Emotional Story from League Last Night

briankenobi

briankenobi

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Last night I had the opportunity to do something really cool and I want to share it with everyone here. I play in an in house league at a bar on Tuesdays with a guy named Frank and his two sons Dennis and Darren along with our friend Chris. Last night was the half way point and we had our singles tournament, which I won last year and the heavy favorite to win it this time. Dennis is the better shot than Darren, but Darren beat his brother to get into the semi finals. The other semi finals match was me and his dad Frank. My match got started later because the other side had a bye in their bracket. Just after the 2nd game started in my match, I saw that Darren had won and made it to the finals. The likely hood of me beating Frank and then Darren was like 99.5% But I had an idea about something cool and decided I was going to do it. After I won the second game, I was up 2-0 in a race to 5. I turned to Frank and said “Hey Frank. I saw that Darren made it to the finals. I want to do something for you. I am forfeiting our match. Play your boy in the finals.” Frank seemed to be a little stunned and he got a little emotional. I thought he was getting ready to shed a few tears. He even offered some of the prize money to me which I declined. The likelihood of Frank and Darren playing in the finals against each other there are very slim to none. So I wanted them to experience this awesome moment. There was a pool hall in my home town for a while and once or twice my dad and I made the finals against each other so I wanted Frank and Darren to experience that awesome feeling. I couldn’t stay and watch because it was late and had to go to work today but I felt really good knowing that Frank and Darren were enjoying a Father Son moment playing in the finals.
Thanks for reading.
 
briankenobi said:
Last night I had the opportunity to do something really cool and I want to share it with everyone here. I play in an in house league at a bar on Tuesdays with a guy named Frank and his two sons Dennis and Darren along with our friend Chris. Last night was the half way point and we had our singles tournament, which I won last year and the heavy favorite to win it this time. Dennis is the better shot than Darren, but Darren beat his brother to get into the semi finals. The other semi finals match was me and his dad Frank. My match got started later because the other side had a bye in their bracket. Just after the 2nd game started in my match, I saw that Darren had won and made it to the finals. The likely hood of me beating Frank and then Darren was like 99.5% But I had an idea about something cool and decided I was going to do it. After I won the second game, I was up 2-0 in a race to 5. I turned to Frank and said “Hey Frank. I saw that Darren made it to the finals. I want to do something for you. I am forfeiting our match. Play your boy in the finals.” Frank seemed to be a little stunned and he got a little emotional. I thought he was getting ready to shed a few tears. He even offered some of the prize money to me which I declined. The likelihood of Frank and Darren playing in the finals against each other there are very slim to none. So I wanted them to experience this awesome moment. There was a pool hall in my home town for a while and once or twice my dad and I made the finals against each other so I wanted Frank and Darren to experience that awesome feeling. I couldn’t stay and watch because it was late and had to go to work today but I felt really good knowing that Frank and Darren were enjoying a Father Son moment playing in the finals.
Thanks for reading.
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In my opinion, while your heart was in the right place, I disagree with your actions. The father was not allowed to earn the chance to play his son and most people would always know/feel that it was lessened by that. I do not feel that it is ever justified to, in effect, throw a match.
 
No good deed goes unpunished on AZ Billiards.

Lighten up Whiffer.

I don't think this would be considered "throwing" a match. It sounds like it was just a friendly gesture to me. If his friend had a problem with accepting the forfeit he would have said so at the time. According to the story he didn't have a problem with it. Therefore, it was a cool thing to do.

Sometimes we humans have to tweak things just a bit in order to film that final scene. When we are getting ready to film this story for the big screen we can play around with the script a bit, maybe in our film the father will win this forfeited match. Unfortunately, everything in life doesn't always work out perfectly like in the movies.
 
Well done Brian! Compassion and thinking of others, is a admirable trait. ,but did dad win or son? Charlie
 
I actually just got a message from the son and dad got out to a 3-0 lead but they ended up spliting. It was midnight and they both had to get up for work the next day. They split 40 a piece.

And to respond to the whiffer, this isn't a serious competition league and most of hte people don't think like that. It is like a beer softball league atmosphere. Frand, the dad, was very greatful for the opportunity. From what Darren told me, Frank is going to call me today. Since I know these guys, I my guess would be to thank me for allowing that to happen last night.
 
The tournament was a singles event for an in-house league, not like it was the US Open.
There are rare occasions when throwing or purposely forfeiting a match is justified.
The OP had already won this event before, he didn't split the money, nobody got burned, and he wanted his teammates to win.

How about this one:

Semi-homeless poolplayer gets put into a US 10-ball qualifier.
First place gets airfare and hotel paid in Las Vegas but no cash, second place gets $400.
Homeless guy has the tournament won but dogs it to get $400.
$400 was a big deal to the guy, and how was he going to get to or make it in Las Vegas with no lunch money, no valid ID, one set of decent clothing, etc.
 
Good going. I won the Father/Son golf tournament at my club this year and it is my most memorable round of golf ever. Winning with your son or playing in finals against your son is an awesome experience. Nice gesture.
 
cuesblues said:
The tournament was a singles event for an in-house league, not like it was the US Open.
There are rare occasions when throwing or purposely forfeiting a match is justified.
The OP had already won this event before, he didn't split the money, nobody got burned, and he wanted his teammates to win.

How about this one:

Semi-homeless poolplayer gets put into a US 10-ball qualifier.
First place gets airfare and hotel paid in Las Vegas but no cash, second place gets $400.
Homeless guy has the tournament won but dogs it to get $400.
$400 was a big deal to the guy, and how was he going to get to or make it in Las Vegas with no lunch money, no valid ID, one set of decent clothing, etc.
Click to expand...

Hey I think it was a nice gesture!
As for the pool player without a girlfriend....:D
 
in 1975 i was 23 years old and my dad and I were playing in a small tournament at the pool hall in our small town in AL my dad had made it to the hot seat and I was in the semi final the guy I was playing was a better player and a family friend I won the set to get to the final against my dad but to this day I have always though he let me win so dad and I could play together in the final we went hill hill and dad won. three mounts later my dad died but this story brought back a grate memory thanks and you did the good thing you must be a good guy
 
I think this is great! It was obviously important to the Father. It wasn't like you were throwing a team event or a big tourney - your heart was in the right place for sure. for you to even realize what was going on in the other matches was cool. Good on you, Buddy! :thumbup:
 
A forfeit is a forfeit. Kudos to you on that one

Sent from my Lumia 800 using Board Express
 
nicely done, these opportunities to create special moments are rare and it's even more rare that we recognize them in time to do something about them.
 
What would have been cool is if the Dad or Son had felt like it was a tremendous thing you did and posted the info that you did above. I guess only you thought it worth mentioning. If they had posted, it would seem less that you were tooting your own horn.
 
Nice and freindly gesture there !
can't tell the feeling of a father/son final, hope to have a father ( me ) and daughter final at some point, i just love her seeing to hold the cue correctly and put a ball down ( she is only 3 but she try's ! ) i can spend hours on a table together with her !!
think you did a great thing !
 
Shortside K said:
What would have been cool is if the Dad or Son had felt like it was a tremendous thing you did and posted the info that you did above. I guess only you thought it worth mentioning. If they had posted, it would seem less that you were tooting your own horn.
Click to expand...

Neither of them check AZ Billiards. Like I said before, this is a fun league and most of them have no clue about AZ or any of the pros. Actually, there is only 1 other person in the league of 25 that even knows what AZ billiards even is. So to answer your post, I wasn't tooting my own horn. It was a cool story and wanted to share.
 
I think its way-cool what you did for them. Reminds me of the times I would play my dad. I never played him inna tournament, he was easily 2 speeds above my best. :o
but, he would dog a shot to let me in the game instead of running racks, and it kept me playing. Believe me, its something special to play the way you let them!
Kudos 2 U !! :thumbup:
 
Was a cool story until the part where the father and son "split". They couldn't agree to play 1 game for the championship? Even though it was late and they had to get up the next day? Of course they knew when they played they would have to get up for work and if they played for the championship it would be late. Obviously the money was more important to them than your gesture. Nice idea, but thumbs down on daddy and son. They should have had respect for what you did and played out the match, even a shortened one.

Bob
 
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