Where are you located?
A Mongrel Horde of NITS
- Thread starter ExilePreacher
- Start date
Where are you located?
All you gotta do is ask!! Just got back from First Break. I can't believe how dead that place is now for serious players.
In your opening remarks you say you don't care about the amount of the bet and will even play for fun. But then you criticize the "nits" who want to play cheap. So which is it, fun or money?
When I got back into playing years ago after a long layoff, I was ready to play for fun or money, just to play pool. I would play just as hard for $2 a game as I would for $100. I just wanted to play my best and win. Of course by then I didn't really need the money as much as when I was younger.
That was a period in my life where I truly enjoyed playing pool, ready to take on all comers and bet small or big. I was just a shortstop too, but it took a good player to beat me back then and I liked the challenge of playing someone good. I NEVER asked for a spot, I just got up there and played. If I got beat for $200 at forty a game I would shake his hand and say thanks for the game. I did beat a few good players at Banks. I probably played two speeds above my One Pocket game back then.
I didn't let it bother me if a guy was a nit. I tried to make a game with him anyway, one he felt comfortable with. You get more games with honey than vinegar. I would find a way to sweet talk them to play me, even if it was $5 Eight Ball. I just wanted to play back then. I wasn't trying to make a living any more playing pool, just play and have fun. Kind of Filipino style, they love to play! And so do I.
To this day I will take on a tough game just to be in action. I rarely go to the poolroom anymore but if I do I usually play someone for $25-50 a game. And believe it or not, I have a losing record these last few years. But like I said if I can play a good player and only lose a small amount, that's my entertainment. I'm not even a shortstop anymore except maybe at Banks and a lot of guys can beat me at that game too.
I've played several members of AZ Billiards at my home and at tournaments, and have lost more than I won, but I still love to play. But hey that's me and you're you, so good luck with the nits! :thumbup:
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The forum is always a better place when you have time to post here... :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
Do you feel better now you have that off your chest?
The worlds full of them, always has been.
Don't let it get you down.
Great lengthy rant. I enjoyed it. We all know guys like that. What I don't understand is how these guys think they will get better if they don't play better players. Make an affordable wager and if you lose chalk it up to the cost of a lesson. If you have been observant during the game you will come away learning something by playing the better player and that, my friend, is money in YOUR pocket. The key phrase in the wager is affordable.
Jay,
First off I've always admired you and have nothing but the utmost respect for you. Thanks for all you've done over the years for the game. And Renfro is right, the forum is much better when you're around.
I'm no writer so I'm not always clear. For that I apologize. I tried not to make that post too long and therefore it wasn't detailed enough. I left some stuff out that may have prevented confusion.
Nah, the money ain't really an issue at all. The issue is really a matter of WHO and HOW rather than HOW MUCH.
As I said in my first post I'd just as soon play for fun or teach newbies for table time or two bucks a game giving a huge spot or if they ain't got no money I'll do it for free. There's an old war horse who used to be a good player in our area. He can't even bend over the table any more and he's damn near blind but he still loves to play. He seems helpless to young hotshots but he still robs them. I could watch that for hours and often do. This old fart couldn't compete with me under any normal circumstances and I'll give him the world just to see if I can do it. We usually break even and I've never taken a dime from him. He's on a fixed income, got health problems and can't play for more than $2 a game but I'll do it and never think about it because he's priceless to me. For two a game I just let loose and fire at stuff I'd usually play safe with and he loves it. It reminds him of better days and frankly he'd pay me to watch me shoot. And I don't mind the occasional $10 I lose to him to entertain and hear his banter and stories and jokes. If I had to I would lose more. So money is NOT the issue.
These individuals I'm ranting about just have a certain WAY of doing things that's just gotten on my last nerve. They come in with a swagger that doesn't match their game. They challenge social players who don't even know how to make a bridge and shark them to death just to get them to play. But if someone who can make three balls in a row shows up they either run scared or start in on them for weight.
One of my examples was the guy robbing my C- friend. This kid hasn't been playing a year. But he will play me for money and I ain't the one asking. I'd play him for fun but he wants the pressure. He just wants to play for a little, just enough. Usually I give him the 6 out and the break in 10 ball, teach as we go and at the most he pays my tab. He's got character, heart, and some natural talent. He has the right, IMO, to ask for whatever he wants.
But the NIT who robbed him was just hustling someone that he knew didn't have a chance. When I showed up and started explaining it to my friend I told him to get a spot. He tried. The guy wouldn't even consider it. The guy just wanted to up the bet and rob him some more. But when I stepped up and said I'd play him for $20 (the same amount he was trying to get from my friend) he starts begging for the 7 and break. This guy didn't know me. His excuse was that if I'm willing to say $20 a game I must be too good for him but he was doing the same thing to a kid who can't play, no spot of any kind was even a consideration. He won't play me without the spot, no way!!! When I finally say ok, get out the quarter and say call it, he backs out and says he will call someone to play me. Frankly, calling someone for $20 seems ridiculous to me. Had I said a thousand I could understand but $20? Really?
I think the other example that confused was the whiner. A little history here might help. This guy has burned himself with almost every player in the area with similar antics. He's a good player. He is always a run out threat. He is capable of stringing racks. He's no weak player needing a ton of weight to make a fair game. He usually comes in our room extremely late. He's young, he can take the late night stuff. I usually want to go home by the time he comes around and always let someone else play him. But he burned everyone in some way and finally I play him. I grew up playing straight pool and when I'm tired I prefer eight ball. So the first time we played eight ball even and he lost the set by one stinking game yet started in on me about weight. He quits. I told him before we started that we could adjust after a couple sets but I don't even get the chance to offer him the break or games on the wire or anything for a second set because he just whines and leaves in a huff.
So this last encounter I had with him had that context. He barks for action, gets some weight, and then pulls even more crap. He wants to play long sets for $200. I'm tired and really just want to go home but since I believe in giving a guy a chance to get his previous losses back I still play. But I don't want to get into a long set with a guy who's very likely to take me hill-hill. So I say play by the game for basically the same amount overall. He comes back with $2 a game. I'm sorry but that's insulting. Finally he agrees to $10 a game. So that's what I meant by "enough to lose sleep and play".
Either way I did not mean to give the impression that it's the amount that I'm complaining about. If any of these guys or anyone else wants to play cheap that's fine. I just can't stand braying like a jackass and then proving you're are indeed one by your actions.
Ron Swanson
Banned
In NPR, obviously.
The 'art' of matching-up is mostly gone from pool.
Gambling or hustlin was a big part of the game.
You're lucky to have people asking you to play at all.
As BB said, not many players looking to gamble around our way.
I love when someone asks me to play. I now have an edge in making a game.
Soo, they are trying to get the best of it ( thats what they are supposed to do ).
Its your job to 'manage' them into thinking they have the best of it.
Gambling or hustlin pool is about people management....if you want to win.
Smile, tell'em how good they play, that you might need the spot...not them.
You're making the matching up process adversarial instead of 'friendly'.
I love the process. Its a battle of wits, not nits.
It can take minutes, hours, days, weeks,etc. If you dont like it, play for fun.
Im still trying to get BB to give up the hand-span. Its only been 20+ years....still going.
Good luck
Gambling or hustlin was a big part of the game.
You're lucky to have people asking you to play at all.
As BB said, not many players looking to gamble around our way.
I love when someone asks me to play. I now have an edge in making a game.
Soo, they are trying to get the best of it ( thats what they are supposed to do ).
Its your job to 'manage' them into thinking they have the best of it.
Gambling or hustlin pool is about people management....if you want to win.
Smile, tell'em how good they play, that you might need the spot...not them.
You're making the matching up process adversarial instead of 'friendly'.
I love the process. Its a battle of wits, not nits.
It can take minutes, hours, days, weeks,etc. If you dont like it, play for fun.
Im still trying to get BB to give up the hand-span. Its only been 20+ years....still going.
Good luck
It doesn't in my book. Not at all.
I think you misread the rant.
I've been playing for thirty years. I played in local money games and tourneys when I was eleven. Matching up ain't a problem for me and I don't need education on the topic. The trouble these types of guys don't want to match up. They walk up to a complete stranger, bark for a game, get one, and then ask for weight. They don't even usually ask for anything specific (though some do and it's usually something stupid). They ordinarily just ask, "What'll you gimme?" When they're offered the eight or last two etc. they run away and go to some other guy and do the same.
I do get what you're saying though about making them think they're getting the nuts. I recently played a pool room regular who kept at me so I gave him a 7-3 set of eight ball and let him break and take BIH whether he made a ball or not. He thought that was the world but in reality it was to my advantage. He can't usually run out so it was merely getting crap out of my way. He wised up to it and then I gave him the 4 and break in 9-ball. Same thing really. He rarely got out to the four so it was like playing with just the break.
That was hustling I admit and I ain't got no problem with folks hustling. I've done my fair share so it'd be hypocritical to object. However, I think much of what you're describing assumes at least some amount of rapport among players. In that case it's golden.
At the pool hall I played at during graduate school, there was a player named Oren (no last name, please) who had been given the nickname "Streptocarpus" by the manager because Oren had a heart the size of a streptocarpus seed. Here's what a bunch of seeds look like (from wikipedia):
Anyway, Oren and I played about even, but he was never willing to play. Finally out of boredom I offered to spot him the safe 8 or some such for $5 a game. Oren agreed to play! Excitement in the pool hall! We got a table and I flipped for the first break, and Oren won the toss. Streptocarpus then quit before the first break.
Anyway, Oren and I played about even, but he was never willing to play. Finally out of boredom I offered to spot him the safe 8 or some such for $5 a game. Oren agreed to play! Excitement in the pool hall! We got a table and I flipped for the first break, and Oren won the toss. Streptocarpus then quit before the first break.
After the battle you gave me last time?! Seriously? Like I am gonna go looking for that kinda struggle!:grin-square:
You got the hand span...but I don't play for money anymore.
I quit as I was typing this response.
I quit as I was typing this response.
2strong4u
Banned
The real scores are the problem gamblers who just can't quit because they know they are supposed to win. Playing the lemon a little or just having that higher gear available is what wins me a lot. Just the other day I played a guy for about 6 hours. He was up 3 sets for 150. I wasn't shooting my best and wasn't really laying down. I knew it I wanted to go home winner and not wake up with that sick feeling in my gut I had to step up. I asked to raise bet to 100 a set. Then I won the next 5. By the last 3 sets I was not missing anything. Running around the table. Ending up 350 winner. For me I hate losing even more than I love winning.
I read this in Peter Griffin's voice and thoroughly enjoyed it.
That's funny right there I don't care who you are! However, I want everyone to know for certain that unlike Griffin I DO NOT look like I have a pair of testicles for a chin.