TAR 22 Post-Match with Earl & Joe Rogan

Is it really proper for a commentator to make such a rude comment about a player in his sport that has accomplished so much?

I'm not a commentator on here buddy, just another guy with an opinion, like you.

But if you must know I have called Earl a disgrace and an embarrassment on television because of how he was acting. A good commentator tells the truth as he sees it. Otherwise why do the job?

I've also raved about Earl's abilities and called him the best tournament 9-Ball player of all time. So are you happy now? :cool:
 
I don't think you see commentators for other sports go on message boards and disparage players. It is just unprofessional


"Other" commentators have done far worse and got into serious trouble for it. Calling Earl "dumb" is a pretty minor offense by comparison. In truth he isn't really dumb. I take that back. He is sick though, that's a certainty!

By the way, I don't really care what other commentators do. That's their life and their decision. I do what feels right to me. I happen to enjoy participating on the AZ forums and some of the discussions that take place here. Pool has been my life for over 40 years, so yes I do have an opinion on many aspects of the game. You don't have to agree with me either! :rolleyes:
 
"I'll shoot your liver out, and hand it to you....."

Wow, this is one of the funniest pool quotes ever. Definitely not a pocket billiards quote, a POOL quote. Earl cracks me up.
 
Earl blatantly and unjustly disrespected the most powerful sports network, ESPN, in that clip. Earl also is the person to quit in the finals on the Camel Pro Tour, known as "the straw that broke the camels back" to many. These types of comments and actions can be extremely damaging to pool.

As said by another, Jay is not commentating, this is a public forum. I support Jays comment. Let the truth be known.

Speaking of truth my friend, did you know that Earl was playing in the FINALS of the Caesars Palace 9-Ball Championship in 1984. It was also televised by ESPN, who were paying all their own production costs. Not like today where tournament promoters must pay to get on ESPN. First prize was $25,000 by the way! Earl, along with several other players, refused to sign the television releases for the shows to be aired. Thus, the shows never appeared on ESPN and they ended their affiliation with professional pool for many years after that. It also was the end of Richie Florence's string of big dollar events. Now you tell me if that was a "smart" decision or not.
 
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Speaking of truth my friend, did you know that Earl was playing in the FINALS of the Caesars Palace 9-Ball Championship in 1984. It was also televised by ESPN, who were paying all their own production costs. Not like today where tournament promoters must pay to get on ESPN. First prize was $25,000 by the way! Earl, along with several other players, refused to sign the television releases for the shows to be aired. Thus, the shows never appeared on ESPN and they ended their affiliation with professional pool for many years after that. It also was the end of Richie Florence's string of big dollar events. Now you tell me if that was a "smart" decision or not.

Why did he and the others do that? That seems very strange and counter-productive to their own cause. Seems like there must be more to the story

I agree with your assessment of Earl being mentally unstable. I just thought to call him outright "dumb" was a bit harsh.

I just feel like people are kicking the man when he is down. Something is obviously not right with him and there is no need to add to his misery.
 
Why did he and the others do that? That seems very strange and counter-productive to their own cause. Seems like there must be more to the story

I agree with your assessment of Earl being mentally unstable. I just thought to call him outright "dumb" was a bit harsh.

I just feel like people are kicking the man when he is down. Something is obviously not right with him and there is no need to add to his misery.

Someone most likely convinced them that they were like actors/talent and should get a cut of the show if it was going to be aired. What they didn't think about was that the first thing you need to do is get your foot in the door. Once you become established you can let the snowballs roll downhill to you. During the 70's the World Series multi champ Oakland A's players worked at Sears during the off-season.

Personally I think that Nathan films all aspects of pool better than anyone. He films pool in a WSOP kind of way which doesn't just cover the table. I choose him to start sending film to ESPN.
 
I recently watched a documentary on Chess Grand-master Bobby Fischer and I can't help but think of Fischer when I see Earl pull the things he does...
 
Someone most likely convinced them that they were like actors/talent and should get a cut of the show if it was going to be aired. What they didn't think about was that the first thing you need to do is get your foot in the door. Once you become established you can let the snowballs roll downhill to you. During the 70's the World Series multi champ Oakland A's players worked at Sears during the off-season.

Personally I think that Nathan films all aspects of pool better than anyone. He films pool in a WSOP kind of way which doesn't just cover the table. I choose him to start sending film to ESPN.

This is why it is important to have a players organization. In order to have any negotiating leverage, the tournament promoter and players "union" must work together with the media (i.e. ESPN). Earl has every right not to sign, but in the big picture he again hurt pool. Like I have said in a previous post, pool is not organized and needs strong leadership. Earl put the cart before the horse.
 
I'll start by saying I have huge respect for Earl because he has shown a HIGH-HIGH gear that NOBODY has shown me. These clips illustrate an Earl that is broken. Kind of like walking down an alley on the way to your car and bumping into a Homeless guy that you knew in school (this has happened to me). Smart, athletic, well off guy with the world on a string. Now asking me for a dollar so he can clump together enough to go shoot up by a dumpster.

The Crazy-Genie is out of the bottle. No way to get the smoke back in.

Nick
 
Why did he and the others do that? That seems very strange and counter-productive to their own cause. Seems like there must be more to the story

I agree with your assessment of Earl being mentally unstable. I just thought to call him outright "dumb" was a bit harsh.

I just feel like people are kicking the man when he is down. Something is obviously not right with him and there is no need to add to his misery.

The answer to your first question is Bad Advice, by someone who was a direct competitor of Richies. He wanted Richie out of the way and he accomplished just that, with the help of the players of course. Once again, their own worst enemies.

You are correct, I should have just left it alone. I've said as much several times before. Maybe I'm a little mad at Earl for throwing away his God given talent. I knew the Earl of the 80's and 90's, a brilliant player who was opinionated even then. But his focus was on playing and winning, not talking a lot of trash about everyone and anyone. He worked harder at his game than anyone else (like Shane does today), and played better than anyone else as well.

I know maybe a little too much about what led to his downfall and slide into mediocrity. It has been disappointing for me to see one of the greatest players of all time allow himself to get so far off track. Every time I see (and listen) to him pontificate like that, it just makes me sick. He wasn't always that way. He was a pool genius once, on the table and not off. :embarrassed2:
 
The answer to your first question is Bad Advice, by someone who was a direct competitor of Richies. He wanted Richie out of the way and he accomplished just that, with the help of the players of course. Once again, their own worst enemies.

You are correct, I should have just left it alone. I've said as much several times before. Maybe I'm a little mad at Earl for throwing away his God given talent. I knew the Earl of the 80's and 90's, a brilliant player who was opinionated even then. But his focus was on playing and winning, not talking a lot of trash about everyone and anyone. He worked harder at his game than anyone else (like Shane does today), and played better than anyone else as well.

I know maybe a little too much about what led to his downfall and slide into mediocrity. It has been disappointing for me to see one of the greatest players of all time allow himself to get so far off track. Every time I see (and listen) to him pontificate like that, it just makes me sick. He wasn't always that way. He was a pool genius once, on the table and not off. :embarrassed2:


Understood. I think we are all upset by Earl's decline. It must be worse for somebody like you that has greater insight.

Keep up the good work commentating and have a happy new year!
 
Jay, knowing what you know re Earl's decline/illness...do you see any possible redemption for him professionally? Does he have any support network left?

Like many here, I've always been a huge fan of his game, and I found these clips of him ranting and raving beyond sad.

You are correct, I should have just left it alone. I've said as much several times before. Maybe I'm a little mad at Earl for throwing away his God given talent. I knew the Earl of the 80's and 90's, a brilliant player who was opinionated even then. But his focus was on playing and winning, not talking a lot of trash about everyone and anyone. He worked harder at his game than anyone else (like Shane does today), and played better than anyone else as well.

I know maybe a little too much about what led to his downfall and slide into mediocrity. It has been disappointing for me to see one of the greatest players of all time allow himself to get so far off track. Every time I see (and listen) to him pontificate like that, it just makes me sick. He wasn't always that way. He was a pool genius once, on the table and not off. :embarrassed2:
 
Jay, knowing what you know re Earl's decline/illness...do you see any possible redemption for him professionally? Does he have any support network left?

Like many here, I've always been a huge fan of his game, and I found these clips of him ranting and raving beyond sad.

Only Mike Gulyassy as far as I know. He's pretty much on his own again. Maybe that's where he feels most comfortable, alone and with the whole world against him.
 
After watching the two world record jumps of around 400 feet, Earl's comment about having to perform to get paid seams trivial in comparison. These guys put their lives on the line to get paid.

Happy New Year.
 
maybe the truth hurts

Earl blatantly and unjustly disrespected the most powerful sports network, ESPN, in that clip. Earl also is the person to quit in the finals on the Camel Pro Tour, known as "the straw that broke the camels back" to many. These types of comments and actions can be extremely damaging to pool.

As said by another, Jay is not commentating, this is a public forum. I support Jays comment. Let the truth be known.

What Earl said about espn is right , they have always done a terrible job. You couldn't pay me to watch anything they produced to do with pool. They should be embarrassed by their work period.
 
I have no respect for Joe and anyone else there who decided to take the piss out of Earl. Joe's got himself a bunch of material to channel Earl a 2nd time but I hope he realises that mocking the afflicted is a bad thing to do.

I have mild Aspergers Syndrome, nothing compared to Earls problems but there are times where I can go off the beaten track and once I do its hard to recover until I'm left alone to do so. Sadly, people in pool want you to continue down this track so they have some mental edge on you later and for me personally, anything bad that happens sticks with me because I know I am not a bad guy, just I sometimes get carried away.

I know when people are taking the piss out of me and when people actually ant to bother with me, and I am better in social situations than Earl is. But Earl doesn't realise these people are insulting him and that really hurts me, just as much as it would hurt me to see someone kick a man who has fell out his wheelchair or urinate on a homeless mans 'patch'.

I think a lot of what Earl said has validity or at least I can see where he's coming from but let's be honest...we all say dumb things. Just the genius things we may say aren't as accepted or recognised as such as people don't look at us as superstars. We are just mere mortals.

Earl has my respect, but if only he could look at James Wade (one of the worlds best darts players) for an example of how to get medicated for mental illness but be able to be competitive. He would have EVERYONE's respect. I have no desire to condone his actions but I find it hard to go against him too because it is uncontrollable.

You wanna see some of the shit I end up saying if I go mad and it can be over the tiniest of things even if its something like messing up a perfect game on the Wii or something...if I'm overly absorbed thats when my brain can get fried. Luckily I know 99% of time what is acceptable and what isn't. Maybe Earl has lost that ability to distinct right from wrong.

I feel sorry for him, and I pray for an easier life for him and all with mental illnesses this year and beyond.

Let's look at one thing - if Earl didn't have shit going on in his head for this past 30 years or so, would he be as great as he is? He is a complete genius and there is no such thing as a genius without any eccentricity. Someone mentioned Bobby Fischer earlier and he is another great example of this.

What makes things worse is being left alone or isolated from a young age. If you are exposed to normal life situations then you will conduct yourself better but if you are left alone thats when those with over-active brains start to go a little bit odd. I know this from my own experience but I can sense it happening and I'll call someone or do something that takes away my tendencies to over-think.

Probably being too honest for my own good here but nobody knows me personally (yet) so I don't feel too bad. But I did almost want to tear my hair out at the way they treated Earl in that video. It was as if they were trying to provoke him and NOBODY deserves to be taunted in that way.
 
I didn't see any provocation there.
I just saw Earl laying down some of his own brand of wisdom, I also got some entertainment from the videos.

I think it's fairly obvious that Earl needs some sort of professional help, as many have already said.

Whats he big deal?

I for one am glad to see a little behind the scenes of a big TAR match, and a little candid video of Joe Rogan, who I also enjoy watching on tv and listening to on the radio.

Enjoying the stories that earl was telling is just like listening to the old guys at the poolroom, sometimes its good, sometimes not so good......
 
I have no respect for Joe and anyone else there who decided to take the piss out of Earl. Joe's got himself a bunch of material to channel Earl a 2nd time but I hope he realises that mocking the afflicted is a bad thing to do.

Probably being too honest for my own good here but nobody knows me personally (yet) so I don't feel too bad. But I did almost want to tear my hair out at the way they treated Earl in that video. It was as if they were trying to provoke him and NOBODY deserves to be taunted in that way.

I couldn't disagree more.

Earl spewed a massive load of crazy BS for a very long time, and the crowd was reasonable and forgiving, and entertained, in their response. Joe responded patiently and intelligently to many things Earl said, and even complimented Earl for some of his ideas despite Earl's extreme generalizations.

Finally they invited Earl to join them for dinner and Joe offered to pay for Earl.

I think Joe should be commended for his friendly and patient treatment of Earl, not admonished for it.
 
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