Every sport has a bad boy or two, and for poker, Mike "The Mouth" Matusow fits the bill. Even though he's better known for constantly teasing and needling his opponents, and for never holding back emotional outbursts, you can't discount his talent with the cards.

Matusow had already discovered video poker when he forayed into the real thing as a dealer at Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall in Las Vegas. He used his time at the table to study players and their techniques and before long he was heading into a small tournament to play. Needless to say, he won it.

Since then, he's had success both in live games as well as playing online where he's known as "dill pickle" at UltimateBet, "mrpokejoke" at PokerStars.com, and "Mike Matusow" at Full Tilt Poker.

Well known for his "Matusow Meltdowns" or "Matusow Blow-ups," where he misjudges a hand or series of hands and puts himself completely out of the game at critical junctures in play, Matusow has finished in the money in dozens of high profile poker events.

His wins include the 2005 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions, the 2002 WSOP $5,000 Buy-in Omaha Hi-Lo Split Event, and the 1999 WSOP $3,500 Buy-in No-Limit Hold'em Event. In total, he's made nine WSOP final tables as well as final tables in other prominent tournaments, such as the World Poker Tour (WPT) UltimateBet Aruba Classic in October 2004, where he placed third and earned $250,000.

Matusow is both widely reviled and loved in the poker world, depending on whom you speak to. Some find his loud-mouthed antics and blow-ups hilarious and endearing, while others actually refuse to engage him in casual conversation at or away from the poker table.

His knack for causing mischief in the poker world matches his once chaotic private life, which has seen its fair share of ups and downs. Matusow has battled drug problems and depression and even spent six months in jail on drug charges following the broadcast of the 2004 WSOP Main Event on ESPN. He's worked on getting his life straightened out and has been clean for more than two years now.

And his life isn't the only thing he's been working on. Despite being considered the best Omaha poker player in the world and one of the best Texas Hold'em players, Matusow continues to improve on his extensive and skillful poker game, and remains one of the most successful - and outspoken - players at any table he joins.