Phil Hellmuth....most hated?

ChuckTs · Jun 26, 2005

Phil has got to be one of the most hated guys in poker
he's so cocky and arrogant and whines like a 12-year old girl:girl:
but, of course, he is one of the best out there (I hate to admit it)
he of course won the wsop when he was REAL young and deserves credit
but he's gotta be the guy i hate most in poker
STILL for some reason i find i run into alot of people who call him the best living and say he's their favorite - just dont get it
anybody wanna share their opinions and thoughts on him go right ahead
- and feel free to rip on him as much as you like

Crippler450 · Jun 26, 2005

I also hear a lot of people that say he's their favorite, but i think those people just want to sound cool for liking someone who most people dont. He is such a little girl...but he is a great poker player.

HollyGo · Jun 26, 2005

Well, my opinion is that the "pokerbrat" schtick should be used by younger players. Once you are a mature, grown man, to continue trying to be the pokerbrat just makes you look socially retarded. On the other hand, the public's perception has no bearing on the quality of his play, and he is good. I play at UltimateBet, the site he's affiliated with, and I own one of his books, so what can I say?

Poker tournaments, like any televised event, need a good storyline. There are a number of players that are severely lacking in class, manners, self-control, or who are simply downright boorish acting at the tables. Hellmuth, Matusow, D'agostino, Tommy G, Todd Brunson, just to name a few. I think they are a necessity, as they play the "villains" that you love to root against, and that keeps you glued to the screen.

trentonlf · Jun 26, 2005

Phil Helmuth is ok, good player but does cry too much lol

of course i like Mike the Mouth even less

g/l

laraspal00 · Jun 27, 2005

Well, he sure isn't going to win a Mr. Personality contest at a table. He is a great poker player, no question. I mean no one handed 9 WSOP poker bracelets to thime for nothing. I have his book Play Poker Like The Pros and I read a bit here and there.

But I cannot stand his patented 30 minute temper tantrums. Howard Lederer said it best at the NBC Heads Up final after Hellmuth lost to Chris Ferguson in the first match...grow up. He is gracious in winning, but should also be gracious in defeat. His attitude is very unprofessional.

I'll tell you what, if Phil is most hated, Tony G runs a very close second.

Pat

HoldemChamp · Jun 27, 2005

Oh man,

Tony G is a discredit to Australia and it's people. I would rather have Phil Helmuth crying over his bad beats anyday.

Of course I have been known to comment on the odd badly played hand. Been even called Helmuth before. Oh well.

As long as I continue to do ok they can call me that if they want.

diabloblanco · Jun 27, 2005

I guess I am one of the "want to be cool for liking someone that evryone else hates" people. I have like Hellmuth since I got interested in watching poker on ESPN. Do I think he carries his tantrums a bit far, sure, sometimes. But have any of you ever played for the kind of money that is generally on the line when he complains about a bad beat? No? OK then. So who's to say that your demeanor wouldn't change as well. Love him or hate him he has done a lot for poker as far as pro endorsement deals (Oakley), and his record speaks for itself.

Most cashes at WSOP with 46 (tie with TJ Cloutier)

9 WSOP bracelets, was a tying record until yesterday when Chan won #10

Second only to Raymer in monies won on the WSOP at 3.6 million

2 WSOP Main Event wins

Winner of the innaugral NBC NLHE Challenge 2005

Several of the largest European titles won

Lucrative endorsement deals (a first in poker) paving the way for the new crop of talent to cash in

And the list can go on and on. Todd Brunson, Johnny Chan, and others like to bag on Phil because they are, IMO, jealous of all the media attention he gets and that because of it he doesn't have to risk his ass in a 10,000/20,000 limit game to stay rich like the syndicate members do. They grind out 250,000 or a half-million playing cards all the while risking losing as much and more and he doesn't have to take any of that risk, and is as rich or moreso than anyone in the syndicate aside from Barry Greenstein (and he may have him covered as well).

People like to hate what they are jealous of. And PH is a prime example. He has had rediculous success and has been a shrewed enough businessman that he has ventured into all kinds of poker related and non related deals and has made a mountain of money doing it. He isn't the typical degenerate gambler who wins a wsop bracelet and has to be staked for upcomming events because he lost all the cash playing craps. He has avoided many of the pitfalls of gambling success (except ego) and he should be given his due credit.

MicheleW · Jun 27, 2005

Okay this is shallow - but I don't care for his looks - so he's not attractive to me whether he plays great or not. Plus he is a big baby - nothing worse than a ManBaby. LOL

uofmfan4 · Jun 28, 2005

Definitely! He's like a whiney little bitch. ....Almost like my wife ;-)

:thefinger :aetsch:

diabloblanco · Jun 28, 2005

Hey Michele, I'm not sure if you've been paying attention to the world of poker too much, but not too many poker players are that good looking. Haha. They tend to be a fairly homely lot.

HollyGo said:
Well, my opinion is that the "pokerbrat" schtick should be used by younger players. Once you are a mature, grown man, to continue trying to be the pokerbrat just makes you look socially retarded. On the other hand, the public's perception has no bearing on the quality of his play, and he is good. I play at UltimateBet, the site he's affiliated with, and I own one of his books, so what can I say?

Poker tournaments, like any televised event, need a good storyline. There are a number of players that are severely lacking in class, manners, self-control, or who are simply downright boorish acting at the tables. Hellmuth, Matusow, D'agostino, Tommy G, Todd Brunson, just to name a few. I think they are a necessity, as they play the "villains" that you love to root against, and that keeps you glued to the screen.

Hellmuth has done numerous interviews after one of his episodes, several right after. He usually calms down fairly quickly and goes on about his business. To call the poker brat thing "schtick" is to insinuate that he does it on purpose which I honestly don't hink is the case. It is his personality, not a clever acting job. ESPN found a personality in him that was marketable, you either watch because you hate him and know he's going to implode sometime, or you watch him because you think he is talented and a master at the game of NLHE, either way, you're watching. But to say that he is socially retarded and calling it schtick are kind of a contradiction. If he's socially retarded, it isn't on purpose, if it is schtick, then he is simply marketing himself as a brat and isn't socially retarded, he's shrewed.

I tend to believe he is just passionate about the game, hates to lose, and has trouble controling his emotions.

notfit66 · Jun 28, 2005

Last time I saw Phil playing, it was a heads up tourney and when he was interviewed he was saying that he was trying to change his image...to calm down and mature...will look good on him..he is an exceptional player

wudegod · Jun 28, 2005

let's not forget. when Phil Helmouth won his first big tourny , there werent a fraction of the people that are in todays tournies. That goes for a lot of the old timers. I'm not taking anything away from his abilities, but that's just the truth. If i have to watch a full grown man whine on TV about how someone else played there hand to beat him, i think id rather watch MIMI Tran , or CLonie Wilson,, not that thrilled with aAnnie Duke though, less whiney primadonna guys.. more hot women

MicheleW · Jun 28, 2005

Hi Diablo - Yes, I agree most players aren't model good looking ... LOL -- but combine whiney, and obnoxious and he looks even worse.

I also heard that was his schitck too and it does draw crowds and people love to watch him. He is a good player too, I'll give him that. What so funny too is he talks to his opponents and they just sit there stone faced .. LOL

laraspal00 · Jun 28, 2005

I think you mean Clonie Gowen.

Pat

MicheleW · Jun 28, 2005

uomfan4 - the above message has been forwarded to your wife! she's not happy. LOL

Poker Jill · Jun 28, 2005

He may whine alot..but I think he is a great poker player and brings entertainment to it. Poker players need to lighten up and Hellmuth does that for them...whoever is seated beside Phil usually has a few laughs!! :sheep:

diabloblanco · Jun 28, 2005

Yep, I was just about to say, its Clonie Gowen.

Also, I have read countless interviews with Phil and I really don't get the feeling that its all an act. He plays with conviction and loses his temper and composure. So what? He's only saying what everyone that plays poker wants to say..."You called me down with THAT?"

lightning36 · Jun 28, 2005

Very similar to John McEnroe in tennis. Don't like either. I prefer a classy champion.

Cole_Donovan · Jun 28, 2005

My Humble Opinion

I really like Phil, he's fun to watch and knows what he's doing...He's has poker knowledge most of us could only dream of, and a small chunk of that knowledge is shared in his books....this guy can sit at a table and have a read on every single player within an hour...For the people that hate him, seeing him on TV is like a car wreck, you don't want to watch but you have to, he's good for TV...I think even the people that hate him, loving hating him so much, that they actually like him....

ChuckTs · Jun 28, 2005

MicheleW said:
Okay this is shallow - but I don't care for his looks - so he's not attractive to me whether he plays great or not. Plus he is a big baby - nothing worse than a ManBaby. LOL

LOL
michele did you ever see the WSOP episode where they have a special on him?
they go through his daily routine including half naked meditiation (word that guys got bigger boobs than my girlfriend) followed by his staring in a mirror and repeating to himself that great things will happen to him ( another one of my petpeaves is people with big egos )

anyways

diabloblanco said:
I guess I am one of the "want to be cool for liking someone that evryone else hates" people. I have like Hellmuth since I got interested in watching poker on ESPN. Do I think he carries his tantrums a bit far, sure, sometimes. But have any of you ever played for the kind of money that is generally on the line when he complains about a bad beat? No? OK then. So who's to say that your demeanor wouldn't change as well. Love him or hate him he has done a lot for poker as far as pro endorsement deals (Oakley), and his record speaks for itself.

Most cashes at WSOP with 46 (tie with TJ Cloutier)

9 WSOP bracelets, was a tying record until yesterday when Chan won #10

Second only to Raymer in monies won on the WSOP at 3.6 million

2 WSOP Main Event wins

Winner of the innaugral NBC NLHE Challenge 2005

Several of the largest European titles won

Lucrative endorsement deals (a first in poker) paving the way for the new crop of talent to cash in

And the list can go on and on. Todd Brunson, Johnny Chan, and others like to bag on Phil because they are, IMO, jealous of all the media attention he gets and that because of it he doesn't have to risk his ass in a 10,000/20,000 limit game to stay rich like the syndicate members do. They grind out 250,000 or a half-million playing cards all the while risking losing as much and more and he doesn't have to take any of that risk, and is as rich or moreso than anyone in the syndicate aside from Barry Greenstein (and he may have him covered as well).

People like to hate what they are jealous of. And PH is a prime example. He has had rediculous success and has been a shrewed enough businessman that he has ventured into all kinds of poker related and non related deals and has made a mountain of money doing it. He isn't the typical degenerate gambler who wins a wsop bracelet and has to be staked for upcomming events because he lost all the cash playing craps. He has avoided many of the pitfalls of gambling success (except ego) and he should be given his due credit.

and diablo i'm not gonna argue with you, you're mostly right - i just have a personal hate for the guy :embarasse

diabloblanco · Jun 28, 2005

P.S. Not for nothing, he does have mad man boobs. He could use a bro-ssiere.

wudegod · Jun 29, 2005

your right lara it is Cloniw Gowan...most people wouldnt evenNOTICE Phil Helmouth if she was at the same table

Tammy · Jun 30, 2005

MicheleW said:
Okay this is shallow - but I don't care for his looks - so he's not attractive to me whether he plays great or not. Plus he is a big baby - nothing worse than a ManBaby. LOL

ha! I'm on board with you girlfriend! But actually, I find Hellmuth entertaining more than annoying. The one player that I ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT STAND is Mike Matasow! UGH! Talk about a cry baby! The guy is an idiot! At least Hellmuth has game. As for hottie at the table....my vote goes to Gus Hansen...call me crazy, but I think he's yummy! lol

max_barry · Jul 1, 2005

he is a great poker player, and his book is great, but everyone seems tpo think he is a moaning git lol.

swoop · Mar 10, 2007

He is cocky, loudmouthed and egotistical, but to say that you hate him is a little excessive. I just saw the segment of the WSOP Main Event in which he was knocked out with his AQs against pocket 7s. He was silent at first, but then berated the guy for betting that much on 7s, even though AQs is a dog to that hand. He later repeated his tired mantra that he is the world's greatest Holdem player and at the top of his game, but he just can't beat luck. He's really kind of pitiful.

Phil Hellmuth....most hated?

ChuckTs

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HollyGo

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