[Peter McDermott]

I think that one of the most interesting things about Daniel is the way that he has an enormous online fan-boi community. You'll find no shortage of posters on here who respect players like Brunson or Greenstein or whoever, but the idea of any of those players hosting a little community where they interact with their fans seems inconceivable to me.

So I wonder whether the reason Daniel attaches so much criticism is because he seems, in some sense, to lack the qualities that we associate with a poker player -- independence, diffidence, etc. because he wants too much to be liked by his percieved fan base.

For me, this tendency to seek public attention or approval is one of his most irritating characteristics. I'm pretty sure that I'd like the old drunken, mouthing-off, skank-calling Daniel more than I like the modern, well-scrubbed, media-savvy player.

Of course, I'm sure he doesn't give a [censored] about people like me. He's aiming his schtick at being a personality that will be loved by the American heartlands.