Sad day today

I've been on both sides here,and am still on one of the sides,for a couple reasons.

First off,it sucks that your shaft broke. Do you know WHY it broke yet? That's my question,just out of curiosity as a player that has never had one truly break,and as the local repairman,that has yet to see one unless the cue was sketchy to begin with.

I'm not a drinker either,so I am with you there. The last Bud Light I drank was just over 2 years ago,and that may have led me to have an unexplained episode that left me waking up in an ambulance with no clue or medical answers as to WHY. With no desire to let that happen again if at all possible,no more beer EVER.

I'm also not much of a liquor drinker,and unless I'm packin' a knot of expendable cash,I'm not the type to just rain Jagermeister or Patron on people unless the people have been with me at the times when I couldn't buy them a beer if I wanted to. This includes the random broads that have infected the bar scenes where almost all of the local tables are. They come up to me,don't even know my name but wanna hit me up for 36 dollars worth of Patron in one lick for "her and her girls".

On the other hand,I'm with ya on 1.75 for what I'm guessing are typical 12oz cans of whatever soft drink. I've been to low-rent strip clubs that weren't that bad,LOL.

I've never even tried to walk into a place where I've played and bring a Wendy's bag or whatever,so I can't really comment. I have however,ate a burger or whatever in the car,even during tournaments at times,so no beef with you there.

I'm taking you at your word,and believing you're on the level about this place being open on Sundays and having 5 7' Diamonds,even if they are spaced badly.

Now,let's say you drank 4 of those unreasonably high cans,and actually played an hour of pool. A simple 20 dollar bill's worth of clean,safe entertainment and a little something for the waitress or whoever sounds like a damn fine proposition,so really you shouldn't have called bullshit,or objected in any way. Just my opinion,not doggin' the OP at all.

For me,I'd have to drive way over an hour to even FIND a 7' Diamond. The closest 9' Diamond is over a 2 hour drive in my 20mpg vehicle or 4k in cash and a place to put it away from my grasp.

There's been way more days and nights than I care to count where I'd have been all over that place you describe like a plate of hot wings,even if it cost me 40,without hesitation.

One of my local spots that had a little 5.00 bar tournament that would add 50 to the pot if they had more than 16 players. It got up to 24 players one time,lol.

The tournament eventually dried up for me,because I won it a LOT,and people stopped showing up. I didn't spend much money while winning some of them,some I spent a little more than usual but never more than like 15 bucks,and some I walked in with my entry fee and another 5 in quarters,and was broke other than that unless I won it,or got at least 2nd.

The owners at the time never gave me any kind of grief about my spending habits,or their opinions on the matter. I was always thankful and respectful,even when I was mad at myself or the rolls and lost. When I could,I'd tip a dollar or 2 for just hooking me up with a single 1.00 can of Dr Pepper.

I hadn't set foot in the place for 6 months,and a casual pool buddy told me one night in a gas station that the place had changed hands a few weeks ago,and they were adding 50.00 as well.

I went in and won it ONE more time. That night,it was only 8 players,so 90 bucks was split 65 for winning and 25 for 2nd. I played 4 individual racks and 3 of those I either broke and ran out,or my opponent broke,and I ran out on my first shot,including the game to put me guaranteed 2nd,and the game that got me the cash. Only one game out of the 4 did my opponent get a 2nd shot. I tipped the waitress a 5 after winning,but only bought 2 1.00 drinks.

I went back the following week,went up and asked for a Dr Pepper,and 3.00 in quarters. I tipped the new waitress 1.25 for walking 3 feet to get the 1.00 drink. They hadn't started asking for entry fees yet.

I get my cues set up,and put up quarters to challenge the winner of 2 local regulars.

Before long,the new owner comes and sits down next to me,as a complete stranger except for beating him the week before,where he didn't get to shoot either game.

He introduces himself in a polite manner,but probably too close to being drunk enough to not be able to drive safely to really BE polite,and proper as a new business owner.

He tells me that after what I did last week,that I wasn't allowed to play in his tournament any more,but was welcome to stay for whatever else.

According to him,he didn't want me having an "unfair advantage",because I had a nice cue and case,and wasn't there to get drunk and sing Hank,more or less.

I asked him as pleasantly as possible where this unfair advantage was when I won the tournament literally for 5 months straight under the old owner,and they told me they had no real problem with it because it means more to the local non-players when they do win just a single rack on me. They told me they liked that something so simple made the regulars happy. I'm with that 100%.

I was nice about it,and left. Haven't been back since. It's a running joke amongst my people,because in my mind it's all about my level of play.

I told this exact story to the owner of the only pool room here,and he said it was told to him that dude's real complaint was I didn't spend but a few bucks both times I had been there,even with me tipping,and didn't buy a beer or a shot for a couple of people of my choice.

After hearing that,I won't bother them again.

Sorry this was so long winded,but here is my point to the OP.

You have Diamonds to play on,spend 20 bucks if you can and accept that shit with an honest appreciation,and a smile.

If you can't spend enough to buy a couple drinks,and play for an hour,do what I do when I can't spare the cash to go play.

HOLD THE COUCH DOWN. :thumbup::rolleyes:. Tommy D.
 
Last edited:
Rent = costs money.
Utilities = costs money.
Staff = costs money.
A million other things = costs money.

How does a business pay for those things?

Magic.
 
At the risk of sounding like an A-hole, if all you have to spare is $7, don't waste it going to play pool. I mean seriously, the problem seems to me that the owner wasn't getting what he wanted out of "Free Pool Day" so he shut her down. It's a business decision. You don't know his books, or his day to day busines.

Think of it this way, if paying $10 an hour for table time keeps that place open for you to go play on quality tables, isn't that worth it?


best,

Justin
 
I haven't seen this mentioned so I'll just throw it out as a possibility as well.

Most bars in my area don't own their tables out-right. They have a deal with a local supplier who gets some fraction (I have no idea how much) of the money that's put into the tables. When a bar has "free pool" they're paying for it and they've got to make up for it someplace. (In my league, one bar has "free pool" and they literally give us a cup of quarters to pay for the games.) So they need to see enough of an increase in drinks/food sales to both cover the cost of the table and see an increase to their profits.
 
When I saw "a sad today" and then "The last 24 hours have been a kick in the gut" ...I expected the guy to say he found out his buddy has cancer. Or at least that his local pool room is closing.

Instead I see typical pool player whining about how they're entitled to play free or almost-free table time.

The sad part is, he's actually got a pool table at home... he can play for free and eat whatever he wants there. If all I could spare each week is seven dollars, I'd sell the table I you can afford to pay someone the next time the car or washing machine breaks.

Wait until life hands him an ACTUAL kick in the gut.
 
IMHO most who have never owned a Bar, Pool Bar, Pool Room, or any other business have little idea of the cost of operation, before a CENT of Profit makes it to the pocket of the owner. If the owner get that Cent of Profit over investing it back into the business.

This is what I call pride of ownership, and if I had $100.00 for ever Bar with Pool Tables, or Pool Room in the Valley of the Sun that has closed it doors in the last 10 years, I would hae a big pile of GREENBACKS.
 
One of the few places in my area put on a for lack of better terms an open table night during the summer. A small group of regulars would attend and it developed into a round robin style tournament. Money went into the pot and was split either 1st and 2nd or 1st,2nd and 3rd based upon the number of players.

We all agreed that the bar would get 10% of the entry fee (tables were open).
Most players would also purchase drinks and some food.

I think the bar was happy since without the players the place was usually almost empty.
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
IMHO most who have never owned a Bar, Pool Bar, Pool Room, or any other business have little idea of the cost of operation, before a CENT of Profit makes it to the pocket of the owner. If the owner get that Cent of Profit over investing it back into the business.

This is what I call pride of ownership, and if I had $100.00 for ever Bar with Pool Tables, or Pool Room in the Valley of the Sun that has closed it doors in the last 10 years, I would hae a big pile of GREENBACKS.
Click to expand...


Here in the PI...I always play for free as far as table "fares" I'm buying drinks. Even on Star Billiards and Brunswick tables.

On the pay per game places there is normally a sign "NO Rotation". Because those Pinoy's are going to occupy the table for a long time...and aren't buying any drinks. If they do...they "nurse" it to the point no one would drink that.

And then "expect" the rack girls to rack the balls as soon as the game is over. Be respectful about it.
 
Ok I am back let me start of with I don't even mind him charging for the tables an hour but $10 an hour is pool hall cash on 9ft table with bring your own drinks.

It is the fact that it's over priced at least 5$ in my book would be fair since beers cost 3-4$ shots are 5-7. At 5$ I would not even complain since that is a fair price. Not to mention the guys talking crap what happens when you go to the bar but your buddy's are not there If your like a normal person you normally leave after 5-10 mins. people on the tables bring in cash from having people there to play and drink with.


As for my shaft breaking on me for the few asking I have no clue why it broke I have my cue always in a case if not used and use a brake cue and I am not a power shooter. I think it was my cue not having a collier.


Now as for you creedo I will let you in on my life just some of it since I have had to put mental blackouts in my mind to stop me from giving up altogether.

I have been beaten had a gun put to my head by my father been thrown in walls sexually assaulted all this from just the ages of 2-10 years old.

Now lets move on to my teen years the hard times O goody I have been put on so many pills I have damaged kidneys it hurts to wake up some times . I have been thrown in rehab/nut house at least 20 times manly just to get me out of the house for 2 or 3 days till the insurance would not pay.

Point being without of going in to my life to much since I don't want or like to talk about it is this. Creedo watch what what you say some people live with shit you can't even think of. 3 days is my shoes would have people pulling the trigger left and right.

PS as for my spelling I don't care If I spell like crap
 
Last edited:
Hmm, you guys are amazed he calls this a bad day, while I'm amazed any of you could make sense of the jumble of words that attempted to be sentences. :scratchhead:
 
Wow! Working

What a mugging you are taking for your complaining. I bet you wish you hadn't posted the thread. It's interesting how somebody who has gone through some of the hell you mention (sorry about that. Really) can be so upset by such a small thing as a shaft, free pool time and a couple bites of food. Look beyond your appetite. There's a world out there.
"Perspective...Use it or lose it." Good luck to you.
Keep it sane. Alfie
 
Sorry to hear about your troubles, Working. You still gotta pay like the rest of us though.

I'm sure you don't expect people to give you discounts because of your past. If they wanna cut you a break out of the kindness of their heart, that's another thing entirely.
 
Believe it or not, im not exactly on a high budget either and like others said if 7 bucks is all you can afford then perhaps you should spend your money more wisely. I am not going to call bullshit on the claims you just made about having a hard life because it can very well be true, but it seems to me that if you really went through all of that you stated then wouldn't paying 10 bucks for pool be the very least of your problems? Just so you know i live around an area that does not have many active pool players and i do not own a pool table due to the fact that i don't have enough space. The only time i play pool was through a pool hall which costs 12 bucks an hour and i been paying that with no complaints for around 6-7 years. The free sunday pool was a luxury imo. Although some comments may be harsh, you cant really blame them to be skeptical and i am sorry about your shaft breaking on you.
 
Are you trying to switch the subject and make yourself the victim?

You tried to be the victim and now giving reasons for being a victim which stem back to your upbringing.

Look, I am a very compassionate person and I do care about people. I feel sorry for anyone that has had childhood experiences like yours.

But don't try and act the Lone Ranger here. You and 40 million other people in this world have had bad experiences.

You have to be able to pull yourself up by the boot straps and not dwell on your past. Don't use your past as a cop out for the rest of your life.

Too many people do that and it doesn't work. You'll live your life wallowing in self pity.

Get some counseling if you haven't already.
One thing I can recommend is learn how to meditate.
Learn how to clear your mind and learn the ability to live in a positive light
and not in the dark negative light of your past.

You can take your past and learn to be a better person because of it.

Lots of free UTube videos on different types of meditation. Its easy and gets easier the more you learn and practice.

Scoff at it or give it a try, its up to you Bud.
 
Last edited:
Working said:
Ok I am back let me start of with I don't even mind him charging for the tables an hour but $10 an hour is pool hall cash on 9ft table with bring your own drinks.

It is the fact that it's over priced at least 5$ in my book would be fair since beers cost 3-4$ shots are 5-7. At 5$ I would not even complain since that is a fair price. Not to mention the guys talking crap what happens when you go to the bar but your buddy's are not there If your like a normal person you normally leave after 5-10 mins. people on the tables bring in cash from having people there to play and drink with.
Click to expand...

So you come in and occupy a free table and low and behold a bunch of paying customers come in and congregatge about your table and spend wads of cash.

Working said:
Nope he tells me table cost 10$ an hour now there been a lot of freeloaders. To this I call bull crap there 1 homeless buddy of mine that comes in and the there is a true blue freeloader.
Click to expand...

Freeloaders on a free table bring in the cash. Does the owner let the homeless guy take a whores bath in the mens room or does he just stink up the place and drive out the paying customers?

I cut all the personal information fron this post because it's a) irrelivant to the topic at hand b) I don't really give a shit.

:cool:
 
Even though I have a table and the guy I play with has one, we still like going to the local pool room. It's the atmosphere. Unfortunately, pool rooms are not all that busy nowadays. Really sad.

We have no problem paying for our time and drinks and understand that the owner has a business. Given that it is a business, are we being too demanding by expecting a somewhat clean rest room with soap and towels? Also, ample chalk and clean balls and table.

There was a time with previous owner, that we found unsuitable situations and we would stay home and play on our own tables.

Oh yes, and we are also generous with the waitress. She is trying to make a living also.

It's unfortunate that people don't like to spend their money in a pool room, but have no problem spending it on cigarettes and drugs, among other things. I wish the days of full rooms and having to wait for a table would come back.
 
Am I the only one pulling out my BS flag???

Even if half of what you said is true, it doesn't change anything any one here has said. I had a shitty life growing up to. I'm successful in spite of my upbringing. If I don't have the money to do something I don't do it. If I am fortunate enough to have things, it's because I worked for them.

I feel bad for you if what you say is true, but YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOUR LIFE WILL BE NOW, NOT ANY ONE ELSE. GET A BETTER JOB, WORK HARDER THAN OTHER PEOPLE, SPEND YOUR MONEY SMART. It's all any of the rest of us can do.

Like I said before, if all you have is $7, don't waste it playing pool.

best of luck,

Justin
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top