You're not a d-bag. Rules are rules. In our league (which is NOT the BCA, but we follow 99%ish of the BCA rules), we always make it clear about the 3-foul rule before any big tourneys or if there are new players in the room, etc. etc. Everyone there knows that everyone else knows that you have to call it when your turn is over and the opponent approaches the table. The opponent must also acknowledge that you've warned him. I've never even seen an argument over this rule (yet) and I've seen plenty of players try to 3-foul each other. Now, I do know guys that say, "I never tell anyone they're on 3 fouls, because I don't want to win that way." That's fine. If they don't call it, that's on them. If they play me, I give them the proper warning and make sure they acknowledge me.
As for the frozen ball thing, I actually had a situation come up just a week or so ago. It was my turn at the table and I looked at the ball. It wasn't frozen. I turned to my opponent who is a BCA Instructor and told him, "It's not frozen." He just smiled and nodded. When our match was over, he pulled me aside and said that according to BCA rules, what I did was illegal. That it was HIS responsibility, as the non-shooter and player exiting the table, to inform me (the shooter) that the ball wasn't frozen, if it was an extremely close call. AND that by me talking to him during my turn, that it would be considered a foul in BCA as it was "sharking".
Can someone confirm the above?
I know that when I finish my shot, if there's ever a doubt, I always check to see if a ball is frozen or not and declare it before I leave the table. I had just never thought about declaring it AS THE SHOOTER, while I was deciding my options. Lesson learned. Thankfully it was taught to me, when it's not stated in our league's rulebook, so I didn't have to learn the hard way.
So, it seems to me that if the above is correct, all players have a responsibility to know the rules and to apply them at the proper times.
If you decide to let one rule slide, well, I suppose it's ok to let another slide, right? And then another? Maybe just one more? "Oh, you kicked behind a ball and make proper contact, but then nothing hit a rail? Nah, it's cool. I'll just play it as is." Forget that. Soon anarchy ensues.
Everything, whether it be pool or life in general, involves a slippery slope. So, rules are in place to nip things in the bud.
You didn't do anything wrong. If he's not aware of the rules, well, as they say, there's no excuse for ignorance. If he's aware of the rules and chose not to follow them, then he actually broke the rules. That doesn't make YOU the d-bag. If anything, he just sharked you.
I mean, how do you know what he DOESN'T know? That's not your responsibility. It's his.
Sack up people. You say he should exhibit "sportsmanship" and avoid the rules. I say he should play by the rules that are set before him.
And for what it's worth, I've never knowingly had anyone badmouth me about my game (tho, I'm sure somewhere someone has). If anything, everyone has told me to my face (and I've overheard whispers attesting to the fact) that I'm a guy that takes the game seriously and plays it to the letter. It's also usually accompanied by, "He's a grinder and he's either going to beat you down or make you earn it." I feel I'm respected by other players when I hear that.
Now, if I'm goofing off practicing with my buddy in the basement, sometimes we're lenient on things, simply because we might be practicing certain situations and less concerned about the "result of the game". But, if it's a tournament with rules or an action match.....with rules.....ya stick to them.
And one last thing to the haters. There is no room for your conscience in pool.
