If you dont think he is a tool you haven't heard the interview he did on the Rounders Poker Show.

He held more hands than any manicurist in town. The rush I saw at critical moments was unprecedented. He is lucky and obnoxious. When one gets knocked out at the World Series, it is way rude to be forced to hear a little speech about how brilliant this behaviorally challenged creep played. It is a tradition to act courteous to anyone knocked out. Greg Raymer, the perfect gentleman, acted just the opposite of the way the current embarrassing champ acted.

I saw Fool's Gold flop mid-size nut straights and eliminate someone and make a speech. I am pretty certain that no other winner of the World Series acted that badly in the history of the event. He sets a low standard for the new players.

When my dear long-term friend, Bill Smith, won the World Series way back in 1985, the press criticized him for ribbing T.J. Cloutier about the last hand. T.J. had A,3 and Bill had 3,3. T.J. bluffed all the way and Bill called him down. Bill kept saying, "The man couldn't beat a pair of threes." The press called him "that surly Texan." He and T.J. were close friends and had played together in many a town. When he was sober, Bill was just the opposite of this. He taught me a lot about poker when I turned out. Bill advised me to be very courteous. He said it is in the best interests of a professional poker player to be well liked by all the other players. It is just like being a salesman for a pretigious company. Good manners and courteous speech are expected. The celebrations after winning a pot are ignorant and child-like. You would think it was their first pot. Johnny Chan looked foolish, a real moron, being Fool's Gold's foil. While everyone should be shaking the hand of the one eliminated, Gold was stealing the TV camera for his revolting high-fives with second banana Johnny Chan. Chan should be ashamed of himself. Gold is without shame.

Mr Smith got many mentions in A. Alvarez's classic, the biggest game in town...I was quite interested in his surly character and proclivity for boozing while playing. Thats funny.

See i agree with you on hellmuth, matasou, and others they are pro's, and people want to see that, but i still dont think jamie gold brings more ratings, i still believe he loses them, just from waht i hear that people are sick by him, and even the fact that i havent watched this years WSOP as much as the other years. and i really think thats how it is with alot of people, not all, but alot

I agree with Cactus Jack. The gamblers I knew growing up always dressed very well and used good manners, partially because society looked down on them.

It's a way of saying something.