It it uptight to be worried about teams buying each other drinks in league?

[hang-the-9]

This situation came up the other night, and I was wondering what other people think of it.

During playoffs the other team was doing shots and they included the player on our team.
In my heart I don't think they were trying to do anything dirty like trying get him drunk.
Their own player was taking shots too. I think it was just a friendly gesture.
They're all pretty good friends.

Still, I just didn't feel good about it. Like even though they had good intentions it could screw up
the outcome of the match... because some people hold their drinks better than others,
and some people have trouble turning down a free drink (either cuz they have a little trouble
with drinking or they are overly worried about appearing rude).

It ended up not mattering so don't think this is sour grapes, our player shot fine.
Their player had some weird errors like tapping the CB during warmup strokes,
so maybe the shots affected him.

My thinking is, probably players should just not buy each other drinks in important matches.
It sucks to have to worry about whether alcohol affected the outcome of the match.

But being a non-drinker I'm not always objective.
I can certainly understand the argument that everyone's a grownup and makes his own choices,
so maybe offering drinks is no big deal.
What do you think?

I think that half the point of many leagues is to drink LOL There are plenty of guys that know each other in our USAPL league that buy rounds, even if they are on opposing teams.

I don't think that they bought the guy a drink to get him drunk and throw off the game, it was just a nice gesture to do. I remember a few years ago, a random guy I just beat in a tournament, who was already a bit tipsy, bought be a shot of Petron. Just a show of comradere in the pool world.

 

[ugotactionTX]

so what's his usual style?

So I guess my question is what is this guys usual drinking routine? Never drinks? Occasionally? Beer or Mixed drinks?

getting wound up when a guys had two drinks is probably taking things a little TOO seriously. Now if this guys is a teetotaler and now all of a sudden he's knocking back Jäger Bombs then we have a completely different story...


and probably a few cell phone pics/vid to pass around amongst friends.

Sounds like I was maybe being too uptight.
We did actually advise him to stop after the 2nd shot, and save the third one for after the match.
And that's what he did.

I guess offering the drink is fine, since it's 100% his choice to take it or not,
I was just thinking there are cases where once the drink is offered,
it kind of puts pressure on someone to accept it,
and it would be better to just not put them on the spot like that.

Not offering also makes sure there's no "asterisk" on the scoresheet,
and nobody can start making accusations.
Like, I personally think it was 100% innocent, but some of my teammates might be more cynical.

Anyway, thanks for the reality check everyone.

 

[jasonlaus]

There must be a lotta $$$$$$ in playing leagues to be this concerned.
Ok boys, remember to get a full nights sleep, we got league tomorrow

 

[Banks]

There must be a lotta $$$$$$ in playing leagues to be this concerned.
Ok boys, remember to get a full nights sleep, we got league tomorrow

Yeah, because the $$ is the reason we set at least 1 night a week aside after working all day to sit around all night after only playing one match. Not like I could be doing anything else except reading ignorant comments I suppose.

If you don't recognize the difference between giving an honest effort or ***king something off that involves your friends, maybe you should make some friends and try it.

 

[Spider1]

Yeah, because the $$ is the reason we set at least 1 night a week aside after working all day to sit around all night after only playing one match. Not like I could be doing anything else except reading ignorant comments I suppose.

If you don't recognize the difference between giving an honest effort or ***king something off that involves your friends, maybe you should make some friends and try it.

If you think getting concerned because someone bought a player a drink is normal behavior maybe you don't understand the purpose of recreational leagues.



The biggest problems with leagues are the people who take it wayyyyy too seriously and ruin things for everyone else. Protip: everyone else hates people like that.

 

[Mickey Qualls]

Beyond the obvious about not getting stupid drunk, it depends on how things are in your league.

If your league is like ours, we pretty much all get along well with each other, and consider each other friends. We spend time together a couple nights a week, anywhere from 6 - 12 teams in the same room, its pretty cool. Some folks play on different teams on different nights, and as teams break up and/or restructure, folks end up playing with many of each other over the years. So having drinks together isn't unusual in our world, in fact it would be unusual were it not to happen occasionally.

However, if the league in question is not all that friendly, it might become an issue. You know, a league where borrowing the other teams bridge is frowned upon, that sort of thing.

I'm glad ours is the former, not the latter. Not regarding the drinking, per se, but the atmosphere that wouldn't make it a big deal.

Good question.

Is the OP's league like this ?

Or like this ?

About seven years ago, I played on a team with four other guys. This past season, the five of us are on five different teams. We all got along great, we just moved on from playing with each other.

So, playoffs or not, we're buying each other drinks. That's just the way it is.

And it's up to each individual to control their own behavior...

 

[Celophanewrap]

There must be a lotta $$$$$$ in playing leagues to be this concerned.
Ok boys, remember to get a full nights sleep, we got league tomorrow

Geeze! Seriously. Agreed, I think you may be wound up a little too tight to be playing in a social environment such as pool leagues. It's not for blood, it's pool league. I know over here we go to play a little pool, meet people, have a cocktail or two, build friendships and stuff like that. It may become competitive from time to time and naturally you'll encounter people that you just don't like, but gee whiz, it's pool league. Maybe next time you offer to buy the drink, watch how fast it becomes fun

 

[CreeDo]

So I guess my question is what is this guys usual drinking routine? Never drinks? Occasionally? Beer or Mixed drinks?

getting wound up when a guys had two drinks is probably taking things a little TOO seriously.

I've seen him a lil tipsy before, I think he's mostly beer with occasional shots.
I dunno what's normal for him. I probably don't have a good sense of how much alcohol
it takes to affect someone. I thought after 3 shots in like an hour,
a player might start feeling it.
Is that incorrect?

There must be a lotta $$$$$$ in playing leagues to be this concerned. Ok boys, remember to get a full nights sleep, we got league tomorrow

If people only cared about money when playing pool, league wouldn't exist
and most tournaments wouldn't either.
There's nothing wrong with caring about a match that has no money riding on it.

The biggest problems with leagues are the people who take it wayyyyy too seriously and ruin things for everyone else. Protip: everyone else hates people like that.

I definitely don't want to be That Guy. I don't say anything about drinking to anyone
throughout the rest of the year. I figure if I only said one thing to one guy in a season,
I'm probably not a TOTAL douche about it

Good question.

Is the OP's league like this ?

Our league does sometimes have a serious vibe. Lots of people just having fun,
but also little bits of drama... teams fighting about someone not contributing,
or people who don't show up reliably, beefs with the LO, people calling nitpicky fouls,
a couple of guys will bet on a match.

It isn't really any different from other leagues I've been in though.

 

[TheConArtist]

I wouldnt mind at all as my teammates the more they drink the better they play

 

[Banks]

During playoffs the other team was doing shots and they included the player on our team.
In my heart I don't think they were trying to do anything dirty like trying get him drunk.
Their own player was taking shots too. I think it was just a friendly gesture.
They're all pretty good friends.

Their player had some weird errors like tapping the CB during warmup strokes,
so maybe the shots affected him. I usually do this when I've had a few.

My thinking is, probably players should just not buy each other drinks in important matches.
It sucks to have to worry about whether alcohol affected the outcome of the match.

If you think getting concerned because someone bought a player a drink is normal behavior maybe you don't understand the purpose of recreational leagues.



The biggest problems with leagues are the people who take it wayyyyy too seriously and ruin things for everyone else. Protip: everyone else hates people like that.

Not sure if you failed to read the post or just didn't care, but if somebody on my team looked like they were getting drunk(not just "drinking") before matches in playoffs or above, they'll probably be sitting that one out. I'm all for playing pool and drinking, but I'm not blowing off something right at the end after people have put their time and money into it. My team and a friend's are usually the first to get down to shots right after a match. If I'm putting back shots before a match, it usually means I don't care and I know that my game isn't as good with the whiskey. I had no problem joking with people and everything during Vegas, but I wasn't about to get drunk for my matches. Protip: everyone also hates the guy that makes it look like they wasted their time for 3 months.

 

[Hungarian]

The whole purpose of pool leagues in bars is to drink.

Are you serious with this quesiton?

Pool is a drinking sport.

This situation came up the other night, and I was wondering what other people think of it.

During playoffs the other team was doing shots and they included the player on our team.
In my heart I don't think they were trying to do anything dirty like trying get him drunk.
Their own player was taking shots too. I think it was just a friendly gesture.
They're all pretty good friends.

Still, I just didn't feel good about it. Like even though they had good intentions it could screw up
the outcome of the match... because some people hold their drinks better than others,
and some people have trouble turning down a free drink (either cuz they have a little trouble
with drinking or they are overly worried about appearing rude).

It ended up not mattering so don't think this is sour grapes, our player shot fine.
Their player had some weird errors like tapping the CB during warmup strokes,
so maybe the shots affected him.

My thinking is, probably players should just not buy each other drinks in important matches.
It sucks to have to worry about whether alcohol affected the outcome of the match.

But being a non-drinker I'm not always objective.
I can certainly understand the argument that everyone's a grownup and makes his own choices,
so maybe offering drinks is no big deal.
What do you think?

 

[Rain-Man]

Lol

As one of my ALL TIME favorite AZ posters, I must say this may be the most criticism Ive even seen come your way CreeDo!

Keep your head up sir, your still top notch in my mind! :thumbup:

 

[pwd72s]

Good question.

Is the OP's league like this ?

Or like this ?

About seven years ago, I played on a team with four other guys. This past season, the five of us are on five different teams. We all got along great, we just moved on from playing with each other.

So, playoffs or not, we're buying each other drinks. That's just the way it is.

And it's up to each individual to control their own behavior...

Said it all...a greenie for this!

 

[CreeDo]

The whole purpose of pool leagues in bars is to drink.

Are you serious with this quesiton?

Pool is a drinking sport.

Nah, it's whatever you want it to be.
Been playing for 17 or 18 years without drinking.
Who said I was in a bar?

 

[Hungarian]

Just messing wit ya broham

Most I drink anymore is diet coke.

Nah, it's whatever you want it to be.
Been playing for 17 or 18 years without drinking.
Who said I was in a bar?

 

[jasonlaus]

Yeah, because the $$ is the reason we set at least 1 night a week aside after working all day to sit around all night after only playing one match. Not like I could be doing anything else except reading ignorant comments I suppose.

If you don't recognize the difference between giving an honest effort or ***king something off that involves your friends, maybe you should make some friends and try it.

So you're saying u sit at work all week and u set one night a week aside to relax(I'm assuming) playing pool and you're this uptight about somebody having a drink or 2 while playing - You must be a blast to be around<---Sarcasm

 

[leto1776]

Jesus Christ the other guys bought an opponent a drink and that's cause for concern?

Considering how many league players are rude, shark, and do all sorts of underhanded crap to mess with opponents it seems completely nuts to question a friendly gesture like buying someone a drink.


Leagues really do bring out the worst behavior and people.

They also bring out really great people.

 

[jasonlaus]

Geeze! Seriously. Agreed, I think you may be wound up a little too tight to be playing in a social environment such as pool leagues. It's not for blood, it's pool league. I know over here we go to play a little pool, meet people, have a cocktail or two, build friendships and stuff like that. It may become competitive from time to time and naturally you'll encounter people that you just don't like, but gee whiz, it's pool league. Maybe next time you offer to buy the drink, watch how fast it becomes fun

Maybe you should read my post again.
Think you'll see that we agree, league is for fun and hangin with friends, havin some drinks(or a lot of drinks) no reason you can't party with the other team/s too.
Think you missed the sarcasm in my post - I was making fun of the people that act like that

 

[alstl]

The only thing I would be worried about is encountering them on the road behind the wheel after drinking all night.

 

[Banks]

So you're saying u sit at work all week and u set one night a week aside to relax(I'm assuming) playing pool and you're this uptight about somebody having a drink or 2 while playing - You must be a blast to be around<---Sarcasm

That's twice that you've failed to read the part about it where he's worried about the player being drunk. When you respond to things that you've read in entirety, you won't have so many problems discussing those things.

Just because I get the feeling I'd have to explain yet again for you if I don't do so now..

Playing weekly league and drinking.. no problem. Drinking and playing playoffs for league.. no problem. Getting drunk when your league teammates are relying on you to at least put forth a decent effort for your match.. may be a problem.

Try reading that 5 or 6 times to let it set in. See, I can have plenty of fun during league. Having to repeatedly explain stuff to "sober" people on a forum.. pretty lame.

Reminds me of a couple of friends that thought it was no big deal that they f* off sending the paperwork in time, costing the team a chance for playoffs. I work all day, get home so I can grab my stuff and head off to league. I don't do that so somebody can shirk their agreed-upon responsibility and make the team feel like they've wasted their time. I can go drink and play about any night I want(just like last night). When I accept the responsibility of being on a team and hand over my cash, I expect people to have at least a modicum of respect about it. If I want to play and get drunk, I don't have to piss away extra cash and drive all over, I can do that at my regular spot.