Most overrated player?

I think Dave Ulliott is a much better player than he's being given credit for. I read a book detailing the english players and there was a snippet of an interview done with Mike Sexton. He said that the most dominating performance he'd ever seen on the WPT (At that time, probably about 4 seasons in) that Ulliot's performance at the final table of the tournament he won is the best he'd ever seen. Ulliott has moments of rage. A bit understandable considering he was from the tough side of the streets. He can be nasty to players in bad beats, but he's nowhere near as bad as Phil Hellmuth, who disgusted me during the coverage of the '08 WSOP when he shouted obscenities at that player for five minutes straight. Then, after doing that, and after being assessed a penalty, he appealed and got it overturned for no other reason than "He's Phill Hellmuth" He's a good player, but I cannot stand him. I usually change the channel if he's on.

Scotty Nguyen is also a better player, I think, than he appears. I think Scotty's problem is the drinking. I can't totally blame him for that, because he has a severe main event demon. Apparently, after winning the WSOP in '98, Scotty's brother was on a motorcycle telling people about Scotty's victory when he was struck by a truck and killed. How do you cope with that? You've just won the biggest event in poker, and the same night, your brother is killed. To make matters worse, he's killed because he's on a motorcycle telling everyone about YOUR win.

I honestly think that's about...I'd say 50% of why Scotty drinks. I'd also lay odds it's a factor in why he seems to have minor blow ups towards the end of tourneys. The booze also would make him belligerant, which we'e seen also. Still, when Scotty's "On" he's on. Winning the '08 Horse Championship, not to mention 11th at the '07 WSOP are major accomplishments. He's also won a WPT title, and he's made at least 7 WPT final tables. He's only won one tourney, but making a WPT final table once is hard. He's done it on multiple occasions. John Juanda, who would probably be considered a better player than Scotty, has made it to the finals about the same number of times...Sometimes even at the same table as Scotty, but he has yet to win.

For most overrated, I'd have to say Chris Moneymaker. He changed the face of poker, but has done absolutely zero since lucking out in '03. He had only one major cash after, in 2004 at the Bay 101 (When the fields still had about a 100 players and it was much easier to make final tables) Since winning at the WSOP, he's only cashed 3 times in 6 years and he's never cashed again in the main event. Sammy Farha, who plays about 5 tournaments total a year, if that, has made two final tables since '03, winning a 2nd bracelet and cashing in the main event in 2005.

Moneymaker may have pulled off a great bluff, but the stars alligned for him to get Farha to fold, and then get the trap flop of 2 pair vs one for Farha. Since then, not a peep. Moneymaker is my choice for most overrated.


I love to love my Lisa.