Is Vicky Coren that naive?

OK, This was my take on this Man? and Vicky's article:

Another Poker player, another murder.

What is it with some poker players nowadays? Why do some poker players feel they can carry out their heinous crimes in the far flung reaches of this world? Another ex-regular in the world poker circuit has admitted to the murder of a Thai woman in Wanphen Pienjai, Thailand.

The guilty man this time is Ron Fanelli (Mad Yank), as he was known in some circles and he was a well known face around the London poker scene. In fact, one journalist Vicky Coren, a writer for the Guardian, even described him as “a friend”, in a recent article. Fanelli an ex-US navy veteran travelled frequently and was known for his outlandish behaviour. I guess this is where his nickname Mad Yank stemmed from?! I did not ever meet this man, but he clearly had a love him or hate him personality.

The murder reported in the Phuket Gazette, took place after Fanelli met a Thai lady in the Sweetheart bar, Phuket. After talking for some in the bar, they both went back to Fanelli’s home and during a sordid exchange Fanelli flipped accusing her of being a money grabbing whore. Yeah for sure, Fanelli she may well have been, but that is the type of woman he craved. He demanded a lady who would bow down at his knees, pay homage to the mighty MadYank. After marriages, came and went like his poker fortune, his deluded ideas about women were there for all to see.

Fanelli, then proceeded to murder the defenceless women, dispose of her body in a suitcase. Seemingly unconcerned about his crime, he was finally arrested and upon answering the question. “Are you Mad Yank?” He quipped “Yeah, but that was a long time ago”. Admitting to murder Fanelli now faces jail in one of the toughest prisons in Thailand. I’m sure the hard man will receive a warm welcome.

In the article, the Guardian have a quote from an old poker talk show in which Mad Yank appeared, answering the question “What is the worst thing you’ve done?” and this was his answer “Me? I'm an angel. I've never done anything bad. Well, I guess I've made a few people cry. I don't like getting unlucky. There was that time I told everyone at the table I hoped they'd die of cancer. Other than that, I've never done anything bad."

Says it all really, Unlucky for you this time!

".....Another Poker player, another murder...."

I've shared tables dozens of times with TWO poker players who are currently charged with Murder. A friend, well known & respected on this Forum, as well as knowing those two very well, says he knows of two other Poker players who, in the last year, have, allegedly, murdered their wives or partners, & been charged.

I only knew 2 of the 4. I was, in the poker sense, "friends" with them both. Things change though, when their crimes come to light.

I think there is a more and more disturbing trend amongst some of the international poker community. Over the past few months I have heard of, and written about several poker players who have murdered people in foreign countries under the banner of poker player.

Just recently we had Fanelli, Van der Sloot, some nut-job in Vegas who's name escapes me(who killed a dealer) and countless others.

My only personal opinion is that it would be a good thing, if the poker community frowned upon these odious individuals rather just shrugged it off with a "he is OK, but he may murder someone" type of comment. The new-age poker player is rapidly becoming as dis-liked as the professional footballer, who also treat everyone with contempt.

Maybe it is because some of them have never had to work in the real world and have no social skills, other than to be obnoxious.

Murderers are bad. Sometimes you know someone and they seem ok but then they murder someone so you know you were wrong and actually they are bad. Sometimes these people are poker players, but they are bad people, we should distance ourselves from them otherwise people will think we are all bad. Also, I will wear protective clothing at all tournaments from now on, especially when playing opponents whose eyes are too close together.

This http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joran_van_der_Sloot is absolutely crazy. He grimmed the Feds lol.