Messing with Earl?

B

btal

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After reading the many posts about Earl and additional inside info, it's obvious he has serious issues. But I do identify with him on one main point. Many years ago I frequently gambled with a shark who would do anything to win. He tried pushing every button I had and at times they worked. Lie, cheat, steal - it made no difference. After quitting pool for 13 years, I came back and subsequently learned from other players of how much he cheated me. It was kind of funny to them. But I was young, naive, trusting and honest. Something I find lacking on the pro tour and the pool world in general. I've spoken with touring players that know how to press Earl's buttons. And some of them do.

I hear a lot about how Earl needs to learn how to be a gentleman. That is true. But IMO those who press his buttons are far less gentlemen than he is. To them, winning is the priority. Not sportsmanship. Getting into your opponents head in any way possible is the norm in pool. And Earl's an easy target among his peers. A gentleman should be a gentleman, no matter who he's playing. Maybe (I don't know) Earl could learn that, if he wasn't swimming in a pool filled with pirhanna. I quit gambling with the guy I played many years ago. Don't need the aggravation. But Earl has no where else to go. What a shame!
 
Earl thought that Alex P was trying to cheat him... However, there may be no straighter shooter on the planet than Alex, both literally and figuratively. Spend a few minutes reading this thread. The man's got issues.
 
I know Earl has serious issues. That was stated at the beginning of my post. And I'm not saying Alex or Archer was sharking him. I AM saying that there are those that will do what it takes to put Earl on tilt. And that is not gentlemanly. But that is the nature of our beast, it seems.
 
btal,

If this was the first time something like this happened, I would have a problem with the TD's decision. Problem is, I've seen Earl go off several other times. Once in Reno about ten years ago. Scott Smith nearly ejected him a year or so later from the same event after an altercation with Chet Ito. Of all people! One of the easiest going guys I knew.

Earl appears not to want to change or modify his habits. He went off on me twice, Once when he had to play me in an All About Pool event in Boston. Something about him being World Champion and having to play a second rate player like me. The second time happened in Rochester while I was eating some pretzels during one of his matches. At the time, I was sitting nearly thirty feet from the table he was playing on. He's got some serious issues.

Mark Griffin and CSI gave Earl another chance this year. I commend Mark for doing what he can to promote Earl (and pool) through his appearances across the nation. The time may come however when Earl will use up his last opportunity. What will he do then?

Was Earl's version correct? Was the TD's version? How about the spectators? In the end it doesn't matter. One day, Earl will push the wrong button and no one will be there to support or save him. Very, very sad!

Lyn
 
Mr Hoppe said:
Earl thought that Alex P was trying to cheat him... However, there may be no straighter shooter on the planet than Alex, both literally and figuratively. Spend a few minutes reading this thread. The man's got issues.
Click to expand...

Apparently Alex's rack was "sideways". See the Inside Pool article where the ref (Frank) confirms this. Maybe Alex did this on purpose to shark Earl.
 
another time in Reno..

cardiac kid said:
btal,

If this was the first time something like this happened, I would have a problem with the TD's decision. Problem is, I've seen Earl go off several other times. Once in Reno about ten years ago. Scott Smith nearly ejected him a year or so later from the same event after an altercation with Chet Ito. Of all people! One of the easiest going guys I knew.

Earl appears not to want to change or modify his habits. He went off on me twice, Once when he had to play me in an All About Pool event in Boston. Something about him being World Champion and having to play a second rate player like me. The second time happened in Rochester while I was eating some pretzels during one of his matches. At the time, I was sitting nearly thirty feet from the table he was playing on. He's got some serious issues.

Mark Griffin and CSI gave Earl another chance this year. I commend Mark for doing what he can to promote Earl (and pool) through his appearances across the nation. The time may come however when Earl will use up his last opportunity. What will he do then?

Was Earl's version correct? Was the TD's version? How about the spectators? In the end it doesn't matter. One day, Earl will push the wrong button and no one will be there to support or save him. Very, very sad!

Lyn
Click to expand...

I remember many years ago too, in Reno, when he was playing Dan Louie, another nice easygoing type; how he was condescending and seemed to disrespect his opponent; I just think he's had a problem for a long time, it just seems to be getting worse.....
 
punter said:
Apparently Alex's rack was "sideways". See the Inside Pool article where the ref (Frank) confirms this. Maybe Alex did this on purpose to shark Earl.
Click to expand...

It was rack your own at the event. Tilting the rack would not have sharked Earl. It could have been interpreted as less than honest, however.
 
Earl was probably off his meds. He seems to go off every so often. A lot of schizophrenics stop taking their meds to feel normal and alert. Maybe this is whats happening to him.
And no, i don't know for a fact that he is taking meds or has been diagnosed.
 
Tilting the rack is cheating, and more so in 10-ball. Tilting the rack in 10-ball helps the 1-ball or the 2nd ball into the side pocket and helps the two back end balls to go around 3 or 4 rail back to the foot pockets. If your just missing with the back balls going in a foot pocket with a straight rack, tilting the rack one way or the other will give them a better chance. If the 2 back balls that go 3 or 4 rails are kissing on your break tilting will help miss the kiss in a lot of cases. Johnnyt
 
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