In Defense of Pro Pool Players

[CJ Wiley]

taking steps to make sure your youngster never read azbilliards

If I were a parent, looking over the shoulder of my youngster, (at their most formative age) reading your words,..I would take steps to see, that you would never have the opportunity to poison their minds again ! :frown: Common sense, and proven logic..will ALWAYS be "the teacher"!.. (Unless, of course you prefer an unemployed 'pool bum', and his girlfriend living with you, until you croak !) :sorry:

If you were a parent you'd do what? LoL ....take steps to make sure your youngster never read azbilliards? That would be brilliant parenting indeed. :groucho:

 

[CJ Wiley]

And you guys wonder why the Europeans are winning the Masconi Cup..... and the haters come here in mass when Shane comes up short .ponting out."Over There He Can't Win", you seem happy about our players failing. You tell them they are foolish for doing what they love.....then ***** like little girls when they don"t bring the "Cup" or trophy home to the U.S. of A ....I guess the support they get here...like this thread is just not appreciated enough by them. So much negative B S. well... I will support them as best I can...I'm dead money, I play in tournament.s that I can no longer win....and I love to see these guys play so good....I hope they never read the shyt that people say about them on this site........you are a group of like minded negative people that have found each other. Enjoyed meeting you. Now let's dissect another one....maybe we will figure out why he plays pool and doesn't work....

You're correct, unfortunately, it's their nature.

 

[CJ Wiley]

You would not have to go back very far to find players of other sports making no money. Yogi Berra worked at a bowling alley off season. He made little money as a player even playing on a World Series winning teams.

Actors have it real bad. Few ever make any money. Even many who we think made money didn't. Jerry Mathers made $500. a week for Leave it to Beaver.

The beverly Hillbillies actors made about the same except for Buddy Ebsen who made the most around $1500.00 a week. When it was all over none had anything to show for it.

Now they have residuals if they are lucky but not back then. You do what you do for a living for other reasons then money. If the money comes all the better. Will pool players ever make any money, probably not. They don't really have a product that anyone wants. They are delusional to think otherwise.

Most professional athletes will die broke, statistically speaking.

 

[CJ Wiley]

It's The Artist Syndrome: a person falls in love with an art (painting, dance, music, pool, chess, ...) and can't imagine doing anything else with their life. They practice 14 hours a day perfecting their skills, only to find out that they can't make a decent living.

If you think pool players are bad, try listening to musicians. According to them, the world is screwed up because the world doesn't appreciate their music. In defense of musicians, at least pool players have an objective measurement -- did I win the tournament? The success of a musician is more often dependent on subjective measurements since the audience has to "like" their music. No one trashes successful musicians as much as unsuccessful musicians: "He sold out!" "She's gone corporate!" and so on.

You're right, there's many successful pool players and you won't hear much about them. The focus will always be on the ones that fail by the frustrated and envious people of the world.....it's just human nature, and it's much worse in other sports.

 

[SJDinPHX]

You're right, there's many successful pool players and you won't hear much about them. The focus will always be on the ones that fail by the frustrated and envious people of the world.....it's just human nature, and it's much worse in other sports.

You just spent four posts in a row, defending your 'scary' take on things !...As usual, what people are trying to tell you, has sailed right over your head ! :sorry:

Are you sure you are no relation to Al ??? :embarrassed2:

PS..Hope I don't need to explain, this was meant in jest ! (somewhat)

 

[CJ Wiley]

be passionate about life, love and the pursuit of happiness.

It's The Artist Syndrome: a person falls in love with an art (painting, dance, music, pool, chess, ...) and can't imagine doing anything else with their life. They practice 14 hours a day perfecting their skills, only to find out that they can't make a decent living.

If you think pool players are bad, try listening to musicians. According to them, the world is screwed up because the world doesn't appreciate their music. In defense of musicians, at least pool players have an objective measurement -- did I win the tournament? The success of a musician is more often dependent on subjective measurements since the audience has to "like" their music. No one trashes successful musicians as much as unsuccessful musicians: "He sold out!" "She's gone corporate!" and so on.

There's a lot to be said about taking the necessary chances required to be passionate about life, love and the pursuit of happiness.

Look at what happens when someone becomes frustrated and overcome with envy because they never had the courage to take risks in life. A life without risk is like a day without sunshine.

 

[CJ Wiley]

Anyone on earth that strives to break out of the "normal," will have to,,,,,,,,

Yeah we all get it -- they could have chosen a different line of work. They could have all put down their cue and got a 9 to 5 job like the rest of us. But they're really not like the rest of us are they?

.

That's a great point!!!

There have been times in my life that I wanted to be "normal".

One day a very wise friend ask me point blank "do you really want to be normal, or are you just saying that"?

I thought for a second and quickly shook my head. "if I was normal I'd also be miserable".

Anyone on earth that strives to break out of the "normal," will have to accept the good with the bad.......and of course they know that intuitively.

 

[CJ Wiley]

competing at any sport or game requires work

They're the only ones that can change their lives. Like you said, we all put our cues down and got a job that would pay the bills. It's not our fault they won't do the same.

Do I wish they all earned a living? Of course I do, but most don't.
so either change the situation (get a job) or quit whining! It's up to them, the world doesn't owe them anything.

There's really only one, full time professional pool player and that's Shane Van Boening and he doesn't whine very much. I also never heard any professional pool player say the world owed them anything.......besides, competing at any sport or game requires work, much more than most "9 to 5" jobs.

 

[SJDinPHX]

That's a great point!!!

There have been times in my life that I wanted to be "normal".

One day a very wise friend ask me point blank "do you really want to be normal, or are you just saying that"?

I thought for a second and quickly shook my head. "if I was normal I'd also be miserable".

Anyone on earth that strives to break out of the "normal," will have to accept the good with the bad.......and of course they know that intuitively.

You are now up to 8 or 9 posts, defending your position ! (and you are still wrong) :sorry:

 

[CJ Wiley]

 

[one stroke]

That's right, without a pro tour it's not fair to judge people as being "pro players".

The fact is, if you put football, baseball, basketball, tennis, or golf pros in the same situaton as pool players they would be even worse off.....and their attitudes would be much more negative.

Pool players have been trained to survive, and have the experiences to back this up.

I've said many times that someone could drop me off in the middle of a city where no one knows me with $20 and I'd end up staying at a nice hotel with a pocket full of money by the end of the night.

This doesn't just go for me, it's accurate for most "professional" pool players.

You do live in a dream world don't you ,,

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[Donny Lutz]

hanging our in pool halls

What a surprise that hanging around pool halls all day during your youth isn't a good idea....this has been true forever.
On the other hand they can all fall back on their college degrees like a lot of other "sportsman" do. Most of them did further their education right?

I sort of agree a little with your first sentence. But you might be surprised that there are some pro players that do have college degrees and some pretty good "amateurs" who have even contributed to the betterment of society.

 

[Donny Lutz]

whining

I think this thread is long overdue.

When it comes to professional pool players, there's a band wagon that nearly everyone has jumped on. It's the all professional pool players are whiners band wagon. If you sit inside this band wagon long enough you hear the same conversation over and over again about how ungrateful these players are. How none of them are willing to do anything for their careers. How they are all just a bunch of self-centered hustlers that will complain about anything and everything if they aren't cashing a check.

Yeah we all get it -- they could have chosen a different line of work. They could have all put down their cue and got a 9 to 5 job like the rest of us. But they're really not like the rest of us are they?

They've really been cursed in a sense. They have taken up a game that infused them with an all-consuming passion. A passion that drove them to fire balls into pockets for hours, months, and years on end. Long after most of us gave up and moved on to other things. Not them - they kept playing; they kept practicing; they kept competing. They kept being teased with that dangling carrot. First it was the PBT. Then it was the IPT. Then on a smaller scale you had tours like the Seminole Tour and others that kept their hopes alive. Not to mention Bonus Ball. You mix in the odd high paying tournament here and there and you realize there has always been hope on the horizon for the professional pool player.

In the end, it just hasn't worked out for them.

How unbelievably frustrating must that be for all but a handful of them? I can't even begin to imagine it.

So when professional players complain about tournament payouts maybe we should sympathize just a wee bit more with their plight. Telling them to put down a cue and get a job is way easier said than done. I've been guilty of saying such things in the past but if I played as good as the top dogs I'm not so sure I would be able to put down my cue. I really don't know what I'd do anymore but my hunch is I'd probably play until my arm fell off.

I think another part of the reason I've become more sympathetic to their plight is I think I just appreciate excellence more than I used to, no matter what the endeavor is. So when I see someone hone their craft to the point of perfection and they still can't reap the benefits of all the work they put in, I just naturally feel sorry for them.

Like us mere mortals, professional pool players come in all shapes and sizes. Many of them are great guys. Many of them aren't, but all of them have had to travel down a long road with not a whole lot to show for all their hard work. Maybe it’s time we cut them a little slack.

I like your post. I would only add that there's a fine line between "whining" and criticizing. Without critics how would we recognize problems and try to find solutions?

 

[peteypooldude]

I like your post. I would only add that there's a fine line between "whining" and criticizing. Without critics how would we recognize problems and try to find solutions?

I agree. In my opinion critics are a necessity . It gives another point of view to a situation and if it's unfounded criticism it also will be known......

 

[peteypooldude]

You do live in a dream world don't you ,,

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And why is that? I have no doubt that in CJs case his statement holds true

 

[cueman]

Remember, the greatest influences on the world never took money for their work.

It's better to do what you love without compensation than be stuck in a job that you hate, wishing to have had the courage to create a passionate destiny...with the realization that it is now too late. 'The Game is our Teacher'

You are absolutely right. I was stuck in a job that I had worked since my teens and never enjoyed it much. My passion was pool and I made a little side money playing amateur tournaments, but at my best I was only able to cash in the lower money in a pro event on very rare occasions. But I found I also enjoyed working on pool cues so I found my way to make a living being around the sport that was my passion. If only Earl had not run those racks I bet your dream of keeping a top pro tour together would have continued to this day.

But I bet with your passion for the game, and knowledge about how to promote it, you could still get pool back on TV and make a stable tour today.

 

[Banks]

You're correct, unfortunately, it's their nature.

You know what's also in some players' nature? To lie, deceive and generally behave in an unscrupulous manner.

You and he have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. Now, go find a pretty picture and compare yourself to somebody wise or world-changing.

By the way, how are those nonexistent tv deals coming along?

 

[one stroke]

And why is that? I have no doubt that in CJs case his statement holds true

Really then why are so many broke ,, and spend way more many nights in cheap hotels than nice ones ,, ,,



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[mr3cushion]

I like your post. I would only add that there's a fine line between "whining" and criticizing. Without critics how would we recognize problems and try to find solutions?

Critics are fine, it's finding, 'qualified' critics to help solve problems when noticed!

 

[Shooter08]

From what I have seen on this site since I have been here is most people who post, not all (there are a lot of really good people here), are just plain whiners and will never be happy no matter what. I can't imagine being a Pro and being criticized constantly by some rail bird who doesn't know 5% of what I would know as a Pro. Respect is earned not given, maybe if more people would show respect to quote "Pro" Pool Players they would give you more positive interaction. After constantly being given grief I would eventually just go shoot and ignore the fanatics, too. If they don't have a sponsor to represent why should they give a bunch of jerks the time of day. Seriously, give me one good reason. Look at Shane with his recent fan interaction, there are Pros that care. Is it possible Shane feels the love of his fans and that is why he is willing and happy to give back to them?