Have you accepted the fact that you are a pool player for life?

Pool Love.

I think there is something almost innate in most of us who have caught the billiard fever.

Pool is a hobby for me and always has been. There are MANY worse things you can do with your life.

While I'm no prude, I think pool has kept me from being a drunk and a druggie simply because I don't like losing at pool. Contrary to the general consensus, I think pool has helped keep me from going over to the other side.

If you can find something else, some other hobby that you enjoy more, by all means, go and do it. I see some people really enjoy golfing. It's not something that has ever attracted me but I have been a fishing nut and I mean a fishing nut. The fishing phase has been almost as consumptive as pool. I have been so fastidiious with fishing that I designed my own non-electrical bait wells for Cocahoe Minnows, my own live well for shrimp etc.

I guess I'm a pool player for life and I don't have any regrets. In my son's formative years, I made time for him, attending all of his athletic endeavors and we did the fishing and the hunting thing together and now after all these years, he and I play in a pool tournament once a week. :D

I could have done a lot of things with the time that I spent learning how to play pool and trying to stay in stroke. The truth is that I could have done a lot of different things but I'm satisfied because I provided well for my family, had a great time learning how to play pool. I am now old as Methuselah but I learned a lot of pool stuff over those years and on occasion, I can still scare the hell out of those twenty-something boys.

I think some of us simply love competing at pool while others just love being around pool. There are so many aspects to be interested in pool that it is easy to fit in no matter what personality you might happen to be. It is one of the few places in the world that you can have some very unique idiosyncracies and still be accepted as a member of the "billiard family".

You might leave for a while but your family will always be here for you.

Sometimes we might treat you a little rough on you but you know we will always be here, ready to sweat some matches with you in the wee hours of the morning or to lift a few dollars from your pocket; or maybe we'll be satisfied giving or taking a pool lesson and learning a bit more about you and ourselves. :thumbup:
 
When I was 4 years old I knew what I was.

When they asked me at 6 in first grade what do you want to do? I said "Play pool"

When I was 16 and in high school and they said again what do you want to do? I said "I play pool"

In the army when I was leaving they said what are you going to do? I said "Play pool"

I have known since the first time I saw a ball roll what I am
 
I love the fact that in years to come, I will still be playing pool. I started pool at 16, and now at 22, im still loving it. I enjoy the whole learning aspect of the game and finding new things out from other players. I do take the game seriously and do wish to be playing to a level maybe not up there with the SVB's, the Souquets and Hohmanns, but you never know.

I am a Pool Player for life...nothin will stop that. I love it too much.
 
I started playing at age 13, in Razz's poolroom in Everett,Ma. the year was 1963.

I played there until 1968. In the summer of 68 the room burnt down. I started playing out of a room in Malden Mass. after that.

Vietnam was in full swing by 1969 and it was hard to find games. All of the pool players were over there. I ran out of games and started playing tree cushion billiards. This lasted for several years.

In 1978, I came back to the game of pool. They started having tournaments in my area and I couldn't get enough of them. I was back where I belonged.

This phase lasted until the year 2000. Once again I stopped playing. I was tired of the nonsence that came with the game and I needed to spend more time with my family. My two sons were at an age that I thought it was more important for me to stick around the house more. I didn't take them to the poolroom. I was afraid they would start acting like some of the other kids, I had seen come to poolrooms with their parents. I wouldn't have been able to handle this kind of behavior.

When my second son entered colledge, I came back to the game. I've been at it ever since.

I've had pretty good success since I've returned. I even won a senior event this year in Las Vegas.

Although I've had my ups and downs. Pool is in my blood. It's kind of like a marriage with me. I've had times it wasn't what I expected but I've also had some of the biggest thrills of my life, playing the game.

I don't have time to take another long break. I'm in it until the end this time. There's worse things in life.

_____________________________________

http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
 
Yep, that's me

First of all, great thread and great posts from everybody!

I'm turning 30 this year, and have been playing pool for something like 8 years now. At first, it was just a way spend time with my friends in the university. Hey, it was better than going to the classes. We used to play on a small table in a bar near the school. The first big step was discovering a proper pool hall with well-kept 9 footers. Then getting my first cue as I was graduating. For a long time, pool was mostly about spending time with friends. Then, as I got married and had kids, it became more of an escape from the routine.

Just this year I have played my first (very small) tournaments and sets for (even smaller) money. I feel that these advancements have finalized my relationship with pool for good. When I get the chance, I go and shoot a few racks. I know I will never make any money out of pool. I know I will never be a pro. I know I will never be as good as some other players. And thats just fine as it is.

I love pool. I love playing it, I love watching it played, I love reading about it and so forth. That is something that I feel is going to last a lifetime.

By the way, one of the best things ever to come out of my three year old daughter's mouth are: "Daddy, when will you take me to play pool?" and, while watching snooker, "That red in to the corner, then the black into he other corner. The black gets re-spotted, but not the reds". Safety play is still a tad above her understanding, but in a couple of years...

J.S.
 
tom mcgonagle said:
I started playing at age 13, in Razz's poolroom in Everett,Ma. the year was 1963.

I played there until 1968. In the summer of 68 the room burnt down. I started playing out of a room in Malden Mass. after that.

Vietnam was in full swing by 1969 and it was hard to find games. All of the pool players were over there. I ran out of games and started playing tree cushion billiards. This lasted for several years.

In 1978, I came back to the game of pool. They started having tournaments in my area and I couldn't get enough of them. I was back where I belonged.

This phase lasted until the year 2000. Once again I stopped playing. I was tired of the nonsence that came with the game and I needed to spend more time with my family. My two sons were at an age that I thought it was more important for me to stick around the house more. I didn't take them to the poolroom. I was afraid they would start acting like some of the other kids, I had seen come to poolrooms with their parents. I wouldn't have been able to handle this kind of behavior.

When my second son entered colledge, I came back to the game. I've been at it ever since.

I've had pretty good success since I've returned. I even won a senior event this year in Las Vegas.

Although I've had my ups and downs. Pool is in my blood. It's kind of like a marriage with me. I've had times it wasn't what I expected but I've also had some of the biggest thrills of my life, playing the game.

I don't have time to take another long break. I'm in it until the end this time. There's worse things in life.

_____________________________________

http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
Click to expand...


Tom,
I understand what you're saying about "all of the pool players were over there", meaning Vietnam of course but I was wondering how many of the TOP PLAYERS from that era, served in Vietnam.

And yes there are worse things that you could be doing than having the time of your life, playing pool. :wink:

JoeyA
 
I enjoy playing casually with friends at bars and have played in a pool league for the past 6 years. I have no desire to take it any further than that. I doubt I have the ability to do so either. I have a full-time job that pays well, so I'll stick with that.

The local pool hall at which I practice is kind of depressing. It seems that no matter what time of day I go or day of week, the same guys are in there. Yeah, they are very good players- but don't they do anything besides play pool?

I am about to be 35 and have been playing since I was 21. I'm a big fan of the sport and enjoy watching pro tournaments on youtube, theactionreport, etc.

However, I find it discouraging that to make more progress I would have to put in so much time. You have to set priorities: I am about to be married in 2 weeks and want that to work out well and my job and friends also come before pool for me. Yeah, pool is fun and important, but there are much more important things in life in my opinion. Pool alone won't make you happy
 
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@westcoast

@westcoast

I think you have described a situation that is common to many of us that keep finding our ways in to pool halls. Sure enough, there will be other things besides pool in our lives, and thank heavens for those things. Family and career, among other things take priority over pool for most of us, as I feel they should. We set priorities that dictate the way we spend our hours. It should be noted, though, that the priorites are not fixed for life. Things change. Nothing wrong with having a job (I confess, I have one also... perhaps I'm not a pool player after all) and a family (yes, have one of those also). The way I look at pool is that it is something I will always carry with me, but not in the same role. Now I invest time into my family and my career. Maybe someday I will have more free time to spend as I choose. And just maybe, I will spend some of that extra free time shooting pool. Who knows.

The original question was not does playing pool make a person happy or unhappy. It was about being a pool player for life. What that means for any given individual is just that - individual.

With respect,
J.S.
 
I understand your points JS.

The only reason why I think of giving up the sport is because of the knowledge that I'm short-changing my abilities by not playing more. however, when I play more other aspects of my life suffer. It just makes me frustrated with the whole sport sometimes.

That is why I get the most pleasure from pool when I'm just hanging out at the local bar with friends that I know from pool just shooting games for pure fun, no $, etc.
 
This thread intrigues me. I came to pool much later than most everyone here, last year right after my 46th birthday. (A real good friend bought me a cheap cue for a birthday present, to give me something to play consistently with "if I ever got started"...heh)

I have a 6 day a week job, a wife and two teenage sons. So I have commitments. And not much free time to play. Fortunately my wife and kids are quite busy nowadays, too, so I do get to play more than I thought I would when I started last year. And yes, I want to play MUCH more than I ever get the time to. :D

I am curious to see if it becomes a life-long obsession for me. I do know that when I start anything, I jump in with both feet and do it seriously for quite a while, so we shall see how this turns out. All I know is that I'm having a ball playing and learning. And being able to read about others experiences here is cool, too.
 
I'm proof that three severe nervous breakdowns, stage 3 colon cancer, diabetes, and a slew of other ailments cannot keep a man off the pool tables forever. (Only about 15 years in my case). I run out of steam pretty quickly nowadays but I still keep wanting to play. I'll be 60 tomorrow and hope I can make a similar post 10 years from now.
 
Yep,for life. I'm 59 and I'm getting cataracts and that won't stop me. $900 an eye in Mexico. Brand new lenses and I'll see better than I did in high school. I'm actually looking forward to it. Pool forever!
 
I'm on page 3 of this thread and just love reading every post!

Running late on an errand, but will be back to finish
reading everything.


Pool - not an addiction. It's a passion.


.
 
Roy Steffensen said:
Just felt the need to bump this thread :)

Would love to get inputs from others! This is a thread too good to be buried away, imo
Click to expand...

I agree, Roy.

My apologies for bumping an old thread but I stumbled upon this old one and thought some may enjoy the commentary that's been lost in the shuffle of time. A lot has changed in my life since posting this thread. Pool being a big part of that.

\\still a pool player
 
I have accepted the fact that I will never be a pool player... just some guy who plays pool.
 
lifer

I have been at this game about 25 yrs. I would just advise to keep your goals in life as strong as those regarding pool. Get a good education, land a good paying job. Then
travel to some big events, on paid vacation time, and show the kids what you know. That and keep a steady bankroll of " mamma don't know money". This is the key to a happy wife...I mean life.
 
Roy Steffensen said:
Hehe, I have been thinking the same just recently...

I am 27 years old, have been working as chief secretary in a political youth party, elected in the city counsil, worked in the stock exchange business, and also owned a poolhall for about 2 years.

The 2 years I owned a poolhall I spent almost 24h a day at the poolhall, either working or playing. I have been travelling all around Scandinavia, Europe and also Philippines just to play pool, and compete.

I decided to go out of the poolhall business, cause it was so far away from the life I had lived the previous years. Not that I was not satisfied with being involved with only pool, but I felt like I was not normal :D

So I sold out of the poolhall business, got myself a "9 to 5" job again, and now I make ok with money.

But all I can think of is pool. I am not satisfied with a 9 to 5 job, it's just not me.... I have met so many cool people during tournaments, and I consider them more friends than my real friends. Cause these people they will listen if you just have to talk about that 9-ball you dogged yesterday, and they understand that it is important for you to talk about it so you can move on.

I can't imagine going on a holiday if there is not a tournament nearby. Almost every decision I have to make I always think: How will this affect my poolplay and my chances to play pool? :D

I am a poolplayer for life, I just can't quit. For example, right now the Eurotour Paris Open is organized, and all I can do is to watch all the updates. And I am so angry on myself for not having the oppurtunity to be there...

In fact, I think I need help :o
Click to expand...

Wow, 5 years gone. Time for an update.

Since then I have been to Derby City Classic twice, been to New York to play in some local poolhalls, played the BCA in Las Vegas and been 4 more times to Philippines. I've played some tournaments in Norway, but it's been less and less.

I'm still a poolplayer for life, but now I just don't play anymore :o Don't have time to practice, and then it's no fun competing.

I am now running for a seat in the parliament in Norway (congress), and don't have time to play at all since the election is coming up in 6 months, and then I'm hopefully busy the next 4 years with politics after that.

But I do keep in touch with a lot of my friends in the pool community. I did play a tournament in Norway around Christmas, went to Philippines on vacation around New Year, and I'm planning my coming holidays based on two 10-ball tournaments coming up in Oslo and Stockholm this Summer, and also perhaps the Mosconi Cup in Las Vegas 2013.

Definitely a poolplayer for life, always will be. I'm just not practicing anymore, but I know I will be back doing drills and playing tournaments again one day. That's the way it is :)

You can take a man away from pool, but you can't take pool away from a man ;)
 
I dont know if i am ready to make that commitment yet. I believe in the pool gods but i dont think I can devote the time to worship that is required. And the level of donations expected from me could cause financial ruin. So many sub cultures within the faith i cant decide between one pocket or nine ball. The ghost has corrupted my mind and heart omg rev earl save me from my wicked pool hustling ways. Prey For me
 
verrrrrry Interesting ! (Artie Johnson)

I am 51 now. Dad put a cue in my hand at age 10. When I wassa teen, I would play and drink all weekend long. Yes, I LOVE THE GAME. There is no shame in that.

Dad once told me: "Once something is in your blood, its there for life; it never leaves." His was motorcycles,planes, and pool.
For me; it's motorcycles, pool, and loving the right woman.

A mans "passions" in life are always there, sometimes dormant;nevertheless still there.

A good example of this is the opening & closing credits of the movie, "A River Runs Through it." The characters "passion" was fly-fishing. In the movie, it permeated his life. At the end, everything in his life was gone, except his passion for fly-fishing. :):)
 
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