Negative Players

[Melissa Herndon]

Let me ask all of you a question....

How do you respond or handle it when your opponent starts talking to himself or to other people (in the middle of a match) about all the things that are going wrong for them? For example, a player might huff or groan if they get a bad roll...or they might start complaining to spectators or friends that you are getting lucky. Or how about this...you win a match and you go to shake the other player's hand and you hear them mumble under their breath something like "Sick...it's just sick losing to luck!"

It doesn't really bother me...in fact, I sometimes will laugh about it later in private...but I just wondered if anyone has humorous or serious suggestions on what to say or do when it happens?

Melissa

 

[Purdman]

Poor Sports

I watched a guy lose a hill hill race to 9 at a Planet Nine ball tournament. His opponent made a shot and and the cue ball knocked in the nine for the win. The little DH (Richard Crainium) to be polite, got in his face and started yelling "Nice Shot Buddy" and refused to shake his hand. The gentleman winner just walked away politely and turned in the results. Out classed the guy 1000 to 1. Thats the way to handle it. Poor losers and poor sports are plentiful. A graceful winner always comes out on top no matter what!
Talking about you "Shorty", Don

 

[Williebetmore]

Let me ask all of you a question....

How do you respond or handle it when your opponent starts talking to himself or to other people (in the middle of a match) about all the things that are going wrong for them? For example, a player might huff or groan if they get a bad roll...or they might start complaining to spectators or friends that you are getting lucky. Or how about this...you win a match and you go to shake the other player's hand and you hear them mumble under their breath something like "Sick...it's just sick losing to luck!"

It doesn't really bother me...in fact, I sometimes will laugh about it later in private...but I just wondered if anyone has humorous or serious suggestions on what to say or do when it happens?

Melissa

Melissa,
Hopefully this did not happen to you in a WPBA tournament (if it did we all want to know who ). I agree with Don, just smile and be graceful. I will usually also commiserate with the poor sport and acknowledge how lucky I was (even though last week I was lucky because Mr. Poor Sport hung the 9 ball on an easy shot) - it didn't stop him from complaining about his bad luck. These people have psychological problems, very insecure, and their world view would be shattered if they ever admitted that they are not the greatest. Just smile at them - if you try to dispute their view or point out their bad behavior you then have a conflict and there will always be some people who will take their side (see the thread on the Main Forum about crooked tournaments). If you fail to engage them you always will look better. I will bet that as a woman player you must get this more often when you defeat the men.

 

[Melissa Herndon]

Melissa,
Hopefully this did not happen to you in a WPBA tournament (if it did we all want to know who ).

I wasn't really complaining about a specific incident, even though it has happened in pro events before....and not just to me.

I was just curious how other people felt about it and if anyone had any good stories about it. For example, I know I have comethisclose to getting down to the other person's level and making sarcastic comments back at them, but I haven't broken down quite yet. And that is in my pool hall at home....in the professional arena I just try to behave as professionally as possible. Even though the spectators might secretly love to see a good catfight....I don't want to be the one who gives it to 'em!

Melissa

 

[Rich R.]

Talking about you "Shorty", Don

Don, I was not at that tournament, but I knew who you were referring to, before you mentioned his name. If I was a TD, I would suspend him from playing in a few tournaments, each time he acted up and I would make the suspension period longer each time. Maybe then he would learn that his behavior is not acceptable.

 

[condor]

China Doll ?

Let me ask all of you a question....

How do you respond or handle it when your opponent starts talking to himself or to other people (in the middle of a match) about all the things that are going wrong for them? For example, a player might huff or groan if they get a bad roll...or they might start complaining to spectators or friends that you are getting lucky. Or how about this...you win a match and you go to shake the other player's hand and you hear them mumble under their breath something like "Sick...it's just sick losing to luck!"

It doesn't really bother me...in fact, I sometimes will laugh about it later in private...but I just wondered if anyone has humorous or serious suggestions on what to say or do when it happens?

Melissa

Hello Melissa

I believe it was in Vegas but I could be wrong... didn't Ms.Jennifer Chen throw a tantrum during a match that alarmed everyone? She sure spooked me. The last time I heard such a cry was from a dying animal...

Did her antics affect your play at all( I believe you still won the match) ? Does WPBA have some type of a sanction against such behavior and if so, was Ms.Chen displined by WPBA after the tournament ?

 

[Melissa Herndon]

Hello Melissa

I believe it was in Vegas but I could be wrong... didn't Ms.Jennifer Chen throw a tantrum during a match that alarmed everyone? She sure spooked me. The last time I heard such a cry was from a dying animal...

Did her antics affect your play at all( I believe you still won the match) ? Does WPBA have some type of a sanction against such behavior and if so, was Ms.Chen displined by WPBA after the tournament ?

Hi, I wasn't referring to that match, but that is certainly a good example. I had almost forgotten about that....LOL.

Yes, she did let out a yell at one point in the match, but I am still not sure exactly why. The score was 8-3 in my favor, so I know she was frustrated, but I think her breaking point came because she was preparing to get down on a ball, and a cueball from another table came rolling toward our table. The referee from that other match did not wait for Jennifer to shoot (even though she wasn't down on the shot yet anyway)...he just scooted in under our table and grabbed their cueball. She ended up missing the 3-ball and she slammed the butt-end of her cue on the table and screamed an obscenity.

I don't know if she was pissed because she got distracted by the guy who came by our table...but I tend to think she was just frustrated that she was losing.

In that case, it did startle me when she yelled....and instead of letting it bother me, I just took an extra minute before even getting out of my seat. I took a few extra seconds to prepare for each shot when running out that table, and I just shook her hand after the match was over. I know the audience was rooting for me after her outburst because the applause was deafening!

The WPBA does have rules about sportsmanlike conduct, and I do know that the board members took note and discussed her outburst, but I don't know what ever came of it, if anything.

Melissa

 

[Pelican]

Let me ask all of you a question....

How do you respond or handle it when your opponent starts talking to himself or to other people (in the middle of a match) about all the things that are going wrong for them? For example, a player might huff or groan if they get a bad roll...or they might start complaining to spectators or friends that you are getting lucky. Or how about this...you win a match and you go to shake the other player's hand and you hear them mumble under their breath something like "Sick...it's just sick losing to luck!"

It doesn't really bother me...in fact, I sometimes will laugh about it later in private...but I just wondered if anyone has humorous or serious suggestions on what to say or do when it happens?

Melissa

Hi Melissa, let me preface this by saying I may be old enough to be your grandfather. I am in no way the caliber of shooter any of you folks are but I just flat enjoy the game. I shoot on an APA 8 ball league and really enjoy the fellowship but as always there is a BH or two in the batch. A couple of the remarks you mentioned almost sounded like one of our Monday night matches. We have one fellow that is usually an OK guy but when he loses he got 'all the bad rolls'. I shot him once and made a break and run in the final game to win the set. When we shook hands I said, 'Well, you got a couple of bad rolls, NO WAIT, you didn't shoot". Everybody got a laugh, his team members the loudest, and he even smiled. I haven't heard him mention bad rolls since.

 

[dmgwalsh]

negative teammates

Let me ask all of you a question....

How do you respond or handle it when your opponent starts talking to himself or to other people (in the middle of a match) about all the things that are going wrong for them? For example, a player might huff or groan if they get a bad roll...or they might start complaining to spectators or friends that you are getting lucky. Or how about this...you win a match and you go to shake the other player's hand and you hear them mumble under their breath something like "Sick...it's just sick losing to luck!"

It doesn't really bother me...in fact, I sometimes will laugh about it later in private...but I just wondered if anyone has humorous or serious suggestions on what to say or do when it happens?

Melissa

I'd like to ask you a question on a somewhat related subject. What do you think of or do about negative teammates, for example in a BCA league? Every time one teammate missed a shot last week he came back to the chair bitching about how could he miss that shot, shoulda run out, not shooting worth a s###, etc. I tried to tell him just relax, cool it, and things of that nature. The other teammate came back to the chair wondering why she missed, what was wrong with her tonight. I told her relax, don't beat yourself up. Even Mosconi missed a few shots. Unless mistakes are due to an obvious correctable flaw, keeping down on the ball, following through, or something like that, Don't you think it's counterproductive at that time to dwell on missed shots and missed shapes? Dennis

 

[yobagua]

This is no criticism but a question. I have seen you play many times. Match games as well as tournaments. Ive never seen you act negative but you do have a game face that is very scary. I know everyone deals with pressure different but sometimes you look like you are really angry bordering on losing control. Then I have seen you in a social situation where you look real feminine and "cute" (sorry this is the best word I can come up with) My question is this. Is that something you have developed in order to see you through tough games or is this a flaw in the armor. It is something I am working on too. People think I am mad with them but it is usually myself that I am upset with. I think it interferes with my game. Do you? By the way I think Jennifer Chen has a lot of growing up to do in this area. She used to play in my area and turned a lot of people off with her attitude. I always root for her opponent.

I wasn't really complaining about a specific incident, even though it has happened in pro events before....and not just to me.

I was just curious how other people felt about it and if anyone had any good stories about it. For example, I know I have comethisclose to getting down to the other person's level and making sarcastic comments back at them, but I haven't broken down quite yet. And that is in my pool hall at home....in the professional arena I just try to behave as professionally as possible. Even though the spectators might secretly love to see a good catfight....I don't want to be the one who gives it to 'em!

Melissa

 

[Melissa Herndon]

This is no criticism but a question. I have seen you play many times. Match games as well as tournaments.

You've seen me play match games? Then I must know you...right? Are you from my area?

Anyhow, to answer your question, I do get angry sometimes when I am playing bad or losing a match. I don't think anyone can be happy when they are stuck in a match or session. But, in the professional arena, I try to maintain a civil attitude and game face. I know I can be stony faced....but mostly that is just me trying to focus and tune everything out but my match. If my attention starts to wander, then I know I am in trouble. Also, if I am winning, I don't like to "celebrate" in the arena either. Whistling, making jokes with the crowd constantly....it's kind of unfair to your opponent....like rubbing salt in a wound.

Now, I will admit that when I am playing in local tournaments at home, I have been known to get upset about losing to bad rolls, etc. I am not perfect. But those people have known me for years...and they allow me to let off a little steam every now and then.

When in match sessions, I try to put on the professional face again. I don't like the woofing and sharking that can go on....so I don't participate in it.

Melissa

 

[Melissa Herndon]

I'd like to ask you a question on a somewhat related subject. What do you think of or do about negative teammates, for example in a BCA league? Every time one teammate missed a shot last week he came back to the chair bitching about how could he miss that shot, shoulda run out, not shooting worth a s###, etc. I tried to tell him just relax, cool it, and things of that nature. The other teammate came back to the chair wondering why she missed, what was wrong with her tonight. I told her relax, don't beat yourself up. Even Mosconi missed a few shots. Unless mistakes are due to an obvious correctable flaw, keeping down on the ball, following through, or something like that, Don't you think it's counterproductive at that time to dwell on missed shots and missed shapes? Dennis

Hi Dennis,

Well everyone handles things differently, so it's hard to say. Some players use their own mistakes to get fired up....and then they might not miss for the rest of the night. Other players will let one little mistake take them out of the game completely. I have seen players who will miss a 9-ball, but win the game anyway...then go on to lose the match because they can't get over the fact that they missed the 9-ball in the first place.

As far as teammates go, my advice would be to have a meeting one day and get everyone on the same page regarding attitude. Ask people to understand if one player is negative, it could have a negative impact on the entire team. Conversely, if all the players can be supportive of each other at all times, then your chances of success will increase dramatically. And remember, one mistake should be just that...one mistake. Don't let it snowball into a series of mistakes. You can't go back and undo a mistake...but you can just move ahead and deal with the situation calmly and confidently.

Melissa

 

[kokopuffs]

DH = Richard Cranium!!!!!

Don:

I really like that name!

 

[jjinfla]

Hi Melissa,

What's that old saying - stuff happens.

Anyway I have played games where everything went my way and other games where everything went the other way and games where we both got good and bad breaks.

So I have come to realize that it is all part of 9 ball.

But lately I have liked it when my opponent starts muttering to himself with comments like, "lucky shot", "he's not supposed to make that shot", "he's under rated", "why did that cue ball have to roll that far?", I hooked myself again", "the table is off" etc. To me, when I start hearing these comments it is just an indication that he has given up and the match is mine to win. He is no longer thinking about his shot but what will go wrong for him.

And for that reason I don't make any comments when the breaks go against me. I don't want him to think that I have given up.

Lately I have watched a few games of table tennis on ESPN and the players raise their hand when they get a lucky net ball point to show their opponent that it was just luck. Seems to work for them.

Jake

 

[Cardinal_Syn]

I've actually seen people cussing and wut not when flukes happen....i just laugh at em....can't take em don't play the game.....part of the game.

Last week when i won this small local amateur tourny i was facing this guy in the semi finals. OMG I've never felt so ashamed and dirty before in 9-ball. I fluked soo many nines probably 4 in a race to 7 that i just kept sayin sorry to the guy. I won the match but i felt dirty and embarassed. I could tell the guy was pissed but he was class act and was just like it's part of the game...watchu gonna do right? Really a class act. I knew he was pissed (who wouldn't be) but he just sucked it up and was a good sports.

 

[Rich R.]

I've actually seen people cussing and wut not when flukes happen....i just laugh at em....can't take em don't play the game.....part of the game.

Last week when i won this small local amateur tourny i was facing this guy in the semi finals. OMG I've never felt so ashamed and dirty before in 9-ball. I fluked soo many nines probably 4 in a race to 7 that i just kept sayin sorry to the guy. I won the match but i felt dirty and embarassed. I could tell the guy was pissed but he was class act and was just like it's part of the game...watchu gonna do right? Really a class act. I knew he was pissed (who wouldn't be) but he just sucked it up and was a good sports.

More players should take lessons from that guy.

In 9-ball, what goes around will come around. Maybe the next time he plays, he will get the lucky breaks. I hope his opponent has as much class.

 

[satman]

Melissa, I know this has happened to most of us. I beat a guy in a race to 9 tournament like 9-5. Everyone at the tournament knows the guy plays maybe a ball better than me, so he goes around telling everyone I've got the 7. Funny thing is, he never mentions it to me.
P.S. I believe the best way to handle a poor sport is just smile and run out on them.

 

[VivizzleShizzle]

number one - I think this is an outstanding post... I enjoy reading everyones input...

here is my story...

One time - I went off... I just couldn't believe the rolls I was getting and I couldn't believe the slop the other gal was getting then what was worst - was that I let it get to me... Infact - it got so flustered that by the time I had an opportunity to run out - I couldn't hit a ball straight if I wanted to... what's worst... is that today when I look back on that match - I feel like such a butthead. I am so embarassed since I do pride myself on sportsmanship... and I felt so bad for the other player that I was just so lame. When I think about it - I almost cringe like when you hit a bad not when you are singing along in the car and you hope nobody heard you - lol!

Now the way I look at things - is that - if pool is going to make you some ego maniac that you think you are above the rolls and the misses then you miss what pool is all about... the quicker one can accept things and move on the better the player is altogether.

and how to deal with that annoying shark - flappin their chops about luck... and what not... just let your stick to the talking and move on and concentrate on your own game