/ Matthew Pitt / 30 May 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Fear not gentle reader but I have not completely lost the plot and started to make up ridiculous headlines just to make you read my musings, the World Series of Poker, for this year at least, will have an official footwear sponsor. I kid you not.
Over the past few years the WSOP has had a number of different sponsors some of which have been heavily linked to poker and others maybe not so much. For example, Milwaukee Light beer was quite an apt sponsor, as was the All In energy drink. Then came other companies that were not as synonymous with playing poker such as Jack Links Beef Jerky and Levitra, an erectile dysfunction medicine! Now Ty Stewart, vice president of the WSOP, has decided that poker's biggest festival needs a footwear sponsor and Dearfoams Slippers will be it.
Now I will admit I have never heard of Dearfoams Slippers but after a little bit of research I have discovered they have been around since 1947 after being founded by Florence Melton and since then they have sold more than a billion pair of slippers ranging from $20 to $50. But how does a pair of slippers, or any footwear for that matter, link back to either online or live poker? Stewart took care of that one, referring to the 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jonathan Duhamel sporting flip-flops at the final table.
Stewart said "Our champion last year won nearly $9 million while wearing flip-flops, so we know poker players covet comfort in their pursuit of glory. But let's face it, flip-flops aren't so comfortable. So we have partnered with Dearfoams - who makes the world's most comfortable slippers - so players can now feel truly comfy as they pursue their dreams of winning the WSOP and going on to live a life of leisure where it will be appropriate to wear Dearfoams slippers 24/7."
A pair of Dearfoams will be given to every single entrant in this year's $10,000 Main Event and the Ladies-only Event and they will also be giving away entry to the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event via a competition on their website. Mark Zobel, the vice president of R.G. Barry Corporation, the parent company of Dreamfoams, had this to say of the new partnership, "This is an exciting opportunity for us and a unique way for Dearfoams to reach a broader male audience, who may not be as familiar with our brand as women. They're the perfect pair whether at a poker table, running errands, heading to class, or just kicking back at home."
I will admit that I have already looked on the Dreamfoams website and have considered ordering myself a pair of slippers as I am in the house most of the time and wear slippers all day long. I guess their marketting campaign has already suckered one poker player in then, one-nil to Dreamfoams and the WSOP.
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