Baseball and Poker: Two Games of the Same Breed

Baseball has long been considered to be the national pastime. In the last decade, a different game has been capturing the imaginations of many players around the world and that is the game of poker. Both games have similarities with the World Series of Poker crowning poker's champion much like the baseball World Series crowns their champion. The biggest similarity between the two games is that they appear to be utterly boring to the casual fan.

As all baseball fans know, many games start out a relatively slow pace with batters coming up in order and being sent down in the same order. Sometimes there might be a walk or a single, but a majority of innings will not have a lot of action.

Then suddenly you hear a massive crack of the bat and the pitcher makes the quick turn that lets everyone know that the ball was well hit. Fans are now on their feet cheering like mad as they watch the ball sail over the fence and their player rounding the bases. Fans high five and are now pumped as their team has just taken the lead.

Poker is much the same way. In many situations a player gets a hand and folds to a raise. This process is continued over and over again until either the right hand or the right situation arises. Suddenly, there is an all-in and a call by a player and fans watching the action are now on their feet screaming for their favorite player's hand to either hold or for that player to catch their needed card. As the hands run out, the fans and players either experience the joy of victory or the agony of defeat.

As Pokerlistings and other poker news sites have reported, poker has begun to grow a following in all walks of life, including former baseball players. The fact that the game has thrills and excitement similar to that of baseball may be one reason former players take up the game. Of course, the Million available in prize money may be another. One thing is for certain and that is the game is definitely not as boring as it appears.