Do you bring out the best in others?

[minnow]

Sometimes when I play in tournaments I feel like the other player really steps up their game and plays really well against me. I like to think that they knew they had to bring a strong game against me to win ! I just read something in one of Phil Capelle's books that said they play that way because I have a low intimidation factor. What do you all think?

 

[Ken_4fun]

Everyone steps up when the play me...

Everyone hates me, so they step up!


Seriously!

LOL

Ken

 

[jay helfert]

When I played in the bar leagues around town, I know everyone was gunning for me. I was the top player or close to it for several years in the Westside bar leagues. If anything it made me play better, knowing that everybody wanted to win a game over me.

I had one year where I won something like 90 out of 96 games. I was like ten to fifteen games ahead of the next best player. Remember this was the BCA league and there are many weak players, but there are also good players on every team. Our team captained by Richard Mikesell (RIP) always finished first or second for the season.

We always won money at the Nationals too, usually making the top 100 teams. I think out best finish was top 64. God bless Richard, but he was the weak link. He would always surround himself with four good players though, so we did okay.

Did I bring out the best in my opponents? Definitely! They wanted to beat me in the worst way. And if they did, I was the first to applaud them. I can remember some mini celebrations after a player won a game with me. You'd think they won the championship or something. One guy barked at me so much, I asked him if he wanted to bet a little something. His big mouth ended up costing him a couple of hundred. And I didn't feel bad about it either.

 

[crawfish]

That's funny

When I played in the bar leagues around town, I know everyone was gunning for me. I was the top player or close to it for several years in the Westside bar leagues. If anything it made me play better, knowing that everybody wanted to win a game over me.

I had one year where I won something like 90 out of 96 games. I was like ten to fifteen games ahead of the next best player. Remember this was the BCA league and there are many weak players, but there are also good players on every team. Our team captained by Richard Mikesell (RIP) always finished first or second for the season.

We always won money at the Nationals too, usually making the top 100 teams. I think out best finish was top 64. God bless Richard, but he was the weak link. He would always surround himself with four good players though, so we did okay.

Did I bring out the best in my opponents? Definitely! They wanted to beat me in the worst way. And if they did, I was the first to applaud them. I can remember some mini celebrations after a player won a game with me. You'd think they won the championship or something. One guy barked at me so much, I asked him if he wanted to bet a little something. His big mouth ended up costing him a couple of hundred. And I didn't feel bad about it either.

That's funny. I had never played league before, and a couple of my friends talked me into playing. I've got people on my own team waiting for me to get knocked off. 11-0 and rolling. I'm kind of enjoying it now. I don't have a lot of time to get out and scuffle like ten years ago.

 

[olauzon]

when i was playing APA i brought out the best a 5-6 had and the worst in the 7-9s. in BCA i always made sure to bring out the worst. all you need is to overstudy your layout first time up, that puts anyone off, then of course you need to back it up.

it started unintentionally, i was insecure in how to run'em. but man does it do a trick.

 

[!Smorgass Bored]

I'd Rather Bring Out The Best In ME

Do you bring out the best in others?



Always !
Much to my chagrin.
Doug

CHAGRIN: NOUN: A keen feeling of mental unease, as of annoyance or embarrassment, caused by failure, disappointment, or a disconcerting event: To his chagrin, the party ended just as he arrived.

 

[ez2h8]

Yup...

I am always the guy getting calls to help a friend practice for a tournament or league night. Not as often anymore, but it was routine. Even players better then me would ask me to play warm up games. Depending on the game played and who it is playing, I can usually adjust to make it challenging for the other person. Most of the time intentional, sometimes by accident. Get alot of free pool this way as well.

As for playing, I seemed to always bring out the best in my opponent. They knew they would get a challenge and either stepped up or got stepped on. But many times I got stepped on too. No denying the facts.

And sometimes, people would ask me to play just to see a good game of pool played. Just the mere watching of the game played well was enough to spark someone fire and get them playing good again.

ez