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There
is a famous old story — indeed, more than 2,000 years
old — about Julius Caesar’s second wife, Pompeia, who
was implicated in a scandal. Although there was
considerable evidence that she was innocent, he divorced
her immediately, cutting her no slack at all. When the
court asked him why he had demanded a divorce when so
much uncertainty had surrounded the incident, he
replied, “Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion.”
Poker has become very big — what with million dollar
events monthly, million viewer TV events weekly, and a
million Americans playing every few days — and the
single biggest thing that could bring things to a
screeching halt would be a scandal.
Sponsorship is not around the corner, it is here. Texas
Holdem Tournament fields are huge. Poker is in the
mainstream press daily. We not only must be above
reproach, but — at least equally important, like
Caesar’s wife — must constantly appear to comport
ourselves with the highest integrity.
I am
truly delighted for every poker player who is fortunate
enough to participate in poker’s largess. But, I’m
sorry, guys, many of you are the same ones who are
getting staked in tournaments by your competition, and
that has to stop. When some “do-gooder” starts writing
about that, there is no telling how much irreparable
harm that could do to the game.
So,
how much is too much? In a perfect world, any amount is
probably too much. (We certainly don’t see the NFL
saying it’s OK to bet up to $100 per game.) But, we do
have a tradition, and I am concerned that if we try to
stop this cold turkey, there will be some quiet
disregard for the rule.
I
suggest the following rules:
1.
No
Texas
Holdem
player can
own more than 10 percent of another player in the same
tournament.
2.
Every
Texas
Holdem
player who
has an interest in another, or visa versa, must register
that on a tournament-by-tournament basis.
3.
Texas
Holdem
Players
caught violating either side of this arrangement will be
banned from tournament play for a year for the first
violation, and for life for a repeat violation.
These ideas are not uniquely mine. Mike Sexton suggested
the 10 percent rule recently in another Card Player
column. And since smoking has for all intents and
purposes been stamped out, this has been Casey Kastle’s
pet project.
Note
that I have no problem with an outsider staking 10
Texas
Holdem
players,
as long as they do not split funds and they play
independently. Also, I have no problem with a player
selling 10 percent of himself to several players.
Julius Caesar got it, and so should we. |
