The new door a bit controversial. The www.sportsnet.ca site organizes a vote in the form of tournament for the athlete of the year at the Canada. Among the names, some Quebecers, including the champion of the 170livres of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Michael "Rush" St-Pierre and the Main Event of the WSOP 2010 World champion, Jonathan "PokerJohn" Duhamel.
The first round includes the 16 names of 16 athletes and each athlete gets in confrontation with another athlete to enter the quarter-finals. In the first round, Duhamel will seek more vote that Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir to advance to the quarter-finals. Had it succeeded, it will face the winner of the Sidney Crosby/Ashleigh McIvor duel for semi-finals.
Other athletes nominees, include the Phoenix Suns Steve Nash basketball, baseball player Joey Votto and the football player Dwayne De Rosario.
I do not know what Jonathan thinks about this nomition to the title of athlete of the year and I do not know either whether he considers her discipline, the poker as a sport. Obviously, this type of event is excellent to gain notoriety, make connaitre and get much love from fans, but is that poker is a sport? Bowling? Billiards? The darts?
The debate will won't end soon. Obviously, like any athlete, the poker player who starts as long as the WSOP Main Event tournament should be prepared mentally and physically. Before beginning his long 12-hour work day, he must have slept well, ate well, be zen, not be stressed, mind alert to adapt at the tournament, etc. But poker is not a 'sport' in the conventional sense of the term. We do not say 'I'll go play a few hands of Omaha issue to work my cardio'. Whatever, to think, if bluff gives hot, perhaps - because it works our cardio. It remains to be seen.
Whatever it is, PokerCollectif wishes the best of luck in this vote of the public in the title of athlete of the year in Jonathan. Has he managed to see poker as a better angle to Canadians in general, so they accept it more and understand it better, it will already be a good de facto thing!
Disctutez of this article on PokerCollectif forums: Duhamel to the title of athlete of the year
