blonde poker forum

Or is it the behaviour of a true gent? It is quite funny in an OMG how can you take that S*** kind of way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvCn_KbLpLY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvCn_KbLpLY)

I haven't gone through the youtube thread so if this has already been linked I'll delete.

Saw this the other day, the bloke needs to be banned.

disgraceful but i quite enjoyed it. How do these people not tell him to f@#k off?

this may be unpopular but....

i think this is brilliant.

A true gent...... ;scarymoment;


The Russian was so calm, kudos to him.

lol, so funny but so wrong :D

Jack Russell syndrome.

I love it, more power to the fella.

"No he doesn't deserve any applause, he called with KJ."


How about this line from the commentator...

"Tony G could single handedly re-ignite the cold war"

We all remeber that dark time in 20th century history. When Russia and Australia almost wiped each other out.

I can only summize that Tony G behaves in such a manner, the commentator assumes he must be American.

I thought this was sick and not even remotely funny. Just looked like a case of xenophobic bullying  . The Russian was pure class and dignified under the circumstances and Tony G showed himself to be IGNORANT beyond belief. The commentator mentioned Lithuania so I assume he has roots there and is taking this opportunity to vent his spleen. This has no place in poker.

p.s. I've just gone out of a STT with KJ and were Tony G. to bad mouth me (in that manner) I doubt I'd show the restraint of the Russian. Not seen anything of him before but a nasty individual IMO.

Will.

That was disgusting

I agree. he should be ashamed.

The "Russian" was Ralph Perry who finished 3rd in the WSOP ME 2002 behind Julian Gardner and Robert Varkoni.

Tony G must get the occasional punch in the mouth with those antics?

Great stuff Tony G is a class act. 

Just brings T.V Poker to life in a very special way.
Not boring a real entertainer who deserves results.

Regards

M


 



 

I never realised that "class" was subjective.  ::)

Entertaining and strategically brilliant.

Tony Gs the man, what a poker player, thats how you do it!

Properly amended... ;)

A player who likes to humiliate people, people who like to see someone humiliated for their entertainment.

Fantastic! What a wonderful insight into civilised society.

complete idiot.

terrible call but doesnt justify the abuse afterwards. He's one of these guy who says he runs his mouth to induce bad play like that but to continue afterwards shows that's not true, it's just a huge personality flaw.

I agree with bolt as to the strategy, he talked the chips into the middle. Good move. AdamM I agree with you whole heartedly, it's the rub down afterwards, absolutely no need for that at all and indeed a need NOT to have that sort of attitude. Furthermore what happened to the idea that you don't criticise a player after a losing bad play, why educate for free?

There's still a game going on. Even though one opponent has been eliminated, he still has 2/3 people to beat.

What I find interesting is that I'd rather my opponent folded KJo when I come over the top with A2s. I'd much rather take down that 140k (ish) pot then and there, rather than race for the bigger one.

So I guess I'm not going to go to obnoxious camp anytime soon. :)

The poker world does need guys like this though, it's good TV.
If there wasn't the odd protaganist out there, less people would watch poker, meaning less people would play poker, meaning the games would be less juicy online.

I owe Tony a pint.

You think that's  justified bcause more people might watch poker, or it may improve someones chance of winning a tournament?

How low would you stoop if you could get away with it, where would you draw the line?

If I had never played live poker before and saw that footage, I think I would be tempted to say "sod that for a game of soldiers, I'm off to play backgammon, I bet you don 't get insulted like that there"

Tony G's actions don't bother me that much, but the fact that people like and applaud them makes me terribly sad.

Have you ever stopped to wonder what these people would be like if they were in positions of power?

Unfortunately, some are!

Both.

I wouldn't personally indulge in such tactics, it's not my style.
I can however, enjoy watching someone else who goes down that road. Watching a different style at work.

He will induce a lot of calls, and consequently will get into a lot of races. Perhaps this is why you see him at his fair share of final tables in large tournaments.

As for drawing the line, I think physical violence is the only stopping point.

Everyone is over 18, they're all adults in poker tournaments. As such, they should be able to handle teasing. Sticks n stones and all that.

Human nature is that a lot of players can't seperate the game from their ego. If you look at the guy to the Russians left, he has a look on his face that says "I want to bust that guy"

By way of contrast, Farha looks like he's just enjoying it.

I know I have said it before, but I really hate that guy. What a complete prat.  I wanted to hit him and I am not even a violent person  :D.   He may make the big money, but he isn't a big man. He acts like a spoilt child.

poker needs characters but it doesnt need that. new players come along with shocking etiquette after seeing Tony G / Helmuth / insert name of stroppy table banger here.

I wouldnt have made the call with KJ but If I was sat there with a bigger ace and TonyG had outdrawn me with the 2 and spoke to me like that I'd have ended up banned because he'd be wearing my chair.

no justification for speaking to another human being like that. none at all

Was Tony G's move good?  He had a weak kicker.  I am not sure, was that a good play? 

I disagree, I think this kind of abuse if on the same level as physical violence. sometimes your word and actions have consequences

For me, it's not so much applauding it, as putting it in context.

Tony G isn't the only guy who indulges in such tactics. I'm likely to meet a few similar types across the felt myself.

I just need to think about how to adjust at a final table if that sort of player is there.
Perhaps all folding equity goes up a notch. One can pass ones way up the prize pool while the etiquette sherrifs race off all their chips.




When you make a steal raise from the cut-off, you are a liar.

Your bet represents two cards that you arn't actually holding.

Does this mean you are untrustworthy in a position of power? Of course not, it's within the context of a game.

Nixon played some good poker, we all know how trustworthy he was. Ermmm, ok I just rubbished my own point here.


I'll go for this instead....

I don't think anyone is advocating to vote for Tony.

They are four/five handed wih relatively large blinds. The value of any ace is huge.

He correctly read the raise as weak, his move was a good un.

ok, I didn't know if it was good or not  :D

It's quite a fundamental disagreement then.

If you view words as being on par with violence, it's perhaps why you talk of people wearing your chair.

You might see such an action as being justified, after all, he started it by trash talking you. Lot's would agree with you.
I wouldn't.

I see no justification for violence outwith the realm of physically defending yourself.

We'll just have to agree to disagree.

What bothers me is that some people actually think that this kind of behavour is "classy".

Imagine going to play poker live, with Tony G imitators scattered all over the room thinking that they are cool.

ok looks like im in hte minority here but.....

these guys play together a lot and know exactly how each other act at and away from the table. on this point tony's antics are all part of a well thought out poker persona, hes not just playing that pot against perry, hes playing every subsequent pot in this game and the next and the next and the...(you get the idea).  until there are rules against this then hes done nothing wrong. i for one hope there never are rules against it.

i dont think i would act this way, but that may be more to do with being afraid of looking like a mug when mateyboy hits runner runner to ko me.

as for the whole acting like a gentleman thing, when was taking someones money gentlemanly???

the whole lithuania v russia thing seems flimsy to me, tony g talks like this against russians, americans, irish et al


however, at the risk of contradicting myself, talk to me like that at the table and poker will be the last thing on your mind for a while..

raab

The other point that springs to mind is that in the Paris EPT against Surindar everyone said his behavour was awful.

The excuse given was that Tony G was drunk and would never have acted like that sober.

He didn't seem to be drunk here.

obviously I wouldnt ACTUALLY throw a chair.

Im not a nutter. Im not actually someone who solves their problems with violence. I've never initiated a fight (since school anyway) and I'm not saying I think that's anyway to conduct yourself either. what I'm saying is there's a world of difference between a bit of banter at the table to get information or induce particular action and the level of abuse TonyG hands out.

the ironic thing is that these days if he's ranting like that and the recipient calmly tells him to go F*** himself the swearer would get a time penalty but not Tony. no justice in that.

Have you seen the other one with him posted by Tillerman on Youtube.  He is a moron on that as well.  How can anyone like this guy, everything about him is obnoxious

Ok, I'll fess up.

This is where I am aswell. I abhor such actions. My words on this thread have been from a devil's advocate kinda perspective.

The main reason I don't like such a thing is for what Karabiner says, we don't want hundreds of Tony G imitators running around the country. Thankfully, that behaviour won't really wash in Glasgow.  :D

I can't imagine many first time players would want to play live poker again if they experienced such a player. They get a verbal torrent of xenophobic drivel. Or maybe they just witness a thick atmosphere, due to quite normal respectable people wanting to chin the bassa (or maybe they even actually do take a swing).



Just taking the opposite stance to help me get into the place where Farha was in the clip. Enjoying what was going on, rather than be disgusted and angry.

I can get miffed about it the next day, but while it's going on, I don't want my reaction to such behaviour adversely affecting my EV. 

lol,  actions like that would be sorted out by a knuckle sandwich

I'm happy to hear that.

Sorry if any previous posts were kinda suggesting that you were a big thug. That wasn't the intention, I was just trying to draw a clear distinction between verbal and physical abuse.

I don't really know you, but from all accounts you're a grand chap (albeit with some controversial views on moving players to different tables  :D )

Arrrghh, I've fallen on my arse, and Sark has pointed it out.

Having a high and mighty rant about violence one minute, and then applauding it's benefits the next.  >:(

Touche sir, I owe you a headbutt now  :D

 :D

No, but when Tony G is in a major final in TV, his behaviour influences people. he creates the impression that humiliating people is acceptable.

It's not a big step to assume that humiliating and bullying people is ok in other situations.

A respected player and poker journalist such as yourself openly condoning his actions re-enforces that notion.

Fair point Red. Perhaps I should have layed out the context of my remarks before I actually made them.

As you know, my real position is that I believe the man embodies a hellava lot of what is wrong with poker.

Taking an opposite stance can sometimes helps to clarify your true position on such matters.

Also for what I said earlier about figuring out how to act when Tony, or one of his acolytes, invades your final table. It doesn't do good to get upset when you're involved in big money desicions.

Do you think he would act this way against the superstar players?  People such as DB, Daniel Negreanu or Johhny Chan.  I don't think he would because it wouldn't be accepted. Other players would openly say he is a idiot.  The players he has done this kind of thing against are good pro's, but they aren't in the superstar league

Why should Tony G have to change?   Because poker is on the telly every other minute?

because we all play on the internet everyday?

Because the expansion of the industry allows us to play live more often?

This makes me laugh, the guys that have been grinding it out for 30 years at poker BEFORE internet, BEFORE tv took over every other tournament have been playing like this for years.

But now that people see it on the almighty T.V they think they know everything about the game and because they play online but NEVER played live before they played online they think they know better than everyone else who's been in the game DECADES longer than they have.

They only see what poker has offered for the last 5 years and readily discount the "adult" traditions of the game because they've been brainwashed by the glamorisation of poker over the last few years that gives newcomers/internet players an erroneous perception of the games traditions.

This is Tony Gs living and he can do what he likes, are you all going to pay his bills for him.

I'm telling you this is excepted play in the era before internet and t.v poker and there wernt any complaints cos there wernt many spectators; The  other players just accept it as a occupational hazard and got on with things, much as they do now, they dont complain its just the people watching that do.

society changes so quickly these days you dont know where you stand.

You listen to Doyle Brunson tell stories about how he plays the SAME game now with the SAME kind of people that you would be arrested for back when he used to play in bars and back rooms of clubs, 40 years later and T.V says............."erm  hang on a sec we've decided that these people are now almighty god like SUPERSTARS"!!!!!!!!!!!!

does anyone actually know what this game has been about for the last 200 years are are you all so enchanted by the T.V reality of the game that things have become so distorted we all have to do what is T.V friendly.

 :goodpost: ;iagree; :)up

I don't agree, Bolt is talking about before it was on TV and before it was influencing people.

If you want to go back in time to justify things, why not go back to the time when if one man upset another, he would kill him with a club?

now your talkin tom, theres too much wishy washy liberalism in the world today

Create distance and Grab a Chair!  :D

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6WlT9mqHTWI (http://youtube.com/watch?v=6WlT9mqHTWI)

Actually Tony G is a pretty wealthy guy from a number of different business interests and therefore will be more than welcome to play in the Amateur Poker League. 8)

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL rotflmfao rotflmfao rotflmfao

I love that, Ive never heard someone so proficiently convey(sober) the intricacies of bar room brawling.

He did miss out the.... "if you can find seven of your Friends to jump in in as well thats great" technique!!!

:D :D :D :D :D

That guy is absolutely insane .  I have never seen that before

Yay, it's been a whiley since I got to have a pop at ol' boltie. Here we go.


We'll start here, it's probably the easiset stanza to dig in to.  :D

The other players do complain, all those Freenchy fuddies at the fianl table of that Aviation Club were a bit miffed at his antics. They weren't just the specttors, they were his opponents.

As for non-televised poker. A quick rummage through some old blonde threads will fruit some rants that spring from players who actually faced him, rather than just watched him on the box.

To suggest everyone just gets on with it is a little silly. If they did, there would be no value in the man behaving as he does. They should, but they don't.



Regardless of whether the game is the same now as it was 30 or 200 years ago (which I've heard it's not) anyone who is appearing on TV, winning millions of currency units, should really accept a little responsibilty that their actions will be looked up to.

It's their choice of course whether they acknowledge this responsibilty or not. Just as it's my choice to look down upon anyone who so blatantly ignores it.

This choice i make, not with any poker credentials. I don't feel the need to have been playing for 30 years to express disgust at a man who is humiliating players to look cool. Indeed, he does look cool doing it (from a low common denominator vantage at least) and that's why it's rather dangerous.

If I had kids, and they saw one of Tony G's poker specials, I'd feel the need to sit them down and explain why belittling and humilating people is kinda naughty. They are likely to copy such behaviour in a playground context. Ok, they're likely to do this anyway, it's human nature for kids to behave in this manner. Trying to steer them towards acting in a more adult fashion is made all the more difficult when they see childish taunting on the tv from a man who is making much more money than Daddy is.

That's all from a non-poker perspective.


From a poker one, his behaviour at a final (I don't care so much what he does getting there) gains him no edge.

As I've previously pointed out, he would have been better off (in the long run) had KJ passed to the raise. If he knew what his opponent held, I'm sure he would choose to take down the already sizeable pot then and there, rather than risk pretty much all his chips in a situation where he only is the very slight favourite.

In short, his style needs cards to win.
I don't think he is a poker genious, I look up to guys who get it quietly.

His antics, IMO, are more to do with ensuring that he is a memorable "name" and thus having an increased media presence, than getting any edge at the final.

Well he does very well at this I suppose. It doesn't matter, I'm sure, what people say about him, so long as they are talking about him. Maybe that's his buisness head working.

"Imagine.....Tony G imitators....""

I dont have to imagine , I see it all the time. It disgusts me. Peeps see it on TV, & it's contagious, they imitate the TV guys. We've seen it in Football, spitting & scowling, next thing, it's done on the Sunday morning park game. I was in Africa a few years back, & the kids there had seen it, & were doing it. It's "hard", "cool", "tough" in the eyes of some kids.

In my mind, it has no place in life, & no place in poker. We will end up with a Poker version of WWF. If I had my way, and poker had a Governing Body, I would impose severe penalties for improper behaviour at the Poker table.

Try thinking of the players behavioural differences between Premiership Football & Rugby Union. One ill-disciplined, "winning" a penalty or feigning injury is applauded. In the other, the player wholly accepts discipline, & would not dream of feigning injury or applauding a dubiously won Penalty. A Governing Body is the only way. Rugby Union has  superb one, Association Football does not.  (A further analogy between a well run & a badly run sport, think of the glory of Twickenham, & the utter farce of the new Wembley Stadium). We gotta get our house in order.

I should add, that Tony G is a friend, & remains one. Even so, I despise his on-table behaviour, & have told him so. One day, I hope he will clean his act up.

I was wondering.  Does, Tony G have a permanent chat ban on every site he plays at?  :D

If someone acted like that at a blondebash to someone else, what would you think of that person? ::)

I am more suprised and disappointed that some posters on here think he is a "class act" and "brilliant" than at the behaviour itself.

These posters clearly think bullying and humiliating people is acceptable behaviour. This makes me very sad indeed.

One day Guoga will rubdown the wrong opponent and get a fist in his face. I won't condone that action either but it will be totally understandable.

I would love to see someone snap and hit him at the table..see if he can take it like a man.

Another thought just occured to me.

How on earth can casinos give players a ten minute penalty for the "F Bomb" and nothing for actions like this.

Goes to prove how ridiculous American society is IMO.

I understand what your saying Tank, and i respect the way in which you've said it ;)

Ive got to say a couple of things in response to your post so here goes.

I'll get the pedantic out of the way first ;D

In reference to my contention that this level of behaviour was acceptable in the pre-t.v era you reply by using his opponents from the final table at the aviation club, coupled with the example of indignant blondes that have played against him live as a rebuttel.

Now the nucleus of my assertion is that the inherent traditions of the game pre internet and T.V were conducive to a barroom/casino type of atmosphere, (a lot of players from back in the day used to thrive on the verbal) but you've used contemporary examples of disgruntled opponents to refute this point who may or may not have been influenced by the "new era" of modern day poker.
So i feel that for this reason these examples dont accurately address the aforementioned point(though i understand more applicable examples could be found through the magic of google, or word of mouth even) told you the first one was pedantic!!!

Secondly, for me the responsibility of the players involved in playing at this level is a subject of significant ambiguity that by far transcends the world of Texas holdem when being discussed in this context.

I think it comes down to the individual and what his/her perceptions of the game are, irrespective of the T.V involvement.

Now i know that saying "irrespective of the T.V involvement" belies the issue of morality tempered with responsibility here but ultimately this is a game of cards!!!

If you let too many independent factors affect your game when will it stop?

I personally think that the stick Tony G gave to the guy afterward was a liitle much and differed from the magnanimity he displayed at the aviation club AFTER he'd knocked an opponent out.

On the the T.V point, I'm glad you made the point you did!

You make a very well thought out point about the way in which Tony Gs behaviour could affect your children and address the problems you'd face as a parent in dealing with that.

This seems to encapsulate the feelings of others and proficiently articulates the concerns one derives from seeing such "irresponsible" behaviour, but then incredibly you go on to say" Thats all from a non poker perspective".

In that sentence you've conveyed everything i was trying to say in a more concise and articulate way than i ever could.

Your example is the perfect paradigm of T.V's influence over poker and the way it is single handedly predefining and shaping the course of generational ethics and morality

You would've been outraged that your children were subjected to such behaviour on ANY program on ANY channel, and it just cements my feelings that this is NOT  a poker issue,  but a matter of expedient T.V companies distorting the fundamentals of poker to facilitate financial gain.

On the matter of that particular hand he is indeed looking for a laydown from his opponent but i feel that there must've been a little bit of needle between the two that precipitated it.

So we all agree Tony G is a nice guy. who at the
poker table has a class act. Not everyones
cup of tea I know. But for the viewer of poker.
If we had to name a table of Pros to watch on TV
I think alot of us would choose Tony G.


 ;goodvevil;


All good Fun.

Regards

M   

They would be disqualified. Unless it was me.

Has TonyG got his name down for BB3 ?

Does anybody here have first or second hand information of how Tony G plays a final table which is not televised.

I'm interested if he behaves in a similar fashion, or if he only jazzes it up for the telly box. (the final table that is, not the preliminary stages)

If the latter, then that in itself would be letting an independant factor affect his game?

As Bolt says, when does it stop?

lol

The thing that gets me about that is how confident Tony is of winning, and how much trash is talked before the community cards are dealt, when he's only about 6/4 to win the hand.

Some people might think this is good TV. Personally I think it would have been much better TV if the river was a nice  Kh or  Jd

I'd love to have seen how he reacted to that!

I have played "Live" with Tony numerous times, the latest being at The Sportsman a few months back. He's always behaved impeccably.

I observed him at The Vic last year, from start of comp to the very end, when he won the Main Event, beating Sverre Sundbo after an epic Final, in which Tony made some outrageous/brave calls, including all-in for a huge stack with 3-3 against Peter Roche. The Final was recorded for TV. He behaved impeccably from start to finish.

I also observed him at the Monte Carlo Millions last year, BEFORE the cameras started filming, & his behaviour was, imo, disgraceful, rub-downs like you would not believe.

So no, I don't think it's the cameras that cause it. Not drink either, he was sober at Monte Carlo.

He & I met for coffee the morning after his Monte Carlo outbursts, & he was, it seemed to me, almost tearful at how he'd let himself down. "I can't help it, the adrenelin gets me going, I just can't help it" he said. I'm not arguing his corner, not at all, he knows my view, & so do you, I am just telling you the facts, but I don't think "TV Cameras" are the cause.

Complex individual, Mr Gouga, but I still enjoy his company.

I would love to have seen how long he would have survived in the old Wild West.  I fear he would have been shot very quickly

Leave it out, you know Tony G would've OWNED the Wild West :D

Can one be shot slowly then?

B             a               n                g.

Good point Tikay  :D.  I never thought of it like that before. 

They tried to shoot Keanu Reeves slowly in the Matrix. It didn't work.

I tried to understand that film, that also didn't work

How wank were the sequels?

Where is that worst films thread?

Every film in the series was bad. I hate the Matrix films.  My idea of torture is either forcing me to watch the Matrix films or having to do 6 months of National Service.

there are numerous people who have posted on this thread that have completely shocked me, Tony G is a fat disgusting Pig of a man, who i would love to see never win another tourney as long as he loves.

He is a disgrace to.....NOT poker....to Human being!

i couldnt care less if tony g wins or not

i do however respect his right to behave any way he wishes!!

as i already said until its against the rules he can continue.

i neither condone nor condemn his actions, i do however defend his right to act as HE sees fit

ty
raab

Manners cost nowt, its not about weather its allowed or not....

....My mum raised me better than that, and his mum must be disappointed to watch that. Very Sad

im sure his mom is sad dave

thats not really the point tho, he is a grown man he can do as he pleases. im not saying its classy but HE is responsible for his actions no one else. i just wish my play and behaviour was so impecable i could find time to criticise others

btw im not having a go at you dave, its just criticising others really gets my goat!!

It was as though they'd thrown out the script and stuck in a "Philosophy for 5-year olds" book instead.

well is this not what Tony G is doing in the clip???

I thought criticizing others was what the internet is for.  :dontask:

(Dave is pure pants btw.)

Yes i am matey, i did have 3 winners at the races on sat lol well 2 winners at Hamilton and 1 in the bookies before we went up, a nice wee 10-1 winner from goodwood! (a big Thanks to Teacakes cousin for the tip)......wait, how the hell did i get into this topic?

you may have a point dave, however as i said earlier this behaviour is part of tony g's poker armoury and rightly or wrongly it helps him win( and get dodgy calls). he acts like this in the street then i agree  he would be a twat but.....

I don't go to cardrooms to take the kind of abuse he was dishing out in the clip. It wasn't 'banter'! This has happened to me twice in live situations (one in a Gala tourny and the other in a Gutshot cash game).

Gala: Guy got abusive to me and others at the table and then stated he could 'say what he liked'. I called for management as he'd issued a veiled threat. He wasn't banned/removed and was only verbally warned for the future. My problem was that he'd ALREADY displayed behaviour that should have been punished. As it was, the management weren't going to look after me so I let him know as calmy as I could that I wasn't going to take any more threats. He later busted out and SHOUTED a heap of abuse at me on his way out. NOTHING done about that either but I guess there are those on here that would have had a chuckle at the abuse he dished out. I think the guy was a bully and I don't like that whether it's at work or at the poker table. Banter is one thing but bullying is quite another. Bottom line is, when those with the power to punish this kind of thing decide to look the other way the only thing you can do is govern yourself. For me that meant TAKING HIS HEAD OFF if he came anywhere near me after issuing those threats. NOT the kind of decisions I want to have to be put to ANYWHERE but if that's the kind of thing people want to go around saying then there ARE CONSEQUENCES.

Will. :)


 

On yer self Billy!!! well said

Must be the Scottish in me..lol

Where is Mr Moves!!!!

im sure his mother will be proud of her son for becoming a multi millionaire mainly through poker!  His actions as have been alluded (sp) to on another thread are his actions at WORK not in his own time with his friends family and loved ones. Now im no expert on opinions but this clip has to be one of the funniest things ive seen in a long time.
 

i agree

that's fantastic

for anyone who doesnt know Bas Rutten is one of the altime great K1 (thai boxing) legends. didn't realise he had this sort of DVD out. might have a look at them  :D

This has probably been on here before. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyroD-_fylc

Look and listen to Mike Sexton when he is watching Tony G, it is obvious he thinks he is a ......  :D ( bit about calling the clock.  I read an interview with him once and he commented on these kinds of actions by modern players )

I watched this video vai pocket 5s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvCn_KbLpLY

The more I watch it the more I think that Tong g is a toatl joke, yeh he may play good poker but have some common decency.

What a total ugly mug.

Its already been debated.  See http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=13256.0

I really apologise for the very bad typos above, I am having problems with my keyboard.

Sorry about that then , please can you delete this thread.

thank you.

Are we allowed to reply on this thread?

Regards

M

No problems.  My post wasn't intended to be a 'telling off'.  Apologies if it came across that way.

No need for the thread to be deleted - I'll merge it into the original one.

Sheriff

More than one poster have criticised Tony's abusive approach by labelling him "fat", "ugly" and a "pig." Very well played.

Surely people are able to see that this is an act, designed to intimidate opponents into making mistakes. It's not gentlemanly but since when has poker been a game for gentlemen!

I think you'll find that phrase is reserved for golf and cricket and even cricket has sledging, which makes tony sound like he has a mouthful of lavenders.

If it was outside the rules then the tournament director should step in and administer a suitable punishment. It's not though and so he is doing nothing wrong in my view.  Yes, he will probably get a smack in the mouth at some point and I'm sure he will be the first to say that's been coming a while.

Personally I would LOVE to be on the same table as Tony, who poker-wise has an excellent record and draws people to watch him play, partly because of the spectacle he creates and the pressure he puts on players. I'm willing to bet that everyone who criticises Tony G will all be opening up the next clip of him abusing an opponent and watching it quite a few times before condemning his behaviour.

Look at how he abused Surinder after he made an unwise bluff at him in the Paris event. How did surinder react? With his trademark cool, calm concentration. He then went on to beat Tony and win the title. This is what class players do. They deflect Tony's aggression, realising that it is all an act designed to affect their poker.

Look at him as a guy acting out a role, deliberately playing an aggressive buffoon for a premeditated purpose and you'll find him as entertaining as the hundreds of thousands of people who watch his antics.

An act or not, it's not only his chips that have crossed the line.

I will give you an example of a similar type player as I haven't played Tony G yet (nowhere near on the same skill level though). First time i played Korosh his talking and rubdowns got me to play
possibly the worst hand i've ever played in which I doubled him up drawing dead on the flop. Yes that's how badly affected I was I called his all in with AK high and he had a set. I put my ipod
on, ignored him as he was commenting me on my "brilliant play" and managed to get on with my game and didn't play another bad pot vs him.

Same thing here, a top pro who has a 3rd place finish in the wsop is calling all in with a relatively weak hand. He wanted to bust Tony G so much he made a bad call for all his chips.
(And remember that french dude in the first french WPT where he moved all in v Tony G drawing dead with AT on a KKQ board and Tony G had QQ)

Whether you like it or not here are 3 examples of these tactics working. Learn to defend against it and ignore him. If you can listen to what he's saying he might give away something about the strength of his hand instead of letting your blood pressure rise and want to just take him out.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=10961258&an=0&page=0&vc=1 (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=10961258&an=0&page=0&vc=1)

I don't quite understand what this means but it sounds pretty bad.

we have all debated Tony G's poker actiosn for many times now.  We know what he is like. 

Some like it some dont but lets face it its an act.

I know Tony personally and through business and in fact had lunch with him 4 weeks or so ago.

Off the table he is actually a lovely guy, respectful, humble and just normal.  He also gives and does a HUGE amount for charity, a lot of which is not publicised.

But when he crosses the felt, just like a Macenroe or a mad footballer - he goes into the zone and wants to win at an costs.  Nothing wrong with wanting to win.  More people should want to win more.

Some people dont like it and a lot think its great for the TV coverage.

But lets not go judging and slagging a guy who off the table we dont know.

Lets accept that some think his antics are wrong but that doesnt mean he is like that off the table.

Off the table he is actually a lovely guy, respectful, humble and just normal.

Yes, a lovely man, pleasant company, and a proud & caring father.

But when he crosses the felt, just like a Macenroe or a mad footballer - he goes into the zone and wants to win at an costs.  Nothing wrong with wanting to win.  More people should want to win more.

I have no problem with that.

Some people dont like it and a lot think its great for the TV coverage.

It may be great for TV, but it's bad for our game, as kids watch that & think it's acceptable to be so obscenely rude to opponents. It is not, in my opinion, it set's a bad example, & players the world over think it's OK.

Some like it some dont but lets face it its an act.

I don't think it IS an act, & I've discussed this with Tony, one-to-one, many times. He just can't help himself, he loses self-control.

So, yes, he's a lovely man, let's agree on that, but I don't think it's good for the long-term development of our game to see players behaving in such a way. Eventually, I hope, we will see "outside" Sponsors coming into poker, the likes of Sainsbury's, or Heinz, Ford, or whoever, but they won't come in until we can show that Poker can control it's players, such that they behave - on the table - in a reasonable manner. Tony has nothing to lose - he's a stunningly successful businessman, & he will get by come what may. But let's remember the rest of the poker players, whose future prospects are being damaged by the actions of a few.

It's not that bad is it?

Typical sarf London behaviour probably.

You still in the BB Hoose?

poker's success I guess has a lot to do with how successfully it can be pitched as a spectator sport to the non die-hards. This gets a LOT easier to do with the likes of Tony G at a televised event. Few non regular players can understand the intricacy of pot odds or the real mechanics behind bluffing/rebluffing big aggression, but everyone can understand a barny. It's not a good example, but it is excellent television.
Saw Tony Last night on the PP event, as I was writing my last speech. What do the producers want: Coren v Frazer (omg yaaaaaaaaaawn) or Ulliott v Guoga?
Having said that, that was as foul-mouthed as I've seen it.  :o :o :o :o "*****ng *****"  :o :o :o :o :o :o
And Tony G is not vociferously rude in these situations, if anything he's the one showing decorum given the situation.
Tony B

caveat: I should point out that I really like Tony G, I could watch him forever.

I read the thread on 2+2 and if the behaviour was as bad as portrayed, it is quite amazing he was not banned from the WSOP.

In fact, I would be quite confident in saying if it wasnt a "name" player involved he would have been thrown out.

Sad. Very sad.

I dont usually have enough chips in front of me to be able to throw a "handfull" at anyone so who knows......... :dontask:

What a load of bollocks this thread is.

Tony G is a brilliant poker player. Who is anyone to dictate how he behaves to his fellow players. We play in a game where you take peoples money off them, there's no point getting sanctimonious about it.

Leave sportsmanlike conduct and 'spirit of the game' for Wimbledon.

This guy is a big personality with a shedload of bollocks when it comes to playing poker. It's not in te rules of the game to be meek when you beat someone, or be accepting of a bad call.

I completely refute this allegation. Do you have any proof that I have ever done this? To anyone?? ??

Yeah, he does have balls, TonyG. I think you can learn a lot by watching his game, just in terms of inspiration about mental approach. I also think he talks a sensible game post match.

Yeah, and would you like a handful of chips thrown at your face?

How old was the dealer in question, 12?

did she run off crying "i'm telling my mummy"

Exactly...I've read their contract "8 hour shifts of dealing and physical abuse, 1 hour off for lunch and first aid "

what was he throwing, chips or ninja death stars?

I hear what you say Tony and his actions could be copied but the same could be said for a McEnroe or a Robbie Savage etc.  Just because they have different ways of playing their game to perhaps you and I does not necessarily make them a bad guy.  Also, is this not the same kind of form as say the Aussie cricketers sledging batsmen

Perhaps if anything it shows their desire to win at almost all costs.  The one thing i think wrong with UK sport is the fact that we are too nice and a bit of nasty spirit would be a good thing

He wouldn't have thrown chips in the face of Dave (the sweeney) from the Broadway would he?
You can call all his other antics part of the show or in the zone or whatever, physical abuse crosses the line regardless of injury.
He needs to be made an example of.

I hear you, & it's each to their own.

But 99%+ of all poker players do so for fun, & because they enjoy it, it's a break from the tension & conflicts of real life, it's fun, it's a game. Personally, I don't need anyone giving it large, in my face, I had all that & more during  lifetime of work. If they are hungry to win, fine, but if they think that insulting me helps, well they are mistaken, & it's a no-no. Come on, do you really think these guys do it to help themselves win? They don't. They do it because they have a lack of self-control, & are unable to face the facts of poker - it contains a huge element of luck. They just can't take their beats, that's all.

What do you propose?

I don't actually but you cannot let it be known that throwing things at dealers is ok.

he got 1 1/2 hour penalty

Yeah, "go and have a nap for an hour or so to chill out".
I bet that hurt.
Minimum he should've been kicked out of the comp, i' amazed he hasn't been sued considering the country he was in.
A $400m lawsuit is probably on it's way.

It probably is, that's how fu**ed America is.

she'll start suffering from sever mental trauma(chip phobia) which obviously means she cant work, shen cant go out because there are too many round things that remind her of chips(eating on a plate is out of the question) so her physical health will start to deteriorate, minimum $400m!!!