You're right that working a manual labor job isn't ideal, but you have to play the hand you have. Sales is absolutely a good option. I'm sure Diamond has sales or customer service positions. I'm also sure they would love to have someone with that kind of pool experience and recognition working for them. There's probably another 20 other companies in the industry that would also hire him. Is he even looking into something like that? He can still play pool 8 hours a day if he wants...but he needs to prioritize making a living over his wants and desires. Paychecks come in handy.
Why can't we compare people? Do high level pool players operate in a different reality than us common folk or do we possibly share the same values and/or ethics?
Wait...I thought we couldn't compare it using my rental example. Of course I would be upset if it happened to me. Hopefully, I would handle the situation with class like Oscar has done.
Again, I have no issue with letting people know about the situation. I think the main issue I have is with people using this single issue to define the man's entire life, WHEN the final chapter on this affair has not yet been written. Everyone is a collection of all of their good deeds and their bad ones. I suppose all I'm calling for is leaving a crack in the door for Johnny to open if he can get his life turned around. I feel like Oscar was willing to do that but many on here are not for some reason.
I could have saved a lot of typing had I just written that. Well said.
Until now
Worst had already won the Johnston City and Stardust tournaments the year before, in 1965. That was the last time I saw him play. He lost a lot of weight between the two tourneys, and was gaunt and thin. I wondered what happened to him. I never saw him complain or make any excuses though.
There have been several very good one eyed players. The first one I ever saw play was One Eyed Tony from Detroit. He was a top notch hustler in the 60's and 70's, and a really straight shooter. How he learned to play so good with that handicap is beyond me.
I only see out of one eye too (neurological issue). I would say it's only a handicap in sports where depth perception and timing are important (you need two eyes for depth perception). Baseball and tennis come to mind because of the timing of hitting a moving ball coming towards you. I played a lot of volleyball and always blamed only being a "B" player on a skill and coordination deficit. As I learned more about my neurological issue, I figured out I had trouble accurately judging how far the volleyball and net were from my body...that affected my hitting because a hitter is typically taking a few steps to jump higher (you have zero depth perception with one eye). I don't know if I'd say it's a handicap in pool. At one time, when I played 30-40 hours a week, I had a reputation of being an outrageous shot maker.
Fully aware, are you?? You'd have to go to IHOP to see more 'waffles'. Perspective means nothing here unless one is just hell-bent on giving the guy a pass.
Yeah but could he play with one eye closed??
Great post.
1. Never Forgive & Never Forget
If you are insinuating that all these higher prize funds are going to be the saving solution of professional pool players, consider this:
A "lot more" is very different from "virtually all" pool players, which is the comment that I responded to. But thank you for your insights into the lucrative careers of plumbers and electricians. I wonder how many of them would trade places with a pro pool player instead of having to get under sinks and replace old toilets, or dig under houses to repair wiring issues. Did you ever think about that?
We're good bro. Just jackin with ya. Archer will NEVER be a top player again. At 55 WAAAAY too much water has gone under his bridge. Too many young uber-talented run-out artists to deal with.