With the determination of the 2014 World Series of Poker Championship Event November Nine earlier this month, the poker world has entered into a bit of a midsummer slumber. While we recuperate from the seven-week poker marathon in Las Vegas, it is time to start entertaining thoughts about who will be the new inductees into the Poker Hall of Fame.
Voting is now open for the public nomination process that will help to determine the nominees for this year’s Hall. For those that haven’t been around the poker world, the Poker Hall of Fame looks to induct members who have had a lasting impact on the game. The criteria are as such:
A player must have played poker versus acknowledged top competition
Be a minimum of 40 years old at the time of nomination
Played for high stakes
Played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers
Stood the test of time
For non-players (industry members), contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.
From now until August 15, the public is invited to put up one name for nomination to this year’s Hall. By going to WSOP.com and filling out a form, the field will be winnowed down to a Top Ten nominees list, which will then go to the Nominating Committee in September. Those official voters, which include the living members of the Poker Hall of Fame and selected members of the media, will name two people (as long as they receive a majority of the votes) to become the latest members of the Hall during the play of the November Nine final table.
With the criteria in mind, let’s take a look at who should be on the nominations list. We’ll start with one that has gained some traction but, in reality, should be held back for a bit. The recent passing of poker professional Chad Brown has brought an outpouring of support from many in the poker community that he should be nominated for induction into the Hall. This is a situation that is currently being driven by emotion. As such, any thought of Chad Brown being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame should be held back for at least a year.
European/International Players – The 2013 Poker Hall of Fame nominations list had many notable European and International players chosen and they should be coming back again. Thor Hansen has been long overdue the honor of being selected to the Hall and Carlos Mortensen is a close second. While I am impressed with their bodies of work, Chris Bjorin and Humberto Brenes might be left off the list as new entries emerge on the scene. That same sentiment also would fall on Marcel Luske, a 2011 nominee for the Hall.
There are two other men who bear nomination from European poker history. Terry Rogers, who originated the Irish Poker Open in 1980 (the second-longest running tournament behind only the WSOP), has been overlooked too long for his contributions to the game in the United Kingdom and poker history. The gentleman who took over the Irish Poker Open following Rogers’ death, Liam Flood (a two-time winner of the Irish Poker Open, as well), also would bear thought for nomination to the Hall.
Finally, there is one man who has just reached the qualifying age of 40 with his birthday on July 26. Daniel Negreanu has been one of the top ambassadors of the game during poker’s renaissance in the 2000s. He has a long history of exceptional play against top competition (earning six WSOP bracelets) and overall has the respect of his peers. If Negreanu doesn’t earn a nomination for the 2014 Hall, then there’s a need to revamp the format.
U. S. Players – There are three players from last year’s nominee list – Jennifer Harman, Mike Matusow and Huck Seed – that should have a shot at returning to the ballot this year. I will suggest a few players that, although they have the credentials to be in the Hall, will probably not even make it onto the ballot.
Chris Ferguson had a long history as one of the most respected players in the game, but that was before his involvement in the Full Tilt Poker fiasco. Same goes with Howard Lederer, who might have been a shoo-in like Ferguson save for the FTP debacle. Finally there is Lederer’s sister, Annie Duke, who has garnered too much baggage to be considered anytime soon for the Hall.
Non-Player Nominees – We would have to start this one with George Hardie, a 2012 nominee for the Hall. Hardie was one of the men responsible for the explosion of poker in California in the 1980s, building up the Bicycle Casino into one of the powerhouses of the industry as its founder. Since that time, Hardie has continued to push for advancements in the game of poker, be it from a player’s aspect or from the casino’s.
Then there is a potential nominee that is one that all poker journalists could get behind. The late Andy Glazer was the benchmark of tournament poker reporting (and poker journalism in general) before his untimely death in 2004. When poker didn’t draw the world’s attention as it does nowadays, Glazer penned outstanding articles for a variety of outlets (most notably CardPlayer Magazine) and was highly respected in the community.
Two other longtime poker journalists would also merit mention. Max Shapiro has been around the game of poker since the dawn of time (I believe he still has a hand history against Jesus Christ in his archives) and has drawn the admiration of the poker world for his witty and informative pieces. Then there is Nolan Dalla, the media director of the WSOP, who has been one of the loudest voices in poker commentary for well over a decade (might have to throw Mike Paulle, the former WSOP media director, in this mix also).
Finally, let’s finish the non-player nominees with a nod towards tournament director Matt Savage. Savage has travelled the globe for tournament poker, presenting outstanding tournaments run professionally and without issues. He is the former tournament director of the WSOP, founded the Tournament Directors Association and now is ensconced as the tournament director at the Commerce Casino, Bay 101 Casino and Executive Tour Director of the World Poker Tour.
There are plenty of potential nominees that are vying for the ten spots on this year’s Hall nomination ballot. Which ones will get through?
Another person who has been overlooked is Steve Wynn. I would be happy with George Hardie and Humberto Brenes along with Terry Rogers.