pool role models...

J

jcpoolgod

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
it seems theres alot of excellent pool players that are great role models....(on the pool table) i wanna be just like them...i respect their game.....and look up to them....they are great pool players.....

but....their lives are in shambles....they dont have much going for them but pool....

it seems theres a big difference between pool role models and life role models.....

how have the role models you have had affected your life? the positives and the negatives....?

who do you owe the honor...and who do you place the blame......
 
They are not role models and most are dirt bags like you have mentioned. They are good pool players but too bad there personality don't reflect how great they play.

You will not see them hosting an event for kids or children. They don't do charity work or host free clinics for the youth. They can promote the sport in so many ways but they are in it for themselves.

Perhaps, we have to wait for the next generation of pool players to promote the sport.

I have met two pro's in my life....Nick Varner and Alex Pagulayan. At the time I didn't know who these two were. The owner introduced me to Nick and he just shook my hand and gave me an autograph, which I threw away later when I went into the bathroom. I didn't ask for it and didn't know who he was and he acted like I wanted the picture. No exhibition....just their to discuss his products.

Alex seems like a cool guy. I didn't know who he was either and wasn't kissing his ass, like most would. Just talked to him and asked him where he was from and if he plays pool alot...lol. He seems like a regular dude. He stayed and played for hours. Good guy.

There are exceptions with some pro's, like I mentioned above about my experience.

.02 cents
 
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The only decent role model i can think of would be Jeanette Lee.
She has managed a career in pool.She has what seems to be a nice family and has promoted herself well. Enough to make a nice living.
I'm sure there are more but they are few and far between.
I've met Nick Varner also and he is a decent guy. Not cocky at all. You were at a what sounds like a promotional event so i would imagine that he would of thought you knew who he was.
Nick is a good ole Southern boy who also has a college degree.
 
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bobroberts said:
The only decent role model I can think of would be Jeanette Lee.
She has managed a career in pool.She has what seems to be a nice family and has promoted herself well. Enough to make a nice living.
I'm sure there are more but they are few and far between.
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Although I agree Jeanette has managed here career well and is a role model, she is an anomaly in the pool world. She has been perceived as a sex symbol/model more than a pool player. Her husband George is possibly an even better role model. He has not pursued this game as a career and focused on his business instead. Only coming out of the woodworks to play in certain events like the IPT.

I think SVB has been very responsible with his money from what I have heard. I think that is worthy of praise considering his occupation.

I think Ralf Souquet has been a role model in the since that he has shown you don't have to gamble to be considered a respectable pool player. Gambling has been the downfall of many IMO.

I think you find your role models where you want to find them. If you look for the positive in people you usually will find it. This also says a lot about the character you already possess inside you.
 
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dom_poppa...So you have "met" a whole TWO professional players (one you liked, and one you didn't), yet you feel qualified to make blanket statements that generalize ALL pro players. I have met hundreds of pro players. Some are as you described. MANY are not! While they may not act in concert for their own betterment, there are some who are great role models, and great ambassadors for the sport. For you to generalize like you have here just shows your ignorance about pro players and pool in general. How about you try to refrain from posting, unless you have something positive to say?

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

dom_poppa said:
They are not role models and most are dirt bags like you have mentioned. They are good pool players but too bad there personality don't reflect how great they play.

You will not see them hosting an event for kids or children. They don't do charity work or host free clinics for the youth. They can promote the sport in so many ways but they are in it for themselves.

Perhaps, we have to wait for the next generation of pool players to promote the sport.

I have met two pro's in my life....Nick Varner and Alex Pagulayan. At the time I didn't know who these two were. The owner introduced me to Nick and he just shook my hand and gave me an autograph, which I threw away later when I went into the bathroom. I didn't ask for it and didn't know who he was and he acted like I wanted the picture. No exhibition....just their to discuss his products.

Alex seems like a cool guy. I didn't know who he was either and wasn't kissing his ass, like most would. Just talked to him and asked him where he was from and if he plays pool alot...lol. He seems like a regular dude. He stayed and played for hours. Good guy.

There are exceptions with some pro's, like I mentioned above about my experience.

.02 cents
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Nick Varner

Nick Varner would be my choice in thoughts of professionalism, from collegiate title to world titles and as well spoken publicly and class shown as I have seen. Not anything I can recall being said bad about Nick from all the years I have been a steady fan / player.

* Role models in pool, lol.. that is a new one, this should be interesting.
 
Scott Lee said:
dom_poppa...So you have "met" a whole TWO professional players (one you liked, and one you didn't), yet you feel qualified to make blanket statements that generalize ALL pro players. I have met hundreds of pro players. Some are as you described. MANY are not! While they may not act in concert for their own betterment, there are some who are great role models, and great ambassadors for the sport. For you to generalize like you have here just shows your ignorance about pro players and pool in general. How about you try to refrain from posting, unless you have something positive to say?

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

Yes, I do know what I am talking about. Those are top pros and very successful players and they haven't helped elevate this sport.

I don't care if you know more pros because there are a lot of them and I probably wouldn't recognize these guys.

Wouldn't you want a Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods of your sport holding clinics and exhibition for the youths of this sport such as the pool pros I mentioned earlier.....

-or-

Would you rather have some average pro, that nobody would care about?


This sport needs the #1 players of the sport to promote it and those two were prime examples of guys who should lead this sport.

I was playing pool next to Nick and didn't know who he was. He thought I wanted an autograph....lol....If he was doing a clinic and all that other stuff, then it would have caught my interest to see someone magical on the table but instead he gave me a picture of him...lol

Like I said, I probably still wouldn't know who these guys were, if it wasn't for AZBilliards, this place is a spot for the pros and the sport to grow. It's thanks to this site....too bad they don't try to promote themselves more.
 
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Sorry...I can't agree with you. The education of our youth should be done by EVERY pro, EVERY instructor, and EVERY SINGLE poolplayer who knows enough and cares enough to want to help. Take mnorwood for example. He's just an ordinary Joe who loves pool. But he goes out of his way to help high school kids in the Houston area learn how to play. He's just one example, but I could name many more, including some pro players. I do agree that lots more can be done...but I disagree that it's 'worthless' if you don't have the #1 pro doing it, as well. BTW, neither Varner nor Alex are #1...both great players, and Varner is a HOF'r...but neither of them would compare themselves to Jordan or Woods. Role models can come from anywhere...even your next door neighbor.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

dom_poppa said:
Wouldn't you want a Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods of your sport holding clinics and exhibition for the youths of this sport such as the pool pros I mentioned earlier.....

-or-

Would you rather have some average pro, that nobody would care about?


This sport needs the #1 players of the sport to promote it and those two were prime examples of guys who should lead this sport.
Click to expand...
 
I'd have to nominate Allison Fischer. Class act, great player. I've spoken with her several times and she's always nice. :smile:
 
jcpoolgod said:
it seems theres alot of excellent pool players that are great role models....(on the pool table) i wanna be just like them...i respect their game.....and look up to them....they are great pool players.....

but....their lives are in shambles....they dont have much going for them but pool....

it seems theres a big difference between pool role models and life role models.....

how have the role models you have had affected your life? the positives and the negatives....?

who do you owe the honor...and who do you place the blame......
Click to expand...

First, I don't agree with this "role model" thing folks are so fond of now days. What the heck is a "role model" anyway? I personally don't think people that play games for a living are any kind of role model I would want to emulate (or have my kids/grand kids). The percentage of people that will actually make it to the level required to play professionally are minimal (no matter what the sport). As for pro pool players there are some great ambassador's out there (and some bad), but I don't think of them as role models.
I can tell you who my role model was growing up though....my parents. I certainly didn't know it at the time, but it is something I realized when I grew up. They disciplined me, taught me right from wrong, took an interest in what I was doing (sports, school, and so on), and didn't spoil me by giving me everything I wanted or asked for. By them doing these things I didn't feel as though I should start out at the top of the ladder or that I could do as I pleased no matter whom it affected. I learned early on if I wanted something, I would have to earn it.....that it wouldn't just be given to me.

Personally I think this role model thing with pro sports is a total crock or horse dung.
 
onepocketron said:
First, I don't agree with this "role model" thing folks are so fond of now days. What the heck is a "role model" anyway?
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I'm thinking in terms of a role model on how to conduct yourself while playing pool. For example, don't throw tantrums. Always act professional, dress professional, respect the fans. Always congratulate your opponent when you lose. There's enough bad behavior among the masses without professionals reinforcing it.

You're right though in that kids need parents that teach proper values. :cool:
 
What About Dippy?

I can just see all the kids are out there thinking..
"What would dippy do?"
 
dom_poppa said:
Yes, I do know what I am talking about. Those are top pros and very successful players and they haven't helped elevate this sport.

I don't care if you know more pros because there are a lot of them and I probably wouldn't recognize these guys.

Wouldn't you want a Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods of your sport holding clinics and exhibition for the youths of this sport such as the pool pros I mentioned earlier.....

-or-

Would you rather have some average pro, that nobody would care about?


This sport needs the #1 players of the sport to promote it and those two were prime examples of guys who should lead this sport.

I was playing pool next to Nick and didn't know who he was. He thought I wanted an autograph....lol....If he was doing a clinic and all that other stuff, then it would have caught my interest to see someone magical on the table but instead he gave me a picture of him...lol

Like I said, I probably still wouldn't know who these guys were, if it wasn't for AZBilliards, this place is a spot for the pros and the sport to grow. It's thanks to this site....too bad they don't try to promote themselves more.
Click to expand...

It would probably be a better idea for you to just read since you don't seem to know boo about pool.

Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan pulled down bazillions. Think that might have some relationship to their spare time? And they probably get paid to appear at youth events, etc. Most pool pros struggle to even survive as pros in this sport.

Setting that aside- what the hell makes these two losers role models? Michael Jordan is known to be a first class asshole and Tiger Woods- don't make me laugh.
 
Jeannette Lee speaks well, plays good and have been in a car commercial. I hear she gambles it up too. Oh yeah, and she has pretty dimples.
 
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