Professional Pool Player Behavior - Is it Time to Solve the Problem or Not?

CJ Wiley

CJ Wiley

ESPN WORLD OPEN CHAMPION
Gold Member
Silver Member
There was an incident with Earl Stickland and Jeremy Jones in their Bonus Ball match that's all over the internet. I respect both these professional players and understand what it's like to compete and be stressed and upset about the many negative things we have to deal with in the "pool world". I think it's about time to become "Solution Oriented" as a sport/game and stop blaming the players for the flaws in the current system of professional tournaments and special events. Let's do what's normally done in sports and that's have rules, regulations and clear, concise, consequences for negative behavior.

My position on these incidents will always be the same. Where in the Professional Pool'Code of Conduct' does it say what is acceptable behavior and what is not? The answer is there's no Code of Conduct Manual in the US/World Open, the Steaming Matches, Bonus Ball or any other tournament in these modern times.

All Professionals deserve the consideration of understanding what's expected of them and then given the responsibility to follow these guidelines knowing what the consequences of breaking them are.This is a common management practice from McDonalds to Microsoft and is also common in the NBA, PGA, NFL and other sports.

A written Code of Conduct is something that exists in grade school, high school, college and then in our professional business careers. Why is pool different, we can't expect someone that's competing for their livelihood to simply "do the right thing," in competition the only "right thing" is the rules and regulations, and yes there is sportsmanship obligations too, however there MUST be a written set of guidelines, we can't simply place everything under "sportsmanship etiquette".

When we had the Professional Cue Sports Association in 1996 there was a written Code of Conduct manual that outlined SPECIFIC behavior guideline for dealing with press, the public and tournament matches. Each player was required to sign this contract and it was binding, we also specifically stated the punishment for not abiding by our rules and regulations concerning behavior.

The Code of Conduct is not an unusual document, it's a Common Document in professional settings, whether it's professional sports, business or entertainment......why is pool the exception?

"If we're not planning for success, we are, in effect, planning for failure".....my questions is simple "why are we planning for failure at every tournament and special event, so we can blame the players? I believe this is a "management issue" and to continue to blame the players is like blaming the the child for breaking the rules when there are no rules.

I'm 100% IN FAVOR of demonstrating professional behavior to the press, the fans, and each other, however, the promoters/managers of the events must make it their responsibility to communicate the Code of Conduct in writing and make sure the players sign this contract, then enforce it as needed. This is a common practice done in businesses that include PHD's, Medical Degrees, Law Degrees, and other Professionals.....it's time for the "pool world" to stop trying to be the exception and follow normal business procedures.

Let's be solution oriented instead of continuing these business practices that are proven not to work properly at the expense of the game, it's players and it's fans." 'The Game is the Teacher'.com
 
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I "Real Eyes" how important it is to have a clear, concise, set of rules and .....

Nostroke said:
Oh No
If we get another sticky on this........
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This stuff is all common sense, however the more I study what's going on in the "Professional Pool World" the more I see that "common sense business practices are not common".....I just get tired of seeing fellow professional players up for failure, and it's not only done with behavior issues it's also done in many other ways that directly effect their ability to make a living......and at some point it's got to stop and there's no time like NOW.....we could at least be going in the right direction immediately! All we have to do is follow what other professional businesses and sports are doing and not be the exception, BE THE SAMPLE EXAMPLE. Rules, Regulations, Policies, Procedures, Conduce, Ethics are not "taken for granted" in the professional workplace, and especially on TV or Streaming Video.

After being involved in the management of staffs over 100 people I "Real Eyes" how important it is to have a clear, concise, set of rules and hold people accountable. They truly respect this and the problem starts fixing it's self immediately......and if negative behavior comes up there's a protocol for handling it in a professional manner.
 
Our first year on the McDermott Tour, promoted and directed by the Texas Express group, (me, John McChesney, and RandyG at the time), had an incident in Virginia with a world champion, future hall of famer, and one of the greatest players of all time. After a Monday conference call, it was decided to bar Earl from future events for a period of one year. We had a code of conduct, and we stuck with it.

What did it gain us?.....It showed the players that we played no favoritism, and treated every entry to our events as equals. It showed the players that we were serious, which gained us more entries, and made the events more pleasurable for all involved.

I agree with CJ, whatever group that consists of member players, BB, APB, all the various tours around the country, and even the leagues, should maintain a Code of Conduct and enforce it without prejudice and unilaterally across the board.
 
Couldn't agree more.

The snooker and pool leagues I play in have a code of conduct written out in the handbooks and on their websites. It makes it clear to all participants what standard of behaviour is expected of them. If your fight, your team is expelled from the league. If you make threats or anything along those lines your team is suspended for the next 2 matches. Obviously in the professional game the consequences should be tougher. Heavy fines, disqualification from future events etc. If only we had someone to step up to the mark and enforce a clear and concise code of conduct.

That being said, If I were to never see Earl have a hissy fit again a little bit of me would die inside.
 
Pool's not the exception, it's the "Sample Example"

golubushka said:
Bonus Ball is a team game...so is it Tag Team, or just Free For All....
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I agree, and again, the true responsibility lies with the promoter/manager of the event.....it's their obligation to communicate the rules and behavior guidelines, not the players. The players are there to compete, not try to figure out what to do and what not to do. We can continue to blame the players, but that accomplishes nothing, it's time to put the responsibility on those that have the control to make things right...permanently.

Most of the people I've been involved with are in the restaurant/bar industy. If you go into a restaurant or bar and the server or bartender don't know what to do, give bad service or show negative behavior 99% of the time it's because of the upper management.

Pool's not the exception, it's the "Sample Example" of this scenario. There are no written rules, not guidelines, no consequences and then people stand back and point fingers at the Professional Players. This is nonsense and does nothing to solve the problems once and for all. The game deserves to be treated like all other games, sports and businesses so THE GAME OF POOL has a fighting chance to get in the PUBLIC spot light again.
 
Artistic pool did this starting a couple years ago. They've had a Code of Conduct for a while, but it wasn't really enforced. Now that make players sign a document prior to each tournament and lay out the Code and the penalties, most of which is in general, vague, non-binding terms like "penalties can include, but is not limited to..."
 
I agree CJ. Have players sign a contract which details expected behavior and tells exactly what the punishment will be. Could even have a contract for an individual event - one tournament at a time. Different promoters could use a standard contract shared amongst the industry.

I believe pool's biggest downfall is the image - between the "hustler" image and the "pool players are jerks" image, how is the game ever going to garner a larger following and the industry grow? IMO it won't, without change.

Fatz
 
No doubt about it, the Earl show puts peeps in the seats. If I were to ever run another major event with a door charge, he would most likely be paid an 'appearance' fee.
 
CJ Wiley said:
I agree, and again, the true responsibility lies with the promoter/manager of the event.....it's their obligation to communicate the rules and behavior guidelines, not the players. The players are there to compete, not try to figure out what to do and what not to do. We can continue to blame the players, but that accomplishes nothing, it's time to put the responsibility on those that have the control to make things right...permanently.

Most of the people I've been involved with are in the restaurant/bar industy. If you go into a restaurant or bar and the server or bartender don't know what to do, give bad service or show negative behavior 99% of the time it's because of the upper management.

Pool's not the exception, it's the "Sample Example" of this scenario. There are no written rules, not guidelines, no consequences and then people stand back and point fingers at the Professional Players. This is nonsense and does nothing to solve the problems once and for all. The game deserves to be treated like all other games, sports and businesses so THE GAME OF POOL has a fighting chance to get in the PUBLIC spot light again.
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CJ, I agree that the game/sport be regulated and structured. A set of standardized rules for all pro players and events should be in place. HOWEVER! Do you know howmany yelling matches I have been in while playing over the past 30yrs? ZERO. Because I know what is acceptable behaviour. Many others know withouyt being told wht you can't do and what is acceptable. You can't just say that its the promoters fault or even that they share any of the blame. I think its common sense to know how you should behave.

In challenge matches like some of the ones that I do or TAR do,how do you suggest we discipline th players for getting out of line??
 
I'm a bit surprised the governing body doesn't already have a documented code of conduct. IMHO, that should be a given.

Saying Earl's antics are good for pool interest is like saying the NHL should allow fighting for those people who come to a game to see the fights instead of the hockey. I don't believe the NHL views it that way nor should pool. For every person who enjoys Earl's antics, there are 50 or more others who see it in a negative light.
 
Pool is cruel to its own. We have a fractured industry, a dwindling lot of professional players, and a pool culture that really doesn't like pro players. Therein lies the problem, and I'm not sure it's fixable at this juncture.

The arrival of Bonus Ball puts the final nail in the coffin for American professional pool. It's a joke, purple and orange balls, pool players dancing like monkeys in in empty rooms, and nobody cares that Bonus Ball has changed their schedule over and over again and then schedules their matches the same time as Greg Sullivan's Southern Classic, a tournament that has been schedule well over a year in advance.

On a good note, the Mosconi Cup will be at the Mirage in Vegas in December 2013. I hope Barry Hearn makes Southern Classic a Mosconi Cup points event. :)
 
CJ Wiley said:
This stuff is all common sense, however the more I study what's going on in the "Professional Pool World" the more I see that "common sense business practices are not common".....I just get tired of seeing fellow professional players up for failure, and it's not only done with behavior issues it's also done in many other ways that directly effect their ability to make a living......and at some point it's got to stop and there's no time like NOW.....we could at least be going in the right direction immediately! All we have to do is follow what other professional businesses and sports are doing and not be the exception, BE THE SAMPLE EXAMPLE. Rules, Regulations, Policies, Procedures, Conduce, Ethics are not "taken for granted" in the professional workplace, and especially on TV or Streaming Video.

After being involved in the management of staffs over 100 people I "Real Eyes" how important it is to have a clear, concise, set of rules and hold people accountable. They truly respect this and the problem starts fixing it's self immediately......and if negative behavior comes up there's a protocol for handling it in a professional manner.
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There's not much common sense anymore -it's better labeled 'rarely found sense' these days.

Not to mention Earl should be able to be thrown out of events with no code at all.

It's kinda like the airlines telling you you are not allowed to tamper with OR DESTROY the smoke detectors in the rest rooms. Is that necessary?
 
"All Star Wrestling and Pool,"

nobcitypool said:
I'm a bit surprised the governing body doesn't already have a documented code of conduct. IMHO, that should be a given.

Saying Earl's antics are good for pool interest is like saying the NHL should allow fighting for those people who come to a game to see the fights instead of the hockey. I don't believe the NHL views it that way nor should pool. For every person who enjoys Earl's antics, there are 50 or more others who see it in a negative light.
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They can make a pool show called "All Star Wrestling and Pool," but if I participate I definitely want to read their manuals about conduct. I know this is far out, but you understand my "big picture" points.

Leaving the behavior code up the participants is like having a Juke Box in a pool room or bar and let everyone in the room decide what music to play.....it's not a very organized atmosphere because there's no theme. I know everyone should know to play 80's Rock and Roll, however there's always that smart*ss that sneaks in some "country", "hip hop", "jazz" or even "bluegrass"....Earl was just playing some "heavy head banging metal" and didn't "Real Eyes" it. ;)
 
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I don't think it matters what the code is. Big names will always get away with bending or breaking the rules. In life and sports. I think if a lesser known player did this to Earl and he threatened to leave, BB it would handle it. If it's Earl "Just being Earl" it'l slide. Plus this sport could use a little action. Let the players police themselves.
 
Why is everyone blaming Earl? Yes Earl's demeanor gets under everyone's skin at times,
but he never threatened anyone! Jeremy Jones is the one at fault here who threatened Earl by calling him out! If anyone should be thrown out or suspended it should be Jeremy Jones!!
 
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