Hachem sets the record straight
Hours after making a controversial statement regarding the level of play in the 2009 Main Event, 2005 World Champion Joe Hachem says he may have been misunderstood.
"I apologize if I offended anyone; that certainly was not my intention," he said. "I just got caught up in the moment, in the Main Event with a little over 100 people left.
"Everyone has the right to play poker however they want. I was just hearing stories from all over the floor about how crazy people were playing. I am passionate about poker and the World Series and I think what I said just came out the wrong way."
With players busting at a record pace in the early days of the tournament, Hachem said he was shocked at the level of play and simply felt those playing for a World Series of Poker Main Event title should do so with a little more respect for the game.
"I really love poker," he said. "I want the game to grow even bigger and if I offended anybody with my comments I am truly sorry. My intention was to highlight the level of play and I think it just came out differently than I had intended."
Hachem busted in 103rd place shortly after making the original comments.
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Comments
17chris
2009-07-29shoving ur stack is not a legitimate play heads up on the first hand, pro amateur or anything. its very foolish and if u believe it is ok please come and play in my games on pokerstars.
jim P.
2009-07-18wow thanks zygotic, now I know that up is different then tournament. And its OK for a PRO to gamble HIS stack, but not an amateur. wow thanks so much.
norman s hamilton
2009-07-18hey joe u have to play tha way u play trust ur cards and i have a poker tip here fr d is a king dont hate the player hate the cards
zyg0tic
2009-07-17Jim, Heads up play is very different from a full table. Pushing blind the first hand is not a donk move at all. It's almost guaranteed that his opponent's not going to call, and it sets the tone, and his image immediately.
Make it very hard for his opponent to try and bluff if he feels like Hachem's willing to gamble for his whole stack.
jim P.
2009-07-17Sure thing Mr. Hachem. Yea your love of the game and how people play and all that, yea right. I saw you SHOVE all-in IN THE DARK ON nbc'S hEADS UP 25k champiopnship on your first hand. SO its Ok for you to Play Donkament poker, but not us "regular folks". sorry bro, dont buy your insincere apology either. Stand by your words Joe.
Lee
2009-07-16PokerStars 1
Joe Hachem 0
Sponsors rule!
BOYNAMEDSUE
2009-07-16I am sick of people apologizing when they say or do anything remotely controversial. Last week Lesner apologized for acting like a prick after his UFC match. Huh? Ultimate fighting is a 'sport' where you pummel your opponent in the face until they bleed, but acting disrespectful afterward is frowned upon?
Now Joe is is apologizing for for critisizing the level of play at the WSOP? WTF? Hellmuth has been saying the same thing about the play at the WSOP for years, so why is Joe apologizing?
People have the right to play how they want, and people should have the right to say whatever they want without being pressured to recant their statements.
agogo
2009-07-15I agree with Hachem. I myself am one of those people who really needs to up my game. But this kind of thing is not to be said openly, rather something to be kept in the dark, and allow the individuals to realize it. After all if it weren't for all these c-grade players, the prize pool wouldn't be so large!
Sketto
2009-07-15Um...if not for the donks, it wouldn't be worth 8 mil to the winner. It would just be 200 pros beating the hell out of each other. Any pro who complains about the donks doesn't know where his own meal ticket is coming from. Joe and the other pros should get down on their knees every night and thank god for Moneymaker and all the donks who make their lives so sweet and lucrative.
Donks bring the money that you win. So shut up.
VICTORYV111
2009-07-15I believe its combo of all wats said, but u can add...no one esp the pro players like tobe beaten or risk to much against wild players with crap hands, who eventually will never make final table...but the game needs players at every level, so a rant is kool now n again, as there wouldnt be the poker of wat we love play n follow....bring it on!!!..
Gonzalo
2009-07-15HE IS RIGHT A LOT OF DONK PLAY AND MAKE IDIOT CALLS
Lisa S
2009-07-15Dave...
He never said people can't play the way they want. And yes they can. I think his point was.......
Name ONE champion who has ever won a main event, who played like they were in a $2.00 SNG.
When I play in any event at the WSOP, or WPT, my first question is always, did they buy in direct, or did they win a satalite to get there...90% of the time you can definately tell the difference in the style of play. Anyone who pays 10,000 to get in a game and calls or raises with marginal hands hoping to get lucky, has more money than brains....and deserves to be taken down.
Lasse
2009-07-15Joe is right!U all can tink what u like about him.Butt this is a 10 K buy in and some off the players in the ME play at the level off a 10 dollar sitt and go(or worse).YES! alot off the players playing in the ME SUCK!!!mr Hachem has every right tere is to let his frustrations out,even if he was chought in the heat off the moment.He is a former ME champion and a world class player,and prob knows what he is talking about,unlike u other random poker idiots who just never gonna get close to beeing someting off a poker player like Hachem is.Every poker player has his right to play the way they want,since its their own money,YES.Still putt your self in the pleace off an top atlete or someone beeing one off the best in their profession having to compete aginst, or togher with an amatur...It probably feels like your mike toyson,and having to pull off a cat fight with Paris Hilton sometimes
Dave
2009-07-15To Lisa S:
So Lisa, you actually agree with his statement that people don't have a right to play poker a certain way??
If you do, then you're as big a jerk as Hachem.
Michael
2009-07-15Hachem is a little jerk. He suffers from Napoleon syndrome.
Lisa S
2009-07-15I don't know why he's apologizing. He's absoloutly right. I AGREE 100% JOE.
Chris B
2009-07-15He must have gotten a call from someone at pokerstars that told him..
"Get over there recant that statement, youre representing us over here WTF!" lol