Earl was at it again, during the IPT!!!!!

Earl's behaviour

Like all of you I'm totally shocked that Earl displayed poor sportsmanship!
 
Whether they like it or not, top pool players are the face of the game. They do have a responsibility to act properly. Same with other sports.
 
Sargo said:
Whether they like it or not, top pool players are the face of the game. They do have a responsibility to act properly. Same with other sports.
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In the Boston area we have a saying in reference to Manny Ramerez (Boston Red Soxs), "It's just Manny being Manny".
This is just Earl being Earl. Piss and moan all you like, he isn't going to change. I'd say he pretty accurately reflects a part of the game I see often down among us mere mortals. I don't like it here and I don't like it in Earl, but it just is part of the game.
 
Nine Ball said:
Poor Earl. The guy just wants to win more then anything and when he loses he takes it straight to heart. When he's hurt he lashes out and at times looks a fool. If he could only find a way to channel that anger into his game.
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Well, I do feel sorry for him too in a way, but the bottom line is that we all need be responsible and accountable for our own actions.

ALL of the pros want to win! I don't think you could make it to that level without wanting to win REALLY badly. If he wants to win more than anything, (including more than wanting to treat other people with respect) then he shouldn't be surprised when people try to put him in check.

We all have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, not just Earl.
 
catscradle said:
In the Boston area we have a saying in reference to Manny Ramerez (Boston Red Soxs), "It's just Manny being Manny".
This is just Earl being Earl. Piss and moan all you like, he isn't going to change. I'd say he pretty accurately reflects a part of the game I see often down among us mere mortals. I don't like it here and I don't like it in Earl, but it just is part of the game.
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No it is not. You may see it in others or yourself, but you don't have to and should not, tolerate it. If Nick Van Den Berg or all the other players behaved the same way, then you wouldn't have a decent pool tournament. Just players trying to "psyche" each other out.
 
I posted some of his snits from yesterday in the IPT section in the thread IPT pictures.
 
I'm sure this analogy has been brought up before about Earl vs pool and John McEnroe vs tennis. McEnroe brought a lot of exposure to tennis through his antics on the court. As did Ille Nastase and Jimmy Connors. But the majority of the tennis players from that era and today respect the game and show manners on the court. They learned it wasn't the norm.

Earl's antics while playing are in the minority when it comes down to pool players today. Some potential future players watching him on tv will learn that, too.

Barbara
 
I'm shocked no one has put the blame on Nick in this fiasco. All I hear is Earl, Earl, Earl. He held his hand and wouldn't let go for christ sakes and then he has the audasity to demand Earl to look at him in the eye. My question is who in the blue hell does Nick think he is to demand this????I don't know either of them on a personal level but if what people are saying is true than Nick is the one that fueled the fire. Earl should of told him to let go of his hand before he jap slaps him.
 
Nick had the responsibility to tell his "gurus" to keep quiet and show respect to his opponent. I would guess it is no coincidence they started their sharking when he was playing Earl. Earl has every right to confront Nick and his gurus. The Tour has responsibility to throw these hecklers out. Crazy fans are great for many sports, but for golf, tennis and pool some sort of civility is necessary for the sport to thrive. That is why pro golf and tennis has produced so many more millionaires than pool.
 
Double-Dave said:
I too think it wasn't a big deal. Just Nick letting Earl know he's not one to be messed with. I didn't hear any of the insults that Earl threw at the Family of Nick van den Berg (not Varner) so for me it came down to Earl not looking Nick in the eye when they shook hands, Nick didn't like that and held Earl's hand a little longer and firmer, which Earl didn't like. No biggie. The reason I mentioned the checking of the cueball placement was that it was the first time he did this in the match and it was hill-hill. Earl put a bit of a shark on Nick, but nothing to bad. Insults to family are not acceptable in my book, but have nothing to do with the match. You insult people, eventually one will knock you out.

gr. Dave

after Nick held Earl's hand:

Nick: You should...
Earl: Man you can't do that to me, go ahead do somethin', do somethin'.
Nick: You watch me in the eye if you shake hands.
Earl: Do somethin', your people act like fools. That's why I didn't look at you.
Nick: A little bit of respect, man
Earl: That's why I didn't look at you cause you've got fools for people, you see any fools around me?
Nick: I don't understand why people clap for you.
Earl: I don't understand 'em clapping for you!
Nick's cornerman: Nice match, Earl......difficult to make out.
Earl: Difficult to make out exactly but big mouth was used.
Earl: Ok, I'm sorry about that Nick.
Nick: Don't say that.
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What did Nick's people do to make Earl call them fools? Man, all this drama is hard to keep up with. Maybe they should make a reality show out of this!!

Hey, "Sore_Aintya", where is your logo (AZ Billiards - We know Drama!) when we need it?
 
The primary difference between what we see in pool and what we have seen in tennis and other sports is respect for your opponent and the game.

McEnroe and others would almost always seem to direct their anger towards the officials, not their opponent. When either one of two opponents directs anger or any other controversal action towards the other opponent, the only expected outcome is to disrupt their performance. McEnroe would show his frustration when losing by taking it out on the officials. This would not directly disrupt his opponent and therefore is not what I call a "Shark".

In pool, some tend to direct these actions directly at their opponent. This definately constitutes a "Shark" and disrespects the game more than anything else. If we are to expect this great game to grow to be all that it can be, it must be accepted by the public. If we allow these "Sharks" to happen without penalty, we are all keeping the game from becoming all that it can be.
Royce Bunnell
www.obcues.com
 
Here's where all the info you need can be found. InsidePOOL is doing the coverage for the IPT website and updating their website at the same time. Below is the story....

Strickland Goes off the Air

In his match with Nick Van den Berg, Earl Strickland appeared to have difficulties keeping his head on straight, though he won hill-hill. Several games into the match, Van den Berg’s family was whispering amongst themselves when Strickland turned around and asked them to “shut up” because he was about to shoot. This didn’t seem to score points with the audience, and when one member glared at Strickland, he warned, “Don’t you give me that sour look.”

Things deteriorated from there, with Strickland shouting at several audience members. He won the match and tried to give Van den Berg a half-hearted handshake, but Van den Berg grabbed his hand firmly when Strickland tried to pull away.

“He got under my skin, Strickland, because he was talking to my family and saying stupid stuff,” Van den Berg affirmed afterward, “and he even tried to start a fight with my brother-in-law. Those are things you can’t do. It’s nice to see someone who is entertaining like Mike Sigel but this was just … a disgrace to the sport. That’s all I can say.”

Strickland seemed anxious to share his side after the match. “There was a little controversy—his gurus were talking while I was trying to shoot a shot, so I thought I had the opportunity to get on him. They leave themselves open like that, I’m gonna trash them like they trash me. I don’t have anybody protecting me, so I better protect myself from these people. Until you got people protecting me, I won’t stop trashing people for running their mouth. I’m sick of it. I know I’m a terrible person but you still have to show me some kind of respect. If it would have been another fan I would not have gotten on them, but it was his gurus. If they are gonna run their mouth, they are gonna get trashed."


Regarding the match itself, Strickland commented, “Well, it was a comedy of errors, really. From me and a few from him. The tables are tightening up, and he cant make as many balls on the break … things are changing. He didn't make anything on the break seven-seven, and I ran out."
 
Yep, everytime I read an article about Strickland (like the one in BD a few months back) it almost makes me like the guy and sympathize with him on certain things... BUT... After reading Timberly's post and other things it always reassures me that Earl is an asshole and always will be. I hope someone kicks the shit out of him one day.
 
catscradle said:
As I said in the other thread about this... "Strickland is Strickland", everybody knows what to expect.
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Sure, everyone does know what to expect from Earl. Disrespect through and through. Just because they know how Earl "is" is no reason to expect them to accept it. Earl is certainly a draw but he is going to get his ass popped one of these days for the absolutely horrible things he says. And it won't be pretty.

I can tell you all from ten years of experience that the European pool world is BUILT on mutual respect and sportsmanship. I would bet my bottom dollar that NO ONE in NIck Van de Berg's corner would have uttered a peep towards antagonizing Earl unless Earl brought it on himself. Would they root vocally for Nick? Absolutely as they should. Earl's fan do it for him. His opponents don't turn around and start arguing with the crowd about it.

And the fake ass handshake. Come on Earl BE A MAN for once and shake the guy's hand and respect him for the gladiator he is. Look him in the eye and say GOOD GAME with some measure of sincerity. Have some dignity and class. Don't make all your wins and losses tainted.

John
 
Nick has a large amount of people and family who will go with him to support him anywhere! Normally that makes him stronger and then it is a + point to have them around! Earl found a way to mak it a - point by insulting a few of them. That way he got underneath Nick his skin. If Nick just would had made the 8 on 7-6 score for him, ..... they all would have laughed. But he didn't and earl ran the last rack so everybody was pissed off. As a dutchie i was pissed of aswell... and i really do not like the way Earl sharks all the time.... but its a part of his game.. and as a pro you should be able to handle this..... Next time Nick hopefuly wil be prepared for this part of somebodys mental game.
 
Jus my 2 cents !

People, people, people; some like the eyes, and yet, some like the eyebuggers...:eek:

Not protecting, nor accusing; but try to put yoursel in any of those "GUYS" shoes, and tell me honestly, - What would you have done ???
One thing I know for sure; it was more important to then, in that particular moment, than it is now for us !

After all, they may be PROFESSIONAL POOL PLAYERS, but they still humans to me, and don't go telling me now that you never lost your cool in a crucial match !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

The "Monk" teaches - "WIN AND DEAL WITH IT !" , and " I " say " LOOSE !, AND IT'S A LOT HARDER TO DEAL WITH IT !!! "
In everyone of us lives a critic...
Me, personaly, LOVE YOU ALL ! Keep up the good job...:D
 
onepocketchump said:
Sure, everyone does know what to expect from Earl. Disrespect through and through. Just because they know how Earl "is" is no reason to expect them to accept it. Earl is certainly a draw but he is going to get his ass popped one of these days for the absolutely horrible things he says. And it won't be pretty.

I can tell you all from ten years of experience that the European pool world is BUILT on mutual respect and sportsmanship. I would bet my bottom dollar that NO ONE in NIck Van de Berg's corner would have uttered a peep towards antagonizing Earl unless Earl brought it on himself. Would they root vocally for Nick? Absolutely as they should. Earl's fan do it for him. His opponents don't turn around and start arguing with the crowd about it.

And the fake ass handshake. Come on Earl BE A MAN for once and shake the guy's hand and respect him for the gladiator he is. Look him in the eye and say GOOD GAME with some measure of sincerity. Have some dignity and class. Don't make all your wins and losses tainted.

John
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I agree 100% OPC. Good post.

I think that if Earl was funny instead of insulting, everyone would be rooting for him, every match.
There is no need to insult your opponent and that handshake was an insult. I don't think earl should be able to decide whats acceptable or not.
Gabber
 
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When This Banger Thinks of Pool...

Icon of Sin said:
. He is a representative of the sport and a representative of the US when shooting in major tournies. When a banger thinks of Pool, I dont want them to start thinking about Earl Strickland's antics.
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When I think about our sport, the first thing that comes to my mind is "It's like a nightmare.....It just keeps getting worse and worse"..... Kieth McCready in The Color of Money is the image of pool I have.....Thanks Kieth, I also thought you were great on the KOH TV series.....stating lack of beer as your handcap... loved the candor of the moment.....A side from that it's dim memories of Fats v Mosconi on Wide World of Sports.....Don't remember much of it but I know, as a kid, I found Fats to be highly entertaining....Willie seemed to serious.

Maybe Nicks people were trying to get under earls skin to get a reaction......My problem with earl is that he wears his emotions on his sleeve.....No one like to see anybody cry about losing. Like Dennis Rodman crying on camera about making minimum wage in the NBA and how he gets no credit or respect....Nobody likes to see a grown man cry....

McCue Banger McCue
 
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