Its just a game!

pulzcul

pulzcul

"Chasinrainbows"
Silver Member
I know we have all heard this from someone either on your team or from the gallery after showing some frustration after a missed shot. And my answer at the time was "yeah I know". But on reflection I have to ask myself if it really is "just a game" to me.
And in all honesty its much more than that. I have 2 self absorbing passions in my life. Fly fishing and pool. And they ARE passions. They define me. The amount of money I spend on them could support a third world country. The amount of time I spend on them could be viewed as excessive/obsessive. I actually have dreams of running tables and landing 10# rainbows. No, its not just a game to me. Don
 
We play this game, but we strive to play this game at the best of our perceived ability.
Being passionate about a game does not change the fact that it is a game. A game that you (and most of us) have invested countless hours and a whole lot of money in.
The disappointment I feel is usually in myself, for not performing during that one moment that counts. On the inverse, I look forward to those moments so that I might experience the times that I do meet the challenge. And this game gives me those opportunities to do just that.
This game is all about living in the now. In the execution.

So.. being passionate is great. Being passionate about a game or sport is also great. It lets you (us) experience those moments in life where we can assign greatness to that moment, if just for ourselves.

It's true it is a game... I think however, it's not just a game.
 
pulzcul said:
I know we have all heard this from someone either on your team or from the gallery after showing some frustration after a missed shot. And my answer at the time was "yeah I know". But on reflection I have to ask myself if it really is "just a game" to me.
And in all honesty its much more than that. I have 2 self absorbing passions in my life. Fly fishing and pool. And they ARE passions. They define me. The amount of money I spend on them could support a third world country. The amount of time I spend on them could be viewed as excessive/obsessive. I actually have dreams of running tables and landing 10# rainbows. No, its not just a game to me. Don
Click to expand...

Don,

Your post is almost of reflection of me if you insert maintaining my Lotus instead of fly fishing. I've heard most of the lines. "It's just a game", "ball - hole", "only one winner", "everyone misses". My favorite is a line purportedly contributed by Efren "it's not life or death". It's not a game to me either. Well said!

Lyn
 
It's a passion to me also but sometimes it's a reality check. Nobody likes to miss and we have to co-exit sometimes with people that don't share the same passion as we do.

It's not your fault it's no their fault it's just the way the world works.

___________________________

http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com

I like it so much, I wrote a book about it.
 
It's just a game:

  • played on a surface exactly twice as long as it is wide
  • that requires precise measurement
  • is a new puzzle every game
  • requires the control of mind, body and emotions if one is to excell
  • is played on every part of the populated planet in one form or another
  • was the game of royalty
  • is the game of the common man
  • or woman
  • brings people together
  • is a game where men can play with thier balls in public
 
A Magical Time...

Playing Pool...

You get to be the Knight In Shining Armor...No one can beat you..

You are the Great Artist with Canvas...Painting a Masterpiece..

You play somewhat of a God...Creativity is in your hands and Miracles may happen...

Oh what a time....

Mr. J.
 
I find myself in both camps, the "it's a game" camp and the "dammit, this is more than that!" position. Depending on the day, i suppose.:o

I try to keep myself in the position of being upset if I beat myself, not if my opponent beats me. If my opponent played a better game and I shot reasonably close to the way I should, I'm not really upset. Yes, I want to get better, and will work to do so. But if I beat myself by playing poorly, wow.... it stays with me for days.
 
Hah, I know how you feel. I love how the bangers act when I pull out all my gear and take hard ownership of the table. It inspired one of my first shirt designs!! :D
 

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I've always hated it when someone says that to me. Everything is "just" something to someone else who has no investment in it.

Waiter dropped your food? relax, it's just cheesecake. Moved to tears by a movie? Hey, it's just a movie, why are you crying? Forgot your book and now you have a 5 hour bus ride with nothing to read? Hey it's just a paperback, find something else to entertain yourself.

I'd rather be passionate about nothing than have nothing to be passionate about.
 
Ponytail said:
We play this game, but we strive to play this game at the best of our perceived ability.
Being passionate about a game does not change the fact that it is a game. A game that you (and most of us) have invested countless hours and a whole lot of money in.
The disappointment I feel is usually in myself, for not performing during that one moment that counts. On the inverse, I look forward to those moments so that I might experience the times that I do meet the challenge. And this game gives me those opportunities to do just that.
This game is all about living in the now. In the execution.

So.. being passionate is great. Being passionate about a game or sport is also great. It lets you (us) experience those moments in life where we can assign greatness to that moment, if just for ourselves.

It's true it is a game... I think however, it's not just a game.
Click to expand...


Great post :thumbup:
 
Well to take something to be other than what it is, is self-deception at best. You then behave irrationally, because you don't have your wits about you once you view pool as something more than just a game. That stuff probably doesn't do well for your pool game either.
 
You betcha!!

Ponytail said:
We play this game, but we strive to play this game at the best of our perceived ability.
Being passionate about a game does not change the fact that it is a game. A game that you (and most of us) have invested countless hours and a whole lot of money in.
The disappointment I feel is usually in myself, for not performing during that one moment that counts. On the inverse, I look forward to those moments so that I might experience the times that I do meet the challenge. And this game gives me those opportunities to do just that.
This game is all about living in the now. In the execution.

So.. being passionate is great. Being passionate about a game or sport is also great. It lets you (us) experience those moments in life where we can assign greatness to that moment, if just for ourselves.

It's true it is a game... I think however, it's not just a game.
Click to expand...

That tells it all. Good post. Rep for you.
 
I always become deeply absorbed with the things i am passionate about...pool, for all its glory, its up and down past, its bigger than life figures, the two-time hustlers, winners and losers, is just a game...but a game with soul, a game with the very life-blood coursing thru it...and if you devote your heart and imagination to it, its inner beauty will be revealed...I am devoting my heart and imagination to it, as well as all the extra cash I can scrape up for table time, but its inner secrets have yet to be revealed...I truly believe its an adventure worthy of a lifetime...my only regret is that i waited 50 years to start playing.
 
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