Ah, but here is where you are wrong.
Earl the pool player IS Earl the man.
If he couldn't play pool the way he does, no one would be talking about him at all.
If he wasn't a complete ass while at the pool table or around other people who are there because of him playing pool (JCIN, etc), people would be talking about him but not with the negativity these threads have.
Besides, anyone who puts themselves under the public's microscope should be expecting some criticism, right or wrong, that is the way it is. True professionals understand this and go with the flow. Some just don't get it or refuse to embrace it, and MOST of the time, end up paying for their lack of conformity in some manner. Maybe this is how it plays out for Earl.
Let's put it in even simpler terms:
You are driving down the road.
Someone cuts you off.
You think "That person is a dick".
or
You think "That person is a horrible driver but they don't deserve to be called a dick".
So I am cruising through youtube.
I see multiple videos of Earl flipping out.
I think "That guy is a dick".
Case closed.
There you go making sense again. WTF, I've been gone too long.
As far as all this is concerned...it's Justin's right to not want Earl participating in any further TAR matches due to his percieved lack of social couth, rudeness, disrespect, what have you. I did not get the opportunity to watch the stream, unfortunately. From what I've read, and from the updates that I was receiving, Earl was in typical form; worse in some cases.
I will say this. If he had gone out of his way to verbally attack spectators who paid good money, and according to Justin, money which was used to pay part of Earl's appearance fee, then he was wrong. That's black and white to me. Justin showed an incredible amount of restraint in not saying something. He was truly in a no-win situation.
However, the discussions into his personal life, I just don't get. I don't care to discuss whether or not Earl is sick. I don't care to discuss whether Earl smokes the whacky tobaky. I don't care if his problems really started when he was divorced. Why? It's NOT MY F'N BUSINESS. Those are between Earl and his Dr., if he chooses to go that route. Between Earl and his chosen vendor of self medicating herbal aromatics. Between Earl and his ex-wife. They most certainly do not involve me, or anyone else who is not one of the three people above. Those issues have nothing to do, directly, with what happened on the stream and with the spectators, (which is reprehensible to say the least). Justin is the ONLY person on here who really has any right to say anything, as he was the promoter of this event.
And for those that wish to draw comparisons to the game of golf, stop. Golf has emerged as a global BUSINESS. The players on the PGA tour are held to a very strict code of ethics. As are the players on the Nationwide Tour, the LPGA and the Champions Tour. Yes, they're playing for huge sums of money. But that's because the people in the past who worked for the PGA of America, USGA, and other associations around the world worked tirelessly to market the game and garner sponsors. IMHO, the only comparison between the two are the level of difficulty they provide to the player and the amount of precision to play both at a masters level. Beyond that, it's apples and dried up fur balls. Professional golf is a business. Pool...well, until this industry has developed the foundation that has been developed in golf, and nurtured it by cooperation and clever marketing, pool will never be on the same level, or even close. And one more thing on this. If Earl wants so badly for this game to be treated like the PGA tour, then he has to act the part as a professional.
I really do want to see Earl at his best. Not his worst. He's an unbelievably talented player. No one here in this thread has said any different. I don't remember who said it earlier, but Earl's actions are what are in question. If he is sick, I hope he gets help...beyond that, really don't care to get involved...and won't dignify gossip by talking about it with people who aren't directly involved.
Justin, you've always put forth a phenomenal product. Even though I didn't purchase this, I have no doubt that this was any different, regardless of Earl's antics. You and a handful of others in the industry give me hope that in the future, perhaps the far future, there might be a living to be made for the elite players. Keep up the great work.
