Is Phil Helmuth a jerk?

[Mortis]

When Phil Helmuth loses a hand to a donk call or bad beat he goes balistic. Is he really a jerk or is it a good publicity act?

When he loses a hand to a good call or better hand all the way, he still goes balistic. I bet he has high blood pressure.

 

[dmorris68]

From all the comments, articles, books, etc. I've read from other players -- and from Phil himself -- it's both. As others mentioned, he has the reputation for being everybody's best friend away from the table, he's a "shirt off his back" kind of guy for any friend in need.

I think his antics now have a strategic element to them, but they're borne of a deep seated passion for the game that borders on an obsessive/compulsive disorder. He strives to play a "perfect" game and he expects others to as well, so he has zero patience for bad play, bad calls, suckouts, etc. He gets very emotional and caught up in it all, then blows up, but later he usually apologizes and expresses remorse. I've heard him say that he wishes he wasn't like that but he just can't help himself in the heat of the moment. Impulse takes over. I would not be surprised if there were some mental health or personality disorder type issues at play there, but everyone seems to say he's very well-adjusted away from the table so who knows exactly how much of it is a strategic image thing.

I used to hate him for it, but now I find it both sad and amusing. At the same time, it's also hard to feel too sorry for a multi-millionaire. And as virtually any celebrity PR person will tell you, there is no such thing as bad publicity.

 

[brianvoytek]

I dont think hes a jerk at all. Its part of an act that hes made money off of and is good at. Outside of the table hes a great family man and overall nice guy. People need to understand theres trash talk in poker. Just like in basketball.

Not a big deal. Thats why you see most people laugh and not say anything back to him. They let him rant.

Its entertainment.

 

[brank]

dont mind the guy, cant argue with his wsop stats. yes, it is an act most of the time. that sam grizzle part is even longer and they talk about the time they almost got in a fist fight. super funny shit.

 

[liamkg]

The video is halarious I didnt get to see much of the world series this year so I hadnt seen this but I did catch the one where Phil buys drinks for the guys friends and has a side bet on whos hand is better that was pretty funny and nice of Phil. But personally I still cant stand the guy.

thats from the 1990s

 

[brianvoytek]

thats from the 1990s

No, that was from this year. There was people from Aruba who he bought drinks for.

 

[salim271]

Hey RK..
Not sure if he was like that before TV.. if so then, that is what he uses for one of his intimidation tactics to try and control a table... May have worked for awhile but everyone knows and he hasnt changed.
His Loss!! LOL

lool in berry greenstein's book Ace On The River and in Phil Gordon's little green book phil acts pretty much exactly the same in the early 90s and before...

 

[Divebitch]

It's just a side of him, and the competition brings it out in him. And he's lucky to have it, and he knows it. So he uses it to his advantage in every way, shape, and form at the poker tables. With 11 bracelets, he's obviously not as out of control as he seems. It's partly frustration, but all showmanship. And the media & poker fans have come to expect it, just like John McEnroe ranting to the line ref. It's good for poker in general. But in 'real life', everything I read shows him to be a generous, congenial, funny, family man, and good friend.

BTW, anyone see the Celebrity Apprentice episode where Annie Duke called him on the phone and practically ripped him a new a$$hole after finding out he agreed to some donation or something after being approached by someone on her rival team (that Joan Rivers was on), unbeknowst to poor, benevolent Phil. He barely attempted a word in edgewise to her rant, like a dog cowering in fear with his tail between his legs. It was pretty damn funny.

 

[joemac696969]

Thats just him being himself, he is a jerk when he is playing!

 

[AtiFCOD]

I think he just does it for the show. This is his "trademark". He shouldnt be taken seriously. Anyway he's a very good poker player.

 

[salim271]

I think he just does it for the show. This is his "trademark". He shouldnt be taken seriously. Anyway he's a very good poker player.

Probably, but i dunno, at that level you'd think he'd be good at something OTHER than holdem... all 11 bracelets in holdem...? I mean he probably would be considered at least near best in the world if he had some variety, like Ivey lol.

 

[Roger1960]

It might be a lot of editing, lol, there are a lot of spots they don't show on tv. His getting mad is good for Springer tv, I hope they get over showing that stuff, that is not why I watch the tourneys. I do think it gives him an advantage, a lot of players will play differently when he is in the hand.
He prides himself on his reads and is very upset when he reads it right and players suck out on him. Which of course is part of the game.
His wife is a phycologist isn't she? Definitely a good pairing. I know he does yoga and meditation to try and curb his outbursts.
He is a great player, noone can take that from him.

 

[bammi]

How many times have you wanted to go off on a donk.So he is a jerk because he speaks his mind. I let people know what I think if the make a bad call. I try not to be rude but sometimes I am. If I realize it was too rude I will say sorry.

 

[Salacious]

Why oh why would you go off on someone that makes a bad play? Do you hate money? You want them to play only when they have you beat? Nothing pisses me off more than someone talking a donk into playing better, or worse yet, going to another table. You people that seek to educate players need to have your head tested.
As for Helmuth, I think it's a little of both, he likely started out a jerk, and found that people changed there play as a result, and became more predictable. So he's now got this huge reputation that he'll be all over you if you make a bad call, so people play more predictably against him, at least the amateurs do. If you ever watch Phil play against pros, you'll quickly recognize that he owes his success to beating amateurs, primarily the ones that play "proper poker" against him because they don't want to be victim to his antics.

 

[Poker Orifice]

How many times have you wanted to go off on a donk.So he is a jerk because he speaks his mind. I let people know what I think if the make a bad call. I try not to be rude but sometimes I am. If I realize it was too rude I will say sorry.

Why? Why do you do this? Do you want them to play better? I used to do this awhile back.... sometimes when feeling disgusted by a fool's terribad call on a turn with nowhere near the odds for it... or impl.odds, etc. but really it serves zero positive purpose. It actually builds on my own biggest leak on the tables >>> getting emotionally involved. It's negative thru & thru.

These days I get upset if someone else on the table starts ripping into the donkey...... "they're messing with my money when they start doing that!" It's the donkey who's going to be paying me off..... and I appreciate their presence on the tables (or at least I try to in the midst of a terribad beat).
There's alot of jerks on the tables (online mirco limits especially). Playing without chat I find is far better.
On live tables I've never had to deal with jerkwads.... weighing in at 260lbs. at 5'10", sleeved up might be why.

I like Phil. He keeps it interesting.

 

[RoyalFish]

Is he really a jerk or is it a good publicity act?

I don't think they're exclusive. If you're a jerk because it's your natural personality or you're a jerk for some calculated reason, you're still a jerk.

RF

 

[adsthepro123]

Phil Hellmuth

Phil Hellmuth is a great player and i love watching him play, he give you a lot of entertainment because of his personality, i recon he really does use his blow ups as a strategy in a way to put his opponents off their game, lets look back to the wsop 2008 or 9 when he called this guy an idiot about 5 times and their was a big argument, that is then in the back of that players mind for the rest of the tournament, however i think phil has trained himself to put it behind him and concentrate back on his game.
adsthepro

 

[AUPhoenix]

Phil Hellmuth

The WSOP tourney results speak for themselves. Phil is a great tourney poker player. His tirades are mostly for show and to try and get someone off there game. On the other hand, with so many people just playing rags against him so they can say they took out hte great Phil Hellmuth I am sure some of his blow ups are real.

Anyway, I think he is the best.

 

[dwolfg]

Is a pigs @ss pork?