Poker Player Tweets of the Week: Make love, not war edition
This week has seen some pretty good discussions pertaining to serious issues in the poker world, but, as usual, Twitter is about more than being serious.
Let's see what our favorite cast of characters had to offer on the Twittersphere this week.
Friday, Feb. 14: Olivier "@olivierbusquet" Busquet
2 guys in relationships who think valentines day is stupid, my advice is to get over yourself and do something special for your girl...
— Olivier Busquet (@olivierbusquet) February 14, 2014
This is absolutely spot-on advice. Let me tell you all a little story.
A few years ago, Valentine's Day fell on a Monday. My wife (girlfriend at the time) and I decided we'd celebrate the holiday on Sunday, because we worked conflicting schedules during the week and didn't get to see each other very much, even though we lived together. So on Sunday, I pulled out the usual artillery: flowers, a card, a nice dinner, ice cream. The works, as they say. It was a great Valentine's Day.
The next day, Feb. 14, I went about business as usual. I didn't buy another card or even acknowledge that it was Valentine's Day, because we had mutually decided we'd alter the calendar to make the holiday on Sunday. Dates are just arbitrary numbers, right?
Wrong. My wife has scolded me her fair share of times during the course of our relationship, but this one probably takes the cake for the nastiest. How could you not even say Happy Valentine's Day, she wondered? Did you completely forget? You're a jerk, she proclaimed.
So let that be a lesson to you all. No matter how great of a boyfriend or husband you think you are, no matter how ridiculous you think Valentine's Day is, you are wrong. Because it's impossible to be right.
Thursday, Feb. 13: Taylor "@taylorcaby" Caby and Dan "@DanFleyshman" Fleyshman
@taylorcaby Everytime the founder of global casino chain uses the word "moral" in his fight against online poker I get so upset ??
— Dan Fleyshman (@DanFleyshman) February 13, 2014
Ah, yes, the hypocrisy of political motivations. It's a tale as old as time.
Sheldon Adelson's motivations are purely in, what he thinks are, the best interests of his business. I think he's wrong, as do many in the industry, but Adelson is a cranky old man who wants the online gambling world to get off his lawn. He'll spend the money and make a fool out of himself to do so because he just doesn't care what you or I think.
Thursday, Feb. 13: Lance "@Lance_Bradley" Bradley
Q: what would happen if a poker room banned headphones? Thinking mostly of the ecology of the room. CC @InfiniteEdgeKim @CourtHarrington
— Lance Bradley (@Lance_Bradley) February 13, 2014
I think you'd see a lot more players busy playing on their phones and not paying attention to the game. When I listen to music at the poker table, it allows me to drown out the distractions and focus heavily on the game. I don't have urges to play games on my phone, because I'm relaxed and not bored, even though I'm folding most hands.
Headphones are good for poker. If they make players feel more comfortable, they should not be going anywhere.
Wednesday, Feb. 12: Antonio "@MagicAntonio" Esfandiari
Antonio Esfandiari used to annoy me whenever I saw him on TV. I always felt like he was trying too hard to be the "magician" and it was obvious brand-building.
But the more I saw Esfandiari play high-stakes cash games, the more I really began to respect his game. And the fact remains that Esfandiari is one of the best ambassadors for the poker world, because he's a genuinely nice guy who cares about the future of the game.
It doesn't surprise me that Esfandiari takes time out of his day to take calls at the Ultimate Poker office. Sure, they pay him, but I really do think Esfandiari wants to be at the epicenter of the online poker revival.
Tuesday, Feb. 11: Phil "@PhilGalfond" Galfond
My take on the issues @JosephHachem brought up this week & thoughts on what we can do (in too many words, as usual): http://t.co/mSSjrWz4XX
— Phil Galfond (@PhilGalfond) February 11, 2014
Meanwhile, Phil Galfond stood up for the non-Esfandiaris of the poker world this week, when he wrote a column in response to Joe Hachem's video interview with Bluff.
Hachem basically called out the younger generation of poker players for being bad ambassadors for the game, scaring amateur players away from the table and only being concerned with money.
Galfond agreed with Hachem, but pointed out that there are several reasons to explain young players' behavior. And he called for the older generation -- the so-called ambassadors of the poker world -- to help ease younger players into becoming more talkative and welcoming at the table.
Galfond is my favorite poker player in the world, and I think he's in a unique position to bridge the gap between the older and younger generations. The poker industry needs a revival, and it's players like Galfond who can make the biggest impact in that department.
Poker Player Tweets of the Week: Make love, not war edition
is republished from CasinoCityTimes.com.