Bad Boys, Bad Boys. Watcha Gonna Do? By Amy Calistri

In the movie Rounders, Matt Damon's character remarks, "Generally, the rule is, the nicer the guy, the poorer the card player." And while the poker tournament circuit today is full of examples to the contrary, it would be hard to dispute it has its fair share of bad boys...and girls. But with television as poker's new mirror, players, journalists and sponsors are starting to reflect on poker's image.

As opposed to invitational or qualification driven sports, tournament poker's open system has attracted a welcome diversity of players. Every age group, gender, ethnic and racial background, and walk of life is represented in its player field. Because diversity is poker's trademark, tolerance is its backbone. Even tolerance for its more behaviorally challenged.

In setting lofty goals like behavioral norms or a more sportsmanlike image, poker's tolerant legacy represents one small stumbling block among many challenging obstacles. But with the rewards of poker's new boon, maybe it's time to tackle the landscape.

The Risky Business of "Bad" Behavior:

Some players employ bad behavior to unnerve or tilt an opponent, utilizing such tactics as taunting and trash talking. World champion Scotty Nguyen has developed taunting into an art form. At the 2003 World Series of Poker $1500 stud event, Scotty had moments when he had his entire table on tilt. Closing in on the final table with a sizable chip lead, Scotty announced to the table, loud enough to qualify as grandstanding, that he was going to raise every hand. As the short stacks folded in his wake, Scotty was quick to point out their lack of nerve to the crowd.

Taunting is not without risk. While Scotty had a sizeable lead in that tournament with fifteen to go, he finished 9th, failing to make the final table. By taunting, you willingly set yourself up as a target, hoping players will come after you long before they have the cards to do so. But once you've painted that bulls-eye on your forehead, you have to anticipate the eventual arrival of a well armed opponent looking for justice. In Scotty's case, the entire table came gunning for him, and it was only a matter of time before they exacted their revenge. As a strategy, bad behavior usually represents more risk than return. As an uncontrollable character flaw, its costs are even greater.

The Opponent in the Mirror:

Phil Hellmuth often gets tagged as poker's poster boy for bad behavior. Hellmuth has an insatiable passion for winning and an ego fed by almost countless victories, including nine World Series bracelets. Hellmuth's chronic onfelt bouts of whining and berating are well documented. In a game that demands an almost out-of-body emotional detachment, one has to marvel at Hellmuth's ability to continue to play a disciplined world class game while in the throes of one of his classic fits.

But for us mere mortals, a Hellmuthian display is usually associated with play dictated by our derailed emotional state, as World Poker Tour's Cinderfella, Daniel Rentzer can attest. College student and amateur Rentzer put in a stunning performance against a world class field to clinch second place in the 2003 LA Poker Classic. A few months later, however, Rentzer was observed in an emotional meltdown, tossing cards, berating players and dealers, and succumbing to an early exit at a low buy-in event. Plugging the leaks in one's game is a tough challenge. Rentzer took the first step, evidenced by his plea for help entitled "TILT, TiLt, Tiillttt, heeellllp???", posted on the highly trafficked rgp poker forum. In a sport that prides itself on steely control, tilting represents a cost higher than any rake.

As petulant as Hellmuth may be on the felt, he is often described as a "nice guy" removed from poker's battleground. Unfortunately, a venue change does little to improve some players. You may be the most skillful player in the game, but if you're flipping off granny in the supermarket, chances are you aren't going to make it into poker's new role model lineup. As advertisers start to dole out sponsorships, they'll be looking for someone with the mainstream's Full Monty, skill and virtue, or more specifically, a bracelet and a halo.

The Media Dance:

Most sports have already seen how the media's blade cuts both ways, but poker is only now realizing there is some blood to be lost in the process. For those who anticipated viewing the skill and strategy of poker's most respected players, some have been taken aback by the toll the media's "fifteen minutes of fame" exacts on a sport. While skill gets its due, it is often accompanied by attention seeking antics, leading one World Poker Tour player to flop about the floor like a deranged fish out of water. Tournament poker is a strange combination of tedium and stress and entertaining banter or the occasional antic is often a welcome relief. But the increase in both the frequency and extremity of player theatrics has not gone without notice. Also of note is the erosion of some of poker's more iconic displays of sportsmanship. The traditional "nice hand" accorded to a prevailing foe or the "good game" bestowed upon an opponent vanquished on the felt are being usurped by tantrums rivaled only by Bobby Knight and celebratory gesticulating more commonly found in an end zone.

The professionals are enjoying celebrity status for the first time, but some are far less versed in how to play, and how not to be played by, the media. Annie Duke, a recent World Series of Poker bracelet winner, didn't shy away from using an interview to disparage the skill of other players, even the one that succeeded in bouncing her from this year's final event. Should she have been surprised to come in a strong second in MSNBC's "Whiners of the Week" poll?

Don't Screw the Pooch:

Poker players were delighted to see the sport finally gain media attention. Flooding television lineups, poker's newfound recognition has been a boon to the sport; new poker rooms have opened, tournament fields are swelling, and players previously tainted by poker's stereotypical backroom image started holding their heads up high. Tournament players, who put up their own prize pool via tournament entry fees, are now enjoying some semblance of sponsorship.

But now that we have something to be proud of, maybe we need to work harder to keep it. With bigger prize pools and the chance for lucrative sponsorships, the cost of behaving badly has just gone up. A hissy fit that blows your chance at a $20 million prize pool can't be worth it. Fifteen minutes of fame is a blink of an eye. To stay in the spotlight, maybe you'd be better off developing more stack than schtick. And while sainthood may not be required for sponsorships (after all, wouldn't Hellmuth be a lock for a Preparation H commercial?) it will probably require more than a glowing reference from your coke dealer.

To play in the new era of poker, players may have to kick in a bigger behavioral ante. If they're smart they'll ante up, because this game is just too good to watch from the rail.