Well. I just finished fourth in the Steinway Wednesday open tournament behind Strickland and Jayson Shaw.
So I think I will keep playing.
John and Lou, the plain truth
- Thread starter TATE
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Well. I just finished fourth in the Steinway Wednesday open tournament behind Strickland and Jayson Shaw.
So I think I will keep playing.
Well. I just finished fourth in the Steinway Wednesday open tournament behind Strickland and Jayson Shaw.
So I think I will keep playing.
absurd idea that you would or should cease playing
you're a pool player … nice showing sir
continue improving and of course sell lots of cases
thx again for your commitment to our wonderful sport
Billy
I'm not trying to pick on you Al but I don't get how your telling a man who is already committed to and, in fact, playing in the $10k match that he isn't good enough to play in a $10k match, how that is trying to be helpful.
seemed like more of an insult than sincere helpful advice, imo.
best,
brian kc
Well. I just finished fourth in the Steinway Wednesday open tournament behind Strickland and Jayson Shaw.
So I think I will keep playing.
This shows that you shouldn't stop playing pool but you should stop playing for $10k. The talk before the match was that Lou couldn't play for $10k but in reality JB, and I'm just being honest, your game suffered the most under the heat of the money and atmosphere.
Watchez is the teacher.
My highest admiration goes to John for ponying-up with His Own Cash for the Match.
I think ... no, I know he is a better man coming away from this match. Lou, on the other
hand, appeared to be the "seasoned veteran" and relied on a wealth of one-pocket
experience that only comes from practice and trial by fire.
John was the "long shot" and I generally pull for the underdog in most competitions
(unless they are a total schmuck).
Lou persevered to win the Cheese and he has my gratulations and respect.
I hope we see more of these challenges in the near future. Streamed, of course.
Thank You to the Players and everyone who made the Match possible.
I think ... no, I know he is a better man coming away from this match. Lou, on the other
hand, appeared to be the "seasoned veteran" and relied on a wealth of one-pocket
experience that only comes from practice and trial by fire.
John was the "long shot" and I generally pull for the underdog in most competitions
(unless they are a total schmuck).
Lou persevered to win the Cheese and he has my gratulations and respect.
I hope we see more of these challenges in the near future. Streamed, of course.
Thank You to the Players and everyone who made the Match possible.
Well. I just finished fourth in the Steinway Wednesday open tournament behind Strickland and Jayson Shaw.
So I think I will keep playing.
Good shooting, but 300 for first, and only 40 for fourth? That seems kinda brutal.
Cause every once in a while, the lion has to show the jackals who he is...
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CONGRATS! for a game well-played.
THANK YOU! we thoroughly enjoyed it - GLUED to the damn TV - albeit, we have less hair.... it was great to get to know you better through the stream. and impressive that it didn't come to blows. your next beer is on me!
PS - remind me to never take you up on a game of chess.
Seems fine to me for a $20-$25 event.
Anyway, getting to play Earl Strickland twice for $20 entry and then making money...priceless. Say what you want about Earl but he is absolutely beautiful to watch when he is playing, effortless cue ball movement, decisive strokes with a perfect touch.
John,
First of all, I think you were baited into playing. You both showed tremendous animosity for each other prior to the match. This was not about pool. It came about by mutual insults and grandstanding on both parts. There was considerable disrespect and contempt in this process.
I admit, you made the most of it. The advertising value is definitely there. You made a study of one pocket - you did your homework. You played with courage, but you did not groom yourself properly by abruptly accepting a 10K match just because Lou challenged you.
It makes me sick that you can be baited to the tune of 10K for the free entertainment of AZ Billiards.
$10,000 is a lot of fun money cash for anybody who is not a multi millionaire to lose in two days. The fact that Lou didn't cover his own bet tells me he was in over his head. The fact that you wouldn't cover the sidelines tells me you knew you were risking too much already.
You work hard for your money. Your family needs you to make good decisions. If I didn't give a damn, I would cheer you on like the rest of these railbirds.
Chris
Well, I did fold a little under the pressure but in reality I allowed myself to let Eric Hu's presence and physical threat shark me and that pretty much took me out of the first three games.
I'd play again tomorrow if I had the money and I would make it an ahead set. I went against my judgement making it a race and if it were an ahead set I feel comfortable with the bet. I agreed with the reasoning of my friends to make it a race but I think for these types of matches an ahead set is much better.
And yes the talk was that Lou might not be able to hold up for ten K and actually he didn't because he made a lot of mistakes that I didn't always capitalize on. But what he did do which I found very admirable actually is that he completely ignored me and focused on the game. Whatever was going on inside his head he kept a very cool exterior demeanor and did not rush any shots. So in that respect he definitely held up better than me and congratulations to him.
Anyway, hindsight is 20/20 as they say and we can analyze it a hundred ways. I am cool with getting some piling on because it's going to be expected in ratio to the amount of pre-match trash talking from me. But as I said I would play it again if I could and if the other side wants to as my original ten ahead set. So I don't feel that this is too much money to be playing for. I feel that I allowed all the forum drama and the drama from Eric Hu to interfere with my judgement.
So that's one of the lessons learned among many. In the end all the lessons I have learned throughout this whole journey have been cheap for only 10k.
Getting in the Grease is the Teacher.
It's not brutal. It's pool.
Well.....as you know this has been brewing for a long time. I said publicly many times I would give Lou 9-8 for $100 a game and through a third party on another forum I was high rolled for 20k based on that original $100 bark. I considered that Lou was the on -paper favorite and I really felt that I was selling myself short as a player.
I have no regret for taking on this match. It was not a blowout. 3 games loser after ten hours is not a lot. We would still be playing if it were an ahead set.
Yes I was baited but it takes two to dance and as you saw on stream I like to dance.
I really had fun. I mean I REALLY had fun. I was stressed but it was fun. I am in such a peaceful spot right now that it's almost unreal. I stepped up, I played and didn't get blown out despite all the mistakes and the only thing better would have been to win.
Lou played great under fire. He generally had a great answer for anything I did and he came with some fantastic shots at times. As I said I have nothing but respect when I get beaten by a skilled player and this time I got beat by a skilled player.
You all seem to be taking this much harder than me. If all of you want to take a lesson from it then let it be to remember that no matter how much you think you are writing words that "shouldn't" bother someone else that there is a person on the other side who might not get your humor and be actually hurt over what you write to and about them.
It was a good match, no question. Nerves eventually calm down - the more you compete, the less the nerves, and vice versa. It helped Lou to remain calm because you were obviously nervous. You can't show nerves or aggravation to a player of equal skill - it emboldens them and makes them play better.
As far as the match goes - that was all fine. I just didn't like the way things went down to get the match established. I thought the money was a little extreme for amateurs. It was my impression you were both backed into a corner.
Anyway, hate to say it but you did a good job marketing the match, getting Pat Fleming and the great stream, etc. getting publicity.
All members should be required to memorize and recite this as a mantra before being accepted on AZ Billiards.
Fixed.
Well, I had to use it to my advantage on the forum otherwise why bother with it?
Eventually I had to play someone for ten thousand as much as I have offered bets on this forum
As for getting the match established - #1 there was a lot of animosity and #2 there was a behind-the-scenes instigator in Mike Lalumiere. I can promise that neither Lou nor myself ever barked to play for more than a couple hundred a game at most and it was not our idea to play for 20k. I am actually flattered that Mike went to such lengths to "get me". I can't carry a torch of hatred against someone to that extreme. That he would play this game behind the scenes and then make the trip for the match was awesome for me. It was a surprise but I guess it shouldn't have been.
Anyway, don't sweat it. It takes two to dance and I was a willing participant. I wasn't hustled - I just didn't prepare myself properly and still did ok despite all the foibles.
Lou obviously didn't play as good as he could as well.
After your incident with Eric, you should have taken some time to regroup before playing.
Glad to see you a realize of what went on - although you are still skewed on one major point.
Hope you make it back to St Louis.
Well, it doesn't matter now because my focus is shifting in another direction. Definitely no watching one pocket and will put the matching up on the shelf for a while as I focus on growing our business. Pool playing for me is now about enjoying the excellence of playing a pure game and being happy I am able to do that.
I will pass through St. Louis many times. Cue and Cushion and The Break are stops I will always try to make for sure. I also want to visit the other pool rooms in the area.