I dont get it??
- Thread starter bankNfoo
- Start date
bankNfoo said:
Well, just over thirty five years ago, I chalked up for the first time, at the grand old age of eleven. For my first few years as a player, I played about two hours per week, and it was enough to fall in love with the game. I was a good student, too. It's OK to hit the balls AND hit the books, but never lose your sense of priorities. Your education comes first. Anybody who reminds you of that is just trying to help ensure that pool doesn't get in the way of your education, and is, therefore, showing care and concern for you.
drivermaker
Banned
bankNfoo said:
Look kid...SJM hit the nail right on the head and that's what it's about. Maybe you don't think that 4 days a week for 2-3 hours is a lot, but that's a HECK OF A LOT of time that's being devoted to pool. The way schools are set up now, there just isn't that much time AFTER school to do activities and study properly, AND it's getting more and more competitive to achieve academic scholarships or jobs when you get out. At 12... I know... that seems like forever and it'll never happen, but it zings by quickly and before you know it you'll be scrambling around trying to earn a living and do what's right. If you aren't at the top of the heap in school and in the right environment, you'll be struggling for the rest of your life.
Pool and golf are VERY addictive sports...it's almost like a drug the way it hooks you. There's nothing more satisfying than seeing a white golf ball waaay out there suspended against the blue sky which you hit, or, the beautiful clicking sound of pool balls hitting against each other and ripping into a pocket. It's also a great thrill to start winning against other players whether it's in a tournament situation or (something you're too young for) gambling. That's also addictive and a real high, but it doesn't get you too far in life. I personally know MANY, MANY golf and pool bums that have been addicted to the game at the expense of everything else in life. They've blown careers, marriage, family life, money and everything in the pursuit of trying to perfect a game and the high that it gives you.
Fact is, I've been a golf and pool bum, but I was fortunate enough to turn golf into a profession and I've made a lot of money in business otherwise because I was an excellent student and buckled down at school, and that takes a lot of time and hard effort.
As glamorous as it seems, pool professionals are NOT one of the highest paid sports figures...fact is...they're at the bottom rung of the totem pole. You'd be better off riding a bike like Lance Armstrong. Oooops, but there we go again with the addiction part of pool, can't beat that!
So in addition to the hours that you're putting into pool each week in lieu of school or other pursuits, you're now spending ADDITIONAL hours on this forum looking for answers to pool questions and telling me to shut up. Hey kid, that's something I NEVER would have done at 12 to ANY adult. We were taught to respect our elders. You're already off to a bad start. There are only so many hours in the day and if you continue to start threads on here and waste that time, I'm going to keep kicking your butt as well as the other adults that think I'm being cruel to a child. Maybe you should save some of your adult friends the grief and just practice pool and write to Bob Jewett at www.sfbilliards.com I don't know if this is going to make any sense to you, that's why there is an age limitation on here, but hopefully it makes some sense to the adults.
Drivermaker is right about SJM's being right.... see who gets that one.. 
Kid - I have an 11 year old son that will be 12 in January. First of all, I'd never let him sign up on any forum and stay up on the computer late as you do. In addition, I damn sure wouldn't let him stay at a pool hall for 2-3 hours a day, regardless. PERIOD. His schoolwork comes first. I know that he gets home from school around 4:30. By the time he has done his chores and homework, he has about an hour to 1.5 hrs of playtime before dinner is ready. How you are able to con your parents into letting you do what you have claimed so far is beyond me.
You want to dedicate your life to pool? Fine. But you are young enough that we all know that this is just a phase. What you should really focus on is school. And if my son (and he has) ever talked to me the way you are talking to all of the other adults here, it'd be a five across the eye!!
Long story short - pool is great. I love it! (although not as much as skydiving..) Get done what you need to get done, and I wish you well in your pool endeavors. It's expensive and addictive, just don't lose sight of the big picture.
btw - where do you live?
Kid - I have an 11 year old son that will be 12 in January. First of all, I'd never let him sign up on any forum and stay up on the computer late as you do. In addition, I damn sure wouldn't let him stay at a pool hall for 2-3 hours a day, regardless. PERIOD. His schoolwork comes first. I know that he gets home from school around 4:30. By the time he has done his chores and homework, he has about an hour to 1.5 hrs of playtime before dinner is ready. How you are able to con your parents into letting you do what you have claimed so far is beyond me.
You want to dedicate your life to pool? Fine. But you are young enough that we all know that this is just a phase. What you should really focus on is school. And if my son (and he has) ever talked to me the way you are talking to all of the other adults here, it'd be a five across the eye!!
Long story short - pool is great. I love it! (although not as much as skydiving..) Get done what you need to get done, and I wish you well in your pool endeavors. It's expensive and addictive, just don't lose sight of the big picture.
btw - where do you live?
bankNfoo said:
Hey buddy,
What SJM and drivermaker wrote is the some of the best advice you are going to get. I have to agree that the amount of time you are spending on pool is a lot considering the amount of time you should be devoting to your studies. Drivermaker has the best of both worlds and that, in my opinion, is what you should be striving for. Kick ass in school and in business, then you will have all the time and money it takes to devote to your pool game. You probably don't see it now but someday you will be thankful that you made pool a hobby and school a priority.
Best of luck and I hope you make the wise decision.
Dave
There's nothing that scares me more than if a future child of mine caught the pool bug early and ended up a A-level to Pro player. That would signify that they wasted most of their life in a pool hall. I personally caught the bug after grad school and because of job and family commitments, will never probably rise above a B/C level player, which is fine with me. Lipsky once wrote on CCB about how he doesn't know whether he'd teach a future child of his the game (this was in one of his down-on-pool introspective moments). I agree; it's a dangerous path to go down for some.
- J
good job, great wife, very poor run-out ability
- J
good job, great wife, very poor run-out ability
bankNfoo
Registered
washington and the latest talk on this is about 9:30 or so1pRoscoe said:Drivermaker is right about SJM's being right.... see who gets that one..
Kid - I have an 11 year old son that will be 12 in January. First of all, I'd never let him sign up on any forum and stay up on the computer late as you do. In addition, I damn sure wouldn't let him stay at a pool hall for 2-3 hours a day, regardless. PERIOD. His schoolwork comes first. I know that he gets home from school around 4:30. By the time he has done his chores and homework, he has about an hour to 1.5 hrs of playtime before dinner is ready. How you are able to con your parents into letting you do what you have claimed so far is beyond me.
You want to dedicate your life to pool? Fine. But you are young enough that we all know that this is just a phase. What you should really focus on is school. And if my son (and he has) ever talked to me the way you are talking to all of the other adults here, it'd be a five across the eye!!
Long story short - pool is great. I love it! (although not as much as skydiving..) Get done what you need to get done, and I wish you well in your pool endeavors. It's expensive and addictive, just don't lose sight of the big picture.
btw - where do you live?
1pRoscoe said:Drivermaker is right about SJM's being right.... see who gets that one..
And I'm not giving up my ice cream parlor, that I built with these two hands, for nothing or nobody.
drivermaker
Banned
bankNfoo said:
Yeah, and you came on here this morning at 9:30 am EDT or 6:30 am your time and are STILL on here 40 minutes later. That's a real good way to be spending your time on a school morning.
I guess this just isn't getting through to certain kids and probably to certain adults on here. Anybody else see something wrong with this picture?
drivermaker said:
Didn't he just ask a question?---and a pretty good one at that.
If only every 12 year old asked intelligent questions, instead of learning how to be a sheep.
Go get 'em, kid...but become powerful enough to follow your dreams. Then no one has the ability to put you down. That is what you're being told here. Using me as an example, I run a business out of my home, so even though I post here, I'm making money at the same time....this is good---hell, it's a requirement for survival. But in the case of a friend of mine, he sits around getting high all day, doesn't work, plays pool, and I see his shooting each pool shot as just one more step toward death and failure, not toward happiness, the ultimate ideal.
Oh, one more thing: This board's excellent communication values require real English...stop with the abbreviations and cybertalk...it diminishes your credibility with us and eventually with other people who might help you acheive your dreams. I rarely take the time to read gooblety-gook messages, for if the poster is too lazy to write for the reader, why read him at all? For example, be proud of the self: capitalize the "I"---it REALLY means something important.
My opinion, based on doing it wrong too many times,
Jeff Livingston
rodrigo1508
Registered
I think its ok, at 12 you dont have to do much at school and you have a lot of free time. When you grow up and you are working or at college then you dont have time for pool. I wish I had 12 so I could play every time I wanted (as I used to) now I am in Med school and I can hardly find time to play.
Enjoy your youth while you can it doesnt last much.
Enjoy your youth while you can it doesnt last much.
Check this out... www.billiardsanctuary.com and click on Landon Shuffett! Pool Prodigy at 9 years old and a straight A student!
He is coached by Tim White, BSACA Master Instructor!
Zim
He is coached by Tim White, BSACA Master Instructor!
Zim
School should be your number one priority. I was lucky and found pool in college, other found it earlier and skipped out on their education. Your education is one of the few things in life someone can't take away from you.
I'm not advocating you quit playing pool, but just make sure you keep your priorities straight. When people go tell you to read a book; just think, how many people do you know who can explain Salinger's Catcher in the Rye Machiavelli's The Prince, or Homer's Odyessy
I'm not advocating you quit playing pool, but just make sure you keep your priorities straight. When people go tell you to read a book; just think, how many people do you know who can explain Salinger's Catcher in the Rye Machiavelli's The Prince, or Homer's Odyessy
bankNfoo said:
I'll tell you something. When I first started playing pool (and was losing each and every game), everyone was nice as could be to me...
Then I started winning games and things changed. Those "nice" people became quite nasty! Were talking personal insults, accusations of cheating, refusing to play me pool any more, etc.
This is the way it is in pool and in life. People don't like to lose and get mad. I developed a "thick skin" and just decided to ignore these people's comments.
When done playing, I smile and offer to shake their hand win or lose. I am friendly to all my opponents who beat me. I am just trying to have a fun time, that's all.
This philosophy has worked out well for me. I have had offers to play on other league teams whereas other people were not asked. One offer was to be on a league team with some top players who are all much better than I am. I feel fortunate to have been asked and am thankful that I was friendly to these players when they beat the **** out of me.
So this is a good lesson for you. I would suggest always having a positive additude and only making positive comments to other people. Respond to those who are helpful and positive. Not everyone will be helpful to you. But many people will. This goes for anything in life, not just pool.
And by the way, your postings here are getting to be much better with the spelling and typing. Keep up the good work!
People, there is more to this than meets the eye!
I cannot believe a lot of people are ragging on this 12 year old. Even you people with kids. As a father of 7 and having been through it I do not know where anybody gets off trying to talk this young man into something besides pool and to get his priorities straight. Since you do not have all the facts quit ragging. Have not any of you heard of extra curricular activities? My gosh. How many thousands of kids and young adults spend all of their spare time in sports growing up. Try millions. Do you put them down? Let me see all these college and pro players thought of school only? I agree education is the number one priority but life is more than that, especially if school and you do not get along. My kids growing up played all sports and their time was more than 8 hrs a week. One or two played a lot of pool also. Like anything else you have to keep your grades up to participate. If this is the only activity this young man in participating in he is not necessarily overindulging and giving up schoolwork. At this moment how many hours are high school football players going through each week. Especially in Texas.
So is pool any less of an extra curricula activity? If a person doesn't particiapte in other sports , what is wrong with pool. That is why they have after school sports and Little League. and Pal football, and Cya youth leagues, in basektball and all sorts of soccer leagues and we could go on and on. You cannot assume because someone plays pool they will turn out any less a good human being. Do not tell that to my kids.
Thanks
I cannot believe a lot of people are ragging on this 12 year old. Even you people with kids. As a father of 7 and having been through it I do not know where anybody gets off trying to talk this young man into something besides pool and to get his priorities straight. Since you do not have all the facts quit ragging. Have not any of you heard of extra curricular activities? My gosh. How many thousands of kids and young adults spend all of their spare time in sports growing up. Try millions. Do you put them down? Let me see all these college and pro players thought of school only? I agree education is the number one priority but life is more than that, especially if school and you do not get along. My kids growing up played all sports and their time was more than 8 hrs a week. One or two played a lot of pool also. Like anything else you have to keep your grades up to participate. If this is the only activity this young man in participating in he is not necessarily overindulging and giving up schoolwork. At this moment how many hours are high school football players going through each week. Especially in Texas.
So is pool any less of an extra curricula activity? If a person doesn't particiapte in other sports , what is wrong with pool. That is why they have after school sports and Little League. and Pal football, and Cya youth leagues, in basektball and all sorts of soccer leagues and we could go on and on. You cannot assume because someone plays pool they will turn out any less a good human being. Do not tell that to my kids.
Thanks
drivermaker
Banned
nfty9er said:
Hey pops...and how much time did you spend as a kid playing sports IN ADDITION TO living on a computer haggling with old road players, gamblers, and pool room warriors that have a propensity for an occasional outburst amongst themselves, as some of the political arguments are flying around now.
If you recall...Dick Cheney just told someone to go f*#k themself. It happens here too. Ooooops...I bet you never even had a computer to waste that time as a kid, did you? Do your kids waste hours chatting with grownups on forums in addition to sports, studies, chores, and other activities? What's next, maybe we should ask them out with us to have a beer after all is said and done, it shouldn't make them turn out any less a good human being...we do it and look at us.
nfty9er said:
When I was in high school I watched alot of my friends who played football and basketball give everything they had to their respective sports. Not all, but many of them didn't put much effort into the academic part of their lives. Two of them went on to play college ball and got hurt. One tore his ACL, and the other hurt his shoulder. They couldn't play ball and lost their scholarships. Neither of them had the academic background to stick through school.
Sports are great for a young person growing, they teach you so many things that you can't learn in a classroom. But what happens when you put everything into sports, and you fall short? What happens when you go to apply for a decent paying job. The interviewer asks, "what can you bring to our organization?" "Well, I threw for 300 yards against The University of Michigan last year, but I didn't finish school."
People in the United States put so much into their kids when they play high school sports, but not enough into educating their kids. Education is incredibly important, and it never fails you. You get out 10 times what you put into it. Even in college, I've watched my friends have to leave school without a degree because their 4 years of eligibility is up, and they can't get through their classes.
I'm not telling this young man to quit playing pool. Just make sure you get an education. Your education never fails you. It rewards and enriches so many aspects of your life.