How is he bad for poker?
Jerry Yang may be a bad poker player, but what can you expect - he's an amateur! Eventually he'll learn new tricks, and realise that Top Pair isn't the nuts, and that any 2 paints doesn't look as pretty. I knew when I first started out, I thought the same about Top Pair also - only to be shown 2 pairs or a set or an Over pair.
In a way, its good that an amateur won it. It makes a statement that unlike all other professional sports - any smuck can win it. This no doubt will increase poker's popularity. I kind of like the idea, first its Hold'em - any 2 cards can win, then its the
wsop ME - anyone can win. The field is probably just gonna keep on growing, can you imagine what would happen if the Main Event grew to 20,000 players with 8 Day 1's.
Similarly, I think the title of World Champion of Poker should go to the winner of the HORSE event - because that's poker, not just Hold'em. I don't like the increase in the Hold'em games (All those differing Buy Ins, No/Pot/Limit, Mixed or Not mixed) . I think we have enough Hold'em already - they really should put out more various events, eg. Crazy Pineapple.
Now, is Jerry Yang bad for poker. Nope. Jerry hasn't done anything wrong by my standards. I love fish by the way, and I want to commend his play. I don't want Jerry improving his game. I want him to stick to his guns. If I was Lee Childs, and I had KJ and Jerry hand J8 - I WOULD BEG HIM TO CALL ME. Its the way it is, and that's Poker. Luck keeps the bad players coming back, and skill keeps the good players coming back.
Jerry, buddy, pal, you are invited to my home game any day. Just bring that luck box of yours and a Wad of Bills.