Junior Players Not Welcome in Atlantic City

mechanic/player said:
What a tool that Ernie is, I usally go there 5-6 times a yr when I'm in the S.Jersey area. He's got a nice room with about 30 tables.

I am suprised they don't allow anyone under 16 ,especially with their parents supervision, they dont even serve alcohol and are smoke free too.
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Mechanic,

We were never given a reason and I can't imagine one that would apply. And as I mentioned above, yesterday I found out that the rule goes into effect at 6PM, according to their website - so what gives? I have no idea.

<shrug>

MD
 
JoeyA said:
TeamCastillo said:
Part II

Thank you for writing this detailed note about your family's unfortunate experience. The experience is regretful but by your communicating this problem you have made the billiard community aware of this type of problem and for most of us, we are shocked. We will be more cognizant of the potential problem and will try to avoid this being one in the future in our respective local communities.

The one lesson that your son should learn from all of this is that you don't quit just because you had a very serious and unfortunate setback. If he quits this sport that he likes now, you can expect that he will quit many other things in the future when trouble comes his way and that is inevitable.

Winners somehow find a way to continue in spite of all of the obstacles and from your letter, I expect that you and your husband are winners and that you will make sure that your son remains a winner, too.

Good luck in the journey and I hope it continues for all of you.

Warm Regards,
JoeyA
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Joey,

Thanks very much for this, and for the poem. My husband and I try to be good examples, and neither of us could be called a quitter by any means. Our son's doing great and will continue to enjoy the sport.

Thanks...
MD
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KD Cues said:
MD,
I have 4 children myself and all I would like to humbly suggest is that you simply teach your son to set a good example (sounds like you already have). This is much like housecleaning, it begins at home (easy for me to say because this guy didn't piss me off directly!). I agree wholeheartedly with DJ. Your son did the right thing and with proper guidance will persevere to do so. He will continue to run into many adverse situations in other areas. If you just leave this situation, then the pool hall owner will never have an opportunity to learn any better, and his attitude will prevail. Not that he will change anyway, but your son will be around a lot longer than he will. Remember: most things are as big as we make them, you shouldn't let a bone head ruin one more minute of your life than you can avoid. Both of these are true: chosing your battles is always wise, while there is a much greater statement to be made by overcoming this obstacle and continuing to tour (wherever the tour may take you). As a final overveiw, it really sounds like your sons' presence as a good example is neccessary. Gen. Colin Powell said that the one thing missing in our society today is a real hero. To put my slant on it, a true champion who sets a great example. Champions don't run away from a chance at victory, nor cringe at the aspect of doing the uncomfortable. It sounds like there will be plenty more voices to let this person know what a "gem" he is, yet true champions will persevere and overcome most every obstacle. If I were to leave every place that there was an "indescriminant person (polite version of A-hole)," I would have to play pool on the moon! Let your son Know that you support him wherever he goes and he'll just have to be amused at the "Richard Craniums" of the world. I will consider myself lucky to meet your son at this years Valley Forge Super Billiards Expo, Kent Davis
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Kent,

Thanks very much for these words. We appreciate your sharing them, and we'll take them under advisement when supporting and helping our son in his decisions.

MD
 
Smorgass Bored said:
98% of this post was Deleted using Magic Eraser.

Doug
( btw, I don't think Ernie should hold any tournaments at ACB )


.
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Doug,

Ernie is the owner of ACB. Jose runs the Blaze tour, and was quite apologetic and gracious to us about what Ernie did (though he couldn't change anything).

MD
 
shark3149 said:
Thank you for sharing this with all of us.I would like to offer my apology for how your family was treated.I would hope that is not the normal for the pool world.I grew up playing this game I started at the age of five and never had any kids of problems like this,and I have played all over the U.S.I for one will never go back to his room.
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Shark,

Thanks for the support. We really appreciate it!

MD
 
Have to go back to work...

To everyone whose posts I haven't replied to:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and I'll be back online as soon as I can. I've been responding on my lunch hour, and I have to get back to work!

Thanks,
MD
 
TeamCastillo said:
JAM,

I hope you got my reply, and thanks very much for your support. Our son isn't discouraged in the least, and in fact was joking about the incident with the owner of Rockaway last night (thanks Bob!).

I hope we'll run into you in person some time...

MD
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Thanks! I did get your PM. Be expecting a package coming your way next week.

I'm sure we'll meet soon, being that we don't live too far away from each other. I look forward to it! :)

JAM
 
All I can say is that Pool needs more people like yourself and less people like Ernie.
If anyone has the Blaze tour email please send this to them. They need to know.
Good luck to your 'team'
 
smashmouth said:
Mr/Ms Castillo,

Very sorry for you and your son.

Please be aware that many, many people in this business are scum, plain and simple.

The fact that you accompany your son to events is most excellent, I would HIGHLY suggets continuing this practice for as long as possible.

Cheers
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Smashmouth,

Thanks for your support. We try to balance keeping an eye on him with encouraging his independence - and since we all enjoy the game, the events give us plenty to talk about together. It really is a good sport to participate in as a family. :)

Thanks...
MD
 
rackmsuckr said:
Thank you for sharing your story with the pool world. It showed me several things:

1. Ernie could use better management skills by:
A. Publicising his policy for underage kids
B. Cluing in his staff and TD on his aforementioned policy
C. Letting people know about the policy when they call in
D. Making it fair by enforcing it equally to all underage players
(or allowing both players to remain, as players.)
E. Taking you and your husband aside to break the news (or better yet allowing you all to stay! :mad: )
F. Offering something in return for your inconvenience, as it is his fault that you even showed up.
G. Not resorting to cursing
H. Being generally more friendly and cognizant of future impacted business and bad publicity.

2. You are great parents. Encouraging your son and offering him many opportunities to grow in the game, while participating alongside him as a family is something he will treasure forever. Going to bat for him while giving him the values you have instilled in him shows what great parents you are. Your son also knows he can count on your love and support.

3. You have a remarkable young man! Showing more class than Ernie when your heart is breaking takes an incredible amount of courage and I commend him. He will run into a few guys like Ernie over his pool career, but I dare say that most players and owners have a good heart and want to advance the future of our sport. I hope he sticks with it and has an illustrious career. :)

Again, thanks for sharing and by spreading the word, you bring more awareness to situations like this. Good luck with your son's future pool endeavors.
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Linda,

Thank you so much for everything you've said here - you've validated our thoughts on what happened and given us a pat on the back at the same time. That means a lot. And thanks for the encouragement for our son - we're very proud of him!

Thanks,
MD
 
wahcheck said:
I, too, am sorry to learn of the unfortunate incident.....I don't know if it will help, but why don't you send your post, in its entirety, to this Ernie fellow, and maybe he will see what an ass he was.....I mean, especially after he invited you and yours to his place; he may have forgotten but this would serve to inform him and remind him of his stupidity and short sightedness...
Good luck to you and yours.....
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Wahcheck,

Thanks for the suggestion. We're not going to be real proactive about anything - we only wanted to put the info out there. However that day we did request that the TD remind Ernie that we were the ones who introduced him to the TD - the TD remembered it as well. I expect he did that after we left, as he said he would. Whether Ernie makes any use of any of the information available to him at this point is in his own hands (and on his own head).

Thanks,
MD
 
SUPERSTAR said:
You know, it could be a township thing. Especially in a town like A.C.

I remember when Maidhof had to go to court to get some obscure law overturned in Drexel Hill regarding young teens, in which a lot of the parents came out and showed their support at the meeting.

I also remember back in the day when Tacony got the liquor license, and when Corey and myself pulled up one day for the weekly scratch tourney and they told him that he couldn't play and had to leave. So we packed it up and turned around and left. Later, they then came to an agreement about where on the floor he was allowed to be before the owner put that wall up. I think the owner after talking with some local law people made the exception because everyone knew Corey wasn't there to drink, but i never did find out if it was legal permission, or if he just allowed him to play.
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The hall is actually in Egg Harbor Township rather than in AC itself. We don't know why the rule is in place. We asked, but didn't get an answer. We didn't see any alcohol being served. I really have no idea.

And as I mentioned above, the rule as posted on the website becomes effective at 6PM. So since we were there at 2 in the afternoon, I don't know why it was an issue at all.

MD
 
misterpoole said:
All I can say is that Pool needs more people like yourself and less people like Ernie.
If anyone has the Blaze tour email please send this to them. They need to know.
Good luck to your 'team'
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Thanks very much misterpoole!

MD
 
It's too bad that happened

I felt sorry for your son as well the rest of you when I read this
post. Yeh, some folks out there can be really rude, and it's
too bad when it happens to someone at a young and impressionable
age. I have seen quite a few room owners become crabby as
time goes on, but I don't let their misery get to me. Like one
earlier poster said, in a way, a lesson was learned. It is too
bad it had to happen that way, and in some ways it reminds me
(a little) about the disappointed look on Paul Newman's face
in "the Color of Money" when they walked in expecting a
great poolroom, and found a rundown out-of-business place
with furniture all stacked up. I hope you get a little laugh
and kick out of this scene as I did. You never know what to
expect these days sometimes. In the times past, good service
and hospitality was abundant. I hope all of you continue to
enjoy the game, and that your son has not let the actions of
one crabby old "fart" spoil what seems to be a very deep
interest in the game. I also agree with the poster that mentioned
the two vividly different perspectives on pool. There is a
darker side out there, I think there always will be, and just
be aware of it. Anyway, again, I'm sorry this all happened.
 
I can say from first hand experience that being kicked out of a poolhall is a huge damper on anyone's mood. Not only that, they charged us for a full hour of table time. :(
 
I have to say that Ernie won't be in business too long. If he could be so rude to a young person and his parents, I think he is probably rude to lots of people. Just the mere fact of being accompanied by his parents should have gained him admission to that poolroom and the tournament. Had he been alone or with a group of youngsters maybe they would be turned away. I think I may have called a newspaper, or a billiard magazine...
If you ever make it down to Florida, bring your son to the Golden Cue in Melbourne. We encourage parents to bring their kids in to play pool-we're smart enough to know that kids are the future!
 
whitey2 said:
I felt sorry for your son as well the rest of you when I read this
post. Yeh, some folks out there can be really rude, and it's
too bad when it happens to someone at a young and impressionable
age. I have seen quite a few room owners become crabby as
time goes on, but I don't let their misery get to me. Like one
earlier poster said, in a way, a lesson was learned. It is too
bad it had to happen that way, and in some ways it reminds me
(a little) about the disappointed look on Paul Newman's face
in "the Color of Money" when they walked in expecting a
great poolroom, and found a rundown out-of-business place
with furniture all stacked up. I hope you get a little laugh
and kick out of this scene as I did. You never know what to
expect these days sometimes. In the times past, good service
and hospitality was abundant. I hope all of you continue to
enjoy the game, and that your son has not let the actions of
one crabby old "fart" spoil what seems to be a very deep
interest in the game. I also agree with the poster that mentioned
the two vividly different perspectives on pool. There is a
darker side out there, I think there always will be, and just
be aware of it. Anyway, again, I'm sorry this all happened.
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Whitey,

Thanks for the support, we appreciate it! :)

MD
 
TannerPruess said:
I can say from first hand experience that being kicked out of a poolhall is a huge damper on anyone's mood. Not only that, they charged us for a full hour of table time. :(
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You've got to be kidding! :eek:

MD
 
poolhall maven said:
I have to say that Ernie won't be in business too long. If he could be so rude to a young person and his parents, I think he is probably rude to lots of people. Just the mere fact of being accompanied by his parents should have gained him admission to that poolroom and the tournament. Had he been alone or with a group of youngsters maybe they would be turned away. I think I may have called a newspaper, or a billiard magazine...
If you ever make it down to Florida, bring your son to the Golden Cue in Melbourne. We encourage parents to bring their kids in to play pool-we're smart enough to know that kids are the future!
Click to expand...

Thanks very much for the support & the invitation! If we get down that way we'll look you up...

Thanks,
MD
 
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