Earl's version of what happened at SBE.

Couple thoughts-


1. Why not use the magic rack? That gives you a pretty good rack everytime

2. Even if Earl was a complete D-bag it is crazy to think that the TD disqualified him when it was his opponent that was late.
 
edd said:
Regardless of Earl's behavior and your feelings about him, I don't believe it is professional of you to make these comments public.
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this is a public forum
everything i said is the truth.
he dont like it then act right.
 
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TheNewSharkster said:
Couple thoughts-


1. Why not use the magic rack? That gives you a pretty good rack everytime

2. Even if Earl was a complete D-bag it is crazy to think that the TD disqualified him when it was his opponent that was late.
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The Magic Rack assures the rack will be tight, but not straight.

I think what got him DQ'd was a compilation of instances. The last incident apparently was just the straw that broke the camel's back. It sounds like, according to what I understood the TD's comments to mean, that Earl didn't get tossed because his opponents was late. He got tossed because Earl got into a pissing contest over it and he had finally had enough of Earl's antics since the tournament began.
 
The Rooster said:
When the TD said the player has 15 minutes to show up after he calls him . What he is saying is when he announces his name at the beginning of the match not actually calling him on the phone . I was there when Earl was playing Alex . Alex would ask Earl if the rack was ok everytime from the first rack . Earl failed to mention how he smacked the table atleast 8 time with his stick continiously until the TD told him to stop because he missed a shot , then turned and started yelling at Archer who was playing a match on the next table . The TD gave Earl plenty of chances but Earl just kept pushing his luck .
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The 15 minutes after you are called is the norm. Many like to hear their name called and then take a quick bathroom or smoke break and then come to the table refreshed and ready to go. Usually about 5 minutes after the match is called. That is just common practice.
In the mini tournament on Wednesday I get called to the table. The TD had said 15 minutes late and it is a forfeit. I go tell them at about 10 minutes I still do not have an opponent. They call him over the PA again. I wait another 10 minutes and go tell them he has still not showed. They say they just saw him and they will give him another 5 minutes and they move me from the table we were called to originally to another table. It upset me that they were giving him another 5 minutes and were now making me play on another table. So I play like garbage and manage to win a double hill match that I feel I should have been able to win handily. I go on to play well the next match and win the mini final match 6-0 against a better player than I had in the previous match. I should not have won the match before the final the way I played. I just got lucky. But I do feel my being so irritated with the situation when I started that match affected my play the entire match. It made me nervous and I really played like I was under pressure. I could feel my hands shaking. I was sharked in that match from the beginning. So I can relate to Earl feeling like the TD or a player is is doing something to irritate him. I do not think the TD in the mini did anything intentionally to irritate me. They just relaxed the forfeit rules for someone they knew.
Earl was definitely pushing his luck. But the rules need to be enforced in such a way as not to punish the one who is following them. I think Earl should not have been disqualified for what happened when he questioned the TD about the possible forfiet of his opponent, but like the saying goes, "It was the straw that broke the camels back." That particular straw was no big deal, but he had already piled a bunch of straw on that TD camel's back already.
 
TheNewSharkster said:
Couple thoughts-


1. Why not use the magic rack? That gives you a pretty good rack everytime

2. Even if Earl was a complete D-bag it is crazy to think that the TD disqualified him when it was his opponent that was late.
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I totally agree about the magic rack. I hate rack issues. Players can and do cheat so racking for yourself will always create issues. As for racking for your opponent, read previous sentence.

Maybe Earl did deserve to be booted. I can't say as I was not in attendance. But booting Earl when his opponent is MIA seems over the top. If Scott Smith or someone of his caliber had booted Earl I would feel more comfortable about it. The TD did state in his defense of his actions that Mr. Hopkins had spent many years developing this event into the great tournament that it is and proper respect for the game and event needed to be maintained. I agree and this begins with having an experienced, professional "bona fide" TD at the helm. Doesn't this event require a top TD and assistant not a professional comedian who may be loyal to Mr. Hopkins but is not an experienced professional TD? Imagine hiring Carot Top to umpire the World Series.
 
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re earl

all i can say is grow up anyone who bites at EARL STRICKLAND. everyone on the planet knows what earl is like and he has been like this for years, it's nothing new!!! in my opinion the guy is a legend in the game of pool!!

go on earl!!! your the greatest!
 
DogsPlayingPool said:
The Magic Rack assures the rack will be tight, but not straight.

I think what got him DQ'd was a compilation of instances. The last incident apparently was just the straw that broke the camel's back. It sounds like, according to what I understood the TD's comments to mean, that Earl didn't get tossed because his opponents was late. He got tossed because Earl got into a pissing contest over it and he had finally had enough of Earl's antics since the tournament began.
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You can easily put a pencil mark on the table where each corner of the magic rack should sit.....

But I see your point
 
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I think Earl should come forth and make an public apology, just to get all the feathers that he has ruffled in one way shape or form smoothed out.
I hope he can realize that without doing this then he is adapt to FURTHER MORE judgemental criticism against him.
I personally have always appreciated him and his drive to stay on top. I could see that this game can drive a human crazy.
I mean what other sport can u play flawless and still get beat? Pool is the toughest mental game on the planet...jmo.
He is an awesome person and deserves another shot, just as anyone does.
Earl..if you are reading this then i just want to say thank you for being a part of my life of the game of pool...
Oh yea...i will spank you playing golf...;)
 
Despite Earl's behavior in the past how can anyone conclude the ref was not bought off?
 
justnum said:
Despite Earl's behavior in the past how can anyone conclude the ref was not bought off?
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Ok, without all the drama lets look at what Earl has really done wrong here.

1) Complained to the TD that the Rack was not straight and was warned when he got upset that the TD seemed to dismiss his complaint.

2) Got a booted when the player for his next match was not there LATE and asked why the TD was going to go call him.

3) No he didn't handle either situation the way some others may have done but on both counts I think he had a right to complain. If you have driven hours to get there with the gas $$ and the hotel and the entry fee all added up he should get a fair shot.

I am not saying that Alex was tilting the rack on purpose but there was an issue that the TD should have addressed better than "Sit down, shut up and play pool"

I have been following this thread obviously since I started the thing and it only just hit me that once you get past the BS on Earl's past issues and all the smoke and mirrors the real issues that Earl had are things that I believe any of us would have complained about
 
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Reply

pooltchr said:
It does make me wonder if Earl's fate was pre-determined.

Steve
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I fully agree. The whole thing looks suspect. Perhaps he was loud defending himself or maybe his opponent drew the attention? but he surely has a right to demand a decent rack in my opinion and he has a right to an equal representation from the referee as well after all his entry is paying the man.

336Robin :thumbup:
 
Some of the posts would make the Flash sound intelligent.
 
bfdlad said:
Ok, without all the drama lets look at what Earl has really done wrong here.

1) Complained to the TD that the Rack was not straight and was warned when he go upset that the seemed to dismiss his complaint.

2) Got a booted when the player for him next match was not there LATE and asked why the TD was going to go call him.

3) No he didn't handle either situation the way some others may have done but on both counts I think he had a right to complain. If you have driven hours to get there with the gas $$ and the hotel and the entry fee all added up he should get a fair shot.

I am not saying that Alex was tilting the rack on purpose but there was an issue that the TD should have addressed better than "Sit down, shut up and play pool"

I have been following this thread obviously since I started the thing and it only just hit me that once you get past the BS on Earl's past issues and all the smoke and mirrors the real issues that Earl had are things that I believe any of us would have complained about
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well said, something doesn't seem right here for the TD to act the way he did
 
PoolSharkAllen said:
According to Inside Pool Magazine, here's Frank Del Pizzo's version of what happened with Earl:
http://www.insidepoolmag.com/201103/billiard-news/billiards-referee-tells-his-side-of-story.html


Del Pizzo continued, “I don’t care what you do, but you disrespect this tournament, which is Allen Hopkins’ tournament, you’re disrespecting every player that’s in that room, every fan that’s paid to come in here. You’re disrespecting me, you’re disrespecting Allen who’s worked nineteen years to make this what it is. He is not an ambassador to this sport. It’s really not nice what he does. It’s not right what he does. On the street, I wouldn’t let anyone talk to me like that, and I’m not going to let it happen in there.

......I’m a performer. I wouldn’t walk into a room and insult my room, because they’re there to see me,
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As for the part where the ref "explains" himself, I have a hard time believing that Del Pizzo actually made that impassioned speech to Earl. Sounds a little too sanctimonious....I mean, he was really giving all that explaination to Earl prior to giving him the finger, er, I mean thumb?

As for the part where the ref contrasts his ref'ing with his day job..... enough said.
 
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