WSOP 2004
In just about every way that can be imagined, 2004 was a most tumultuous and yet exciting year. In this age of instant gratification and minuscule memory spans, the events of that year may seem like they belong to the hazy past, but in fact the gap can be counted in mere months. The presidential race in the U.S. between George Bush and John Kerry was one of the most bitterly partisan of our lifetimes. We Americans found out that our nation was indeed a house divided, split into two colors: red and blue.
And yet, despite these divisions which are carelessly and recklessly accentuated by the media, we are all brothers and sisters and descendants of Uncle Sam. Our commonalities are far greater than our differences and we're all the on same team. This is a fact that can easily be lost in our go-for-broke society, but we forget it at our peril.
Fortunately, there are certain events which bind us together as Americans. When we all can root for the same great outcome, we are strengthened not only as individuals but as a nation. Among these significant milestones, I would certainly count the World Series of Poker. Few championships are as likely to draw together so many people who are like-minded in at least one essential way. And, with the explosion of televised poker attracting millions of new viewers each year, you might even say that this game is playing an important role in preserving the union.
Expectations were running extraordinarily high at the 2004 WSOP and changes were afoot. For one thing, the legendary Binion's Horseshoe casino, home of the tournament, had been bought by Harrah's Entertainment in January of '04. Naturally, there was quite a bit of trepidation about what "improvements" might occur as a result of this takeover. Fortunately, the good people of Harrah's respected the value of tradition.
Secondly, after the stunning victory of amateur Chris Moneymaker in 2003, the entire professional poker world was crazed with the possibility that another unknown would emerge from obscurity via winning an online satellite and would go on to take the prize at the WSOP. Many analysts, myself included, did not think it was very likely for such an event to happen. Boy, were we wrong.
A guy by the name of Greg "Fossilman" Raymer repeated the remarkable feat of his fellow amateur Moneymaker. And, like his predecessor, Raymer instantly became a celebrity and a spokesperson for PokerStars.com after he defeated an absolutely colossal field of 2,576 entrants. We are truly living in a grand age, one in which the most everyday of individuals can become a champion.
by Mason Raymond
