Haven't seen this posted here (edited to remove email info)
I would like to apologize to all my fans for the disappointment I have caused in the H.O.R.S.E. Event. For that I would like to express my sincerest apology.
I would like to ask for understanding of what really took place. Keep in mind this was a five day event, with an almost fourteen hour final table that was reduced to two hours of air time including all the commercial breaks. With that being said, as you can imagine, more took place than what made the final cut for t.v. Last year’s Main Event I made the mistake of letting someone get under my skin, of which overtook my mental focus of the game, and cost me my tournament along with a lot of disappointment amongst my fans and peers. Since that time, it has haunted me and even now with the mistake that I made. As a professional, you always critique yourself to make yourself better, and in doing so you have to focus on the mistakes you make, in order to improve. This year, I needed redemption of my own 2007 Main Event demons to prove to myself that no one would get to me again.
This tournament was too important for me, the trophy, the fifth bracelet, and history, my head was zoned in for this event, and for that time, I forgot the fans were watching me. I said things I shouldn’t have said that have disappointed you, and I apologize for my actions. All my life, there have been many many tournaments, I put all the fans first, tried to play bad hands and win to give more excitement, and I would blow my tournament, however I have never regretted it, because without all you fans there would never be a Scotty Nguyen, and I appreciate all of you every which way. This tournament I played the players game. They wanted to play a drinking game, and they couldn’t win, they say they can’t even beat a drunk, how can you beat a drunk if I’m not drunk. They can’t beat me in a drinking game, now they play the talking game to try to get under my skin like in 2007, and I gave it right back to them and got underneath their skin, and they couldn’t win. When it came down to playing a poker game, the best will win. Because they can’t beat me in a drinking game, a talking game and then we played poker, of which they can’t beat me, and I am the one who brought the trophy home. This event I had my mind set, I wouldn’t let anything interfere between me and the bracelet and the Chip Reese trophy, and I proved that to the whole world. I can beat them at any game they want to play. And all I have to say, I hope all you fans understand what I’m trying to say. And watch the tape again. I was not the one to start anything, not even drinking or talking, they wanted to start it with me, and they got beat by me fair and square on all levels they wanted to play. All I would ever be sorry, is how the fans feel about me, I would never be sorry to beat those players. If they can’t accept defeat, then stay home, crawl under their loved ones arms, don’t bad mouth because you got beat by the best poker player. Another thing, I always bring joy and excitement to the poker game every time I’m on tv, and all of you know, when Scotty Nguyen is on tv, your eyes are glued on the screen. Why? Because I make it fun so you guys don’t switch the channel. All these years that is all you’ve seen of me, and that is the real me. That proves to you, how great and nice I am, I am the real deal. One cannot be on tv all these years with the same persona if it wasn’t the real deal. Even during this final table, I still took time for all the fans with a smile on my face. You have not even heard of one fan who was there that came up to me and could say that I was rude to them or out of line with them in any way. This was an issue at the table, and one I didn’t take out on the fans even during that time. This was business. How many players do you know that would do that to the fans except one, the Prince of Poker, Scotty Nguyen and once again I apologize to all of you. No excuses for my behavior in that $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. final table. And I have explained to you why and how that happened. Bottom line, I only ask for you to please understand and remember that I, Scotty Nguyen, the Prince of Poker is still a human being, just like all of you. I too have good times, bad times, sad times and angry times, just like everyone else in this world, and I hope you can understand that. I do promise to all the fans that no matter what, from now, I would never disappoint you again any which way. I forgot about the fans, and only focused on me. I am sorry.
I am sending you this from my own personal email, I have read all the responses that have been sent to me from my website. I do care, and please feel free to email me directly for any other questions or comments you may have.
Thank you,
30 comments
we all make mistakes
nice apology
He set poker back ten years by his drunken behavior. He never said he was sorry for that.
He never said that he was sorry for playing in a way that would have made Chip Reese proud.
I have always liked Scotty, but he has a serious drinking problem that he needs to face. Somebody facing that will not be blaming others for what they choose to do. They will accept the responsibility for their own actions.
Those drunk pro's on the side line are irresponsible as well for their behavior. They all put a bad face on poker. The WSOP officials gave a black eye to poker for not enforcing rule number 36 during this final table.
Scotty will be made a scape goat for all of this, but he was an instigator and I hope he gets the bracelet, Chip Reese Trophy, and the cash taken away from him. I hope he gets banned from next years WSOP unless he seeks the help he needs.
Wow, my girlfriend gave me better apologies than that to me..
I always thought when a person had problems with drinking and drugs that others should be a guiding light for them and help them to over come the addiction, Not ridicule them for outburst that are unbecoming.
Scotty is a Legend and any other time everyone would be on his bandwagon acknowledging the fact that he is one of the best at what he does.
If this had came from anyones family members or close friends I doubt anyone here would be ready to sweep them away and deny them the right to continue in their Proffessional Careers.
I say send hope to Scotty and in making him realize he has a problem and people care and wanna see him in a better atmosphere.
Also we as a community in the poker world put the Pro's we admire and see on Television all the time on a pedestal and think they cannot do any wrong. Wake up they are people just like us and I dont think we would want anyone turning their backs on us when we are down.
I am torn on this... I don't approve of players behaving the way Scotty did but u also can't argue with reults.
Just like the controvery surrounding Jamie gold.
Given a choice of behaving or taking home the bracelet and money, screw my behavior, I would do whatever I can get away with. Poker is war and all is fair in love and war.
On a personal note the apology is BS...I am a not so recovering addict but been to treatment several times and that is what we call a ratonalization... ie rational lies.
Be looking for scotty to show up at your finer treatment centers anywhere.
Peace, J
I have seen Scotty at the local Buffalo Run Casino here in NE, Oklahoma. He was attending a kick boxing event. He was very gracious with his free time and never refused to talk to a fan or give them an autograph.
He however has a serious drinking problem and only he can fix it. The fans can most help by not acting like what he does when he is drunk is ok.
Dear Pheonix..
the only way for people to come to grips if they have a problem is to allow them the privilege of the consequences of their behavior.
In other words Scotty needs all the beat down he can get for his sake. After he takes full responsibility and chooses change, then it is time for the warm fuzzies.
Peace, J
If you don't think he was drunk, take a look at the interview he did after the tournament.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFRQ2399QLw
Too little, too late ! That wasn't even an Apology, it was mindless rambling ! If I was standing in front of him right now, and he said sorry, I would tell him without hesitation, "Sorry isn't an excuse, it is an accurate description of your behavior !" Poker USE to be a gentlemans game, like Chip Reese was a gentleman, Scotty is neither a gentleman, nor a good ambassador for the game, after this showing, and this lame excuse for an apology !
.....Tc....
" That proves to you how great and nice I am, I am the real deal" For one I'm a Scotty fan and I do find his actions in H.O.R.S.E tnt very displeasing and rude. This quote I took out of his apology is not the REAL DEAL, this so called apology has been written by somebody other than Scotty himself and I cannot acept this. This is what I would like to see and this will never happen, ESPN should give him some time on T.V. to explain what happen and to say his apology. Why should they? They didn't have to show all the negative coverage, really is this going to help poker or ratings, if the final table was 14 hours they could have shown a better two hours for the viewers. By no means I'm defending Scotty his actions where gross but ESPN showed no class in this great memorial tnt for the late great Chip Reese for showing terrible coverage. Like I said I cannot accept this apology, do you really think Scotty wrote this not one time did we seen the word baby, COME ON BABY BE A MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!