Ya know since we are on this subject, I know that I myself have been hustled at least a couple times particularly early on in my pool career and I never got mad or upset. One particular story comes to mind and I've actually posted it here before.
I was about 14 and had just started going to the infamous Jack & Jills. This was a very big deal to me as this was known to be " the place where the players and action are ". I was a little nervous and probably a little shy or maybe starstruck might be a better term . This was due to all of the really great players everywhere, stacks of cash on top of every light, a dice game over in the corner and probably 5 tables with card games going. So this guy comes over to me in these old farmers overalls and asked me did I wanna play some. I said no, I did not know who he was and never has seen him play but I did know I was WAY outclassed by just about everybody in the joint. He says come on give me the 7 ball! I'm like yeah right! No F'n way! He says you can't lose! He said you give me the 7 ball and I'm only gonna shoot with one hand! And I'm not even gonna use any rails or anything!
So this is still early in my pool career and I certainly was no champ but I thought I played decent enough, for sure good enough to beat a guy that's only using one hand! I'm stealing, I'm thinking to myself . This is gonna be my first time in action in the infamous Jack & Jills AND IM STEALING!!! So he says what do u a wanna play for ? I say race to 7 for a honey. He says, sure kid rackem up. So we start playing and it's kinda close and he wasn't really doing anything special that I could see. This guy was lucky! Seemso like every time he misses he gets lucky and doesn't leave me a shot. He also NEVER misses a money ball. No runs over 2 or 3 balls, he didn't need to cause admittedly I was nervous and not playing great by any means - so he's not beating me, I BEATING MYSELF!
So he wins the first set. Next set I've gotten over the nervousness and playing much better. Thing is now those 2 or 3 ball runs have turned into 4 or 5 ball runs. About half way thru the second set I realized I was Def in a bad game. So I lose the second set and I tell the guy look, I know I'm Def in a bad game but the stuff you're doing is amazing and I'll keep playing but only if you give me a good show. I want you to play top speed because there is not going to any adjusting , there is going to be no next time, so you can take the $200 and that will be it or give me a show and I'll keep playing . So he turns around and looks at his backer to see what to do. The backer sits and thinks for a few seconds and says ah what the hell give him a show - I like this kid.
So what happened over the next two sets was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen. Break and run outs from everywhere - jacked up one handed! Cue ball in the center of the table and this guy is drilling dead center pocket, AND drawing the rock table and a half , three rail positions, jumping balls AND MAKING THE - ONE HANDED JACKED UP!!! Absolutely amazing stuff. So after the 4th set was over I shook his hand and told him how amazing that was. As it turned out that was the one and only time me and this guy ever gambled. Over the course of the next year or so he and I became friends. I loved watching him play. He introduced me to one pocket, which was his best game. He started teaching me stuff and working with me on one pocket when he was not in action. I certainly did not know this when I played him those 4 sets one handed, but at one point this guy was top 3 in the world in one pocket! This is the guy in a lot of JAM's road stories. Yup, the one , the only, The Almighty Geese!
So the point is I totally got hustled. I wasn't mad in the least. He taught me some valuable lessons early on that I still carry with me today. Just as hustling is a skill and an art form, learning how to identify someone on the lemon is just as big of a skill and probably more important. Ya know what, everyone will have their opinions and that's fine but to me it's just a part of pool, gambling, and it is what it is - nothing more nothing less.