The obligations of a champion
Editor's note: You can find out more about each of these players in our main event recap. Podcasts, videos, columns, chats and more are available for each of the November Nine.
Chris Moneymaker knows a thing or two about being an ambassador for poker. The 2003 World Series of Poker champion, who many credit with providing the spark for the poker boom, found that with his newfound fame came an industry thrust upon his shoulders.
"I always knew I was going to be myself," Moneymaker said. "At the end of the day, I guess I became an ambassador. I try to be myself, but I'm also careful about what I say."
Moneymaker provided an embarrassment of riches as far as representing poker went.
"If you win any other tournament, nothing is expected of you," Moneymaker said while signing autographs. "This is the one tournament where people will automatically know you. I think in that respect, you sort of have a duty to be ambassador for the game. You don't sign up for it when you enter the tournament, but when you win the tournament it's sort of bestowed upon you and you have to take responsibility for it."
Moneymaker may have been a part of setting the bar unreasonably high. He, 2004 champion Greg Raymer and 2005 champion Joe Hachem, who were all backed by the massive public relation efforts of industry giant PokerStars, had their good deeds magnified. In large part, the champions who have followed have suffered for it.
"Part of what happened was the PokerStars trio got promoted really well," said Barry Greenstein, sitting across the table from Moneymaker. "They got involved with a big website and that helped opinions throughout the industry. They were handled really well."
2006 champion Jamie Gold and 2007 champion Jerry Yang have both suffered for those lofty expectations. Both players played regularly after spending the immediate months with their families. They've each spoken well of the game in public forums and have worked hard to use poker as a charitable endeavor. Still, without the public amplification of their work, they've each received unfair criticism.
"I try to represent the game that we love so much," said Yang, a devoutly spiritual man whose strong beliefs and promotion of the game struck many as contradictory. "As a player, I try to have good etiquette at the table. The least you can do is shake your opponent's hand, shake the spectators' hands. That takes the game a long, long way. I definitely think there's an obligation there."
The opinion is not a unanimous one. One great poker ambassador, Daniel Negreanu, disagrees with those who would burden poker's next champion with any more than money and a bracelet.
"I don't think there's a responsibility to go out to represent poker," said Negreanu. "It's great that our recent champions have, but I don't think anyone can blame someone for wanting their peace and privacy. You can't expect people to become perfect ambassadors immediately without training. It's just not reasonable. People make the choice to co-operate with the game, but I don't see anyone being required to do anything for poker."
It's a debate that each of the November Nine have weighed privately. Some are looking forward to the opportunity to promote the game, while others seem to dread the idea. There's certainly a fundamental flaw in the expectations of the community.
"There's a contradiction between the freedom we play for and the responsibilities of an ambassadorship," Chino Rheem said. "If you play and you make it this far, you should do so understanding what comes with it. The winner has to know that they're representing the players. When the public sees the champion, they see all of us."
"We as players need help; sponsorships and the like, because we put up our own money and the casinos take their piece," Kelly Kim said. "It's a zero sum game and when we win, someone has to lose. The winner needs to try to help the poker economy."
"You have to define ambassador," said Ylon Schwartz, who at times has seemed like the most resistant of the Nine to the suggestions of responsibility. "For me, it would mean bouncing around casinos all around the States and playing 3-6 hold 'em with people who love to play poker. Getting out there with the people who play the game." Defined by those terms, it's something he can get behind.
"I do feel there's an obligation," said Dennis Phillips, chip leader heading into Sunday's play. "You're representing people who play all over the world." Phillips, Greenstein points out, has been treated as a world champion would over the last four months, and has used his newfound fame to raise awareness and funds for multiple sclerosis and wounded veterans.
While most of the Nine look forward to doing their part, the sentiment with many of them is it should ultimately up to the discretion of the individual. "I think it's your own choice," Scott Montgomery said. "The best thing about poker is the freedom to do whatever you want. The idea that you're shoved into that role because you won one tournament … I never liked that idea."
He's quick to add, though, that it's a role he'd personally be eager to embrace. He's not the only one.
"If I were to win, I'd look forward to the ambassadorship," Peter Eastgate said, enthusiastically. "The last five years, the champions have been quite different and have conducted themselves differently, but I respect them all and how they conducted themselves. It's your own decision how you behave as an ambassador, how you talk about the game. It's important to be genuine, to be yourself. It's important to believe in whatever it is you're talking about. I'd probably emulate each of the last five a bit, but not too much. I'm inspired by all of them, but I'd just try to be me."
It's like he's channeling Moneymaker already. From the sounds of it, the poker world could do a lot worse.
No matter what happens on Sunday, each member of the November Nine knows that the winner will have a lot more responsibility than just playing poker. Best of luck to all.
Gary Wise is a regular contributor to ESPN.com. You can read more of his thoughts on poker in his blog at www.wisehandpoker.net.
