My Thoughts on Earl and TAR 22

JCIN

JCIN

TheActionReport.com
Gold Member
We put this match together based on the reaction to the 10 foot table match. That was one of our top sellers ever but I swore after that match I would never put myself through that again and so did Shane. But time passing has a way of smoothing the edges and it seemed like an interesting idea for these two to get together again and Shane was down for it.

I thought "If it does similar numbers it could be worth it." Well it didnt and it really wasn't. We spent a lot of money on this match. Thanks to the die hard TAR supporters we didnt go in the tank but when I see people I know have bought everything we have done saying "Not this time" because of one reason I pay attention.

I thought the TAR Studio atmosphere would mitigate some of Earl's antics and compared to what happened in Ohio it did. Day two and three of TAR 22 were still not something I want to be remembered for. Earl is awesome right up until he isn't then it just goes from entertaining and a bit wacky to just plain hateful and mean. I really thought this match would not have that mean edge to it. He was getting a guaranteed payday and all expenses paid with a chance to make a nice score for the weekend if he won. I know he respects Shane. I honestly thought he would do all the wacky shit he always does but without the really nasty tone he displayed in Ohio and the final two days of this match. I was wrong about pretty much everything.

What I feel worst about is the people who paid a serious amount of money to be in the TAR Studio for this match. I apologize to them. Several traveled great distances at substantial cost to be there to see this match. They were not treated with the respect they deserved and that is, in the end, my fault. After the match was over one person walked up to Earl and tried to shake his hand. Earl turned his back on him. The man turned his head and saw I was watching..showing a lot of class he just kind of smiled, shrugged his shoulders and walked out the door. I felt like the biggest asshole in the world because this guy paid to come watch supposedly professional players I put together and this was the last experience he had walking out of our place that we built to represent us. It's unacceptable.

Earl is a tremendous talent and absolutely hilarious. Everyone in that studio this weekend wanted to see him do well. I even think Shane wants him to play great just so he can test himself against one of his idols from childhood. It really hurts me that such a talented and entertaining person can become so hateful and disrespectful towards people who wish him nothing but the best. I admit I probably rationalized some of Earl's past behavior because I wanted to see a great match and I wanted to produce a successful event. I gave Earl the benefit of the doubt because I know what he is capable of on the pool table and his drawing power. I did what I think many in the past have done to put pool where it is today: I did the easy thing instead of the hard thing.

People will say "Why didnt you stop the antics or say something?" To that I can only respond that several people ,who know Earl better than me, did say something to him. It had no effect. The reason I didn't say anything to Earl during the match is because if I did he would of probably quit in the middle or I would of gotten mad and threw him out. Maybe thats a cop out, I don't feel good about not standing up for the people in the studio and for Shane who I know was seething inside but wouldn't let it show to Earl. It's something I will think about for a long time. Integrity means a lot to me. Backing up what you believe in with action is important. I believe people should be treated with respect. Customers who pay your salary deserve respect. That didn't happen this weekend and I apologize to everyone who paid their money to watch a match and got a sideshow instead.

It won't ever happen again.
 
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The final score of each day reveal it was a tight match. I think having Joe Rogan there is also a really cool bonus. Don't beat yourself up over something that is out of your control. You did everything in your power to make this a successful event. That's all anybody can ask for. You win some; you lose some.

Most importantly, though, you learn from your mistakes. Every single successful businessperson I have ever known will agree that you won't achieve success without a few hiccups along the way. These hiccups need to happen in order to be successful. :)
 
Thanks so much for the post! I, for one, will be a TAR fan and continue to watch match-ups whenever interesting matches that you produce come along.

I appreciate all that TAR is doing to promote quality matches!

Thanks much!!!!

--Jeff
 
JCIN said:
We put this match together based on the reaction to the 10 foot table match. That was one of our top sellers ever but I swore after that match I would never put myself through that again and so did Shane. But time passing has a way of smoothing the edges and it seemed like an interesting idea for these two to get together again and Shane was down for it.

I thought "If it does similar numbers it could be worth it." Well it didnt and it really wasn't. We spent a lot of money on this match. Thanks to the die hard TAR supporters we didnt go in the tank but when I see people I know have bought everything we have done saying "Not this time" because of one reason I pay attention.

I thought the TAR Studio atmosphere would mitigate some of Earl's antics and compared to what happened in Ohio it did. Day two and three of TAR 22 were still not something I want to be remembered for. Earl is awesome right up until he isn't then it just goes from entertaining and a bit wacky to just plain hateful and mean. I really thought this match would not have that mean edge to it. He was getting a guaranteed payday and all expenses paid with a chance to make a nice score for the weekend if he won. I know he respects Shane. I honestly thought he would do all the wacky shit he always does but without the really nasty tone he displayed in Ohio and the final two days of this match. I was wrong about pretty much everything.

What I feel worst about is the people who paid a serious amount of money to be in the TAR Studio for this match. I apologize to them. Several traveled great distances at substantial cost to be there to see this match. They were not treated with the respect they deserved and that is, in the end, my fault. After the match was over one person walked up to Earl and tried to shake his hand. Earl turned his back on him. The man turned his head and saw I was watching..showing a lot of class he just kind of smiled, shrugged his shoulders and walked out the door. I felt like the biggest asshole in the world because this guy paid to come watch supposedly professional players I put together and this was the last experience he had walking out of our place that we built to represent us. It's unacceptable.

Earl is a tremendous talent and absolutely hilarious. Everyone in that studio this weekend wanted to see him do well. I even think Shane wants him to play great just so he can test himself against one of his idols from childhood. It really hurts me that such a talented and entertaining person can become so hateful and disrespectful towards people who wish him nothing but the best. I admit I probably rationalized some of Earl's past behavior because I wanted to see a great match and I wanted to produce a successful event. I gave Earl the benefit of the doubt because I know what he is capable of on the pool table and his drawing power. I did what I think many in the past have done to put pool where it is today: I did the easy thing instead of the hard thing.

People will say "Why didnt you stop the antics or say something?" To that I can only respond that several people ,who know Earl better than me, did say something to him. It had no effect. The reason I didn't say anything to Earl during the match is because if I did he would of probably quit in the middle or I would of gotten mad and threw him out. Maybe thats a cop out, I don't feel good about not standing up for the people in the studio and for Shane who I know was seething inside but wouldn't let it show to Earl. It's something I will think about for a long time. Integrity means a lot to me. Backing up what you believe in with action is important. I believe people should be treated with respect. Customers who pay your salary deserve respect. That didn't happen this weekend and I apologize to everyone who paid their money to watch a match and got a sideshow instead.

It won't ever happen again.
Click to expand...

I don't think you need to apologize any more than the tennis guys who used to promote events with Mcenroe. In fact, maybe it was because of Mcenroe's antics that some came and paid. Anyway, sentiment appreciated, but I just don't think you did anything wrong. I didn't see it, if he got out of line with spectators that means he should never be invited again.... but still, I don't think this is your fault in the slightest. Regards.
 
A class act

As usual, you are a responsible businessman and a class act. I support your decision to exclude Earl from future events due to his unacceptable behavior.

I plan to be a paying customer again and wish you success.

Joel
 
Obviously you've learned from the past after this event, so it's time to focus on the future. TAR 23 baby!
 
Hell No!

Fu*# that Justin! You are the absolute last person who needs to apologize. Earl is a grown ass man! Everyone knows NO ONE can control him. Many have tried an many have failed. In a way we are all responsible because we all want to see the ball pocketing run out monster that he is. But that comes with a price. And he always collects his toll.

I totally felt ill when he started his give up routine at the end. The most grotesque display of selfeshness. I hope the poeple at Kurzweil Meats were'nt put off by the meltdown. I'll send them an email pleading not to give up on TAR and may even order some smoked pork chops too!

Thanks to TAR for bringing us high speed pool! I'll be a returning customer.

kano (mrsoeil)
 
very nice post Justin! One of the reasons I respect you, is because you are straight up and have the ability to say you f'ed up, although many times I think you accept the blame for something needlessly. In this case, I think you were between a rock and hard place after it was apparent that Earl was not going to behave somewhat reasonably.

The worst thing that could have happened, was for someone to give it to Earl and have him walk out in the middle of the match. Then you have all these people that have paid for the weekend to watch a matchup screwed, all these people that have flown in for the weekend screwed and then you're screwed, because beings you're the type of guy you are, you probably would have refunded everyone their money back and taken a damn bath.

So you did what you could... people did talk to Earl after Day 2 and he seemed somewhat contrite in the pre-match interviews. With Earl, a person almost feels like their dealing with a ticking time bomb and you need to tip toe around him, in case you look at him funny and he goes off. Unfortulantly in this case, if he goes off and storms away, he's affecting a lot of livelihoods in the process.

I too, was very surprised reading some of the threads where I saw known names that I thought were no brainers for being a part of the PPV, say that they love TAR but they were passing on this one. These were people that would have paid to watch Fat Elvis play Midget Elvis. It was then that I realized that Earl's actions had wore so thin on people that he was able to break one of the strongest ties I've seen in pool, the TAR Nation.

I too, felt very bad for the people in the studio. The hundreds of times that I would see Earl look over to the audience and start pissing and moaning. In such close quarters, having a man that's been ranting and raving, angrily slamming his stick on the table and floor, throwing it up against his chair, looking you in the eye and asking for a response of why the world is against him, had to be unnerving and had to have felt very uncomfortable. I pictured everyone over there, as soon as they saw him start to turn to their direction, trying desperately to find something to focus their eyes on so they wouldn't have to endure him singling them out to go off on.

I felt bad for Shane too. He had to endure 3 days of that, AND somehow block it out and play championship pool on a tight table. I think most of us here, have been in situations like that, where we've played people like that. It is tough to fade that kind of crap. Yes, I know this is pool, that it isn't a church social. I get that. Unlike in a pool hall, where you got 2 guys going at it, either one of them can quit and it affects very few people. In this case, it affects many, many people and many people's pockets. Shane, once again, showed that he is a very tough guy that can handle enormous pressure and overcome it.

I felt bad for the commentators who would have much rather been talking about a pool match, but instead had no choice to end up talking about Earl. I'm sorry, but if I was in the booth and had told myself, forget Earl, focus on the match.... I could not have done it... It just seemed every 5 mins, Earl would do something again that would tick you off.

I feel bad for many of the pool fans watching this. How many times did they feel uncomfortable sitting thousands of miles away from behind their monitors? How many times did their wife or someone else walk by and watch a little of it and say "Why is that guy doing that, Why is he so mad?

I get that there is a certain group that love to watch Earl, simply to enjoy watching him go off and to see what he will do next. I don't get those people, but to each their own. I see that stuff and I feel sorry for Earl and everyone in proximity to him. I dont' get my rocks off watching someone battle their internal demons and watch them demonize everyone around them. It's obvious that he has some mental issues that need taken care of and to see him continue to live untreated is sad.

As I stated in a previous thread, some of Earl's behaviour is probably beyound his control, some of it is within his control. He has a image he feels he needs to keep up and that's sad.

I get the feeling that TAR is done with Earl and we don't have to worry about this ever happening again. There are too many other players out there that are willing to give you a 100% effort and still contain themselves to act with a shred of respect for your opponent, to put on a good show for the fans that spent good money to come watch you, the business that paid you to come there to play and them hundreds of fans that paid to see you play.

This is not a typical gambling match with 2 people off in the corner of a pool room. This is a event that has 2 people gambling. The way you act is affecting hundreds of people. So it shouldn't be that hard to keep that in the back of your mind when you're playing.

On a final note, I want to give a shout out to the best fans in pool, the TAR Nation fans. It is a pleasure to work with these people. Everyone is understanding and pleasant and I truely want to help in any way I can, to make everyone of them have a enjoyable experience. So to all of you that I helped get on, if you were disappointed in the way Earl acted, I apologize.

I think everyone has learned that Earl is not going to change, no matter how much trouble you go to, to make the conditions comfortable for them. You could have hired a 50 person strong rah rah group to cheer every shot Earl made and boo every shot Shane made and I still don't think the outcome would have been different.

Thank you TAR for what you do for pool. Thanks to all the sponsors that help bring these shows to us. Thanks to Mark Griffin and CSI, Thanks to the commentators and cameramen. Most of all thanks to all the TAR supporters that help keep these shows coming.

And finally, thanks to Justin. For your no BS style, for not wanting to be part of the problem in pool, but part of the solution. Thanks for being able to be humble and honest in a tough world to be that in.

Let's just put this Earl chapter behind us and move on. There's many other great players out there.:)
 
TAR is the best thing pool has going for it self right now with any luck you will pick up a couple sponsers and be able to start putting money in a pot and telling 2 people to come and get it lol

Great production the stream was very nice and justin you did a hell of a job on the camera work.
 
Hey, you've got nothing to sweat. I bought the stream and enjoyed it. Too bad Earl gave up at the end and all, but I enjoyed your product all the same. Keep it up. I'll be tuning in for the OD/Raj match this weekend...:thumbup:
 
JCIN said:
We put this match together based on the reaction to the 10 foot table match. That was one of our top sellers ever but I swore after that match I would never put myself through that again and so did Shane. But time passing has a way of smoothing the edges and it seemed like an interesting idea for these two to get together again and Shane was down for it.

I thought "If it does similar numbers it could be worth it." Well it didnt and it really wasn't. We spent a lot of money on this match. Thanks to the die hard TAR supporters we didnt go in the tank but when I see people I know have bought everything we have done saying "Not this time" because of one reason I pay attention.

I thought the TAR Studio atmosphere would mitigate some of Earl's antics and compared to what happened in Ohio it did. Day two and three of TAR 22 were still not something I want to be remembered for. Earl is awesome right up until he isn't then it just goes from entertaining and a bit wacky to just plain hateful and mean. I really thought this match would not have that mean edge to it. He was getting a guaranteed payday and all expenses paid with a chance to make a nice score for the weekend if he won. I know he respects Shane. I honestly thought he would do all the wacky shit he always does but without the really nasty tone he displayed in Ohio and the final two days of this match. I was wrong about pretty much everything.

What I feel worst about is the people who paid a serious amount of money to be in the TAR Studio for this match. I apologize to them. Several traveled great distances at substantial cost to be there to see this match. They were not treated with the respect they deserved and that is, in the end, my fault. After the match was over one person walked up to Earl and tried to shake his hand. Earl turned his back on him. The man turned his head and saw I was watching..showing a lot of class he just kind of smiled, shrugged his shoulders and walked out the door. I felt like the biggest asshole in the world because this guy paid to come watch supposedly professional players I put together and this was the last experience he had walking out of our place that we built to represent us. It's unacceptable.

Earl is a tremendous talent and absolutely hilarious. Everyone in that studio this weekend wanted to see him do well. I even think Shane wants him to play great just so he can test himself against one of his idols from childhood. It really hurts me that such a talented and entertaining person can become so hateful and disrespectful towards people who wish him nothing but the best. I admit I probably rationalized some of Earl's past behavior because I wanted to see a great match and I wanted to produce a successful event. I gave Earl the benefit of the doubt because I know what he is capable of on the pool table and his drawing power. I did what I think many in the past have done to put pool where it is today: I did the easy thing instead of the hard thing.

People will say "Why didnt you stop the antics or say something?" To that I can only respond that several people ,who know Earl better than me, did say something to him. It had no effect. The reason I didn't say anything to Earl during the match is because if I did he would of probably quit in the middle or I would of gotten mad and threw him out. Maybe thats a cop out, I don't feel good about not standing up for the people in the studio and for Shane who I know was seething inside but wouldn't let it show to Earl. It's something I will think about for a long time. Integrity means a lot to me. Backing up what you believe in with action is important. I believe people should be treated with respect. Customers who pay your salary deserve respect. That didn't happen this weekend and I apologize to everyone who paid their money to watch a match and got a sideshow instead.

It won't ever happen again.
Click to expand...


You were in a tough, no win spot and made the call you made -- probably the best of a poor lot. Don't beat yourself up with hindsight. Besides, I believe everyone here can distinguish between what TAR is doing for pool and whatever it is that Earl is doing.

Lou Figueroa
 
No need for apologies. TAR puts on the best streams and there still was a lot of great shooting to watch from two of pools greatest players. :thumbup:
 
Justin,

Last night was one of the best streamed matches ever. There wasn't one guy (Shane included) who thought Earl wouldn't meltdown....and he didn't disappoint.

You put on a helluva show and it was great to the very end.

Earl is crazy. It is what it is. Getting involved with him is like having sex with a gorilla----- you're done when HE'S done. Alas, many (including myself) find it entertaining and I'm sure Shane understands this as he took the match knowing Earl wasn't going to be easy.

It's like having that one bipolar family member and it's your turn to host Thanksgiving dinner. You always hope they'll be normal and fine but it never is --- they always end up being the Turkey and people leave before the pie is served. You can't fix crazy.

I'm not embarrassed to say I'm an Earl fan because I saw shots last night that no one else is pulling off. He's nuts, but I accept he's nuts instead of hoping he shows up sane (which is a pipe dream).

I think at one point last night Earl won about 6 games in the course of about 6 minutes and Shane got RATTLED. Then, Earl's feelings got hurt over something and then the "quit-stroke" ensued. Sad.

Earl should prob quit/retire or we (as a community) should accept he's certifiable. I don't think it's an attitude prob -- he's legit sick and mentally ill. LEGIT. I accept him because he doesn't hurt anyone but himself.

Anyways.... great job last night. Also, a big thanks to Chris Kurzweil for sponsoring the show last night. Watching the show made me hungry for some smoked pork chops and jalapeno brats.

Dave
 
I will still always watch Earls matches. It is sad for me that he will likely not garner another invite to participate in another TAR match, though I can understand why. I thought after he won six games in a row to take the lead, we were going to have an exciting, well fought match, that went down to the wire. My 11 year old son was watching the stream with me and remarked that Earl isn't even trying and giving up.

Thank you Justin for the event, I enjoyed it and you have nothing to be forgiven for. I will continue to support the events and hope to attend one in person one day.

Hats off to SVB. One hell of a classy man and supreme player. Hope he excels in the upcoming Mosconi Cup.
 
lfigueroa said:
You were in a tough, no win spot and made the call you made -- probably the best of a poor lot. Don't beat yourself up with hindsight. Besides, I believe everyone here can distinguish between what TAR is doing for pool and whatever it is that Earl is doing.

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

Thanks Lou and everyone else for the kind words.
 
I've watched most of the TAR productions as well and feel that you are doing a great job. You take responsibility when things go wrong, give us a great product that continually gets better with each production and give us the chance to watch matches that we'd never see without your efforts.

As far as Earl, I must agree. I've tried to support him over the years but this was it for me. He was so disrespectful to Shane, the fans, the equipment and his language was uncalled for. I'd never pay to watch him again, as a matter of fact I'd never watch him again even if was free unless he learns to control himself. He was a complete A$$ in my opinion.

I have complete respect for Shane, he handled the situation better than most would. He did so with tact, poise and integrity. Well done SVB! I am so glad Earls antics did not break Shane down and that he was able to bring it home once again.

Justin, you and the TAR crew continue to do a great job. Not putting yourselves in this situation again is a good thing. There are plenty of players that we'd love to see. You won't miss a beat without Earl as far as I am concerned.

Thank you for bringing these high quality productions to us time and time again. Looking forward to TAR 23.

Peace and respect, JoeyK
 
He's only hurting his self until he smashes his cue on the table and half the shaft sticks in someones neck in the first row. Who is going to get sued? Not Earl, he has no money. It will be some promoter. Johnnyt
 
I don't think I would buy another Earl match, but it doesn't sound like that will happen anyway.

I am amazed that Shane could play at all and think it is really impressive that he was able to win facing all of Earl's antics. After completing the Earl boot camp Shane should be truly shark-proof now!

Thanks for putting on the matches.
 
Johnnyt said:
He's only hurting his self until he smashes his cue on the table and half the shaft sticks in someones neck in the first row. Who is going to get sued? Not Earl, he has no money. It will be some promoter. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

You're being way too extreme. We know you're not an Earl fan, but the above comment is ridiculous.

I'll come back at ya:

On the second to last game Shane BASHED the OB at 9ball break speed and it launched off the table going about 20mph. If someone was sitting on that side of the room, that OB could have cracked their skull.
 
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