Has Poker Hit Its Peak?

READ MORE: James McManus

Iggy, poker blogger extraordinaire at Guinness and Poker found a friend in the PR Biz who was willing to take a look at poker’s shelf-life in the mainstream consciousness.

And don’t you dare say “Jump The Shark,” poker is way cooler than Fonzie.

We know you only read blogs for the articles, but it bears mentioning that the post of which we’re speaking features a likely NSFW picture of Jennifer Tilly at the bottom. You’ve been warned.

Anyway, the death knell you hear ringing in your ears is being rung by the Old Gray Lady. Yep, it’s another “if the New York Times is finally getting around to acknowledging poker as a cultural phenomenon, then poker has nowhere to go but down” sort of post. To wit:

Giving McManus the benefit of the doubt, maybe he will go down in history for writing the greatest, most timely column in the history of journalism. Even so, there is no stronger certifiable signal that a fad has reached its zenith than when a national media organization — and there is no more prominent brand name in journalism than the Times — tries to exploit it…

The poker column gives the paper a terrific business opportunity, following its successes in establishing a brand from its niche-oriented features about bridge and chess. The Times has also claimed a virtual patent, or at least the industry’s most authoritative platform, when it comes to such newspaper staples as book reviews and crossword puzzles.

We maintain that if the exposure to poker in the media continues to include Jim McManus’ “blogging” efforts and repeat episodes of Celebrity Poker Showdown, then they’re probably on to something.

We also seem to remember the impenetrably dry bridge and chess columns the article mentions, and hope those egghead strategy columns The Times and other papers trot out stay focused on those dying games no one but old Russian dudes, housewives from the fifties, and fifth grade overachievers play anyway.

We maintain that the true death knell of poker will ring when a celebrity lucks her way into a World Series of Poker bracelet, and… What?!? Nevermind.

Guinness and Poker [Iggy]
Previously: Why My Column Can Kick Jim McManus’ Ass [Mean Gene]
Previously: Positively Crap Street: McManus To Pen New Poker Column [Oddjack]
Previously: Positively Crap Street Part 2: Blogger Flames McManus [Oddjack]