The Muck: Negreanu Needles Hellmuth, Twitter Spat Ensues
Phil Hellmuth might be wearing the King of the Hill belt - at least for the time being, but the belt, 14 bracelets, and millions in earnings doesn't necessarily mean he's the best of all time. But it doesn't mean he isn't, either.
If you look at the greats from other sports like Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, and Cristiano Ronaldo, their skills are evident, and their status is not disputed, by their peers or their fans.
In poker, however, while skill is a huge factor, there is an element of luck to every win which makes being the "greatest" of all time, something a little harder to prove.
In an interview with PokerCentral, Daniel Negreanu talked about the new breed of poker players, saying, “These guys have worked real hard on their game the past couple years where I haven’t, and Phil thinks he’s the one seed – it’s delusional. It’s not real life.”
Needless to say, that didn't sit well with Hellmuth and off they went to battle it out ... one tweet at a time.
Who's Number 1?
I am always the #1 seed in no limit Hold'em tourneys DNegs, best ROI in history kid. And yes, I agree: one of us i… https://t.co/ASIwuqvgHZ
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth)
@phil_hellmuth Instead of learning from them you choose to berate them. You do you, and I'll learn from them what I can. Good luck.
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker)
I respect them. I berate everyone (Poker Brat!), and I always learn and improve. But I see too many flaws to conc… https://t.co/J7GXV8386o
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth)
Ego Rearing Its Ugly Head
@phil_hellmuth You are a good guy Phil but your ego is blinding you from the truth. The players of today are world… https://t.co/pdTi959hYw
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker)
Uh...Got caught in ego war, embarrassingly! Always best for me to let my play do the talking, but the slights, esp… https://t.co/Gtd3icXXvh
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth)
@phil_hellmuth I just tell you the truth Phil. It's not personal. I like you, but you totally disrespect players th… https://t.co/cQ01WD42Yc
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker)
Naming Names
It's not a hard sell to say Hellmuth truly believes he's number one. It would be incredulous and off brand for him to think otherwise. Of course, he's probably thinking the only way to prove he's number one is to find out who he's up against.
Yo @RealKidPoker pardon me if I disagree w your "Truth." I've seen your "Truth" be wrong way too many times. Write… https://t.co/YC3S2FpRIP
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth)
@phil_hellmuth I don't expect many of the current greats to be around in 7 years. Many will move on to other things… https://t.co/ESTh1AEszm
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker)
Cmon DNegs, that's WEAK!! Put your list up for the world to see or admit I'm the best: no other way out of the mes… https://t.co/0lEsyWBhDH
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth)
@phil_hellmuth If you would like as I said I'll book you against these young Germans for all the money you can borr… https://t.co/cmZdqbFfug
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker)
Give us the list of these players that will "Crush me badly" in No Limit Hold'em tournaments, don't be a coward Dan… https://t.co/rQGnaX46np
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth)
@phil_hellmuth You want to act like a big shot then bet on it. I'll post my bets and happily donate a portion of your losses to charity.
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker)
Give me more! Then we can gamble https://t.co/yErV1jUNhh
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth)
Put a pin in this next tweet. We're coming back to it.
Start writing, 40 names total, and I'll accept your cross book. Can't wait to win next @WSOP bracelet for $800k x… https://t.co/0myZvhOs0L
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth)
A Major List Snub
If there's a list, there's bound to be a few names that are left off of said list. Leave it to Doug Polk to lighten the mood a little bit.
Great list of players. Don't think you missed anyone here. https://t.co/JiX6RGlWtj
— gN Doug Polk (@DougPolkPoker)
@DougPolkPoker Word on the street is PH busted you in your best format! How can I pick you after that? #
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker)
@RealKidPoker Good point. However despite my short comings I am still willing to cross book either of you guys #
— gN Doug Polk (@DougPolkPoker)
Where's The Love?
It goes without saying that Hellmuth and Negreanu are both great for the game, and it's not a stretch to see that there is a mutual respect between the two. And even though they argue like an old married couple, it all comes back to the love.
Are they no Limit Hold'em players?!? Or just play 20-100 man fields in 1 or Day tourneys? Bring a list of REAL pl… https://t.co/rhPZYpy12Z
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth)
@abarber1 @tammysm02012447 @stephnick99 @phil_hellmuth Are you aware how rude and disrespectful he is to these youn… https://t.co/zqYJvVFKDA
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker)
Please Daniel, I told Steffen and Fedor that I liked them. Almost everyone in the poker knows im a good guy and li… https://t.co/aOzieKj4AI
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth)
@phil_hellmuth That's not low. There is video evidence of you being disrespectful to them on a consistent basis. Yo… https://t.co/lEwmgdah3u
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker)
You make it seem like I'm NOT LOVED by the poker world. That's not right, and I KNOW you love me as well...And vic… https://t.co/Xqz2oFIcQ6
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth)
Do you think ANYONE takes it personally? Even one player on the field? Or do they laugh and enjoy the show? https://t.co/ofKMJIK8ww
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth)
@phil_hellmuth You don't get to decide if the insults are personal. Treating people with disrespect just isn't righ… https://t.co/3ENhego9tF
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker)
You would prefer that I act perfectly all the time? That I never lose it? https://t.co/vF8JH84Spa
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth)
@phil_hellmuth I love you just the way you are Phil! You just need to be able to take it like you dish it.
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker)
All Talk and No Action
After all of that, everyone wants to know if there's a bet. There's probably even a bet on if there will be a bet because we've all been down this road before.
@phil_hellmuth Let's cut to the chase: Phil: Are you willing to make this bet for > $25k's?
— Justin Bonomo (@JustinBonomo)
@DougPolkPoker @phil_hellmuth We already know they will say yes to the other way (PH only in theory). If Phil won't… https://t.co/L5JAQXHvh4
— Justin Bonomo (@JustinBonomo)
@JustinBonomo @DougPolkPoker @phil_hellmuth PH is just looking for abstract ways to back out of any bet like he did… https://t.co/bPKR1x2Jpy
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker)
No, I don't care about betting, I think I'm huge fav over 40 players in all Hold'em tournies, but it's a huge distr… https://t.co/qAoLHBT9Cc
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth)
Wait, what? "I don't care about betting," said no poker player. EVER.
Time to pull out that pin from the tweet above.
@phil_hellmuth Then why entertain bets at all? Then when your bluff gets called back out? Either put up # or shut u… https://t.co/CqtiFHKUCs
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker)
No response from Hellmuth on that one. He obviously got caught up in the moment, was ready to go to battle, but as usual when a prop bet starts to get some traction, he backed down.
Oh and that King of the Hill belt? Well, Hellmuth will be defending it in October and Shaun Deeb graciously offered to step aside for an epic match.
I'd gladly give up my koth spot for @RealKidPoker to be able to play you for the show https://t.co/2J1ENOcDZl
— NiceShaunDeeb (@shaundeeb)
Problem is this isn't really about Hellmuth vs. Negreanu. It's about Hellmuth vs. the Poker World.
In the end, it makes you wonder if Hellmuth can stake a claim to being number one if he's not willing to bet on it.
