Posted by Ray Finkle on 27th March 2011

Want to hire Chris Ferguson to throw cards at a banana for your birthday? How about Norman Chad to do a 30-minute stand-up act where he berates Phil Hellmuth? Maybe hire Howard Lederer to give a seminar on why he’s relevant? Perhaps Shana Hiatt to sit around and look hot and talk with you about how she was once married to a pornstar? If you have the money, the options are limitless at the All American Talent and Celebrity Network, talent agency to the stars and poker pros.

Remember poker circa 2002-2006? So does the All American Talent and Celebrity Network. Sadly, that’s all the site remembers. Dated beyond its means, you can guarantee they haven’t gotten many referrals in regards to their poker pro clients.

Some of the laughable player profile highlights include:

Cyndy Violette

“There is a very small group of names at the top of the list of the world’s top female poker players, and among the best known is Cyndy Violette.”

Chip Jett

“Chip Jett is one of the most successful players on the circuit.”

Chris Moneymaker

“Chris has since proved he is no one-hit wonder.”

Howard Lederer

“The Professor continues to succeed in tournaments.”

Johnny Hennigan

“John Hennigan, a former pool hustler from Philadelphia, is a top player who’s made it to at least one World Poker Tour final table – finishing 4th in the tournament at the Bellagio.”

Robert Varkonyi

“A successful businessman and World Champion Poker player, Robert Varkonyi is inspiration to recreational players everywhere.

Phil Gordon

“As a top professional poker player, expert analyst, one of the world’s top instructors of poker and adventure traveler, Gordon will tell you poker as well as other aspects of life takes more than luck or playing the cards you’re dealt.”

Ted Forrest

“As the poker boom continues, we’ll most likely be seeing a lot more of Ted Forrest at the final tables of the world’s biggest tournaments.”

Shana Hiatt

“Her charm and personality fly off the screen, and her rising popularity will undoubtedly carry her further in the TV and film industries.”

Share
Posted by Ray Finkle on 3rd March 2010

scott-seiverJust a week after making the final table of the inaugural North American Poker Tour Venetian $25,000 High Roller Shootout and collecting $215,000 in bounties and prize money, Scott Seiver strikes lightning yet again, winning the $25k High Roller Championship event at the L.A. Poker Classic.

Besting a six-handed final table with notable poker phenoms Jason Mercier (recently mentioned World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe final tablist/WSOP bracelet winner) and Daniel Alaei (World Poker Tour champion/WSOP bracelet winner), Seiver (WSOP bracelet winner himself) climbed to the top of the heap, staking his claim in the $425,334 first-place prize and trophy.

Heads-up play concluded when Seiver’s AsJs held against the pre-flop all-in of Alaei’s QdJd. Seiver faded Alaei’s flopped straight and diamond flush draw to become the champion. With his win, he moves just under $2 million in lifetime tourney winnings.

Now I use the term “champion” loosely because he is really just a “winner”. While these events bring out some of the biggest names in the game, with all due respect, it’s tough for me to call a 41-man event a “tourney” and the person coming out the other side a “champion”. Truth be told, it’s really just a rich man’s sit-and-go, which with the inflated buy-in, replaces the need for an additional 3000+ players in the field to have a huge payout for the top prizes. Don’t get me wrong–these are some of the greatest players in the world and combating their skill probably negates having to wade through a sea of no-names in your way to the top, but is that truly an accomplishment? I won a 45-man sit-and-go once. When is my trophy arriving in the mail?

Share