Is it poor sportsmanship to celebrate a mistake by the other player?

hang-the-9 said:
So something happened in league last night that really upset me.

I had this in the 'how you are doing in league' post also but I think it's a good enough post on it's own.

My team-mate was going to 4, other guy going to 2.

The score is 3-1, and our guy is shooting the 8 in the side, tough cut. He missed, but the cueball hits off the side rail and goes across into the corner to scratch and we lose the set.

The other guy is waving his hands in victory, pumping his fist, jumping off his chair all happy. I found that to be in really poor taste. You did not earn the win, you did not play good enough to even have an even game with the player, you should not be celebrating that the other guy had the misfortune to scratch in a odd way (it was not an obvious scratch by any means). He started to say how he keeps beating the good players and I told him "you did not beat anyone today, you had to win half the games the other guy did and the only reason you even won that was because he scratched and it was crappy of you to be happy at his loss".

I consider it bad manners to celebrate a mistake by the other guy or root for someone to mess up. Don't know why so many players, even some good ones I have seen, get all worked up when they get an un-earned win.
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Probably poor sportsmanship, definitely poor character.
 
ChicagoRJ said:
We are not speaking of the crowds, but the players conduct. The other tennis player does not hoot and holler. But when the other person in tennis misses, it is usually because of the shot he was trying to return, so he had some hand in that... not so in pool.
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Actually in tennis they do. I watch a Nadal, Federer, and other top ten players in the
world do. If there playing each other and Rodger backhands one into the net,
you'll see Nadal fist pump and scream '' Cmon''.
Now is that rude?Maybe it is but in the world of tennis people know its the
players pumping themselves up trying to reach the finish line for the victory.
Pool is known to have poor conduct so if this happens in pool its automatically
offensive.
I think its only rude in pool because of how the sport is portrayed not because
it actually is.
 
scsuxci said:
Actually in tennis they do. I watch a Nadal, Federer, and other top ten players in the
world do. If there playing each other and Rodger backhands one into the net,
you'll see Nadal fist pump and scream '' Cmon''.
Now is that rude?Maybe it is but in the world of tennis people know its the
players pumping themselves up trying to reach the finish line for the victory.
Pool is known to have poor conduct so if this happens in pool its automatically
offensive.
I think its only rude in pool because of how the sport is portrayed not because
it actually is.
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Again, Nadal had something to do with his opponent missing. His opponent had to return his shot, that was most likely strategically placed in the most difficult spot, with lots of spin, and reaching speeds of 75 to 100mph. Yeah, I'd be pumped to.

but pool, like golf, there is no physical defense, other than maybe a safety, but that only gets you BIH, not the victory.......

If my opponent scratches on the 8 or something silly, I just say, good game, you had me, and let me off the hook.
 
hang-the-9 said:
So something happened in league last night that really upset me.

I had this in the 'how you are doing in league' post also but I think it's a good enough post on it's own.

My team-mate was going to 4, other guy going to 2.

The score is 3-1, and our guy is shooting the 8 in the side, tough cut. He missed, but the cueball hits off the side rail and goes across into the corner to scratch and we lose the set.

The other guy is waving his hands in victory, pumping his fist, jumping off his chair all happy. I found that to be in really poor taste. You did not earn the win, you did not play good enough to even have an even game with the player, you should not be celebrating that the other guy had the misfortune to scratch in a odd way (it was not an obvious scratch by any means). He started to say how he keeps beating the good players and I told him "you did not beat anyone today, you had to win half the games the other guy did and the only reason you even won that was because he scratched and it was crappy of you to be happy at his loss".

I consider it bad manners to celebrate a mistake by the other guy or root for someone to mess up. Don't know why so many players, even some good ones I have seen, get all worked up when they get an un-earned win.
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I agree. I always want to win, but would not celebrate the misfortune of another out loud. I always want to get back to the table, but I certainly would not act like I was great if another ran 1-8 and then scratched on the 9 giving me the win.
 
Imagine a stadium full of NFL fans and all the winning players and coaches staying respectfully hushed after the opposing field goal kicker dogs the extra point at the last second, causing the winning team to go to the Super Bowl.

I know it's not the same, but a funny visual nonetheless.
 
ChicagoRJ said:
Again, Nadal had something to do with his opponent missing. His opponent had to return his shot, that was most likely strategically placed in the most difficult spot, with lots of spin, and reaching speeds of 75 to 100mph. Yeah, I'd be pumped to.

but pool, like golf, there is no physical defense, other than maybe a safety, but that only gets you BIH, not the victory.......

If my opponent scratches on the 8 or something silly, I just say, good game, you had me, and let me off the hook.
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But in retrospect, with all the yelling and fist pumps can get in the head of your
opponent. If I hang the 9 for my opponent hill-hill and he jumps out of his seat and
yells ''YES'', I completely get it, he's freakin happy and pumped.
I really wouldn't blame him one bit since I'm the dope for not making the ball
in the first place.
Now name calling or personal attacks is uncalled for 100% but showing
a tad of emotion makes the game feel a little more human.
 
Yes, but

vrrdriver said:
ABSOLUTELY is poor sportsmanship. It's one thing to root for yourself; but not at the expense of others. If you win due to an opponent's fatal unforced error, shrug your shoulders, shake their hand, and give 'em a 'them's the rolls, buddy'. Celebrating another's mistake is in poor taste, and may earn you a black eye.

A few months back playing TAPs, I'm a 7 playing a 4, I believe it was a 5-2 race. I win the lag, then make the 8 out of turn on a fluke carom executing a breakout. So he's on the hill out of the gate, and I need 5 straight. I rack and run the next game, then put a 3-pack on him to make it hill-hill. I break and scratch. He makes a few balls, gets out of line, dogs the ball; but I have no shot, and my balls are a mess. He kicks and makes a good hit, and clears some traffic for me as well. I take care of my problems, but have to play one more safe, as I accidentally tied up his last ball is tied up to the 8. He tries a wild shot, misses, and hooks me behind the 8. I kick safe, freezing him to the back of my ball. He kicks his ball into the wrong pocket, but once again leaves me with no shot. I play one more safe, leaving him a long off angle bank on the 8. He misses the bank, leaves me straight in, but the 8 rolls in front of the CB and I have no shot. I jump the 8, but hang my last ball in the corner, leaving him an easy shot for the win. Afterwards, he's running around the table with his cue raised above his head like he just won the US Open, saying stuff like "that's how you do it","he ain't all that","XXXXx(me) just got schooled" etc. etc. I told him to get back on the table, I'd give him 6 on the wire going to 7 for $100, and if I lose I'd quit pool. He shut up pretty quick after that.

P.S. We've played a few times since then. Me-15, him-0
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Yes it is bad form to celebrate an opponent's misfortune. It is also bad form to brag about how much better you are. It is also bad form to challenge someone to play for money during a league match. In fact it is a foul in the BCA Rulebook.
 
scsuxci said:
But in retrospect, with all the yelling and fist pumps can get in the head of your
opponent. If I hang the 9 for my opponent hill-hill and he jumps out of his seat and
yells ''YES'', I completely get it, he's freakin happy and pumped.
I really wouldn't blame him one bit since I'm the dope for not making the ball
in the first place.
Now name calling or personal attacks is uncalled for 100% but showing
a tad of emotion makes the game feel a little more human.
Click to expand...

It's a douche move to do it though... they can do it, and most likely the douche's every where will continue to do it, it is their right again... but it does not make them any less douchy.

If someone leaves me a hangar, the first thing that enters my mind, is OK, take your time, don't take it for granted, put the ball in, and find a place to leave the cueball safely, I won't even grin in that situation. For me, it's Karma, if I celebrate too early, not good for your nerves or concentration. I would never yell or do anything other than get up just like every other shot, and complete it. Sometimes a poker face helps in other sports too.
 
scsuxci said:
But in retrospect, with all the yelling and fist pumps can get in the head of your
opponent. If I hang the 9 for my opponent hill-hill and he jumps out of his seat and
yells ''YES'', I completely get it, he's freakin happy and pumped.
I really wouldn't blame him one bit since I'm the dope for not making the ball
in the first place.
Now name calling or personal attacks is uncalled for 100% but showing
a tad of emotion makes the game feel a little more human.
Click to expand...

Good response. If people don't like others celebrating then don't miss. Proper etiquette should be practiced but winning is winning.
 
ChicagoRJ said:
It's a douche move to do it though... they can do it, and most likely the douche's every where will continue to do it, it is their right again... but it does not make them any less douchy.

If someone leaves me a hangar, the first thing that enters my mind, is OK, take your time, don't take it for granted, put the ball in, and find a place to leave the cueball safely, I won't even grin in that situation. For me, it's Karma, if I celebrate too early, not good for your nerves or concentration. I would never yell or do anything other than get up just like every other shot, and complete it. Sometimes a poker face helps in other sports too.
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I get what your saying to a point.Watching Earl talk crap to an opponent
is awful in my view but holding back happy emotions because you see the
finish line isn't douche imo.
If the guy misses and you start doing cartwheels around the pool table maybe
over doing it, but smiling and being happy at a opportunity to win seems
normal in my eyes.
Look at the falsities that happen before the match even starts in pool.
Both guys shake hands and say''Goodluck'' while in their minds their
hoping the other misses every shot they take.
 
I am genuinely happy to see my opponent make a great shot or run out.
But if I do the same you better believe I'm going to celebrate too!!
Especially after a "couple" brews!! :grin:
I don't really like to see them screw up. but if it were for $$$ ? I might be very happy, inside.
 
scsuxci said:
I get what your saying to a point.Watching Earl talk crap to an opponent
is awful in my view but holding back happy emotions because you see the
finish line isn't douche imo.
If the guy misses and you start doing cartwheels around the pool table maybe
over doing it, but smiling and being happy at a opportunity to win seems
normal in my eyes.
Look at the falsities that happen before the match even starts in pool.
Both guys shake hands and say''Goodluck'' while in their minds their
hoping the other misses every shot they take.
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Ok, we are losing perspective a little. Here is what happened to the OP.

The other guy is waving his hands in victory, pumping his fist, jumping off his chair all happy

You can be happy, and get up and take the shot. High five your teammate afterward if you want. But not after he misses.
 
ChicagoRJ said:
Ok, we are losing perspective a little. Here is what happened to the OP.

The other guy is waving his hands in victory, pumping his fist, jumping off his chair all happy

You can be happy, and get up and take the shot. High five your teammate afterward if you want. But not after he misses.
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I think we both agree in sportsmanship and again see your point. I may have read
the OP's statement wrong but the guy scratched and the game was over and he
went into his happy frenzy.
Some people may go over board which looks dumb for sure.
Its finding that happy medium, where you can be happy without rubbing
salt in the other guys wound.
 
SWRLE said:
Yes it is bad form to celebrate an opponent's misfortune. It is also bad form to brag about how much better you are. It is also bad form to challenge someone to play for money during a league match. In fact it is a foul in the BCA Rulebook.
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not sure how:

stating facts constitutes bragging

challenging someone after a match to gamble compares to during a league match

bca rules are relevant for a tap match

go have a sandwich please
 
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