A Modest Proposal

lfigueroa

lfigueroa

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
It never ceases to amaze me when I read people saying that they don't care how Earl acts out at an event, that he's a great player, no worst than McEnroe; and that he should be allowed to play no matter what, blah, blah blah.

So I think that if people are really into that kind of behavior they should establish a traveling road show to put all that kind of crap under one roof: They could have Earl ranting and banging his cue around; Alex would be forced to consume his body weight in alcohol before each match; they could have a "10 and Under" division so they could watch kids not tall enough to reach many of their shots belly flop onto the table. (Just to make sure they were under parental supervision, they would have to be accompanied by their fathers who, no doubt, would be betting on their kids with the rail.) And, oh yes, there should also be a women's division. Hair dildos come to mind.

I mean, if you really don't care...

Lou Figueroa
 
I second the hair dildo notion. Earl has bad sportsmanship. Shut up and play the freaking game.
 
lfigueroa said:
It never ceases to amaze me when I read people saying that they don't care how Earl acts out at an event, that he's a great player, no worst than McEnroe; and that he should be allowed to play no matter what, blah, blah blah.

So I think that if people are really into that kind of behavior they should establish a traveling road show to put all that kind of crap under one roof: They could have Earl ranting and banging his cue around; Alex would be forced to consume his body weight in alcohol before each match; they could have a "10 and Under" division so they could watch kids not tall enough to reach many of their shots belly flop onto the table. (Just to make sure they were under parental supervision, they would have to be accompanied by their fathers who, no doubt, would be betting on their kids with the rail.) And, oh yes, there should also be a women's division. Hair dildos come to mind.

I mean, if you really don't care...

Lou Figueroa
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LOU is the MAN. Can i get your autograph?
 
My whole take on this topis is that you don't have to be a celebrity to be a professional player. However, if you're playing the sport to be a star, certain etiquite is expected from players just like in any other sport.

You're in front of cameras, you're getting media attention. Don't make an ass out of yourself just because you don't get your way.

Reminds me of Phil Hellmuth from WSoP. Seriously, stop trying to be the Dennis Rodman of billiards and just play the game.
 
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lfigueroa said:
It never ceases to amaze me when I read people saying that they don't care how Earl acts out at an event, that he's a great player, no worst than McEnroe; and that he should be allowed to play no matter what, blah, blah blah.
Click to expand...

I have also been a first hand witness to some of the comments, the provocations, and the outbursts of the idiotic people that create some of those situations for their own amusement. For that reason, and because I have almost gotten into a fist fight trying to reason with some of those people - & because I understand some of the struggles Earl faces on a daily basis - I will defend his honor when I believe he is being openly disrespected or held to a standard of behavior that is impossible for him to maintain in the face of that type of provocation.

Some people may not agree with that, and that's ok. I'd rather be known for encouraging and supporting Earl through the difficult times, as well as the good times because I believe in who he was and who can still be. I don't want to be known as one of the people that merely judged Earl's actions and behavior callously and then wrote him off as an assshole while walking away with my nose in the air.

The easiest thing in the world to do is to give up on somebody. The hardest thing in the world to do is to believe in them regardless of whether they still believe in themselves. For that reason, I have Earl's back and I will continue to treat him with the same dignity and respect regardless of how others perceive his outbursts.
 
Blackjack;

Two things:

1. From what I witnessed firsthand at SBE, Earl's situation needs to be sorted out.

2. You, sir, are an excellent person to have as a friend. :thumbup:

green to you, Dave.

Best,
Brian kc

EDIT: dang it, the man says it have to spread some around...
 
When Earl plays it's hard to tell whether the fans come to see what he does around the table, or on the table. Probably a little of both.
Other sports/games have their zanies. McEnroe, as Lou said. Green in golf. Rodman in basketball. I see no reason why we should be any different. :)
 
Yesterday we were playing a team that had a guy that was really working the butt crack angle. Someone from a nearby team reported him and a ref had to tell him to say no to crack.

True story and I think it would be a decent side show at the pool circus Lou is starting.
 
SCCues said:
I assume that you are not a Strickland Fan!

James
Click to expand...


I'm guessing this is to me.

Actually, I am a Strickland fan -- I think he is one of the greatest players of all time. I've watched Earl shoot a number of times, in person, and he is astonishing to watch.

But... he has temperament issues that really diminish him.

Lou Figueroa
 
Blackjack said:
I have also been a first hand witness to some of the comments, the provocations, and the outbursts of the idiotic people that create some of those situations for their own amusement. For that reason, and because I have almost gotten into a fist fight trying to reason with some of those people - & because I understand some of the struggles Earl faces on a daily basis - I will defend his honor when I believe he is being openly disrespected or held to a standard of behavior that is impossible for him to maintain in the face of that type of provocation.

Some people may not agree with that, and that's ok. I'd rather be known for encouraging and supporting Earl through the difficult times, as well as the good times because I believe in who he was and who can still be. I don't want to be known as one of the people that merely judged Earl's actions and behavior callously and then wrote him off as an assshole while walking away with my nose in the air.

The easiest thing in the world to do is to give up on somebody. The hardest thing in the world to do is to believe in them regardless of whether they still believe in themselves. For that reason, I have Earl's back and I will continue to treat him with the same dignity and respect regardless of how others perceive his outbursts.
Click to expand...


Yes, sometimes Earl gets provoked. But sometimes (many times) he does it to himself. That is not a matter of perception.

Any player that has been around the block has to learn to cope with the BS.

There is not a one of us who has not been in a tournament match or money game and had an opponent twist the rack, slug rack, talk to the rail, move in your line of sight, or pull some other bullsheet. It is something every player must learn to handle and how they choose to handle it is an expression of the respect they have for themselves more than anything else.

Lou Figueroa
 
Blackjack said:
I have also been a first hand witness to some of the comments, the provocations, and the outbursts of the idiotic people that create some of those situations for their own amusement. For that reason, and because I have almost gotten into a fist fight trying to reason with some of those people - & because I understand some of the struggles Earl faces on a daily basis - I will defend his honor when I believe he is being openly disrespected or held to a standard of behavior that is impossible for him to maintain in the face of that type of provocation.

Some people may not agree with that, and that's ok. I'd rather be known for encouraging and supporting Earl through the difficult times, as well as the good times because I believe in who he was and who can still be. I don't want to be known as one of the people that merely judged Earl's actions and behavior callously and then wrote him off as an assshole while walking away with my nose in the air.

The easiest thing in the world to do is to give up on somebody. The hardest thing in the world to do is to believe in them regardless of whether they still believe in themselves. For that reason, I have Earl's back and I will continue to treat him with the same dignity and respect regardless of how others perceive his outbursts.
Click to expand...

You are, indeed, a gentleman and a scholar. Hear, hear. And a resounding tap, tap, tap.
 
Luxury said:
Yesterday we were playing a team that had a guy that was really working the butt crack angle. Someone from a nearby team reported him and a ref had to tell him to say no to crack.

True story and I think it would be a decent side show at the pool circus Lou is starting.
Click to expand...


I wonder if they would report a lady working the cleavage angle :-)

Lou Figueroa
 
lfigueroa said:
Yes, sometimes Earl gets provoked. But sometimes (many times) he does it to himself. That is not a matter of perception.

Any player that has been around the block has to learn to cope with the BS.

There is not a one of us who has not been in a tournament match or money game and had an opponent twist the rack, slug rack, talk to the rail, move in your line of sight, or pull some other bullsheet. It is something every player must learn to handle and how they choose to handle it is an expression of the respect they have for themselves more than anything else.

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

I completely agree. However, I believe that in Earl's case, more times than not, the inability to "cope" gets exploited so that people can crack jokes, laugh their ass off, and then hang him by the balls after he's lost his temper. I've seen that first hand and I have personally experienced threats of violence for merely asking someone to stop making insulting remarks while Earl was shooting. As I see it, it goes both ways. JMO.
 
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lfigueroa said:
Yes, sometimes Earl gets provoked. But sometimes (many times) he does it to himself. That is not a matter of perception.

Any player that has been around the block has to learn to cope with the BS.

There is not a one of us who has not been in a tournament match or money game and had an opponent twist the rack, slug rack, talk to the rail, move in your line of sight, or pull some other bullsheet. It is something every player must learn to handle and how they choose to handle it is an expression of the respect they have for themselves more than anything else.

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

What you say holds merit, Lou, but I am cognizant of the fact that some medical maladies do override a person's ability to execute restraints.

As an example, let's say there was a famous pool champion who has Tourette syndrome. When he gets stressed, he cannot control his outbursts. He curses his opponent while his opponent is struggling with a difficult shot or his body moves violently in his opponent's line of vision.

Though some folks might consider this sharking, there is, indeed, a reason why this player is doing this. He has a medical condition.

In Earl's case, I realize he does not have Tourette syndrome, but I do believe there is something going on that he cannot help when he has these outbursts in the tournament settings. I think they are medically related.

If Earl's medical condition, no matter how strong he is as a pool player, prevents him from competing and adhering to the rules that other competitors have to adhere to, then he should receive medical care before he competes. But to make fun of him -- not saying you did -- is kind of sad when it is apparent that he is suffering from a medical condition that he is unable to control at this time.
 
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