Punk Players Ass Online Poker Players – Obnoxious Players That Aren’t Always Popular
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There is a very thin line between self-promotion and self-demotion. This is very evident when analyzing the history of the following poker players. If it wasn’t for their loud mouths, it is very possible that at least two of the three players on this list would have no following whatsoever.
When you speak out as much as these guys, you have to learn to take the good with the bad. Players like this inevitably draw crowds of people who simply dislike them, and often with very good reason. The tradeoff, though, is that they will also gain a fair amount of fan support. It is a “live by the sword, die by the sword” situation. If you are unwilling to get in front of the cameras, you are not going to receive a lot of publicity, unless of course your results are able to speak for themselves.
Some players like to talk a lot but have absolutely nothing to back it up. Other players talk a lot to compensate for their mediocre results. Then there are guys who talk a lot and are able to actually provide some proof of their skills. Phil Hellmuth arguably fits into the latter category, while Luke Schwartz and Tony G. fit much better in the former. This is probably one of the primary reasons why Schwartz and Tony G are much less popular than Hellmuth in the grand scheme of things. Many players have noted that Tony G tends to be on the quiet side when the cameras are not around, so it is clear that his acting at the table is nothing more than a publicity stunt.
It is perfectly acceptable for some players to talk a little bit of trash, but it is laughable when a player talks trash and they are trash themselves. Friendly banter or name calling is very common in poker, and there usually aren’t any disputes that arise as a result of it. Players like Tony G tend to push the envelope and go over the edge. Maybe they think they’re being funny, maybe they think it’s cool, but the fact is that they look like idiots, and the public generally takes notice. Of course, there is always that demographic of poker fans who blindly follow the leader and pick these clowns as their favorite players.
For the most part, Tony G and Luke Schwartz are a black eye for the game of poker. Phil Hellmuth was the original cry baby, and his antics are largely ignored and generally quite tame. Nonetheless, his popular fan base is nearly matched by the number of fans who find no reason whatsoever to cheer him on. If you are a poker fan or a poker player, you probably shouldn’t be looking to these guys for advice on how to handle yourself at the table, that much is certain.
1. Luke Schwartz
Luke Schwartz, better known as __FullFlush1__ in online poker, is perhaps the biggest talker out there today. He is most notorious for his insults directed at Tom Dwan and his never ending challenges. The online poker world is not the end of Schwartz’s antics, however, as he has been known to cause problems in virtually every brick and mortar casino that he enters. Schwartz is as pompous as they come.
He made a name for himself when he went on the heater of a lifetime on Full Tilt Poker, quickly earning over one million dollars in the nosebleed games. His bout of good luck would slowly come to an end, though, and he is now barely grasping on to any bit of profit he once had. His actual skill set is evidenced in the fact that his earnings shoot straight up over a small sample of hands, and then slowly rot away day after day. Any good player would find consistency in their winnings, but the only things consistent about Schwartz are losses and empty trash talking.
2. Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth, aptly named “The Poker Brat,” was around when it all started. Before online poker exploded, Hellmuth was abusing players at tables around the world. His never ending desire to be the center of attention often landed him right in front of the cameras. As poker began to grow, so did Hellmuth’s popularity. He took on the role of primary sponsored pro at UltimateBet and is now one of the most well-known poker players in the world. Though he regularly touts himself as the best poker player in the world, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, he is one of the most popular players in the world, but that doesn’t mean he is one of the best.
The reality is that Hellmuth is a sub-par cash game player at best, and he has been ridiculed for his talents on a number of occasions. He won tournaments when the fields were small and the competition was weak, but has done relatively little since. Beyond this, his skills do not extend far beyond No Limit Texas Hold’em. These are just some of the major criticisms of Phil Hellmuth. If Hellmuth spent more time working on his game and less time complaining to the media, maybe he would actually win something every once in a while.
3. Tony G
Tony G is an idiot in a lot of poker players eyes (bloggers opinion), period. He handles himself at the table like a five year old throwing a temper tantrum. Why? Because he needs something to act as a mask for his lack of poker skills. Tony G is not a good poker player, let alone a great one. If it wasn’t for all of his talking, it is likely that no one would know him at all. Tony G is also laughable because he tries to make instructional online poker videos, only to demonstrate just how poor his insight into the game truly is. He routinely offers bad advice and is always one hand away from another terrible play. Don’t acknowledge someone like Tony G as a poker star, think of him as an idiot with a mouth to match.