Sunday, February 12, 2012

Characters Wanted?

Huh?  We thought poker was a more popular game than ever.  But none other than Daniel Negreanu declared recently it's in "big trouble.... heading in the wrong direction."

Why?  Apparently not because of the U.S. Justice Department crackdown.  Negreanu told an interviewer the problem is that too many online poker stars are.... well, dull.  They're so focused on Internet play that they come across as wonky, lacking in personality.  (And if anyone should know about being a "poker personality," it's Negreanu.)

There are two ways to look at these comments.  For one thing, there's nothing wrong with working hard at what you do -- whether you're a poker pro or a laborer on the construction site:

Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. - Proverbs 10:4

Negreanu even admitted in the interview he may have lost a bit of his game by becoming a "media face" of poker, as opposed to the "poker non-stop" approach of Phil Ivey.

But then again, working non-stop can burn you out and run you down.  An occasional break is good for you, in ways far beyond your physical health.  That's part of the reason why the Bible recommends....

But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.  On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. - Exodus 20:10

In fact, it's not simply a recommendation -- it's one of God's Ten Commandments.  We also think gathering and fellowshipping with believers from other walks of life on the Sabbath can help build personality skills, while widening your perspective on things.

Live poker tournaments in our area can include plenty of interesting characters; we share their stories here from time to time.  Online players don't really expose such traits, outside of their avatars and chat comments.

So what do you think of Negreanu's comments?  Is poker (especially on TV) better with guys wearing "chicken suits"?  Or is it all about the game?

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