Does anyone actually believe GAMBLING will
- Thread starter CocoboloCowboy
- Start date
softshot said:
I was 4 or 5 when I watched my Dad play pool at the local AA club and they were gambling, I grew up with pool and gambling together, I honestly think that pool is a gamblers game, just like cards. You won't ever get away from it and I don't think that gambling has ever really put a black mark on pool in any living person's current lifetime. People who decide to give pool its due and practice understand that gambling is part of the game and will always be part of the game. Go to a big tournament and your paying the 150 on a gamble that you might be able to win the 3,000 dollar 1st place pot, or whatever it happens to be. Pete Rose isn't anything like a "straight up" pool gambler who gets in a good game for a race to 20 for a grand, but more like a hustler who's only trick in the bag is to lay down and dog the night away to come back the next evening to get a large payout from the mark. Their is no rules in pool saying that Gambling is Illegal and honestly I doubt there isn't a One-Pocket or Bank pool Hall of Famer that has never put a few thousand on the line (Although Freddy The Beard could probably answer that question). If you don't like gambling that's fine but don't knock it, you probably already knew how much gambling and pool were intertwined when you started practicing to be good player.
And more on topic:
Gambling is a tool and way to get your body, mind and soul comfortable with pressure. Honestly if your playing for $10 or $20 a game your getting nothing out of it but a few gallons of gas. To really get your nerves running and hands shaking and your forehead sweaty you really gotta put it on the line. I have a friend who can play in tournaments lights out and he is really good in that arena, but unless that guy has beads of sweat running down his face you will never see his best game. He either needs to be playing the point man for the cheese and has to win two races to whatever to win 1st or slap a $100 dollars a game in One-pocket on the table while he is giving someone, that can pocket the balls at his speed, 2 balls and the break. When it comes down to it I would rather have him on my side then any other guy in anyone's area who shoots his speed but for some reason doesn't like to gamble. Gambling is pool whether you accept that or not is not my problem.
Gambling like Drug or Alcohol Abuse is a DISEASE that give the Gambler a RUSH, not winning or loosing, the placing of the bet. The out come is totally unimportant.
CocoboloCowboy said:
it sounds like you have your mind made up as to whether or not gambling is beneficial for one's pool game. if its not for you its ok
i know the only way i will improve is to gamble against people that are better than me or give up the nutz to lesser players and try to out run it
and not everyone that gambles has an addiction and should not be viewed negatively
If you want the pressure of gambling to help turn your nerves to steel then you need to match up with someone of equal ore greater ability and not take any damn spots. I don't see how anyone honestly feels that they are improving their game asking for a spot. Also, like I said in another post, gambling with punters around the pool room isn't setting you on your path to greatness. Get someone that can whoop your ass up one side and down the other, don't take a spot, and put the cabbage on the table. Sweat those bullets.
It just amazes me all the stories I'm reading about all these stone cold gamblers on here yet I've never heard more than 2 or 3 people's names before.
MULLY
It just amazes me all the stories I'm reading about all these stone cold gamblers on here yet I've never heard more than 2 or 3 people's names before.
MULLY
CocoboloCowboy said:
Only if you have a problem with gambling. Sounds to me like you may know someone who does. Amazing how bitter some people are about whether other people gamble or not and why. I have to wonder if that's why you started this thread in the first place. It's not like it hasn't been discussed here adnauseum before this.
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uwate said:
You may be confusing your cause and effects here. That most good players gamble does not mean gambling made them good neccessarily. It merely means that most of the people attracted to pool happen to be gamblers. This would likely be because of pool's image as a gamblers game.
I would guess that many pool players are not really pool players at all, but rather gamblers who have taken up pool to support their gambling hobby and learned to enjoy it. The proof would be to take away the gambling. How many pool gamblers would continue to play and how many would quit and play another game where they could gamble?
Most pool gamblers I know also love poker, blackjack and pretty much any form of gambling. If they couldn't gamble at pool they wouldn't play at all.
Ed
JCIN said:
some us do think that pool is a sport. I think it should be a part of winter Olympic games.
My definition of a sport requires a physical skill be used in competition.
It takes the same kind of training and dedication to become world class at pool. as it does to become an Olympic gymnast or swimmer.
I don't think Gambling is bad...I think Gambling is bad for Professional pool.
I happen to agree with your take on the gambling issue, but your example makes no sense.mullyman said:
One is a statement about using gambling as a reward mechanism to improve performance, and the other has nothing to do with performance, and everything to do with enjoyment.
Russ
Practice is like studying for a test. Gambling is the test. So you can spend your whole life studying without taking the test or take the test.
Playing under competitive pressure is the only way to improve.CocoboloCowboy said:Make you a better Pool Player.:sorry: I hear this song and dance all the time, and I believe the answer is NO.
If you believe differently.......JUSTIFY WHY YOU THINK NOT
Gambling is one way to do it. Tournament play another.
Russ Chewning said:
It makes total sense, Russ. Gambling isn't going to improve your play, only practice will do that. Gambling will make the game more interesting for you if that's what you prefer but it won't improve your technique etc... I don't care how much anyone bets. You can bet a billion dollars and it's not going to improve your draw stroke. Hours of practice by yourself is the only thing that is going to accomplish that. Betting is entertainment, just like watching football.
MULLY
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