Do you see your favorite pro pool players in the same way that you see celebrities?

J

justinb386

Banned
This might seem really silly (to many of you), but to me, I see my favorite pro pool players in the same way as I see my favorite actors.

When I was at the DCC last year, it was so exciting for me, because I felt like there were celebrities walking around all over the place.

Many of my favorite players walked right past me, as I was chatting with the really friendly door person (the guy who made sure that everyone that went through into the tournament room paid for a pass to get in).

I felt really out of place though, because I felt like I was in a room filled with God's.

I would have loved to meet many of my favorite players that I seen, but I am an extremely shy person.

I think that $260 seems like a small price to pay for a chance to compete against one of your favorite pro players, but I think the chances of drawing one of those players is very slim, with the size of the field.

Anyways, just curious if you see your favorite pro players in the same way that you see celebrities (like your favorite actors for example), or do you not see them in that high of a regard?

Thanks for your thoughts about this.
 
To me, actors are nothing special. But their personalities are sometimes interesting.

Good pool players clearly have amazing skills.
But sometimes lack in the " interesting" dept.

I don't see them in the same light, and would rather have dinner with someone like Johnny Archer than Johnny Depp.
 
Every time I encounter a pro I always go for their autograph. To me its just like seeing a celebrity.
 
There are varying degrees of "celebrity". Pool pros will be recognized on the street by many of us...but those not into the pool scene wouldn't. Nascar drivers would be recognized by Nascar fans, but not by those who couldn't care less about racing.

So,celebrities? Yeah...but minor ones.

I used to be into Porsches. Happened to be at an event where Seinfeld attended...I witnessed some pretty sickening ass kissing.

So, my advice? Don't be a suck-up. Nobody likes suck-ups...even the celebrity being sucked up.
 
I feel sorta like that Justin. But I've been around pros for a very long time. The difference though between pro pool players & any other pro athletes or movie stars or famous people in general is the interaction. Maybe besides pro bowling, pool is the closest sport where interaction with pros is so easy & down to earth. The cool thing about pro pool players is that most are very friendly. You can chat with them & have a good time with them. Ive been lucky enough to had some great experiences hanging out with Efren, Busty & Santos when they were in NJ in the early 2000's because they spent time with good friends of ours. So we got to hang with them outside of the poolhall & it was fun. So many other great experiences with all the other pros for the last 2 decades have been memorable too.
 
gregnice37 said:
The cool thing about pro pool players is that most are very friendly. You can chat with them & have a good time with them.
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That's because they're not burned out by the 24/7 attention. Can you imagine not being able to step outside your house without people glamming on to you? Sure, it's fun for an hour or two, or maybe a couple of days. But after that, it would be hell.

In answer to your question, I don't really view anyone as a celebrity; they're doing a job and the best ones do it well...so does the guy who cuts my lawn.
 
If a celebrity shared my interest of pool or any other common interest of mine, I would not mind talking to him or her. Pro pool players are relatable because: 1. they play our favorite sport (or at least mine :) ), 2. most (I guess) came from humble beginnings and worked their a** off to hone their skills (and still do) to make a living, and 3. most pool players are very approachable and down to earth.
Let's put it this way: if you were to approach a pool player and a celebrity in public, which one would have bodyguards willing to tackle you at moments notice? :wink:
 
ABR said:
To me, actors are nothing special. But their personalities are sometimes interesting.

Good pool players clearly have amazing skills.
But sometimes lack in the " interesting" dept.

I don't see them in the same light, and would rather have dinner with someone like Johnny Archer than Johnny Depp.
Click to expand...

Johnny Depp would probably pay for dinner.
Johnny Archer would have you pay for dinner and hit it you up for cab fare.
and to answer the OP's question. I put no one on a pedestal.
I was once in a pool room and one of if not the greatest cue maker to ever live came in.
I thought some of the guys were going to cum in their pants.
To me he was just another person with a great skill. that's it.
 
There isn't a single actor/actress I have a special desire to meet. There are a few musicians who I'd love to talk to or jam with. Similarly there is a short list of pool/snooker/billiard players I'd enjoy a few drinks and a game with.

Level of fame isn't terribly important to me but rather the person and their contributions to sport/artform that I love. I met Luc Salvas over ten years ago and he was a great guy and very gracious to chat with my friend and I for an extended time.

A few years ago I met Antoine Dufour, a brilliant guitarist whom many probably haven't heard of. Also a great guy and an amazing talent.

I wouldn't trade either of those interactions to meet a more mainstream celebrity. I don't put anyone on a pedestal, but I enjoy the opportunity to interact and learn from experts in my favorite pursuits.
 
bdorman said:
That's because they're not burned out by the 24/7 attention. Can you imagine not being able to step outside your house without people glamming on to you? Sure, it's fun for an hour or two, or maybe a couple of days. But after that, it would be hell.

In answer to your question, I don't really view anyone as a celebrity; they're doing a job and the best ones do it well...so does the guy who cuts my lawn.
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The top pros that travel around playing most of the year have to be around their fans a lot, so they probably feel like celebrities everywhere they travel to, where they have fans that attend the tournaments just to see them and have a chance to meet them. So, yeah, they are not known to the average person that walks past them on the street, but many of the pros do have a lot of fans that might want an autograph or a picture taken with them, at every event they attend. I did not see any fans bothering the pros when I visited the DCC one day though. I did see a few guys ask Efren for a picture with him, and Efren was very friendly about it. Many of the pros seem very cool and down to earth.
 
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bazkook said:
If a celebrity shared my interest of pool or any other common interest of mine, I would not mind talking to him or her. Pro pool players are relatable because: 1. they play our favorite sport (or at least mine :) ), 2. most (I guess) came from humble beginnings and worked their a** off to hone their skills (and still do) to make a living, and 3. most pool players are very approachable and down to earth.
Let's put it this way: if you were to approach a pool player and a celebrity in public, which one would have bodyguards willing to tackle you at moments notice? :wink:
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Yeah, you make some very good points.

For me, there were several pool players that were not even nationally known, or pro speed, who I looked up to with very high regard (guys like Pat McMillan, Andy Quinn, and other unknowns from my local area insouther in and not too far from southern Illinois ), who were God's (of pool) in my mind.
 
At one time, i thought of them as celebrities. After seeing them in a room, at a tournament, or evem locking up with one, your idea certainly changes. Superb talent but for most part, just one of the guys.
 
Pool players, or male celebs don't turn me on at all..Now female celebs, thats another story. I have had a huge crush on Jennifer Aniston forever! If she were to enter a room I was in, or speak to me, I might pass out, but I would never make a fool of myself by begging for her attention.

I don't think most people realize what the life of a high profile celebrity is like..Someone like Jen A., cannot go anywhere in public without adoring fans hounding and flashing cameras at her!..I can only imagine how tiresome that must be..BTW, I have always thought autograph seekers should be shot.
 
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ShakesSea said:
Aniston showed up in my mailbox naked on the cover of Rolling Stone at a key time in my youthful development.

As for pool players, having been around Dan Louie and Earl, my reaction is just embarrassment at my level in comparison to theirs.
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Anyone who doesn't love Jennifer, (or at least her boobs, legs, and rear end) is either full blown gay, or massively retarded! ;)

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jb1911 said:
No I don't. I admire my favorite billiards stars, not so much celebrities.
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If you are into the TV shows or movies (or both ), then I imagine you have a favorite actor or actress (who you might love to meet, or the idea of meeting them might be exciting to you. So, my question was , do you see your favorite pool player in the same regard as your favorite TV or movie star? For me, it would be really exciting to meet Natalie Portman (for example), and it would be just as exciting to meet my all time most favorite female pool player, Allison Fisher .
 
measureman said:
Johnny Depp would probably pay for dinner.
Johnny Archer would have you pay for dinner and hit it you up for cab fare.
and to answer the OP's question. I put no one on a pedestal.
I was once in a pool room and one of if not the greatest cue maker to ever live came in.
I thought some of the guys were going to cum in their pants.
To me he was just another person with a great skill. that's it.
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Yeah, I understand. Maybe a fellow cue maker (who was a big fan of many other cue makers) would be even more psyched about that cue maker walking in the door (maybe if it were Dennis searing , or Tim Scruggs, or Richard black, or any of the other famous cue makers). I guess it would just depend on if fans of that cue maker knew what he looked like. My favorite cue maker is LAMBROS (even though I have never had a chance to hit with one of his cues), but I do not know what he looks like. I imagine the fans that visit the conventions know what all their favorite cue makers look like though.
 
justinb386 said:
If you are into the TV shows or movies (or both ), then I imagine you have a favorite actor or actress (who you might love to meet, or the idea of meeting them might be exciting to you. So, my question was , do you see your favorite pool player in the same regard as your favorite TV or movie star? For me, it would be really exciting to meet Natalie Portman (for example), and it would be just as exciting to meet my all time most favorite female pool player, Allison Fisher .
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Sorry Justin..Jennifer can give Natalie and Allison the 5 out and the break, in looks and class,..and shes 45 yrs. old! :grin:
(I better back off, or you guys will think I'm overly fond of Jennifer!) :cool:

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measureman said:
Johnny Depp would probably pay for dinner.
Johnny Archer would have you pay for dinner and hit it you up for cab fare.
and to answer the OP's question. I put no one on a pedestal.
I was once in a pool room and one of if not the greatest cue maker to ever live came in.
I thought some of the guys were going to cum in their pants.
To me he was just another person with a great skill. that's it.
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^^^ What he said ^^^
 
Justin,
I don't see any of the pro players as celebrities but I do see them as comrades who try to master the white. Since they seem to do a far better job at it than I do, I give them props.

Each of the pro players like most actors, have their own personality and so each has their own set of fans, much similar to actors in that respect.

I understand how you might feel excited hanging out and competing with the greatest in the sport that you love.

We need more people like you in our sport. Thanks for sharing the journey.

JoeyA


justinb386 said:
This might seem really silly (to many of you), but to me, I see my favorite pro pool players in the same way as I see my favorite actors.

When I was at the DCC last year, it was so exciting for me, because I felt like there were celebrities walking around all over the place.

Many of my favorite players walked right past me, as I was chatting with the really friendly door person (the guy who made sure that everyone that went through into the tournament room paid for a pass to get in).

I felt really out of place though, because I felt like I was in a room filled with God's.

I would have loved to meet many of my favorite players that I seen, but I am an extremely shy person.

I think that $260 seems like a small price to pay for a chance to compete against one of your favorite pro players, but I think the chances of drawing one of those players is very slim, with the size of the field.

Anyways, just curious if you see your favorite pro players in the same way that you see celebrities (like your favorite actors for example), or do you not see them in that high of a regard?

Thanks for your thoughts about this.
Click to expand...
 
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