Poker News

Jeffrey Pollack at the 2007 World Series of Poker

In a 2006 interview, Jeffrey Pollack said. “I view the World Series of Poker as a 37-year-old “start-up” with a rich history and tradition.” He also said, “It’s very well established from a poker and gaming standpoint, but from a business and marketing standpoint, there’s still plenty of opportunity.” Although there appears to be nothing wrong with this statement, it does imply that Mr. Pollack knows a lot more than the Binion family and the many others who brought the WSOP to the place where it is the premier event in the poker world. Perhaps a bit more humility and gratitude would have been a better introduction to the rest of us who have labored thirty or more years to promote poker out of the shadows of the back room into the glare of television lights.

Nonetheless, Pollack has proven his statements over the lasttwo years by the incredible result of acquiring over $100 million in annual sponsorship money, and, taking a lot more for Harrah’s out of the net results of these events. I think it would be fair to say that Jeffrey Pollack is far and away the most valuable employee on the staff of Harrah’s Entertainment. Although I do not know Mr. Pollack, personally, I”ve- been told he is a gentleman and a fine fellow. He has also been responsive to criticism recently, when he immediately jumped on a complaint by the World Poker Association regarding an excessive amount of skin shown by some of the gentlemen’s clubs “dancers” at the WSOP’s Lifestyle Expo. Hopefully he will be responsive to some of the criticism found in these pages too.

I would presume that in order to coax Jeffrey Pollack from his top management position at NASCAR, Harrah’s had to accede to many demands and requests. One of those requests would appear to be that Pollack could assume the position of “Commissioner.” It’s probably the dream of most young men to end up as the Commissioner of their favorite sport, be it baseball, football, basketball, etc. Having worked for the NBA, where his boss was ‘the Commissioner,” having this title for himself would certainly be a big leap forward in his career.

However, in the sporting world there is only room for ONE commissioner in each sport. That person is the HEAD of the sport, the ultimate executive and figurehead of that activity. Although the WSOP is at this time clearly the premier event of the poker world, it is not the be all and end all of poker. Mr. Pollack is NOT the Commissioner of Poker. At this time no one is, nor does it appear that poker currently needs a commissioner. Perhaps it will in the future.

Although it was no skin off the nose of Harrah’s CEO, Gary Loveman, to give the title of Commissioner to Jeffrey Pollack, it was and is offensive and inappropriate. It would truly be appropriate for Mr. Pollack to relinquish this title and find something more suitable to the WSOP, like President or Director. In fact, if Harrah’s just can’t think of a good title, I have one for them. How about, “King.” We can have many kings in the world, each with his own domain. Then think of the advantages of being a king, where one can be addressed as “your majesty,” or “your highness.” Then think of all the benefits in giving out titles to your employees, like “prince” Gary Thompson and “duke” Jack Effel. And wow, how good will every dealer feel when he or she can be a baron or baroness. Yes, “King” is a much better title than commissioner.

That would mean the Steve Lipscomb could be King of the WPT, and Todd Anderson, King of the Heartland Poker Tour, heck, even I could be a king of THE Masters of Poker tournament. But what is not appropriate is for anyone to assume the title as the head of a sport, when, indeed, he is not.

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