The game has came a long way, thanks to leagues!
I think that leagues have introduced more players to the game, young & old, removed some of the trouble players that always starting problems and giving the game a bad rap.
I started playing in the late 50's in a bowling alley where I was in a junior bowling league. As my skill improved and I got a fake ID at 18 I started to go into pool rooms and bars and started playing for money, some I venture to say were totally the wrong places to go into, but as you know you took the chance for a score.
In 1965 I got married and was drafted into the Army 3 months later, I played on post and off post in bars for extra income to support us. In 1967 I returned home from Vietnam, got a job and starting playing again to support my family. Playing for $20 or $50 a game I made a weeks salary on the week ends, but it wasn't always easy. I've had knifes held to my throat, trapped in rest rooms with guy holding a knife to my back, people hold guns on me and shot at me. I've seen people cut up, stabbed, shot and killed, not the best of times but I was lucky, I'm still here. The game really had a bad reputation at that time.
In 1979 I had a bad motorcycle accident and quit playing for about 5 years till I was able to get around again, then I started playing a little in the American Legion where I was a member. My son would go with me at time and play but I discouraged him from playing because I did not want to see him getting into that seen. In 1986 a pool room opened in the town close to us and started to get heavily into playing again! In 1987 Randy G. introduce leagues to our pool room, we started with 5 teams, next year we had 8 teams and my son was 21 and started playing against my wishes. I still had the conception from the past.
By the 90's I saw a tremendous change in the game, experienced players were helping and teaching new players to play. You could see that the hustling days were ending because everyone was learning who to play and not to step out of you skill level till your ready to move up. Families were playing and the kid were allowed to come in and play with their parents and play in league. By this time we have improved our league teams to 16.
So, you be the judge on what you think about leagues, but if you were not in the hard time of the game you will not understand. Yes, I agree their are good and bad leagues (well I should not say bad leagues, just need to improve the management of them). My conception is get involve in what ever league is in your area, if you see the running is not to your liking, move to another, but do not give up on the game.
I have played and ran tournament all over the US and very, very seldom have I seen or heard of any real trouble. Lot of woofing, but that just part of the game which is in every sport (getting into someones head).
The last word here is thanks to the leagues and to Randy G. for introducing them to me and my family, we have made a world of new friends in this great game and never before had so much fun of playing together.
