As we get to start seeing the events that ESPN has allowed us to view of this year's WSOP on Tuesday nights, there are 9 players that are feverishly awaiting November. The final table of the ME has been set, and those players now get to reap the benefits of the delayed final table that the WSOP and ESPN came up with earlier this year. The hype machine will buiold, interviews will be done, and the world will get to know the "November Nine" so not only one start will be made from the final table, but 9 players will be taken into the hearts and homes of the world so we can know the stories of their long hard trip to the WSOP. Well,,,, that WAS the reasoning behind delaying the table, right?

Now my question: Where are these storied going to be? The idea of delaying the final table has some merit, but the reasons that were given will NOT happen. Allowing more of the world to meet these players and draw fan support to the final can only happen if the worlds gets to SEE these players. ESPN won't be telling you who makes the final table until it's broadcast gets to that point, so the only way we get to know these people is through what?? The internet. There won't be appearances on Letterman or Conan O'Brien. The newspapers might mention it somewhere on page 12 of section E between the new scooter that was invented by a 9 year old from Whaled and the ad for a strip joint out by the airport, but are we going to see it? NO!!!

ESPN should wake up and realize that their idea of making stars out of these 9 players will only work is ESPN makes them into stars. The rest of the poker world, including the fans that want to know who they are, already know who they are. If you want to increase the publicity, you have to give the casual fan access to the information. Not the people that are on the websites looking for it already. Without having these "human interest" spots earlier than the day before the final table, or even the week before, the guy who watched SportCenter after dinner each night, isn't going to know that Dennis from the St' Louis Blues games is at the final table, and he probably won't watch. Of course, if you tell him BEFORE it starts airing, he might not miss an episode.

Great idea, horrible execution.

Any thoughts?

I agree with you completely. This just goes back to the old saying that, "Anything worth doing, is worth doing right." I think that this could have been the greatest promotion and advancement of poker ever, if ESPN had truly embraced it. Maybe they still will...there's still time. I think that overall though, your conclusions are right on track.

Still on the fence with this one.... I'm still going to watch (DVR) the WSOP shows even though I've read the names of the November Nine (I like that, did you come up with it?, can I steal it?).


I thought someone said they were going to follow each person with a camera crew to see how it changed their lives... that would be a major PITA... but worth the bucks (at least to me).

I'd love to take credit for "The November Nine", but alas, I cannot. That name was given to the players even before the final table was set. Not sure of the originator, but I first heard it on another poker information/entertainment site that I wouldn't feel right talking about here.

As far as following around the players with a camera, it's only going to add more of a human interest factor to the broadcast of the final table. It still won't make the players any more well known to the general public.

Come on ESPN, wake up and rethink your broadcast! For the sake of the poker community, you HAVE to make this work!!!