RawVegas.tv "interview" with Russ Hamilton

Lon VanPatten · #1 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 05:45 PM

As mentioned on PokerRoad Radio:

http://www.rawvegas.tv/watch/russ-ha...953f0613af9438

BJ Nemeth · #2 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 06:04 PM

I'll have to wait until I listen to today's episode of Poker Road Radio to see what the guys say, but I have a hard time figuring out why this is newsworthy. If Russ Hamilton hasn't commented on the situation in several months, why do we care if we now have video footage of him not commenting?

Am I missing something?

was831 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 06:21 PM

What about Layne Flack playing with him. Look if people in the poker community want to pretend like it is a big deal in public but then behind closed doors they don't care why should anyone believe any of these sights are fair. One of the only reasons we trust sights like pokerstars or fulltilt is because people like Berry or Ivey say it is a fair game. No outsiders are ever let in to audit it. Now if sponsored pros are are hangin out and being friendly with supposed cheaters or at least some one who is accused of cheating it should make everyone feel unsafe. If this were a home game and we had enough feeling that Russ was cheating to kick him out, and later we found out he was buddies with another fellow of the game, who would feel safe playing with his buddy?

Lon VanPatten · #4 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 06:26 PM

BJ, that's why I put interview in quotes, since it was a one-sided conversation.

On the PRR show, Gavin was defending Russ saying he was innocent until proven guilty. Also, Layne's no longer a FTP sponsored pro.

Hokulea · #5 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 07:09 PM

Even if he's not a red pro he's still a face in the community. I definitely don't think he should be playing golf with the guy.

From Negreanu's blog:

"
After that I putted on the practice green when I felt like I saw a ghost. Coming up #9 was a guy that I figured would be hiding out. Nope, out there playing in a foursome, not a care in the world. I didn't say anything to him as he drove by in his cart, but apparently he's been at the course the last few days. I don't even know that I need to mention his name, if you put two and two together this is an easy one. A lot of online poker players would be interested to know that he's out there. One of his buddies called him NioNio, another called him Paddle something, etc. His golf bag had about 60 different aliases on it and he seemed to know which way every putt broke without even bothering to read the green. He never missed one putt ever and he used a different putter every couple holes, it almost felt like he was cheating!

LOL, OK, that was just me having a little fun, but yeah, I did see that guy there. It was just so odd to me."

BJ Nemeth · #6 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lon VanPatten

BJ, that's why I put interview in quotes, since it was a one-sided conversation.

I wasn't calling you out, Lon, and I caught the word interview in quotes. (Nice touch!) I was trying to comment on/question the reasons why Wicked Chops considered this so newsworthy.

Personally, I don't fault Layne Flack for playing with him. They were clearly friends before this scandal went down, and you judge your friends differently at times like this. Being friends with a cheater doesn't make you a cheater.

If anything, this footage reminded me of O.J. Simpson after he was acquitted. Does that mean the guys golfing with him were also murderers?

When O.J. went golfing, there was footage similar to this, and some news channels showed it. Was it newsworthy? No. If going golfing is newsworthy, then so is every other activity (seeing a movie, grocery shopping). And by definition, not everything can be newsworthy. It's salacious infotainment; not journalism.

Quote:

Originally Posted by was831

One of the only reasons we trust sights like pokerstars or fulltilt is because people like Berry or Ivey say it is a fair game.

That might be the only reason *you* trust online poker sites, but that is the *last* reason why I would choose to trust one. Do celebrity endorsements carry this much weight with you for all products and services?

Gauss · #7 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 08:20 PM

i think its newsworthy ...here is this guy enjoying the good life and driving off in a really nice car, who is a cheating doucebag who has largely gotten away with a massive fraud. Not only did he cheat the individuals involved, but he did real damage to the online gaming community at a time when it can ill afford it. right now while fckface is driving around in his luxury car some good dude who used to work at ub and absolute is out of a job.

JohnLance · #8 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 08:44 PM

I say that we start a thread called "If Russ Hamilton is guilty, I would..." and then we say what we think should be done to someone who cheats poker players out of millions of dollars. Then we have a contest to find the most unique idea/form of torture/death trap and that person gets a shirt road shirt.

Tambo · #9 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 11:13 PM

That video was pointless. Why would Russ say anything to a guy that runs up to him with a microphone. Seemed like a bad idea from the start.

Airnick15 · #10 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BJ Nemeth

If anything, this footage reminded me of O.J. Simpson after he was acquitted. Does that mean the guys golfing with him were also murderers?

No, they became the sports memoribilia collection crew.