I too am kinda like ShootingRazbone in that while I no longer shoot in the APA, I don't have any problems with the STRUCTURE of the organization. If rules/protocol are followed, the system works for anyone looking for a fun, social league. I played five straight years both 8-ball and 9-ball without missing a session. I am sitting out this session in both 8 and 9-ball simply from burn-out (I haven't as yet decided if I'm going back into it).
Why am I burnt-out? 1.) Our league operator is a complete idiot. He screws the schedules up, he is clearly biased towards certain bars/poolhalls, he NEVER goes and watches anyone play on league night, he has never gone to Vegas in support of any of his divisions teams. He has let a 9-ball team into a division several weeks into it with the promise to the new (to the APA) men players that he would give them a ranking of SL2's (this happened because I spoke about this with the captain of the team that I'm talking about here, AND we had to play them shortly after this happened). He did this I'm sure so HE could pocket the the $60 (two teams, $30 per) he was losing because of the bye. Now, I'm seeing on this thread that he may (or may not, I don't KNOW) be supposed to be giving payments to teams for winning their divisions and playoffs. I have been on more than a few teams that have won both our division AND the playoff which qualified us for the city tournament (which the LO runs very badly) and have never gotten a dime. There are other things I could mention here but I'm really trying not to make this post too long and not get into discussing the LO's character/criminal history.
2.) There are simply too many people in my APA divisions that either have bad etiquette, poor sportsmanship, or are just blatant cheaters. Hell, some of them openly talk about it (the "s" word, rhymes with handbag). It does get frustrating to spot a player a game or two on the wire in a short race when they can shoot as good (sometimes better) than I can. Then my poor wife (a SL4 and grandmother of six) often has to shoot young men who are SL3's that shoot way better than she does (how come they can do that
?).
3.) I don't care to sit in a smoky bar/poolroom for three or four hours waiting to shoot a match that might last 30- 45 minutes.
4.) More times than I like I end up shooting a SL2 or SL3 (I'm a SL6 in both 8 and 9-ball). My game doesn't need this. For all the above listed BS I have to endure, I would at least like to play someone my ability or better, as long as the handicaps are true.
5.) Most scorekeepers have no clue what shots to mark a safety on. This is a large part of why handicaps are so screwed up.
All that being said, these gripes are not a reflection, nor are they condoned by the APA organization. Like I stated earlier, the APA will work if the rules are followed. It's a good league IMO. It's good for pool in general. If I go back into it I may join a Masters league. I still will have to shoot regular 8-ball if I want to enjoy playing on a team with my wife. But I'm going to have to change my mental outlook on the whole shebang if I'm going to enjoy it as much as I'd like to.
Please note that I'm NOT bashing the APA. I don't have a problem with it. I do however, have many problems with the South Arlington APA as I stated earlier. I hope all that read this post see the reasons behind my frustrations and don't think I'm being whinny.
Maniac
