Try to play players who are better than you, but not a lot better than you. If you play players who are a lot better than you, you're just paying to watch them play.
Also, when you lose just be honest and tell yourself, "He beat me. Straight up. Pay him. Pay that man his money."
I think she was just trying to be friendly and respectful, but trying to hug Earl after you beat him in a pool match is like trying to hug a lion after you stomp on its tail.
I was fortunate enough to get to play both Tony and Ginky. I played Ginky a bunch of times at Amsterdam Billiards in NYC. Tony showed me how to jump over a ball using just the shaft, but I couldn't do it. They were both great guys and great players.