). But the outcome was that it sat in front of the hole like a duck. Earl calmly pockets the match-winning 9, goes over and without smiling, shakes the guy's hand with a limp wrist, turns his back on him and starts practicing that shot he missed and others. The kid is still standing there, looking like he wants to say something else.
And there are so many more stories like this .....is Earl married ? if he is i feel sorry for his wife...........rackmsuckr said:Earl's brain is just left of sideways.
In Reno one time, he pummeled this kid whom you could tell was playing his idol. The score is 8-0 in a race to 9. Earl misses a 9, it swirls the pocket then rolls over to a tough position on the side rail. To make the ball, the kid is going to have to fire it in a thousand miles an hour to pinch it (no cross-over bank without the double kiss) or duck. Well, who's gonna duck when there's a chance to win? - Earl doesn't leave many 9 balls laying around. So the kid barrels it in the hole, it goes in, then pops back up on the table. For a fraction of an instant, the kid was a winner (of one game, but hey, that would give him SOME bragging rights.
Now in my mind, that was a great time to be a good ambassador for the sport. He could have smiled and said, "You almost had me, kid" or something to that effect, maybe showed him a couple things. The kid was clearly star-struck, but I'm not sure how long that lasted after that behavior.
Earl comes to Seattle and puts on a trick shot exhibition. Things don't all roll right and he keeps at it, like 12-20 takes, until it is just embarrassing...for the crowd! He doesn't even realize it! At one point, he said very honestly (to himself anyway), "I could have done that one better if I tried harder."
Then he takes challengers, and I broke and ran on him and won a Camel cue which he signed. He was very nice and told me I should be on the pro tour. Maybe he was being nice because he was being paid to?
Fast forward to the IPT KOH tournament. I'm not sure he remembers me from long ago, I haven't played in anything he has played in since (maybe Reno). He sees me in line to get our player photgraphs taken. He goes, "Are you a player on this (tour)?" I said, "Yes". He looked at me then off into space for a dragged out 5 seconds before replying, "Well good luck, you're going to need it!"
He wasn't trying to be mean or derogatory, that's just Earl. He has no filter on his mouth. It goes straight from his brain to his lips. We just all had to laugh. It was true, but I truly don't think he knows how hurtful his actions and words can be. The world is there to please Earl and we are all just players in his game.
To show his true mental capacity, I asked him if he remembered me, and I jogged his memory by telling him he was up in Seattle for a Camel trick shot show and then he remembered. Then he lit up and said, "Yeah, that was a great show, everything went, didn't they?" Well, yeah, if you mean after 20 tries! Now I have that filter and didn't try to correct him with the truth. But in his mind, in a galaxy far, far away, all he remembered were the winners. And that's probably why he is a champion and I am the ambassador.
FYI just found out its the blood sugar/inside info.BAZARUS said:
Fleece3 said:
straybullet said:Well... I wasnt at Derby City, but I think it is only fair to say that I have seen Earl interact with kids before and he has been super with them. Not all of us are all good or all bad. We all have our moments, and Earl has had more moments than most of us (lol) but everytime I have seen Earl, he has always been a perfect gentleman.
Below is a picture of Earl after losing a close game to Kieth Josey's son Daniel this past summer at Eydie's event in Orlando.
Here is apicture of Earl with little Marissa Yi of Columbus, Georgia. They are obviously discussing the danger of gay avatars. I don't think Earl approves of them.
Earl has been getting appearance fees for well over 25 years.... and it's money well spent. If Earl won't be at the table I for one won't be in the stands. Most pro pool players are creeps but Earl is the only one everybody is worried about (WHY) because he's F*##^&@ incredible.Fleece3 said:If you have ever doubted that Earl was the biggest thing in pool, all you have to do is look at this forum. NO ONE inspires more conversation than Earl Strickland!! Simply mention his name in a subject line and you are guaranteed multiple pages of responses. Love him or hate him, the man is a lighting rod and a major draw. People simply can not stop talking about him.
I had a conversation recently with one of the organizers of a major event in NYC event (held at Slate and espn zone). And the number one question that they received was "is Earl coming?". Not just in person, but also on the phone!!! People were actually basing their decision on attending based upon Earl's attendence. It is for that reason that Earl will never be barred from any event or organization. This man may be a genuis. If things keep going this way. promotors may start paying Earl an appearance fee to play in their event. It doesn't even matters if he wins or loses.
Why does Cuetec keep supporting him?? Well, lets look at the US Open. He blows up playing Ralf, all of the pool world is talking about it. Do a search up here if you want to verify. Then the very next day, with everyone watching to see "whats going to happen" he calmly DISMANTLES Efren "The Magician" Reyes. And in front of a world stage to boot. Have you looked at your new accu-stats catalog? The match with Ralf is not available. However, the one with Efren IS.
Again, love him or hate him, no one brings pool passions to the forefront like Earl.
So you want Earl to go away? Stop talking about him!! But we can't do that now can we
That being said, I am a huge fan of Earl's. He has always been really cool with me whenever our paths have crossed. And yes, this includes conversations that I have had with him after he had lost.
