Some of you keep acting like I think I have some amazingly dark secret that is going to revolutionize the game. For about the fifth time to some of you dolts that obviously don't listen...there is no revelation!!!! It is not some deep dark secret! I don't have some great idea that is going to change pool that nobody else has thought of!!!!
Do I have to keep saying this? I've been at work for several hours so I haven't been able to keep up with the conversation but I will be happy now that there have been many contributions to my questions...which is what I originally wanted.
I have seen some of you actually mention some of these things that I am going to mention and I applaud you for that. Now, let me explain some of the obvious answers that some of you think I am arrogant about (like I have it and others don't).
All you pros who are irresponsible, cussing drunks or dopeheads or whatever other vices you have...clean yourself up!
Show respect when you see ladies around but especially kids. Stop saying that your filthy language doesn't bother them! It doesn't matter whether your comments bother them or not...it is simply bad manners and it runs off a certain percentage of people who don't want to be around it.
Dress in clean, proper attire without your pants hanging halfway down your butt (if that applies to you)!
For those of you scumbags who have set your eyes on other people's money, stop trying to hustle money from unsuspecting people who just want to go out and relax or have fun or whatever makes them happy.
Here is an absolutely true story (no exaggeration whatsoever). I had to meet a man and his son because they wanted to buy a piece of equipment from me (not related to pool). I asked them if they could meet me at a pool room that was centrally located between us. The man said that would be fine. The time came for us to meet but I got tied up and called him to let him know I would be a little late. He said that he and his 11 year old son would go into the pool room and play a couple games of pool.
I thought to myself, "Oh no...he is going to take his kid in that place?" I thought that because I know what kind of music they play in there. I arrived about 20 minutes later and saw them standing outside. I had a feeling in my gut but I was going to wait and see what the dad said as to why they were standing outside.
He said to me, "that's the last time my son and I are ever going to set foot in that place again!"
I knew it! I thought that something like this might happen. The dad told me that they were playing pool when a song came on the jukebox that was the most vulgar song he had ever heard. It was full of "F" words and misc. body parts and various sexual acts. He told me he couldn't get his kid out of there fast enough!
Now...for all of you people who might say, "well he needs to explain what all that stuff is to his kid anyway." My suggestion to you is..."GROW UP!
Or...those of you who are absolute dumbasses and don't know what it is to be respectful and teach a kid at the pace that is right for them based upon their own particular morals, just keep showing that kind of lack of respect to others and continue to watch as millions of people decide that they don't want to get near your favorite hangout.
Pool room owners: play that kind of music or allow your patrons to select it on your jukeboxes if you like. Have a blast! I mean...it is your pool room after all and you should be able to do with it as you will. Don't complain though when you have a huge percentage of the population decide that your place is a filthy business that they wouldn't mind if it burnt down.
I enjoy pool. There is a poolroom that I frequent quite often. I don't take my wife there and you can bet I never will because I don't want her in a place that allows that kind of music to be played. She would be horrified if she went there no matter what I said though.
On another note; I sometimes want to shout to the 150 or so people that are in there on any given night when I hear some of that music being played. I want to ask who let a 12 year old kid select what music is played.
Why do I say that? Because listening to all of the sexual innuendo reminds me of when I was in elementary school and went to the restroom. I would see drawings on the wall and all kinds of cuss words. You see...that is what 12 year olds do. Why? Because they're kids who are just learning about sex and they are entertained by that stuff.
I don't blame the so-called artists who wrote and performed those songs because they were wanting to make a lot of money. Well, they are certainly doing that. It's the dumbasses who play that stuff who I think are the total idiots that need to grow up and join the adult world. Or you can keep doing the equivelant of drawing peepees and weewees on the wall along with your favorite cuss words.
Meanwhile...you poolroom owners who allow that stuff to be played, it 's your choice so keep doing it if that's what you want in your room. Or you can create more of a family atmosphere. If all room owners across the US would do that...over the course of a few years, pool would take on a different look and bring in millions more people who want to bring their kids into your rooms.
When families are coming in...corporate sponsors know this because they do a lot of market testing. When more people are playing pool, they find watching pool to be far more interesting. When they are interested, they start watching many more tournaments.
When that happens, corporate sponsors buy airtime and start putting their name on tournaments. Players start making more money. A cycle of profitability is created, nurtured and begins to grow at a rate that hasn't happened before.
I know, I know...some of you don't think this would bring more money in. If you feel that way, you're incorrect! But even if you were correct...it's called respecting the values of other people without being offensive!
In short, clean up your game, both inside and out! Be respectful of others by not cussing in front of anybody you choose. Stop playing filthy music (excuse me, that's not music...it's trash). Yeah I know, I'm a racist because I don't like that stuff! Like I said, grow up if you think that way!
Now...there isn't one new thing or some great epiphany that I just mentioned. It is just basic respect for other human beings. It is being kind by not trying to hustle someone out of their money or keeping your trap shut if you don't know how to talk without cussing.
Many of you don't do any of these things that I just mentioned. Good for you but...like I said, it isn't rocket science. It's just basic human respect!
By the way...the owners of the room that I frequent are some of the nicest people you could want to meet. They have all treated me with respect and they consistently show me that they enjoy me being there.
