Despite having been playing pool for about 15 years, I'm probably a "B" player at best. I have enough "pool knowledge" to generally know what to shot to take, what pattern to run, etc, but sometimes fail in execution due to lack of regular table-time. RealLife tends to get in the way.
That said, I've played a lot of pool in my time, in a lot of different places, against a lot of different people. Never have I encountered someone that quit winner on me, until this past weekend. In fact, two different individuals, in two different bars, in two different towns.
A buddy and I drove to a neighboring town to gamble with a kid we had come across before. We started out racing to nine for $100 (9 ball, even). I was down two sets (9-4, 9-7), so I double the bet. I lose again 9-3. So I'm down $400 and he asks me to pay up I stopped reading here. You should have posted the money...period-- I do.
In my mind, we play about even. We might as well just flip coins all night, but at this point he's beating me pretty bad so I ask for a spot. He won't give anything up, so just to get something happening in my court I stipulate 1) no jump cues, and 2) call the 9-ball. He agrees and we get ready to play another set for $200.
At this point my buddy realizes I'm in a losing situation and starts trash talking in an effort to goad my opponent into playing him. After 5 or so minutes of back-n-forth "I'll give you the 7 & 8 for $500/set" and "f-you!" we start what would become our final set for $200, for a potential loss of $600.
I win 9-1. He was obviously rattled, but I had finally settled into the unfamiliar environment and table. My opponent pays up the $200 and quits. Keeping the other $200 for himself. He then suggests that he "lost money too". He goes on to complain that my buddy "got in his head" by talking smack between sets and that he was too rattled to continue playing. I suggested he take 10 minutes, get some fresh air, and come back to finish playing, but he didn't want any part of it.
I admit that my buddy probably took things too far w/ the trash talk, but I just don't see that as an excuse to quit winner. *I* had nothing to do with it and my opponent *let* the trash talk get to him. Pool is a mental game and this kid needs to learn to deal with it. I wasn't playing my best when we started yet I stuck it out despite a $400 deficit.
By no means do I want to come across like a crybaby. I could give a rats ass about $200 and I most definitely had $200 worth of entertainment, but I just don't understand the mentality that quitting winner is a good thing. This kid lost a customer for life.
Two days later I'm at my regular hangout playing races to 7 for $50. Other than the normal activities at the pool hall there were no outside influences. After a few hours, my opponent, who is up 3 sets ($150), decides he's too drunk/tired to continue. He does forfeit the last set (I was up 4-3), but he keeps the hundred bucks.
I don't get it. By now I'm sure it's obvious that I'm a loser yet am willing to donate. Why quit before you break me?
