Poker legend Doyle Brunson graciously compliments an opponent with, "Good hand.”

Mike Matusow uses the "F word” and is banished to poker's equivalent of the penalty box.

Phil Hellmuth falls off his chair or tells an opponent, "You don't even know how to spell poker.”

And when you get the Poker Brat (Hellmuth) and The Mouth (Matusow) at the same final table, as happened in the 2005 Tournament of Champions, broadcast on Christmas eve, the badgering and needling made for fun - if a bit contrived - TV fare. The third finalist, Hoyt Corkins, wisely wore earplugs.

The Brat needled The Mouth about an inevitable "meltdown” that was to come. The Mouth responded with what gets under Phil's skin: that he is overrated. They declared war on each other.

Phil played to the crowd: "I never give up. Never.” Not satisfied with their response, he offered to buy the gallery 30 bottles of Dom Perignon if he won. Let the record show that a great cheer went up from the crowd!

Unfortunately the winner made no such rash promise. The Mouth came away with a million bucks. The Earplugs placed second, for $325,000, and The Brat in third place, good for $250,000.

Oh, come on! Phil recently sent in a Card Player report from Phil Ivey's posh condo in southern California where Phil H, Phil I, Mike, Howard Lederer, Annie Duke, and Andy Bloch were having a few drinks over a friendly game of poker and yukking it up. Maybe The Brat and The Mouth were rehearsing good lines for their next TV showdown.

Sometimes it does get serious and is taken personally as when Mike and Greg Raymer tiffed at the 2004 World Series of Poker. Mike tried to turn some biting remarks and silly actions into a joke and wanted to shake Greg's hand as he said "adios.” Glad to get this guy out of his face, Raymer would have none of it.

Murphy James is the pen name of Harry Murphy. He is a frequent contributor to Poker News and Strip Las Vegas Magazine. His website is http://www.murphyjames.com His email address is murphyjames@murphyjames.com.