RE: Do You Think We Forgot, UltimateBet?
Hey Jen, check it out … Pauly has some interesting thoughts on the matter: [via Wicked Chops daily email]
If you play online poker (especially if you are one of the blind fools still playing on UB), it’s in everyone’s best interest to spread the word on this important thread…
One of the more interesting things to me, however, is a comment from Change100:
Funny, how on the day you post about the UB cheating scandal, Card Player.com is running these two headlines:
“Absolute Poker Offering Up to 100% Reload Bonus”
and
“Ultimate Bet RAI$E Program Gives Money for Points”
Duly noted. And that, dear readers, is something to keep in mind as you follow the WSOP on the internet this summer. We know your company internet time is limited, after all … and though we “professional” bloggers don’t have nearly the resources of the big-boy poker media, you can probably trust us more not to greedily lead you astray.
Though we make our livings, too, covering poker, it was only a few years ago that we made virtually no money whatsoever … we did it just for funsies and booze/tax deductions … and because of these faint but not-too-distant memories, it’s a little easier for the independent bloggers out here to be semi-principled and give you coverage not driven by the pursuit of potentially dirty cash. Drugs and hookers notwithstanding, of course.
Kajagugu says:
May 28th, 2008 at 7:07am
I just posted about this. I called my post FU UB. I found two more angles to this idiotic story:
1) Why the fuck is P5 still using UB for their Triple Crown?
2) Why did Johnny Bax just sign up with this fakakteh site?
Blech!
DanM says:
May 28th, 2008 at 7:16am
That really is odd. I would think Pocket 5s would be leading the anti-UB charge.
California Jen says:
May 28th, 2008 at 8:08am
Agreed – I thought Pocket 5’s would get rid of UB. If memory serves me, they ditched AP during that scandal.
California Jen says:
May 28th, 2008 at 8:11am
I did see that thread on 2+2 and Pauly’s post about it.
Evidently, the plan at the WSOP is that some people are going to wear anti-UB shirts and put the pressure on Annie Duke and Phil Hellmuth to explain why they still endorse the site. I certainly plan to ask Annie that question, and maybe Phil if I can catch him at a rare moment of non-ridiculousness.
Kevin Mathers says:
May 28th, 2008 at 8:18am
Will you be able to spot Annie and Phil in their camouflage gear, seeing that they’re now part of the “UB Army”? Anyways, Bax responded in the 2+2 thread about his signing at [URL=”http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthread.php?p=4356187#post4356187
Kajagugu says:
May 28th, 2008 at 8:43am
Bax explained himself in both P5 and 2+2, but it’s still not satisfactory. He has confidence in current management? Why? Because they have been systematically erasing evidence and avoiding the issue for the last 5 months? I still say, for shame….
DanM says:
May 28th, 2008 at 9:36am
Money money money …
Actually I sympathize with Annie and Phil a bit … because they have a past with UB, and it’s hard for anyone to accept when a lover has been cheating, regardless of how much circumstantial evidence is right in front of them.
And if they were to drop their connection to UB, that would almost be a declaration that they know certain people are up to no good.
When Nike was found out to be running inhumane sweatshops, Michael Jordan didn’t ditch them just because … even though he easily coulda gotten a shoe deal elsewhere. I see this as very similar.
If I get a chance to talk to Phil (who doesn’t really like talking to me ever since I outed him for letting other people play on his online account under his name at UB, and then probably for that time I kissed him in public) or Annie, I wouldn’t want to hold their feet to the fire so much as I’d want to know what it’s like for a pro who has made tons of money off a site to deal with all these accusations out there. I’m sure things ain’t easy for either of them when it comes to UB. Would follow up and ask if they were losing faith … stuff like that.
At the same time, the rabblerouser in me thinks it might be kinda fun to see a full-on 2+2 vs P5 internet battle.
Jason says:
May 28th, 2008 at 5:59pm
It’s worth noting that the major magazines still run full page ads from Absolute and UB as well. To me that says it really is all about the bottom line for these companies…and that integrity has to take a backseat if there’s cash on the line.
Kevin Mathers says:
May 29th, 2008 at 1:09pm
Test
Kevin Mathers says:
May 29th, 2008 at 1:17pm
I have no idea why it won’t let me post a link,
http://tinyurl.com/4mvwrg
UB’s press release regarding its findings.