I just got off the phone with a well known One Pocket champion

My view on "The Bite"

This is not going to go over reall well, but it's something I feel strong about, so here goes....
Like most of us, I really appreciate and respect the talent that these pro players have. I don't pester or bother any of them. When I do speak with or communicate with them, it's always done in a kind and respectful manner.
But there is one pro who I won't give any clues about who, after only speaking with me 2-3 times in his whole life, called me about a real bind he had gotten himself into and could I please spot him a couple of hundred $.
(Background- I have worked since I was 11 years old, put my self thru college and raised 2 kids and 2 step-kids and only my current wife worked to help out. I NEVER had extra money for anything. At times, I would pick up change underneath drive-thru windows at restraunts that were closed. My money was for my family and church)
So, trying to be nice and remembering to be benevolent, I gave him the 2 spot. A month later, he wanted another $100.00, said he would mail me some used Accu-Stats. They turned out to be pirated copies on cheap VHS tapes. He called again and I told him I don't have it. Never got a penny back. I was stupid and I felt guilty for not being smarter since I brag about being so street-wise. I felt like I let my family down.
So here's my point...Some, not all, but SOME of these guys that we tend to idolize have some significant problems with "other substances" and they have histories of NEVER WORKING AND HAVING NO PROBLEMS TAKING HANDOUTS FOR "OTHER SUBSTANCES". And every once in a while, one of their cheer-leaders wants some people who DO work to GIVE MORE MONEY away to those who have never been responsible enough to even work at a job like most of us have to do. So we part with our money that is better used towards those who love us, depend on us and need us even more than those who don't have no qualms with "begging" with NO SHAME at all.
Now, if it's one of my family or friends who I know is just done on their luck, nobody is more generous than me. I LOVE helping people who I know it really does help. But with these pariah's, I've learned my lesson.
 
Terry Ardeno said:
This is not going to go over reall well, but it's something I feel strong about, so here goes....
Like most of us, I really appreciate and respect the talent that these pro players have. I don't pester or bother any of them. When I do speak with or communicate with them, it's always done in a kind and respectful manner.
But there is one pro who I won't give any clues about who, after only speaking with me 2-3 times in his whole life, called me about a real bind he had gotten himself into and could I please spot him a couple of hundred $.
(Background- I have worked since I was 11 years old, put my self thru college and raised 2 kids and 2 step-kids and only my current wife worked to help out. I NEVER had extra money for anything. At times, I would pick up change underneath drive-thru windows at restraunts that were closed. My money was for my family and church)
So, trying to be nice and remembering to be benevolent, I gave him the 2 spot. A month later, he wanted another $100.00, said he would mail me some used Accu-Stats. They turned out to be pirated copies on cheap VHS tapes. He called again and I told him I don't have it. Never got a penny back. I was stupid and I felt guilty for not being smarter since I brag about being so street-wise. I felt like I let my family down.
So here's my point...Some, not all, but SOME of these guys that we tend to idolize have some significant problems with "other substances" and they have histories of NEVER WORKING AND HAVING NO PROBLEMS TAKING HANDOUTS FOR "OTHER SUBSTANCES". And every once in a while, one of their cheer-leaders wants some people who DO work to GIVE MORE MONEY away to those who have never been responsible enough to even work at a job like most of us have to do. So we part with our money that is better used towards those who love us, depend on us and need us even more than those who don't have no qualms with "begging" with NO SHAME at all.
Now, if it's one of my family or friends who I know is just done on their luck, nobody is more generous than me. I LOVE helping people who I know it really does help. But with these pariah's, I've learned my lesson.
Click to expand...


Excellent post. Agreed on all points. When I was in college my parents and a few of my friends helped me out when I was scuffling, but I paid all of them back and now that I am well off I have about 5-6 people that I have helped out with money. I think that I will eventually get it back from most of them, but I know where you are coming from. The people that you are talking about are the ones that I always see at tournaments that only know me in passing but always ask for a handout or jelly. I don't understand this at all. I have no problem with those pool players that use pool as a means of making money, but when pool isnt paying the bills then get another profession and stop begging for payouts to be larger or someone else to pick up your slack.
 
Terry Ardeno said:
This is not going to go over reall well, but it's something I feel strong about, so here goes....
Like most of us, I really appreciate and respect the talent that these pro players have. I don't pester or bother any of them. When I do speak with or communicate with them, it's always done in a kind and respectful manner.
But there is one pro who I won't give any clues about who, after only speaking with me 2-3 times in his whole life, called me about a real bind he had gotten himself into and could I please spot him a couple of hundred $.
(Background- I have worked since I was 11 years old, put my self thru college and raised 2 kids and 2 step-kids and only my current wife worked to help out. I NEVER had extra money for anything. At times, I would pick up change underneath drive-thru windows at restraunts that were closed. My money was for my family and church)
So, trying to be nice and remembering to be benevolent, I gave him the 2 spot. A month later, he wanted another $100.00, said he would mail me some used Accu-Stats. They turned out to be pirated copies on cheap VHS tapes. He called again and I told him I don't have it. Never got a penny back. I was stupid and I felt guilty for not being smarter since I brag about being so street-wise. I felt like I let my family down.
So here's my point...Some, not all, but SOME of these guys that we tend to idolize have some significant problems with "other substances" and they have histories of NEVER WORKING AND HAVING NO PROBLEMS TAKING HANDOUTS FOR "OTHER SUBSTANCES". And every once in a while, one of their cheer-leaders wants some people who DO work to GIVE MORE MONEY away to those who have never been responsible enough to even work at a job like most of us have to do. So we part with our money that is better used towards those who love us, depend on us and need us even more than those who don't have no qualms with "begging" with NO SHAME at all.
Now, if it's one of my family or friends who I know is just done on their luck, nobody is more generous than me. I LOVE helping people who I know it really does help. But with these pariah's, I've learned my lesson.
Click to expand...
Terry,can you lend me a couple hun?:eek: just kiddin.:D You sound like a stand up guy.;)
 
Terry Ardeno said:
This is not going to go over reall well, but it's something I feel strong about, so here goes....
Like most of us, I really appreciate and respect the talent that these pro players have. I don't pester or bother any of them. When I do speak with or communicate with them, it's always done in a kind and respectful manner.
But there is one pro who I won't give any clues about who, after only speaking with me 2-3 times in his whole life, called me about a real bind he had gotten himself into and could I please spot him a couple of hundred $.
(Background- I have worked since I was 11 years old, put my self thru college and raised 2 kids and 2 step-kids and only my current wife worked to help out. I NEVER had extra money for anything. At times, I would pick up change underneath drive-thru windows at restraunts that were closed. My money was for my family and church)
So, trying to be nice and remembering to be benevolent, I gave him the 2 spot. A month later, he wanted another $100.00, said he would mail me some used Accu-Stats. They turned out to be pirated copies on cheap VHS tapes. He called again and I told him I don't have it. Never got a penny back. I was stupid and I felt guilty for not being smarter since I brag about being so street-wise. I felt like I let my family down.
So here's my point...Some, not all, but SOME of these guys that we tend to idolize have some significant problems with "other substances" and they have histories of NEVER WORKING AND HAVING NO PROBLEMS TAKING HANDOUTS FOR "OTHER SUBSTANCES". And every once in a while, one of their cheer-leaders wants some people who DO work to GIVE MORE MONEY away to those who have never been responsible enough to even work at a job like most of us have to do. So we part with our money that is better used towards those who love us, depend on us and need us even more than those who don't have no qualms with "begging" with NO SHAME at all.
Now, if it's one of my family or friends who I know is just done on their luck, nobody is more generous than me. I LOVE helping people who I know it really does help. But with these pariah's, I've learned my lesson.
Click to expand...


Terry, you learned a cheap lesson about the pool world. And that is, JUST SAY NO!
 
Terry Ardeno said:
This is not going to go over reall well, but it's something I feel strong about, so here goes....
Like most of us, I really appreciate and respect the talent that these pro players have. I don't pester or bother any of them. When I do speak with or communicate with them, it's always done in a kind and respectful manner.
But there is one pro who I won't give any clues about who, after only speaking with me 2-3 times in his whole life, called me about a real bind he had gotten himself into and could I please spot him a couple of hundred $.
(Background- I have worked since I was 11 years old, put my self thru college and raised 2 kids and 2 step-kids and only my current wife worked to help out. I NEVER had extra money for anything. At times, I would pick up change underneath drive-thru windows at restraunts that were closed. My money was for my family and church)
So, trying to be nice and remembering to be benevolent, I gave him the 2 spot. A month later, he wanted another $100.00, said he would mail me some used Accu-Stats. They turned out to be pirated copies on cheap VHS tapes. He called again and I told him I don't have it. Never got a penny back. I was stupid and I felt guilty for not being smarter since I brag about being so street-wise. I felt like I let my family down.
So here's my point...Some, not all, but SOME of these guys that we tend to idolize have some significant problems with "other substances" and they have histories of NEVER WORKING AND HAVING NO PROBLEMS TAKING HANDOUTS FOR "OTHER SUBSTANCES". And every once in a while, one of their cheer-leaders wants some people who DO work to GIVE MORE MONEY away to those who have never been responsible enough to even work at a job like most of us have to do. So we part with our money that is better used towards those who love us, depend on us and need us even more than those who don't have no qualms with "begging" with NO SHAME at all.
Now, if it's one of my family or friends who I know is just done on their luck, nobody is more generous than me. I LOVE helping people who I know it really does help. But with these pariah's, I've learned my lesson.
Click to expand...
that is probably the best post I've ever read. I can't believe what I've been reading. I can't fathom the idea of just giving money away to gamblers, drug users, bums, lazy and unmotivated people. I work hard for mine, they should too. just because they were blessed with the talent to play pool that gives them no right to depend on others for their bad habits.

terry, I think you are my new best friend.
 
Walt Frazier said:
And if you're dealing with Cliff,it's No No No!!!!!
Click to expand...


The guy I was talking about was not Joyner, but that's good sage advice anyway.

BTW, interesting thread again Locksmith :)
 
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