justinb386
Banned
Thanks for the advice. That makes perfect sense. I can't imagine any of these guys that I idolize needing a small loan though.
Does life as a road player change the personality of most players?
- Thread starter justinb386
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Thanks for the advice. That makes perfect sense. I can't imagine any of these guys that I idolize needing a small loan though.
Do you play pool?
You post about moving to a pool city, how it is to play pool professionally, where the best tournaments are, etc.
Just curious.
You post about moving to a pool city, how it is to play pool professionally, where the best tournaments are, etc.
Just curious.
There are a lot of times that people just go to another town to match up.
Nits are everywhere though. Even after playing Inspector Clouseau, they still tell you that they will play even and adjust after you are at least 1k stuck. It's hard to get action when you can't even play on a semi level playing field. Not to mention that you have to deal with "I'll call someone to play you" or the guy who just happens to "wander" in 1 hour after you got there. They are willing to play you when no one else would. How convenient.
In addition, there are numerous pool halls where anyone can get played if they don't know you, because the confidence in the player at the hall, and the amount of travel + number of people they have met.
Nits are everywhere though. Even after playing Inspector Clouseau, they still tell you that they will play even and adjust after you are at least 1k stuck. It's hard to get action when you can't even play on a semi level playing field. Not to mention that you have to deal with "I'll call someone to play you" or the guy who just happens to "wander" in 1 hour after you got there. They are willing to play you when no one else would. How convenient.
In addition, there are numerous pool halls where anyone can get played if they don't know you, because the confidence in the player at the hall, and the amount of travel + number of people they have met.
I've only played BCAPL, Valley, and ACS. Great players do hide out in these leagues. At the recent Indiana State ACS Tourney here are some of the players that were there: Kenny Brisbon, Ike Runnels, Jeremy Edwards, Dan Taylor, Pat McMullan, Russ Belcher, Danny Garza, Jeff Sergeant (not sure if he played this year or not), on and on. These are all really good players.
If you're not running into great players in the league that you play in -- then you are playing in the wrong league. It is through league pool that I have gotten to rub elbows with many great players. Not too long ago I played on a team with Jason Kirkwood. Now that tourney wasn't league affiliated but had I not networked with people through my league play I would have never gotten on that team to begin with.
I once had the attitude that you do about league play but my eyes have been opened now. It can be a lot of fun. You just have to find the league that suits you best.
Sorry about taking your thread so off topic.
justinb386
Banned
Do I play pool? To be honest, I do not really play much anymore. Just got really depressed with no good action to see, and all of the dead pool rooms (with no players in them). The only time to see the pool hall filled is on league nights, and they are very boring to me. So, no, I lost the desire to play. Need a new cue that I really love, and a really great pool scene to be in. Then I will get my desire to get out there and play again.
I think you are dreaming, if you think that it is common for even the top players to have patrons that fund their play PLAY.
Those who can afford to do that are better at managing their money than to throw it out a window, especially for another's amusement.
Those players that might make money for the year don't give part of it to someone else so they can continue to do so.
Those who can afford to do that are better at managing their money than to throw it out a window, especially for another's amusement.
Those players that might make money for the year don't give part of it to someone else so they can continue to do so.
It's been my experience the love for this game resides inside you, not in a cue or a pool scene.
justinb386
Banned
I was not talking about the players borrowing money. I was talking about stake horses. Like in The Color of Money for example. Eddie paid all of the expenses for Vincent, and in return he received 60% of the profit. Remember, Eddie paid for all of the expenses (gas, food, hotel, and everything). Are you saying that the players do not have stake horses like that these days?
justinb386
Banned
I do not know if I love the game as much as others (maybe not), but I am just saying that wherever I go, I get very depressed by the local pool scene. I do not wish to play by myself. I wish to play better players, and be around a lot of much stronger players. I love that scene (with the nits arguing with each other and woofing about matching up, if I said that right). That is excitement for me. But everywhere I go, the pool rooms are all dead. It is depressing.
justinb386
Banned
You use the words "fund their play", as if those patrons are not getting anything in return for their investments in the players they invest money in.
justinb386
Banned
In the movie (TCOM), Eddie took 60% of all winnings.
Yes, basically. At least not in any long term sense...
I have never been privy to any top-level pros' dealings, but all the guys I've known who are competitive at the majors get one-time deals, and not always either.
justinb386
Banned
Some of them also have sponsors. Like Dennis Orcollo for example. He plays for Tiger I think? These sponsors do help the players with some of their expenses, right? Skyler Woodward plays for Meucci. I do not know what these company's do for the players, but I imagine they help in some ways.
The folks you reference ARE prob some of the most lilely to get a salary, but id bet your left tit that a salary arrangement is a rare thing.
These guys used to attract the interst of cue makers,they reasoned if the average joe saw a good player using a certain stick it would increase sales
Trouble was all of the hustlers used to sell the stick and gamble with the money
Now this was not 100% ,all without exception,but often enough that we say all,meaning all without distinction
I just thought you might like to see why sponsors are drying up to a great degree.Sponsors should expect some return on their investment,but when all they get is disrespect ,they lose interest too.
again the player complains about the loss of food when they bite off the hand that was feeding them
Trouble was all of the hustlers used to sell the stick and gamble with the money
Now this was not 100% ,all without exception,but often enough that we say all,meaning all without distinction
I just thought you might like to see why sponsors are drying up to a great degree.Sponsors should expect some return on their investment,but when all they get is disrespect ,they lose interest too.
again the player complains about the loss of food when they bite off the hand that was feeding them
justinb386
Banned
I imagine that not all of the players are the type of people that you think they are. Some are very good and respectful, like Shane Van Boening I imagine. Johnny Archer is another player who I imagine is a very good person (who does not do a lot of the bad things that some other players might get into). There are probably many other top players that that are truly just as good (as their good image, in their fans eyes). I do not know anything about the lives of any of these players though, but they could not all be bad. Corey is another player who I imagine is a really good person. And John Morra seems like a very classy guy. Alex Pagulayan too. Many others too. Efren? Jose Parica? They seem like very good guys. Who knows what any of these guys get into behind the scenes though. Only you guys in their tight nit group might know.
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Just had this talk with a couple people last week.
There are several players who have their pictures on a website where they are sponsored, such as a cue sponsor for instance, who are just as broke and destitute as players who aren't sponsored by those particular entities.
What is offered to some, is free product (imagine a free cue) to use. Their product brand sold at a discount or cost to the player, that the player can then sell for some profit. And small sums of assistance financially. (Help with a plain ticket cost, or a % of entry fee here or there in bigger events) or a bonus here and there should a patch or logo be worn and seen at high publicity events with a good finish)
Room sponsors usually help out with free or discounted table time to practice, and/or, a hookup to give lessons to patrons.
It's not the all expenses paid free ride that people who aggrandize the game like to think. (With the exception of a select few top shelf world beaters)
These are very small sums of $$ in the grand scheme of things.
And while any help is good, the majority are still on the hook for most of the costs.
Players in that position rarely talk about it.
Imagine if the kid asking for an autograph finds out that it was really the pool players girlfriend who works, went broke putting him into all the tournaments, and that he lives in his grandfathers basement for free, and has no real job skills.
Sure you have good guys out there. Most are struggling though.
And going broke will make you do some messed up stuff.
There are several players who have their pictures on a website where they are sponsored, such as a cue sponsor for instance, who are just as broke and destitute as players who aren't sponsored by those particular entities.
What is offered to some, is free product (imagine a free cue) to use. Their product brand sold at a discount or cost to the player, that the player can then sell for some profit. And small sums of assistance financially. (Help with a plain ticket cost, or a % of entry fee here or there in bigger events) or a bonus here and there should a patch or logo be worn and seen at high publicity events with a good finish)
Room sponsors usually help out with free or discounted table time to practice, and/or, a hookup to give lessons to patrons.
It's not the all expenses paid free ride that people who aggrandize the game like to think. (With the exception of a select few top shelf world beaters)
These are very small sums of $$ in the grand scheme of things.
And while any help is good, the majority are still on the hook for most of the costs.
Players in that position rarely talk about it.
Imagine if the kid asking for an autograph finds out that it was really the pool players girlfriend who works, went broke putting him into all the tournaments, and that he lives in his grandfathers basement for free, and has no real job skills.
Sure you have good guys out there. Most are struggling though.
And going broke will make you do some messed up stuff.