobby or something if you have nothing better to do than whine about a tv show you obviously don't even like or watch. The simple solution would be to just watch something else....
2006-12-18 20:48:08 · answer #3 · answered by The Proof Is In The Pudding 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Okay, well you don't know the first thing about poker if you truly believe it's gambling, therefore you are less than qualified to determine what should or shouldn't be on my network. Let's play for a week straight, and see how much money you have left and how much of your money I have. It really wouldn't be a gamble on my part at all. Hmmmm, what does Pete Rose betraying his own team and sport by breaking the law have to do with poker, which is based upon making bets...where the skill IS the bet? And yes, the money is too damn good. My brother and my roomate make excellent, steady incomes working 50 hour weeks at something that they love and at something they have truly mastered. So before you attempt to slay a monster, why don't you do your research and discover poker for what it really is-- a hobby, a passion, and to many... a lucrative lifestyle. You sound like the bitter relation of someone who has lost a lot to the game of poker. If it was your child, that's YOUR fault for not monitering them correctly. If it was an adult, that was THEIR fault for getting in over their head without taking proper time to master the game. For now, however, we sit here and play, safe in the knowledge that poker isn't going ANYWHERE, and for good reason. ;-)
2006-12-18 14:48:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well your going to hate me then. I deal poker full time in Vegas and i can tell you that poker is not gambling because the house has no edge at all over the player. I think that it takes a huge amount of mental concentration to play successfully. Poker is like playing chess, you make moves and read your opponents and try and trap them. There is an element of luck in poker, but over the long run if you are smarter and you play properly in the end you will get the money. What do you have against poker players anyway, did you lose the rent money on ace high, so now you want to knock it. Poker is a great game and takes a lot of knowledge and skill to play it right.
2006-12-18 20:15:58 · answer #5 · answered by sincity usa 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
get off it
2006-12-18 14:43:38 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is also NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!
2006-12-18 14:50:50 · answer #7 · answered by Say What? 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋