Dechaine loathed?

Scott, early in the interview, Jennifer asked each player when they started playing. Then she added that she started at age 29, and has only been playing three years. Her age joke....I liked it.

I just finished watching the full thing. I believe Mike was spot on about all the top players being cocky...they may put this across in different manners, but they do. And why not? You have to have the attitude that you can beat anyone to be able to play well.
 
Maniac said:
Thanks for coming here and responding to the thread.

You're going to be just fine, Mike. Don't worry yourself over it. You got fans!!!

Maniac
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i agree im a fan and i like the fact that he has cofidence he should keep being himself and dont let what a few haters say change him
 
thewhiffer said:
I attended the January tournament at Turning Stone and what I saw was a confident young man, Mike Duchaine, that while very competitive at the table and a little demanding of himself, was very engaging in terms of his interaction with fans. In fact, I felt that some of the other pro's could have taken lessons from Dennis Hatch and Mike in terms of how to comport themselves.
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I was there as a spectator and got a slightly different feeling about his fan interactions. He acted pretty annoyed when my wife (a very sweet and friendly lady) went up to ask him to sign her tourney poster. He was the only pro that had that reaction. Thorsten OTOH was so gracious that he actually thanked her for asking (twice) and even gave her a silver Sharpie so the other sigs she got would show up on the black background.

Is this a reason to "loathe" the man? No way. Still, he could do a lot better for his future career if he realized that fans will always be there in the background. Players like JA and DH seem to have a much better rapport with the fans. Mike seemed to just cater to his handful of groupies. No getting away from MD's obvious talent, though. He ran over just about everybody at Turning Stone.
 
Okay...gotcha! LOL She'll be eternally 29, in the shape she's in! LMAO

BTW, I don't see Shane acting all 'high and mighty'...almost none of the European players either (Souquet, Hohmann, Feijen, to name three). Confidence in one's ability need not be projected as a "cocky" attitude, imo.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

pwd72s said:
Scott, early in the interview, Jennifer asked each player when they started playing. Then she added that she started at age 29, and has only been playing three years. Her age joke....I liked it.

I just finished watching the full thing. I believe Mike was spot on about all the top players being cocky...they may put this across in different manners, but they do. And why not? You have to have the attitude that you can beat anyone to be able to play well.
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Yep, she was making a joke (I hope). It just didn’t come off as one. She’s not a natural comedian. She’s in her 40s.

The "most loathed" question was over the top and I don’t blame Mike for getting a little shirty about it.
 
pwd72s said:
Jennifer started at 29...is doing pretty good for having played only 3 years...lol.
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She did not start playing only 3 years ago.... She was playing C handicap tourneys in the mid 90's at Herberts Billiards in Seacaus NJ. She probably meant it as a joke about her current age
 
I met Mike this weekend at TAR and then saw him again after at the pool hall. I thought he was very approachable and polite. On the table he comes across as a tough competitor who hates to lose and holds himself to such a high standard that when he doesn't perform to that level he is disappointed in himself. I didn't find him rude or disrespectful. He's a funny guy too. My wife was very impressed with how friendly and outgoing he was. On Sunday, we arrived at the pool hall and he said hello like he had the night before. Then, as we were leaving for the night he came up, shook our hands, and thanked us for coming out to TAR and even apologized for not playing his best. We spoke briefly and I don't know where all the hate for the guy comes from. So IMO he's just very misunderstood. I've always felt like you can't judge someone if you haven't met him and now that I have I think he's a nice guy.

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Sometimes people are just misunderstood.

thewhiffer said:
Just watched the interesting and entertaining TAR Podcast#34 featuring Jennifer Baretta interviewing Shane Van Boening and Mike Dechaine. Jennifer asked a question of her own to Mike starting with the statement that he was one of the most loathed players in the history of the game and why did he think that was. Forgetting that it was a somewhat intemperate and presumtuous question hidden in an I like you but preamble, I must say that I felt it was based on an assumption that simply is not correct.

I attended the January tournament at Turning Stone and what I saw was a confident young man, Mike Duchaine, that while very competitive at the table and a little demanding of himself, was very engaging in terms of his interaction with fans. In fact, I felt that some of the other pro's could have taken lessons from Dennis Hatch and Mike in terms of how to comport themselves.
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Sometimes people are just misunderstood. I've been around Mike several times now, and I think some {people} just don't "get" his humor. Sometimes witty, sarcastic humor is taken as many "other" things by people that aren't very funny and take life too seriously. He had some situations to "act out" at the Mosconi Cup and kept very cool and composed.....I thought this was impressive.....and I even liked his humor, but of course I get along with Earl Stickland, who is one of the funniest players of all time....despite "popular belief". :wink:

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I have to agree with that wholeheartedly! I have a very sarcastic sense of humor too & some people get offended because they think I'm being serious. People just need to lighten up & not take everything so seriously. On a side note, Earl's one of my favorites too & has always been nice to me.


CJ Wiley said:
Sometimes people are just misunderstood. I've been around Mike several times now, and I think some {people} just don't "get" his humor. Sometimes witty, sarcastic humor is taken as many "other" things by people that aren't very funny and take life too seriously. He had some situations to "act out" at the Mosconi Cup and kept very cool and composed.....I thought this was impressive.....and I even liked his humor, but of course I get along with Earl Stickland, who is one of the funniest players of all time....despite "popular belief". :wink:

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Eli, give it a rest my friend. I get asked a a million questions a week and this one I just said an answer without a thought. You've gone out of your way to try to scare my name. You just not a creditable source. LISTEN EVERYONE, ELI WON OR SPLIT (i don't remember) A WEDNESDAY NIGHT TOURNAMENT WITH ME. Congratulations to him. Think you could end it now, its only been two years.

liakos said:
I just don't like him because he is a lieing sack of garbage!!! It's funny, everybody I know dislikes him, but they are all scared to say it to his face! He's a peice of garbage, I only say that because of out own issues! I just hate people who lie!!! As far as his ability to play the game, he's plays very good! He's just not ready for the top level! He keeps proving that to himself and everyone with his performances! He admits hr doesn't practice like he should! Plus his mental game isn't there, he's all in all an average pro to me! Nothing special, definitely not at the shame or bustie level! I honestly think we have seen the best out of him!!!
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liakos I bet the ! key on your keyboard is pretty much rubbed bare. It may break any day now. Tell us what you really think.
 
And a lot of the emotion that some of the World's 'winners' show is a result of the extreme expectations they have for themselves.

They are top-level performers and are used to being the best, AKA: WINNING.

Look at Lance Armstrong. Mike, don't wear lycra.

Mike don't wear lycra.
 
bfdlad said:
Mike you are arrogant and cokey soimetimes but I don't think her statement was correct for what its worth.
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lol Cokey?
maybe he wouldn't be so "Coke-y" if he didn't chalk his cue like he's opening a carbonated beverage.
 
pwd72s said:
Jennifer started at 29...is doing pretty good for having played only 3 years...lol.
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She must have been kidding because she's been around, and playing well, for several years. Did a commendable job acting in the movie (a somewhat poorly written informercial for APA) 9 Ball.
 
liakos said:
I just don't like him because he is a lieing sack of garbage!!! It's funny, everybody I know dislikes him, but they are all scared to say it to his face! He's a peice of garbage, I only say that because of out own issues! I just hate people who lie!!! As far as his ability to play the game, he's plays very good! He's just not ready for the top level! He keeps proving that to himself and everyone with his performances! He admits hr doesn't practice like he should! Plus his mental game isn't there, he's all in all an average pro to me! Nothing special, definitely not at the shame or bustie level! I honestly think we have seen the best out of him!!!
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From the way that you express yourself it is not surprising that you "believe" that everyone that you know dislikes him. Clearly you are not someone who can express themselves well.
 
Mainplayer said:
This question really caught me off guard and I don't think I answered it the best way I could have. First off, as far as the the most loathed person in the game I really can't say if that is true or not, hopefully not. However, for those who do hate me, I think that I am misunderstood. I came into the spotlight at a very young age. I was very self-critical, competitive, and hadn't yet learned to control my temper. The combination of these three things may have put a sour taste in their mouths. Off the table, I really enjoy having a good time and joking around. I understand that some people do not have a sarcastic sense of humor and may take some of the things I say to heart. For the people who actually know me on a personal level, they know not to take everything I too seriously. I really do not mean to offend anyone.
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You do not need to defend yourself. Clearly, the majority of responses here would indicate that you have more supporters than detractors. By the way you showed a lot of grace under pressure in how you handled the question especially in the environment that it was sprung on you.

I applaud the fact that you seem to step up to play the best at each opportunity. There are too many players that are content to be the best (big fish, small pond) playing against inferior talent. The other day I was told by a player that he was going to beat me in our next match. I responded that I would hope that he would set higher goals for himself as a win over me would not be enough of a boost to his resume to get into the hall of fame. He too missed the sarcasm and humor that I was going for but to his credit he didn't start to loath.
 
Don't know much re his attitude but loathe is a pretty strong word. Jen might have chose her words a bit more carefully. Can't be in love with everybody.
 
Lycra isn't so bad,

Black-Balled said:
And a lot of the emotion that some of the World's 'winners' show is a result of the extreme expectations they have for themselves.

They are top-level performers and are used to being the best, AKA: WINNING.

Look at Lance Armstrong. Mike, don't wear lycra.

Mike don't wear lycra.
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Lycra isn't so bad, on the "right" people. ;)
lycra6.jpg
 
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