Greg Raymer No Longer on Team Pokerstars

[BAM]

Absolute madness by pokerstars in my view fat bald guys are the future of this game and the sooner they wake up and realise it the better.

I agree Mike gg

[TommyD]

Not surprised really but it is a shame.  Raymer has always spoken very well and is great as a bridge between site and the media.  I remember him putting the hours in on freeplay Badugi while it was in Beta at PS and fielding tons of questions about the game.  However Stars is moving on and he isn't a pull at all for the new generation.

I can see him being signed by WSOP.Com though.  If the rumours of them getting a stable together are true (with Hellmuth as the banner name) he would be a perfect fit, especially if used as the media face at the actual series.  Nothing says traditional (or old) and live poker like the name WSOP.

[DaveShoelace]

Not surprised really but it is a shame.  Raymer has always spoken very well and is great as a bridge between site and the media.  I remember him putting the hours in on freeplay Badugi while it was in Beta at PS and fielding tons of questions about the game.  However Stars is moving on and he isn't a pull at all for the new generation.

I can see him being signed by WSOP.Com though.  If the rumours of them getting a stable together are true (with Hellmuth as the banner name) he would be a perfect fit, especially if used as the media face at the actual series.  Nothing says traditional (or old) and live poker like the name WSOP.

I just cant see WSOP.com getting a big stable of players unless they make a big change soon, because at the moment all they are is a ring-fenced skin on the 888 network, open only to UK players (I have no idea why).

[EvilPie]

Waste of money. Well rid of him.

Can't see how he pulled anybody in at all.

Never see him on TV and when you do he's a bit boring.

A bit harsh to judge him like that ! Have you met the guy ? He s an amazingly humble an warm guy who has time for everyone an has great aura on an off the table wheres you have Joe hachem the complete opposite of the big man.

DO you not see why this is exactly the problem?

Of course I don't know him personally but I am keen on poker and know nothing about him at all.

Hachem on the other hand I know a lot about. Yes part of what I know is that he's a tit but at least I'd recognise him in the street.

Humble and warm doesn't drag new punters to the tables and that's what he's paid a large sum of money for.

[DaveShoelace]

Waste of money. Well rid of him.

Can't see how he pulled anybody in at all.

Never see him on TV and when you do he's a bit boring.

A bit harsh to judge him like that ! Have you met the guy ? He s an amazingly humble an warm guy who has time for everyone an has great aura on an off the table wheres you have Joe hachem the complete opposite of the big man.

DO you not see why this is exactly the problem?

Of course I don't know him personally but I am keen on poker and know nothing about him at all.

Hachem on the other hand I know a lot about. Yes part of what I know is that he's a tit but at least I'd recognise him in the street.

Humble and warm doesn't drag new punters to the tables and that's what he's paid a large sum of money for.

Completely agree about him not being a selling point, however he does have value as ambassador imo. Poker is a fragile game from a legislative point of view, in danger of getting banned or heavily taxed in most countries, Raymer has worked his arse off trying to legitimise the game. He might not entice new players any more, but he might prove an important player in helping get the game legalised in the States.

That said, if I had my own poker room I'd pick Isildur1 or a bird with huge jugs over him in a heart beat to represent my room

[duncthehat]

Sad to see him go from stars!

Obv they dont think someone that is old ugly and fat has any pulling power

Guess when i win a couple of bracelets this year Stars wont be looking to add me to their stable

[Skgv]

Waste of money. Well rid of him.

Can't see how he pulled anybody in at all.

Never see him on TV and when you do he's a bit boring.

A bit harsh to judge him like that ! Have you met the guy ? He s an amazingly humble an warm guy who has time for everyone an has great aura on an off the table wheres you have Joe hachem the complete opposite of the big man.

DO you not see why this is exactly the problem?

Of course I don't know him personally but I am keen on poker and know nothing about him at all.

Hachem on the other hand I know a lot about. Yes part of what I know is that he's a tit but at least I'd recognise him in the street.

Humble and warm doesn't drag new punters to the tables and that's what he's paid a large sum of money for.

Sort of contridict yourself there as how can playing with an arrogant bad loser be good for the game or even want you to sit an play with him but with raymer playing on the same table is educational enjoyable expierence?

Please explain further !

[Graham C]

Quite like Greg, seems a nice chap.   Isn't he (or wasn't he at least) a big poster on 2+2?

[kinboshi]

Quite like Greg, seems a nice chap.   Isn't he (or wasn't he at least) a big poster on 2+2?

To be fair, he'd be a big poster on any forum.

[GreekStein]

Quite like Greg, seems a nice chap.   Isn't he (or wasn't he at least) a big poster on 2+2?

He used to be back in the day but doesn't post anymore I don't think.

I think some of his wsop main win was sold as shares to some 2+2ers.

[smashedagain]

if you read the 2+2 blog you can see he has given a reply. i dont know the guy anymore than the rest of you. he seemed genuine and has won the main and plays all forms of the game not just nlhe and plo (were some people would do well to learn that 2 ok he hands does not make an omaha hand). he is a poker player who does a lot of good for poker imo. weight looks and personality are not good reasons to shoot some one down.

[Chili]

Waste of money. Well rid of him.

Can't see how he pulled anybody in at all.

Never see him on TV and when you do he's a bit boring.

A bit harsh to judge him like that ! Have you met the guy ? He s an amazingly humble an warm guy who has time for everyone an has great aura on an off the table wheres you have Joe hachem the complete opposite of the big man.

DO you not see why this is exactly the problem?

Of course I don't know him personally but I am keen on poker and know nothing about him at all.

Hachem on the other hand I know a lot about. Yes part of what I know is that he's a tit but at least I'd recognise him in the street.

Humble and warm doesn't drag new punters to the tables and that's what he's paid a large sum of money for.

Completely agree about him not being a selling point, however he does have value as ambassador imo. Poker is a fragile game from a legislative point of view, in danger of getting banned or heavily taxed in most countries, Raymer has worked his arse off trying to legitimise the game. He might not entice new players any more, but he might prove an important player in helping get the game legalised in the States.

That said, if I had my own poker room I'd pick Isildur1 AND a bird with huge jugs over him in a heart beat to represent my room

FYP

[easypickings]

I think it's a big shame and a big oversight. What is the new image they are hoping for, when they're leaving behind someone who brings a warmth to each table, has great class and integrity, and knows and love each poker discipline?

Hachem is the complete opposite. I sat with him during a razz tournament, and he bickered at the dealer literally every time a card didn't go his way, no class at all.

[AndrewT]

Read an article somewhere today which simply says that Pokerstars are turning focus away from the US, and that's where Raymer has value.

[redarmi]

Read an article somewhere today which simply says that Pokerstars are turning focus away from the US, and that's where Raymer has value.

I just don't get this tbh.  He won the WSOP ME and is a global figure and represents their brand better than almost anyone else that i can think of.  It is like saying they signed Isildur because they want to increase their market share in Sweden.