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.
