No, The Baby's Arm, it is NOT the exact same thing. There is no parallel when comparing pool to golf, whether there is a calcutta in existence or not.
You are entitled to your opinion. I just happen to disagree with it.
I can remember a time on the road when shooters would give a little "jelly" to a friendly bystander, just for being in the right place at the right time.
One roadster I know won $5,000 using a stranger's cue stick who just happened to be sitting on the rail, and after he collected his winnings, he immediately gave the railbird cue-owner a 10-percent take, $500. Of course, he did not have to do so, as there was no agreement in force, but he did it because that's the kind of spirit some pool players have within their being. Would you call it a "tip"? Would you call it a "jelly roll"? Would you call it good "pool etiquette"? Depends on what you think is proper.
After the conclusion of the Mid-Atlantic 9-Ball tournament held at Q-Masters in Norfolk a few years ago, I witnessed a match I will never forget.
North Carolinian Hotshot Michael Coltrain rose up from the B side of the chart and defeated hotseat-holder Keith McCready in an extended race for the finals. Though it was a bummer for Keith to be the bridesmaid, he didn't mind too much after he pocketed his second-place winnings.
With the tournament concluded, a short time later, Sam Monday from North Carolina and Keith engaged in a loud barkfest, hoping to get in action. The majority of the people in the house thought Keith would lose his pants, feeling no pain in the wee hours of the morning. Thus, a slew of backers lined up to form a backers committee for Sammy Boy, and they wanted to post it up as high as Keith was willing to go.
When the dust settled, Keith and Sammy played a set of 9-ball, 13 ahead, with Sammy getting spotted the wild 8, and it was for a very large chunk of change. I glanced on over at Michael Coltrain, licking his chops, thinking he made a wise investment in his fellow North Carolinian. My nerves began to wear, and it sure didn't help matters when after several long and grueling hours, Sammy surged forward and got Keith stuck 11 games, going to 13. Visions of traveling the long trek back home with empty pockets began to dance in my head.
Now, some seasoned players are capable at any moment of catching a second wind, whereas others sometimes lose their endurance and flatten out, and this is what happened. It was the best comeback I have ever witnessed, bar none, and there was a new Keith McCready shooting. He trampled poor old Sam Monday in what seemed like minutes and ended up beating him, 13 ahead, a 24-game swing.
The crowd dwindled, and most of the backers committee members soon departed. Sam Monday looked like he had seen a ghost and just sat there alone with his stick between his legs. He had given it his all and just about got there, and for whatever reason, the winds shifted. Keith, a veteran road player, knew that look on Sammy Boy's face. Though they were combatants at one moment, maybe it was the "old school" mentality that brought Keith over to him, handing him several C-notes. You see, Keith's outlook is that you should NEVER leave a pool player broke.
Now, I only bring up this long and drawn-out story to illustrate the sentiment and logic that exists with some pool players. Keith felt that Sam Monday was very deserving to get a few dollars in his pockets after his fine performance. I don't know a whole lot of players who still do that today, but it does occur more often than you may know.
Would Sam have given Keith a "jelly" if he beat him? I don't know. However, I do know this is an accepted practice that I have seen exhibited by some players. So, in sum, The Baby's Arm, there are some players who think that if they put on a good performance, even though they didn't buy half of themselves in the calcutta, that they may be deserving of a small tip. Though it is not a written rule to do so, I have seen it more often than not. JMHO, FWIW!
JAM