I started this morning checking in with the poker forums that I follow. Read a lot of the usual banter and complaints. Hottest topic remains the $30 Million the Feds have tied up at the poker websites. It really has the online poker players in a snit.
Came across an unbelievably funny (or sad?) CNBC segment at bluffmagazine.com –> a June 15 video post by Jeff Markley <– You’ve got to watch this!
I don’t even want to print the guy’s name here, so, I’ll refer to him as R.K. R.K. is entitled to his own opinion, and I respect that he can voice that on TV. I don’t agree, but, this is America.
What struck me more than what R.K. said was CNBC’s motivation in giving him air time. Think Hugh Grant on Jay Leno, “What were you thinking?”
- Were they looking for comic relief? (Succeeded)
- Was he invited by a (soon-to-be-unemployed) stooge?
- Was everyone else on vacation?
- Were they trying to stir up controversy? (Failed)
- Were they utg? (Sure seems like it)
Did anyone do their homework?
Do a search for R.K. on Google and his website comes up at the top of the results. It is pitiful. The message I get from his website is “I won’t invest in myself.” Okay, I won’t either…Makes me wonder why CNBC did. The information is outdated. The design dates back to early 2000’s. There is nothing that lets the reader know that he knows what is going on in the world in 2009. So why would anyone want to listen to his opinion?
- He’s got a LinkedIn account that actually links to his website. Gulp.
- He has a blog and the subtitle of the blog includes, “…As my son says, “And I thought it was me who didn’t get it!”” No, R. YOU don’t get it!
- He’s got a Twitter account with one post “Signing in for the first time.”, dated February 25, 2009. Could be someone masquerading as him.
- There’s a Facebook account with the same name, but, I can’t verify that it is him.
Maybe R.K. is well-known in circles, and maybe even well-respected, outside of the Internet. My gripe is that he doesn’t demonstrate that he has a clue about what is going on in 2009 and in particular, with online poker players in 2009.
And, I think CNBC erred here…Underestimated the intelligence of the technology-savvy poker-playing audience…Thought they could pass off a donkey – undetected.
Anyone who is paying attention these days knows that the first thing people do is go to the Internet to learn more. Donk move CNBC.
Watch the video and post your thoughts here.