If they play in a tourny, especially a charity tourny of some sort, it can enhance the public perception of the poker player in general. Even if it’s just another standard cash tourny, the exposure of top name, recognizable players is a plus. The more that these guys become likable, household names to people(especially outside of the core poker playing community), the greater the chances of furthering poker’s cuase.

I think that the more public stuff like this becomes, the more it paints poker, the players, and the industry as being greedy and self-serving.

Being someone living in Texas and wanting to see poker come to Texas, I can only see this as being a potential setback. But now that I think about it, I don’t know that FTP is really interested in legalized poker in Texas, except that they can still deposit money on their site.

Principally, I can understand understand why FTP would not want their top dogs playing in a “Stars” tournament. I get it. But I don’t think that the higher ups have really thought it through. What they gain by keeping them out, or that Stars would gain by having them participate is negligible at best. On the other hand, if they play, then poker remains a community, regardless of affiliation. And I believe that would be best for the community in the long run.

Besides, what could be better for FTP than to have 2 or 3 of their big name pros seated at the final table of a “Stars” tourny…or even win it.

It’s still early and I haven’t finished my first caffeinated beverage of the day. Maybe I haven’t thought it through yet.