Dopingtests in pool
- Thread starter mjantti
- Start date
SUPERSTAR said:
So he wouldn't do that to himself, huh? lol
To me, this is just another result of the drug laws distorting the truth. Drugs, bad; herbs, good. Prescriptions, dangerous; off the shelf, safe. They're all just chemicals, in one way or another and had better be analysed objectively BY THE USER, not prejudged and catagorized by someone else with completely different motivations.
imho,
Jeff Livingston
O
onepocketchump
Guest
drivermaker said:
Cocaine, pain pills, uppers, even Ritalin and drugs like that help to maintian focus. And as Efren says, focus is the most important part of pool.
If you have never seen anyone whose pool playing has been improved while on drugs then you have pretty limited experience. I used to play a guy who would do coke or meth right in front of me and play like Strickland, complete with whining, for about an hour. Then when the high was wearing off there would be a definite change in his play, more tentative, less sharp, more prone to indecision and making the wrong move, more missed balls. I tried to beat him knowing he was on the stuff because I wanted to prove to myslef that I could fade it. I broke even with him during the drug sessions and won mostly when he wasn't high.
Now, I have a bulging disk in my back and I am on pain pills for the first time in my life. Being pain free is a wonderful enhancement to my game in and of itself but I do find that I play differently on the pills than off. On the pills I seem to be more lucid and able to block out the surroundings, I can focus better and "see" the outs better. I have come to understand why so many players do drugs when they play for serious money. Luckily for me I have just baout quit gambling for anything signifigant so I don't see myself falling into the trap of "needing" something to play on. Hopefully.
John
O
onepocketchump
Guest
lunchmoney said:
This reminds me of another story in Buddy's book. He and Jimmy Reed agreed to play a five ahead set for some amount and Jimmy took some "snappers" right before the match. They flipped and Buddy won the flip and ran five racks. By the end of Buddy's run the "snappers" were kicking in and Jimmy was wired up and ready to play but was now busted. Jimmy told Buddy that he did the rottenest thing one person could do to another one.
John
drivermaker
Banned
onepocketchump said:
And since Efren probably has the best focus in the game and is one of the favorites, if not THEE favorite in every tournament he enters, what drug do you think HE uses? I say NONE! Would you like to enlighten me and say differently? I can guarantee you he doesn't do speed, I've done enough of them to know the signs. They stick out like a sore thumb and he has never come close to exhibiting any of them. He walks around as slow as molasses, sometimes he looks like he's going to sleep, he never gets pissed or hyper when he misses, he doesn't have excessive thirst, and he's as quiet as a church mouse and never talks. 100% the opposite of what you're like when on them. So, what is he on?
I said the same as you on another post in this thread. And that is when a guy is coming down from the max effects, the game also comes down quite rapidly. I never used them during the day, only during long late night sessions and they definitely make a difference, mainly because your body and mind is fighting itself to go to sleep without them and you're not sharp. With them, it's like you've slept for a week with after burners kicking in and everything is kind of crackling right in front of you...colors, ball size, edges, lights, etc.
John, I think you're a gambler at heart. It's in your blood and that in itself is a high. You know it and I know it. Don't be surprised if you find yourself reaching for them down the road if you get involved in some high stakes game now that you know what the effects are. A lot of better, stronger, people than you and I have gotten hooked or badly abused them.
O
onepocketchump
Guest
I totally agree with you about Efren. I have never even heard a hint of him using anything. And most top players that I have ever read about who have been candid about their use of drugs have almost all said that there is no better feeling than winning on the natural.
I think that Efren's state of being when he plays is the sort of nirvana that pool players seek and thise that can't seem to get there naturally sometimes turn to drugs to attempt to get there.
I am totally ambivalent when it comes to drugs use. I have no hard opinion one way or the other. I do tend to draw the line when someone else'e drug use is obviously harmful to those that depend on him. I.E. when someone abuses drugs to the point where their kids can't eat is too far. When someone uses drugs and puts themselves in a position to be dangerous to others, i.e. driving, operating a nuclear plant or the like is too far. Otherwise, if people want to use drugs for their own recreation or self medication then more power to them. Each of us should have the right to do with our bodies what we will as long as that doesn't harm another.
I read a great article in Reason a few years ago in which the theme was that societal pressure to be "normal" is a driving force behind drug use, both prescripition and illegal. The article hypothesized that in the future we may be "dialed" in precisely to be pretty much all the same and that this type of world would not neccesarily be desirable.
Another way to look at it is that most creativity stems from personality disorders. In some studies it was found that most great artists and scientists have some form of personality disorder. So, if such disorders begin to be chemically regulated from a young age there is a very real possibility that the world as a whole may see a dramatic decline in creativity, invention and discovery.
On the other hand though, maybe when more "normal" people take the same drugs then they will become more creative and inventive...........
Remember Flowers for Algernon?
John
I think that Efren's state of being when he plays is the sort of nirvana that pool players seek and thise that can't seem to get there naturally sometimes turn to drugs to attempt to get there.
I am totally ambivalent when it comes to drugs use. I have no hard opinion one way or the other. I do tend to draw the line when someone else'e drug use is obviously harmful to those that depend on him. I.E. when someone abuses drugs to the point where their kids can't eat is too far. When someone uses drugs and puts themselves in a position to be dangerous to others, i.e. driving, operating a nuclear plant or the like is too far. Otherwise, if people want to use drugs for their own recreation or self medication then more power to them. Each of us should have the right to do with our bodies what we will as long as that doesn't harm another.
I read a great article in Reason a few years ago in which the theme was that societal pressure to be "normal" is a driving force behind drug use, both prescripition and illegal. The article hypothesized that in the future we may be "dialed" in precisely to be pretty much all the same and that this type of world would not neccesarily be desirable.
Another way to look at it is that most creativity stems from personality disorders. In some studies it was found that most great artists and scientists have some form of personality disorder. So, if such disorders begin to be chemically regulated from a young age there is a very real possibility that the world as a whole may see a dramatic decline in creativity, invention and discovery.
On the other hand though, maybe when more "normal" people take the same drugs then they will become more creative and inventive...........
Remember Flowers for Algernon?
John
drivermaker
Banned
hemicudas said:
LOL...That was my point...you know damn well he ain't on speed. So if he's not on speed, he sure as hell isn't playing on downers either because they don't help your game. He's gotta be the oldest cleanest guy out there. Maybe that's why he's this old and still puttin' whup ass on everyone, because he hasn't abused himself, along with the fact that he's just super talented.
But let's face it...you know and I know that you can play lights out on uppers for a few days and clean house with the money. But if you don't time it right and you go out there one time too many thinking that you'll keep the string going, you'll lose everything plus more from making bad betting decisions because of a false sense of bravado while your body and mind is breaking down and making you play like shit.
onepocketchump said:
Hi John,
I bet more people saw Cliff Robertson in "Charlie" than read the book. A good one to pick though.