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World series of poker 2006
Steven Dannenmann
From: Severn, Maryland
Without question, one of the features of the World Series of Poker that makes it so appealing is that it’s a genuinely democratic contest and benefits this great nation of ours. Anybody and I mean anybody, stands a realistic chance of getting into the tournament. Once entered, it is up to that individual to display the requisite amounts of skill, talent, guts and maybe even a little bit of luck to beat his or her competitors in a series of heated matches leading up to the main event.
In virtually no other sport is it possible for an everyday Joe or Jane to find him- or herself sitting in a championship match in front of a televised audience of millions. Oh and did I forget to mention that Joe and Jane also have the possibility of winning millions of dollars and becoming instant celebrities?
When you factor in those elements, it is not hard to understand why the World Series of Poker continues to draw larger audiences and larger fields of contestants every single year. Last year, the saga of Steve Dannenmann seemed to truly typify the Democratic nature of the WSOP.
Who is Steve Dannenmann, you ask? Well, you probably remember him as the humble CPA from Baltimore, Maryland who finished as the runner- up against Joe Hachem in the main event of the 2005 World Series of Poker. And Dannenmann, who had never been on television before and certainly never competed in such a high-stakes game, honestly described himself as no more than: "the fourth best player in my home game." Those now famous words were uttered just moments before he entered the main event... and immediately the crowd had found an underdog to root for.
Dannenmann did not gain access to the WSOP by virtue of a satellite online torment, like many amateur players. He opted to pony up the ten grand buy-in fee (which he split with a good buddy, it’s a lot easier to bear the burden that way.) Dannenmann never expected to make it to the final table, much less finish second in the main event. But that it is exactly what the World Series of Poker is all about. It is a tournament which provides an opportunity for an individual with the vision take a chance and win big. Is this a great country, or what?
Author: Mark
