please show me where...
- Thread starter Fatboy
- Start date
Why would anyone care if Earl is pissed at them. The guy lives pissed off. I think it is time that we all give Earl the cold shoulder.
Earl needs to stay at home and avoid people. He is a horrible person to have represent the USA or anyone in pool.
EARL FIND ANOTHER CAREER. You time in pool is over!
Earl needs to stay at home and avoid people. He is a horrible person to have represent the USA or anyone in pool.
EARL FIND ANOTHER CAREER. You time in pool is over!
I agree...when it's THERE, it's there forever! The older generation of players (from the 50's & 60's), played just as well at 60, as they did at 20 (and ALL of them had 'bad days' too). It (best performance) may not show up on a given day, and that's when you won't see Earl's best game. But for people to think he's washed up, and can't play like he did 10-20 years ago is, imo, ridiculous! Whatever is keeping Earl from playing consistently at his peak, it is certainly not "lost talent". I would love to see Earl play at his peak again...he's certainly capable, skill-wise! jmo
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Rick S. said:
This is actually an interesting statement. When I was learning to play (more than 35 yrs ago), we used to play something called "mum pool". The rules were that if you said even ONE word, during the game, you lost. Now, we played as friends, and this was tough (you're always wanting to compliment a good shot, or poke fun at a silly miss). It really forces you to concentrate, and focus solely on the game. I'd love to see a high stakes "mum pool" match, or even better, a tournament! I guarantee you'd see some unbelievable skill, and you'd also see some jam-up players losing, because they couldn't shut up! 
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
cabbieinva said:
JAM said:While the lynch mob is heating up the tar and gathering the feathers for your benefit, I will step in and state that there are MANY players who have an ego problem.
I think it is inevitable. In order to succeed in professional pool, one must think pretty strongly of their capabilities; thus, have a strong ego. I have never yet met a champion who doesn't have an ego. Yes, even the beloved Efren Reyes has an ego.
That said, some champions may be humble and not display their ego in full view, but I have seen others, besides Earl Strickland, exhibit their ego in public. I won't bother you with the references, names, and the when-and-wheres, but they all have that egomania. If they didn't, they would not be champions. I think this is true in every sport, if I may be so bold as to label pool as a "sport."
JAM
I have to agree with JAM here. This is an extremely common characteristic among competitors and definitely evident in competitive pool. Speaking as an amateur, I know I have said/done a few things that are a directly related to my ego. As an amateur, I guess it's a little easier for me to turn off and on since what is appropriate and/or necessary to be successful at pool is not always what is acceptable in the workplace. I can't strut to the conference room.
When you're competing, you have to have 100% belief in yourself. Successful execution is directly related to self-perception. Doubt takes on a physical manifestation in pool and conquering it, for some people, requires an overwhelmingly positive self-image that is everpresent.
JAM said:While the lynch mob is heating up the tar and gathering the feathers for your benefit, I will step in and state that there are MANY players who have an ego problem.
I think it is inevitable. In order to succeed in professional pool, one must think pretty strongly of their capabilities; thus, have a strong ego. I have never yet met a champion who doesn't have an ego. Yes, even the beloved Efren Reyes has an ego.
That said, some champions may be humble and not display their ego in full view, but I have seen others, besides Earl Strickland, exhibit their ego in public. I won't bother you with the references, names, and the when-and-wheres, but they all have that egomania. If they didn't, they would not be champions. I think this is true in every sport, if I may be so bold as to label pool as a "sport."
JAM
Yes, but having a "strong ego" and thinking "pretty strongly of their capabilities" are signs of healthy confidence, which I agree is absolutely essential to top performance in any arena. This is not the same as outbursts and other extreme behavior which often indicate insecurity and which can seriously interfere with performance. The confidence of true champions is "usually" pretty well grounded and does not need the showcase of outlandish behavior.
That said, even the most confident person can succumb to getting their buttons pushed and go off occasionally.
I'm a pretty confident (and PEACEFUL) person. In the past I let an obnoxious guy in a bar (friend of a friend) get under my skin so badly that my only option was to leave immediately before losing control. (I had about 10" and 100 pounds on the guy and I'm not fat). I left so fast I accidently ran out on my tab. Fortunately the bouncers and staff knew me so there were no problems! That guy had never met me and he intuitively knew exactly how to piss me off! I'm still amazed at how good he was at it and how I let him control my emotional state. Lesson learned!!!
Tom
Tom M said:
Actually, what I find very very interesting - in sports such as baseball, players will often use negative media for motivation. They will actually seek out criticism. Oftentimes, the athlete isn't even aware of what they're doing. The simply feel they cannot ignore the negativity and once they find it, once their paranoia has been answered, they seek to prove their critics wrong.
Outside of sports, if you knew someone who was constantly trying to find out who was talking smack about them, you'd tell them they were crazy.
Its getting really pathetic to continue to hear about how many people LOVE watching this guy play and yet he still finds a way to make a ton of people think he's an jerk.
Seriously, the guy has as much talent as anyone who's ever played nine ball in history- his record of world championships and US Opens is incredible. Why he can't see how much of an a-hole he acts like sometimes is just confusing at this point. Like many other people, I think watching him play in the 90's was more exciting than watching anyone else. Still, most people I know would rather beat his ass than make excuses for his behavior if he started chirping at them the way he does some of the other players and crowd.
I'm not bashing the guy, its just guys like Efren, Rempe, Varner,etc... show so much class when they play that it makes him look ridiculous. Alex Higgins (snooker) demise and attitude is still orders of magnitude more depressing, but Earl just seems to waste so much energy on BS that isn't good for him or the game.
Seriously, the guy has as much talent as anyone who's ever played nine ball in history- his record of world championships and US Opens is incredible. Why he can't see how much of an a-hole he acts like sometimes is just confusing at this point. Like many other people, I think watching him play in the 90's was more exciting than watching anyone else. Still, most people I know would rather beat his ass than make excuses for his behavior if he started chirping at them the way he does some of the other players and crowd.
I'm not bashing the guy, its just guys like Efren, Rempe, Varner,etc... show so much class when they play that it makes him look ridiculous. Alex Higgins (snooker) demise and attitude is still orders of magnitude more depressing, but Earl just seems to waste so much energy on BS that isn't good for him or the game.