The Magic of the WSOP
In the world of professional sports and big time gaming competitions, there is a small list of very special events that create a sense of magic for millions of people all across the planet.
The major league baseball pennant race, the Super Bowl, the Kentucky Derby, the Indy 500, the Dewey Beach skimboarding finals, the US Open and many more. Well, not many more, because I just said in the previous sentence that this is a short list. I guess you could say that there are less than a dozen of these truly magnificent events that bring out the very best in all competitors and somehow bring this world of ours together in a sheer explosion of sportsmanship and goodwill.
There may be some skeptics out there who would not place the World Series of Poker in such a rarefied league, but I think they should all go suck an egg. In my opinion, there is no doubt that this is one of the great events and in many ways surpasses the Olympics. For one thing, it's a lot easier to get a good cocktail and the restrooms are undeniably cleaner.
But, you may be wondering, what exactly is it about the World Series of Poker that makes this such a truly magical event? Allow me to offer a few thoughts on this matter. First of all, you must understand that the WSOP is like a giant magnet that attracts the greatest poker players from literally all around the world. Under one roof, you may have people competing from the United States, France, Russia, Vietnam, South Africa, Sweden and a host of other proud nations. The tournament acts as a proverbial melting pot, bringing the best out of all these multinational champions and providing a common language that they all can speak.
On top of this ecumenical aspect, the World Series of Poker is magical because it brings the game of poker to a wider audience than any other tournament on earth. The televised ratings for the World Series of Poker continue to grow each and every year and the endorsement deals gets sweeter and sweeter.
Finally, speaking from a personal point of view, I must mention the fact that it was at the WSOP back in the late 1990s (for legal reasons, I can not name the exact year) that my entire life underwent a radical transformation for the better. Not only did I profoundly expand my knowledge of the game, but I also met the woman who became the love of my life. At least for that year. Furthermore, it was my first year at the WSOP, so you could say it was a pretty great experience for me all around. Discover the magic yourself, this year at the 2006 World Series of Poker.
