opinion please=)

cdavis9771

cdavis9771

Yes this dog will bite;)
Silver Member
Would you take advice from someone who can not beat you nor has had any achievements in your sport?
 
Yes I would take lessons from a lesser player but I would not listen too much to someone who has never achieved much in the game. If they have not achieved much then they are not qualified to teach, unless it is a mental lesson and when it comes to pool I can usually get the mood right on my own.
Sincerely, Danny Harriman
 
Danny (just to stir the pot) and I think your opinion is more based on your high caliber of play than your need for instruction. Take a look at what 4 all time great instructors achieved in their playing career vs their coaching career.

BASEBALL MGR Tony Larussa Career : In 132 total games played, (40 in the starting lineup), he went 35-for-176, a batting average of .199. His 23 walks pushed his on base percentage to .292. He had 7 RBI and scored 15 runs. He made 63 appearances at second base, 18 at shortstop, and two at third base, fielding .960 in 249 total chances and participating in 34 double plays. As a manager, 28 seasons, 2297 wins, 5 World Series, 2 Championships, 4 times manager of the year, only 8 out of 28 seasons with a record under .500.

FOOTBALL Coach Don Shula Career: Played 73 games in 7 seasons as a defensive back with 21 interceptions. No Championships. As a coach, 347-173-6, coached undefeated 17-0 team to Super Bowl victory, in 33 seasons coached 20 playoff teams and had a team win at least 10 games a staggering 21 times.

BASKETBALL Coach Red Auerbach Career: College @George Washingtion. No pro career. As a coach, in 20 seasons had a 938-479 record including 8 times with over 50 wins in a season. Went to 10 straight NBA finals, winning 9 times, including 8 in a row before he retired.

HOCKEY Coach Scotty Bowman Career: No professional career. Minor league hockey only. Left due to head injury. As a coach, Bowman is the only coach in the Big Four North American professional sports leagues (Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League) to win championships with three different professional teams. Bowman became the league's most successful coach over his 30 years of coaching with 1,244 wins in the regular season and 223 in the playoffs. He won a record 9 Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens (1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979), Pittsburgh Penguins (1992) and Detroit Red Wings (1997, 1998 and 2002). He won the Jack Adams Award in 1977 and 1996. In the 1976-1977 season he won a record 60 games then, in 1996, won 62, breaking his own record for regular season wins.

It's a good thing that most of the players under these coaches never looked up their pro stats.
 
watchez said:
Danny (just to stir the pot) and I think your opinion is more based on your high caliber of play than your need for instruction. Take a look at what 4 all time great instructors achieved in their playing career vs their coaching career.

BASEBALL MGR Tony Larussa Career : In 132 total games played, (40 in the starting lineup), he went 35-for-176, a batting average of .199. His 23 walks pushed his on base percentage to .292. He had 7 RBI and scored 15 runs. He made 63 appearances at second base, 18 at shortstop, and two at third base, fielding .960 in 249 total chances and participating in 34 double plays. As a manager, 28 seasons, 2297 wins, 5 World Series, 2 Championships, 4 times manager of the year, only 8 out of 28 seasons with a record under .500.

FOOTBALL Coach Don Shula Career: Played 73 games in 7 seasons as a defensive back with 21 interceptions. No Championships. As a coach, 347-173-6, coached undefeated 17-0 team to Super Bowl victory, in 33 seasons coached 20 playoff teams and had a team win at least 10 games a staggering 21 times.

BASKETBALL Coach Red Auerbach Career: College @George Washingtion. No pro career. As a coach, in 20 seasons had a 938-479 record including 8 times with over 50 wins in a season. Went to 10 straight NBA finals, winning 9 times, including 8 in a row before he retired.

HOCKEY Coach Scotty Bowman Career: No professional career. Minor league hockey only. Left due to head injury. As a coach, Bowman is the only coach in the Big Four North American professional sports leagues (Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League) to win championships with three different professional teams. Bowman became the league's most successful coach over his 30 years of coaching with 1,244 wins in the regular season and 223 in the playoffs. He won a record 9 Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens (1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979), Pittsburgh Penguins (1992) and Detroit Red Wings (1997, 1998 and 2002). He won the Jack Adams Award in 1977 and 1996. In the 1976-1977 season he won a record 60 games then, in 1996, won 62, breaking his own record for regular season wins.

It's a good thing that most of the players under these coaches never looked up their pro stats.
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Very impressive. From a mental standpoint, if someone, that you know was a professional, has given you a tip would hold more value than one who hasn't?
 
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what exactly did earl woods, butch harmon, and hank haney achieve as golfers? the answer is "not too much" yet they taught Tiger Woods the game of golf. It boggles my mind to ever hear anyone say that they wouldnt listen to anyone who hasnt performed at the top level of their respective sport. Knowledge and understanding of a sport and being able to convey a message or "teach" it is one thing . being able and willing to put aside your ego long enough to absorb information and dilligently practice what is taught while possesing superior will, focus,physical attributes etc... is what makes champions in the world IMO.
 
I think what Danny said is being a little misconstrued.

Danny refers to "players that have not achieved much in the game."

I will give odds he is referring to players that try to "impress him" by showing him different shots, or approach him after sweating a match and try to give him pointers on a different way to play a shot etc.

People like this really frustrate me and I am no where near the caliber Danny is.

He is not referring to qualified instructors, who in the billiard world, would be comparible to the examples Watchez listed in other sports.

Danny has a huge amount of respect for Jerry Briesath, his knowledge, and what he has done for the Billiard World.

The opinion/advice of the know it all "Tavern Tom" type of player is whom Danny doesn't put much stock in.
 
i understand and didn't mean to sound if i was directing my comments toward danny. I was just speaking in general that all of the greatest champions in the world at any sport or craft had to first gain knowledge and then apply their own work ethic and desire to become the best. i believe that when a person THINKS that he or she can no longer learn from someone who plays at a lesser level, then that persons level of play and development as a player has pretty much reached their peak. at least this has been my experience. no offense intended. see everyone at the derby
 
Danny Harriman said:
Yes I would take lessons from a lesser player but I would not listen too much to someone who has never achieved much in the game. If they have not achieved much then they are not qualified to teach, unless it is a mental lesson and when it comes to pool I can usually get the mood right on my own.
Sincerely, Danny Harriman
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Defintitely. What the lower ranked player sees is something you may have not thought about or have taken for granted, but has seen pro's or higher ranked players (either at your level or higher) achieve or have executed with more ease/simplcity.

Although I have not been known as a top rank player, but I do coach very well.
 
watchez said:
It's a good thing that most of the players under these coaches never looked up their pro stats.
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Your examples don't contribute to the point you're trying to make:

  1. Only a small percentage of players make it to the Major Leagues. To get there, regardless of your standing, is a major achievement.
  2. Don Shula was a terrific defensive back.
  3. What minor league teams have you played for.

To get back to the point - It doesn't hurt to listen. You never know where a pearl of wisdom might come from.
 
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acedotcom said:
Your examples don't contribute to the point you're trying to make:

  1. Only a small percentage of players make it to the Major Leagues. To get there, regardless of your standing, is a major achievement.
  2. Don Shula was a terrific defensive back.
  3. What minor league teams have you played for.

To get back to the point - It doesn't hurt to listen. You never know where a pearl of wisdom might come from.
Click to expand...

Don Shula was average & didn't get into the HOF because of his playing ability. My point is that there are very few coaches that were HOF players as well. Most were sub-standard players at best.
 
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