Earl tossed out of SBE...
- Thread starter alstl
- Start date
mlalum
Banned
SAW. You are the MAN. I'd like your autograph.
Earl broke and ran the first game. In the second game Earl complained that Alex, while racking for himself the rack was not straight. They argued and Frank came over and agreed that the rack was not straight. Even though Frank was agreeing with Earl, Earl felt that Frank was not taking him seriously.
Both Alex and Earl occassionally made comments that would set the other off.
During the last couple of games there was a lot of movement on the sidelines. Players were leaving when their matches were over, and other players were coming in to get ready for the next round of play. This annoyed Earl. He started banging his cue on the table. NOt just once but several times in a row. Frank came over and warned Earl that there were other people playing . The two had words. Frank told him he was going to get thrown out. Earl settled down. Alex then finished off the match.
Earl was very disrespectful to everyone, especially the td Frank.
Both Alex and Earl occassionally made comments that would set the other off.
During the last couple of games there was a lot of movement on the sidelines. Players were leaving when their matches were over, and other players were coming in to get ready for the next round of play. This annoyed Earl. He started banging his cue on the table. NOt just once but several times in a row. Frank came over and warned Earl that there were other people playing . The two had words. Frank told him he was going to get thrown out. Earl settled down. Alex then finished off the match.
Earl was very disrespectful to everyone, especially the td Frank.
The warning I witnessed
I was there when he was playing Alex and he started going on to Alex telling his to get off the table and dont lay on it when Alex was trying to make a shot. Then he was going on about spectators in the bleacher side walking by when he was down on the ball shooting, but when Frank gave him a warning was when he took his stick and started beating the rail and going off when he missed. And Frank asked him if he wanted to leave and it went back and forth alittle and ,,it went on from there..But they finished the match and we walked out after and later heard he had been outed from the tournament.... >>>ED
I was there when he was playing Alex and he started going on to Alex telling his to get off the table and dont lay on it when Alex was trying to make a shot. Then he was going on about spectators in the bleacher side walking by when he was down on the ball shooting, but when Frank gave him a warning was when he took his stick and started beating the rail and going off when he missed. And Frank asked him if he wanted to leave and it went back and forth alittle and ,,it went on from there..But they finished the match and we walked out after and later heard he had been outed from the tournament.... >>>ED
I think this is the best post about Earl that I have ever read on AZ. People may hate for saying that but thats ok because I have personally been there when Earl has disrespected not only the player he is playing but the game we all love. I cant believe some of the excuses people on here make for the worst attitude in professional pool.
Exactly. It's hard for me to believe the fanbase he still owns: no matter how many racks he runs.
Bad for the game
I'm at SBE & watched Earl today, I along with the majority of the audience applauded loudly when the TD gave Earl his last warning and actually shut him up. There were 7 quality matches going on and one circus show distracting from the event.
If any other player had acted the way Earl did they would have been out on their ass long before that. His act is really getting old.
It is sad but probably appropriate that in years to come he will be remembered more for being a jerk rather than for his accomplishments and skill.
I'm at SBE & watched Earl today, I along with the majority of the audience applauded loudly when the TD gave Earl his last warning and actually shut him up. There were 7 quality matches going on and one circus show distracting from the event.
If any other player had acted the way Earl did they would have been out on their ass long before that. His act is really getting old.
It is sad but probably appropriate that in years to come he will be remembered more for being a jerk rather than for his accomplishments and skill.
mlalum
Banned
Well it's even worse than that. I could make a pretty strong case that Earl Strickland might have been the only player in the last 20 years with the potential to take pro pool out of the gutter. But instead he was an epic failure. It's also possible that if the pool industry hadn't enabled Strickland to be such a d... then and now pro pool might have had more of an opportunity. Another epic failure. Real success in this world takes a lot more than talent.
What did he do?
I don't know what happened at the SBE and I don't know this guy Frank either. But I do know Earl quite well. He has played in dozens of tournaments that I have directed. And I can't say it's always gone well between us, but we have reached some kind of mutual accord. He knows that I will penalize him if necessary, but first I will try to reason with him. That usually works, just like it did at the recent Masters. Let's just say that Earl requires special handling, more so than most other players. I accept that as part of my job.
I for one am glad to see Earl playing well again. He is the all time best imo, and it's been a true pleasure watching him when he's at his best. He is indeed a special case that can be a test for any TD who is trying to run a good event. But I know the spectators come out to see him play and so I will always try to rein him in and keep him on track if possible. What I've noticed is that if I can calm him down he usually plays well. And that's what people want to see, Earl at his best.
Love him or hate him, everyone wants to see him play. There has only been one other pool player who has tested me this way. His name was Ronnie Allen, also a crowd favorite but another erratic and often controversial personality. That's why I get the big bucks though. I wish!
Thanks for your post Jay! I really think Earl has been doing much better with his attitude of late. Ofcourse that being said I know he can get hot fairly easy and will not hesitate to let everyone know whats bothering him
. I for one love to see him play well and not let his head get in his way. I am almost sure if you were at the expo, you could have talked Earl down from the building and play would continue. On the other hand with some unknown referee it might have been a case of, hey this guys complaining to much, I don't care who he his, he's out of here. I hope Earl gets it together and keeps on the path of just playing well...Negativity and pool sure doesn't mix very well does it
Well.....
The way I see it, when you have a player with a rep for showing his ass & and a TD who loves being an ass, there aren't too many ways that ends well.
The way I see it, when you have a player with a rep for showing his ass & and a TD who loves being an ass, there aren't too many ways that ends well.
On the stream this morning you could hear what happened. Earl was banging his cue hard on the rail. The first time, nothing was said. The second time, the TD told him to quit disrespecting the equipment and the rest of the players.
Earl jawed back a little, and the td gave a second warning, a previous one was issued a match before I believe. To me, that sounds like pretty solid officiating. But, then again I've never been one to believe anyone should receive preferential treatment based on their standing.
I umpired baseball at a pretty high level, and I was pretty lenient on jawing, but the same situation a player would have been thrown out after the first warning. If anything, the td tried to let Earl save himself, but Earl didn't want to play along.
Just my take.
RC
Earl jawed back a little, and the td gave a second warning, a previous one was issued a match before I believe. To me, that sounds like pretty solid officiating. But, then again I've never been one to believe anyone should receive preferential treatment based on their standing.
I umpired baseball at a pretty high level, and I was pretty lenient on jawing, but the same situation a player would have been thrown out after the first warning. If anything, the td tried to let Earl save himself, but Earl didn't want to play along.
Just my take.
RC
The man with all the answers.:barf:
I wasn't there, so won't comment about this incident.
I was there last year on the final day, though. The TD's behaviour towards Jon Pinegar in the final match was a disgrace. He yelled at him (and I mean _yelled_) several times - little things like the rack being a micron high, or standing briefly to see if Shane could get through to a ball. They edited the audio out on the youtube/ustream video.
The only kind of tournament that guy should be directing is dog-fighting. He has just the right class for that.
I was there last year on the final day, though. The TD's behaviour towards Jon Pinegar in the final match was a disgrace. He yelled at him (and I mean _yelled_) several times - little things like the rack being a micron high, or standing briefly to see if Shane could get through to a ball. They edited the audio out on the youtube/ustream video.
The only kind of tournament that guy should be directing is dog-fighting. He has just the right class for that.
Do you really feel sorry for him? Think about it. In any tournaments/matches/whatever that you have played, how many times have you slammed your cue into the table? Now try to put yourself in the perspective of a professional. CONTROL YOURSELF. Slamming your cue into the table, ground or whatever is an amateur move. Period. Earl knows better than this. He has gotten away with it for years.
I don't know Frank, but I applaud him for handling this situation. The little that I have seen of his tournament directing he has always given clear and advanced warnings. Like last years finals when Jonathan Pinegar was getting out of line regarding Shane's rack placement. Frank spoke up loud and made it clear that there would not be any BS, and John shut up.
There is nothing wrong with an outburst every once in a while, we are human. But the precedent needs to be set that this kind of behavior, like in every respected sport, will only be tolerated so much.
Nevermind the audience but think of the disrespect his opponents receive. It's unfair for the opponent to have to deal with Earl's antics. I don't think anyone should be treated like that.
Quit defending Earl and his behavior. It should not be tolerated and it's good that tournament directors are punishing him.
Quit defending Earl and his behavior. It should not be tolerated and it's good that tournament directors are punishing him.
Tennis had John McEnroe, Pool has Earl Strickland.
When John McEnroe was at his peak, he was feared by his opponents and by the refferees, but now he is just remembered as a decent player with a sometimes bad attitude.
That's about the best that could happen to Earl - that his talent will be more remembered than his behaviour. At the moment, it does not look so.
Just my humble opinion.
Gerhard
When John McEnroe was at his peak, he was feared by his opponents and by the refferees, but now he is just remembered as a decent player with a sometimes bad attitude.
That's about the best that could happen to Earl - that his talent will be more remembered than his behaviour. At the moment, it does not look so.
Just my humble opinion.
Gerhard
Haha, that is actually kind of funny. Alex needs higher heels:grin: