LuckyDog: Santa, here's this year's gift list for poker players

Since we're just days away from Santa's big night, let's prepare a Christmas wish list.

* For poker players all across the country: Repeal of the UIGEA.

The ill-conceived Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act slipped into existence with almost no legislative debate more than a year ago as an attachment to a port security bill that was a cinch to pass. President Bush signed the bill on Oct. 13, 2006.

Although the law wouldn't make online poker illegal, it would make it more difficult for players to fund their online accounts by establishing penalties against financial institutions which handle such transactions. If, that is, the law's regulations are approved by the Federal Reserve Board and the Department of the Treasury.

* For pros Phil Hellmuth, Mike Matusow and others: a healthy dose of humility and civility at the table.

Berating opponents (a Hellmuth specialty) and gloating in victory (Matusow's an expert) might make good TV for some viewers, but most players I know grew tired of such behavior years ago.

Table talk is part of the game, of course, but too many players turn it into a sick joke. Wouldn't it make more sense -- and be better for the game in general -- to spend that energy playing in a way that earns titles, cash AND respect?

* For Doyle Brunson, the acknowledged godfather of poker: an 11th (and even a 12th?) World Series bracelet.

Why not? Sure, "Texas Dolly" is 74 and moves slower than he did 10 or 20 years ago, but his poker skills remain strong enough to win. He told me at the 2006 main event that he will win at least one more bracelet, and I believe him.

Brunson was the first to win $1 million in poker tournaments and has been the game's most influential force for a long time -- probably dating back to his consecutive WSOP main-event victories in 1976 and 1977. No one has been a better ambassador for the game since.

I've not experienced playing against Brunson, but I've noticed on TV that sometimes he seems to lose his patience more quickly than his opponents. Stay cool, Doyle. There's still time.

* For Shana Hiatt, replaced as the host of NBC's "Poker After Dark:" no more bloopers.

After three years as sidekick to announcers Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten on the World Poker Tour TV series, and the past two years as host of "Poker After Dark," Hiatt is the most familiar female face in televised poker.

It's likely we haven't seen the last of the photogenic Hiatt on TV, but she'll probably stop doing blooper segments like those which capped each episode of "Poker After Dark." On occasion, it was pretty clear the re-takes aggravated some players.

Meanwhile, Santa should provide a jackpot of good luck to Marianela Pereyra, Hiatt's replacement. Pereyra, a native of Argentina who moved to the U.S. at age 5, was a sideline reporter during TV coverage of the 2007 WSOP main event final table.

* For grumpy pros bad-mouthing their chances of ever winning the main event again: a victory.

Although pros dominated the first 31 years of the main event, they've been shut out since Juan Carlos Mortensen prevailed in 2001.

The main reason is the explosion of entrants in the game's premiere event, which turned the pros' playground into a minefield. Fields have averaged more than 4,100 the past six years, prompting many pros to groan that one of their own may never win the title again.

Please, Santa, deliver a main-event bracelet to a pro of your choice so we won't have to hear the whining anymore.

* And, for all LuckyDog Poker readers: a happy and healthy 2008 filled with fun and profit at the tables!

News Added: 21 December, 2007

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