A sore loser's rant....

Eric.

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Silver Member
I'M A SORE LOSER!

OK, just had to throw that out there. Losing bothers the hell out of me. Don't get me wrong, I'm gracious with my opponents, it just eats at me inside. Some losses make me crazy more than others, though. For those that care to read more, my story goes like this:

This past weekend, I played in a local handicapped 9 ball tourney. So, I play this guy, who I know I am better than. Basically, he needs 4 games to my 5. Normally, I should win. Normally.
I think I played the worst match I could have possibly played. Truthfully, I haven't played this bad since I was a lower level player. Normall shots that I depend on, 90% makable shots, were not falling. My position play was atrocious. At one point, I had BIH with the 3 ball hanging in the top corner and the 4 ball 6" from the lower corner. I just wanted to draw back to center table and run out. I overdrew the CB til the CB was sitting on the short rail! Now, I had to bank the 4 ball or play safe(I played safe). On top of things, I managesd to scratch on the break twice, by sending the CB flying. Of course that leaves a wide open table and in a short race format, you can't give up easy racks like that. To add insult to injury, my opponent is fluking in a bunch of balls. A couple of times, he would kick and make the ball in an odd pocket and wind up with perfect position. One kick he made off my safe was cut thin into the corner pocket and probably wouldn't have been made if he shot straight at it from that angle!(he also had perfect position on the next shot and ran the last 3 balls). He did make some nice shots make but wasn't running out from everywhere. Then there was the hand pumping. The more flukes he got, the more he pumped his hand in a "yeah" fashion.
Now, in all fairness, this guy isn't too bad of a player. He ain't that good either. What irked me was that later, in the smoking area (this is NJ) he was overheard saying that "I thought I would lose that match. I can't believe I drilled him. Maybe Eric got nervous after seeing me play in the poolhall because I am shooting a lot better now." Gimme a break. This is too much for my ego to take. Some people just can't tell the difference between playing good and beating someone vs. playing OK, being lucky many times and having your opponent serve it up on a silver platter.

So Frank(everyone seems to read AZ Billiards) you're a nice guy, I like you. Really. But if you want a dose of reality, you've got the called 5 ball in a race to 11. Wanna play?


Eric >working on my PhD in sore loser
 
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Sometimes I feel like I couldn't get a roll in a bakery buddy. Sometimes I shoot lights out. Doesn't everybody?
Purdman
 
I know what you mean Eric, the past 2 weeks I have been missing shots I can make in my sleep. Time to take a break from the game, probably about 2 weeks in my case.

BK
 
In a short race, shait happens.
Call 5? That's a ton of weight for a 5 playing a 4.
 
Its times like these the best thing to do is shake his hand and say " You beat me this time but next time I just may beat you" and leave it at that. That way you keep your kewl, dont hurt anyones feelings or start a fight PLUS you get to say what you need to say .. its helps you get that off your chest.
 
just let him know tourneys dont mean shit to you, and if he really thought he was improving hed jump in the box with you and play some sets.
 
Where in the New Jersey are you? Just curious because I too am from Jersey and wouldn't mind playing in a tournament or two here and there. What's the action like?
 
I have those days myself...as a matter of fact yesterday was one...I went to Detroit and played at Plush Pockets...I couldn't make two balls in a row...
________
 
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You just had a bad day...

Eric,

We've all had bad days and lost to players who shouldn't have had a chance.

I say, keep your head up and let the dog have his day. He obviously felt good about winning. He knows next time it won't be so easy.

I wouldn't suggest calling him out after the loss is the way to go. Just let the dog have his day and forget about it.

You just had a bad day, and I've had plenty of my own too!


Here's the lyrics to the song by the way.


Where is the moment we needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to gray
They tell me your passion's gone away
And I don't need no carryin' on

You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You're faking a smile with the coffee you go
You tell me your life's been way off line
You're falling to pieces every time
And I don't need no carryin' on

Because you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Will you need a blue sky holiday?
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carryin' on

You had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day

(Oooh.. a holiday..)

Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong

(yeah...)

So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh you and I
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
You've seen what you like
And how does it feel for one more time
You had a bad day
You had a bad day


Chris
 
Eric:

That happens to everyone, my friend! Your attitude and loathing for losing will ultimately make you play better... Losing now and then is good for your motivation, though it is painful when it happens.

Just keep after it and "drill" that guy anytime you play from now on.

It will be a test for you the next time you play him. Keeping your focus without trying too hard... But that type of pressure will make you better after you fight through it.
 
Eric. said:
I'M A SORE LOSER!

OK, just had to throw that out there. Losing bothers the hell out of me. Don't get me wrong, I'm gracious with my opponents, it just eats at me inside. Some losses make me crazy more than others, though. For those that care to read more, my story goes like this:

This past weekend, I played in a local handicapped 9 ball tourney. So, I play this guy, who I know I am better than. Basically, he needs 4 games to my 5. Normally, I should win. Normally.
I think I played the worst match I could have possibly played. Truthfully, I haven't played this bad since I was a lower level player. Normall shots that I depend on, 90% makable shots, were not falling. My position play was atrocious. At one point, I had BIH with the 3 ball hanging in the top corner and the 4 ball 6" from the lower corner. I just wanted to draw back to center table and run out. I overdrew the CB til the CB was sitting on the short rail! Now, I had to bank the 4 ball or play safe(I played safe). On top of things, I managesd to scratch on the break twice, by sending the CB flying. Of course that leaves a wide open table and in a short race format, you can't give up easy racks like that. To add insult to injury, my opponent is fluking in a bunch of balls. A couple of times, he would kick and make the ball in an odd pocket and wind up with perfect position. One kick he made off my safe was cut thin into the corner pocket and probably wouldn't have been made if he shot straight at it from that angle!(he also had perfect position on the next shot and ran the last 3 balls). He did make some nice shots make but wasn't running out from everywhere. Then there was the hand pumping. The more flukes he got, the more he pumped his hand in a "yeah" fashion.
Now, in all fairness, this guy isn't too bad of a player. He ain't that good either. What irked me was that later, in the smoking area (this is NJ) he was overheard saying that "I thought I would lose that match. I can't believe I drilled him. Maybe Eric got nervous after seeing me play in the poolhall because I am shooting a lot better now." Gimme a break. This is too much for my ego to take. Some people just can't tell the difference between playing good and beating someone vs. playing OK, being lucky many times and having your opponent serve it up on a silver platter.

So Frank(everyone seems to read AZ Billiards) you're a nice guy, I like you. Really. But if you want a dose of reality, you've got the called 5 ball in a race to 11. Wanna play?


Eric >working on my PhD in sore loser

oh my god,you're living my life.

last thursday i enter the local tourney.i'm a 5 going against a 7.we're hill-hill.he's on the 7,8,and misses the 9.leaves me with a great oppurtunity and i bobble the 9 in the pocket,he wins.

the ball bobble is a trend in the making.

my next guy is a 3.i lose 3-1.my shots look good but they bounce in the pocket.

friday night 8 ball league.i'm lousy.

sunday night 9 ball again.i'm warming up with a pretty good 5.i feel he;s better than my 5 but i'm holding my own,pretty much even up although it is just practice.

my first match is a 3.it's his first tourney,he doesn't even know the rules.beats me 3-2.

i try not to let it rattle me.

my next match is a 4 that i have beat before.he beats me 4-3.

i'm basically missing close shots,leaving them right in the corner,and my opponent easily putting them in.

my break was the only thing that was making me happy.i scratched only once(on the break)and had pretty good position on the one alot.2 different times i made 3 on the break.

i'm frustrated.
 
Yeah play him so tight and just show him how much better you really are than him! Hook em every chance you can and just be a hard a$$ on the table
 
im sort of the same way, i mean as you get older you mellow a bit. I dont hate to lose as much as i hate not playing up to my ability (which sounds like your situation too). Last night just for giggles i was giving this guy the last 3 and 1 on the wire race to 5, and really it was about like playing the ghost....when i got to the table i pretty much had to run out or shoot perfect safes, got him the first set and the last set.........the middle set, i ran out and left him a money ball 3 games and the last game he craps in the 3, lucks the 4 and the 5 same shot, straight in on the 6 and the 7 is dead in the side pocket and i just felt like arghhhhhhhhhhhhh lol. The bright side to losing to someone you can beat is......you can fall back on that the next time you make a game (if you gamble), the wont remember you shooting crappy, they just remember beating you........set em up and knock em down.
 
scottycoyote said:
The bright side to losing to someone you can beat is......you can fall back on that the next time you make a game (if you gamble), the wont remember you shooting crappy, they just remember beating you........set em up and knock em down.


Very interesting concept, except it's always possible the guy you think you can beat while giving weight just might stick it to you...

I saw a guy get offered a crazy amount of weight by a top Chicago money player in a simple race to 7 for 10 format some time ago. The money guy obviously had plenty of side bets going, and realized after the first 4 or 5 shots into the match that he was going to lose. What happened? Non-stop sharking, that's what. That match was called off after the 1st game.

Never really think you can beat someone, especially if you are giving them major weight. They might just goose the money ball or balls at the right times and take you out, or simply make a tough shot or two.

Flex
 
I'll take the five ball !!

Eric. said:
I'M A SORE LOSER!

OK, just had to throw that out there. Losing bothers the hell out of me. Don't get me wrong, I'm gracious with my opponents, it just eats at me inside. Some losses make me crazy more than others, though. For those that care to read more, my story goes like this:

This past weekend, I played in a local handicapped 9 ball tourney. So, I play this guy, who I know I am better than. Basically, he needs 4 games to my 5. Normally, I should win. Normally.
I think I played the worst match I could have possibly played. Truthfully, I haven't played this bad since I was a lower level player. Normall shots that I depend on, 90% makable shots, were not falling. My position play was atrocious. At one point, I had BIH with the 3 ball hanging in the top corner and the 4 ball 6" from the lower corner. I just wanted to draw back to center table and run out. I overdrew the CB til the CB was sitting on the short rail! Now, I had to bank the 4 ball or play safe(I played safe). On top of things, I managesd to scratch on the break twice, by sending the CB flying. Of course that leaves a wide open table and in a short race format, you can't give up easy racks like that. To add insult to injury, my opponent is fluking in a bunch of balls. A couple of times, he would kick and make the ball in an odd pocket and wind up with perfect position. One kick he made off my safe was cut thin into the corner pocket and probably wouldn't have been made if he shot straight at it from that angle!(he also had perfect position on the next shot and ran the last 3 balls). He did make some nice shots make but wasn't running out from everywhere. Then there was the hand pumping. The more flukes he got, the more he pumped his hand in a "yeah" fashion.
Now, in all fairness, this guy isn't too bad of a player. He ain't that good either. What irked me was that later, in the smoking area (this is NJ) he was overheard saying that "I thought I would lose that match. I can't believe I drilled him. Maybe Eric got nervous after seeing me play in the poolhall because I am shooting a lot better now." Gimme a break. This is too much for my ego to take. Some people just can't tell the difference between playing good and beating someone vs. playing OK, being lucky many times and having your opponent serve it up on a silver platter.

So Frank(everyone seems to read AZ Billiards) you're a nice guy, I like you. Really. But if you want a dose of reality, you've got the called 5 ball in a race to 11. Wanna play?


Eric >working on my PhD in sore loser

See you at Elite in Milltown. We play on the front table, double shim. Don't forget your wallet. :D
 
Eric. said:
I think I played the worst match I could have possibly played.
Eric, we all have good days and bad days, that is why they call us "Amateurs".

Obviously, the guy's comments afterward were out of line, but he was probably flying high after beating someone he knows he shouldn't. Let him have his day and just blow it off. Don't take it personal, or it will affect your play the next time the two of you meet.
 
I'm A Sore Loser When I Beat Myself

If I play my best game and you play better and beat me, I can't feel bad about that. I know I'm not the best player in the world, so Im bound to run into guys/gals that are better.

What irritates the hell out of me is when I make a boneheaded play which results in the loss of a match. Last Monday I got creamed during league 4-0. I couldn't put two shots together or sink those hit percentage shots. It was all pocket rattles and bad cuts.....
The worse part is that I've beat this guy several times outside of league. I only had to win 2 to his 4 and I had a shot at winning 2 of the games. I choked is all that I can say. I got frustrated and I folded. First time for everthing, I couldn't talk myself back into the match.

Tuesday was a better night, and I took my match easily last night. Both were even races.

Last week is forgotten.
Eric: Pretend it never happened. Call it selective amnesia... That's what I do.

McCue Banger McCue
\
 
I wouldn't let the fact that you HATE to lose bug you too much (well, aside from the hatred of loss...). That is what motivates you to win- to avoid that hated feeling.

What can you do? Sometimes you are the hammer, sometimes the nail. Now go punish people!
 
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