A question on pool etiquette !

John Biddle said:
Calm down, guys, you're over-reacting. This display of emotion was for a match victory. Are winners not allowed to celebrate? Would this same celebration not happen in every sport you know of?

I think there is a big difference between celebrating the mistakes/misfortunes of others, and celebrating a victory. Had this clapping and hooting/hollering accompanied a scratch earlier in the match, I'd agree with the nearly unanimous sentiment on this thread that the guy and his teammates were way out of line.

But this wasn't in the middle of the match, it was at the very end, and as painful as it must have been to endure, the OP should have just congratulated the winner and held his head up high.
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The thing is (for me) when someone wins becuase sof that it isn't that they beat the player, but are taking the cred for it.

In MA tournaments, I have seen someone run into a punch, the other fighter get disqualified, and the one that got hit brag about their trophy.

To me these are similar things. So to rejoyce in something like that is iof bad form. I would be more inclinded to say I was sorry for that out come, and praise the shot (even if I didn't think it was a great shot), that's sportmanship in my opinion...

Pete
 
What do the winners do when the opposing team:

Misses the tying or winning field goal (football, soccer or basketball)?
Misses the game winning home run by just inches as the fielder catches it?
Misses the tying or winning putt from 10 feet as the golf ball lips the cup?


it's a game.. .there are winners and losers. Which one are you?
 
Pete said:
The thing is (for me) when someone wins becuase of that it isn't that they beat the player, but are taking the cred for it.
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Exactly. On the book it was a win for him and a loss for me - even though he won from the chair. And in my case the kid (and his father) were indeed taking credit for the win. It sucks to make the 8 on the break and scratch, but such is life. But it should have been a non-issue though because I somehow allowed him another win earlier in the match. And that's nobody's fault but mine.
 
houmatroy said:
I havn't played league for bout 6 years but just joined back on a friend of mines team...Well i'm playing this guy who is a 5 & I am a 7...I win the 1st 4 games then he wins 2...I try to buckle down cuz i felt my concentration slipping...Well i cinch my last ball in the side and left a back cut on the 8 in the corner....I make the shot but do the dreaded scratch 2 rail in the bottom corner....my opponent starts high fiving his teammates and cheering..I kinda got a lil upset & told him a lil about himself...If he would have run out....made a great shot...or anything like that I would have congradulated him too..But for him to hoop it up on my misfortune...well i just thought it showed a lil lack of class in which I told him so...Just wanted a few others opinions on the matter...I know I should have just bit my tongue but my personality just won't let me do such a thing..lol..would be great to know how other players would handle the same situation.
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Should have offered him the 6 and played him some 9 ball. League sucks
 
I would never whoop or cheer on a scratch by an opponent, I thinks it's a little crass. But I understand that in the case the OP describes, the scratch resulted in the loss of the match.

Now we don't know all the details, but in this match the lower skilled player had started to come back from what appeared to be a devastating loss. He wins a couple, raising his hopes of squeezing out a victory. Then he loses, then looks to be totaly done with the opponent making the 8 Ball. Then, at the last second, the cue ball unexpectedly goes too far and scratches, and he wins the hill/hill game. Lots of guys ia a league are going to be whooping and pumping their fist or cheering or otherwise expressing their exultation at winning a tough match against a tough opponent.

You could imagine rearranging the games within the match so that the scratch happened in an earlier game. Every shot the same, just different game order. Now the cheering by the victor at the victory point is acceptable?

Just to salve the feelings of the losing player the victors should keep their mouths shut, stifle their enthusiasm, and enjoy their victory silently? Next you'll want them to wipe the smiles off their faces.

My point is not to try to approve of the behavior as much as to understand the behavior and accept that in this circumstance it is OK. All teams in other sports cheer their wins, why should pool be any different? You think in the NFL people don't cheer when the kicker misses the last second field goal? You seriously want to tell the fans they're low class for cheering because their team didn't win, your team lost? Seriously?

You think that kicker feels any less pain than our OP did when he scratched and listed to his opponent celebrating?

Give the guy the benefit of the doubt that he's cheering his victory and not your defeat. Man up, be a good sport and congratulate him. Then kick his ass next time.
 
Just A Game

It was probably a big accomplishment for him (as a 5) beating you (As a 7), so I say let him hop up and down and crow.

You handed it to him by not playing better and me thinks you are PO'd about because you're PO'd and embarrassed losing to a 5.

My advice,
1. Get over it
2. Play better next time
3. Quit playing APA League
 
ne14tennis said:
It was probably a big accomplishment for him (as a 5) beating you (As a 7), so I say let him hop up and down and crow.

You handed it to him by not playing better and me thinks you are PO'd about because you're PO'd and embarrassed losing to a 5.

My advice,
1. Get over it
2. Play better next time
3. Quit playing APA League
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LOL, the person showed little class by cheering off a simple mistake. Some people for sure need to learn how to lose and some need to learn how to win. I agree the guy was outta line. SL5 or not. All that aside I would take your 3rd option, lol.
 
See Joey...I always thought you was just way too nice !

JoeyA said:
Not all 5's are the same but some are the type you mentioned. If a 5 hooted and hollered after me losing the match or game on a scratch on the 8 ball, I would engrave his image into my brain forever.

I would not give him any lip service but his name would be written into my tombstone black book and every time I saw him and was to play him, I would loudly ask him to put up some table stakes, making sure to mention that he had already beaten me. When he says he doesn't gamble, I would just loudly say "I UNDERSTAND", with a "sleight" smile.

Then, I would simply play a match or game that he could never win at, embarassing him at every turn, leaving him safe or leaving him with shots that he can't make and shots that he can't play safe at. I would not beat him easily and would extend the length of play indefinitely.

I would torture him each and every time that I played him.

I would twist him like a pretzel and when he begged his team captain to not put him against you, I would loudly ask why such a good player as he is prevented from playing you, also with my never-ending sleight smile.

When his own team mates laughed at him missing ball after ball, I would just stare at him, letting him know that I am the one who orchestrated his new job as the court jester and buffoon for all to laugh at.

It would be my goal to engage him at every turn. I would ask my team captain that whenever this guy is going to play against my team that I be given the honor to punish him each and every time.

After each match or game, depending upon the league, I would offer a handshake and give a genuine smile and say, "Good Match or Good Game" always with a knowing look, stabbing deep into his eyes. Other than that, I wouldn't let it bother me one bit.

JoeyA (thinks maybe I should go back and read the CODE OF CONDUCT in the Sticky notes. :-) )
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Never thought you had this medieval side to you as well...I like it..lol....gives a person that killa instinct:grin:
 
It wasnt for the victory !

John Biddle said:
Calm down, guys, you're over-reacting. This display of emotion was for a match victory. Are winners not allowed to celebrate? Would this same celebration not happen in every sport you know of?

I think there is a big difference between celebrating the mistakes/misfortunes of others, and celebrating a victory. Had this clapping and hooting/hollering accompanied a scratch earlier in the match, I'd agree with the nearly unanimous sentiment on this thread that the guy and his teammates were way out of line.

But this wasn't in the middle of the match, it was at the very end, and as painful as it must have been to endure, the OP should have just congratulated the winner and held his head up high.
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He was a 5 and on 2..it put him on 3
 
I think someone was pointing out that scratching on the 8 is not misfortune. I agree unless an earthquake made whitey scratch. Often a scratch on the eight can mean a team is advancing into the money round and they are cheering for their player who also won a game or more prior so they deserve some credit for the wins and also for putting their opponent in a position where they felt they had to play a risky scratch shot instead of playing safe.
 
Luxury said:
I think someone was pointing out that scratching on the 8 is not misfortune. I agree unless an earthquake made whitey scratch. Often a scratch on the eight can mean a team is advancing into the money round and they are cheering for their player who also won a game or more prior so they deserve some credit for the wins and also for putting their opponent in a position where they felt they had to play a risky scratch shot instead of playing safe.
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I my case, I think it was. Making the 8 on the break and scratching IS misfortune because there's no way of precisely controlling whitey on the break. Another ball came along and kicked him in the side pocket. What could I do?
 
I was referring to the original Poster's scratch. But the making the eight and scratching shot will always get a rise out of both teams. Count on it.
 
Luxury said:
I was referring to the original Poster's scratch. But the making the eight and scratching shot will always get a rise out of both teams. Count on it.
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You bet. Mine was a double rise. My team got a rise out of the 8 going in, and then the other team got a rise out of Whitey going in. :eek:
 
John Biddle said:
I would never whoop or cheer on a scratch by an opponent, I thinks it's a little crass. But I understand that in the case the OP describes, the scratch resulted in the loss of the match.

Now we don't know all the details, but in this match the lower skilled player had started to come back from what appeared to be a devastating loss. He wins a couple, raising his hopes of squeezing out a victory. Then he loses, then looks to be totaly done with the opponent making the 8 Ball. Then, at the last second, the cue ball unexpectedly goes too far and scratches, and he wins the hill/hill game. Lots of guys ia a league are going to be whooping and pumping their fist or cheering or otherwise expressing their exultation at winning a tough match against a tough opponent.

You could imagine rearranging the games within the match so that the scratch happened in an earlier game. Every shot the same, just different game order. Now the cheering by the victor at the victory point is acceptable?

Just to salve the feelings of the losing player the victors should keep their mouths shut, stifle their enthusiasm, and enjoy their victory silently? Next you'll want them to wipe the smiles off their faces.

My point is not to try to approve of the behavior as much as to understand the behavior and accept that in this circumstance it is OK. All teams in other sports cheer their wins, why should pool be any different? You think in the NFL people don't cheer when the kicker misses the last second field goal? You seriously want to tell the fans they're low class for cheering because their team didn't win, your team lost? Seriously?

You think that kicker feels any less pain than our OP did when he scratched and listed to his opponent celebrating?

Give the guy the benefit of the doubt that he's cheering his victory and not your defeat. Man up, be a good sport and congratulate him. Then kick his ass next time.
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If it was for the actual win ida bit my tongue & just said good game...it put him on 3 ...then he's fist pumping ,high fiving...and i told him..it really shows what kind of character he & his team has..and he says....sry but if it was the other way you'd cheer...I said..no..that's where you wrong..the most ida told you was..bad roll...then i win the next rack..finally nail a break where 4 balls go in but cue gets kicked in the side where he & his team errupts again..he gets oput gets on the hill...i win to go double hill & dry break where the solids were wide open but stripes were a cluster f..k..he takes solids...i try and tie up balls and reverse rack,,,didnt' happen then he wins hill,hill.
 
houmatroy said:
If it was for the actual win ida bit my tongue & just said good game...it put him on 3 ...then he's fist pumping ,high fiving...and i told him..it really shows what kind of character he & his team has..and he says....sry but if it was the other way you'd cheer...I said..no..that's where you wrong..the most ida told you was..bad roll...then i win the next rack..finally nail a break where 4 balls go in but cue gets kicked in the side where he & his team errupts again..he gets oput gets on the hill...i win to go double hill & dry break where the solids were wide open but stripes were a cluster f..k..he takes solids...i try and tie up balls and reverse rack,,,didnt' happen then he wins hill,hill.
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OK, a little different from my original understanding because I didn't know that 3 wasn't a win for him. I don't play APA and the misunderstanding is my fault.

That makes his whooping and high fiving a lot harder to justify. I certainly wouldn't do it, nor do ay of the people I play against. BUT, to play devil's advocate here, why is this OK in any other sport, but not in pool. You think there isn't cheering when a foul shot is missed in BBall? How about when a guy strikes out to end an inning, especially if there were men on base?

In the mddle of a game, it's just rude, but to end a game I say let them have their cheer, then play lights out pool for the final victory. Then a smile and a wink ought to do it.
 
John Biddle said:
OK, a little different from my original understanding because I didn't know that 3 wasn't a win for him. I don't play APA and the misunderstanding is my fault.

That makes his whooping and high fiving a lot harder to justify. I certainly wouldn't do it, nor do ay of the people I play against. BUT, to play devil's advocate here, why is this OK in any other sport, but not in pool. You think there isn't cheering when a foul shot is missed in BBall? How about when a guy strikes out to end an inning, especially if there were men on base?

In the mddle of a game, it's just rude, but to end a game I say let them have their cheer, then play lights out pool for the final victory. Then a smile and a wink ought to do it.
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I agree withur assessment of the situation...It was just one of those nights..it was just his total change of demeanor that got me..he was all humble & polite after i won the 1st 4 games..then i got a lil unfocussed & missed a couple shots where he won the next 2 games...so i try and tighten up & just cinch my ball before the 8 and take what the table gives me..tried to draw it back a lil and it pretty much just stopped...then youda swore he had already won the match with all the hoopla...maybe that was the intent & it worked cuz he sure wound up winning the match..even if he would have started out the match all loud and cheering his every shot would have been much better than the old humble..man u kicking my ass..and me saying..naaah..just geting better rolls....to the flipside of him being a jackass with his friends was the real kicker.
 
John Biddle said:
OK, a little different from my original understanding because I didn't know that 3 wasn't a win for him. I don't play APA and the misunderstanding is my fault.

That makes his whooping and high fiving a lot harder to justify. I certainly wouldn't do it, nor do ay of the people I play against. BUT, to play devil's advocate here, why is this OK in any other sport, but not in pool. You think there isn't cheering when a foul shot is missed in BBall? How about when a guy strikes out to end an inning, especially if there were men on base?

In the mddle of a game, it's just rude, but to end a game I say let them have their cheer, then play lights out pool for the final victory. Then a smile and a wink ought to do it.
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I don't hear the golfing spectators cheering when a long putt lips the cup or comes up short by an inch whether it's the first hole or the last hole of the tournament. :confused:

JoeyA knows it takes all kinds to make the world go round and some of the league players that high-five and hoot and holler when their opponent makes an infortunate miss are no better than those who heckle Earl when he is at the table. (Sorry to bring you into it Earl).

JoeyA
 
John Biddle said:
OK, a little different from my original understanding because I didn't know that 3 wasn't a win for him. I don't play APA and the misunderstanding is my fault.

That makes his whooping and high fiving a lot harder to justify. I certainly wouldn't do it, nor do ay of the people I play against. BUT, to play devil's advocate here, why is this OK in any other sport, but not in pool. You think there isn't cheering when a foul shot is missed in BBall? How about when a guy strikes out to end an inning, especially if there were men on base?

In the mddle of a game, it's just rude, but to end a game I say let them have their cheer, then play lights out pool for the final victory. Then a smile and a wink ought to do it.
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Actually, I have seen where an opposing team would object when a pitcher celebrates too voiceriously any strikeout so I suppose it's all in degree and showmanship (i.e. showing up the other player). But if it was to end the game, I guess it would just be like a relief-gate bursting open. I think in pool, I might just accept the pain if the opposing player celebrated to win the team's match off my scratch ... it's just all in degree, showmanship and the expected outcome. :cool:
 
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