Handicapping the 2011 Poker Hall of Fame nominees

The votes have been tallied, and the ineligible players have been eliminated from consideration; now it’s time for the 17 specially selected members of the poker media and 18 living Poker Hall of Fame members to select the Poker Hall of Fame’s class of 2011.

The list of nominees has been pared down to just 10 deserving poker players and contributors, spanning a wide gamut of the poker world. In this article we’ll handicap the remaining 10 nominees and give you our picks for the 2011 Poker Hall of Fame.

• Annie Duke (My #10 choice)

With her polarizing reputation, arguable tournament results (most of her career earnings have come in invitation-only tournaments), and past association with Ultimate Bet Poker, my guess is that if Duke were to be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame there would be a major uproar in the poker world.

• Barry Greenstein (My #1 choice)

Greenstein is likely the only shoe-in this year, especially if the panel’s previous choices continue.

• Jennifer Harman-Traniello (My #2 choice)

Along with Greenstein, Harman-Traniello is the most skillful player nominated this year. And should the panel once again choose based on poker skill and reputation alone (much like last year when Dan Harrington and Erik Seidel were inducted) Harman is likely to be inducted.

One detriment will be her affiliation with Full Tilt Poker.

• Linda Johnson (My #4 choice)

Johnson was one of my choices for induction last year (only problem is that I don’t get to vote!) and I’d really like to see her get in this year. Although, as a realist I do understand she is a bit of a longshot.

• John Juanda (My #6 choice)

While Juanda’s tournament results are off the charts I just don’t know if he has the cash-game legacy, or overall contribution to the game needed to make the cut this year -down the road I believe Juanda is a shoe-in.

Juanda also carries the burden of his Full Tilt Poker association.

• Marcel Luske (My #8 choice)

Luske is the first European-based player to be given serious consideration, and even though I don’t see him amongst the Top 2 vote-getters, this is a good sign of the growing popularity of poker around the world.

Marcel is also working to bring universal rules to the game, something that may weigh in his favor.

• Jack McClelland (My #3 choice)

McClelland is one of the games premiere tournament directors and his name is as synonymous with poker as Vince Lombardi to football, or Red Auerbach to basketball. Unfortunately, I don’t know how highly the panel of voters will grade his contribution to poker, which would have to be off the charts as a non-player.

• Tom McEvoy (My #9 choice)

McEvoy’s Social Media presence makes him my sleeper pick for induction, but I still think his induction into the Poker Hall of Fame is not going to happen, although he may eventually get in a la Jim Rice and Bert Blyleven in baseball.

• Scotty Nguyen (My #7 choice)

Scotty is still fighting the reputation he received after his antics in the 2008 WSOP HORSE Championship, where many felt he gave the poker world a black eye, and tarnished the Chip Reese trophy -Scotty being the first recipient of the honor.

• Huckleberry Seed (My #5 choice)

Seed is still in his prime, churning out major titles well into his forties. Down the road he is an automatic Hall of Famer, but 2011 won’t be his year.