Sunday, July 5, 2009 - Gene Bromberg
There’s a legend that when Julius Caesar was at the pinnacle of his power and popularity someone told him, “Remember, Caesar, thou art mortal”. It was a reminder to guard against hubris, because we all die in the end, no matter how exalted we are during our time on Earth. I know that’s some heavy stuff to lay on you but when you’re at the World Series of Poker you’re constantly reminded of how brief life can be, especially when you flop set under set. And I couldn’t help but think of Imperial times this afternoon as I watched Phil Hellmuth make his majestic entrance to the Main Event.
Perhaps only one poker player could actually pull off dressing as Julius Caesar and striding into the Rio escorted by 11 female gladiators and 100 Muses, and that’s Phil Hellmuth. That’s what he did today, as he eschewed his normal limosuine for human-powered transport to the Rio:
Carried along in a sedan chair Phil alighted onto the blazing-hot asphalt to the delight of his devotees:
And then it was time for Emperor Phil to make his way to the Amazon Room, escorted by 111 young women and a trumpetor to announce his arrival. Rose petals were cast at his feet as he walked, hundreds of admirers strained to catch a glimpse of his noble form. Fairly low-key stuff.
The walk down the hall to the Amazon Room reminded me of something from Roman times, a vast unruly mob shoving and jostling in tight quarters trying to follow Phil. I punched a few people in the face and kicked out someone’s crutches to get a few shots of the procession:
And then Phil reached the Amazon Room and it was time to alight from his exalted perch and take his seat with we mere mortals. Of course only after favoring the masses with a dignified wave:
Quite a few people remarked today that Caesar ended up being assassinated by his colleagues in the Senate. And in a manner of speaking (I hope not literally) that’s exactly what the eight players at Phil table will try to do today–whack Phil and send him out of the Main Event. That may be easier said that done–today isn’t the Ides of March, I didn’t see anyone at the secondary Feature Table brandishing swords, and I haven’t seen a Brutus or Cassius listed in the chip counts. Still, today will be filled with treachery and conspiracy–all that remains to be seen is if Caesar…I mean Phil Hellmuth…is able to outmaneuver his enemies.
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Tuesday, December 30, 2008 - Gene Bromberg
It was a broiling hot Vegas afternoon and I was standing outside of the Rio. Outside, where the heat stripped the moisture from my skin and my Ray-Bans couldn’t cope with the raw sunlight. “So it’s come to this,” I thought as I marinated in my own sweat. “I’m standing here with my camera on a 145-degree day waiting for Phil Hellmuth to drive up in an Army jeep.” Not the sort of thing my high-school guidance counselor could’ve predicted when it came time to discuss possible career choices. You can never be sure where life will take you.
Anyway, Phil of course likes to make a grand entrance at the World Series of Poker and in 2008 he planned to show up in a military convoy dressed like General Patton. And from across the shimmering curtain rising from the parking lot I beheld the man, the myth, the legend, launching his invasion of the Main Event.
As I saw Phil approach (his Jeep driven by P0ker H0) the first thing that went through my mind was, “Holy s***, he’s gonna sweat to death. He is going to DIE.” Buttoned-up jacket, tie, gloves, trousers bloused into riding boots, gloves…and a helmet? You could’ve filled a pot with water and boiled pasta on the Rio tarmac, and there he was wearing a helmet. But when Phil deJeeped I saw that it was a plastic helmet, not metal, and that meant that Phil’s brain wasn’t being sauteed. And then of course was time for Phil and H0 to, uh, salute:
Not that I kept my camera pointed at Phil the whole time, not when I saw who he brought along as his military escort:
And then the entire entourage made it’s way toward the Amazon Room, and as you might expect Phil Hellmuth walking toward the Rio with eleven models in tow, the whole gang followed by a dozen or so photographers and a ESPN film crew, garnered a bit of attention:
It wasn’t until we got inside the Amazon Room proper that I remembered why we were here in the first place–Phil was playing in the Main Event. And having missed the first three hours of play you’d think he’d be raring to go, but first he had to make his way to the ESPN Feature Table, be introduced to the crowd by WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack, and shake hands with his tablemates (including MMA star Chuck Liddel). It was during this rather chaotic scene that I took what was probably my favorite picture of the World Series. It was dark in there, I didn’t have time (or space) to switch to a faster lens, and Phil wouldn’t hold still. So I panned along as he walked around the table and squeezed off one semi-sharp shot of Phil in motion:
And from there Phil went on to finish 45th in the Main Event. How will he top either his entrance or his deep run? The latter is easy–just win the thing. But topping the Jeep, the ladies, the uniform? I’m thinking precision skydiving. I’m just throwing that out there. Believe me, I’ll be there with my camera to record THAT.
Tags: Phil Hellmuth, phil hellmuth entrance, phil hellmuth general patton, phil hellmuth world series of poker, phil hellmuth wsop, phil hellmuth wsop entrance
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