Harrah's to let blind player play in Main Event

OP/ED by
Rick "DaVoice" Charles

Having spent most of my career as a journalist, and having promised in my last post to give Harrah's the weekend to respond to KGET-TV's report that a blind Bakersfield man was told he could not play in the World Series of Poker Main Event, I have heard from Harrah's and it seems that KGET-TV and the local Bakersfield paper that reported this story were absolutely WRONG and did not contact any WSOP official.

Here is a quote from Nolan Dalla, WSOP Media Director:

"Not only has the WSOP allowed at least one blind player to play this year, we routinely allow physically challenged and others with disabilities to participate. To make it perfectly clear -- the WSOP does allow the blind to play. However, there are some strict guidelines that govern what can be discussed in a hand, and the player must make all betting decisions."

Nolan also went on to say that the paper will be printing a retraction.

This is absolutely the CORRECT decision in my "not so humble" opinion. As long as the "ONE PLAYER PER HAND RULE" is strictly followed there is no reason for HARRAH'S or any other casino not to allow a blind player to play. As long as his only help is a person sitting next to him and telling him what his hole cards are, and the dealer properly calls the board cards and action, what is the problem?!

Here is a copy of the story that grabbed MY attention the other day from KGET-TV's website. Obviously these people didn't do their homework, or there never would have been a story to begin with.

(begin quoted material)

http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=b7c61f67-4255-4239-abf2-b80756c6996e&rss=91

Posted 6/29/07BAKERSFIELD -

It’s every sports player’s dream to play in the Super Bowl or World Series, and the same holds true for people who play poker as a sport.

A Bakersfield man recently earned a chance to live out his dream, but because of his disability, it may not be in the cards.

Jason Holbrook has been playing cards as long as he can remember.
"I’ve been playing … since I was five years old," Holbrook said.
But 16 years after he began playing, Holbrook lost sight of his cards following a car accident.

Now 37, he is legally blind, and while that hasn’t hurt his game, it’s changed the way he plays.

This disability, though, has hurt his chances of fulfilling his dream of playing in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

"I just read the cards and tell him what's on the table,” said Michelle Espinoza, Holbrook’s card reader. “He plays the hand." Espinoza has been reading Holbrook’s cards for about a year. During the tournaments, she’s by his side serving as his eyes.

By qualifying through tournaments at the Golden West Casino in Bakersfield, Holbrook earned the right to play at the World Series of Poker in Vegas with a multi-million-dollar top prize at stake.

According to Holbrook, however, he has been told he can’t play because of his second set of eyes.

“We had no problem at the Rio,” Holbrook said about his World Tour he played a week and a half ago.

Holbrook hasn’t given up on his dream. Now, the man who said he knows when to hold ‘em is hoping to hold onto his seat in the world class competition.
"They said we could have a refund, but it's not about that,” he said. “It's about being able to play the game you love, like everyone else."

Holbrook’s brother said they plan to go to Vegas anyway to convince organizers to change their mind and allow Holbrook to play.

The Rio Hotel did not return our calls for clarification.

(end quoted material )

I'd sure like to know WHO KGET-TV and the Bakersfield newspaper contacted at Rio. Did they call someone in hotel reservations? Show tickets? Maybe it was just someone at the "Rio Hotel and Lodge in Saskatoon Canada".

Methinks Mr's. Holbrook did protest too much, and it was a slow news day!

Welcome to Poker from the Inside

Having been in and around professional tournament and high stakes poker world for the past 6 years, this blog will do its best to provide you with the stories that the "mags" don't want to publish.

I'm not an angry man, nor am I "out to get" anyone, but the real stories of what goes on "inside" the world of poker are the ones we'll publish here. Too many of the commercial magazines are afraid to touch stories that put poker or poker rooms and players in any light other than good. We'll tell the REAL story, whether or not it hurts.

Before I post my next post I need to consult with the folks at the WSOP, but I'll tell you the story I'm working on. There is a poker player from Bakersfield, Ca. who qualified legitimately to play in the WSOP main event despite his handicap of being BLIND. The WSOP has apparently (according to KGET) told this player he cannot play in the main event. Being fair, and a journalist, I will attempt to get BOTH SIDES of the story. Watch for it in the next 3 days, as I'm going to give WSOP officials the weekend to respond to my queries.

Rick "The Voice of Poker" tm Charles