Originally Posted by
Dan Druff
Here are my feelings on the matter:
First off, K.L. can ask for whatever he wants from the community. As long as he's straightforward and honest regarding why he's asking for it, and what people will get in return, he's welcome to put out the request, even if it goes unfulfilled. I don't fault him for that.
Also, he does seem to be attempting to get a sponsorship rather than a stake. He feels that a brand promoting him (a quadriplegic poker player) could score some good press, and thus it would be worth their while. Maybe he's right, maybe he's wrong, but it's not unreasonable to suggest.
In addition, he has a good reputation, and is known to be an honest guy.
BUT...
I have to agree with some of the critics that the request to compensate his parents for missed work is LOL.
I mean, if some generous Bill Perkins type decides to do this and pay his parents, that's great for him, but it's a bit of a ballsy ask. It's very nice that his parents are so supportive, and are willing to put their lives on hold in order to physically enable his poker career. If I had a son in K.L.'s position, I would do the same thing. However, there's only so much you can expect of the community when it comes to what is reasonable for them to pay for.
Regarding a sponsorship...
- K.L.'s tournament buyins: Paying for these is standard.
- K.L.'s travel/room/food expenses: Paying for these is not automatic, but does occur in many cases.
- K.L.'s parents travel/room/food expenses: Totally NON-STANDARD, but maaaaaybe you can argue that this is an unusual circumstance (he needs at least one parent to physically help him move the cards and chips), so this isn't an outrageous ask. But it's getting close to being too greedy.
- K.L.'s parents salary compensation for missed time at work: L-O-FUCKING-L. There are so many reasons why this is an outrageous ask. K. L. himself is disabled, but his parents are not. If they wish to come help, that's great. If they get their expenses paid, that's also great. But they also need to take on some of the burden here. He's their kid, not ours. They can't expect their own salaries from missed work to be paid by a sponsor.
Honestly, I think K.L. is asking for too much here. It's fine to appeal to the community to put him in the WSOP, and even to help with some of the expenses, but that's where it should end.
He's also a partner in a poker training company, and some people are asking why the company itself isn't covering these expenses. He claimed in response that the company "invests all of its profits back into the company", but that sounds like a copout.
I don't see anyone likely backing him on this one, but stranger things have happened.
