A simple tweet by Doug Polk about getting his COVID-19 vaccination has sparked a Twitter troll storm by anti-vaxxers and Covid deniers among his followers, Polk gobsmacked by the responses…
The number of anti vax people as a response to this is hilarious. You realize its good for you if other people get the vaccination right?
"Good job you idiot now you can't spread covid to me" https://t.co/S5irVSqQ6x
— Doug Polk (@DougPolkVids) March 21, 2021
It didn’t take long for the Twittertards to pile in, a selection of responses to Polk below…
- “This post is useless, like your vaccination.”
- “You mean the flu.”
- “Now you and your wife could possibly be sterile. Well played noob.”
- “lol you actually think these “vaccinations” work?”
anti vaxx is in reality well informed people who understand having their SKIN PIERCED and then having UNKNOWN TOXIC SHIT INJECTED into their body is a bad idea…and in REALITY you would have to be a BRAINWASHED IGNORAMUS to believe in Vaxxination…good luck young man.. pic.twitter.com/m8X1JesW5P
— TFlo (@real_TFlo) March 21, 2021
The US has seen more than 1⁄2million deaths attributed to Covid 19, and has now vaccinated more than 120million people, among them a poker player who surprised many this week with his own vaccination views…
50% of Trump voters refuse to take vaccination. Stupid!! Trump is gone. Biden is our president now, we should support him. Same thing i said when Obama beat Romney, even after I supported Romney.
— Doyle Brunson (@TexDolly) March 16, 2021
Again this was met by the usual mix of denials and anti-vax pseudo-science, but legendary Hendon Mobster, Barney Boatman, was on hand to give Doyle some help explaining to those fans and followers who weren’t keen on getting the jab…
You absolutely have that right. But everyone who contracts it, even if asymptotic, increases the risk of infection to others and the risk of mutation to a more dangerous strain.
Also the risk to you from the jab is lower than from the virus, who’s long term effects are unknown.— Barny Boatman (@barnyboatman) March 16, 2021
Of course, the poker world has been far from immune to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, with deaths and disruption mirroring the wider world’s problems.
Covid-19 deaths in poker
Well-known pro Robert Gray, aka “A-Game Rob”, died last August from Covid-19. Then 56-year-old was a regular at games and tournaments in Las Vegas, described by fellow pro Christian Harder as “one of the most happy-go-lucky players I have ever played with.”
Among other poker players who have succumbed to coronavirus-related illnesses were three members of the same home game in Florida.
The five other members of the group of retirees, who played regular poker games in the card room of an Aventura condominium, also contracted the virus, but survived.
One of those who came through the disease, Harriet Molko, described how one of the players was “coughing and sneezing” throughout the final game they held on March 12th a year ago.
Pandemic disrupts live poker
Aside from the serious health issues, the live casino and tournament scene has been decimated by the pandemic, though fortunately many events have moved online. However, those that have had a live poker element have not been immune from the effects.
The WSOP $10k buy-in Main Event late last year saw Upeshka DeSilva disqualified after testing positive before the final table, sparking controversy…
I said no ( I tested positive the 20th) he said ok I'll see you Sunday for the test. No guidance no options no advice no plan, I was very scared as you can imagine and I didn't know if I went public if I would even have a chance to test after that call
— Upeshka De Silva (@PadawanPesh) December 28, 2020
DeSilva’s enforced 9th place finish wasn’t the end of matters, as the players were battling for a spot in the heads-up finale against Argentina’s Damian Salas.
Joseph Hebert won that spot, but the match – which Salas eventually won – ended up being delayed as Salas was prevented from entering the USA.
Salas explained: “I was going to travel to Las Vegas on Saturday via Dallas. But 15 minutes before leaving for the airport I received a notification that in Dallas they did not recognize my certificate and that they would not let me in.”
Hellmuth vs Negreanu delayed by COVID-19
Even more recently, the highly-anticipated heads-up battle between Phil Hellmuth and Daniel Negreanu has become a temporary victim of COVID-19.
The pair were due to start their match last week, but COVID-19 got in the way as we reported…
🚨HIGH STAKES DUEL II RESCHEDULED🚨 (Due to a non-player covid concern)
March 31 | 8pm ET 📆https://t.co/IZ8eeSqGUp pic.twitter.com/vNHvqofqY4— PokerGO News (@PokerGOnews) March 13, 2021
Quite what happens next in the live poker scene is unclear, although the vaccination drives around the world will hopefully mean more and more events will be back on the menu. How soon or safely this will happen, however, is still very unclear.
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