The Integrity of Poker
While the game of poker is normally considered to be played across the green felt with chips in hand, the game encompasses a whole world of deals, situations, complexities, and extremes that are never placed in view on the felt. I am deeply distressed over a situation that I feel did not need to happen and it goes against the integrity and trust that I placed in someone that I considered to be a friend and an employee at PokerNews.com and I need to air the events to help myself deal with what has just happened.
Just before the $1K re-buy event at the WSOP, I held a celebration at the Naked Fish and invited many of my friends, including Tiffany Michelle.
Tiffany brought Maria Ho and we had a lot of fun talking and relaxing away from the stress of the WSOP and the Rio. I told Tiffany that I really like what she had done at PokerNews over the last two years and I knew she could be a huge star. We talked about PokerNews putting her into the Ladies Event (that deal was already set) and I wanted to give her a one bullet shot at the $1K re-buy event. She was very happy. I didn’t mention anything about her having to sign any paper work and we just agreed on the money terms.
We later had a PokerNews party at Bellagio. I took Tiffany to the VIP box and introduced her to Jeff Lisandro, Billy The Croc, and Jason Grey. Tiffany sat down next to Jeff and they really hit it off. About an hour later Jeff told me he wanted me to put Tiff in the main event. The main event had already started day 1A and Tiff could not get in and she desperately wanted to play. I spent some time talking to Jeff and told him I really couldn’t afford to do that, we left it there. We kept talking and Jason got involved in the conversation. A little later, Jeff again said I should put Tiff in the main event and Jason backed him up. I told Jeff he should put some money up because even though Tiff is a good player, she is not someone I would normally stake in this event. I stake many players; Kirill Gerasimov because he is a great player and has made 8 WSOP final tables, Marcel Luske for the first time this WSOP since he is a great player and a great personality and ambassador for the game, those are a few but I know they are qualified to play in this tournament.
As I thought about the whole idea, I thought also about the value PokerNews would receive if Tiff were to make the final table. I really love the girl and she is a star to me, and a great entertainer but not qualified enough as a skilled poker player that I would stake in the main event and if I were to do that, her value would be 80/20 and I know that if she places, she is going to get a huge deal but before she’s proven herself, no one would want to touch her with that big of an investment on unproven ground.
As I thought about it all, I said to Jeff that if he put up $4K, I would put up $6K but I would have all the rights to Tiff in terms of endorsement. I know Jason and Tiff both heard me say this. Jeff immediately said yes, that he would do it. I was under a lot of pressure right then because I had run out of cash and even had to borrow money to stake her. I told Tiff that she would have to sign a contract and I wanted it understood that I wanted the rights from anything that might come of her playing and placing in this event; at the time, it was kind of like buying a lottery ticket. I was pretty excited and pumped because I had 35 players in the main event and very high hopes that some of them would do very well and win, of course I was interested in what it would all mean to PokerNews in terms of traffic and new exposure. PokerNews is my dream and a very big part of my life. If I succeed, so does PokerNews, and if PokerNews succeeds, so do I.
The final result was that PokerNews paved the way for Tiffany Michelle’s entrance into the main event. The deal was one third for me, one third for Jeff and one third for Tiff and she represents PokerNews.
The first part of the written contract starts like this:
“I, Tiffany Graham, agree that I am an official PokerNews sponsored player.”
Unfortunately, my people did not get a water tight contract but that is a matter of deliberation. She is considered to be an official representative of PokerNews, and in all matters of honor and integrity, how can she discard her responsibility to PokerNews and step into a contract with someone else as their official representative? It’s noted by others that Tiffany began by wearing PokerNews affiliated clothing and then stepped into Ultimate Bet attire, pretty much concealing her connection with PokerNews as the main event progressed.
When Tiff turned up with UB gear on day 5, it was a total shock to me and all of PokerNews management. You can compare all sides of this and decide for yourself but when I saw her, I was left speechless. I asked my people if she had signed the contract. For me contracts are 20/80 with 80% up to the person that signs up. Unfortunately we cannot enforce things easily via courts, especially with online poker since none of the online poker is based in the US nor does it appear to be a situation that will soon be remedied because the United States appears not to care about integrity and truth or protection for people that play online poker. Every player that has signed with any site could just say, “Go and jump, now I play for UB or Card Player or whoever I want so sue me!” It just isn’t going to happen whether it’s in the Bahamas or Costa Rica.
People, in principal, especially the people I’ve had dealings with in poker are honest and Tiff is the first one to break the online poker code - the poker code period, for that matter and drop the ball with me. Even if she did not sign anything, and we had just verbally agreed at the initial talk at the PokerNews party, where are her ethics in business deals?
I tried to call her and eventually got her on the phone. She told me that she couldn’t talk to me, that I would have to talk to her agent Katie. I am really pissed. I can’t sleep because I don’t understand why she would do this to me. Where was Katie when Tiff need $10K to play the main event? Where was anyone at all, including UB, when Tiff needed to find a way into the Ladies’ Event or the 1K re-buy event.
Before play on her last day, Tiff called me and I was so happy for her to have made it as far as she did. But I told her that no matter what, she couldn’t wear the UB clothing. I asked her to please think about what she was doing to us, meaning her relationship with me and PokerNews, and she said she would think about it.
I keep wondering how Katie, Tiff’s agent, would even consider doing this deal with Tiff and how Tiff would not think that her first responsibility for advice and planning should come from PokerNews. I had been working on putting a deal together for Tiff with PokerStars and they had just emailed me. I knew Tiff could become a huge star and I was going to allow her to do a deal that would protect PokerNews also for the main event. We had it all set with PokerStars and she was going to get millions out of it with at least $1M in buy-ins no matter where she finished in the main event. I know that with UB she did not even get a signed contract and I believe Tiff’s agent does not have any direct contacts with big sites and UB was her agent’s only choice. We asked Annie Duke to get Tiff to pull the gear and Annie agreed. And then Tiff came out with the UB logos all over her for the final devastating day of her main event. UB said that Tiff chose to wear it.
I am not a money hungry person and I don’t think about how much I can make but I can truthfully say that on the last few hands I wanted Tiff to bust. I wanted this to end. I felt sick. When she busted It was a huge relief and closure of the situation.
I have never sued anyone and I don’t like using my energy on negative things. The court would be the one that decided if she broke a contract with me but I don’t like using my energy on negative things. I believe that the time it would take for me to go after her and the hard feelings that would build because of it, that I would lose so much of my good energy that I am not going to prosecute her.
I have a message for Tiff: you are 24 and you have made a horrid mistake. You let me down. You can’t live your life like this. I am very hurt that you came out with UB and you could not call me to say, “Hey, here is a deal and this is what I want to do, what do you think?”
Tiff you’re off the hook with this, it’s over. I have said all I want to say about this.
***
PokerNews has released an official statement.
PocketFives.com discussion thread.
Two+Two forum thread.
Pokerworks.com
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July 17th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Tony,
Glad to read your side of the story. I’m suspecting that Tiffany has gotten some bad advice somewhere. Personally, if I was in her shoes, I would have had the decency to come to you and explain what the situation is and asked your opinion as my backer and respected your answer regardless of what it was. Well, I think we both know the meaning of karma.
Best wishes,
Ken
July 17th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Don’t mess with the G. I do not know the girl but it seems like she is more dumb than spiteful and got caught up in all the hype. She is young man. Not a worldly business guy like you. Hopefully you guys can patch it up. Again I do not know her at all but from reading your story and everything else it does not seem like she tried to personally screw you even though you are taking it that way.
July 17th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Tony,
I found myself rooting for tiff and my support quickly turned to a profound dislike of the woman after her getting in bed with UB… Now that I know the circumstances surrounding the situation, my opinion has been reinforced. Glad to hear you speak on it
July 17th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Tony -
You got hosed. Sorry, man. It sucks. It seems like there are lots of 20-something kids out there that get blinded in the moment. I am sure that in the future she will regret screwing you and your company over like this.
J
July 17th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Why don’t you think you had a contract?
July 17th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Hi Tony, we have spoked quite a lot about different things over the last 2 years. I hope you can see my e-mail so you know who I am.
This "Katie" is just getting started and she already got a bad rep in this business where your rep is the only thing you really got!
Sorry to hear your story, but at least you found out who your friends are.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Money talks. She lost a LOT of respect from everyone in the poker world. I also think she’s young and slightly oblivious to what she did. No excuse though.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Tony,
If something is signed (and sometimes even when not signed) and she accepted your cash based on a writing with evidence you have the basis of a claim. If nothing more you might be able to have her contracts voided and bury her in legal fees in the US basically blackballing her out of US poker. I’d talk to a lwayer.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:31 am
You people are so ignorant. First of all Tony invested under $10 grand and got a return of over $100,000(in less than 30 days) on Tiffany’s play. A nice Oil Well is about the only place you can get a return like that without working, so don’t act as if Tiffany robbed poor Tony.
Secondly, both Tony and Tiffany were simply looking out for their own personal interest. If you think for one second Tony wasn’t going to receive a big kickback from the Pokerstars deal u are crazy.
IMO, this is a case of Tony being a little greedy. He got a huge return on his initial investment but because he couldnt force Tiffany to sign with PS he now wants to tarnish her name. Tony is not upset about the Pokernews logo because Tiffany continued to wear the PN logo along with UB’s. He’s upset about losing out on endorsement money.
Tony You’re acting like a Loan Shark! Have some F’in Class!
July 18th, 2008 at 3:12 am
mrdrevil2u, your an idiot, did you not read the blog?
“I, Tiffany Graham, agree that I am an official PokerNews sponsored player.â€
and she continued to be an official PokerNews sponsor by wearing their logo throughout the event. The problem is that the contract did not state "exclusively a PokerNnews sponsored player".
Anyway, I agree I think she did mess up, nobody could have pimped her like TonyG.
July 18th, 2008 at 6:47 am
WOW, thats bad move by Tiffany. Havent what 2 say….She is renegade girl. Good luck Antanai! Sekmes, laikykis
July 18th, 2008 at 6:57 am
Tony,
your rep in this industry is solid and everyone knows you got mad integrity. I agree with the other posters, but no excuses, some people just never had the character in the first place. Little bit of money and just totally change.
IT’S GOOD YOU FOUND OUT NOW, if you had gone outta your way and spent a few more months building her up and then she decided to go solo off your efforts, you’d have been screwed a lot harder. I know people will say, well by that time they’d be a contract, but we all know contracts can still be broken and legal costs, well usually aint worth it.
She really lucked out, cause with you backing her,she could’ve been great. Be cool my man, she saved you a lot more headaches for the future.
July 18th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Wow…. so you think you are entitled to her sponsorship dollars I think a better name for you is Tony ‘Don King" G.
Tony, What I find unbelievable in your statements, Lisandro is willing to give up his alleged 50% of her endorsements for $1,000 dollars. I do not find that statement honest or credible.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
I used to work for a family owned company that used to do EVERYTHING by a handshake on the street. I’ve watched my dad loan a barfly a hundred dollars and the man would not feed his kids to pay my father back. And I’ve seen him lend 10,000 to business men and he would have to chase them around for 8 years.
Times have changed homey… you know it, and i know it.
So i think playing the (whoa is me card) is soooooo transparent. You made a shady ass deal with a 24 yr. old INEXPERIENCED GIRL, and a wet behind the ears agent, and you got burnt.
You’re no fool tony, us readers know that. It’s 2008. If you thought she was gonna make millions of dollars like you say she would. You’d have locked her into a LEGAL bulletproof contract so you can make your money, which is ultimately the goal. Because if it wasn’t you’d take the money that you’ve made already and let sleeping dogs (play poker).
You should probably just thank her when you see her for teaching you a life lesson. You gotta make an adjustment to the times brotha. A handshake nowadays can only cover your hands in germs.
Everything in life comes full circle, good luck.
July 18th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
she’s a silly 24 year old girl and it sucks you got jobbed the way you did. but i have to comment on this paragraph:
"I am not a money hungry person and I don’t think about how much I can make but I can truthfully say that on the last few hands I wanted Tiff to bust. I wanted this to end. I felt sick. When she busted It was a huge relief and closure of the situation."
c’mon man, you’re a poker player…of course you’re money hungry.
as far as being relieved when she busted because it gave you closure, this whole mess doesn’t look like it’s anywhere near closed.
July 18th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
This whole situation was handled poorly. Everyone came off looking foolish. Add this to the list of incompetencies that make our industry look silly.
July 18th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Tony: You are rock solid! I love your style on and off the table. Keep it up.
PS = Pokernews.com is the only site I rely on!
July 19th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
guess she been offered a super user account with UB to make millions . As lets be honest know 1 would care about if it happend . bit late now breaking all ties with ub/pokernews should have happend when the scandal 1st broke. Cant belive you thought UB would play by the rules never have never will…
July 20th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Hey, i totally agree with what you had to say Tony. Putting Tiff into the main event period was a complete gambol. Its not like shes good at poker…
For those who say the G wasn’t entitled to her sponsorship money then you must be completely insane. I mean, you gotta try and grab every little bit of possible value when your staking a bad poker player.
I think you shouldnt sue her, might make Pnews look bad. Best of luck with whatever you do.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:43 am
Hey tony !
is your last name saprano?
because by the way you talk in your blogs it seems like you try real hard to perceive yourself as some sort of gangsta or ex mafia boss.(it’s actually commical how hard you try)
you dont own the girl from a 6000$ investment. i dont care what was agreed on….she obv didn’t want to deal with you for a reason.
please tony stop trying to act like your a mafia boss.
your a fake.
how’s your baby T6 poker mr. credibility.
August 2nd, 2008 at 7:42 am
Tony,
I can understand where you’re coming from with this, but you have to realize the fact that she’s just a normal girl who got a chance to make a good deal. These don’t come every day. You’re already accomplished and probably pretty loaded with $, I hope you realize what a blessing that is.
I don’t think she understood the impact of her actions, and I would say that most of this sh*t is because of miss-understanding between you two. I know, what the hell do I know? I’m just saying that is what it looks like from an observers viewpoint.
Don’t hate on her because she grabbed an opportunity, life is too short to hate anyway and try to view it from her side.
August 3rd, 2008 at 8:33 am
yeh but having said that…she is nuff hot!
peace
August 5th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Tony, we w8 new Blog
August 6th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
It’s too bad she screwed you like that Tony. She’ll get whats coming to her though. It was such a dumb move from her side.
August 12th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
One line says it all…Where was Katie and Ultimate Bet when she needed 10k to play?
August 17th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Hey Tony.
The integrity of poker ?? are you nuts ?? You are a paid player for a ponizscam ( T6poker ) and u r talking about integrity… U r a joke..
and how is T6 btw ?? Biggest site in the world after six month, that’s what Torben & Co said.
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:48 am
Hey Tony
The man with the big heart of poker is sure to overlook this.
Keep it cool mate and see you next time your in Vienna..
Aufvidersehen mate!!
September 25th, 2008 at 1:25 am
We don’t need to make this a forum about legal contracts but there is a certain ‘code’ of measure as poker players/humans to do and intend to do what we say when we agree to an ‘oral contract’. However, do we do this on the table - of course not … we all bluff and play games with pocket deuces from time to time and it can be a reflection of our personality, if we allow it. More over, from Tiffany’s perspective she made no formal ‘written contract’ and probably thought you beauty I can bleed both PN and UB of their $$$ moulla. And did anyone stop to think that in a 5 day tournie a gal may need to get changed every now and then - i mean does she have an eternal supply of PN gear?
Tony G you’re a true blue gun of poker in OZ but perhaps you need to invest in a corporate legal contract writer to make all of this legit, then you wouldn’t get ripped off.
We’ve all had our dodgy encounters with people who have chosen Tiffany’s path by purchasing something we thought was the real deal when it only turns out to be a lemon.
As the boys from South Park say at the conclusion of each episode (WOW episode being the greatest) …."I think we’ve all learnt something today";
Tony - Have a preformatted template legal contract produced so you can employ anyone (like me..hehe) and if someone’s hot show them the green or the future.
Tiffany - Perhaps you had one too many beverages, or any other type of substance and got excited by the UB prospect. One thing for sure is you lost some respect and some explaining needs to occur.
Being a newb when it comes to the affairs on others in ‘The Professional Poker Arena’ I would have to say that I don’t condone her actions but at the end of the day they are her actions. If there is something to pay or own up to then she will find out in the end.
I feel for you PN and TonyG, I do but if she’s not bound she may rebound.