Are Junior players being set up for a tough life?
- Thread starter easy-e
- Start date
As a parent I was very fortunate to choose a good path for my wife and kids. Good jobs that were never in doubt.
A safe environment to raise a family and a house that was big enough for four offspring.
Not everyone has that. So as parents we should be working hard also. Recognizing what our kids, may be good at for their future should be mostly on us.
With billiard sports seeming to pay better and continuing to grow on more of a global scale, a career could be possible.
Get them into a part time job as early as 13, and keep them challenged in academics.
Staring at a screen that is not for school or work is a tremendous waste of time.
A safe environment to raise a family and a house that was big enough for four offspring.
Not everyone has that. So as parents we should be working hard also. Recognizing what our kids, may be good at for their future should be mostly on us.
With billiard sports seeming to pay better and continuing to grow on more of a global scale, a career could be possible.
Get them into a part time job as early as 13, and keep them challenged in academics.
Staring at a screen that is not for school or work is a tremendous waste of time.
That's only for Asians. No American or European will go that route, IMO, even if the money was 100MM each tournament.
It's an interesting question. We are all pool die hards (of varying skill levels from bangers to near-pros), and probably wouldn't want our kids to follow in our footsteps. Boxing parents might have a similar mindset. IDK how it is for other sports.
In Asia, the pressure must be higher? In Taiwan, where double world champion Wu, the Ko Brothers, Chang, etc, are all from, the priority there for kids is education and music. What must their lives have been like as kids and teens? What were their parent's lives like? Did they get ridicule from other parents for letting their kids "play pool"? Whatever flack a junior American prospect and his parents get must pale in comparison to a kid/parent from Taiwan. IMO.
In Asia, the pressure must be higher? In Taiwan, where double world champion Wu, the Ko Brothers, Chang, etc, are all from, the priority there for kids is education and music. What must their lives have been like as kids and teens? What were their parent's lives like? Did they get ridicule from other parents for letting their kids "play pool"? Whatever flack a junior American prospect and his parents get must pale in comparison to a kid/parent from Taiwan. IMO.
That's really good to hear. His participation in junior events will help him to gauge his future prospects and one unremarkable finish should not demotivate him.
The thot of my parents being my backer mortifies me!!
As a father and pool nut I am relieved that neither one of my kids took up pool as a serious pursuit. I am also glad they have always focused on academics. The oldest has moved out and living independently and the youngest has a good scholarship and is going in to mechanical engineering. These kids need to understand the massive trade off they are making for the unstable and demanding life that even successful pool players have. Couldn’t recommend it as a career path.
I said, the smart kids...
He's playing Thomas Haas tonight for 10k. It's supposed to be streamed but I haven't found a link yet. Thomas is from Philly. I watched him progress in his teens, he played frequently out of my home room. He's a 726 now, at I think age 25 or so. I think its a pickem from the action offers I've seen.
Thomas was the last "good" player out of Philly I can think of. Relevant to this thread, when he was 15 or so, we all knew he was going to be a good player. But I don't think any one of us thought he was going to be a worldbeater, like a Corey (also from Philly). Colleston might be the same. He certainly plays super good at 16, but how far will he progress?
Of note, if you believe the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Thomas' father is a 694. Collestons' father is a 661.
Thomas was the last "good" player out of Philly I can think of. Relevant to this thread, when he was 15 or so, we all knew he was going to be a good player. But I don't think any one of us thought he was going to be a worldbeater, like a Corey (also from Philly). Colleston might be the same. He certainly plays super good at 16, but how far will he progress?
Of note, if you believe the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Thomas' father is a 694. Collestons' father is a 661.
Last edited:
...education and music...
That's kinda funny. Music is good stuff though. Mind juggling for enjoyment.
middleofnowhere
Registered
With a little luck life will be pretty long. People are getting married later, starting college later, having children later. I would not worry about them. Most life regrets are not what you did but what you didn't do.
They don't need anyone to preach to them. I'm probably not expressing my self very well but you know where I'm coming from. I was young I pretty much did what I wanted I didn't want to be told what to do.
They don't need anyone to preach to them. I'm probably not expressing my self very well but you know where I'm coming from. I was young I pretty much did what I wanted I didn't want to be told what to do.
As a former professional AP casino gambler, these kids are in trouble man. I’ve seen it over and over. This gambling for a living thing gives people such a fucked up perspective of money. 10k isn’t 10k to them it’s just a days worth of gambling coupons. If pool doesn’t stick for some of these kids, it’s a hard comedown from winning and losing 10k everyday to making $15 an hour. They will chase 5 figure paydays anyway they can, and it will consume them. Make 10k, bet 10k, repeat. I’m lucky that I was good at what I did, made money, and am now a quant for an investment firm. But even as proud as I am of my success I would never send my daughter down the same road. The disregard for money is the scariest part and what will unfortunately ruin some of these kids.
Last edited:
middleofnowhere
Registered
Though most people get introduced to the game as a player. If they really enjoy the sport and being around the sport it has a lot of aspects. Pool is far more of an industry than it is a sport.
Many players are eventually room owners or suppliers manufacturers sales people still revolving around the sport. People like Nick Varner, Jay, Mizerak, and so on. I mentioned Jay, I'm pretty sure if he chimes in he will show no regrets for having been a pool player.
I personally have no regrets having played pool for so many years. I would say most of the things in my life that shaped my life and we're good are results of me having been around pool rooms. I even met my wife when she came into my room some 50 years ago.
Colston Harrelson 666 vs Thomas Haas 726 live now:
Interesting Fargo.
Its funny.... Thomas was raised by his mom, his dad lived far away during his early years. Son and dad didn't really reconnect a lot until Thomas was already in his teens and already a rally good local player.
Anyway, I didn't really know this, and I saw them both at a tournament about a year ago together. I said to Thomas: "you shoot exactly like your dad did when he was 25. Your stroke, your head movement, even the way you walk around the table". That's when he told me they didn't reconnect until later, and Thomas never saw his dad play when Thomas was young. It's amazing how the "apple doesn't fall far from the tree"!
Anyway, I didn't really know this, and I saw them both at a tournament about a year ago together. I said to Thomas: "you shoot exactly like your dad did when he was 25. Your stroke, your head movement, even the way you walk around the table". That's when he told me they didn't reconnect until later, and Thomas never saw his dad play when Thomas was young. It's amazing how the "apple doesn't fall far from the tree"!
Last edited:
The kid can't get there I don't think. Its 3-3. But he keeps making unforced errors and getting a roll out of it.
