An Open Letter To Phil Hellmuth

Phil,

As you know, I co wrote a book titled <a href="http://www.dustyschmidt.net">Don't Listen To Phil Hellmuth.</a>  I have also written a <a href="http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-blogs/51-dusty-leatherass-schmidt/entries/377388-it-s-time-to-clean-up-poker-part-3">few articles</a> about what I would like to see change in poker to clean up our "sport."  In these articles, I did pick on you a little for some of your antics. I feel strongly that the game of poker may have the potential to some day attract major corporate sponsors, and I stated that I didn't think some of your antics (as well as those of many, many others) were doing poker any favors.

Given your recent performance, I have received numerous messages from people asking me if I feel stupid or not given the title of our most recent book. Truthfully, I don't. This is a quote of mine from a recent article I wrote about you: ...there is no question that Phil can return to the top of poker. Anyone who can have the kind of success that he has enjoyed in the past, knows what it takes to get to the top. But if Phil is going to spend his time partying with rappers and not doing the things that made him great in the first place, then he has no chance to return to the top. I think the thing that irks me the most is that Phil acts as if he can have his cake and eat it too. He wants to claim he is "the best no limit holdem player in the world BY FAR" yet isn't putting anywhere near the amount of work into his game to be there. His claim may have been true long ago, but he is nowhere near that level currently. But he has gotten to the top before and he can do it again. It certainly won't be easy for him, but if he can channel the same passion for the game that got him to the top of the poker world years ago, then there is no question he knows what it takes to get back to that point and I believe he can do it.

My understanding is that you have put some tremendous work into yourself and your poker game this year. With that, congratulations on your performance at the WSOP! While I know you would have liked to have added another bracelet (or three) to your outstanding tournament career, getting heads up in three bracelet events is a tremendous accomplishment and you deserve a lot of respect for that performance. I understand that you have put some time and energy into your game as of late and with your recent performance, I don't think anyone will doubt that you are playing some exceptional poker. As I stated previously, with hard work and determination, there is no question that you are a great player and I am happy for you that you showed the poker world that you are still among the game's elite.

What I think is so great about what you have done this year is that not only did you perform exceptionally well at this years WSOP, but you certainly seem to have done a lot of work in terms of how you conduct yourself at the tables. And that is what I think you should be most proud of. It was great to see you perform so well while showing people that you can win and lose with grace. In fact, you remind me of Bobby Jones (13 time major championship winner in golf in the 1920s) when he was a work in progress in the early 1920s.. Bobby Jones was an exceptional talent at golf, but was known more for his awful behavior on the golf course more than for his golf game. Realizing this was a problem, Bobby worked hard to act as well as he played the game, and in no time at all had completely reversed the way people thought of him. In fact, he actually went down as one of the great gentlemen of the game when it was all said and done. Bobby hung a quote in his office (which I also hang in mine since Bobby is somewhat of a hero to me) that said, "For when the one great scorer comes to write against your name, he writes not that you won or lost, but how you played the game."

I hope this message makes its way to you. I really and truly want to express that I am very happy for you. I am very happy that you have turned a corner with your poker game and your behavior. I think in time, the game itself will thank you as well. Let's face it, you are a mega star in the game of poker. And in every major sport, the stars have always been rewarded for behaving in a way that ultimately makes themselves and the game look good. Sure, people can line their pockets in the short term by acting in a fashion that generates interest. But over the long haul, it is critical to both the mega star and the game they play, that they behave in a way that ultimately makes themselves and their sport look good to the general public. And when up and comers are seeing you profit off of behaving the way you do, it inspires others to do the same. Ultimately, the very game that has given you so much, suffers. While any sport can handle a few of their pros routinely acting outside of accepted norms, the very foundation of any major sport is built upon a solid group of individuals that kids can look up to and want to emulate. With that in mind, I would encourage you to keep doing what you are doing as of late. The game needs the "new" Phil Hellmuth.

Sincerely,

Dusty Schmidt