So here we have the wonder boy Chino Rheem. Running on the fame of the November Nine in 2008 in which he finished 7th, he’s won other tournaments and without going on a Google crusade to list them here, just suffice it to say that with money management, even if he required a few backers due to running bad, life should have been very good for a full time poker player. But nope, when things are going great we seem to find a way to fuck it up. That’s the only way to express where he’s at right now, he’s in the crap heap at the bottom of the pile. Even if he pulls out of this, it will be years before anyone is comfortable when they see him or hear his name.
That’s my take on it. I believe in integrity and honesty and standing up to take the heat when you brought the flame – but why create the flame?
I never hear the name Sorel Mizzi but what I think of account ghosting with Vaughn; or Russ Hamilton leads me to the UB and AP scandals – never solved in my opinion because he never was charged or came out to face the poker world; or Justin Bonomo, or Nick Gruzdien Stoxpoker coach and creator, or Josh Field “JJProdigy” or Brian Townsend…those are just a few names off the top. And of course, there’s the latest – Jose Mecado.
Some of them are guilty of multi accounting, some took advantage in other ways. David “Chino” Rheem is one of those.
According to a thread on 2+2, he borrowed and didn’t pay back. For a player that takes to high limit and big tournaments, you can’t borrow and not pay back, especially when you hit a score. To make it even more bizarre, he just won the inaugural Epic Poker League for $1m. There’s a lot of conjecture going on as to how much he owes his backers for the tournament and will the rest of the world that he owes ever get paid.
And then there’s the ethics policy that Epic Poker has set up for their players. From what I’ve read he’s possibly forgiven for past transgressions but must be a good boy in the future? Awwww…shucks! It would be hard to pimp slap your inaugural winner and tell them they were out of the mix I suppose.
It’s a sad day really. Why can’t poker players just quit the bullshit and figure out they are in a high profile world now and the old ‘don’t give a shit and the rules don’t apply to me’ really are a thing of the past. We want the world to look at us as if we have a little class, doesn’t that mean we have to act the part?
Another thought that always comes to mind, why don’t players that score a big win ever take care of their money? Is it the sick degen gambler mindset – “I’m going to win more!” Sure some do take care of it but the majority are busted before they know it…usually a case of the need to play higher.
On another note, what happened to Dream Team Poker? It must be a done deal. Ka-put! I searched and this is all I found, last update was January 2010! And World Team Poker seems to be on permanent hold.
Let’s hope for better days for everyone – poker players and real world people too, that includes all the real world people poker players…there are some.
Okay, so I read Poker Hacks article – well written. I liked it. She also brought up a valid point, very valid.
When the poker bloggers had a series (the Mookie), I played to the extent of my patience. I’d go bonkers when I reached the end. One of the players (handle forgotten. She married a fellow poker player. He had an on-line radio.).
Anyhow, she was the victim of one of my “get out of the game” things and she wasn’t happy with me. She blogged another valid point: She considered bad bets “chip dumping.”
It wasn’t. I was simply tired and wanted out. I also didn’t know her, nor do know her, even now.
If she took it that way, under those circumstances, then something like Poker Hacks supposition article would be dead on and also viable (more so considering the the serious money involved).
Personally speaking; I’ve played with Boy/Girl pairs and watched them flash cards to one another. Didn’t like it then, wouldn’t care for it now.
I really need to bookmark the Wall. Really do. I’m missing out.