http://grantland.com/hollywood-prosp...phil-hellmuth/

Phil Hellmuth appeared on Brian Koppelman's (one of the writers of "Rounders") podcast recently and, despite veering off into insufferable name-dropping Phil territory from time to time, I thought it was a pretty interesting listen.

A few nuggets:

- Phil claims to have originated "small ball."

- Phil argues that all of the sophisticated math that the "Internet Kids" use can be learned in just a few hours.

- Phil basically claims that he was the inspiration for Mike McD

- Phil says that he was about to ink a huge sponsorship deal that fell through because of Black Friday (I'm guessing it wasn't a deal to reup with UB, so I figure that leaves Stars, Tilt, or maybe some site that would have been affiliated with Epic Poker?)

- He's never, NEVER cheated on his wife, but he wants you to know that he's had many opportunities to do so.

- Lest you think he's too clean cut, though, he has smoked weed #greenmagic

I think I remember him almost joining FT

don't you nerds get tired of criticizing and trolling Phil Hellmuth?

if he's really as bad at poker as so many of you claim, and is such an unlikable and arrogant brat....why do you guys continue to follow his each and every move?? or spend the time combing through every single statement or interview he gives looking for little nuggets like these??

if hes such an unbearable personality that makes a horrible ambassador for poker....how about you hop off his jock and find something productive to do?

haters are pathetic....you're just bringing more attention to the *very person* you apparently despise so much. i just dont get it....its like saying "GOD I HATE JUSTIN BIEBER!" ....then following him on twitter, searching for every interview he gives, listening to all his songs, dissecting his every move, etc.

i think most of you are actually closet-Hellmuth fans....probably sit around and fap away to his biggest blowups and meltdowns.

Hi Phil's mom.

You seem mad.

I just happened to come across this interview because I am subscribed to the Grantland Pop Culture feed, and I decided to give it a listen.

As far as my interest in Hellmuth, I don't consider myself a good enough player to judge his ability (although his results do seem to indicate that he does some things very well), so I am more interested in his psychological construction. He has been very successful professionally, yet he seems tremendously insecure and this insecurity manifests itself through constant name-dropping, and an apparent need to overstate his own achievements, when his actual achievements are quite impressive. The mixture of self-confidence and the need to keep proving his worth is just fascinating to me, and that's why I keep reading and listening to interviews.

Oh, and I'm just a nerdy, dirty basement kid with nothing better to do with my life, obv.

This is something like the 7th time I've heard him say this. Phil doth protest too much, methinks.

why could he not have originated it? he's a nit and has been for a very long time. he very well could have originated "small ball."

Wifey has probably cheated on him.

i dont think its normal to care this much about someone you don't even like and who has absolutely nothing to do with your own life.
i can sort of understand people who are like this with celebrities/people whom they actually admire or like....but I'm dumbfounded by the amount of time so many internet nerds and 2+2ers spend trying to make other people look bad when they are absolutely irrelevant to each others lives.

I mean i could understand people doing this sort of thing with someone like Howard Lederer...because his actions(or inaction) directly affected them in a negative way and they are legitimately angry.

anyways I've just noticed a pattern over the years...this sort of behavior almost always comes from insecure people...usually people who would never have the nerve or courage to behave this way in person. ill go out on a limb and guarantee that if you played the Main Event next year and Phil Hellmuth sat down at your table....you along with countless other haters on here would act completely different.

Its embarrassing that we have to share our profession with whores like this guy. After I win one drop, he immediately comes on stage to shake my hand in front of a camera and congratulate me. As if he's the gatekeeper to the poker world and welcoming me inside.


It is truly pathetic that a 40 year old would behave the way he does at the table, not to mention how spineless he is, just willing to take any sponsorship regardless of the company's integrity. Hey, anything for a payday! Really makes me sad to think there's a chance some people may look up to this charlatan. People of his attitude and character are a cancer to this world.

so why didn't you say something to him, instead of shaking his hand and sucking up to him? was probably your only chance to tell him how you feel and instead you wait to come on 2+2 and pile on with the Phil Hellmuth hate..

seems sort of spineless if you ask me

was too busy being sad and depressed after my win :/

gonna go learn internet maths, brb in a couple hrs

right...

...no way that your just a completely different person on the internet when there's little to no chance you'd come face to face with a person whom you just called a pathetic, spineless charlatan that's a cancer to the world.

and thanks for making my point.

The guy has major self-confidence issues. Hence the constant need for reaffirmation, the overcompensation, the name dropping, etc. Isn't his wife a psychologist? And he is without a doubt a publicity whore.

In his defense, he either consciously or subconsciously knows that keeping his name in the spotlight is his ticket to future revenue streams in poker. Negraneau knows this, as well. Young guys come and go, Phil will stick around because he is a true poker celebrity, with all the good and bad that comes with it.

But yeah, it was a classless move to rush out there and congratulate you. It was your moment, not his.

Maybe somebody told him manners and how to do the polite thing in public?

@ MerginHosOn24s

crawl back under ur rock fanboy.

we all know hes a ass to nose rubbing piece if dirt who does anything for a $

if u cant take it, just leave instead of trolling the thread with ur helmutsasslicking.

Where do you see any "trolling" in OPs post? He simply posted an interview and cliffnoted it. The fact that you came here passionately fighting a phantom battle is pretty cringeworthy......

Must be nice to be able to include the bolded phrase in internet rants. Gives it more weight. Maybe next year we'll see forum trolls flocking to satellite in for the privilege.

Though I have to say I'm disappointed to hear he greeted you with a handshake after your win instead of a Carl's Jr cheeseburger and a can of Milwuakee Best Light with his face on it.

if you thought somebody was a pathetic, spineless, charlatan - and that person approached you after you won a tourney to shake your hand, would you smile and shake their hand and get away from them as quickly as possible, or tell them to their face how you feel about them?

if the latter, you have very poor social skills and should work on that. most reasonable people would do the former.

If you've just won a $1million entry tournament and you're giving even the slightest consideration to whose hand you're going to shake and whose you won't, you're doing it wrong.

Any real questions about UB or anything? Or is it just all about how good Phil is?

The "I've never cheated on my wife" thing is getting a bit old. Does he want a medal or something?

Exactly. Russ Hamilton could have approached him and he'd have probably just shaken his hand. That's not the time to say 'oh wow, you, you're a huge ****ing scumbag'

lol

who in the right mind keeps bragging about not cheating. also will be fun to see hellmuth and dan on a table together after his posts. ive seen clips of people getting awarded their bracelets and hes always sniffing around trying to steal some attention

Respect.