If I place I will gladly repay any contributions plus interest. If I don't though, it would be hard for me to repay money that I didn't have in the first place. I don't want to make promises that I may not be able to fulfill. I don't roll that way.
Help send me to Reno?
- Thread starter Baxter
- Start date
If I place I will gladly repay any contributions plus interest. If I don't though, it would be hard for me to repay money that I didn't have in the first place. I don't want to make promises that I may not be able to fulfill. I don't roll that way.
I admire Baxter for haveing the Balls to ask for help . I never met Baxter personally , but from what I have learned about him from here on AZ and a couple phone calls, he is a fine young Man. Seams hard working, both at his regular job, but also at his desire to become the best at pool he can . I dont beleive him to be a dreamer, but a achiever , ready to reach his higher goals. Baxter seams not of the meek an mild , but very confident in his ability , something I beleive important , if you want to win , bad enough .
I have never helped someone like Baxter , but I think this is the time to step up. Baxter is not a relative of mine, we do share the same last name . I think I'll do what I can and sit back and enjoy . Jim
Thank you for your support Jim, it means a lot to me. Your kindness and generosity is humbling, and I'm forever grateful. Hope everything for you gets better soon. Can't wait for you to come through Corning next time, really want to meet you in person so I can shake the hand of one of the most honorable and respectable men I'll ever have the chance to meet.
You threw out these two names. I would think that anyone on this site asking for financial aid could at least have the decency of giving us your name (first and last) so that we might identify with it. Geesh, let's all throw our money at some stranger wanting to play in a pool tournament.
Maniac
There are probably hundreds of people on this forum that would go to the US Bar Box championships and don't because of money constraints. Those people will simply keep on working and read about the event on AZB, maybe watch the stream. Any particular thing makes you different and more deserving of the trip then the other few hundred other people that wont go because they don't have the cash?
And what would be the relevance here? Are you implying that I am not a "valuable man" because I am asking for a little bit of help, and doing so without knowing the values that I have and live for? I help people whenever I'm able, and those that know me personally know the compassion I hold for a fellow human being, especially those down on their luck and in a tough spot. For once I'm on the other end, asking for a little bit of help. I'm not a bum, and I'm not looking for a free ride. I'm working my ass off and trying to get it together myself, but unless I get lucky at work (delivering pizza) and receive a $300 tip, I'm not going to be able to. Doesn't mean I'm still not trying and hoping for the best.
I guess from an outside perspective, I am no different than a bunch of other people who want to play in a pool tournament. All I can tell you is a little about myself and how I feel. I'm 23 years old, I've been playing pool seriously for a little less than 3 years now, and everyone I play (players I respect, who have been in this game for a long time and know a lot more than I) tell me that I have serious potential and can really take this somewhere. I try to maintain a humble and respectful attitude in everything I do, but frankly it's getting tough to do in pool. I want to get out there, on a bigger stage, and really test myself. I want to see if I can be competitive in a large tournament environment against quality opposition. I think I can hang. Everyone else seems to as well. I want to prove it. I want to prove it to myself. I'm stuck in a sort of "Jack Of All Trades" stage, good at everything, great at nothing. I think this is my shot towards greatness. I'm good at pool, but I honestly believe I have potential to be great. I want to prove it.
My first name is Leland. Last name is Baxter.
Well I think it does take some balls and some major loss of pride to ask for a handout. But it goes along with the idea that you don't get what you don't go for or ask for.
Personally I'd be asking for backing. Figure up the costs and then ask for AZ people to invest in you.
Worked out great for John Schmidt the year he won the US Open. He came here and asked for backing, got it and he and his investor did good.
Personally I think it would be kind of neat if the AZB community would "sponsor" an amateur player for a year and track their progress. There are so many cool things that could be done with such a project. I'd be willing to donate to something like that.
For your specific request though I am going to say no, not right now. It's a bit vague and you are unknown to me. I am sure you are a great student of the game and very serious. And I am sure that it's very difficult to ask for help on the open forum.
IF however you are willing to work a little bit then I will pay you well for your work.
If you send me some video of you working with the kids at a community center teaching them about pool then I will pay you $50 an hour for two hour's worth of your time. That's more than I make per hour.
You can upload the video to YouTube. Doesn't have to be two hour's worth of video - I trust you if you say you put in the time.
Personally I'd be asking for backing. Figure up the costs and then ask for AZ people to invest in you.
Worked out great for John Schmidt the year he won the US Open. He came here and asked for backing, got it and he and his investor did good.
Personally I think it would be kind of neat if the AZB community would "sponsor" an amateur player for a year and track their progress. There are so many cool things that could be done with such a project. I'd be willing to donate to something like that.
For your specific request though I am going to say no, not right now. It's a bit vague and you are unknown to me. I am sure you are a great student of the game and very serious. And I am sure that it's very difficult to ask for help on the open forum.
IF however you are willing to work a little bit then I will pay you well for your work.
If you send me some video of you working with the kids at a community center teaching them about pool then I will pay you $50 an hour for two hour's worth of your time. That's more than I make per hour.
You can upload the video to YouTube. Doesn't have to be two hour's worth of video - I trust you if you say you put in the time.
You are a little different.
You have been a member of this forum since July 2010. To put that in perspective when the last Reno tournament was going you were not even a member of this community...
And now you are here asking this community that you just joined and who have not even gotten to know you to give you the cash to enter all of the events in Reno? Hundreds of dollars?
Pro's here have asked for backing, with the point made that the backers would be getting a return on winnings. Someone had to bring that up for you to even mention that you would return cash if you happend to win. Long time members in special situations have gotten help before, but the situations were not "heya guys I am broke, can you guys send me a few hundred dollars so I can go play in Reno?".
Maybe it is just me... seems weak though.
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I appreciate the feedback and support, especially it being without an air of pretentiousness. I don't tolerate being made to feel like a scumbag very well.
I'd love to do something like that. I'd really have to figure out how, considering the Boys and Girls Club just shut down due to lack of funding, and I'm working 2 jobs right now to try and support myself (and my pool habit). I'm going to work on that though. If I figure something out, I'll let you know for sure.
I knew it would be hard to get anyone to help me, but I had to try. I know that no one on here knows me personally, and that the request is a little vague in nature. I know that I probably wouldn't help someone on an online forum asking for financial assistance. Scams like that happen every day. If it was a face to face encounter, I probably would if I could. I realize this, and I'm not naive enough to think everyone else wouldn't feel the same way. Like I said, have to try. I'm trying everything I can.
Also, if anyone lives/are in Northern California and would like to meet me, I have no problem arranging that. I'm an open and honest person, and I'm not trying to hide behind a computer screen with an anonymous name (my username is my last name). Just PM me. I'm willing to drive up to 2 hours from Chico.
John that is a very generios offer. I have not met Leland, but talked to him on the phone. He really seems like a person I want to help . I been off work with both my wife and myself spending time in the Hospital. I don't have a lot of cash, but I do have a nice full splice cue I sent to him today , hopefully it will help a little. If not he can sell it and use the money for the trip to Reno. He's only a couple hours away . Thanks again John . jim
I don't actually know Baxter, but what little I know of him - I really like.
He is young, enthusiastic, energetic, honest, and more than humble. From what I gather, he is a struggling young guy with big dreams. He participated in my Tiger shaft program and did exactly as he promised to. He shipped the shaft off to a kid attending an upscale college - right on time like he was asked to do. It was a shaft that I later decided I would gift to him for Chirstmas.
And guess what. It was the preppy college kid who kept the shaft and is too lazy or too dishonest to return it to me, so I can give it to Baxter.
Leyland - you touched my soul. PM me your best shipping address - I have something I want to send you.
It's not money. People giving you money isn't going to help you. What you need to do is learn a trade, or some way to make extra money. Use your likeability and people skills to get some extra work going. Learn from a plumber or an electrician or a pipe fitter - something that makes some good wages if you learn and work hard - something with a future. Then make your own money and go to Vegas and play. Pool may be something you are good at, but it's just too tough a road when it comes to money.
I worked on the weekends for almost 3 years doing construction work to save enough money to buy my first house at age 25. I gave up pool that entire time and until later, when I could enjoy it. There are many years you can play pool and enjoy it, but this time in your life is totally critical to your future. You are deciding right now what Leland Baxter is going to be doing when he's 50, or 60, or 70. So decide right my friend!
Chris
He is young, enthusiastic, energetic, honest, and more than humble. From what I gather, he is a struggling young guy with big dreams. He participated in my Tiger shaft program and did exactly as he promised to. He shipped the shaft off to a kid attending an upscale college - right on time like he was asked to do. It was a shaft that I later decided I would gift to him for Chirstmas.
And guess what. It was the preppy college kid who kept the shaft and is too lazy or too dishonest to return it to me, so I can give it to Baxter.
Leyland - you touched my soul. PM me your best shipping address - I have something I want to send you.
It's not money. People giving you money isn't going to help you. What you need to do is learn a trade, or some way to make extra money. Use your likeability and people skills to get some extra work going. Learn from a plumber or an electrician or a pipe fitter - something that makes some good wages if you learn and work hard - something with a future. Then make your own money and go to Vegas and play. Pool may be something you are good at, but it's just too tough a road when it comes to money.
I worked on the weekends for almost 3 years doing construction work to save enough money to buy my first house at age 25. I gave up pool that entire time and until later, when I could enjoy it. There are many years you can play pool and enjoy it, but this time in your life is totally critical to your future. You are deciding right now what Leland Baxter is going to be doing when he's 50, or 60, or 70. So decide right my friend!
Chris
Fine, you have a right to your own opinion. I did not offer a return or promise of repayment because I am not a pro. I'm not naive or big-headed enough to believe that I'm going to place in the money in my first big tournament. I'm a good player, but that's a stretch.
Once again, I realize all this. I'm not stupid. I weighed all this up before I made the original post.
That doesn't mean I'm going to sit here and take a bunch of crap for it. I swallowed a bit of my pride to do this, but I'll defend what's left. If you want to help me, that's awesome and I appreciate it more than you could know. If you don't, that's fine and completely understandable. But like I was always told as a little kid "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." Negativity is counter-productive and serves no purpose here except to form discouragement, which I don't need. Thank you.
Thank you Chris, once again you and your generosity never ceases to amaze me. Last month I was driving through Burbank and thought about you, really wished I had your phone number or something so I could stop and meet you in person. Kinda bummed me out I didn't/couldn't.
I'm trying man, I really am. My first job (my future career) is at a golf course. Right now I'm basically training to become a Superintendent. I've worked there for over 5 years now. I cut greens in the mornings, fairways in the afternoons, and am learning how to manage a crew. It's a good job, well good position anyways. Unfortunately the course I work at is pretty much the most ghetto golf course ever (we don't even have power, we run off generators!), so the pay is utter crap for me. Hence why I had to pick up a second job delivering pizza at night for Domino's. But I think once I get the experience under my belt, and have enough money saved to attend the college classes I need, I'll be able to pull a decent job with a good paycheck (top courses pay their Supers 6 figures, average is about 80k). Until then, well I guess I'm just grinding it out, trying to make the ends meet.
You're doing great and I'm pulling for you too. You just need a little luck to go with all that charm...
Chris
Jim, I wouldn't ever sell that cue. I don't care if I needed a kidney transplant and was only a cue-sale away, it won't ever be for sale. You taking the time to make it for me, and the generosity and kindness you've shown in gifting it to me, are worth more than any amount of money. I'm keeping this thing until the end. It means too much to me already, and it's not even in my hands yet.
Thank you. Thank was the most thoughtful and insightful post I have read in... ever. Really.
This is the website of the BG club in your area http://www.bgcanorthvalley.org/about-us.html
Here is a list of them around your zip code: http://apps.bgcayouthnet.org/2006/clubs/results2.asp
If not a BG club then any sort of community center with pool tables will be fine.
