I know you've seen this behavior up front and close, and I agree with you, but do you think this behavior is normal? I think the more attention that is given to him, the louder he is going to be.
The best approach is ignore, plonk, whatever term you want to use.
Violence isn't the answer with somebody who exhibits this kind of behavior. I know for some, violence is the knee-jerk reaction when they get angry, as if it solves all evils, but in this case, it is important to recognize that there is something sad going on with this man. I feel sorry for him. If anything, he needs prayers, not a punch in the mouth.
It all depends on the type of attention, and what is perceived as normal is all "relative."
In a nutshell, Marty goes off for 1 reason and 1 reason only. When his ego gets damaged.
Whether he is losing in a match or someone calls him on or questions any of the grandiose things that he claims or says anything negative about him, his ego can't handle it, and he cracks.
The man is straight up delusional. He has pipe dreams about where he falls in the pecking order of professional pool in all it's different facets. (player, teacher, creative ideas/producer, cue broker etc)
But really, if you've been around pool long enough, we've all seen these types at one time or another.
You know, the ones who stink, who desperately want to be recognized as a better player, or guys who legitimately play good, who want to be recognized as top shelf, all of which, "pad their resume" (high runs, victories, name dropping, etc) in an attempt to make them look better or more esteemed then they really are.
Every single pool room has handfuls of these types in some way shape or form, who are the butt end of jokes, and roll-eyes heads shaking when they make their claims. So when you think about it, pipe dreaming pool players are kind of "normal" in pool. They have their respective place in the grand scheme of things.
But Marty is in a class by himself when it comes to this stuff.
And unlike most others, i really think he truly believes some of the claims that he makes, and that he is the only brain capable of thinking, on earth.
Guaranteed, you will never see Marty Herman go ballistic while someone is telling him how great he is at pool, what a great pool instructor he is, and how much they love the Southwest that he sold them, basically, blowing sunshine up his ass about everything he does. He actually calms down when that happens.
That should tell you something right there.
I am of the opinion that he is too absorbed/caught up in his pipe dream ego fantasies, and that's definitely not normal.
The boy is whacked.
