My opinion about Earl and what he is doing to pool...

Nostroke said:
The women pay all the espn production costs. If the men do that, im sure they will get on too. The women did it to get people interested and create a demand for their product. I guess it worked for a while but clearly not at the moment.
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Great idea. Do you think that ESPN would accept belly button lint as payment for air time?
 
Let's keep things in perspective here. Keith's talent is legendary. Keith's actions in the 80's in Southern California are infamous.

Congrats to Keith on his new life. I'm hoping he's sober & happy and finally matured.
 
Keith McCready said:
Hey, Charlie Sheen, last time I played Earl, it went hill-hill. Me and Earl have had a few battles. He runs five and sixes lots of times on me, and it was still close. I have a lot of respect for Earl, but I don't have much respect for you.

People like yourself is the reason why people don't want to play pool anymore. I used to enjoy playing pool, playing against all the great players, having a good time, and then to have somebody like yourself try to take that away from me? You can say what you want to about me, but you won't ever be able to take away what fun I've had in this game.

I'm not in the loop anymore -- pool loop, that is, to you. Maybe you can find something else to do with your life than to come on here and try to belittle me for your pleasure. Does that make you feel good, Buddy?

You may think just because you're a college graduate and have a job, that that makes you better than everybody else. Well, you're wrong. The funny thing about it, if you walked in the pool auditorium, there wouldn't be one guy that would know you. Isn't that nice? Somebody talking shit behind a computer, got nothing good to say, and wants to try take me down. I may be a degenerate gambler to you, but one thing I do know, the fun that I did have gambling and the memories I have today, I'm not going to let a two-dollar MF-er like you take that away from me. So have yourself a nice day, Charlie Sheen. What a winner you are. Duh!
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What is not to love about this guy? Thanks for sharing.
 
I_Need_D_8 said:
Let's keep things in perspective here. Keith's talent is legendary. Keith's actions in the 80's in Southern California are infamous.

Congrats to Keith on his new life. I'm hoping he's sober & happy and finally matured.
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Tap, tap, tap. Props, on all of the above.

And maybe, just maybe... he'll get the itch to play a little again, too. :p

(It's ok to hope, right? :grin: )
 
To get back on track, many have stated what i was trying to point out.

There are many other entertaining pool players out there who play lights out. I'd much rather watch them play. I would like to say after the match so and so was great, they played great and wasn't it cool how nice\funny\respectful they are....

After all if it wasn't for the fans mens pool could just as well be far worse then what it is.
 
Is there ever a thread on here that has difference in opinions that doesn't involve calling people idiots and such. Life is too short guys for this, in all reality we are on this forum because we agree on 1 thing.. we all love the sport of pool. Relax people.
 
Neil said:
So, you are one of those losers that equate $$$ to success??? And, you have a college degree to get that smart??? News flash- not everyone needs $100k a year to be happy and have what they want. ;) And, just because someone makes less $$$ than someone else, does NOT mean that they are any less of a person because of it, and vice-versa.

I'm currently unemployed because I had a "job" controlled by college graduates that were so smart they destroyed our economy. I don't have the $$$$, but even without knowing you other than on here, there is NO WAY I would trade my life to have yours! Not even if you could make Bill Gates look poor!
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Nicely said, Neil. And just think, no student loans to pay back for the rest of your life to... oh look... the federal government so they can waste your dollars. Years ago I went on the road for 6 weeks. Went broke every other day. Would not trade the memories for anything. To have the skill of Keith or Earl....what would that be worth??

Bob Danielson
www.bdcuesandcomix.com
 
i don't think that earl is bipolar, i think he is easily excitable and expresses himself poorly.

for example. he racks. Shane comes over and looks at the rack, which is no problem, until he TOUCHES it. Earl goes bananas, b/c Shane is getting away with it. But Earl didn't just say "Hey, Shane, this isn't rack your own, please don't touch the rack." He got excited and started expressing himself in the way we are used to him doing. Eventually, Earl finally did say Don't touch it let me fix it, I want to fix it, so it took him a while to figure out how best to make his point.

However, his point got lost because he didn't verbalize his message very well from the get go. Doesn't mean he has a condition, although maybe an Anger Management course wouldn't hurt him or most fiery competitors like him.

Earl is a stickler for the rules. And he doesn't hold back. Does it really matter if the cue ball is an inch over the line? Is Shane really gaining an advantage if he even did it? Not in my opinion, but it is A RULE. Is a player allowed to touch the rack if it's not rack your own? I'm assuming that you are NOT.

As far as the crowd noises, in hindsight, it might have helped to have some constant classy elevator music playing like they had at SBE maybe it would have covered out some of the noises that were setting Earl off. Maybe not. Might be worth a try next time, though. Maybe Earl has been golfing too much and the quiet calmness and respect of that game has spoiled him rotten, lol.

just my opinion yo
 
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First.

This may be the only forum where people who don't have jobs bash people for being employed and having college educations. While at the same time putting ex-cons, degenerate gamblers, hustlers, socially unacceptables and drug addicts on pedestals calling them heroes and wishing they had that same life. Quite the demographic. Sponsors will be rushing in to capitalize on that any day now. And Neil all i can say is you've outdone yourself on this thread. Good job my man.
 
mlalum said:
First.

This may be the only forum where people who don't have jobs bash people for being employed and having college educations. While at the same time putting ex-cons, degenerate gamblers, hustlers, socially unacceptables and drug addicts on pedestals calling them heroes and wishing they had that same life. Quite the demographic. Sponsors will be rushing in to capitalize on that any day now. And Neil all i can say is you've outdone yourself on this thread. Good job my man.
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Tap tap tap. That might be the greatest post in the history of AZB. Simply awesome. :thumbup:
 
Charliescene said:
i don't know what's wrong with me today Scott. Normally I'm not like this.
I've been angry for some time now. I admire Keith, Dont know why I took it out on him. Apologies are too late now.

I must stop. Im miserable here.
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lmao you know, if you were earl strickland, this would be perfectly acceptable because well.. you just can't help it!

lmao i'm sorry, i had to.
 
mlalum said:
First.

This may be the only forum where people who don't have jobs bash people for being employed and having college educations. While at the same time putting ex-cons, degenerate gamblers, hustlers, socially unacceptables and drug addicts on pedestals calling them heroes and wishing they had that same life. Quite the demographic. Sponsors will be rushing in to capitalize on that any day now. And Neil all i can say is you've outdone yourself on this thread. Good job my man.
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Thats awesome. Green rep to you.

Leagueguy
 
Keith,

I'm sure you're not letting Charliescene get you too fired up... I also have a full time job and a baby like him, but I know there is more to life than collecting a steady paycheck. He has no idea (and will probably never be able to understand) the kind of heart you have and tallent. I know you used to like to party and have a good time more than most, but you are a great guy and first class in my book.
 
bboxgrinder said:
Is there ever a thread on here that has difference in opinions that doesn't involve calling people idiots and such. Life is too short guys for this, in all reality we are on this forum because we agree on 1 thing.. we all love the sport of pool. Relax people.
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Discussions should be conducted without fondness for dispute or desire for victory." - Ben Franklin‏
 
mlalum said:
First.

This may be the only forum where people who don't have jobs bash people for being employed and having college educations. While at the same time putting ex-cons, degenerate gamblers, hustlers, socially unacceptables and drug addicts on pedestals calling them heroes and wishing they had that same life. Quite the demographic. Sponsors will be rushing in to capitalize on that any day now. And Neil all i can say is you've outdone yourself on this thread. Good job my man.
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well it is AZ billiards and not the wall street journal
 
DogsPlayingPool said:
Tough to say. I don't recall TV ever having a ratings bonanza because of Fats. I'm talking about the World Championships that used to be telecast live or same weekend on ABC's Wide World of Sports or on a Saturday or Sunday night (can't remember). And it would take place sometimes on the stage of a theater with a couple of thousand people in the crowd. When the World Championships were televised a lot of people watched and there was a big live audience and Fats had nothing to do with it because he wasn't good enough to be there.

But in any event, I thought I had made it clear that I don't think gentlemen in suits and ties is what made the game popular on TV, or at least appealing enough for a network to carry it. I don't think that was it at all. The only reason they probably wore dress clothes was because that's what everybody wore. All the men in the audience had a suit on and the women dresses and hats, even at baseball games. Heck, they used to play golf in suits and ties.

I think the reason it used to be more popular was probably because there was a lot less competition on TV. There were only about a 1/2 dozen channels on the dial and pool was relatively cheap for the network to produce. And part of the appeal of WWofS (for example) was that people tuned in to see some stuff they usually didn't get to see.

In any event, as far as Fats goes, his shtick is not even comparable to Earl. Fats didn't get into it with the ref, his opponent, or the crowd. If anything he was very congenial and kicked back. It was not one of anomosity. I never was a big Fats fan but I have to admit to a lot of people he was entertaining and he tried to be. It was an act. Earl is not doing shtick, it's not an act like Fats.

BTW, I'm also not saying that Earl wouldn't help pool on TV. Maybe he would help, IF it was on TV and enjoyed at least some success maybe a little more personality would bump the ratings up a little. All I'm saying is that he isn't going to make it popular. The problem isn't that easy to fix. But having a viable tour would do more than throwing Earl on the tube to play Dippy.
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Many good points here. You're ticking off all the points in my head and nicely so at that too.
 
Neil said:
Apparently you haven't read many of my posts on him. Do I "excuse" him because he has the talent he has to accomplish what he has? No. However, I do give him more leeway than your average player because of that talent. This "sport" needs that kind of talent, and he sure has it!

Now, why do so many expect and demand that he act "normal" when they know that he is not "normal"? Sorry, but that is just ignorant. Earl is NOT normal. His behavior shows that he is most likely bi-polar. Always has been. It's a handicap that he has to deal with and has played stellar pool all these years in spite of it! So far, he has been the only one able to do that! For that, my hat is off to him! He not only got all those titles, he did it with a mental handicap that prevents all others with that handicap from being able to do it.

I have a friend that is bi-polar. He is just an average decent player. Will never get much better than he is because of his problem, and he knows that and has accepted it. He is the nicest guy you would want to meet. But, as soon as the pressure gets going, things dramatically change. That pressure can just be not playing to his normal speed. He won't gamble, and rarely will enter a tournament because of what happens to him.

He goes from a nice, easy going guy, to instant anger that he cannot control very well at all. He will snap a thousand dollar cue in half without thinking about it at the time! (and $1k to him is a LOT of money!) He will start yelling at everyone, throwing stuff, ect. He has learned over time that when that "switch" in his head flips, it's time to quit. Doesn't matter if he is in the middle of a game, he will guit and walk away so he doesn't have to deal with what he turns into.

Because of that, he will never be a "player", and he just tries to play for "fun". Tries to get what enjoyment he can out of the game. He doesn't HAVE to keep playing because pool is not his livelihood.

I believe Earl has the same problem. I also believe that he exerts a lot of self control over what he REALLY wants to say and do at the time that "switch" flips over. For that, I give him credit. If he were to take meds to control it, from everything I have heard about the meds, he will never be able to play at a pro level on them. He would be "nice", but never win anything. So, that route is out the window.

He has been this way for 30 years now. People have dealt with it and put up with it all this time. Now, that he is essentially 50, people want to say "enough is enough" and force him to give up the only thing he knows how to do. Just because THEY don't want to watch his antics! Who are THEY that they should have ANY control over his career???? If you don't like to watch him, then DON'T WATCH HIM!

But, more people watch him than anyone else! Not just to see a train wreck, but because he is one of the ALL TIME BEST! He doesn't act like he does because he WANTS to. He does because he can't help it! Sure, he has ticked off fans wanting autographs, and that is really a shame. But, when he is on "tilt" mode, that is bound to happen. He can't turn that switch on and off at will like "normal" people can. And, when on tilt, just like my friend, he will go off on ANYONE within range. He cannot control that hardly at all.

I'd be VERY surprised if that when he is on tilt, and he is sitting in his chair with his hands on his head, he is trying everything he can to get his head under control. Many of you act like he WANTS to act like that. He doesn't. And, I feel that all those in the stands that taunt him to see if he will go on tilt are far worse than he is. They are the same kind of people that will throw stones at a dog on a leash to watch him get mad and not be able to get them back for it.

Heck, Earl even went as far as look like a fool wearing that headgear just to try and keep things under control. And, for the most part, they really helped. He was not able to hear as much from the sadist in the crowd, and was more able to keep his head under control. Just for being willing to do THAT he gets a lot of credit from me.

So many wanted to get down on Earl for supposedly making fun of the handicapped. Well, just what do you all think he is? Do you really think his handicap is any easier to deal with than Shane's handicap? NO WAY it is
!But, because it's a "mental" handicap instead of a "physical" handicap, you (the fans) think he is fair game to mock. That's just plain WRONG!

Now, I'm not saying he never purposely sharks anyone, of course he does. They ALL do it to some extent. Even Shane was doing it by touching the rack EVERY single time, even after being asked repeatedly not to. It's part of the game, and it's not going to go away.Deal with it, or don't be a pro.

I'm NOT saying that Earl should get a free pass to act anyway he wants because of his handicap. But, everyone he plays knows he has it, so they should deal with it appropriately. Shane did a very good job of that, IMO. Others, not so much. Archer making the You-tube video that he did, in my opion, was very low class. He's going to go out of his way to upset a guy with mental problems. Yeah, that's real professional! He's going to do on PURPOSE what Earl can't help but do. You better believe that Johnny wants a ref there just so he has a very good chance of getting Earl disqualified, and thereby winning that way. Smart way to get the cash, but pretty low at the same time. Yet, I'm sure people will applaud Johnny if he can pull that off.
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Thanks for this post Neil, much appreciated.......
 
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