A Pro Player opens his mouth......

[Timberly]

I wanted to say, "Yeah, because pro pool players as a whole are people to be looked up to? You mighta heard of a guy who went to prison in Cali because he was dealing drugs, and got caught with a bunch on him. Yeah, that's who I wanna go pay to watch. Furthermore, most are just problem gamblers who just happened to find one thing they can win at consistently once in a while."

The arrogance of this guy was amazing. Another few choice words I wanted to say were, "YOU picked your "profession", dude. When you started playing in what, the early 80's, did you somehow fool yourself into thinking you were gonna make a bunch of money at the game? .. <snip>... Now get out of my face and go run some racks for my entertainment. DANCE, monkey, DANCE!"

I have come more and more to dislike most of the really good players I've met, because generally, they are unpleasant people, and have been involved in many unpleasant things in their lives.

Furthermore.. What can I say? I am a very judgemental person. If you ever dealt drugs in your life, to me.. you are a scumbag for life. Same with beating a woman. Scumbag for life. There's a whole lot of things that in my book that will label you a scumbag for life. Unfortunately... In the pool sport/game, players are known for a host of them.

Hmm.. I think pool is "built" (sic) for people who like to gamble... That's why before the IPT, a lot of the pool pros were starting to play poker for a living.

And as far as me being competitive, I am quite competitive. I just happen to live a good life, as well. No felony convictions, no DUIs, etc....

I'll know he is easily the best player in the tournament, but he somehow seems to get put out after winning only 2 or 3 matches. He's just fishing for a lockup game, and if there was any player I'd love to trap after practicing on the downlow for a year or so, it would be him.

So it's ok for you to want to sneak up and hustle someone gambling? What about your wife, is it of for her to gamble too?

(Maybe the fact that I am in Iraq again because my wife gambled away the IRS money from my last trip has something to do with my attitude on problem gamblers. I use to think the idea of a gunslinger out there always lookng for action was romantic. I no longer do so.)

Since your wife is a problem gambler that lost all of your IRS money, is she an unforgivable scumbag for life too??

Nick Varner, from what I have heard on Accu-Stats, seems like my kinda pro, too. College educated (meaning he doesn't HAVE to play pool for a living, he just does), and didn't so much try to hustle people into playing, as he "walked into a pool hall, and PRAYED someone would play", as he put it.

I say again. Pool is a hobby, not a profession. If you are a "pro pool player" who is doing this because they have a love of the game, then let that love sustain you, as the love of science and thirst for achievement drove scientists over the centuries. At least their suffering was of some value to someone.

Damn, I AM opinionated today, aren't I?

I just honestly have never met a pool pro that I would want to be friends with.

Enter JAM's post....

From what I have read, Keith had it really rough growing up, and has been through some hard times on the way back to the top.

He does gamble, but as far as I know preety much everyone he ever played knew he could play from the get-go.

As far as I am concerned, Keith is a REAL pool player. He plays pool for a living, and that's it. I think that's all he ever really wanted

Now all of the sudden it's ok for people to live a less than perfect life if they had a rough growing up? Or is it only OK because JAM was here to question your above thoughts?

Nick Varner is only on your good side because he went to college and didn't "HAVE" to play pool. The others (except Keith of course) are not ok because they didn't go to college (FYI, more than just Varner went to college).

Since pool is a hobby its not ok to play pro pool as a profession expecting to get paid for it. (except Keith of course)

Do you see how you contradicted yourself before JAM's post and do you also see how you back peddled after JAM's post and said that it was pretty much ok for Keith to have done some of the things you said you disliked simply because he is a real pool player that plays pool for a living... just like all the other pool players you insulted. Since Keith picked his profession and it happens to be pool are you going to go up to him when you see him and say "dance monkey, dance!"?

While I'm at it, since Jake decided to make a post in favor of the pool players, I decided to make the most out of a boring Wed night in a small town....

Today...

I suspect that you just misunderstood his comment.

He is looking at his profession from a business standpoint and he is correct.
He actually is looking to the future. The future where his successors will prosper from the work the pros are doing now.

Every day prior to the above post...

You realize of course that you are talking about pool players.

So, without a doubt, there will be saves, splits and dumps.

Hell, they did it for $100, they will stumbling all over themselves for a part of 500K.

Jake

And I really don't buy the reason people didn't apply is because they didn't know about it. Pool players know everything. Just ask them.

Yeah, pool players are too stupid to understand something as complicated as the GLI. All they know is gimme the 7 for 50. Jake

The old image of the pool room was a place where out of work, shiftless, irresponsible people hung out.

Actually it is not much different now except that there is a lot more drug activity.

As far as getting pool rooms out of the slum I think pool rooms of today are far better than the pool rooms of yesteryear.

Steve I actually agree with you. I'll bet you find that hard to believe. But look at most of the pool pros and they all say they have been playing since they were 14. Sure, they dropped out of school and hustled all their lives. And have nothing between their ears. And no education to fall back on. And no job skills. But you do have that education and a fine job that most likely will repay you over the years. And the thought was running through my mind the other day thinking just what do pool players, or any sport jocks, actually do to contribute to society. Not much.

All kidding aside. I was speaking with tongue in cheek for a lot of the BS that I spouted. Of course I know that a lot of pool players don't have computers, or pots to pee in for that matter. All they have is their stick when it out of the pawn shop.

Pool players do not want to perform for an audiance, all they want to do is gamble.

And don't use the standard comeback that there is no money in pool and players have to gamble. That was before KT and the IPT.

Prostitutes have more business sense than pool players.

leave it to the pool players to muck things up.

 

[Russ Chewning]

So it's ok for you to want to sneak up and hustle someone gambling? What about your wife, is it of for her to gamble too?


Since your wife is a problem gambler that lost all of your IRS money, is she an unforgivable scumbag for life too??






Enter JAM's post....






Now all of the sudden it's ok for people to live a less than perfect life if they had a rough growing up? Or is it only OK because JAM was here to question your above thoughts?

Nick Varner is only on your good side because he went to college and didn't "HAVE" to play pool. The others (except Keith of course) are not ok because they didn't go to college (FYI, more than just Varner went to college).

Since pool is a hobby its not ok to play pro pool as a profession expecting to get paid for it. (except Keith of course)

Do you see how you contradicted yourself before JAM's post and do you also see how you back peddled after JAM's post and said that it was pretty much ok for Keith to have done some of the things you said you disliked simply because he is a real pool player that plays pool for a living... just like all the other pool players you insulted. Since Keith picked his profession and it happens to be pool are you going to go up to him when you see him and say "dance monkey, dance!"?

While I'm at it, since Jake decided to make a post in favor of the pool players, I decided to make the most out of a boring Wed night in a small town....

Today...


Every day prior to the above post...

My, My.. Who seems to have a lot of time looking up specific quotes?

I'll say it again, since you didn't hear it the first time. No "backpeddling" involved with Keith. I haven't heard a whole lot of bad things about Keith, honestly. Never heard of him dumping a backer, never heard of him selling drugs, never heard of him beating a woman, shall I go on?

I think you are very much aware of which type of pro I am aiming this whole diatribe at, but you choose to ignore that, because it's fun to to put a million quotes in a post and be a nit.

Russ C.

 

[Timberly]

My, My.. Who seems to have a lot of time looking up specific quotes?

I'll say it again, since you didn't hear it the first time. No "backpeddling" involved with Keith. I haven't heard a whole lot of bad things about Keith, honestly. Never heard of him dumping a backer, never heard of him selling drugs, never heard of him beating a woman, shall I go on?

I think you are very much aware of which type of pro I am aiming this whole diatribe at, but you choose to ignore that, because it's fun to to put a million quotes in a post and be a nit.

Russ C.

Go back and look at what YOU said. You didn't mention that your beef was with only one pro or only pro's that dump or just pro's that have been convicted of the things you say now. You lumped all the pros together for being nothing more than pro players. They're losers expecting to get paid for playing a hobby.

That particular pro just hit a nerve and brought up all these horrible feelings you have against almost every pro player... you've yet to meet one you would want to be friends with, remember?

 

[Timberly]

it's fun to to put a million quotes in a post and be a nit.

Russ C.

One of your issues is gamblers... problem gamblers... now you have an issue with nits too? Which is it?

 

[Blackjack]

Timberly,
All day long I have been shooting balls and telling myself... "Dance Monkey,Dance!"

 

[Rodney]

I think the title of this thread should be changed to "Russ Chewning opened his mouth......"

 

[Russ Chewning]

Okay.. Okay.. You said I never specified which pros I was referring, I do think I corrected myself.

I'm done defending my views. Lemme just ask this.... I'd like to take part in other, less controversial threads. Am I welcome here or not?

Russ C.

 

[Timberly]

Okay.. Okay.. You said I never specified which pros I was referring, I do think I corrected myself.

I'm done defending my views. Lemme just ask this.... I'd like to take part in other, less controversial threads. Am I welcome here or not?

Russ C.

The only people here that can tell you if you're welcome here or not is Mike and Dave.

Speaking for myself and prior experience of watching others that came on here and insulted pro players right off the bat (many post/lurk here and many here are personal friends with pros also) You've got a tough road ahead of you. Everything you say will be scruitinized and the first time you make a single post in a controversial thread, whether your actual post is controversial or not, people will pounce.

Tread lightly....

 

[sjm]

Okay.. Okay.. You said I never specified which pros I was referring, I do think I corrected myself.

I'm done defending my views. Lemme just ask this.... I'd like to take part in other, less controversial threads. Am I welcome here or not?

Russ C.

You are welcome here. As you've seen, indfensible generalizations can sometimes land you in hot water on the forum, but I'm sure you'll learn from the experience.

 

[NYC cue dude]

Sorry, russ, your out of line here. Yeah, some players have done some bad things, even really bad things, but are they bad people? I'm not convinced. I know MANY pros, and have been around this game for MANY MANY years. I have seen the worst of the worst. I have sen a guy dump his brother. I know one who went to prison for drugs, WITH his father. The list is unfortunately long. But for every bad deed, there are ten that go unsung. There are players that work hard, earn a living and send most of there money to their families. I know one who has just started making money, and he wants to start a foundation for underpriveledged kids.

Russ, are all muslims bad? How about blacks. Is there a chance that the wife beater had never been in legal trouble before, came home and his wife told him she was sleeping with the plumber? were you there? I wouldn't make a judgement. We all know a man can get hit, defend himself, and the woman calls the cops. The man is always arrested. Is he a wife beater?

You have a lot to reconsider here russ.

Are you so sure the ipt will fail? You sound like you want it to. Has every business/sports franchise been profitablefrom day one? You make it sound like the players don't deserve chance.

Players are just exploiting what they do best. Aren't you. Your over in iraq, getting paid to support the cause of war. Your abilities are in demand now. It might notalways be like that. Your grateful for the opportunity while it lasts, just like the players with the ipt.

Are you better than everyone else russ? I don't think so, on any level.

How about this. I am younger than you. Way richer than you will/can ever be. I live the good life russ, does that make me better than you? How about if i tell you i was also mixed up in drugs when i was 18 (40 now)? Does that make me a scumbag? What if i tell you i give more a year to charity than you make, am i good a again? It wouldn't suprise me to learn that your in iraq servicing some of MY generators. You know the ones, by powersystems?

Just live and let live, russ. I try to. I give heed to the informed. I pay little attention to those with opinions with no experience behind them. Somewhere there is a middle ground in life and that we can all be succesful in our own way as long as we all remain "teachable".

I have met presidents, mayors, governors, lawyers, doctors, the very powerful, the very rich, and the very famous. You know what? The best all around person I have ever met is a pool player, Thorsten Hohmann. Enough said.

 

[jjinfla]

Hey Russ,

You have just as much right here as anyone else. Probably more since you generated a lot of thought with this thread. I am sure Mike likes all the hits this site gets.

I just come here to kill time and to stir the pot every now and again. I take no one seriously. Well, practically no one. If someone quits posting, so what. If someone takes the eternal dirt nap, so what. There will be dozens to take his/her place.

I only have one buddy here who I really believe in. The great, all knowing, all powerful, Kevin Trudeau. Did you know that he wrote another book? I hear it is going to be a lot better than the last one. In this one he tells just what food will cure what ailments. At least I think it does.

One thing about getting old is that most of your good buddies and friends, that you have met over the years have died. Replacing them is not easy.

Hey Timberly, didn't your mama ever tell you that you will be judged by your friends?

Jake

 

[ironman]

Okay.. Okay.. You said I never specified which pros I was referring, I do think I corrected myself.

I'm done defending my views. Lemme just ask this.... I'd like to take part in other, less controversial threads. Am I welcome here or not?

Russ C.

Sure, take a shot, you only have one direction to go.

 

[Blackjack]

Okay.. Okay.. You said I never specified which pros I was referring, I do think I corrected myself.

I'm done defending my views. Lemme just ask this.... I'd like to take part in other, less controversial threads. Am I welcome here or not?

Russ C.

Nobody is saying that you shouldn't post here. I'm sure that you have a lot to add to this forum. You just need to understand that if you call pro players scumbags and dancing monkeys that you might get a little heat - especially from pro players and those closest to them.

(For those keeping score, I have finally hit 1000 posts with this entry! It only took 3 and a half years - lol)

 

[Southpaw]

Russ.....lets be honest. Maybe you are a little jealuous of people who make their living playing sports. I do not agree with what the pro said, because I think personally the fact that anyone can walk into a poolroom and talk to a professional pool player makes the game even that more special. Thats something you cant do in any other sport. And I'm sure by other people's standards, you have habits that could be considered to cause you to be a scumbag in their eyes. I know plenty of reputable pool players and thats why I will be the first to call someone out if they cross the line to being non-reputable. I did not see if you answered whether or not you were fighting in Iraq, but if you are, Thank you and come home safe.

Southpaw

 

[uwate]

Russ Chewning a.k.a. Pogue....i remember you from RSB. You were a loudmouth idiot back then and you are now.

http://groups.google.com/group/rec....59?tvc=1&q=david+uwate&hl=en#d2443a58843f5059

Your dance monkey dance comment really is uncalled for, especially since thats how you REALLY felt.

 

[DaveK]

Back to one original concept, that pool pro's are too accessible, I agree. It is a great thing for us pool fanatics to have access to these folks at the local pool hall, but this familiarity does diminish their value. With scarcity comes value. It will come if the better pro pool players start making a good income on tour such that they do not have to enter lesser tournaments or gamble in local pool halls. Once the top pro's reach this level, then the only way to see them live will be to pay for a ticket or see them on TV. Until then, rejoice that you can see them around, cause after that Willie will have to buy 50,000 tickets at $1 apiece to get his chance to play with Efren again.

People paid ~$15K to CADDY for a pro at the recent Telus Skins Game (Jack, Sergio, John Daly, Greg Norman, Stephen Ames). You want to play with them ? That's more like $50K ! Why ? Because they are famous, and you can't just hang around the first tee at your local club and join in when they show up.

Dave

 

[coolpoolfool]

Wow, I for one am glad that some of the pros are accessible. I think it's great and the ones I have either met or talked to online have went out of their way to be nice to me: Mike Davis, Shannon Daulton, Sarah Rousey, and Blackjack. It's their very accessibility that fuels my passion for the game!

Pros I'd love to meet: Efren, Allison, Sarah, Blackjack, Jasmine, Johnny, Rodney, the list goes on and on...

 

[Koop]

Wow, I for one am glad that some of the pros are accessible. I think it's great and the ones I have either met or talked to online have went out of their way to be nice to me: Mike Davis, Shannon Daulton, Sarah Rousey, and Blackjack. It's their very accessibility that fuels my passion for the game!

Pros I'd love to meet: Efren, Allison, Sarah, Blackjack, Jasmine, Johnny, Rodney, the list goes on and on...

Nothing wrong with your list but the three names you should, by all means, try to meet and speak with are Mike Zuglan, Tony Robles, and Ralf Souquet. All 3 are complete class acts.

 

[Russ Chewning]

Russ Chewning a.k.a. Pogue....i remember you from RSB. You were a loudmouth idiot back then and you are now.

http://groups.google.com/group/rec....59?tvc=1&q=david+uwate&hl=en#d2443a58843f5059

I guess if I felt so inclined, I could put "uwate" into google, and possibly find something controversial you might have said said 4 or 5 years ago.

Nah. I'm not motivated enough.

Plus, I still believe a lot of what I said in that thread. If Accustats doesn't want to lay out the money for high tech DVD authoring, then they should buy a $300.00 higher end VHS to DVD copier from Best Buy in order to give customers what they want: A fairly inexpensive way to get pool matches on DVD. With a machine for doing their own labels, they can make a huge profit off selling inexpensive copies of older pool matches. I don't think a lot of us care whether the video is grainy or not.

Accustats has told a lot of people that certain matches are out of print, and that's just a shame. I understand Pat wants to make a high quality product, but when the original footage was not all that great, there is only so much you can do. If Accustats maybe gives people the option to buy a DVD copy in a lower quality format, i.e. without DVD chapters, etc, I think they would be able to make much better profit margins.

I am, however, very much a fan of businesses giving customers what they want.. To be still selling only VHS in the year 2002 was just silly. I hadn't bought a VHS tape other than Accustats in about 5 years at that point.

Russ C.

 

[uwate]

I like how you called me out back then as "running my mouth without doing my research" when in fact that is exactly what you were doing.