Are Junior players being set up for a tough life?

As a father and pool nut I am relieved that neither one of my kids took up pool as a serious pursuit. I am also glad they have always focused on academics. The oldest has moved out and living independently and the youngest has a good scholarship and is going in to mechanical engineering. These kids need to understand the massive trade off they are making for the unstable and demanding life that even successful pool players have. Couldn’t recommend it as a career path.
Though most people get introduced to the game as a player. If they really enjoy the sport and being around the sport it has a lot of aspects. Pool is far more of an industry than it is a sport.

Many players are eventually room owners or suppliers manufacturers sales people still revolving around the sport. People like Nick Varner, Jay, Mizerak, and so on. I mentioned Jay, I'm pretty sure if he chimes in he will show no regrets for having been a pool player.

I personally have no regrets having played pool for so many years. I would say most of the things in my life that shaped my life and we're good are results of me having been around pool rooms. I even met my wife when she came into my room some 50 years ago.

Are Junior players being set up for a tough life?

As a former professional AP casino gambler, these kids are in trouble man. I’ve seen it over and over. This gambling for a living thing gives people such a fucked up perspective of money. 10k isn’t 10k to them it’s just a days worth of gambling coupons. If pool doesn’t stick for some of these kids, it’s a hard comedown from winning and losing 10k everyday to making $15 an hour. They will chase 5 figure paydays anyway they can, and it will consume them. Make 10k, bet 10k, repeat. I’m lucky that I was good at what I did, made money, and am now a quant for an investment firm. But even as proud as I am of my success I would never send my daughter down the same road. The disregard for money is the scariest part and what will unfortunately ruin some of these kids.

Filter

Back
Top