Betting Poker Strategy

A Day in the Life of Phil Hellmuth

7:30 a.m.: "I never get up before 11, but I have a flight to catch. Eva Longoria from Desperate Housewives wanted Michael Jordan and me to be surprise guests at Tony Parker's birthday party in San Antonio Saturday night. But we're flying to Dallas first. She got us floor seats for the Spurs-Mavericks game tonight, which I know cost well over $10,000. Normally I charge $50,000 a night for appearance, but I'm doing this for free."

8:15 a.m.: "My wife went to Starbucks and got me a coffee and a blueberry coffee cake, so I'm eating it in the limo."

9:15 a.m.: "I'm at the San Francisco airport with my son, Philip. We're at the Mission Bar & Grill. My son ordered chicken strips and French fries, I ordered a fruit salad."

9:45 a.m.: "I was invited to play golf with Troy Aikman at 10 a.m. today in Dallas, but the plane tickets were for this morning and we just couldn't scramble my flights and get into Dallas earlier. Speaking of which, I'm about to get on the plane."

11:30 a.m.: "Hello, my name is Phil Hellmuth. You've reached me. Please leave a message." Beep.

3:30 p.m.: "When I get to an airport, I go to an empty gate and check e-mail or answer my cell phone. If I come down right away and wait for the limo, I just stand there looking stupid. People look over and whisper, it's Phil. Once you become a celebrity, people see you. For example, I'm drinking coffee at Caesars Palace and people stop cold in their tracks. They walk toward you then bail out at the last second. I do sign all autographs and I do take all pictures, unless I'm in a rush, like at the World Series of Poker where I have to run from place to place. I don't want to miss too many blinds."

4:15 p.m.: "We checked into the Crescent Court Hotel in Dallas. You know, Eva's paying for this."

5:45 p.m.: "I called Eva's assistant to tell her we're going to fly a private jet to San Antonio tomorrow. We will land at 3 p.m., and at 6:30p.m., Eva is going to escort Phillip and me to the party and surprise everybody. I'm going to freak them out."

6:00 p.m.: "Andy Roddick called. He's a friend. He said, 'I'm sure of one thing, Phil. I'll beat you a lot more at poker than you'll beat me at tennis.' I said, No shit."

8:30 p.m.: "Game time!"

12:00 a.m.: "Did I make the ESPN coverage? We were rooting for the Spurs because then they're going to be in a much better mood at the party tomorrow, but I wasn't particularly vocal. People know who I am, and I don't want to be an ass. Now Phillip and I are going to order room service. A friend wanted me to go to some clubs, which would have been fun, but this weekend was about Phillip."