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  There is a stereotyped vision of a poker player. They are a hard drinking, womanizing pack of greedy drifters who move from city to city in search of games and profit. For a moment, let's suspend the fact that this also describes the sort of politicians who run some states and cities - it is also an image that has attached itself to male poker players like a bad rash. We will excuse the women's wing of the sport. They don't have the history behind them that the guys do, and with a couple of exceptions they have behaved themselves for the most part.



  Some players do their best to live up to the rambunctious stereotype, but there are those people who are doing their best to ruin the reputation of card sharks by being really good people. Jerry Yang is one of those guys who are proving that high powered poker players can also be family oriented philanthropists.



  Jerry won his way to the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event by claiming victory at a satellite event at the Pechanga Resort & Casino. After that the Laotian immigrant went on to win the WSOP's premiere tournament along with eight million dollars in prize money. Before he won the Main Event, he made a vow to God that he would give away to charity 10% of the prize if he won the tournament. So how is he doing on his pledge?



  So far Yang has given $275,000 to his alma mater, Loma Linda University; another $275,000 to the Ronald McDonald House, and thousands to smaller charities. At present he has given away probably over a million dollars to charitable pursuits. He explained his devotion to helping others with the following words: "I want to show the American people I am thankful to this country for giving my family and me a chance to come to America. If I had not come to America, I would have ended up being a farmer somewhere in Laos."



  We can all appreciate and admire his selfless actions, but enough is enough. He is making those of us who are womanizing greedy drifters look really bad.