Hatch The Shark

Welcome to AzBilliards Forum, Dennis. One day, a pro will be everybody's sweetheart hero; the next day, the same people will rip that sweetheart hero pro to shreds. It's a fickle bunch.

That's why most pros don't post here. No matter what you write, how you respond, there will be somebody on here to let you know that what you write is not acceptable to them. You could say you like red-dot cueballs, and you'll get a pack of bullies letting you know how wrong you are because blue-dot cueballs are the best. :grin:

Being a pro pool player doesn't mean automatically to be on the right. Here we are talking about the attitude of both players.... we are not trying to improve their pool games ( It would be silly). I think Hatch and Dechaine had bad behaviour during the match. Or I should say they acted correctly because they give us the privilege to post in this forum?
It's life: you will always find people who agree with you and people who disagree with you.
 
I disagree. It's easy to hide behind a computer screen and issue those "sticks and stones" but if Dennis thinks he's being portrayed unfairly it's GREAT he is saying so. Can only help the game and all our opinions will be more accurate.

I DO agree that drug tests would be great.

If you aren't a part of the solution you are a part of the problem. Instead of him fanning the flames just mentioning he might want to put that in perspective.
 
Looks like my whole "Treat these guys like professionals, expect them to act like it and dont treat them like children" theory didnt work out so well this weekend. Yeah I am that dumb.

One thing I know for certain there will be a contract written for all future matches. In that contract will be rules of conduct backed up by fines. I dont mind guys showing emotion in the heat of the moment but tonight was just stupid and I let both guys know it. The thing is I dont think either one really understands what they did wrong. I like both guys personally but the jury is out on if either one will be back. Lot of that will depend on the feelings of the people who watched and especially the sponsors.

End of the day its my fault. I keep trying like hell to want to believe that if you do the best you can to treat people like pro's they will act like it. Doesnt seem to work out that way though.

I apologize to anyone who was offended or annoyed by the conduct. I know at several points I certainly was. I guess really disappointed is the best way to put it. Thank you to everyone who did support the match. It was a success and validated the new format to us. All the nonsense from TAR 25 will be sorted out and changes made. Thanks to the people who are behind us we can focus on things like the US Open 1Pocket and 10 Ball events next week as well as TAR 26 with Shane and Johnny at the end of the month. The ride gets rocky at times but I cant thank everyone enough for going along with us on the journey.
Thank for the match...i for one would like to see both of these players back. I know i may not be in the majority but with conduct rules and fines i believe they would be good to view. I dont believe you should have to have those contracts and fines but it seems obvious that its needed...I think what TAR is doing is great things and have and will continue to support them
 
Being a pro pool player doesn't mean automatically to be on the right. Here we are talking about the attitude of both players.... we are not trying to improve their pool games ( It would be silly). I think Hatch and Dechaine had bad behaviour during the match. Or I should say they acted correctly because they give us the privilege to post in this forum?
It's life: you will always find people who agree with you and people who disagree with you.

There is some merit in what you write for sure. My experience on this pool forum known as AzBilliards is that the so-called "pros" aren't thought of in a high regard by some -- not all -- members of this forum for their level of play, achievements, contributions to charity events, lessons given to youth, personally autographed photos sent to fans for free, et cetera. Not everybody feels this way, and there is some modicum of respect given to the pros from time to time, but it seems like only the negative things are highlighted, and not much of the positive contributions that pro players make is ever mentioned or acknoweldged.

I have seen some pros get ripped to shreds verbally on AzBilliards. Some quit posting -- in fact, many quit posting, truth be told. It is a shame, but that's the facts. I wish it was different. :smile:
 
Did ya ever notice this sharking shit almost never happens at a straight pool tournament. ..... just sayin ... :D
 
Mike disputing with the Ref about a called shot... wow.

Not quite a called shot, although it was the only shot there, I never heard Dennis say what he was playing. The right player won, Dennis was complaining about how lucky Mike was, yet most of the rolls went Dennis' way. He complained about an 8 ball that Mike bobbled, yet he bobbled a 10 ball in the same way earlier in the set. Mike has the better break by far, Dennis was lucky to have a shot after the break with the way he was running the cueball all over the table.
 
Lol. I will play them both if you would like to stake them. And I have class just refuse to be talked down to or disrespected and have the balls to stand up when someone says I'm a drunk and doing drugs. I don't do drugs and would love to take a drug test after I play. Drug test would be great for pool.
Dennis,
In my opinion, you're fighting a no-win battle trying to defend your behavior over the weekend. It would be better to admit that you and Mike got caught up in the heat of battle and to apologize to TAR and the fans for what happened.
 
If you aren't a part of the solution you are a part of the problem. Instead of him fanning the flames just mentioning he might want to put that in perspective.

Am happy to agree to disagree. We have to identify the problem then. It seems to me that the problem is the perceived problem here is the behaviour of the players during this match.

One of the players feels aggrieved. He is quite right to put his side. I don't think that is "adding fuel to the flames".
 
I sure hope that Justin and mark find a way to squeeze in a podcast this week, what with the BCApl tourney going on and all. Hearing their take on this, while still fresh, that is gonna be real interesting.
 
I watched all of day 1 and all of day 3. I was unable to watch day 2, so I cannot comment on that.

Both of them acted like children at times with slamming cues, arguing back and forth for no reason, etc. I do believe Hatch acted like a complete ass 80% of the time. Talking while Mike was shooting, moving around while mike was shooting, throwing his jump cue, slamming his playing cue, saying "nice out Mike" whenever Hatch hung up an 8ball and Mike only had a couple balls to run (several times). Mike had his own moments of slamming cues and running his mouth, but I felt most of the things he said, he was trying to defend himself. Towards the end, Hatch got real nasty and Mike just kept his mouth shut... mostly out of fear. "this guy should never beat me" as Mike is running out... It's just uncalled for. He needs a nap.

Everyone knew they had some bad blood before they ever started playing and everyone knew they were both hot heads. I don't think Justin did anything wrong by bringing them together to play... but I think we saw exactly what we thought we would see. I think both players should be back in the studio playing someone else. Both are top American players. Hatch was the clear cut favorite and he beat him 2 out of 3 sets. I would personally like to see Mike get his shot playing Shane.
 
Are you people serious????

First off, I want to thank TAR, Simonis, CSI, Kamui, and OB Cues for sponsoring this great match.

The last time I had to listen to this forum throw a fit over how a player acted was Stevie Moore at the US Bar Table Championships. Yes, Stevie went on a five minute rant, but it wasn't over money people. It was over the table being open the first time he played and closed for the semi-finals. If Bad Boy Billiards would have went to Stevie and Ernesto after their first match and told them. They made a mistake and the table was going to be closed for the rest of the tournament. I am confident there would not have been a problem.

The reason I can make this statement is because, Stevie Moore has played in the USBTC as many times or more than any of the other top pros. So, Stevie knew he would have to pay for the table.

Justin, from TAR put on a PPV match between two of the best American pool players. Justin knows Dennis and Mike have heart, ego, and a strong desire to win. Justin had too know there would be tense times.

Justin keeps stating on his podcasts that he wants the players he invites and pays, to act like professionals. Which Justin has every right to do. However, the facts are these individuals are the best at their skill and struggle to live.

Four thousand dollars to a pool player with the chance to come back and win more means everything to Dennis and Mike.

We have professional athletes that get paid 20 million dollars a year to act a fool.

All I ask is that the people on this forum quit complaining about the best American players in our sport getting pissed. They are playing for a few thousand dollars. We are extremely lucky that they will.

If you people don't like my response. I am sure the pool players will appreciate you stepping up and paying the top 16 pool player's in America a million dollars a year. Plus, sponsoring a 10 stop pool tour where they can make the living they deserve for their talent.

If you don't want to pay them millions then please shut up!!! Support TAR, Big Truck, POV Pool, CSI, Simonis, OB Cues, Kamui, and all the other companies trying their best to keep pool alive. Like I do. Hope to see you whiners in Vegas supporting the BCA and the pros.

By the way, I flunked English so don't try to correct my post!!!
 
Contrast this match with the SVB vs. Orcullo finals at Hard Times. Two great players and sportsmen going at it for all the world to see. Shane went down hard, but acted like a true professional nonetheless.

I think Justin has learned his lesson well here. "He who has the gold makes the rules!" Justin happens to be someone who all the players respect. If he had made his presence felt early on, I suspect he could have nipped this in the bud.

P.S. I've been watching Dennis O. play for the last week, both in the tournament and in money games. He never says a word or makes a peep when his opponent is shooting. Even when he was getting sharked, he totally ignored it, not responding visibly in any way. One player he was in action against was constantly talking throughout the match, complaining about anything and everything. Dennis never even looked in his direction!

Dennis responds by coming to the table and shooting great pool! He knows how to quiet all the outside chatter, he stuns them into silence! :yeah:

I come to beleive that the artform of sharking can be so subtle and some players are such masters of it that you have to assume it is and will always be part of the game. To Jay's point true champions are those like Dennis O. who are so accomplished, that they actually train under sharking conditions so horrid, that it phases them no more. I truly believe that only when a player as added this to his arsenal (or his trainning routine) can he truely asscend among the higher elite or play his/her best at any level. For as long as players try to resist this or comment negatively on sharking, they are only making excuses - just like the guys who don't know why they can't break like Shane but arn't willing to practice the break like Shane.
 
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I watched all of day 1 and all of day 3. I was unable to watch day 2, so I cannot comment on that.

Both of them acted like children at times with slamming cues, arguing back and forth for no reason, etc. I do believe Hatch acted like a complete ass 80% of the time. Talking while Mike was shooting, moving around while mike was shooting, throwing his jump cue, slamming his playing cue, saying "nice out Mike" whenever Hatch hung up an 8ball and Mike only had a couple balls to run (several times). Mike had his own moments of slamming cues and running his mouth, but I felt most of the things he said, he was trying to defend himself. Towards the end, Hatch got real nasty and Mike just kept his mouth shut... mostly out of fear. "this guy should never beat me" as Mike is running out... It's just uncalled for. He needs a nap.

Everyone knew they had some bad blood before they ever started playing and everyone knew they were both hot heads. I don't think Justin did anything wrong by bringing them together to play... but I think we saw exactly what we thought we would see. I think both players should be back in the studio playing someone else. Both are top American players. Hatch was the clear cut favorite and he beat him 2 out of 3 sets. I would personally like to see Mike get his shot playing Shane.

THIS IS HOW I SEE IT TOO .100%
 
Johnny T you can kiss my ass. Mike is a douche bag. I will play him a race to 50 for 10,000 or a race to 100 for 20,000. I never sharked him once and after we were done he aw asking me out for drinks so im obviously not a shark or that bad of a guy. He is the one that pulled out all the bullshit to win. I never sharked him once. I only used my phone one time when he was racking to text my girl and he flipped. I'm a class guy and I have been playing this game for 30 years no one complains about the way I act in tournaments or for money. I guess you were not watching Mikes little ***** ass scream yell whine and throw cues.

Couple things:

-you wouldn't stop talking while he was shooting
-you wouldn't stop moving while he was shooting
-you took endless bathroom breaks
-you ALSO threw your jump cue across the room
-you ALSO slammed your cue several times on day 3
-you would say "nice out Mike" whenever you left an 8ball in the jaws and he ran 3 balls.
-you play the bully card... threatening harm and trying to intimidate.
-you were on your phone several times. Even on day 3.
-you did everything you could to scare him and he still won.
-you just called yourself a "class guy" while typing a completely classless post.
-you acted like a baby when you knew it was over...

Tell me I'm wrong...
 
If there were no cameras there and Denis and Mike had matched up for money somewhere in the North East US, would it ave been the same kind of exchange [the non-pool part]. If YES than I am happy to have seen what we saw this weekend just like I am happy to see what we will see between Johnny and Shane. TAR opens a window into pool that we hardly get to see in parts of the world, great champions don't come by to play money matches in our local pool halls. What we saw is what pool is like for some of these guys some of the time. Thanks Justin, Mark, sponsors and all of those behind TAR.
 
If you can't tune the other guy and his antics out, why not bring headphones and an ipod or something?


I can imagine there are rules against this at some of the larger tournaments, but for a challenge match like this, were there any rules in place saying you couldn't use headphones?

Seems like an easy cure for the drama.
 
If you can't tune the other guy and his antics out, why not bring headphones and an ipod or something?


I can imagine there are rules against this at some of the larger tournaments, but for a challenge match like this, were there any rules in place saying you couldn't use headphones?

Seems like an easy cure for the drama.

Do you wear blinders also so you can't see him moving around in your line of aim? Headphones a good idea but not everyone can wear them and play 100%. Johnnyt
 
As players you don't disrespect the promoter and fans! You dress accordingly, given its streamed worldwide and recorded. You limit your motions when the opponents at the table. ITS JUST COMMON COURTESY!

TAR needed a format change requiring the ref to make all calls! Thus, limiting player interaction!

Grady used to say he wanted his opponent behind a screen so he would have no idea who he was playing and what they were doing. Just come to the table and play them as they lay.

Wouldn't that be cool to find out your opponent at the end like surprise its blank pro player!


Kd

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
 
One thing for sure, at least we have some new topics to discuss on the forum this morning instead of how to aim. :D
 
Back
Top