Go Hellmuth!

[paulhouk03]

Would surely be Hellmuth greatest acheivement if he shipped the $50k and the POY. Goooooooooooooooooooooo Philly!

There's an argument that if he comes second in this and ships the POY that will still be miles ahead of any of his other acheivements.  Heck there's a valid argument to say this series has been his greatest achievement as it stands right now.

Yeah. Gotta be said, 3 finals in non-hold'em championship events is ridic, without the fact 2 were 2nds.

How many 2nd place finishers do you remember from last year?

this is hellmuth here right

i am pretty sure he will chirp for a year or 5

[strak33]

He has come 2nd twice for his 12th braclet and i am pretty sure i havent seen/heard/read him moaning any more than he should.

[TightEnd]

phil_hellmuth: "no player can wear a sponsor logo at final table!?! How we supposed to make money?"

[TightEnd]

a blog about the rule concerned

Without question, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the greatest poker event in the world. It’s got everything: tradition, scale, glory, ESPN and the opportunity for an unknown to become instantly rich and famous.

During my first trip to the WSOP in 2004, I asked the producers from ESPN their opinion on player logos and the response was as quick as it was refreshing: “We are just here to film a poker tournament; we don’t care what the players wear. We don’t want them to even know we are here filming.”

As the event has grown and changed over the past seven years, so have the corporate motives behind the WSOP. Without question, Caesar’s has been a good steward of the game, often striking the right balance between what’s best for players and what’s best for the company.

However, Caesar’s has severely crossed that line with Rule 53(c) of the 2011 World Series of Poker® Official Tournament Rules which states:

“Hats may be worn at tables intended for television taping but may not display any logo or promotional language, except for those logoed items sold to the general public through traditional commercial retail outlets.”

You see, according to Caesar’s, the WSOP broadcast has become too commercialized, so they need to remove these player sponsorship opportunities for the betterment of the game. Apparently, players wearing logos on their hats hurt distribution, ratings, etc.

This rule hurts every sponsored poker player and every player who has ever dreamed of being sponsored. The most lucrative sponsorship “inventory” a poker player has to sell is the front of his/her hat, and Caesar’s just arbitrarily took it away. It will diminish the value of the “A” list poker superstars who are currently sponsored. This rule will eliminate sponsorship dollars for the regular Joe’s who are lucky enough to make it to an ESPN TV table.

When my client Phil Hellmuth plunked down the $50,000 buy-in and made the final table of this year’s Poker Players Championship, the folks at Caesar’s and ESPN were ecstatic because they know the 11 time WSOP champ brings ratings. That didn’t stop them, however, from telling him he couldn’t wear a hat from his sponsor Aria Resort & Casino. Somehow, inexplicably, an Aria logo on his shirt is allowed, but the logo on his hat would tarnish and diminish the television product.

Since my first WSOP in 2004, Caesar’s has methodically, year by year, inch by inch encroached on player likeness rights. This year they finally crossed the line. I only hope they revisit this policy and restore a player’s ability to wear a logo on the front of their hat.

[Woodsey]

As much as its nice for the player to makes a few $$$$$ on the site, I can't think why any sensible commercial organisation would allow anything other than official sponsors to show advertisements at the table.

[iRaise]

Any links to watch it?

[George2Loose]

As much as its nice for the player to makes a few $$$$$ on the site, I can't think why any sensible commercial organisation would allow anything other than official sponsors to show advertisements at the table.

Because if that extra money is taken out of the poker economy then it may effect numbers?

[Amatay]

Any links to watch it?

[gatso]

Any links to watch it?

doubt it. updaters not even allowed to see at the moment

[iRaise]

Any links to watch it?

doubt it. updaters not even allowed to see at the moment

sigh, cheers

[gatso]

will presubably be here when they reach a final

http://www.wsop.com/2011/live-video/default.aspx?TID=11449

[TommyD]

a blog about the rule concerned

Without question, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the greatest poker event in the world. It’s got everything: tradition, scale, glory, ESPN and the opportunity for an unknown to become instantly rich and famous.

During my first trip to the WSOP in 2004, I asked the producers from ESPN their opinion on player logos and the response was as quick as it was refreshing: “We are just here to film a poker tournament; we don’t care what the players wear. We don’t want them to even know we are here filming.”

As the event has grown and changed over the past seven years, so have the corporate motives behind the WSOP. Without question, Caesar’s has been a good steward of the game, often striking the right balance between what’s best for players and what’s best for the company.

However, Caesar’s has severely crossed that line with Rule 53(c) of the 2011 World Series of Poker® Official Tournament Rules which states:

“Hats may be worn at tables intended for television taping but may not display any logo or promotional language, except for those logoed items sold to the general public through traditional commercial retail outlets.”

You see, according to Caesar’s, the WSOP broadcast has become too commercialized, so they need to remove these player sponsorship opportunities for the betterment of the game. Apparently, players wearing logos on their hats hurt distribution, ratings, etc.

This rule hurts every sponsored poker player and every player who has ever dreamed of being sponsored. The most lucrative sponsorship “inventory” a poker player has to sell is the front of his/her hat, and Caesar’s just arbitrarily took it away. It will diminish the value of the “A” list poker superstars who are currently sponsored. This rule will eliminate sponsorship dollars for the regular Joe’s who are lucky enough to make it to an ESPN TV table.

When my client Phil Hellmuth plunked down the $50,000 buy-in and made the final table of this year’s Poker Players Championship, the folks at Caesar’s and ESPN were ecstatic because they know the 11 time WSOP champ brings ratings. That didn’t stop them, however, from telling him he couldn’t wear a hat from his sponsor Aria Resort & Casino. Somehow, inexplicably, an Aria logo on his shirt is allowed, but the logo on his hat would tarnish and diminish the television product.

Since my first WSOP in 2004, Caesar’s has methodically, year by year, inch by inch encroached on player likeness rights. This year they finally crossed the line. I only hope they revisit this policy and restore a player’s ability to wear a logo on the front of their hat.

Probably sorted ages ago but what happened with the WPT and the image rights argument they had with the players a few years back.  Oh back when Lederer was the people's champion....

[Woodsey]

As much as its nice for the player to makes a few $$$$$ on the site, I can't think why any sensible commercial organisation would allow anything other than official sponsors to show advertisements at the table.

Because if that extra money is taken out of the poker economy then it may effect numbers?

Nah, because official sponsors might be reluctant to pay big $$$$ if their brand is watered down on TV by the presence of a bunch of caps etc with random company names on, the fewer the products advertised the higher price can be charged for placement on TV. Its questionable if it would continue to be televised if Harrah's could not attract sponsors to stick their brand on TV.

[Amatay]

will presubably be here when they reach a final

http://www.wsop.com/2011/live-video/default.aspx?TID=11449

dont look like it

[George2Loose]

As much as its nice for the player to makes a few $$$$$ on the site, I can't think why any sensible commercial organisation would allow anything other than official sponsors to show advertisements at the table.

Because if that extra money is taken out of the poker economy then it may effect numbers?

Nah, because official sponsors might be reluctant to pay big $$$$ if their brand is watered down on TV by the presence of a bunch of caps etc with random company names on, the fewer the products advertised the higher price can be charged for placement on TV. Its questionable if it would continue to be televised if Harrah's could not attract sponsors to stick their brand on TV.

Or it's simply because Harrah's want all the money themselves? Doubt this is driven by ESPN