softshot said:
My wife's cool about my cue collection, but if she ever knew what all those cues hanging on my office wall cost. Oy vey!
And now with the cue market on a slide I can't even use the "investment" angle. lol.
How receptive is your family about your passion with pool??
- Thread starter Milo
- Start date
My wife's cool about my cue collection, but if she ever knew what all those cues hanging on my office wall cost. Oy vey!
And now with the cue market on a slide I can't even use the "investment" angle. lol.
Family
After 46 years of playing, my family has resigned themselves to knowing Pool is a major part of my life, and always will be. My big brother has always known because he plays, and he gambled quite a bit when young like I did.
My first wife went along with me and watched, and I was onry and used her to shark a little since she was 36D-23-35, and liked to wear mini skirts and v cut blouses. She was good looking, and could distract a whole room full of guys ... LOL
My other 2 wives did not understand my passion for Pool, and did not know what it meant to be known as a 'Player', or understood the level of play that I competed in.
BTW, none of my divorces had anything to do with my love for Pool.
My mom has gone through a 46 year learning curve. When I was a teenager and got in at 2-3 am with blue fingers, she threatened to stick them in the Purex bottle. My parents never knew the extent of my gambling, but my big brother suspected and later knew.
He kind of acted as an intermediary for me with my parents about Pool.
My mom supports my playing now, just so I don't get into too big of games now per my income. I play a lot of tournaments, and not much money anymore. I still play 50-100-200 dollar sets, and 5-10-20 dollar challenge table, but that is pretty much it. The days of 1,000-2,000 a set are past me now.
After 46 years of playing, my family has resigned themselves to knowing Pool is a major part of my life, and always will be. My big brother has always known because he plays, and he gambled quite a bit when young like I did.
My first wife went along with me and watched, and I was onry and used her to shark a little since she was 36D-23-35, and liked to wear mini skirts and v cut blouses. She was good looking, and could distract a whole room full of guys ... LOL
My other 2 wives did not understand my passion for Pool, and did not know what it meant to be known as a 'Player', or understood the level of play that I competed in.
BTW, none of my divorces had anything to do with my love for Pool.
My mom has gone through a 46 year learning curve. When I was a teenager and got in at 2-3 am with blue fingers, she threatened to stick them in the Purex bottle. My parents never knew the extent of my gambling, but my big brother suspected and later knew.
He kind of acted as an intermediary for me with my parents about Pool.
My mom supports my playing now, just so I don't get into too big of games now per my income. I play a lot of tournaments, and not much money anymore. I still play 50-100-200 dollar sets, and 5-10-20 dollar challenge table, but that is pretty much it. The days of 1,000-2,000 a set are past me now.
No problems here with family. My Wife loves to play as well and she plays in a league with me. I shoot a lot more then her but she doesn't mind. I don't have a huge cue collection and if I started to buy a lot of cues then we might have a problem. But I have the Cue that I want and I play all the time. We even used some of our wedding money to buy our table 
My parents/family and her parents/family have no problems either and they understand why we love the game so much!
My parents/family and her parents/family have no problems either and they understand why we love the game so much!
My grandfather was a player who lived near Daytone Beach in the 60s and would hustle all the visiting beach-goers. His buddy was much better than him. He had a table at his house and i used to shoot on it once I could stand on a box and see the top.
My mom owns a bar and has no issue with pool.
My wife likes to shoot although she isnt a student of the game. I have a 4 yr old son who looks forward to hearing about my "pool night" and likes to roll the balls on the table in my basement.
I am lucky in that my wife doesnt sweat me for a league night or the occasional weekend tourney. She also lets me take a trip with the fellas to the US Open every year.
In short, I think I am very blessed. I could get away with more time for pool but it is their attitude that prevents me from taking advantage of it.
My mom owns a bar and has no issue with pool.
My wife likes to shoot although she isnt a student of the game. I have a 4 yr old son who looks forward to hearing about my "pool night" and likes to roll the balls on the table in my basement.
I am lucky in that my wife doesnt sweat me for a league night or the occasional weekend tourney. She also lets me take a trip with the fellas to the US Open every year.
In short, I think I am very blessed. I could get away with more time for pool but it is their attitude that prevents me from taking advantage of it.
Well, so far it looks like I have the worst situation of all you luck SOB's. My wife hates that I play. She has a million excuses to stall me 5 minutes when I'm off to play league. I only play 1 day a week for league and I have for many years before we even met. Before we married she was cool with it. She would show up for a little while when I played tournaments and actually was social with my *Pool Friends* as she calls them. She loves to start arguments right before I'm leaving the house to play every time.
When I went to Vegas this last year, instead of supporting me, or saying good luck when I left, her statement was "Do you really think you have a chance?". That was her last ditch effort to get me to stay home. I use her negative energy towards pool, to fuel my game. (btw, I got 13th in Scotch, 97th in Men's Open Singles, and 193rd for Team, and won a couple bucks on the side. shhh!). And her response when I told her how I did was, "How much did you win?", and instead of saying good job hun, or anything positive she said, "Well, I guess you proved me wrong." Jeesh!! I guess the wife only likes the 50% winnings she gets.
My dad, step-dad, mom, brother and sister all play, but out of state. And none as much as I do, but they are real supportive and love to hear all the stories.
When I went to Vegas this last year, instead of supporting me, or saying good luck when I left, her statement was "Do you really think you have a chance?". That was her last ditch effort to get me to stay home. I use her negative energy towards pool, to fuel my game. (btw, I got 13th in Scotch, 97th in Men's Open Singles, and 193rd for Team, and won a couple bucks on the side. shhh!). And her response when I told her how I did was, "How much did you win?", and instead of saying good job hun, or anything positive she said, "Well, I guess you proved me wrong." Jeesh!! I guess the wife only likes the 50% winnings she gets.
My dad, step-dad, mom, brother and sister all play, but out of state. And none as much as I do, but they are real supportive and love to hear all the stories.
Milo said:
I was barred from going to the poolroom many times as a teen. It made no difference. 0 poolplayers in my family. Nobody understood.
Some understand more now, but they are all squares. LOL!
Wow, your story is kinda sad
Its too bad your wife doesnt understand and is not supportive. To be honest, if my husband was not supportive, I probably would of quit a long time ago. (or got divorced. lol) Im one of the lucky ones I guess. He is my rock!!!!
Good luck to you in the future. I hope she starts seeing how happy it makes you.
stuckart said:
Its too bad your wife doesnt understand and is not supportive. To be honest, if my husband was not supportive, I probably would of quit a long time ago. (or got divorced. lol) Im one of the lucky ones I guess. He is my rock!!!!
Good luck to you in the future. I hope she starts seeing how happy it makes you.
everyones pretty cool, my girlfriend gets upset sometimes when i wanna go shoot 3,4,5 times a weeks or whenever she wants to go do something she asks what do you want to do and i say go play pool. My dad is awesome, he backs me in tournaments, and goes to them with me, he also bought me my first two cues. Couldn't really ask for more.
Ben
Ben
My father is a Baptist minister and has been my entire life. I had very little support as a teenager learning the game. I continued playing until I married at 22. I met my ex-wife at the pool hall and even though she played too it wasn't long before it was a struggle to go play. I stopped playing from 1993 to 2004. I started back playing and was divorced soon after. It was the best thing for me. Pool is my hobby. I don't need anyone's permission or approval to play. I won't ever be trapped up like that again. I do have some support on the horizon. My eleven year old daughter loves to play and wants me to take her to the poolroom constantly. Our poolroom here is smoke-free and alcohol free so we try and make it up at least a few times a month. I am planning on buying a table here at home. She lives with me and I would support her if she wants to play pool.
I was raised by God Fearing, very hard working people who lived by very simple rules, but, very soled ones. They never understood the passion from day one and hated it for many many years.
I always understood ehy they objected so badly, but I was hooked at a very young age. I ate and slept pool and spent every available moment either playing or watching the better players play. I even had dreams about beating a Hopkinis or Buddy.
I would play day in and day out and spent time on the road at a young age, but would be forced to give it up and regroup. Finally at about 39 years old I decided to give it what I had and see where I was headed.
The truth is I made some remarkable scores and even beat a couple of pretty ggod players but could nev er sustain the focus or the bankroll. At 41 I was playing my best and finally decided my family was a lot smarter than I had ever given them credit for. Over a 4 week period I beat this very wealthy man out of close to $60,000, took the money home and went back to work and didn't hit another ball for 8 years. In those 8 years, not a day went by that I didn't think about it and talked about it quite a bit.
After my divorce in 2000 I began again and would like to know where I might have gotten had I not quit again, but there are always those questions. Now I'm 56 and dreaming of what it would be like to be 40 again. I guess that's natural.
I recently remarried to a beautiful woman who tries to understand, but just doesn't. I bombed out of a tournament this weekend and really emabarrassed myself and on the way home she asked, " just how long did you think you would be so competitive? Maybe it's time to move on!"
So what am I saying here? I think it is time to move on. But, what an education I recieved. But, what could have been? Maybe I should have done things differently!
Sound familiar?
I always understood ehy they objected so badly, but I was hooked at a very young age. I ate and slept pool and spent every available moment either playing or watching the better players play. I even had dreams about beating a Hopkinis or Buddy.
I would play day in and day out and spent time on the road at a young age, but would be forced to give it up and regroup. Finally at about 39 years old I decided to give it what I had and see where I was headed.
The truth is I made some remarkable scores and even beat a couple of pretty ggod players but could nev er sustain the focus or the bankroll. At 41 I was playing my best and finally decided my family was a lot smarter than I had ever given them credit for. Over a 4 week period I beat this very wealthy man out of close to $60,000, took the money home and went back to work and didn't hit another ball for 8 years. In those 8 years, not a day went by that I didn't think about it and talked about it quite a bit.
After my divorce in 2000 I began again and would like to know where I might have gotten had I not quit again, but there are always those questions. Now I'm 56 and dreaming of what it would be like to be 40 again. I guess that's natural.
I recently remarried to a beautiful woman who tries to understand, but just doesn't. I bombed out of a tournament this weekend and really emabarrassed myself and on the way home she asked, " just how long did you think you would be so competitive? Maybe it's time to move on!"
So what am I saying here? I think it is time to move on. But, what an education I recieved. But, what could have been? Maybe I should have done things differently!
Sound familiar?
Mom always asks how I did in the Sunday tournament, sometimes my brother does too. The brother lives out of state and plays APA. Mom is more interested in my pool success then My GF, Brother or anyone else in my life. As long as Mom cares the rest is insignificant!!
My mom is the person I am closest with in my family, she lives 5000+ miles away from me at this point in time so she loves hearing about how my game is progressing. Tournament flyers and any article in which my name appears I send to her so she can show my grandparents, I also call her often after I compete to tell her about the tournament and what else went on that weekend.
She is happy that I stuck with something this long and have had a certain amount of success with it, compared to my brother who tried everything and wasn't very good at any of them. What little success I have makes me happier in comparison and of course she loves to see that, also I think she is proud of the fact that sometimes my successes are publicly visible.
Every serious girlfriend I have ever met has been from one pool room or another, so they know what I am about before we start dating. I've been given ultimatums by women or given attitude because "pool comes first" in my life and at some points they are right. Pool will be in my life until I can't play anymore for whatever reason, it makes me happy, earns a little bit of money and you always know where to find me, I am always practicing or competing.
Hopefully when I start family I will have some time to play but if not I will hang my cues up and pay attention to the real priorities in life, till then rack'em!!
She is happy that I stuck with something this long and have had a certain amount of success with it, compared to my brother who tried everything and wasn't very good at any of them. What little success I have makes me happier in comparison and of course she loves to see that, also I think she is proud of the fact that sometimes my successes are publicly visible.
Every serious girlfriend I have ever met has been from one pool room or another, so they know what I am about before we start dating. I've been given ultimatums by women or given attitude because "pool comes first" in my life and at some points they are right. Pool will be in my life until I can't play anymore for whatever reason, it makes me happy, earns a little bit of money and you always know where to find me, I am always practicing or competing.
Hopefully when I start family I will have some time to play but if not I will hang my cues up and pay attention to the real priorities in life, till then rack'em!!
mullyman said:
I will take the last 3
I am somewhat surprised that my wife has never smashed a pool cue...
But I don't understand! How can a hobby that (isn't criminal and )lets one return home with more$ than you started with be bad?
stuckart said:
This is deja vu. My son's mom initially did not have a problem with me and pool. She can play a little but nowhere close to competitive level. As she became part of the routine, bout twice a week, she began to drag along and gave me the same treatment you had. It was just a matter of time before she despised pool altogether. She would often make comments that pool is my life and I don't do anything else to which my response was, once or twice a week is not that bad. I don't smoke, drink or do drugs. She was into theme parks and wanted me to go with her every weekend from opening to closing. I like the theme parks especially the stomach churning rides but hated the long lines and park food being sold at premium prices. I think for what they charge, they could come up with a better system to maximize everyones time with as much fun as possible vs. having to stand on a cattle line for more than an hour or two to enjoy a 45 -second ride.
One of her memorable tirades was an end-of-the-month tourney we have in the SF Bay Area. It was winner take-half (bout $600) tourney. I was playing Gerda Hofstatter and was up 4-1 on a race to 5 playing even. The winner of the match goes to the money round. Out of nowhere and for reasons to this day I never understood, something got into her and she began accusing me of fancying Gerda and began to create a semi-private confrontation. To make a long story short, the whole thing threw my game-off as I got upset and totally derailed my game. Gerda caught up and got me 5-4.
It was a very unpleasant, one-way, selfish relationship. This is why to this day, I'm very cautious of total commitment because there are way too many dysfunctional people. I can breath alot easier being on my own and comfortably and reasonably do things I love and as I please.
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gpeezy
for sale!
My mother was always VERY supportive of me playing. She bought me a pool table when she was able, a cue, loaned me money. MY friends, which I classify as my family, don't understand why I play. They have often pulled me away from the game. Its weird, they like to drink and hang out in bars. But not in ones with pool tables. :sorry:
Teach?
Can we teach Bianca to play? LOL
My family thinks I'm crazy!!
My 9 year old daughter, who is the most like Dad, will say when I get home,"ok, 1 day, no pool forum !" She's hilarious!! like I could do that!
My son will ask,"why do you like pool so much?" and then he'll go play some cheap sets! LOL!.
My wife doesn't play pool, doesn't like pool, doesn't like smoke, gambling or drinking. But she lets me be me. That's what I love about her, doesn't try to change me. She does make me want to be a better person through example.
My parents thought I hung the moon! I'd give anything for just a little more time with them.
Ray
gpeezy said:
Can we teach Bianca to play? LOL
My family thinks I'm crazy!!
My 9 year old daughter, who is the most like Dad, will say when I get home,"ok, 1 day, no pool forum !" She's hilarious!! like I could do that!
My son will ask,"why do you like pool so much?" and then he'll go play some cheap sets! LOL!.
My wife doesn't play pool, doesn't like pool, doesn't like smoke, gambling or drinking. But she lets me be me. That's what I love about her, doesn't try to change me. She does make me want to be a better person through example.
My parents thought I hung the moon! I'd give anything for just a little more time with them.
Ray
stuckart said:
Think your wife need to let you live life, play Pool, before her negative energy gives you a Haert Attack!
Well I will start with not everyone supported my hobby of pool.But after years of competing we finally had to compete in my families home town for the vnea westerns.So my family(parents,nieces,nefews,sister)all came out to watch us,and out of 200 team we finished 9-12th.
I introduced them to some pro's(Edwin Montal,Tyler Edey,).They watched them ran out racks like crazy and got right into it.
After that week-end they totally understand my passion and the competitiveness of the game and not just some people bashing the balls around.
I introduced them to some pro's(Edwin Montal,Tyler Edey,).They watched them ran out racks like crazy and got right into it.
After that week-end they totally understand my passion and the competitiveness of the game and not just some people bashing the balls around.