 Industry
Voice Questions
World Series
of Poker Moral
Obligation
Deadspin,
a popular website
that covers the more
quirky side of
sports and poker,
reported last week
on some of the
"charming people" in
attendance at this
year's World Series
of Poker in Vegas.
One of those
"charmers" just
happens to be Ernie
Scherer III, who
Gambling911.com
reported two weeks
ago was a "person of
interest" in the
grizzly murder of
both his parents.
And while it has not
yet been determined
if Scherer III has
actually entered the
WSOP, the idea that
he is there suggests
he probably is going
to appear in one of
the games.
"A poker pro doesn't
just show up at the
World Series of
Poker to watch,"
said one poker
analysis.
But Scherer
III is not the only
WSOP attendee
turning heads.
Tom Somach, a long
time respected
reporter for the
online gambling
sector and
proprietor of
PokerHelper.com,
has begun to
question why the
World Series of
Poker would permit a
convicted child
molester to
participate in the
event.
Poker pro Shahram
Sheikhan
served nine months
for
sexual battery and
annoyance or
molestation of a
child
and the US
Immigrations
Department has
deemed him "unfit to
stay in the US".
They have been
trying to have
Sheikhan deported
back to his native
Iran even though the
38-year old has
lived in the States
since he was age 9.
While many might
argue that Sheikhan
has paid the price
for his punishment
already, Somach
believes higher
standards should be
imposed on the World
Series of Poker if
it wants to be taken
seriously as a quasi
spectator sporting
event.
 "Seriously,
do you think a guy
convicted of child
molestation and
serving nine months
in jail would be
allowed to compete
in the Olympics or
the Super Bowl for
that matter?" asked
Somach. "Or
anything of
substance? But he
can be in the World
Series of Poker and
nobody cares."
They might if he
ends up at the final
table though, Somach
said.
"It would be
something if poker
perv makes the final
table of the main
event. Four
months of national
media attention
until its played off
would not be good
for him."
-----
Christopher
Costigan,
Gambling911.com
Publisher
CCostigan@CostiganMedia.com
Originally published
June 24, 2008 10:47
pm EST
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