In my entire pool playing career, you’re the only person ever to make these allegations. Congrats.
Mike dechaine 2023
- Thread starter Pool artist
- Start date
I know easy-e personally, and if he says he heard you planning to cut up a backer, for me, that is pretty much set in stone. Combined with my first exposure to you being you criticizing two amateurs, and saying how much you'd like to play them for money (old TAR stream from Executive West DCC), it speaks to your core values, at least at that time in your life...
I am actually glad to see you have moved away from pool, because that environment seemed to have pulled some unpleasant aspects of your personality out. But to be blunt, I'd respect you a lot more if you simply fully admitted your past transgressions, and said that is not who you are these days. It is concerning that you still seem to be defending, what is at it's core, indefensible behavior. I fully understand that elite players have a lot of self confidence. But some players also have class to go with that confidence, and that is the part I see you as missing. The whole "Boy, I'd like to play either one of these two for money" from that DCC stream, when talking about two B players at best, spoke worlds to me. The responses here are not showing me any growth from that young man.
I was 18 years old and considered myself an amateur when I competed at executive west. Get a life, boys.
And your game jumped exponentially, just after that time period. I am pretty sure you were well aware that neither of them stood even the slightest chance against you, and you would be absolutely robbing them. I'll eat my hat if you weren't at least 725 speed when you commentated on that stream.
Either way... I was a completely different person at that age, in the military at 17, and this is probably more of a commentary on a fundamental difference of opinion on what constitutes "maturity" in a person.
It takes all kinds, I guess. Some can express excellence of execution with grace, and some let arrogance take over. In my life experience, the arrogance often holds one back, because it slightly reduces respect for opponents, and promotes semi-lackadaisical play, and that small difference is often enough to give one more excess chance per match, which against elite competition ends up killing one, when trying to get through multiple elite players in a row.
Either way, it's a moot point. You were intelligent enough to see there is no money in pool in America, and pursued a more profitable career, so that is a plus in my book. Your family will reap the rewards.
Just another pool detective
Glad you are so advanced and worldly....super impressive
Pool is a personality contest....these guys like to play for patches and 5 inch trophies while psychoanalyzing everyone.
If I were ever going to dump (I wouldn't, plus I don't play well enough for anyone to back), I would certainly keep that conversation on the downlow. As far as wanting to play someone he felt he could easily beat for some cash, what pool player hasn't made a comment like that before?
My opinion is give the guy a break; he's a pool player, not a priest. I'm not trying to defend anyone...just trying to help keep things in perspective.
My opinion is give the guy a break; he's a pool player, not a priest. I'm not trying to defend anyone...just trying to help keep things in perspective.
Me. Despite topping out around around 650 or so Fargo rate level play when I was younger, maybe a touch higher, I always played the game, for the game itself. I did not back down from a bet once offered, but I literally never offered a bet, it was always "offered" by the other player.
When I moved to Germany, I literally found "my people", in respect to how they view the game. They play the game for the pure purpose of perfecting the game, NOT the money.
I have been accused of being an "America basher" on here, but it has to be said... American pool player obsession with gambling really is what is holding us back. Note: It's not the gambling itself, as gambling fuels skill in the Phillipines, but that is because they have few other options.. In America, that is not true. You can sell windows and make as much as our very best player. So there is no true incentive to practice 8 hours a day for months and months at a time, as if your life depends on it.
We don't have the pool infrastructure to develop players before money corrupts their thinking process. So the development of our players relies on that period of time when a (mostly) young male player starts to "feel his oats", and wants to "stake his claim to territory", which leads them to practice just enough to dominate their local competition. But local competition doesn't support allowing 700+ in any and all tournaments, so they turn to gambling, and the inevitable focus on "getting the cash", rather than improving their game that extra 20%, 10%, 5%. Getting the cash, in America, often require playing below one's speed, which is extremely damaging to one's game.
I have a story on this topic. I work with a guy who grew up in the Philippines. Of course I had to ask him if he played pool. While he didn't play himself, he knew who Efren was and his parents actually knew Efren well. Anyway, I asked him his opinion on why the Philippines have such a disproportionate proportion of really good pool players. He said it was because of how gambling was so embedded in their culture. He gave the example of when he was a young kid (under 10). He said when they went to the playground to play basketball, all the kids played for whatever little they had (change). He said because that money meant so much to them, they played their guts out and constantly worked on their skills. He said when he moved here, he thought it was weird how pickup basketball players don't play for anything. The second half of that story is I got to play basketball with this guy...he could REALLY play!
So when I say no young players develop in the US because there is no money in it you bash me saying who cares about money and that is sad. Yet here you are making that same argument lol.
Yet more anti American drivel.
I am pretty sure in the other thread I was criticizing that viewpoint from the perspective of there "not being any money in it" for the people who would make pool tables available to the youth, i.e. pool halls. And criticizing the leagues for not doing anything effective to make pool available to youth and developing a tiered competitive system, and instead worrying more about their own wallets. If you want to re-post, or link to the specific interactions/responses, I will take a look, but it seems as if you are speaking in generalities on what I was criticizing, and I am betting there is some nuance there.
What I likely "said" is that the money is not there for German pool players either, but the entire German system produces great players like Neuhausen and Filler, so the money itself is not an excuse, per se. As pertains to America in particular, the unrelenting pursuit of the dollar above and beyond all other things actually prevents local clubs being set up that provide youth someplace to try out the game, and then to get excellent training if they so desire.
Germans have clubs for EVERYTHING, and they don't approach it from a profit motive. The entire system is set up in a Bundesliga type style where there is a very real and structured progression from "you suck" to "damn, you are pretty good, good enough to represent your country against other countries", via the tiered competition leagues. In America, we got APA/BCA, with their arbitrary numbers that designate how "good" a player is. SVB would be a "7" in BCA. Oh joy.
It is a failure of American pool culture, and that failure by and large comes from the roadblocks put in place that mandate that a high profit must be made in.. "whatever".
I am happy to hear about the structure of skillful activities in Germany, and other countries as well. It would be great to live in another country once I learn the language. Right now I am working on Portuguese. Maybe retirement in Brazil one day with good food and happy people.
Knockers are the lowest rung in the pool world
The pool world is a bit different than most social positions. This is weird for me to say but I agree, knocking action is every bit as bad as gaming.
I’m not normally one to get involved in these discussions. I’ve been playing and gambling, since the mid 70’s. Started playing in the late 60’s. I never want to knock anyone’s action, pool related or not. It’s uncomfortable for me to say but barring direct physical harm, don’t knock action.
I’ve had two interactions with Dechaine. Both were great. We talked, he was normal, and I was normal, as I can be. Seemed like a guy I could get along with. My interactions were limited and in no way encompass who he really is.
When it comes to American pool, woofing, hiding your speed and other somewhat dishonest actions, should be forgiven. I’m OK with Mike. Hope he is OK with me.
As I said, normally I don’t get involved in these threads. So, this is my only post. I apologize if I don’t reply later.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited:
Nobody gets hustled. If you want to gamble, losing is the cost of learning. You have to know your limitations and be able to read your opponent. Bottomline if you can't beat them, you are the sucker.
I always gave enough weight to keep people interested. Typically you have to play at least 3 sets to make decent money and you have to treat the customers right.
Yet more anti American gibberish.