In my last post on this subject, HERE, I was bitching about what I felt was inexcusable *coverage* by PokerNews\’ \”low-ranking, fresh-out-of-college interns\”, as Dan Michalski described them in a very poor, and a bit unflattering, attempt to counter. He went on to explain that the cheap, inexperienced labor should not be expected to know all of the players in any given event. Dan, I agree 110%. But being able to identify the current top-ranked WSOP player and the only 2007 double bracelet winner should be a bit of a prerequisite for obtaining a media pass. BJ Nemeth also commented, a little more productively, stating \”If the junior reporters are missing someone like this, we *would* like it brought to our attention\”. He also invited me in on the efforts, saying \”tell me, or Pauly, or whoever, and we’ll get it done.\” Hmm. Ok. The critic in me gives PokerNews a failing grade on day-1 coverage, which BJ would later talk into a B+ based on customer service. I might have upgraded them to an \”A\”, but as this is being written, Tom is still without a chip count update for Day 1 of Deuce to Seven. But hey, least he\’s listed.
[Ed. Note: They found him while Karridy was writing.-DM]
I start my day today by looking forward to the last WSOP Player of The Year point awarding event, hoping that my good friend Tom Schneider is able to keep Lessandro, Hellmuth, and the other POTY hopeful hounds at bay. Tom\’s wife, Julie, is home in Arizona doing the same. I typically only get calls from Julie when Tom is doing great and can\’t talk, or busted out and doesn\’t want to. So, I was not crazy about seeing her name come up on my phone that early in the day.
\”Karridy, I\’m so freaking pissed right now. I\’m just soo… I\’m just sick of it!\”
Below are the results of my request that Julie put her feelings in print. It should be known that Tom had caught wind of Julie\’s intent to provide me this to post and he tried to talk her out of it. Sorry, dood. I\’m thinking he hates the nametag too.
Julie Writes:
Maybe I don\’t know a whole lot about poker ( I\’ve only been in the business as a player and dealer for 24 years). But it seems to me that winning 2 bracelets in a single World Series is a pretty big deal. Apparently I am wrong, because when I surf the internet searching for coverage of my husband, Tom Schneider 2007 WSOP double bracelet winner, I get nothing! Coincidentally, he is also the points leader for the coveted title of player of the year. Yet, nothing.Anyway, today as I\’m sweating the Deuce-to-Seven Single Draw event ($5k w/ 5k Rebuys), I finally strike gold! Poker Pages posts a great picture of Tom sitting between John Juanda and Gavin Smith. But wait a minute they don\’t mention Tom. Of course they do brag about Juanda\’s 7th place finish and Smith\’s 2nd. But not a word about Tom\’s two 1st place finishes! (not to mention a 4th as well , 3 final tables so far)
Check it out at PokerPages.com
Who are these people doing the blogging? Isn\’t their job to know who the bracelet and money winners are? At least they should know who the players at the top of the leader board for POTY are. Oh and by the way, only seven players in the entire series can even challenge Tom for the title. Five of them must win a bracelet, one needs to come in 8th or higher and the other has to finish 5th or better. And of those five, only three of them are even in this event, which is the final event for the points race. Isn\’t that news-worthy? Perhaps I am expecting too much. But I will tell you that this slight accidental or otherwise inept reporting is a crying shame. Tom has grinded his way to the top, playing on his own money. He is a decent, stand-up guy, and one of the nicest people you\’ll ever meet. (Not so easy for me to admit to, being as I\’m his wife and like to give him a hard time, but absolutely the truth, nonetheless) Tom is so completely opposite from most of the crass, degenerate poker players out there. And finally at the point in his poker playing career where he deserves the respect and recognition of the poker community. I say shame on all of you out there who haven\’t done your jobs and taken the time to find out who Tom Schneider is. This is, sorry to say, a classic case of the nice guy finishing last.
Yes, the above is a biased rant, and even she won\’t argue that. But Julie\’s points are very valid, nonetheless. If Tom keeps his POTY ranking intact, the nice guy will finish first this time. It\’s just too bad that nobody will be there to report on it.