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Poker's New Poster Boy?


2008-08-18 15:40:17
By: Gene Bromberg

Even if you've been living under a rock that's in a cave up on the Moon, you've heard about Michael Phelps winning eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics. Phelps is now the most decorated Olympian is history, he set seven world records, and he broke the legendary Mark Spitz's record for most gold medals in a single Games. People are talking about Phelps as perhaps the greatest athlete in human history.

So, what does this global superstar want to do when the Olympics are over?

"I think it would be cool to play in the World Series of Poker," Phelps said. "My game is a little off right now, so I'll have to start improving it a little bit. But I think that would be cool, and it would be cool to meet some of those poker guys."

I think that having Michael Phelps (MICHAEL PHELPS!!) playing in the World Series of Poker (or, perhaps, the Aruba Poker Classic) would be a public relations boon for the game. It'd be a bit difficult for reactionary right-wing politicians or hypocritical religious leaders to lambaste poker as immoral and akin to terrorism when the ultimate all-American boy is sitting at the table and playing and enjoying himself.

There's been talk in the past--silly talk--about making poker an Olympic sport. That wouldn't make any sense, but the game could certainly benefit from basking in some of that Olympic glory. And Michael Phelps would be the best place to start.

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