Yeah, but he's still a moron
Look, when it comes to acting like a douchebag on camera, i'm the first person to agree with you. Often there is a split between on-screen presence and real-life personality, something i have been very comfortable with for years. And no one's arguing that acting up for the camera can be a goldmine for two reasons - it creates public demand for that type of notorious character, as well as plays a psychological game with your opponents that can translate into an edge at the tables. and while i applaud your efforts to defend your friend, you seem to be forgetting one very important thing:
he's a complete & total idiot.
the bottom line is, he just doesn't understand the greater concepts of betting strategy, and no, this is not my opinion: its a mathematical fact. and if YOU knew anything about playing blackjack tournaments on a professional level, you would understand why the majority of his bets were not only uninspired, but downright stupid, showing a complete lack of understanding for the betting odds that are the fundamentals of tournament play. i laughed out loud every time he'd bet 70% of his bankroll, removing all possibility for splits or the ability to make a comeback if he lost the hand, and one of the biggest errors you can make in a tournament. i practically crapped myself when i overheard him at the rules meeting questioning why someone would want to double down on a blackjack (and no, sorry to say, he WASN'T kidding).
The list goes on, but something tells me nothing i could say will convince you that your friend is anything but the best, based on his results beating a large field at his home casino. Truth be told, & any pro will tell you, there's an awful lot of luck in blackjack, and sometimes the biggest idiot catches the right cards and wins the day -- happens all the time. Which is precisely what happened with Paul; no mystery here, folks, it really is an open and shut case. Moron caught cards, had good results, convinces the world he knows what he's doing. But as anyone with any true skill at the game will tell you, this couldn't be farther from the truth.
I tell you this right now: the world will never hear from Paul Haas again. Wanna-be badass attitude and all, the fact is, he really just doesn't know a thing about playing tournament-style blackjack. And if you're gonna step out into the limelight & act the fool, you'd better know what the hell you're doing. Enjoy the 15 minutes, buddy -- its all you've got.
-holly deezy.