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 Shannon Elizabeth
Emotional State
Questioned After
Dancing With the
Stars Stint
Her poker career in
jeopardy following
Dancing With the
Stars stint
Big
girls don't
cry....unless of
course they get
ridiculed by judges
on Dancing With the
Stars. That's
exactly what
transpired last week
with American Pie
poker pro Shannon
Elizabeth following
some harsh
criticism. And
this week,
Shannon Elizabeth
paid the piper as
she ultimately found
herself eliminated.
"The
show has been
amazing. I've
learned a lot," she
said, following the
elimination. "I've
made a friend for
life, and hopefully
a bunch of friends
for life, and I'll
be here to support
everyone as much as
I can."
Though Shannon
provided a classy
exit Wednesday
evening, many in the
media portrayed her
as a "sensitive
diva" from Day One.
Dressing room and
make up staff told
TMZ.com that Shannon
Elizabeth was the
most demanding of
the contestants this
season, even before
she made it to the
dance floor.
Gambling911.com's
own Payton O'Brien
expressed concern
over Shannon
Elizabeth becoming
the female version
of "poker brat" Phil
Hellmuth.
"She
(Shannon) has had a
reputation as a
delicate sensual and
sometimes innocent
flower who can cut
down opponents at
the poker table
without the need to
shed her perceived
shy vulnerable
qualities," O'Brien
said. "Nobody
wants to see Shannon
turn into some nasty
sensitive diva
bitch."
So
what can we learn
from Shannon's tears
last week and how
damaging that may
have been to her
untimely exit on
Dancing With the
Stars.
At a
community hospital
in a Chicago suburb
an 8-year-old girl
asked, "May I cry,
or should I be
brave?" Her question
came moments before
she was taken into
surgery for a leg
amputation.
In New York City an
editor received a
phone call and
dissolved into
tears. When
coworkers expressed
concern, he reported
his mother had just
died. Flowers were
sent to him, and
then it was
discovered that the
death was not his
mother but his
beloved cat.
These examples
demonstrate the
conflicting feelings
people have about
crying. On the one
hand, shedding tears
can show deep love
and concern. On the
other hand, some see
tears conveying lack
of discipline and
courage.
Shannon, who spends
much of her personal
time helping stray
and abused animals,
may have exposed
some vulnerabilities
that poker players
will now observe
more closely.
Aggressive players
like Phil Hellmuth,
representative for
UltimateBet.com
could ultimately
devour someone of
Shannon's sensitive
shortcomings.
Though more weaker
minded opponents
looking to make a
name for themselves
could become more of
a threat than the
superior pro
Hellmuth.
"She
cried in front of
millions of people
over some
unfavorable comments
about her dancing,"
explained O'Brien.
"Who is to say
harsher comments
will not be
dispensed her way at
the poker table as a
means of making the
busty star bust
out?"
Great great great
grandfatherly type
poker players the
likes of Doyle
Brunson also
expressed concern
about Shannon's
fragile state,
though the 100 plus
year old dinosaur
could not find his
teeth in time to
comment for this
report.
The
wounded Shannon
Elizabeth has
enjoyed remarkable
success on the poker
circuit to date.
Elizabeth, who
describes poker as
her "second career"
has been called "one
of the leading
celebrity poker
players." She visits
Las Vegas up to
three times each
month to participate
in poker games with
the top players of
the United States.
Elizabeth played in
the Main Event of
the 2005 World
Series of Poker and
won a special
tournament
celebrating the
opening of a new
poker room at
Caesars Palace hotel
in January 2006,
beating out 83
celebrities and
poker professionals
to win $55,000. She
has also cashed four
times in the World
Series of Poker in
2006 and 2007, but
again busted out of
the Main Event
early. In 2007, she
advanced to the
semi-finals of the
NBC National
Heads-Up Poker
Championship in a
field consisting of
the top poker
professionals before
losing to eventual
champion Paul
Wasicka. Among the
four opponents she
defeated were three
World Series of
Poker multiple
bracelet winners:
Jeff Madsen, Barry
Greenstein, and
Humberto Brenes.
Gambling911.com
congratulates
Shannon Elizabeth on
a job well done on
Dancing With the
Stars.
----
Christopher
Costigan,
Gambling911.com
Publisher
CCostigan@CostiganMedia.com
Originally published
April 30, 2008 11:48
am EST
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