Oh boy. Some people just like to start fights. People like James Bord, that is, who just recently stated his very firm belief that European poker players completely smoke Americans. Bord said, “I don’t think an American can win the [WSOPE] bracelet; Europeans are now far superior. We used to look up to the U.S. players back in the day, but those days are now long gone. I’m prepared to put my money where my mouth is and refund any losing bets up $500 if an American wins.”

American players, of course, will now be rooting for Bord to be quite wrong, and cough up the now guaranteed $500 bets. Bord’s offer is to refund bets on an American winning the WSOPE Main Event, with a cap of $500, on sports betting site Matchbook.com. Bord won last year’s WSOPE Main Event, and cashed a healthy £830,401. Bord believes that Americans, once the best poker players in the world, have been clearly passed by Europeans in terms of skill and talent and stand no chance in this year’s event. The pro can certainly afford some spare change, but his public image is taking a serious hit with American players.

The WSOPE Main Event begins in just a few days. If there ever was a gauntlet in poker, it’s been thrown by Bord, and across the pond too. American professional poker player Kevin Iacofano (@icekevin) tweeted: “GL USA. Serious arrogance and comments from a guy who barring one miracle championship has a very pedestrian record in poker.”

Bord may wish to recall that two Americans won the WSOPE Main Event in 2008 (John Juanda) and 2009 (Barry Shulman). Bord may also wish to remember that these were successive wins, occurring only two years ago.

Kudos to Bord for having the guts to speak his mind. I will look forward to his $500 check.