I feel lick someone died tonight

B

BLACKHEARTCUES

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I think this is my last night of organizied pool. For a long time my skills as a cuemaker, have been leaching away. The shaking & the forgetfulness have been a problem. Now I have given up, as a good player, to a mind that does not connect with my hands. SADLY; I give up. I can not fight it any longer. Call it what you may, my mind has failed me. I won a tournament Satuday & today, can't make a ball 2ft from the pocket ...3 times. I have given half a lifetime to this craft & to it's sport & now, I surrender to this mental affliction. I'm sad that a sport that I love, is now in my past, never to be the same...........JER
 
Last edited:
Don't know if this can offer any encouragement for you or not, but I've known a deceased Maryland cuemaker, Gene Newport, played pool in the APA League well into his 90's. I think he was still making cues as well. He had issues that he compensated for, I remember him using a 23 ounce cue to help control his shaking hands. Probably used a lot of one-pocket moves in his 8-Ball game as well to compensate for a loss of shot making skill. He was rated a 5 in the APA, after many years of being rated higher as a younger man. I still use the Titlist conversion he made me about 25 years ago. Never will I sell it. Gene Newport could serve as a role model for all the older players. He played pool I'm betting more that 80 years, possibly 90. I'm sure there are others on this forum who remember him. I hope you "hang in there" and don't be discouraged.
 
BLACKHEARTCUES said:
I think this is my last night of organizied pool. For a long time my skilles as a cuemaker, have been leaching away. The shaking & the forgetfulness has been a problem. Now I have giveen up, as a good player, to a mind that does not connect with my hands. SADLY; I give up. I can not fight it any longer. Call it what you may, my mind has failed me. I won a tournament Satuday & today, can't make a ball 2ft from the pocket ...3 times. I have given half a lifetime to this craft & to it's sport & now, I surrender to this mental affliction. I'm sad that a sport that I love is now in my past, never to be the same...........JER
Click to expand...

PM sent please call me at your earliest convenience
 
I can relate to what your saying . I have also gotten so forgetful , I cant beleive it . I get phone call , people wanting to order j/os or cues , I have to ask them to follow up with a e-mail or i will completely forget they ever called . My shooting also suck , I get up and know what to do and how to do it , but it dont relate when time to pull the trigger . Take care . Jim
 
forgetfulness

I play pool and shoot the wrong pocket...don't feel badly. You may be a worse case, but there are many with you.
Good Luck
 
ekb6760 said:
Don't know if this can offer any encouragement for you or not, but I've known a deceased Maryland cuemaker, Gene Newport, played pool in the APA League well into his 90's. I think he was still making cues as well. He had issues that he compensated for, I remember him using a 23 ounce cue to help control his shaking hands. Probably used a lot of one-pocket moves in his 8-Ball game as well to compensate for a loss of shot making skill. He was rated a 5 in the APA, after many years of being rated higher as a younger man. I still use the Titlist conversion he made me about 25 years ago. Never will I sell it. Gene Newport could serve as a role model for all the older players. He played pool I'm betting more that 80 years, possibly 90. I'm sure there are others on this forum who remember him. I hope you "hang in there" and don't be discouraged.
Click to expand...

Gene, whose real name was Gothern, might have been a good argument
for... genes. His younger son, Bo(Beau?) was a near champion, and
grandson looked like he might end up being even better(this was 20 years ago).

But the real kicker was, his wife, tho not that much of a player, had the best
stroke in the whole family.

terminating hi-jack mode.

Dale
 
Last edited:
BLACKHEARTCUES said:
I think this is my last night of organizied pool. For a long time my skilles as a cuemaker, have been leaching away. The shaking & the forgetfulness has been a problem. Now I have giveen up, as a good player, to a mind that does not connect with my hands. SADLY; I give up. I can not fight it any longer. Call it what you may, my mind has failed me. I won a tournament Satuday & today, can't make a ball 2ft from the pocket ...3 times. I have given half a lifetime to this craft & to it's sport & now, I surrender to this mental affliction. I'm sad that a sport that I love is now in my past, never to be the same...........JER
Click to expand...

Jer,

A few years ago the answer to evry question asked to me was February. I have done things like used my car door clicker to try to open my home door.

My game is a joke compared to younger years. Its part of the cycle of life.

To understand this and accept it will help take the pressure off. Be thankful for the days you win and let the losing days be chalked up to a bad day.

It aint easy but you can do it.
 
Don't feel bad Jer, yer one of the good guys left here.

If I wouldn't be so embarrassed, I'd post a pic of my kitchen table. It has more reminder notes on it than anything else.

After my brain op, there are days that I wonder if I have any cells left up there. You could tell me something or I could read it. If I don't make a note or a text file on the computer, chances of me remembering are pretty close to zero.

Frustrating I know, but don't give up. Everyone has their good and bad days.

Just two Tuesday league nights ago, I show up at the other teams home bar. One of my team mates asked me who was sparing in for Ed that night. Oooops. Now, I'm on the cell making frantic calls to find someone in 10 minutes. Top that one.
 
It's bad when you remember playing lights out all the time.
Now it's like the lights have gone out all the time.
Wont stop me from playing but is is frustrating when you see it know how to shoot it but cant get your brain to work with your arm anymore.
We have Old Timers and it's contagious.
You know when you have it bad when you have been looking for your glasses for about a half an hour and you realize you have them on. DUH
 
First of all, I'm sorry to hear that you're at this point. However, I know of more than one person in the same condition who still enjoy the game through spectating and hanging around with your friends who still do play. I like to see and talk with my friends who don't play any more almost as much as I like to play. The game doesn't mean much if you don't make a few friends along the way, and the enjoyment doesn't have to end just because you don't play anymore.
 
I am sorry to hear that you are giving up pool.

I used to play a pretty sporty game but have also found I cannot play like I used to. The main thing is the inconsistancy which you elude to. I still enjoy the social aspect of the game so I am still in a couple leagues and play as well as I can and enjoy the company at the pool hall.

I hope you find other ways to enjoy the game also.
 
Giving Back

It's going to happen to most everyone at some point. I enjoy more now just going to the pool hall and watching the young players. They get to a point where they feel frustrated because they can't see an easy shot. I ask if they would like a suggestion, and then explain the shots I see and how to do it. When they make it they seemed amazed and then want more help and suggestions. I'm no pro by any measure but I have learned a lot in 45 years of pool. It kinda takes the sting out of getting where we are now to walk in and hear one say, hey guys, there's the guy that showed me how to make those shots I beat you with the other night, or he's the one that fixed my cue for me and didn't charge me anything..We are never to old to give something back to the community we love so much..:thumbup:
 
Jer,

Unfortunately, not only do certain skills begin to fade as you age but also the people you're used to playing with also seem to disappear. There's no answers but to enjoy the days when everything works, and continue to participate because even as frustrating as it can be it will help you slow down the deterioration.

Mario (who just lost his playing and cue mentor of 15 years)
 
Just how old are you Guys???

Because I will be 65 in January, and I still play pretty sporty. I don't quite play like when I was in my early 40's, but I can hold my own with almost anybody. I don't have any brain/arm problems, and I feel the same as 20 years ago except my stamina for playing has gone down some.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top