I saw Phil Hellmuth at E3 today, in what I think was the Yahoo! Games booth (I’m not entirely sure, you know, with the cold medicine and everything.) He was taking questions from a huge crowd about poker, and doing what Phil does best: talking about how great he is, and how he only loses when some jerk puts a bad beat on him.
Phil is truly one of the greatest players to ever sit at a table, and he can absolutely beat anyone in the world, but his Shatnerian ego makes it very hard to enjoy watching him play.
However, ginormous ego or not, I just read that Phil did a really cool thing: he was all set to host the Phil Hellmuth Poker Challenge this weekend in Houston, Texas. Somewhere between 600 and 1000 players would pay $500 to attend a seminar taught by Phil, and then they’d play in a tournament that would send the winner to the Main Event in the World Series of Poker next month in Las Vegas. Best of all, the event would raise an estimated $250,000 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
That is, until some anti-gambling busybodies in Colorado caused the charity event, which would raise money to help people who are stricken with breast cancer, to be shut down.
The whole story is at Pokernews.com:
“It looks like we have been shut down,” said Chuck Frierson who, along with Dale Hunsucker, were the local organizers for the event. “Players who have pre-registered will be receiving a full refund.”
“It started to unravel last week,” Frierson told me. “It seems a person from an anti-gambling organization in Colorado heard about this event and contacted the Harris County Sheriffs Department regarding its legality. We were looking to hold the event at Reliant Park, which is part of the Reliant Stadium grounds that are overseen by the county. Reliant Park gave us a great area to present the tournament and the expected crowd that would be there for the festivities.”
Isn’t that awesome? Some anti-gambling nutjobs decided that it was very important to spread their crusade to an entirely different freakin’ state, and shut down a charity event.
“It’s very sad, because we have run these type of events in the past without an issue. Recently, we raised $105,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The $105,000 was after any expenses we had. It was a great tournament for a great cause and we thought this one was going to be bigger.”
“We were expecting about 600 people,” lamented Frierson. “With that number, it was conceivable that we could have raised around $250,000 for breast cancer research. If we had 1000,” Frierson paused, “it could have been $350, maybe $400,000…The charity is the one who is hurt the most, with the players who wanted to participate being hurt as well.”
Wow. I hope those douchebags in Colorado are proud of themselves.
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Jeebus Crackers. Somebody in frigging Colorado is worried because some people in Texas want to play in a poker tournament that raises money to fight breast cancer, and they call the sheriff to stop it. I don’t know which is worse: the wackos in Colorado, or the spineless sheriff in Houston. Makes me want to move out of Texas to somewhere other than Colorado.
I guess California is out, because there you can’t play in the Amateur Poker League. Apparently the CA DOJ won’t let people play poker *for free* but they will let you play for money in legal cardrooms. What the fark is this country coming to? *sigh*
Is there an email addy or fax number that we can use to “express dissatisfaction”?
You know there is… spill it.
–AJ
Well, we all know that Poker is not gambling, it’s a skill game, right? I mean, that’s why PFH (Phil Fscking Hellmuth) only loses to bad-beats, right? 😉
To be serious, though, it’s a bad sign for our country that wackos pull crazy crap like this… and succeed. These people are like that mother of a kid in your school or neighborhood – you know who I’m talking about, every school/neighborhood has at least one – who just couldn’t stop b!tching about the least little thing that occurred anywhere in the community that was “objectionable” to her.
(Hmm.. do I have unresolved childhood issues?) 😉
maybe it’s time to start outlawing organizations that engage in crusades… after all, self-righteousness can become rather addicting, to the unaware and susceptible.
Perhaps you can’t understand people not wanting any organisation wanting to profit from something that has destroyed your family, but I’m sure if you had been involved in gambling addiction you might have some kind of understanding – but recognising any form of gamling as a benefactor is plain wrong in my books as well. I can safely say that gambling destroyed my childhood, and I’m talking about a mix of poker, blackjack, roulette and the other “skill” games. Perhaps you’d also like charities to benefit from drug dealers? I know thats drawing an exagerrated parallel, but theres a line in the sand, and yours is much closer to that than mine is.
Crap. That’s not good news. I don’t know for sure, but I bet this has to do with the casinos in Blackhawk and Central City, actually. They are upset because Hold ‘Em is not regulated in the bars in Denver, but the gaming houses in BH and CC are regulated by gaming laws and can’t compete with the local bars.
A representative of the big casinos called one of the radio stations last week and complained about a celebrity poker tournament sponsored by The Foote Foundation (as in Avs Defenseman Adam Foote.) It was a charity tournament, and was very successful. I wouldn’t be surprised if this pressure came indirectly from the corporate bigwigs as a response to the Foote tournament.
I have no proof of that, just conjecture. I do know that the lady who called the radio station was all bent out of shape about Foote’s tourney.
Sorry to hear that someone from my state screwed this up, but please remember that they don’t represent all of us.
On behalf of everyone reasonable in Colorado, I apologize for all the doucheholes and asshats in our state. We’ve tried to get them exterminated for some time now, however, PETA keeps getting in the way.
Wow, I’m shocked and appalled by this. I struggle to come up with any valid reason as to what these people a thousand or so miles away from Houston are trying to prove. Hundreds of people planned to meet a Poker Icon, learn from one of the greatest players (brat or not), and have what appears to me to be a wonderful tournament to test what everyone had gathered from the seminar. Plus as an added bonus a wonderful cause was going to be helped because of all this. But no, Mr. and Mrs. High-and-Mighty in Colorado don’t feel that people afflicted with a terrible and life-threatening condition need money from GASP! Gambling Heathens! Perish the thought!
Yes gambling can become an addiction as harmful to oneself and others as all other kinds of dependancy, but I’m willing to bet (Haha, get it? Bet? Gambling…? Nevermind…) 99.99% of the patrons were people that wanted to append their knowledge of the game with a poker pro and have a nice enjoyable tournament with a wonderful grand prize. Gambling addicts in that area would be in Shreveport. (No casinos in Texas, despite bets on Horse Races and State Lottery, figure that one out)
Very frustrating, truly makes me angry and fearful of what our society is capable of.
Oh, and its nice to see the APL get represented. Region 535 here. 😀
Okay, so let me see if I understand you correctly, plangton: Even in a charity game that’s raising money to help people who are suffering from breast cancer, because you have a problem with gambling, nobody else can gamble, because playing poker is the same thing as selling drugs?
Wow. I think there’s a group in Colorado who would love for you to join up.
When a person commits to playing a charity (poker or any) game there is usually the incentive to win a portion of the proceeds… or there is the incentive to join in a friendly game to support a worthy cause. In the case of the prize, often times people are more willing to participate if there is some sort of reward. Regardless… everyone is passionate about something. I am an ex-smoker who is “passionate” about anti-smoking legislation – it is in the end better for everyone in my opinion. In the case of gambling and those touched by gambling I admit that there need to be channels of support. Those touched by the experience are not few but may not be the many. (sorry to echo Star Trek II there) However with things that people consider “vices,” everything is relative. Evil vs. Good but who decides Evil and Good? Majorities? Seems so…
In any case – fundraisers are ultimately for the good. If someone were to raise 200,000$ for anything based on the results of a charity soocer game, or what the weather was on some day, or who lifted the most lumber into a dumpster… it is all putting money towards a cause you feel is important to you, not putting money in a nameless machine or to a bettting company that isn’t about to better anyone’s world but their own corporate means. Get off your high horse and fight some battles that mean somthing, don’t fight charity fund raising…!!!
The Rockies are incredibly beautiful but I never liked the inhabitants. They’re a too elitist and holier than thou. Methinks that their premium skiing facilities have gone to their heads!
*ahem* Is this thing on? Can the people who run this organization in Colorado hear me? Yes? OK, here we go, then.
*tap tap tap* Attention, anti-gambling people in Colorado:
FUCK YOU!
My aunt died of breast cancer when I was 11. Since then, I’ve made it a point to help out whenever a reputable breast cancer charity comes along, such as Relay for Life. Any chance I have to help destroy the disease that took from me one of the most loving, caring women on the planet, I’m usually first in line.
But to shut down a charity event, just because it’s gambling? I repeat:
FUCK YOU!
Normally, I would never wish any horrible disease on anyone. But, if you’re going to block an event designed to raise nearly a quarter of a million dollars to help eradicate a disease that plagues millions of women around the world, then I wish it upon you ten-fold.
Bad form deserves bad form, after all. And I wouldn’t present my bad taste if you hadn’t presented yours first. Don’t you people have a Bible to thump somewhere? While you simply talk to some fasical god, hoping that (s)he will make things all better, there are some of us who will give our hard earned cash over to research that is actually doing something about this problem and trying to fix it with concrete and very real means.
You people suck. Seriously.
/soapbox
//sorry, Wil, but they pissed me off…
Hey Wil,
As someone who lives in Colorado I am shocked by this since gambling is legal in this state (In certain areas). I’ll bet the jerkass who did this goes to the mountains and plays Hold’em at one of our casinos and just got upset because Phil didn’t hold the thing here.
Some people have too much time on their hands…
I’ve been there plangton, but in the end, nothing’s going to stop an addict except him/herself. period. it’s called personal responsibility, and taking charge of one’s life. I’m not saying it’s as easy as realizing this, but help IS available when it’s wanted. punishing the majority – by taking away opportunities – for the failings of a few is not the answer.
Wow…. Bad Karma is coming to the anti-gambling nutbag, for sure. I can imagine the look on their face if they (or someone they love) is diagnosed with breast cancer. The doctor would come-in, look them in the eyes and drop a bomb of “Well, we COULD have saved you, but would have needed the money from that charity poker event that you had cancelled…. sorry!!!”
Hell, I don’t care if you’re having a brothel night, as long as it’s for a good cause, right? Sorry you had to witness the stupidity of close-minded people, Wil. Don’t give up on society just yet. (There are some good ones out here!!!)
It’s possible that pokernews.com might be just a teensy bit biased. According to HoustonChronicle.com, the tournament was illegal.
“We didn’t make the law, but we’ve got to enforce the laws that we like and the laws that we don’t like,” (Assistant DA Mark)Brown said.
You can read the story at http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/3190470
IMO, gambling is as addictive and destructive as drug abuse, and I’m always glad to see it shut down. John Gotti was known for his large contributions to charity, too, but it didn’t outweigh the damage he did.
The Rockies are incredibly beautiful but I never liked the inhabitants. They’re a too elitist and holier than thou. Methinks that their premium skiing facilities have gone to their heads!
The Rockies are incredibly beautiful but I never liked the inhabitants. They’re a too elitist and holier than thou. Methinks that their premium skiing facilities have gone to their heads!
The Rockies are incredibly beautiful but I never liked the inhabitants. They’re a too elitist and holier than thou. Methinks that their premium skiing facilities have gone to their heads!
Right wing fascist busybodies. We need to wake up in America – we have our own problem with religious extremists. If we are not careful to keep these nutbags in check, our society could be headed for a downfall of immense proportions.
Loved the “Shatnarian ego” reference.
plangton: That’s like saying because there are alcoholics in the world liquor stores should be banned. Get a grip.
Well, from what I see, it’s a good idea that unfortunately caused an honest organization from helping out.
The way I see it, I happen to believe this charity was truly honest. But… if one gambling fundraiser is allowed to go on, then who’s to say the next one isn’t allowed to also (with “proceeds” going to charity, after “administrative costs,” etc).
I’m by-no-means anti-gambling (just came in 2nd place in a tourney myself!) but it seems that while this screws one honest person, it keeps a dozen exploiters from doing the same (and you KNOW they would. And of course, they’d probably target poor people and gambling addicts the most).
douchebags indeed wil, douchebags indeed!
i would’ve used words more vulgar, but this is a family website!
It’s easy to blame this on kooks in Colorado, but this blame is misplaced. There will always be kooks. The blame for this lies with the people who are paying attention to the kooks and caved to their influence. As far as I can tell, this event would not have broken Texas law. From the story, it’s difficult to tell if the venue withdrew their permission, or the organizers just decided it wasn’t worth the hassle. The article doesn’t make it sound like the Man shut them down, just that they were poking their nose into it. In any case, whoever decided that kooks in Colorado were worth listening to is the real culprit here.
Kooks only stop being kooks when people give their blathering validity. Wil probably knows this better than most people.
On another note:
Nice MSNBC Mention Will!
Best guest star: ..”And, of course, Will Wheaton, making a small-screen comeback as Walter the homeless man in
Nobody expects the Colorado Inquisition!
Oye.
Hmmm… Colorado, eh. Sounds like a job for Dobson and his goons over at Focus on the Family.
Just the other day somebody here mentioned rule of law. Is gambling legal there or not? Don’t muddy the issue by bringing in the fact that some of the money would go to charity. That’s weak. I’m a big fan of your’s wil– I’ve posted before, but does this not strike you as inconsistent?
Okay, I’ve got an idea. I say we begin a campaign to make food illegal. After all, how many people out there are addicted to food? I’m sure WHO can dig up some statistics on this. Furthermore, how many deaths related to obesity, cholesterol, heart failure, etc. can be traced back to an addiction to food? And if that doesn’t work, how about combating only a subset of food, such as candy? It can barely qualify as food anyway, so who will miss it except for the addicts?
On a more serious note:
Whether an addiction can lead to ruining a family or a person’s death, the blame game rarely includes an extremely important individual. As someone who’s dealing with his own addiction, I
Your not far off MadMonarchVoards– congress just blocked a bill that had allowed wild horses to be sold because some of them were being eaten. I am waiting for the cry of outrage– over the crusading douchebag horse lovers.
As a ten-year transplant to Colorado, and someone who wants to leave as soon as it is financially feasible, I have to say I’m not surprised that the challenge came from here. First of all, it’s a far-right mecca. You know, the Dobson (focus on other people’s families to draw the focus away from their own) contingent and all. God forbid there should be any semblance of tolerance at any time in any place. So-called “native” Coloradans (interestingly enough none of whom are of “Native American” descent) highly resent anyone from California and blame road rage etc. on everyone from out of state, especially California. As someone who has ACTUALLY DRIVEN in California (and many other states), I can say with a great deal of certainty that Californians (and drivers from most other states) are as a rule much better and much more considerate drivers than Coloradans. But I digress…
Secondly, the history of Colorado is of people who want to get rich quick – over other people’s dead bodies – and highly resent anyone else getting getting their fair share. This translates to an environment where everyone seems to be out to cut everyone else’s legs out from under them, regardless of how detrimental it may be to themselves. My Mom has a saying: “he’ll cut off his nose to spite his face”…
The third strongly exhibited trait, which is obviously related to the others, is extreme short-sightedness. Save a little cash now by cutting corners and taking stop-gap measures, but heaven forbid you actually solve a problem by thoughtful and careful engineering combined with, yes, significant cash outlay. Denver is all gung-ho on light rail, which is travesty of inefficiency and conflict. Light rail (at least in downtown Denver) has caused many fatal accidents, competes with surface traffic (in other words, increases gridlock), and doesn’t even begin to relieve surface traffic or the need for it. It’s also extremely expensive and is a constant drain on financial resources. Coloradans keep voting down monorails (because they are “ugly”!?!?!), and at this juncture it’s almost too late to start a subway system. They take every opportunity to deliberately increase gridlock and accidents by asinine traffic light timing, refusal to widen streets and roads, and moronic intersections and interchanges. Forward thinking is NOT Colorado’s long suit.
Back to gambling and addiction:
Allowing gambling in some places and not others is idiotic and unfair, and I believe unconstitutional. It makes no sense whatsoever. In effect, it grants monopolies, which are supposed to be a bad thing…
Addiction: There is a very disturbing trend these days, all over the world but especially in the USA, to blame one’s problems on everyone else and not own up to the consequences of one’s own actions. I personally don’t have any of the traditional addictions, even though I’ve had plenty of exposure to them, but that doesn’t mean I’m without compulsions of my own. I do understand the feeling of “I can’t help it”, but just because one is out of control doesn’t mean someone else is to blame. If you’re addicted to something, you have exactly four real options: surrender to it, take control of yourself, get help, or remove yourself from the opportunity. Blaming others should NOT be an option, and will never be a real solution.
Coming from a line of people that have addictions, I can say that yes, having an addiction sucks. Your addiction colors your perception of your whole life and the world around you and it does prevent you from being able to indulge in the same things others can, because you’re addicted to them.
That said, one person’s addition is not necessarily everyone else’s. My ex’s father is a gambling addict – I figured that out when he lost the rent money at the track on a “hot tip”. Me? I play the lotto – maybe 6-7 times a year, for a buck a piece. However, put me in front of a computer and I’m zoned for the next 12 hours. He could care less about the computer until he discovers he can get the info on the sixth race at Hollywood Park online.
People that are addicts should avoid their addictions – we know that. But it doesn’t (and shouldn’t) prevent others who *aren’t* addicted to that behavior from participating.
I hereby apologize for the Nazi element in Colorado.
I’m doing everything I can to stop them.
We almost went Blue this last election – and our State House is now has a majority of Democrats. It’s changing, slowly.
The Religious Right in Colorado has grown far too powerful and arrogant (not to mention ignorant and clumsy).
If they keep it up, there’ll be *real* hell to pay – as in tourism going in the shitter and staying there. Who wants to visit a state where you can’t relax and enjoy yourself?
Here is something that Texans can do:
Support “Texans For Poker”! See http://www.TexansForPoker.net for info.
We advocate for legislation to allow poker in public places. This year we supported a bill to specifically allow “charitable poker” in existing bingo halls, but it was killed in committee. Our current focus is on growing large and powerful enough that future legislators cannot easily ignore us.
We urge all Texans to join is, but even people outside of Texas can contribute to our cause if they wish.
I think the blurring of the elements of gambling and charity are clouding the issue greatly. From a legal standpoint, the fact that this is a charity event is completely irrelevant, as it should be. If this event is gambling, and the Texas law says gambling is illegal in that venue, then it should be shut down. If you think it is a stupid law (and I do), then the law should be changed. But to whine because it shut down a charity event is disingenuous. If you really feel that breast cancer is a great cause (which I do), then donate your $500-$1000 to your local breast cancer charity, and play poker in your family room with friends, and stop trying to tie the two together. All these poker tournaments that tart themselves up as fundraisers for charity are like putting ball gowns on a pig. They’re just trying to dress them up so they aren’t so offensive to the anti-gambling crowd.
This is a much more complex issue. Is poker a game of skill or chance? Is gambling addictive? If so, is outlawing it the best solution? Should the protection of some people infringe upon the enjoyment of others? These are the issues that should be debated, not “they’re stealing a quarter million bucks from breast cancer”, which is a total red herring issue.
Consider this another apology extended from a Coloradan for the asshats. I don’t know what “anti-gambling” organization this was (the article didn’t say), so I don’t know whether this is the fault of the liberals or the fundies, but it certainly doesn’t reflect my views. I don’t give a crap whether anyone gambles or not; personally, I buy Powerball tickets whenever I see the jackpot go over $50 million, and I once dropped about 2 rolls of quarters on video poker at the Isle of Capri in Black Hawk, but that’s about it. (All my poker playing is done on Xbox Live…)
The NLHE events at the Denver bars, such as those advertised on the Denver Poker Tour, are all free, which is what makes them legal. The casinos in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek are limited by law to low-stakes gambling ($5 maximum bets); they’d probably like to change that, but somehow I don’t think it’ll be happening soon, given the presence of those asshats who wanted to meddle out in Texas.
Anyone who wants to take those wackjobs off our hands is welcome to. Oh, and could you haul off Dobson and his whole gang, too? He gives me a headache…
Oh c’mon you guys, everybody knows it’s much more important to impose YOUR values and ideas on others, especially through law, than to help others, or *gasp* support education or resarch. Why, that’s the American way. Can you say “freedom”? I knew you could.
A more time passes under the current system, the more laws we will have to restrict our freedom.
There are people who take pleasure in taking away and restricting what others can and can’t do.
Welcome to the’Nanny-State’.
That’s crazy. Some people are so bound by their beliefs that they refuse to open their eyes. I can’t even begin to understand that. That really sucks. People are pricks.
Camp Hellmuth sounds very cool and it’s being coordinated by two guys my age from Toronto, which makes it even cooler to me.
(As I mentioned in another comment, I knew one of them well years ago.)
I must be in a ranty mood today, forgive me.
I hate when people deal in absolutes like this! Ok, so, they believe that playing poker is gambling and that gambling is ‘bad.’ Do they believe that dying of cancer is good??? Probably not, but they’ve stuck that black and white label on gambling, and they just ain’t gonna see past it.
This tickles a nerve on the whole prescribed morality present not only in the religious, but also the political right (little difference between the two these days, I know…). When you tell people what they should believe, it gives them the freedom to act zealously, even when, if they took a moment to stop and think about it, they’d probably do the opposite.
It is awful that people are so willing to turn to someone at their “ecclisiastical organization,” and say “what do we believe about this” instead of thinking it thorugh an dweighing it out in their own minds.
Situations like this are a direct result of that herd mindset. “Don’t think it thorugh, just do what you’re supposed to.”
Fact is, for as proud of themselves as they are now for shutting down the bad gamblers, they’d be just as ashamed if they took a minute to consider not only the dollars taken from breast concer research, but the opportunity cost of their efforts. Where better might all that energy have gone?
People and their pseudo-causes. Gah! *shakes it off…*
I’m not really trying to hijack the comments thread here, but since this situation took money away from breast cancer, I just want to point out that there are other ways to contribute to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. They are currently the beneficiary of funds raised by the Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk. I first got interested in the walk when hearing about it from a friend who does it and reading about it here in your blog, Wil. 🙂 I’m going to be doing the 3 Day Walk for the second time in July, and I’m still trying to reach my minimum donation amount in order to be able to walk. If anyone is interested, you can donate here. Thanks!
Yet another Coloradoan writes:
Fifteen, twenty years ago, Colorado was a decent place to live. People were nice, driving was safe, skiing was cheap. About ten, fifteen years ago, the migration began. Californians, Texans, everybody came to Colorado. I don’t think there’s a native Coloradoan left. Now people are mean, driving is a war zone, and skiing costs several limbs.
I’m sorry that our flakes have taken to being problems outside the state lines. The thin air and extra solar radiation have warped some brains. Focus on the Family? *shudder* And recently people who think Focus on the Family are too *soft* have arrived. I’m sorry.
I have to return to hiding now. I think I’m next on Focus on the Family’s hate list…
hey plangton…your life is not screwed up because of a group of people who like to play poker for fun. your life is fucked up because the people in charge when you were little were unable to take responsibility for their actions and now that you are grown YOU are unable to take responsibility for your actions. you would prefer to point to your childhood. to you i say GET SOME COUNSELING, WILL YA AND GET OVER IT!!!
i have 3 people close to me who have survived breast cancer. my best friend in the whole world (who is a lesbian and fighting cancer with minimal state insurance -that someone screwed up and gave her- because as a lesbian her ex-partner couldn’t add her to insurance, but that’s another thread and i digress) is on insane meds for the next 5 years fighting this horrible disease. every day is a struggle for her. she worries about what will happen to her kids if she dies. so if poker players, john gotti, satan, or whoever feels it necessary to donate a hefty amount to the susan g. komen foundation, go for it. i’m sure they’d even take money from plangton, FNRthomas, stoolpigeon, and LQ.
Focus on the family is the only group I can think of. Unfortunately, I live in the same city as these nutjobs. They’re actually reaching into other states now? I thought they had enough of a hold on our fair city.
As another Coloradan I felt compelled to comment. I was born and raised in Colorado, and yet I feel that I have not suffered unduly from stupidity. I have also spent the last 14 years moving around the US with a husband in the military, so I’ve been exposed to many areas of the country and do not have a one dimensional view of the world.
I deplore that most folks only seem to associate Colorado with Focus On The Family and anti-gay legislation.
It saddens me that a small closed minded minority has taken the state that I love and turned it into a mockery of those that consider themselves more open minded, but in mocking the beliefs of others, no matter what those beliefs are, you show your own closed mindedness.
While the needs of the many should be considered, and not be outweighed by the wants of the few, those needs should be aided in a legal manner. If there is any question as to the legality of the chosen method to aid anyone, there should be a review of the matter and the best course of action for all chosen. Is this a balancing act? Yes. Can it be done? Absolutely!
I feel like the focus should not be on how one fundraising event was canceled, but rather on how others can be organized to increase awareness and fund research for ALL types of cancer.
…and while I’m ranting, why is it that the BOOBS get all the attention???? Women (and men) get cancer in other locations! I know that as far as numbers go, more women are diagnosed with breast cancer, but it’s also more treatable and actually has a screening method. Ovarian cancer is not diagnosed in as many women, but even though new diagnosis rates are only 4.0% of cases of cancer in women they represent 4.2% or the deaths from cancer, and has no accurate screening method.
:::steps down off soapbox:::
Rant over.
That is a shame about the cancellation of the fundraising tournament. I saw a link to donate online to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation on Shane’s website (www.nickerblog.com). I encourage those who can to make a small difference, perhaps lessening the impact of the loss of this tournament.
On a geeky side note, I felt a rush of adrenaline when I read the name Phil Hellsmuth. Oh my crap, it’s the first poker-related name mentioned I’ve RECOGNIZED! Thanks to your blog, I’ve taken a bit of an interest in TV Poker, and actually watched Phil win the inaugural Heads-on, Heads-up, somethin’, Poker challenge on NBC this past weekend! You’re right, Wil, he does make it hard to root for him… 😉 When that other dude drew the nine for the full house over Phil’s straight, I think I got an inkling of the magic of this game. I was HOOKED.
So Plangton, if some people have a problem with something then that something should be denied even those that don’t have a problem? Guess that means since some people are overweight we all need to quit eating? Franly, besides being downright stupid that attitude is incredibly small minded and selfish.
I’m really sorry that you had an unhappy childhood, but you don’t get to punish everyone else for it.