This is definitely tough news to read, especially for people who learned a lot from his work. Sklansky’s books had a massive impact on how poker is understood and taught, and it’s normal to feel disappointed or conflicted when someone so influential is involved in something like this. Many of us separate a lot of our own poker growth from the person and associate it with the ideas themselves.
At the same time, it’s important to remember that these are allegations and legal processes take time. Whatever the outcome, it’s okay to acknowledge both things at once: the value his contributions had for the game, and the seriousness of the situation being reported. One doesn’t automatically erase the other, but it also doesn’t excuse anything.
Situations like this are a reminder that poker theory and poker heroes are still human. The concepts can remain useful and influential, while our view of the person behind them becomes more complex and nuanced.