Is it fair to say that a greater percentage of people smoke in pool than other sports?
Pool Player and Smoking..
- Thread starter BangkokMichael
- Start date
is pool a sport?
Darts maybe as well. Without any research, I'd say yes. Pool does not require a lot of aerobic activity like baskeball or soccer does, so pool players can smoke with no harm to their game.
Compared to other endeavors, where smoking is allowed during play, I'd say the games of pool are at the top of the list. Golfing, bowling, darts, and others, are games where smoking is acceptable.
Sailing is a sport where participants smoke, and auto racing in some instances.
I know when my One Pocket game is really on, I'm smoking. (A little play on words there.) :smile:
Sailing is a sport where participants smoke, and auto racing in some instances.
I know when my One Pocket game is really on, I'm smoking. (A little play on words there.) :smile:
Smokiong no harm to your game?
I've met many players since I first picked up a cue 58 years ago, who say their game improved when they quit smoking.
I was diagnosed with cancer eight years ago, and three doctors believe it was most likely from second hand cigarette smoke.
I've always played better in a smoke-free environment. And regarding many of my cigarette-smoking friends who have died, I'd say they don't play as well as they did when they were alive.
I've met many players since I first picked up a cue 58 years ago, who say their game improved when they quit smoking.
I was diagnosed with cancer eight years ago, and three doctors believe it was most likely from second hand cigarette smoke.
I've always played better in a smoke-free environment. And regarding many of my cigarette-smoking friends who have died, I'd say they don't play as well as they did when they were alive.
Sorry to hear that Donny. I had a chest xray last week. Not good for me either at this point.
They wanted me to go to emerg right away but I hate sitting there for 6 hrs and then more once they get you a stretcher. The wife is out of town working so I had to stay home and look after the dogs.
All I know is that it hurts like a SOB.
They wanted me to go to emerg right away but I hate sitting there for 6 hrs and then more once they get you a stretcher. The wife is out of town working so I had to stay home and look after the dogs.
All I know is that it hurts like a SOB.
You're asking the question backwards in my opinion. It should be "How many smokers play pool?"
I submit that if rooms were to place a complete ban on smoking in and and outside the premises, their business would be cut in half.
I used to think I was a pool player and a movie buff. When I started a diet to shed my weight before it killed me, I realized that without the popcorn or trip to Wendy's before/after pool, I really wasn't interested in going out at all.
My story may simply be my own, but it got me thinking that addiction behavior is often paired with other activities that, without the addiction behavior, lose their appeal.
I submit that if rooms were to place a complete ban on smoking in and and outside the premises, their business would be cut in half.
I used to think I was a pool player and a movie buff. When I started a diet to shed my weight before it killed me, I realized that without the popcorn or trip to Wendy's before/after pool, I really wasn't interested in going out at all.
My story may simply be my own, but it got me thinking that addiction behavior is often paired with other activities that, without the addiction behavior, lose their appeal.
You just hit the nail on the head. Great post. I was thinking about this when my brother came down and went to the pool hall with me.
He asked about a comparison between other sports/games and their relationship to smoking. This thread is not about the number of smokers who play pool, and most certainly not about a pool players addictive behavior.
I agree with this.
All things being equal, the person in better physical condition will win more long grueling sessions like 24 hrs of gambling, or a week long tournament. But, pool players that are in poor physical condition (due to whatever reason, to include smoking) CAN still play jam up. Maybe not for as long a period of time as a healthy person, but clearly long enough to win.
Compare that to an ice hockey player, if they were not in good physical condition, they would be panting and falling over on their faces after a few minuets of play.
I quit cold turkey a little over a year ago. I am 33 and had been smoking for a pretty long time although not that heavily. League pool play was the most difficult part of me quitting. I still wish I could smoke when I shoot league. It calms me down and I really shoot much better when smoking but my health is too important now that I have a family. I selfishly wish the pools halls I played in were non smoking so the temptation was not there and so I didn't have to breathe in so much second hand smoke all the time.
Well i do smoke myself and i smoke when im playing pool, but if tomorrow they said no more smoking in pool halls, i would just go outside for a quick one. It wouldnt be a big inconvenience to me at all.
Actually, im probably getting to the point where im thinking of quitting anyway.
Actually, im probably getting to the point where im thinking of quitting anyway.
When I think of anything related to "Sports", I think of the following.
Vim, Vigor, Vitality, Stamina, Endurance, & anything denoting Health.
Smoking is proven to be counter-productive to Good Health, which is the
basic ingrediant for success in every "Sport" which comes to mind.
Vim, Vigor, Vitality, Stamina, Endurance, & anything denoting Health.
Smoking is proven to be counter-productive to Good Health, which is the
basic ingrediant for success in every "Sport" which comes to mind.
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I know of four pool players at My X pool hall where all die from lung cancer. True because they were smokers anyway; did pool make them smoke more-maybe? All smokers will loose the Battle, and eventually the war if they do not quit soon enough, also, unfortunately second hand smokers are not immune too.
I feel bad for those that work in these places..
I feel bad for those that work in these places..
My first post here.
As a smoker and drinker, I'd say that the prevalence of smoking in the pool community is due solely to the fact that we're generally playing in places where liquor is served. I'm sure other smokers can agree that there is something about liquor and a cigarette that is transcendental.
If you care about pool as a "sport," you should abstain yourself from smoking. Earl, Mika and Shane come to mind. Pool ain't a sport though, who was it that said that it can't be a sport if you can smoke while doing it? I don't recall.
As a smoker and drinker, I'd say that the prevalence of smoking in the pool community is due solely to the fact that we're generally playing in places where liquor is served. I'm sure other smokers can agree that there is something about liquor and a cigarette that is transcendental.
If you care about pool as a "sport," you should abstain yourself from smoking. Earl, Mika and Shane come to mind. Pool ain't a sport though, who was it that said that it can't be a sport if you can smoke while doing it? I don't recall.
I'm sorry to here this.I hope you find a way to feel comfortable.
To answer the op in a word: yes.
Though I was surprised to learn some athletes who need lung capacity (NFL and NBA guys)
smoke too. But in pool lung capacity is irrelevant unless you're about to pass out.
I dread these threads, it always devolves into something like... "everyone makes their choices and if you
don't like it go somewhere else, the owner has the right to run his business how he wants"
..vs.. "the owner doesn't have the right to make a public/work environment dangerous,
and going somewhere else is not always practical".
Then there's "it's rude and makes everything smell and wrecks your clothes and the tables etc etc"
vs "ahh it's not that bad, don't be such a crybaby".
One argument that no longer holds water is: It will ruin their business and if you want your pool hall
to stay alive, you should be against any smoking ban.
I've personally been through three places banning smoking and not one of them got their business cut in
"half" or anywhere near it. One of them just did it a few months ago. I used to avoid the place except on
league night. Now I voluntarily go there at least one and often 2 other nights a week.
That is a direct result of the smoking ban. The smell and 1000x better and my eyes no longer get red and burn.
There are plenty of others like me. I can't think of a single player who stopped coming there since they ban,
they all just step outside five minutes and get on with their lives.
Though I was surprised to learn some athletes who need lung capacity (NFL and NBA guys)
smoke too. But in pool lung capacity is irrelevant unless you're about to pass out.
I dread these threads, it always devolves into something like... "everyone makes their choices and if you
don't like it go somewhere else, the owner has the right to run his business how he wants"
..vs.. "the owner doesn't have the right to make a public/work environment dangerous,
and going somewhere else is not always practical".
Then there's "it's rude and makes everything smell and wrecks your clothes and the tables etc etc"
vs "ahh it's not that bad, don't be such a crybaby".
One argument that no longer holds water is: It will ruin their business and if you want your pool hall
to stay alive, you should be against any smoking ban.
I've personally been through three places banning smoking and not one of them got their business cut in
"half" or anywhere near it. One of them just did it a few months ago. I used to avoid the place except on
league night. Now I voluntarily go there at least one and often 2 other nights a week.
That is a direct result of the smoking ban. The smell and 1000x better and my eyes no longer get red and burn.
There are plenty of others like me. I can't think of a single player who stopped coming there since they ban,
they all just step outside five minutes and get on with their lives.
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one of the other things i hate is when the player I am playing against go out for smoking break. I would sit there and wait for 10 mins.. really bored..