Sometimes you meet people you like and respect - yet you never understand exactly what it is they're saying. For instance, when it comes to football, I guess I respect Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson's achievements a lot - yet when he starts talking, I simply get lost.
The same goes for my good friend Padraig Parkinson, I guess. He always makes me laugh, but then when I think about it, I never know why I am laughing - as most of the time, I don't have a clue what he's saying. Fortunately for me, and some of you who may have this same problem, he writes monthly columns here in
Card Player Europe that are interesting, to say the least, and his columns - quite deservedly - have become some of the most popular in our magazine. In this issue, you will be able to read a very extensive article about his nature, his whereabouts, and both his successes and failures at the green felt. It is written by Padraig's co-host on the
Football & Poker Legends TV shows, and former
Card Player Europe Bureau Chief Jesse May.
So, I guess it is safe to say that Irishman Padraig Parkinson is always good for a laugh, or at least a chuckle. Unfortunately, the same cannot always be said about the recent developments in poker. Now that it seems that poker is truly exploding in Europe, and more people than ever before enjoy playing poker or watching it on TV, there are also many threats to the well-being of the game. The infamous bill that has been passed in the U.S. and the recent developments at, for instance, NETELLER have clearly affected the European poker market. And with the recent developments like those in France (the cancellation of the
Deauville EPT, mostly because of legal issues) and the Netherlands (see the report in the Dutch news section), there are many European problems that could pose a serious threat to the game that we all love.
Let's hope that in the end, things will work out, and that especially the legislators and politicians will come to realize that the growth of poker should not automatically be seen as a negative thing. Yes, indeed, we all should keep an open eye for any negative factors that can come with this growth, but viewing the growth of poker as a bad development in itself (as seems to be the case with some conservative politicians) is not an opinion that I share. And the view that citizens need to be protected at any cost against any new developments that could possibly do them harm, as if they have no ability to choose or think for themselves, is rather shortsighted and flat-out wrong.
Ending on a positive note, starting in this issue, a series of articles will discuss relevant poker strategists. In this series, I will focus on one author at a time, analyzing his/her books and DVDs. I am certain that you will enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.
