It strikes me that they are trying to insinuate that all poker players are criminals…I don’t think poker players are any more apt to exhibit criminal behavior then any other group…or maybe because of the fact that poker involves “lying and deception” as a part of the game that the news media thinks that we’re more apt to be criminals.

The reason this strikes a chord with me…is that I’ve had a run-in with the law myself. I didn’t kill anyone…didn’t steal…didn’t ultimately hurt anyone but myself…but because of it..my job prospects were damaged pretty severely over a single stupid mistake I made.

One of the reasons why I play poker is to make money obviously. I like the fact I can do it…and there’s no job interview, or background or reference checks. The only judging that is done of me…is on my playing ability…nothing else.

The same should be true of people with criminal records and their ability to do a job. Sure..if the person was convicted of stealing…they shouldn’t be allowed to work in a bank handling money…but come on…at least have the criminal offense be “related” to the job in question before summarily refusing to employ someone because of a mistake they made.

Do I like playing poker? Yes I do. Do I “want” to work a regular job-job? Yes I do. (i’ve got a masters level education). But unfortunately society has put so many barriers in place to make that so difficult…that poker really is my only viable alternative at the present time.

Surely that should be “probation.”

Yeah, you’d think someone at Pokerati or 2+2 might have done their due diligence. Shame on us!

Zach, he’s repeatedly stated that he doesn’t want anyone to be his boss. The Washington Post has a blog from du Lac stating how he turned down a six-figure deal to wear their logo Saturday and Monday, because it stated that he’d wear their logo at next year’s WSOP Main Event.

to some extent, dealing with financial woes make him MORE of an all-American story!