The top ten 'poker boom' list has been published on the Poker Prof's Blog. I've selected my personal favorite (Phil Hellmuth) from poker's good and bad list of ten.

Like it or not, poker's boom has spawned a number of high and low water marks since Moneymaker won the World Series. With all the good poker's popularity has brought for the average player, there's plenty of reasons to rue the day the average Joe figured out Hold 'Em would be a great way to spend a Saturday night. We'll give you the definitive Las Vegas Vegas take on the good and bad that's come out of the last three years of poker's incredible rise...

Best: To appeal to the masses, poker needs more than just chips moving around the table. It needs characters. In a contest where giving away any extra information due to showing personality to your opponent, Phil Hellmuth is the "bad boy of poker" at the table. He's taken self-promotion to new levels - or depths, depending on your opinion - with his constant commentary that often veers into full-fledged whining. Like him or loathe him, he's one of the few true personalities on the scene, and personalities are going to be key to the continuing success of poker's presence and popularity.

Worst: We're as sick as you are of chest-puffing wannabe WSOP pros at the nickel/dime tables who are going to let you know what a horrible player you are, and will do everything they can to evade the online expletive filters in the process. "U Suk" degenerates into questioning your sexuality, bankroll and prowess, and we wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see these table captains transcribing the best of televised Hellmuth to come up with their witty banter. No one's saying a suckout doesn't sting, just take your next one like a man...

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