PokerBowl Shuffle
Not Good when Winners’ Checks Bounce
A lot of people have been clamoring about my TV poker hosting debut wondering what has happened with the U.S. PokerBowl. Indeed, this inaugural team poker concept tourney was supposed to be airing this month on FoxSports. But I don’t think it will be — despite the arguable success of the event. Sure enough, everyone there seemed to be having a really good time … the televised images looked different than what has previously been seen on Poker TV … and amid an interesting re-interpretation of important poker rules, there was all sorts of heartwarming emotional drama with potential controversy (would Marc Seif’s Absolute team insist on wearing their be-logo-ed hats so visibly?) to give us announcers — and presumably the blogging television audience — much to talk about.
But perhaps everyone knew something was amiss when the only two people not smiling in the Key West ballroom at the Palms were the guy organizing the whole thing and John-Robert Bellande (who wasn’t even playing).
“Hey, congratulations on pulling off something really cool,” I said to John Nightingale at the start of the final-final table.
“Well, it was until about 30 minutes ago when the shit really started to hit the fan,” he responded before walking away all exasperated. I guess maybe we shouldn’t be surprised when a tournament that relies on too many freerolls and forgets to take any juice runs into a financial clusterflubbing. Bummer if it can’t be resurrected. Just ask anyone who participated … it really was pretty cool.
Click here to see my photos from the PokerBowl (kicking myself for not taking more of the real behind-the-scenes stuff) … and/or click below to read an email that went out last week updating those with a vested interest in the success (or failure) of the PokerBowl on where things currently stand and what the money situation is:
Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2008 23:29:35 +0000
From: help[-at-]pokerbusinessenterprises.com
To: help[-at-]pokerbusinessenterprises.com
Subject: POKERBOWL MONEY OWED URGENT UPDATE
Poker Bowl Participants: The nature of this email is to inform you that Poker Business Enterprises ( “PBE†) has entered into escrow to purchase the assets of USPOKERBOWL (”USPL”). PBE is in the process of evaluating all the assets and liabilities that USPL has incurred under the ownership of John Nightingale and Traci Wolfe. This due diligence period will be for the next 30 days. This includes the prize money which was not paid at the poker event held at the Palms in Las Vegas along with any promises not kept to franchisees. PBE is deeply committed to finding a resolution satisfactory to all parties who are still owed prize money. PBE encourages you to contact us at 702 [xxx][xxxx] immediately or email help[-at-]pokerbusinessenterprises.com. We will do our best to respond to any inquiry within 24 hours. We look forward to working with everyone regarding this matter. We are confident your cooperation and communication will expedite the financial resolution of all involved individually and collectively. For the next 30 days John Nightingale will not have the resources to deliver accurate information that many of you need. The reasoning is to ensure you can receive dependable, consistent answers to your questions. PBE welcomes your input and communication to make this a successful, stable, and proper transition.PBE intends to build a permanent and successful organization with strong strategic partners and all those involved from the beginning will have the opportunity to have substantial participation. We anticipate to be on national and international television reaching over 200 million households this spring. Additional massive exposure to come via internet and national media campaigns will produce branding and economic opportunities for all involved.
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
PBE
24 Comments to “PokerBowl Shuffle
Not Good when Winners’ Checks Bounce”
Need an avatar? Get one here!
donkey Says:
January 7th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Dan, remember my comment to Karridy about this in his post prior to the event? I don’t see how Nightingale was able to pull it off. He was at $300k just a month before the action, and his total prize pool was at $1mil. Plus he was freerolling any and all pros he could find. I’m not surprised at all.
California Jen Says:
January 7th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
This was bound to happen with at least one of the new poker shows being taped for television. Too many people want to get in on the action without being sufficiently prepared. Bummer that it happened to you guys, not to mention the players who traveled to Vegas to play in the event.
I hope PBE can fix it.
Kevin Mathers Says:
January 7th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Did the team that won PokerBowl actually get valid checks for $100k/player?
DanM Says:
January 8th, 2008 at 1:50 am
KevMath, I don’t know the answer to that question, but will see what I can find out.
Donk, yes, you were on to something, clearly:
http://pokerati.com/2007/08/23/pokerbowl-puts-beyond-the-table-all-in/#comments
donkey Says:
January 8th, 2008 at 10:03 am
“it was until about 30 minutes ago when the shit really started to hit the fan,†he responded”
I’m not sure who made it to the final table, but I wonder if that has anything to do with the Seattle team not winning it all or making it to the final table. That was John’s team and taking first means that they could have delayed or not pay out that huge first place prize…makes you wonder…
San Fran King Says:
January 8th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Well we had a blast playing in it but something wasn’t right from the start it was obvious. Got to hand it to John for trying but a little too ambitious it seems. The whole thing sounds bad but also there is some optimism there so lets hope so for the winners sake.
DanM Says:
January 8th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I agree. And from a little research I have done, there are a handful of capable people trying to make things right and save the concept that obviously everyone really enjoyed.
Michele Lewis Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
I felt bad telling John I hadn’t asked for the buy-in from my players Steve Wong, Justin Bonomo, Alex Jacob and Nam Lee. I didn’t think it was a wise business decision for them to put up 10k when the PokerBowl hadn’t secured a location or a network. I am aware it was a catch 22 for him to get it rolling. He needed the networks to get big names and needed the big names to get the networks.
When he negotiated his deal with Fox, he asked if someone else could take my place.
Nonetheless, it sounded like a lot of fun.
DanM Says:
January 10th, 2008 at 1:25 am
Justin Bonomo — whom would make for lots of interesting discussions in this format — ended up on the Cleveland team (with Jared Hamby) … or perhaps we should say “Clevland”?
donkey Says:
January 10th, 2008 at 9:12 am
His original concept was team poker with “Pros vs. Joes”. Somehow it evolved to a playoff system of pro players. I think the original concept would have worked better. At least the Joes would have paid their entry fees. Michele, you are not the only person replaced.
Michele Lewis Says:
January 11th, 2008 at 12:02 am
Thanks, Donkey. I wasn’t upset as I really didn’t have the time and to be honest (and Dan can verify) I wasn’t willing to leave my kids with so much uncertainty. But John is a nice guy and I hope they get everything worked out.
Clevland Says:
January 11th, 2008 at 1:22 am
I find it kinda funny that this company, Poker Business Enterprises, is allegedly going into escrow to buy $1 mil in debt. Is this even a real company? Nice website! Obviously trying to divert the attention away from Nightingale.
royhobbs Says:
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:18 pm
So will the Pokerbowl ever be televised?
Kevin Mathers Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Looks like FSN got some poker backup with their “Best Damn Poker Tournament”, which will cover 7 weeks, maybe in what would’ve been the timeslot slated for the PokerBowl
Anonymous Says:
January 25th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Not trying to attack John, but he has done this in other small tournaments here in Seattle. He has a sports gambling problem and last year took the buy in money from a large tourney up here and spent it before the tournament. He then had to borrow the money from someone else to pay the winner of the tourney. I had a feeling this would happen.
clevland Says:
January 25th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Yah, except this time it will be hard to borrow a million bucks. Looks like someone’s going to jail on this one.
Anonymous Says:
January 26th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
One would think…I can’t seem to find anything on this Poker Business Enterprises either. Maybe I will give John a call today and hear from the horse’s mouth. It is true that John is a nice guy and he really does have a passion for poker. He has been running a good size home league here for a few years now. Traci is extremely nice as well. They owned a small business in Federal Way, WA for some time, a payday loan store. All in all, I hope that I am wrong frankly. Hopefully there was no sort of fraud or cheating and perhaps just poor business decisions. I know that for the average Joe people, there were many players that did not pay for their buy in. The entire Seattle team did not buy in. Neither did Ron Myers, Steve McNulty or Robert Seabolt. They all play in our Puget Sound Poker League. We had some tournaments where John would offer a seat…he ended up just filling a bunch of spots for free. Anyway, I hope it all works out soon.
donkey Says:
January 26th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Hey Anon, we would be extremely interested in hearing what John had to say. I know he’s trying to get a network to pick this thing up and offer a multi-year deal. This, of course, would solve the cash flow problem and let him pay the million $ prize. Anyone can probably figure out that PBE is a fictitious company, and if they did incorporate, then go Chapter 11, well then…no one can collect. And if more time passes without a network deal, I don’t see how in hell they are going to come up with $1mil bucks…better get a BIG Payday Loan Store loan.
san fran king Says:
January 28th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
well i for one feel cheated even though our team didn’t win we still had to pay something to get in, granted it was very small compared to the 10k but still, no prize, no tv, no next year - pretty damn lame. sorry John but its looking shady good intentions or not.
Poker Junkie Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 11:31 am
The way to look at it is, Poker Players have huge Egos and will get into something that might not be totally on the Up and UP but they are looking for exposure… Sad that this many people got involved with out having any certainity that they would get paid…
Wonder why the Gaming Commision didnt get involved as it was FRAUD
Vincent "Vinny Nap" Napolitano Says:
February 7th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Hi everyone, I want you to hear some of what happened from the horses mouth. I was the winner of the USPokerBowl and after getting the run around for months from Nightengale inregards to pament. My attorney decided to contact the Nevada Gaming Commission, who then forced The Palms to pay me a few weeks ago. As far as the event itself was a huge success. And I believe if televised it would of been a huge success. The “team” concept was so much fun and entertaining!! Whatever Nightengale did with the monies, we may never know (but not the right thing for sure) But what he did do was put a little black eye on the game of poker we all are so passionate about…………. I hope that someone does purchase the league and turns it into a huge success and if their is anything I can do to help the new owners of the league please feel free to contact me anytime. Also, any players having trouble collecting monies from the USPokerBowl, feel free to contact my attorney for help, Richard A. Dubi, Dix Hills, NY. (He has collected for several of the Cincinnati players in a timely fashion)
donkey Says:
February 7th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
YO Vinny, great job on winning the whole ting, you had the whole ting covered from day one, bada bing, befaur anyone can blink an eye…BAM…fagedabadit. You da man, Vinny, my only advice is to use a spellchecka when you write, udderwise, you were faaantassstic..
On the serious note, I’m really surprise that the Palms forked over the dough. That’s sick to think that Nightingale got away with hundreds of thousands of $$ and not get charged.
DanM Says:
February 8th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
***On the serious note, I’m really surprise that the Palms forked over the dough. ***
The Palms essentially has no choice but to pay — lest they want to take an even bigger hit in the form of penalties. This is apparently why you have a gaming commission in Nevada. What do you think this is … the Dallas underground?
nader Says:
February 9th, 2008 at 6:41 am
i need to call me on 00972599824267
for aurgent
for very important please
thank you