2011 WSOP Media Conference Call: Non-Live Blog

Posted by Jonathan Lysaght on Monday, May 9, 2011 · No Comments » 

We only live blog one event each year: the World Series of Poker media conference call.

However, this makes two years in a row were previously scheduled meetings prohibited being able to at least live blog it (although we were able to listen in for bits and pieces).

However however, that doesnt stop us from retroactively live blogging the call. With the help of some media members and the WSOP team, here are key points that were really said (and a few that werent) on todays WSOP media call. To make things easy, everything that is REAL will get an * after it.

Special advance thanks for Poker News for providing us an accurate timeline of events

10:29am Dialing in to the conference line. What would be the most awkward hold music for a call like this? Well say this would be most unexpected, and this would be most awkward.

10:32am Putting pants back on. Dont ask.

10:36am Ok great! Lets start the call! Seth Palansky starts the call off by saying,  Lets talk about the elephant in the room right now. Now I know you guys in the so-called poker media are calling what happened on 4/15 Black Friday but were with the IndiansFEATHER Indians not doton this one. Internally here were not it Black Friday, but instead were calling it Golden Friday. Woohooo! Ok he didnt say that. Or anything close to it. Instead, he said something more like, Joining us today will be Jack Effel and Ty Stewart. Well take some Q&A at the end.

10:38am Amazing nobody has brought up Osama bin Laden yet. Or Pia Toscanos early Idol elimination. Two biggest stories outside of the Events of 4/15TM this past month dont even get a word. Step up your game, poker media.

10:42am Tournament Director Jack Effel is going over the new events, structures, and payouts (same as 2010).* Or as we like to call it, this.

10:43am Effel talking about satellites and says something like, Its something to kind of give the Grinder a little opportunity to build his bankroll at a cheap price.* Sounds like hes talking specifically about The Grinder but hes not.

10:44am Shuffle Master will provide automatic shufflers for every final table!!!* Good news for any dealer that wouldve had Men the Master at their final table. One less thing for him to treat you rudely about!

10:47am Ty Stewart discusses the ESPN deal signed through 2017.* Sometimes timing is everything. Good thing that contract wasnt set to renew negotiations in May 2011.

10:48am Ok this is legit. The WSOP is live streaming 55 final tables and expanding their overall ESPN coverage.* The new TV platform may be the biggest WSOP coverage news since 2003. Every event gets streamed. The WSOP is and will likely always be the premier event in the industry, and theyre firing bullets right now to corner the market, provide a fans additional access to coverage, and (theoretically) box out future competitors.

10:49am This quote from Ty is key: We think people love this game of poker and that they are starved to play. We expect this summer is going to give this industry its swagger back.* Good stuff. Hope so. Quick tip of the hat too to Caesars CEO Gary Loveman, who has kind of been crushing it publicly about getting online poker regulated at the Federal level. Hes to Federal online poker regulation what Rajon Rondo is to playing through pain.

10:50am Some old sponsors, some new. Fortunately for our photographers, Jack Links Beef Jerky is sticking around (they are the juiciest).* Miller Lite replaces Milwaukees Best Light and will have a branded bar with the Man Up Girls.* New sponsor is Dearfoam Slippers.* Every person who enters the Main Event will get Dearform Slippers.* Greg Raymer is already planning on wearing his with socks and shorts.*

10:53am The Chip Reese Rule is now official. You must be at least 40 years old to make the Poker Hall of Fame.* So who gets in this year? Are there any locks? Not sure if hes deserving yet, but feels like the community will rally around Barry Greenstein.

10:55am Woo-hoo! Q&A session. Best part. Annual +/- on Gary Wise questions? Line set at 2.5.

11:10am Ok, well, lots of questions about Golden FridayTM. Apparently that was a big deal or something.*

11:20am Just received this link and shocked that Jerry Buss didnt make it or this guy.

11:25am Trying to find just the right hot girl image to go with this post. Hardest part of the job, really.

11:32am -Found her! Joanna Krupa bails us out again.

11:39am Matt Waldron asked whether or not Caesars views other  summer tournaments as competition.* Ty responds with: You mean those tournaments that dont have a name yet?* Maybe theyre combing Aristotle quotes to just the right name.

11:40am Looks like were going under on the Gary Wise +/-.

11:45am - The question is about if there are any media access changes. And there is not. Whew. Dodging bullets like Phil Hellmuth there, because that means one thing: More Girls on the Rail!*

And on that note, well end the fake live blog. Looking forward to the WSOP and well start rolling out some of our own announcements about our coverage in the coming week(s).

Read more (real) live blogging coverage here.

Previous post: Eugene Yanayt Leads 2011 EPT Grand Final

Similar Posts:

Share

Filed under Gambling Articles · Tagged with Blog, Conference Call, Media Conference, Media Conference Call

About Jonathan Lysaght