You're the one "painting with the broad brush". Where in my posts did I say "ALL" league players? What I'm saying that it's most of them. And it's because the longer they play the more they are forced to manipulate the numbers if they want to keep their teams intact. As people on the teams improve, unless they sandbag, they reach a point where they're forced to break up their team due to the "23 rule". If you play good, you can't be on a team with other players who also play good because you're doomed due to the system! And yes I have been screwed over by Larry Hubbart which I've posted about in depth here and don't feel like typing the entire history over and over again. Also I never said that league players don't buy equipment from vendors. They probably buy more than the real pool players. They also probably get 10 times the DUI's as real pool players but I guess that makes them good because they are supporting the law enforcement and courts also.
I'll stop after this.
Thank you for pointing out that you have a history with Larry Hubbart. Stuff happens, and that makes it easier to see why you have such strong opinions regarding APA. No judgements from me. Just perspective, and that makes it easier to try and find common ground.
As for the whole issue of "having to break up teams", I find that particularly amusing. And it comes up in these discussions often, not just from you. I've played APA for just under 2 years now, and I'm on my third different team configuration. Not because of the 23 rule, but because of personalities, schedule conflicts, one very sad and untimeley death, and various other reasons.
I know, in a general sense, probably 90% of the players in our division. It isn't difficult to put together a team to play. Even with all the people that are playing in the current session, there are at least 30-40 more that have played APA here in the past (that I know of) and aren't playing currently. I have played with my best buddy 2 different times, and on another team once. I do not understand why there is such a big fuss made over "having to break up our team". I had as much fun playing against my best friends team as playing on it. We all play together socially, or at least many of us do, very often. The league thing is just another outlet to play.
To me, having to break up a team because the handicaps got too high is a sign that we are improving, and we'll get to play against each other when we set up another team. Again, I play against my friends quite often. Why this has to be any different is beyond me.
I don't recall any of our teams breaking up completely due to handicaps. Occasionally a team will have to replace a player or two, but usually attrition takes care of these issues more often than handicap does. (Life does come before pool, at least occasionally!)
Maybe we're just different here (OK, I'm quite sure we're "different" here
) but I find it difficult to believe that other areas aren't like us, so far as the players pretty much all knowing each other. And playing together. Maybe folks in the city are that much different and don't know each other very well. Odd, if you play in the same rooms any amount.
I'll stop now. Neither you nor I will likely change our opinions on this matter, nor we will likely change many other opinions either. Indeed, it is just more hot air!
Have a good night.
) where im a SL9 and im playing a SL5. If the SL5 got more than 20 points i would be pissed!!! It was my job as a SL9 to keep my opponents score as small as possible. I knew i was gonna win the match regardless but i felt like i lost if they scored too many points against me :angry:
