Re: Tony G, I actually interviewed him when I was working on the poker magazines and away from the tables he is a totally different character. Mellow, very sharp mentally and not at all arrogant with it. At the tables, he's obviously a bit different I did ask him if he ever felt bad and wondered if one day he'd look back at some of his behaviour and be ashamed of it. He actually surprised me and said quite possibly, but at the end of the day poker is a game and he wants to have fun playing it. If he can have fun and stick a guy on tilt at the same time, that's profitable for him. It's not to everyone's taste, but I think he's a guy who likes the attention of the cameras and the adrenalin that comes with it. Posted by Sky_Dave
What do you think he would do if during 1 of his rants, someone stood up, chest to chest, face to face with him and stared him right in the eye, as if he was ready to go?
He thinks he's too important for this to ever happen, I bet he doesn't have a plan for it!
Would be v v v v funny.
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Not commented yet, but I LOVE Tony G's antics when they are aimed at experienced pros and other big poker personalities, such as Hellmuth.
Hate it when it's aimed at amateurs and younger/less well known pros, such as Robl/blackfish.
In Response to Re: love him or hate him... : What do you think he would do if during 1 of his rants, someone stood up, chest to chest, face to face with him and stared him right in the eye, as if he was ready to go? He thinks he's too important for this to ever happen, I bet he doesn't have a plan for it! Would be v v v v funny. ----- Not commented yet, but I LOVE Tony G's antics when they are aimed at experienced pros and other big poker personalities, such as Hellmuth. Hate it when it's aimed at amateurs and younger/less well known pros, such as Robl/blackfish. Posted by DOHHHHHHH
Re: Tony G, I actually interviewed him when I was working on the poker magazines and away from the tables he is a totally different character. Mellow, very sharp mentally and not at all arrogant with it. At the tables, he's obviously a bit different I did ask him if he ever felt bad and wondered if one day he'd look back at some of his behaviour and be ashamed of it. He actually surprised me and said quite possibly, but at the end of the day poker is a game and he wants to have fun playing it. If he can have fun and stick a guy on tilt at the same time, that's profitable for him. It's not to everyone's taste, but I think he's a guy who likes the attention of the cameras and the adrenalin that comes with it. Posted by Sky_Dave
Yep, this is what I mean Dave - he's always come across as a great guy in his interviews away from the tables.
Obv most people like Amybr (maybe understandably) get sucked into his table persona and think that's how he really is.
Like Doh says, I love Tony G's stuff when he does it against truly pompous established pros like Hellmuth. I've got no sympathy for PH when other players gang up on him and "celebrate" when he loses - he's spent years making his bed with his antics to build his image, now he's got to lie in it.
Man, I really don't like Hellmuth - I should go for a lie down and get over it!
I used to hate him but I think he's brilliant now. The thing is, none of it is personal or real - it's pure theatre with him, a pure act. Listen to his phrases aswell, "seven from heaven", "ace from space", "butcher of baghdad" - it's a complete script he's made up - it's brilliant for poker on TV and therefore good for the game if it gets more people watching and eventually playing. Hellmuth on the other hand, is a proper d0uche. Ofc his is an act aswell (and yes I'll grudgingly admit good for the game too), but he actually BELIEVES (or at least used to) he's the best. He's calmed down a little recently because I think he has privately (he wont admit it publicly ofc) acknowledged that he's nowhere near the top pros in terms of ability. He also only picks fights with recreational players because he knows he would get torn apart by the pros! Posted by JingleMa
Hellmuth has 12 bracelets !YOU have none, WHO is the pro?? Can you even spell POKER?
ok tv persona can be false to an extent and to put people on tilt but i think generaly he may be nice in an interview because if he come across badly on there the media would hate him also, There is always some real part of a persons personality that comes out at a table just like when you drink i suppose. Other professional great players dont use this as a tactic or a way to get on tv but they are great players, what makes a great player is the ability to read and play the game well without being nasty which he does not. He is a good player or wouldnt be so well known on the poker circuit but is he world class i dont think so, ive seen numerous games hes played and the majority of times he has been out played, out classed and when he wins down to a lot of luck. there is no need for the way he comes across even if he is entertaining to some viewers, phill helmuth is arrogant but a genius when it comes to poker he just spits his dummy sometimes when he loses like a lot of us do at times, but he dosnt make personal attacks on players when they get beat and he wins. I have played mouthy bad winners who try to put you on tilt and to be honest i love it, it focuses my play and i fixate on that perticular player and take great joy in taking them down without shouting insults, and they feel so so so small after you do it to them. Ive had players in live games who constantly rub hands in your face, so i just wait wait wait then boom show them a bluff and turn the tabels putting them on ultra tilt because of how arragant they are and they just go quiet for the rest of the game or leave because they know they are outplayed. The same happens with him the bigger the mouth they are the harder they fall.
as much as i dont like him i must say its always good entertainment to have heros and villans, i watched the King of Kong a fist full of quarters documentary the other day if you havent seen it check it out.
In Response to Re: love him or hate him... : Yep, this is what I mean Dave - he's always come across as a great guy in his interviews away from the tables. Obv most people like Amybr (maybe understandably) get sucked into his table persona and think that's how he really is. Like Doh says, I love Tony G's stuff when he does it against truly pompous established pros like Hellmuth. I've got no sympathy for PH when other players gang up on him and "celebrate" when he loses - he's spent years making his bed with his antics to build his image, now he's got to lie in it. Man, I really don't like Hellmuth - I should go for a lie down and get over it! Posted by JingleMa
Excuse me? Utter jibberish, nice back hand insult though. The exact equal can be said for people like you (maybe understandably) getting sucked into Hellmuths persona.
ok tv persona can be false to an extent and to put people on tilt 1. but i think generaly he may be nice in an interview because if he come across badly on there the media would hate him also, There is always some real part of a persons personality that comes out at a table just like when you drink i suppose. Other professional great players dont use this as a tactic or a way to get on tv but they are great players, what makes a great player is the ability to read and play the game well without being nasty which he does not. He is a good player or wouldnt be so well known on the poker circuit butis he world class i dont think so, ive seen numerous games hes played and the majority of times he has been out played, out classed and when he wins down to a lot of luck. there is no need for the way he comes across even if he is entertaining to some viewers, 2. phill helmuth is arrogant but a genius when it comes to poker he just spits his dummy sometimes when he loses like a lot of us do at times, but he dosnt make personal attacks on players when they get beat and he wins. it fI have played mouthy bad winners who try to put you on tilt and to be honest i love it,ocuses my play and take great joy in taking them down without shouting insults, and they feel so so so small after you do it to them. Ive had players in live games who constantly rub hands in your face, so i just wait wait wait then boom show them a bluff and because of how arragant they are and they just go quiet for the rest of the game or leave because they know they are outplayed. The same happens with him the bigger the mouth they are the harder they fall. Posted by Dazler
I couldn't disagree more.
1. Phil Hellmuth still comes across as extremely arrogant and conceited in his interviews, he just can't hide this part of his personality. Tony G on the table is just an act - many players use speech play in many different ways to try to gain an edge - sometimes it's just part of their true personality, sometimes it's just a table act and Tony G is pure panto villain, nothing more.
2. Don't believe the Hellmuth hype machine, he's a very good high stakes MTT player with tons of experience in them, nothing more. He's nowhere near a genius and would come off worse to Tony G either in cash or heads up. In high stakes cash, a game in which you need a higher and more varied skill set than MTT's, Hellmuth is still out of his depth against the best. Here are just a few examples among many:
In Response to Re: love him or hate him... : Excuse me? Utter jibberish, nice back hand insult though. The exact equal can be said for people like you (maybe understandably) getting sucked into Hellmuths persona. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr4LnhLQF3o Tony G being his usually classy self. Posted by AMYBR
It wasn't an insult, I just used your name as an example, maybe I shouldn't have - no offence intended.
I was trying to point out that many people just see clips like the one op has posted and make an immediate judgement on Tony G without knowing anything about the man - this can be seen in some of the other posts in this thread aswell.
I've always wanted to give Hellmuth the benefit of the doubt because of his undoubted MTT record - but IMO, he is without grace or humility in life aswell as poker, unlike Tony G - you obv disagree, fair enough.
He sure was owned by durr in that clip jinglema!! Problem with helmuth is he has a massive ego. Dont think he liked the thought of being bluffed/out played by a "kid" half his age....
In Response to Re: love him or hate him... : It wasn't an insult, I just used your name as an example, maybe I shouldn't have - no offence intended. I was trying to point out that many people just see clips like the one op has posted and make an immediate judgement on Tony G without knowing anything about the man - this can be seen in some of the other posts in this thread aswell. I've always wanted to give Hellmuth the benefit of the doubt because of his undoubted MTT record - but IMO, he is without grace or humility in life aswell as poker, unlike Tony G - you obv disagree, fair enough. Posted by JingleMa
And as I said I fully agree, Hellmuth is a tool lol. What you say about him often coming off badly in interviews is true, even more true is what you say about it likely being a side of his personality that he just cant hide. He is an egomaniac and probably genuinely has a borderline personality disorder
All am saying is that his early success and his perception of his success is the grounds for his egomania, which isnt unfounded.
I dont make a snap judgment on anybody bud, having seen huge amounts of footage of Tony G this is my conclusion. I agree that he does seem like a reasonable bloke away from the table.
Lol I also agree (and have always agreed) that Hellmuth courts the kind of abuse he gets, therefore likely deserving it. But we cant forget that at this moment in time he is statistically the most successful nlhe player of all time. We could break it down into events entered/size of field/buy ins which shines a different light on it. But Hellmuth is good for poker, always has been likely always will be. If there is a panta villain it has to be Hellmuth.
First ever footage I saw of Tony G was the link I posted however, perhaps slightly influencing me. On top of that my ex wife is south African and that Lithuanian/Aussie accent comes pretty darn close for some reason
Comments
Obv most people like Amybr (maybe understandably) get sucked into his table persona and think that's how he really is.
Like Doh says, I love Tony G's stuff when he does it against truly pompous established pros like Hellmuth. I've got no sympathy for PH when other players gang up on him and "celebrate" when he loses - he's spent years making his bed with his antics to build his image, now he's got to lie in it.
Man, I really don't like Hellmuth - I should go for a lie down and get over it!
Wow, Tony G is a complete and utter *&^%$£, I hope I don't go on tilt after that!!
* the link is just an edit of the windup bits.
And wish i never had now
This is funny though as he makes a right co ck up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOHPyYnJKFs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr4LnhLQF3o
Tony G being his usually classy self.
1. Phil Hellmuth still comes across as extremely arrogant and conceited in his interviews, he just can't hide this part of his personality. Tony G on the table is just an act - many players use speech play in many different ways to try to gain an edge - sometimes it's just part of their true personality, sometimes it's just a table act and Tony G is pure panto villain, nothing more.
2. Don't believe the Hellmuth hype machine, he's a very good high stakes MTT player with tons of experience in them, nothing more. He's nowhere near a genius and would come off worse to Tony G either in cash or heads up. In high stakes cash, a game in which you need a higher and more varied skill set than MTT's, Hellmuth is still out of his depth against the best. Here are just a few examples among many:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_JbBifL4cg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b07AuZjCAbQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rU1XhFZwf0&feature=related
Sorry, that lie down did no good whatsoever lol.
I was trying to point out that many people just see clips like the one op has posted and make an immediate judgement on Tony G without knowing anything about the man - this can be seen in some of the other posts in this thread aswell.
I've always wanted to give Hellmuth the benefit of the doubt because of his undoubted MTT record - but IMO, he is without grace or humility in life aswell as poker, unlike Tony G - you obv disagree, fair enough.
All am saying is that his early success and his perception of his success is the grounds for his egomania, which isnt unfounded.
I dont make a snap judgment on anybody bud, having seen huge amounts of footage of Tony G this is my conclusion. I agree that he does seem like a reasonable bloke away from the table.
Lol I also agree (and have always agreed) that Hellmuth courts the kind of abuse he gets, therefore likely deserving it. But we cant forget that at this moment in time he is statistically the most successful nlhe player of all time. We could break it down into events entered/size of field/buy ins which shines a different light on it. But Hellmuth is good for poker, always has been likely always will be. If there is a panta villain it has to be Hellmuth.
First ever footage I saw of Tony G was the link I posted however, perhaps slightly influencing me. On top of that my ex wife is south African and that Lithuanian/Aussie accent comes pretty darn close for some reason