Just Say No to the Blogger Freeroll
Thursday, June 15, 2006
I don't actually intend to sway anyone. Hell, I don't want to really. But I thought I'd take .5 minutes to explain why I will not be playing in the Sunday Blogger Freeroll at PokerStars.
Let me start by saying that PokerStars is a great site, and its wonderful that they offer bloggers opportunities like this. However, the tournament this year is ridiculous, and it just doesn't make sense for me to (a) play and (b) put up their banner to advertise if I'm not going to play.
Why not play? Let's take a look:
- The event is scheduled for Father's Day...and my father hates my poker degeneracy. But, you know what, you can't control me dad! Except for on Father's Day, when I will renounce my poker and homosexual life style and pretend to be interested in sports for reasons other than gambling. And, no, I'm not REALLY gay. Just ask wifey Tim...er, I mean Kim.
- The competition is HUGE! Last year, there were over 2000 players. Since these blogs are free to start AND people from last year probably missed out but heard about the event, I'm sure that the number will be even higher. What does this mean? I played a 1000 person tournament a while ago and placed 6th and 5 and a half hours. This game will likely take longer, ESPECIALLY because of all of the players who are going to sit out for the first 2 hours.
- The prizes are weak. Here's the thing. Unless you get in the top 10, the prizes are a waste. Now, top 10 out of (let's underestimate) 1000 players means that you need to be in the top 1% (and realistically a lot higher than that) to get anything worthwhile. 11th through 20th place gets a freeroll into a WSOP satellite. I mean, puhlease! You win a chance to win a seat after 5 hours? 21st through 40th get an iPod nano. Now you are talking! Truthfully, this is the only prize worth winning, from what I can see. 41st through 50th get a freeroll to the Sunday Million. 51st through 54th get a jacket that you won't want to wear in public (unless you are in the midwest, in which case, ROCK THAT JACKET!)
- I can't use the top prizes. The 10th spot is a HU match against Wil Wheaton for $1000. Now, that is pretty cool. But 9th to 2nd get a seat into a $1500 WSOP event. Even if I could make it out there, I don't see anything about expenses paid, so I assume that will come out of pocket. The top spot gets a $12,000 WSOP ME seat, which presumably means $2000 for expenses. Not bad at all...if you can take 2 weeks off to play in the Main Event. Not me though.
posted by Jordan @ 5:55 PM,
6 Comments:
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At 6:45 PM,
said...
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Oh man, I didn't even realize it was on fathers day. There goes that plan...
Is it just me, or would $37,000 in cool electronics be a lot more exciting then the current prize structure? -
At 7:25 PM,
CJ said...
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Blah, blah, blah...
Just cause you're scared of me doesn't mean you have to invent excuses not to play!
PHEAR THE LUCKBOX!!!! -
At 11:55 PM,
TripJax said...
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As I just told Sooted...
Sweet, now I'll finish 996th instead of 997th.
Booya!
As my Daddy once said (actually I don't know who said it)...
If you do not play, you cannot win.
Play biatch. -
At 9:10 AM,
Pokerwolf said...
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Because it's on Father's Day and because I can't go to the WSOP, I'm basically playing the Blogger Freeroll for fun. It's a chance to work on my NL tourney game and maybe switch things up a bit to try stuff I normally don't try to see how they work.
In other words, it's an excuse to play with other bloggers for free. That's enough of an incentive for me. -
At 9:45 AM,
GoHogs21 said...
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Although I agree with most of what you said Jordan...I am still playing and am actually looking foward to it, although I'll prob finish 997th right behind TripJax...Scheduling it for Father's Day was a major screw-up on Stars part, 25% of the field will be blinded out after the first hour b/c they are sitting out and either forgot to play or have father-like things to do....
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At 9:50 AM,
Jordan said...
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And, just to make it clear, I don't think there is anything wrong with playing in it. I just can't make it, and I'm not going to push the issue because of the reasons explained. I readily encourage others to try, though.
