Just venting. If you don't like long posts, skip this one.
I end up playing last in our league (APA). The place we played at has two modern rock bands play every Wednesday starting about 9:30pm. They're good bands that draw a bit of a crowd. My match goes on about 9:50pm. I'm playing the bar owner; a very nice and popular guy. Takes good care of his pool tables, and allows league players play for fee every night until 9pm.
Just a little setup, I have mild ADD. Had it all my life, so LOUD music and flashing lights are a distraction for me. But, what happened with the rest of the match is what made the evening thoroughly un-enjoyable for me, even though I won 5-3 (both APA SL6s playing 8-ball). By way of setup, I'm an easy going guy who treats everyone with courtesy and respect (unless they demonstrate they don't deserve it). I love to play matches against people of similar or greater skill level than myself. I really enjoy the competition.
First game, band is warming up, playing a couple cover tunes doing a good job, and introducing the band members. Second game, in full music swing. My opponent (the bar owner), now has people coming over to him saying the live music is great and introducing their friends, girlfriends, and generally chatting. First one or two times this happens during the second game, no big deal. I'm just trying to keep my focus. But then someone drags him away from the table; mind you, it?s been his shot this whole time.
So I go over to his team captain who agrees with me about the distractions and inappropriateness of just walking away from the table without a word to me. The captain chases him down, drags him back. During the course of that game there were a few safeties, so the game slowed down a bit. My opponent decides it?s now too warm in the bar and opens the patio door six feet directly behind the pool we?re shooting on while it?s my shot and while I?m down over the shot in mid trigger.
Now that the patio door is open, people start streaming in and out past the table with most stopping to talk to my opponent. His team captain had to drag him back to the table at least 3 more times to continue play. Now some of the close quarters crowd members are commenting on the games/shots. Some are crowding the table (like leaning against it). I try to work around it for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th games. But when some young guy in the crowd starts giving my opponent and me shot advice (at the top of his lungs, because the music is LOUD), I go over to my opponent and say this isn?t pool, and ask him if he wants to finish the match tomorrow. He then looks offended, as if I was just being unreasonable. He chases away the crowd, shuts the patio door, and tells me, ?There will that keep you from having excuses now?.
It sure did. I shut him out after that. Was I wrong to ask for a continuance?
I end up playing last in our league (APA). The place we played at has two modern rock bands play every Wednesday starting about 9:30pm. They're good bands that draw a bit of a crowd. My match goes on about 9:50pm. I'm playing the bar owner; a very nice and popular guy. Takes good care of his pool tables, and allows league players play for fee every night until 9pm.
Just a little setup, I have mild ADD. Had it all my life, so LOUD music and flashing lights are a distraction for me. But, what happened with the rest of the match is what made the evening thoroughly un-enjoyable for me, even though I won 5-3 (both APA SL6s playing 8-ball). By way of setup, I'm an easy going guy who treats everyone with courtesy and respect (unless they demonstrate they don't deserve it). I love to play matches against people of similar or greater skill level than myself. I really enjoy the competition.
First game, band is warming up, playing a couple cover tunes doing a good job, and introducing the band members. Second game, in full music swing. My opponent (the bar owner), now has people coming over to him saying the live music is great and introducing their friends, girlfriends, and generally chatting. First one or two times this happens during the second game, no big deal. I'm just trying to keep my focus. But then someone drags him away from the table; mind you, it?s been his shot this whole time.
So I go over to his team captain who agrees with me about the distractions and inappropriateness of just walking away from the table without a word to me. The captain chases him down, drags him back. During the course of that game there were a few safeties, so the game slowed down a bit. My opponent decides it?s now too warm in the bar and opens the patio door six feet directly behind the pool we?re shooting on while it?s my shot and while I?m down over the shot in mid trigger.
Now that the patio door is open, people start streaming in and out past the table with most stopping to talk to my opponent. His team captain had to drag him back to the table at least 3 more times to continue play. Now some of the close quarters crowd members are commenting on the games/shots. Some are crowding the table (like leaning against it). I try to work around it for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th games. But when some young guy in the crowd starts giving my opponent and me shot advice (at the top of his lungs, because the music is LOUD), I go over to my opponent and say this isn?t pool, and ask him if he wants to finish the match tomorrow. He then looks offended, as if I was just being unreasonable. He chases away the crowd, shuts the patio door, and tells me, ?There will that keep you from having excuses now?.
It sure did. I shut him out after that. Was I wrong to ask for a continuance?
