Professional poker player used to be a term that was either an oxymoron or an indication that you were in denial and had a serious problem. Poker players were smoky, shunned, robbed, killed, cheated, people to be avoided.

Amarillo Slim was a character and brought poker into the open in the 70's. Doyle Brunson was a legendary figure. Stu Ungar was a flaming comet.

Johnny Chan was the first rock star, but the WPT really created Poker Stars. Lederer, Layne Flack, Gus Hansen, Devilfish, E-Dog all hit our consciousness in Season 1.

Negreanu, Ivey, Harmon, Greenstein all would join them later. Most of these players were around, but especially the U-30 crowd could become poker rock stars literally overnight.

Back in 2004 poker stars like Negreanu, Hansen, and others were able to walk by the Bellagio with no stalkers or photo hounds. Ask them what's it like to go to the bathroom now.

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