Earl Strickland: Talks to self, audience, opponent, and others
- Thread starter PoolChump
- Start date
Not sure what video you are referring to, but here is an incomplete list of the things earl ranted about while darren was at the table and/or shooting:
The cloth was dirty.
The balls were skidding.
Darren took to long to get to his chair after he shot the lat time.
Darren started for his chair to quickly after he shot the last time.
Darren was looking at the safety he had just shot for too long.
Nick varner was talking to loud in the streaming booth.(30 feet away)
someone was chewing food while he was shooting.
Someone was taking a drink while he was shooting.
Someone used a napkin to wipe there mouth while he was shooting
someone clapped for darren & no one was in his (earl's) favor.
Too many people clapped for him (earl) when he made a shot.
The wall was too close to the table at the rack end.
Darren was lucky, that is the only reason he ever won games.
Darren got all good rolls & he (earl) only got bad rolls.
Darren was breaking so earl would not have a shot at the one.
At one point the owner of the venue / earls sponsor clapped for earl after a win & said "okay earl, keep it up. Let's go" in a very uplifting & encouraging tone. (earl whined about it)
my fingers are getting tired,
slim
The cloth was dirty.
The balls were skidding.
Darren took to long to get to his chair after he shot the lat time.
Darren started for his chair to quickly after he shot the last time.
Darren was looking at the safety he had just shot for too long.
Nick varner was talking to loud in the streaming booth.(30 feet away)
someone was chewing food while he was shooting.
Someone was taking a drink while he was shooting.
Someone used a napkin to wipe there mouth while he was shooting
someone clapped for darren & no one was in his (earl's) favor.
Too many people clapped for him (earl) when he made a shot.
The wall was too close to the table at the rack end.
Darren was lucky, that is the only reason he ever won games.
Darren got all good rolls & he (earl) only got bad rolls.
Darren was breaking so earl would not have a shot at the one.
At one point the owner of the venue / earls sponsor clapped for earl after a win & said "okay earl, keep it up. Let's go" in a very uplifting & encouraging tone. (earl whined about it)
my fingers are getting tired,
slim
Some find children entertaining
earl has greatness and should only do his talking with his stick. there are enough distractions in the pro ranks that keep purses down and a lack of quality events..there are people trying to make it better for the industry lets not make a mockery of our great sport. cmon earl be a great ambassador.
not i.
Nor did anyone there last weekend.
At this event it was $10.00 just to get in for the bleacher seats & $25.00 for the vip seats.
Not a fortune but evidently enough to keep out the jerks who would only have been there to egg earl on when he started to melt down.
The majority of the attendees were my age or older, sadly i think that makes a big difference too.
Slim
It would be nice if earl was a great ambassador for the game. But unfortunately his whole life shows he isn't. There is a wide gulf between quirkiness and jackassery. And if anyone thinks he will change they are being very optimistic. Like drawing THREE cards to an inside straight.
I was in the VIP section Friday night sitting right behind Earl. As much as I like his game his antics are just terrible. Earl was just on tilt after the 1st set making excuses , ball skidded did you see that bla bla bla.
At one point he turned my way and started saying " Did you see that ball skid & ranting loudly at me for some 2 minutes and I just shook my head. He finally said " Your not even listening to me why am I talking to you "
This conversation was so loud most of the spectators could hear him.
It's not like Earl mumbles a few things he is very vocal. He thinks everyone is against him. Even when you clap for Earl after a good shot he turns to the crowd and says something like " Why are you clapping ", thinking you are dissing him or something.
At one point he turned my way and started saying " Did you see that ball skid & ranting loudly at me for some 2 minutes and I just shook my head. He finally said " Your not even listening to me why am I talking to you "
This conversation was so loud most of the spectators could hear him.
It's not like Earl mumbles a few things he is very vocal. He thinks everyone is against him. Even when you clap for Earl after a good shot he turns to the crowd and says something like " Why are you clapping ", thinking you are dissing him or something.
PoolChump
Banned
I was in the VIP section Friday night sitting right behind Earl. As much as I like his game his antics are just terrible. Earl was just on tilt after the 1st set making excuses , ball skidded did you see that bla bla bla.
At one point he turned my way and started saying " Did you see that ball skid & ranting loudly at me for some 2 minutes and I just shook my head. He finally said " Your not even listening to me why am I talking to you "
This conversation was so loud most of the spectators could hear him.
It's not like Earl mumbles a few things he is very vocal. He thinks everyone is against him. Even when you clap for Earl after a good shot he turns to the crowd and says something like " Why are you clapping ", thinking you are dissing him or something.
I think Earl is starting to lose his mind or has a very weak mental game. Don't know Earl and unfortunately have never seen him play in person, but almost every video of him shows these outbursts.:frown::frown:
Under WPA (world-standardized) rules, "distracting the opponent" is unsportsmanlike conduct. The penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct is to be determined by the referee, but it can range all the way from just a warning to ejection from the event and even forfeiture of any prize(s).
Of course, not all events operate under WPA rules. But it has long been my view that one of the problems related to Earl's behavior is that referees and tournament directors going way back have sort of enabled Earl's behavior by often failing to take appropriate action when Earl starts his antics. Those antics are decidedly in the category of "distracting the opponent." In fact, they have often distracted not only his opponent, but all the other players in the room.
You know how a stand-up comedian develops an act and then take it on the road, repeating it almost verbatim in club after club? That's what Earl does in pool, although his "act" is far from funny. To me, the debate about whether he has a medical condition that makes him unable to control himself is irrelevant. When his "act" kicks in, the rules should be applied, even to the point, if necessary, of removing him from the stage.
Unless there is one sanctioning body for pro pool, rules in this game a similar to a game of 4 square on a playground. I say until then ebrace the crazy and sell it for a million, hell if snookie can do it earl can too.
it's a dead horse
What is tired is this same old conversation brought up over and over.
If Earl was different, he wouldn't be Earl.
It's been pretty much agreed upon; he has mental issues, maybe bi-polar, maybe other psychological disorders....he probably needs meds, but he probably doesn't take 'em.
It's too bad, but he's still one of the great pool players in history.
That, no one can take away; no matter how many more Earl threads anyone starts.
What is tired is this same old conversation brought up over and over.
If Earl was different, he wouldn't be Earl.
It's been pretty much agreed upon; he has mental issues, maybe bi-polar, maybe other psychological disorders....he probably needs meds, but he probably doesn't take 'em.
It's too bad, but he's still one of the great pool players in history.
That, no one can take away; no matter how many more Earl threads anyone starts.
Earl's antics seem to get worse with age...he has Earlsheimers.
You know, as much as I agree that there should be some kind of punishment in place we also have to look at it from a promoter's standpoint and paying viewers stand point. Probably 50% of these outbursts are in a "Special Events" arena. Like the recent 4 pocket match. People paid to see this and the promoter has a 3-4 day match. SOOOO If the promoter says "That's enough Earl, you are out of here" on day 2 the people who paid for the watch will be pissed and want their money back and now the Promoter could be in a position to lose money. I would hate to see someone put time and effort and risk $$ and end up losing money because someone had a melt down. In tourney play that's another story get whoever it is out. I am not saying its acceptable to put up with the BS nomatter what but its a tough call for someone.
Isn't there a rule that keeps players from talking? If not, it should be ball-in-hand if a player talks like Earl does in this video.
Does Earl almost lose it? Strange sounds, excuses, and more!
all professional sports is "entertainment"
if he "entertains", thats all that really matters...
justinb386
Banned
I was in the VIP section Friday night sitting right behind Earl. As much as I like his game his antics are just terrible. Earl was just on tilt after the 1st set making excuses , ball skidded did you see that bla bla bla.
At one point he turned my way and started saying " Did you see that ball skid & ranting loudly at me for some 2 minutes and I just shook my head. He finally said " Your not even listening to me why am I talking to you "
This conversation was so loud most of the spectators could hear him.
It's not like Earl mumbles a few things he is very vocal. He thinks everyone is against him. Even when you clap for Earl after a good shot he turns to the crowd and says something like " Why are you clapping ", thinking you are dissing him or something.
I have to agree with Earl on the cheers and clapping annoyance. I would not want the croud doing any of that for me, and I would be very annoyed by it.
Earl should really give his opponent the same treatment that he wishes he would get though. He should not be talking at all while his opponent is shooting. If he wants to talk about his own game while he (himself) is at the table, then that is fine, but the things he does when his opponents are at the table are not right, and should be against the rules. Pro's should show class, and that means acting in a pro mannor.
I want to a see a "Grumpy Old Men" type of movie starring Earl and someone else. Maybe Effren? (He's the right age, and the polar opposite) Who else would be a good grumpy old man?
As far as the attitude goes, It seems to me that grumpy old men typically get grumpier as they get older, so I wouldn't expect a turnaround from Earl. He is who he is, and will probably just get worse. Promoters and fans alike will just get tired of it and will eventually just ignore him (by not working with him). The thing I feel bad for Earl about is he's not considering the legacy he's leaving. I fear that at the end of his pool playing days he's going to find him himself very alone.
As far as the attitude goes, It seems to me that grumpy old men typically get grumpier as they get older, so I wouldn't expect a turnaround from Earl. He is who he is, and will probably just get worse. Promoters and fans alike will just get tired of it and will eventually just ignore him (by not working with him). The thing I feel bad for Earl about is he's not considering the legacy he's leaving. I fear that at the end of his pool playing days he's going to find him himself very alone.
