OH DEAR

[The Cougar]

I suppose it had to happen. Heads up between NPL and the Cougar.

I turn up, register, buy a drink, go outside the building for a smoke, have my usual winge about life in general, to whoever will listen, and lo and behold.......... I get called out by the TD.

The TD then puts me on a final warning ????, apparently based on my comments on The Forum, about Berri.

This occurs before I even sit down at a table. I feel somewhat threatened, marginalised, in fact- victimised. I play.

My stack reaches $17 1/2 K and I fold the hand in play, leave the table, head towards the exit for a smoke, and in passing a fellow player on the way out, say something that is deemed offensive by the TD. Without even asking the context of what was being said, I am immediately kicked out of the tournament, have my chips taken, and given a 10 week ban.

Oh dear. No doubt most of you are saying... well Cougar, you do stir the pot, or you probably got what you deserved for being a stirrer, or even ...could'nt have happened to a bigger a...hole, but
the bottom line is I WAS VICTIMISED and I have a bucket load of witnesses to prove it.

If this is what happens to people who express their opinions on The Forum, right or wrong, agree or disagree, contraversial or in general conversation, then this is the END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT.

God, whoever your God may be, help the rest of you.

[Garth Kay]

Paul,
I would like to respond to this post in person as it has raised several points I would like to discuss with the general population.

I was lucky enough to be on a venue run tonight and finished up at Checkmates where several players and staff members informed me of what they witnessed and heard. Please feel free to correct me, but I would bring to your awareness that you are calling many NPL regulars and staff's credibility into question.

From what I have been told, before the tournament began you were outside having a smoke and making derogatory comments about the Berri Deepstack event to anyone that would listen. That is when Suzie pulled you aside and gave you a verbal warning. I instructed her to do so, when several players informed her of your comments and she contacted me.

Later in the tournament you argued with the TD over the placement of a new player at the table. All of my staff know what they are doing and know how to break down tables and place players, and my understanding is that you should have known that what occurred was normal practice. After arguing with the TD you were issued with your final warning.

I was then told that you directed a derogatory comment, which included an expletive, towards the general table. After this action you were removed from the tournament and given a 10 week suspension.

Now I have no doubt that your forum posts and attitude in recent weeks has certainly raised feelings of animosity towards you from players and staff. But that is not the reason you were suspended.

As the self proclaimed "voice" of the unheard NPL members, a very vocal forum contributor and somewhat of an "icon" in the playing community you do attract more scrutiny than others. And the reason is very simple: if you represent NPL and, as you say, many players respect you and look up to you, then we expect you to reflect the ideals of the NPL philosophy; Fun, Fair and Free. We expect all NPL community leaders to behave in the ideal fashion that we expect from all members and we look to them to be the role models for new players, learners and all of the NPL community. For this reason, when you do cross the line, you will reap the disciplinary action required to let the playing community know that this behaviour, or those types of comments, are unacceptable.

Suzie has the fullest of my support in this decision, and I applaud her courage in enforcing, what must have been, a very difficult decision in suspending such a "popular" figure in NPL for inappropriate behaviour.

In saying all of the above Paul, I thank you for all of the positive contributions you have made to NPL, the forum and the playing community. I hope to see you playing again in ten weeks time with a refreshed and changed attitude, and once again enjoying NPL for what it is and what it provides to the majority of it's members; fun, entertaining, social poker.

Kindest regards,

[maccatak11]

(reactions to this thread)

[mr_niceguy_1979]

Although I don't know the full circumstances here, the treatment of Cougar in the forum and in general that I have witnessed does seem a bit unfair. From what I have read, Cougar just has a differing opinion yet he does raise some very very valid points and by the sounds of it represents players who do not get on the forum. Why come on the forum and agree with everything, the forum is for discussion. I will sit back and agree with just about everything on here. So if I only post about questions or things I disagree with, that doesn't mean that my only thoughts are negative.

On a number of occasions Cougar has said exactly what I've wanted to say but haven't. I am now going to be a target of Forum mods and NPL because I speak my mind? What if I started to ask the questions that NPL doesn't want to answer, would I then become a target?

I think everyone in the forum should take a step backwards and ask yourself, why do you have a problem with Cougar? It seems like a bandwagon that everyone is jumping on. I refuse to do this until Cougar does or says something which I think is disgraceful. He can say as many things as he wants that I don't agree with, that's the point of the forum. I think it's important to have people like Cougar that keeps "everyone honest" so to speak.

And before you go attacking me and my post, just think that I'm someone offering a different opinion.

[David]

Brice,

Re-read Garth's post - it has very little to do with the forum itself.

[Des]

You have totally taken this out of context Brice.

As far as I can tell Paul was banned for his actions before and during a tournament. He was warned and continued whatever he was doing.

As far as I know his actions on the forum have nothing to do with the ban and it should be treated as such.

Arguing with TD's and making derogatory comments have no place in NPL, in fact any poker tournament. This is why Paul was banned.

I'm sure Cougar will be posting here for a long time yet.

[Garth Kay]

I would like to state again that his suspension was not a result of his forum comments but his actions at a tournament.

You think there is a band wagon? As I have stated previously I am sure that Paul has managed to alienate players and staff with his recent forum posts, to the point where Paul went and re visited his Berri thread and edited it.

I would suggest that you read my reply more thoroughly, and there are always more than one story to every incident. Just because Paul states this is how it went down, doesn't mean it is. And then maybe you should ask the staff member involved what she has had to put up with in recent weeks.

[Luke05(Jamo)]

Paul,
I met you at the Grand Junction late in the first season. I thought you're a good bloke and that still stands. But I know no NPL TD would ban you for no reason, there must be more to it than you are leading on.

Take Garth's advice, take a 10 week break from NPL and have a relaxing time. Hit the cas?

[Bacon]

Paul, this wouldn't have been the first time you had been warned about your language. I can vividly remember another night where you were almost sat out for 5 minutes for offensive language.

I would hazard a guess that it occurs at a few different places, because you do seem to be a creature of habit, and you aren't changing your game style (and rightly so, because it works for you).

So if you are warned, why is a ban now victimisation?

In my opinion, the TD's ruling is always right.

[Luke05(Jamo)]

ey i am at work. leave me alone where busy as. lol i wish i could just be a storeman. any jobs going at the NPL? lol