{"id":9459,"date":"2018-07-03T15:53:21","date_gmt":"2018-07-03T15:53:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/?p=9459"},"modified":"2018-07-03T17:44:23","modified_gmt":"2018-07-03T17:44:23","slug":"its-time-for-the-poker-hall-of-fame-to-induct-a-non-player","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/its-time-for-the-poker-hall-of-fame-to-induct-a-non-player\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s Time For The Poker Hall Of Fame To Induct A Non-Player"},"content":{"rendered":"

The time has come for the Poker Hall of Fame<\/strong><\/a> to induct someone who has done something more for the game than just play it.<\/p>\n

Induction criteria does include a stipulation for non-players<\/strong>. Essentially, the person must have contributed to the overall growth and success of the game, with indelible positive and lasting results.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve used this criteria before. The last time a non-player was inducted was 2014. Legendary tournament director and poker room boss Jack McClelland<\/strong> got in. McClelland ran the World Series of Poker<\/strong> in the 1980s. He also managed of the vaunted Bellagio<\/strong> poker room for more than a decade, before hanging it up in 2013.<\/p>\n

Other non-players who have been inducted include the WSOP tournament director from 1973 to 1988 Eric Drache<\/strong> (2012), and hole-card cam inventor Henry Orenstein<\/strong> (2008). Plus, the WSOP\u2019s first host Jack Binion<\/strong> (2005), and his father, the founder of the Horseshoe Casino<\/strong> and the WSOP, Benny Binion<\/strong> (1990).<\/p>\n

The First Lady of Poker, Linda Johnson<\/strong>, is clearly a player, having won a WSOP bracelet in the 1997 WSOP $1,500 Seven Card Razz<\/strong> event.<\/p>\n

However, she was likely inducted in 2011 on the strength of her contributions to the overall growth and success of the game. She worked as CardPlayer Magazine<\/strong>\u2018s publisher, helped found the Tournament Director\u2019s Association<\/strong> and was the public relations director for the World Poker Tour<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Two non-players on the nominations list<\/span><\/h2>\n

In 2017, two non-players made the nominations list. However, consensus best player on the planet Phil Ivey<\/strong> got in, alongside recently deceased UK legend David \u2018Devilfish\u2019 Ulliott<\/strong>. No one could really argue against either.<\/p>\n

Tournament director Matt Savage<\/strong> and TV producer Mori Eskandani<\/strong> are back on the nominations list again this year, and the timing seems right to recognize what these guys have done for the game.<\/p>\n

Savage\u2019s continuous presence on Twitter<\/strong><\/a> makes him one of the most recognizable non-players in poker. He is the WPT\u2019s executive tour director, helped found the Tournament Directors Association, and ran the WSOP the year Chris Moneymaker<\/strong> won the Main Event, changing poker forever.<\/p>\n

Eskandani is the man behind some of poker\u2019s best TV. He runs Poker Productions<\/strong> and is responsible for shows like Poker After Dark<\/strong><\/em>, High Stakes Poker<\/strong><\/em>, and The National Heads-Up Championship<\/strong><\/em>. Now he produces the live WSOP broadcast for ESPN<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Both have both helped shape the game of poker into what it is today and it seems appropriate that the Poker Hall of Fame recognize that.<\/p>\n

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