“I beat myself…”

easy-e said:
Heard a guy talking about his performance in a recent tournament. He said “I beat myself, he didn’t beat me.” I’m starting to really dislike that phrase. Just give the other guy a little credit. Next time I hear this guy talk about a match or tournament he wins I’m going to correct him, “you didn’t win, your opponent lost”.

Any other phrases out there that are getting old to you?
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Not pool, but was shooting for the finals in a state dart tournament. I end up winning, start tearing up, hugging friends, etc. and the person I played said "if there wasn't so long of a wait between matches, I'd have beaten you."

I hear that excuse a lot in pool and other sports. Waiting time in between matches.
 
u12armresl said:
Not pool, but was shooting for the finals in a state dart tournament. I end up winning, start tearing up, hugging friends, etc. and the person I played said "if there wasn't so long of a wait between matches, I'd have beaten you."

I hear that excuse a lot in pool and other sports. Waiting time in between matches.
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I wouldn’t have had to wait so long to beat your crying ass….
 
I always congratulate my opponent and compliment them a bit extravagantly. The less they deserve it, the more effusive the congratulations are likely to be! Friends get a firm handshake and congratulations, usually brief and sincere.

I was primarily a gambler so people telling me I was lucky or got all the rolls suited me fine, I often tried to claim the same. I heard how lucky I was a lot and always agreed. People that thought I outclassed them wouldn't be back. People who thought I was lucky might become a regular customer.

True asses or people I really dislike will get a brief comment congratulating them from across the table. If they want an after match handshake they will have to come to me although I usually think it is the loser's place to go to the winner.

Being a racer I often used the same comment when I crashed or did something that took myself out of contention in other forms of competition, "I crashed and burned." That was reserved for comments to friends though.

Generally I give my competition more credit than they deserve in public, I'm honest with myself in private. Rating my performance accurately tells me what I need to do if anything.

I suppose that the comments that irk me are about a player getting bad rolls after their inning has started. They didn't really get a bad roll when the other player shot and they certainly didn't get one when they shot. The balls moved in exactly the manner the shooter's efforts ordained.

Hu
 
Tin Man said:
I like it when an opponent makes an error near the finish of a rack or match and says "I was supposed to win that game/set".

If it's someone I don't know I say nothing, but when it's a friend or student I'll push back a little bit. I'll say "So you were supposed to win because you weren't supposed to miss the 8 ball, is that right?" Right. So then I'll say "What about the 3 ball I missed earlier this rack. Had I made that and run out you wouldn't have had a shot at the 8 ball in the first place. Wasn't I supposed to make my 3 ball?" They might hesitate.

So I boil it down to this: "It seems like what you're saying is that if I had made all of the mistakes I made that set, and you didn't make all of the mistakes you made that set, you would have beat me. Well, you are absolutely right about that. Great point. Where I come from there is only one response to this: If my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle."
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I'm not sure we can use that phrase anymore though! Lol!
 
I've openly admitted that my win was luck. After I scratched sinking the 8 ball, my opponent didn't enjoy winning that way, I told her I had to take the tricky shot because I didn't want to let her back at the table.

Of an opponent tells me I got lucky, I tell them they were lucky I let them shoot.
 
u12armresl said:
Not pool, but was shooting for the finals in a state dart tournament. I end up winning, start tearing up, hugging friends, etc. and the person I played said "if there wasn't so long of a wait between matches, I'd have beaten you."

I hear that excuse a lot in pool and other sports. Waiting time in between matches.
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Response: "Interestingly enough, I was thinking that If there hadn't been such a long wait, I would have beaten you much worse. I really couldn't throw a dart during our match. I played terrible."
 
It's not super constructive. It might be ok to acknowledge that your mistakes cost you to someone else or yourself, but it's low class to tell it to your opponent, or use it as a way to diminish their win.
Better to focus on what you need to do to play better, and not dwell on the negative.
 
easy-e said:
Heard a guy talking about his performance in a recent tournament. He said “I beat myself, he didn’t beat me.” I’m starting to really dislike that phrase. Just give the other guy a little credit. Next time I hear this guy talk about a match or tournament he wins I’m going to correct him, “you didn’t win, your opponent lost”.

Any other phrases out there that are getting old to you?
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I don’t care, after a guy sells out the game or match

A losers calling card

Of course you care you dipshit or you wouldn’t have a cue case or be playing in a league or a tournament
 
Biloxi Boy said:
"What about so and so?" ... accept responsibility for their own failures or misdeeds. ...
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My own such "What about them?" moment was a few years ago. I turned left into the small street where the Wendy's was on the corner. I had made the same turn many times before and did it safely. I looked up and saw the "DO NOT ENTER" sign -- brand new and shiny and red. I looked a little farther and saw the motorcycle cop. I pulled over and he started writing the ticket. While he was doing that, over six people made the same illegal left turn to get into the Wendy's parking lot and the cop ignored them. I was thinking, "What about them?" but I said nothing. The cops in that town are not known for their kind and understanding outlook. They have since returned the first 50 feet of that street to two-way, so the left turn is again legal.

Why me, Lord?
 
I also prefer to say, "Play well," at the start of a match. I do hope my opponent plays well enough to test me.

I don't apologize for getting lucky, but I might shake my head or shrug. A multi-time world champion I talked to apologizes with a raised hand but only because it's expected -- he's not sorry at all about getting his share of the good rolls. It's part of the game.
 
7stud said:
Response: "Interestingly enough, I was thinking that If there hadn't been such a long wait, I would have beaten you much worse. I really couldn't throw a dart during our match. I played terrible."
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I was just happy to win my first and only state title.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I also prefer to say, "Play well," at the start of a match. I do hope my opponent plays well enough to test me.

I don't apologize for getting lucky, but I might shake my head or shrug. A multi-time world champion I talked to apologizes with a raised hand but only because it's expected -- he's not sorry at all about getting his share of the good rolls. It's part of the game.
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I agree about the luck part
I never apologize either, i laugh, when either I or the other guy gets a crazy roll , cause it’s usually something you’d never think or seen
 
I was playing a qualifier worth $2K each to two people for a HUGE 600 and under tourney coming up in Florida and was hill-hill with a guy who broke and scratched and left the 1-9 hanging. I made the combo and told him I was sorry, and his instant reaction was: "Why are you sorry?". Made me think it's probably not a great thing to say...
 
easy-e said:
Heard a guy talking about his performance in a recent tournament. He said “I beat myself, he didn’t beat me.” I’m starting to really dislike that phrase. Just give the other guy a little credit. Next time I hear this guy talk about a match or tournament he wins I’m going to correct him, “you didn’t win, your opponent lost”.

Any other phrases out there that are getting old to you?
Click to expand...
Not necessarily phrases, but I hate playing with a couple of friends who either;
A) meticulously discuss what they are thinking/coach themselves out-loud and waste a bunch of time
B) describe what they "meant to do" when they miss and leave the table open
C) Talk through how accidental safety after a miss was intentional
D) Coach or tell you what they would do (although fine if you're playing with a friend and actually ask)

All of the above grate on me enormously.

These are all scenarios that I find barely acceptable in a friendly game (but you're playing friends to relax, and they are, after all, friends...) If someone did any of the above to me in legitimate matchplay, I'd tell them where to stick it.

In fact, occasionally hand raises, token gestures are fine by me. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut altogether during match play. There are very few instances where I would find it ok to do anything other than think about and play the shot.

After the game, congratulate the winner, or don't. But making excuses or trying to put some cotton wool around your own ego with comments like “I beat myself, he didn’t beat me.” is utter BS. Just shows a weak mindset imo.
 
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Cue Alchemist said:
That phrase, ''i beat myself'' i don't like, I'd rather be honest, and say to my opponent if we have a chat after. I wasn't good enough. And all the best for your next one. No point moaning about it. Its done, its gone. Move on, In those double elimination tourneys, you got to forget, pretty quick.
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Bravo! Your philosophy reminds me of Jeanette Lee, who would regularly say "I wasn't good enough" after a loss. Holding yourself accountable for your results can help strengthen both your resolve and your mental game. Living in denial can do exactly the opposite.
 
skogstokig said:
why talk at all after a match. completely pointless. if i lose i'm difficult to talk to for hours, if i win i see no reason to talk to the opponent either.
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Because I enjoy the game, and often enjoy the people that play it. It's called having fun. :ROFLMAO:
I save being quiet and serious for when I'm actually playing.
 
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