boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
I'm a good sportsman, I treat everyone with respect and I just have fun playing pool. I'll cheer on their good shots, good leaves, lucky rolls etc (not out loud or anything, just in my own head). I might tell them what an awesome shot they made after the game. I genuinely enjoy seeing pool played and good or interesting shots being made. And look forward to shaking their hands and saying good game if I win or lose. I thank my competition because without them, the game is a lot less interesting. I enjoy seeing them smile from a particularly good shot or lucky series of events.
I've been thinking lately about some experiences I've had with people trying to shark me, cheating, being downright shady, changing rules after the game starts, being poor sportsman etc.
If I'm playing normally, I just play without too much strategy or worrying about my opponent. I play my best but I don't really worry about where their balls are too much. If I play against someone doing the stuff in the previous paragraph, I turn into a monster. I just try to absolutely suffocate them on the table. I'm not like this normally in anything in life, but once someone starts trying some shady stuff, badmouthing, talking crap, trying to act like a hot shot, it's like I smell blood in the water and it's on.
I'm not normally the best player or anything, but once this starts, I'll just make absolutely sure they can't win. I can instantly understand their weaknesses, how to cut off any routes to pocketing balls. I'll re-arrange their balls into horrible clusters, bunt my balls in front of their only open pocket, leave them traps to scratch, leave them easy shots with no chance of a follow up, knock their balls in "accidentally" after pocketing my own ball, etc. It's just an absolute suffocating style of play. I'll make sure they can't win and use any legal means on the table to do so. I want to see the hubris leave their body and their eyes just dim. It sounds silly and probably borderline psychotic but I want to drop a lesson on them and maybe feed them a bit of humble pie. My hope it will teach them a lesson about being poor sports and knock their cockiness down a notch or two.
So what is this? Is this the winning mindset? Petty spitefulness? I'm honestly not sure, but what is this mind state even called? Once I'm in it, it's similar to being in the zone, but in an entirely different manner. It's basically how can I make the entire table a "bad roll" for them. I honestly don't like myself like this, but against some cheating ass poor sport, I just get in this state. I'm never like this to good sports or random people but if someone pushes the right buttons, they aren't going to enjoy their time at the table. I'll still be a good sport and play fairly and not talk trash or anything, but just pull away any hope of them winning and let them stew about their "bad luck" for the whole time. The last shot I shoot just might rocket into the pocket at 100mph for the really egregious offenders.
I was just free wheeling and playing for fun at a local bar and some dude beat me and started just being cocky as hell and talking crap. I made him look like he never picked up a stick before in our subsequent games. I've noticed it's easier to get into this state if a player is much better than me, but the main key is they have to be a poor sport, super cocky, cheating, trying to shark me, etc. I can shut off my senses to the point that no sharking can work but it just motivates me to figuratively choke the life out of them on the table.
Do you guys have any similar experiences or stories? How do you deal with poor sports? Let's hear some times you remember smelling blood in the water!:grin:
I've been thinking lately about some experiences I've had with people trying to shark me, cheating, being downright shady, changing rules after the game starts, being poor sportsman etc.
If I'm playing normally, I just play without too much strategy or worrying about my opponent. I play my best but I don't really worry about where their balls are too much. If I play against someone doing the stuff in the previous paragraph, I turn into a monster. I just try to absolutely suffocate them on the table. I'm not like this normally in anything in life, but once someone starts trying some shady stuff, badmouthing, talking crap, trying to act like a hot shot, it's like I smell blood in the water and it's on.
I'm not normally the best player or anything, but once this starts, I'll just make absolutely sure they can't win. I can instantly understand their weaknesses, how to cut off any routes to pocketing balls. I'll re-arrange their balls into horrible clusters, bunt my balls in front of their only open pocket, leave them traps to scratch, leave them easy shots with no chance of a follow up, knock their balls in "accidentally" after pocketing my own ball, etc. It's just an absolute suffocating style of play. I'll make sure they can't win and use any legal means on the table to do so. I want to see the hubris leave their body and their eyes just dim. It sounds silly and probably borderline psychotic but I want to drop a lesson on them and maybe feed them a bit of humble pie. My hope it will teach them a lesson about being poor sports and knock their cockiness down a notch or two.
So what is this? Is this the winning mindset? Petty spitefulness? I'm honestly not sure, but what is this mind state even called? Once I'm in it, it's similar to being in the zone, but in an entirely different manner. It's basically how can I make the entire table a "bad roll" for them. I honestly don't like myself like this, but against some cheating ass poor sport, I just get in this state. I'm never like this to good sports or random people but if someone pushes the right buttons, they aren't going to enjoy their time at the table. I'll still be a good sport and play fairly and not talk trash or anything, but just pull away any hope of them winning and let them stew about their "bad luck" for the whole time. The last shot I shoot just might rocket into the pocket at 100mph for the really egregious offenders.
I was just free wheeling and playing for fun at a local bar and some dude beat me and started just being cocky as hell and talking crap. I made him look like he never picked up a stick before in our subsequent games. I've noticed it's easier to get into this state if a player is much better than me, but the main key is they have to be a poor sport, super cocky, cheating, trying to shark me, etc. I can shut off my senses to the point that no sharking can work but it just motivates me to figuratively choke the life out of them on the table.
Do you guys have any similar experiences or stories? How do you deal with poor sports? Let's hear some times you remember smelling blood in the water!:grin: