John Schmidt Poll

[plfrg]

I don't understand all the hand-wringing and all of the virtually anonomous public lashing of these pros on azb. With most of the people throwing stones from the safety of their lazy-boy recliners.

Most of the whiners, not all, have never done anything but flip burgers their whole lives but are more than willing to slam one of these pros that they've never met. I would love to see some of these whiners with no balls tell the pros straight to their face as opposed to the safety of their lazy-boy.

How many of you have been in that situation before (playing in a high stress match for 8 or 9 hours on video stream miked the entire time)? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that John acted perfectly - I didn't expect him to. I did expect him to play well and he did just that on all three days. Extremely well on the final day. I had a great time watching and would watch John or Corey again with no hesitation. They are both two accomplished champions.

I don't watch professional sports and expect perfection. What did you whiners expect? Data from Star Trek? Perhaps if that's the kind of fantasy perfect player you want you should watch Star Trek instead of actual humans playing pool.

Here's a Teddy Roosevelt quote for the lazy-boy burger flipping timid souls out there that would certainly not have the balls to say the crap you write on azb to someones face:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

 

[nb92]

Teddy, Really?

Unless the only meaning this has to someone is a cool poster on their wall one would realize the key to the quote is word "valiantly" (i.e. bravely) or heroically which to most would imply some sense of honor. The quote is not ".... whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, and whines like a snotty brat when things don't go his way..." but instead... ".. who strives valiantly..." I would submit there is a difference.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."[/QUOTE]

 

[plfrg]

Unless the only meaning this has to someone is a cool poster on their wall one would realize the key to the quote is word "valiantly" (i.e. bravely) or heroically which to most would imply some sense of honor. The quote is not ".... whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, and whines like a snotty brat when things don't go his way..." but instead... ".. who strives valiantly..." I would submit there is a difference.

Yeah. Teddy. Really. And I meant what I said about the whiners who have no balls and would never say the things they write here to someones face. I meant every word of it.

 

[nb92]

Yeah. Teddy. Really. And I meant what I said about the whiners who have no balls and would never say the things they write here to someones face. I meant every word of it.

I never doubted you meant what you wrote. I was questioning how the quote was applicable to John as he did not ".. strives valiantly..".

 

[Pre-Flag Master]

Actually I would love to talk to JS face to face. He seems like a reasonable guy and he made a good point in the pod-cast about growing the sport by having kids take it up. I would tell him that I believe his behavior was counter productive in that context.

Fatz

 

[Hungarian]

long-wind·ed
   [lawng-win-did, long-] Show IPA

adjective
1.
talking or writing at tedious length: long-winded after-dinner speakers.

2.
continued to a tedious length in speech or writing: another of his long-winded election speeches.

3.
able to breathe deeply; not tiring easily.

we have all fallen victim to that which we despise. Here we are falling under the pressure of a thread, it's no different to sharking if you ask me. This is the internet and a forum where some looser can sit butt naked in his trailer smoking lucky strikes drinking Colt 45 "or whatever" just waiting for something, anything to come up so he can make a comment on.

Fact of the matte is that there is no pleasing people these day, not when they have the internet to rant on about all their inner feeling. Too slow, fast, sharking, bias, this, that and the F***ing other. Has there ever been a TAR match where there has not been a Thread following, talking about "most likely the player who beat their player. Or has there ever been one saying WOW what match, those guys really went at it, thanks TAR, you guys were in the front lines.

these threads only survive because we support them, let's from today on, just not comment/reply to them so that they don't win, because you can deny it all you want but they always win....

JUST ASK SCHMIDT, LOL


P.S.
I would nut myself to see Ralf in the box, were i can just watch pool and not how the players are acting. "but that will prob never happen cause some indecisive people post here not knowing what they want, pool or entertainment"

I didn't see the match, but based on what's been posted here on AZ, JS was either sharking or at least being a very bad sport. Again I didn't see it, but it has been described here, and if it has created this much discussion, obviously there was something serious going on.

Here's the thing; in regard to the on-going issue about "the state of pro pool in the US" where people are concerned that the sport is dying here, this kind of behavior is not good. I know it has been discussed much, but here is my view on it.

For the sport to GROW there needs to be NEW people playing and wanting to watch pros play. If the sport does grow, then there would be more money for the pros in terms of sponsorship and bigger tournament pay outs. I don't think that new people will take up the sport if they see this kind of behavior from the current pros. And this is not an issue of "the only ones seeing this are the people who are already fans of the game now", because, from what I've seen this kind of crap happens all the time at almost any level of competitive pro play. Examples are Earl in general, and the Rodney Morris thing at the Mosconi Cup where he wanted to take it outside with Appleton. I couldn't believe that was said ON CAMERA. The attitude that this kind of thing is just a normal part of the pool world is pervasive and accepted and THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

John Schmidt made some good points in the TAR 28 pre-match pod-cast, but then his actions are not conducive to the best point he made. Goes like this; John says that for the sport to grow there has to be money it. IF you could become a millionaire by playing pool, then people would want to take it up or have their kids take it up. He said if a decent pro player could make 50K a year and a top pro player could make 250K a year, people would want to be them, people would buy tables and have their kids take up the game. It was also mentioned that you could end up with school/college programs for pool like there is for golf.

I agree with all of this, BUT people are not going to want their kids to get into the sport of pool if they realized that the Schmidt/Earl/Morris type of behavior was the accepted norm. It might be all well and good for us 30 plus year olds who have seen some shit and just deal with it. But for the sport to grow, then that means there has to be new people coming in. Will new people come in if they see this kind of stuff? I personally don't think so, especially not if it could involve their kids, and for the sport to grow, you do have to look ahead at least one generation.

Now, JS made another point which is related to all this. In this case I disagree with the initial point. He (and others) say that drama does not hurt. Look at NASCAR, etc. - thriving. The difference is that drama in pool creates an atmosphere that sharks. Pool requires a very high level of concentration, as we all know. I don't know much about golf, but my impression is that golf also requires this concentration and that sharking is considered unacceptable. Golf is considered a gentlemen's game and NASCAR is not. Please correct me if I'm wrong, as I said, I don't know much about golf. I'm not even saying that pool should be a "gentlemen's" game. I'm just saying that NORMAL behavior needs to become the standard.

My point is, sport is about playing better than your opponent not about gaining an advantage by distracting your opponent. I don't know that JS's behavior was designed to distract Corey. But in my opinion, this stuff should never be allowed because everyone knows that it would very likely distract the opponent. The attitude that fair play and good behavior is the norm should be so widely accepted, that parents wouldn't hesitate to allow their kids to join in the sport.

I don't understand all the hand-wringing and all of the virtually anonomous public lashing of these pros on azb. With most of the people throwing stones from the safety of their lazy-boy recliners.

Most of the whiners, not all, have never done anything but flip burgers their whole lives but are more than willing to slam one of these pros that they've never met. I would love to see some of these whiners with no balls tell the pros straight to their face as opposed to the safety of their lazy-boy.

How many of you have been in that situation before (playing in a high stress match for 8 or 9 hours on video stream miked the entire time)? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that John acted perfectly - I didn't expect him to. I did expect him to play well and he did just that on all three days. Extremely well on the final day. I had a great time watching and would watch John or Corey again with no hesitation. They are both two accomplished champions.

I don't watch professional sports and expect perfection. What did you whiners expect? Data from Star Trek? Perhaps if that's the kind of fantasy perfect player you want you should watch Star Trek instead of actual humans playing pool.

Here's a Teddy Roosevelt quote for the lazy-boy burger flipping timid souls out there that would certainly not have the balls to say the crap you write on azb to someones face:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

 

[plfrg]

I never doubted you meant what you wrote. I was questioning how the quote was applicable to John as he did not ".. strives valiantly..".

That quote absolutely applies to the vast majority of pros that get up in front of everyone to do the best they can under pressure - and to the vast majority of timid souls who 'know neither victory or defeat' - just as TR states it.

I like your red herring argument though. Are you giving me an english or history lesson here? Perhaps I missed that class on my way to an EE degree.

 

[Pre-Flag Master]

long-wind·ed...

What's the matter, no attention span?

 

[plfrg]

long-wind·ed
   [lawng-win-did, long-] Show IPA

adjective
1.
talking or writing at tedious length: long-winded after-dinner speakers.

2.
continued to a tedious length in speech or writing: another of his long-winded election speeches.

3.
able to breathe deeply; not tiring easily.

Red Herring:
1. a clue intentionally or unintentionally misleading or distracting from the actual issue

 

[Hungarian]

Both quality come backs and also both of you have made good points. I just wish you could sum it up in a few less words.

Carry on..

What's the matter, no attention span?

Red Herring:
1. a clue intentionally or unintentionally misleading or distracting from the actual issue

 

[nb92]

That quote absolutely applies to the vast majority of pros that get up in front of everyone to do the best they can under pressure - and to the vast majority of timid souls who 'know neither victory or defeat' - just as TR states it.

I like your red herring argument though. Are you giving me an english or history lesson here? Perhaps I missed that class on my way to an EE degree.

You are absolutely right the quote applies to the vast majority of pros that get up in front of everyone to do the best they can under pressure.

IMHO it does not apply to John for this particular match as the quote is as much about the "way in which one competes" as being in the competition itself. Again this is my uneducated opinion.

Obviously you are very proud of your degree and I applaud your accomplishment. I myself did not finish college but did start a small business with 21 employees. Seven of whom also have EE degrees and two of those were completed while working for us and I know the time and focus they put in completing theirs.

No red herrings (I like the movie clue [by the way])
I will now retire to bedlam.

 

[Pre-Flag Master]

Both quality come backs and also both of you have made good points. I just wish you could sum it up in a few less words.

Carry on..

Your avatar has excellent taste in beverages.

 

[LuckedOut]

I don't understand all the hand-wringing and all of the virtually anonomous public lashing of these pros on azb. With most of the people throwing stones from the safety of their lazy-boy recliners.

Most of the whiners, not all, have never done anything but flip burgers their whole lives but are more than willing to slam one of these pros that they've never met. I would love to see some of these whiners with no balls tell the pros straight to their face as opposed to the safety of their lazy-boy.

How many of you have been in that situation before (playing in a high stress match for 8 or 9 hours on video stream miked the entire time)? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that John acted perfectly - I didn't expect him to. I did expect him to play well and he did just that on all three days. Extremely well on the final day. I had a great time watching and would watch John or Corey again with no hesitation. They are both two accomplished champions.

I don't watch professional sports and expect perfection. What did you whiners expect? Data from Star Trek? Perhaps if that's the kind of fantasy perfect player you want you should watch Star Trek instead of actual humans playing pool.

Here's a Teddy Roosevelt quote for the lazy-boy burger flipping timid souls out there that would certainly not have the balls to say the crap you write on azb to someones face:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

Bottom line is there buddy, that John didn't have the balls to get up to the table at his turn and verbally go off on Corey because he would have been sharking himself.

Instead, he chose a time when he was not at the table to do it <<< that's sharking right there. Got something to blather about, do it at the table when you are up ......period. Run your mouth all you want when you're up, go ahead, it'll do your game good

When it's not your shot.....STFU!

 

[Tooler]

I think people on here spend far too much time complaining about the (usually innocuous) conduct of players.

You left out the word professional in front of players....

I dont remember Corey acting like that...just saying.

 

[poolhustler]

I watched the match with the volume OFF for the most part because I can't stand Ken's voice/inflection and also when he talks while munching.

I also don't agree when he talks to the players wile they are playing.

He should commentate, not talk to the players.

 

[Dan Harriman]

A sense of honor

Unless the only meaning this has to someone is a cool poster on their wall one would realize the key to the quote is word "valiantly" (i.e. bravely) or heroically which to most would imply some sense of honor. The quote is not ".... whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, and whines like a snotty brat when things don't go his way..." but instead... ".. who strives valiantly..." I would submit there is a difference.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

[/QUOTE]

Valiantly and with a sense of honor, I like it. I heard this was popular in Japan - i only wish it was with the TAR matches and in our game of pocket billiards, if it were then pool would be on the right road to improving. I did not watch the match - but under the correct format I still like Corey - it's just Schmidts agenda to take all of the fun out of the game by acting poorly towards his opponent. Corey handles himself well around the table ie valiantly and with honor. Excellent post. I turned down free money from TAR cause I was unprepared and also cause I knew Schmidt would act up and that they would let him do so.

 

[jungledude]

My 2 cents

I have gambled with and against John Schmitt and find him to be a nice person and a good representative for professional pool. Didn't see the incident so I didn't vote but once again I always found John to be one of the good guys even though he is a fierce competitor.

 

[Luxury]

John should be on Mosconi cup imo

 

[Hungarian]

John should be on Mosconi cup imo

I agree. Schmidt, Earl, Dechaine, Hatch and Death Ball

 

[john schmidt]

i agree

ive read up too here and i agree.i acted horribly with corey .
i made the mistake of letting corey stay free with me in vegas for match.
i have invested my life savings in bullion silver and gold.
corey basically told me for 2 days before match that its a dumb thing to do invest silver and gold and we argued about it.



now first day of match he starts saying dont touch cueball ,because he thinks im putting something on cueball. that pisses me off because hes saying im trying to cheat.
on way back to condo together i say u outbroke me and he says not really.
i laugh and say its on film corey i made ball on break once and u did like 8 times.we argue more over gold and silver and the breaking but not to heated. just regular small stuff.


now we get to match and corey doesnt want balls cleaned and i do in machine,we discuss kinda heated.
then one pocket match starts and between him telling me for 2 days ive invested my money like an idiot,im basically a cheat and now he got every roll.i get pissed.


also he complained at me too ,muttering,hand gestures etc but was smart enough to cover mic. i was aggravated enough by then to not care.
long story short yes i went off on corey .
trust me ive been severely mad at 2 opponents in my entire career ,and both of them got me mad before match and during.


i forgot to mention in 2006 corey introduced a guy to a propoolplayer i wont mention for golf match.
corey knows this guy is a progolfer and corey bets on this guy.
said poolplayer trust corey and corey says u can win .they play for huge stakes 60,000. corey bets on progolfer for 1000 while between 5 poolplayers we lost 60,000. i know for a fact i was lied to myself and lost 2500.


in closing about corey we all forgave him basically ,but when i had to listen for 2 days that silver is stupid and dont touch cueball with a towel like im a cheat i was ready to punch corey.then match starts and i went off.
ive always like corey and we have ironed things out but trust me he knows why i came unglued.

if people on here think i acted this way everytime im losing i would have been killed by now. trust me theres always more to a story then meets the i.
that all being said i was still in the wrong.


as to the guy who mention im a punching bag,i lived in pensacola 7 years and a guy tried to sucker punch me because i told him he was a liar and he came unglued. he swung at me i ducked.he s in jail now as i believe hes has 3 assault charges,from other people.

a guy i barred in wv hit me with a bottle because i fired and barred him .
so in 39 years ive been hit twice by total losers so im pretty lucky.
ive never been beat up or hurt in my life because 99 percent of the time i show people respect even if they dont deserve it cause its easier that way.
.
in 15 years of playing for a living ive had 2 major issues .harriman and corey.
also i complain when im winning lol ask anybody that knows me.im disgusted if i dont play how im supposed to winning or not.
coreys a good guy but harriman is a total pain.

in closing im sorry to everyone.
if i had a manager at the time he would have said play with the mic off john u r too pissed off at corey right now for many reasons and on camera with a mic on this wont go well. anyway im my own manager good or bad. this time was bad.
im not even going to comment on what harriman says because hes just mad at me for beating him almost everytime ive ever played him.
corey on the other hand is a good guy 99 percent of time and him and i get along and ive said im sorry for everything at tar match.
corey and i have hung out for years golf together roomed together etc.
it was just a spat but we made the mistake of having cameras and mics on.

i was wrong and man enough to admit it .im sorry corey i came unglued and will work on keeping my feelings in more.sorry to the fans too.