Those who have been around the poker tables for some time undoubtedly have heard this little joke about A-K resembling Anna Kournikova: "Looks good, but never wins." And, indeed, she has never won any major tennis tournaments, despite being a talented and gifted player at a very young age. Her stunning beauty made her the center of attention wherever she went, and she got more press and better sponsorship deals than any other female player - even at a time when she was not yet the best player.
Whether or not it was this early fame that has stopped her from reaching the absolute top, we will never know. However, it is reasonable to assume that when you are still very young and
everyone wants a piece of you, it is hard to stay focused, disciplined, and dedicated enough to continue to perform at the absolute best of your abilities. And Anna is not the only
example of someone who may have "peaked too early"; examples also can be found in other sports. Just look at one of the most talented young soccer players in the world some 10 years ago, the Portuguese striker Dani (who was
the star at Ajax Amsterdam at just 19 years old, was the young women's dream because of his extraordinary good looks, and was the "life of the party" wherever he went; but, his career ended basically before it had even started). Possibly, the combination of early fame, lucrative business deals, and too much media attention got Anna's and Dani's focus off what
should have been their goal: making history because of their sports performances rather than their outside activities.
I have noticed a similar pattern in today's poker world. While up until four or five years ago the people who got the most attention and who made the most money were almost without exception also the very best players in the world, this is not necessarily the case anymore. There are many young players in today's poker world who have signed extremely lucrative deals even
before they have actually reached the top. Sometimes this is simply because they are young, sexy, or good-looking, while in other cases it may be that poker sites have recognized their raw talent and want to sign them before other sites have the chance to do so. But the end result is the same in both cases: These young players don't have to fight, grind, or battle for their money anymore; they now get huge paychecks from outside sources that rid them of all kinds of potential money pressure. Plus, these deals ensure that these young players will stay in the spotlight for a
very long time - and they won't need all that many top performances to stay there.
What could be the result of all of this? Well, I have no doubt that many of the old-time pros (especially those who have always had to earn their money the hard way) have witnessed it. Because these young players get so much fame and recognition early in their careers, they may believe they are already at the same level as the accomplished poker stars - even when, looking at pure ability, they still have a long way to go. But in part because of all of their newfound financial wealth, they now may slowly start to lose their focus and their drive to perform that 1 percent or 2 percent extra to gain that little bit of edge that is needed to be an
absolute top player.
So, when I hear young players talk about one party after another, about their expensive reservations at the most trendy nightclubs, and about hanging out with the stars more than would seem "normal," I always think: Wouldn't it be better if they continued to focus on plugging leaks, on leading a highly disciplined life, and on shifting their attention to becoming the very best player they can? This is not to say that young players cannot have fun every once in a while. But, in all sports, eagerness and true dedication are required to become the very best, to write history. And, of course, poker is no exception. But nowadays, many sponsors seem to think it is more important that their players get spotted at fancy parties than actually play some great poker. And while this may be correct from the "exposure" point of view that the sponsors may have, I think that anyone who truly loves the game itself will thoroughly disagree.
Now, if
you are one of these high-profile young players with lots of fame, and possibly with lots of talent but not that many big-time results yet, it may not be too late to set your priorities straight and start focusing on what
really matters: playing absolutely great poker. Indeed, if you are unable to stay 100 percent focused and dedicated, you may end up just like Anna Kournikova. And even though I am certain that she leads the kind of wonderful, exciting life that many people can only dream of, she has not made it into the history books as the top tennis player that she could have been.
And if I were her, I would regret this for my entire life.
Rolf has been a professional cash-game player since 1998. He is the author of the successful Secrets of Professional Pot-Limit Omaha, and the co-author of Hold'em on the Come. He is the creator and presenter of the hold'em four-DVD set Rolf Slotboom's Winning Plays. He is the first-ever Dutch Champion, and maintains his own site at www.rolfslotboom.com.
