5 Things I HOPE happen after the 2011 WSOP

In my opinion the 2011 World Series of Poker main Event final table was the best in the modern poker era (2003-present), but in order for this to become a reality with  the rest of the poker world a number of things will have to happen -which make up the first three things I hope happen. The final two things i am hoping for have to do with ESPN and the WSOP, and their broadcast.

• A post-30 Poker Boom

I really hope that Martin Staszko’s performance (I was really rooting for him to win the whole thing) encourages people over the age of 30 to pick-up the game. Staszko is living proof that the game can be played at a high level even if you are “middle-aged” and have just picked up the game -Staszko has only been playing poker for about four years.

• Pius Heinz goes on to have a great career

We really, REALLY, need a WSOP Main Event champion to follow-up their big win with a series of final tables and a couple other big wins. Even Jonathan Duhamel, who WANTS to be a poker ambassador, gets about as much attention as the weight guessing booth at the local carnival.

• November Niners continue to play well

We know Ben Lamb, Phil Collins, and Matt Giannetti will continue to be solid pros, but in order for this final table to go down as one of the best ever Pius Heinz, Eoghan O’Dea, Sam Holden, Martin Staszko, and/or Anton Makiievskyi need to become big-time pros in their own right.

• Antonio Esfandiari is permanently added to the broadcast booth

Spot on reads, a willingness to carefully explain poker concepts in a non-condescending way, an excellent personality and good charisma, and a great report with the other members of the broadcast team -how can ESPN NOT add Antonio Esfandiari permanently?

• ESPN decides to keep the Live Feed

I know the casual fans were likely switching to the ditch-digging channel or to the drawing straight lines channel thanks to the “Boringness” of live poker, but poker enthusiasts were probably feeling similar to Star Wars fans when Episode 1 was announced. So the choice seems to be:

1.       Cater to the die-hards and turn off the more casual fans

2.       Try to draw in new viewers and appease the casual fans with what amounts to a highlight show

So why not do both? Keep the live feed, and create a 1-2 hour highlight reel for casual fans.

So there you have it, Five Things I HOPE Happen in the wake of the 2011 WSOP Main Event.