Annie Duke clearly pulled off what I would want from an employee.  She raised more funds, pulled things off after the rug had been pulled out from under her. She showed far more class than the high maintenance gossip queen.  Yet, despite Duke’s success, Donald Trump awarded the trophy to Joan Rivers who has long ties with NBC.   

Amazingly, Rivers won after the offended design firm said they wanted nothing to do with Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice.  That alone would make me want to fire someone.  But I would have fired Rivers the moment her high drama, temper tantrum, finger ear plugging childish behavior began. And tonight Rivers claimed Duke was beneath her.  Funny, I’d like to hear Judith Martin’s opinion.

Don’t get me wrong, like Duke, Rivers is obviously passionate about her charity but tonight she said it wasn’t about charity anymore.  Well, wasn’t raising money for charity a goal? Either way, I’m not really qualified to say because I don’t watch reality television.  I made a special exception tonight and I’m not exactly motivated to watch again.  This was like playing an A game with an opponent hitting a three outer on the River.

And the best part is the Twitter aftermath…

RealAnnieDuke:  RT @RafeFurst: Grass roots campaign 2 raise $250k for @RealAnnieDuke charity donate at http://refugeesinternational.org… please RT!

Joan Rivers:  I won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Big difference in sportsmanship.

Michele: writer, culture, policy, politics, tech + mom blog - writing on culture, policy, politics, tech, apps, video games, parenting, photos, sports and sometimes a what is...

Lack of time prevents me from watching much TV.  However, with the Joan Rivers / Annie Duke trash comment spreading through the poker world… I watched the final episode of Celebrity Apprentice.  After all, Ms. Rivers was kind enough to call all attorneys, doctors, mathematicians, programmers, Duke graduates and even teachers who consider themselves poker players… trash.  The poker community is so insulted even Doyle Brunson is wanting an apology.

Not sure where Rivers learned her manners but considering how she speaks about other on tv…consider the source.  Why be offended by someone who has earned a paycheck by bashing, insulting, ridiculing, belittling and verbally abusing people?  Or by an adult who sticks fingers in her ears when someone speaks.  I don’t know much about Rivers but I can say a few things about Annie Duke…

Duke is well known in the poker industry for her strong and vocal opinions.  Probably more so than any other poker player.  However, it’s rarely pointed out that her vocal opinions are usually about what’s best for people and not what’s best for Annie.  She may show her temper, she may show impatience but as a mother I can tell you… time isn’t only money, time is precious and she knows there isn’t much time for wasting.   When you walk away from Duke… one pretty much knows where they stand.  Duke is someone who will suit up and show up often risking her own reputation simply to stand up for what’s right.   And that… is someone I would want standing behind me.

Michele: writer, culture, policy, politics, tech + mom blog - writing on culture, policy, politics, tech, apps, video games, parenting, photos, sports and sometimes a what is...