July of 2006.

It was my first trip to Las Vegas to check out the World Series of Poker.

After a ridiculous travel experience, we finally got settled in and headed to the Rio.

The Amazon room is about a 2 mile walk through the casino from the shuttle drop off.

It was late in the evening and most of the tables had broke.  The seven card stud final table was running 5 handed or so, with a few popular players remaining.  There were few cameras and most of the roped off areas were now full of wandering spectators.  The $5000 short-handed holdem event was still running, with about 8 tables left.

Phil Hellmuth and Erick Lindgren were seated at the same table.  We decided to camp out on the rail a few feet away and watch the fireworks.

It seemed like every 2 or 3 hands Phil would have an outburst.  I was kind of surprised, because there were no cameras around.  I fully expected his antics were simply an effort to get attention/camera time, develop a character he could brand and monetize from his fame.  Apparently, the character he “plays” on TV, is no act.

There are other people watching the action from the rail, most of whom have pulled up chairs from empty tables.  My friend and I sit down next to an older gentleman and his wife.

After ten minutes or so, I ask my friend “Is Hellmuth wearing make-up?”. We both laugh. I know, people on camera where make-up, male and female.  No big deal.  There were no cameras.  I guess he came prepared and wanted to look his best for UB.

I continued making fun of Phil for the next 20 minutes or so.  “Wow, he’s a bigger tool in real life than he is on TV.  How is this possible?”.  It was a private conversation, but loud enough for others to hear.

Then, right on queue at the end of one of my “Phil is stupid” comments, he jumps out of his chair facing in my direction with his sunglasses still on and starts cussing. He walks directly towards me, continuing to curse and then he stops right in front of my, looking at the ground.

I thought I was going to get boxed by Phil Hellmuth in my first 24 hours of Vegas.

“I’ve folded so many Ace-8s, Ace-9s, Ace-10s.  No one else in the world would be making these plays.  I’m playing at a level, so much higher than these idiots…..”, he continued.

Cool. So, I’m safe.  He’s just venting, away from the table.  He didn’t hear me, thankfully.

The older man next to me sternly says, “Phil quit whining…”.

“Dad, you don’t understand how unlucky I’ve been and I’m still in this thing. Anyone else would have been busted two levels ago…”, Hellmuth responds.

Sweet, I’ve been talking smack about Phil Hellmuth for approximately 20-30 minutes, all the while, I was sitting next to his mom and dad. =)  Well played.

After his tantrum ended, his dad told his mom, “He’s such a baby”.

Too funny.