sfleinen from AZ playing Jersey Joey at the SBE

calj said:
He could be, sfleinen looks to play at about an apa 4 or 5 level.
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He looked very nervous. I think he plays at a much higher level normally, but I don't think I saw him make more than 3 balls in a row the entire match. He did have a few nice safeties though. I was really hoping to see him catch a gear for a bit and win a few games, but I know how it can go when your game is off, and can't imagine what the pressure of the tv table would be like.
 
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I know Sean personally and would be hard pressed to find someone who carries themselves with more integrity, who cares more about the sport and who is willing to share what he knows to help others. Sean is extremely knowledgable about the sport and he has shared his insights with me on many occasions, which have helped me to improve my game. I have practiced with Sean on numerous occasions and can tell you I would rather be practicing with him then facing him in tournament play.

I always buy a ticket to watch Sean play at SBE and am proud to do so. Sean, I'll see you there this year buddy!

Steve
 
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The new normal on AZ is to take a video of an AZer and trash him if he doesn't play at pro level.

Too many here are too accustomed to seeing nothing but the "highlight reel" stuff. We watch the pros on TAR, or Accu-Stats, the MC, or another event and when an AZer's performance caught on video doesn't measure up to that standard the trolls come out and bash. Hell, just from the MC feed alone you could put together a blooper reel from Archer to Dechaine -- that would match any misses by the amateurs. But, it is all to easy for the wankers who have never done anything, much less put themselves into the ring, on video, to take endless pot shots at someone who has.

I've been on two TAR match streams from the US One Pocket Open, a couple of DCC 14.1 Challenges recordings, and a Red Shoes 14.1 feed and while I am proud of one of my TAR matches and a 40+ run on one of my Challenge attempts. The rest ain't exactly hall of fame stuff. *But I'm an amateur -- just like most of you out there readings this -- as is Sean.* But too many here let the trolls fire away. The bottom line is that Sean is a hell of a player and I know for a fact that the locals in Sean's area aren't exactly going out of their way to match up with him -- he's tough as nails.

Put a camera on yourself your next practice session and imagine being recorded, in front of a crowd at a big event, on an unfamiliar table, new cloth and balls, a quality opponent, and it going out live on a stream. No stopping the camera, no second takes, no mulligans. I promise you, it ain't going to be pretty.

Lou Figueroa
 
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This thread got me thinking how I would respond to criticism, and all I can say is I frankly don't think I care enough about pool to give a $hit but maybe I will someday.

I play bad and since having three daughters in four years I haven't played much but I try to play one local "big" event a year.....

This was a Shannon event where I play as an "A" player.

I got third here.....

I play ok in this match.....http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iGcYV3iHvZI

Finals of the losers here, I get some bad rolls and play kind of bad.....http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UuwmO_rlY_s

That nine footer is a brutal table and plus I have always hated it:eek::grin:

Here is what I play on now because I can't make balls on big tables cause I play once a year, but here I can get by:eek:....http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=d5XgWf4BSlo

There is one more of me playing bank pool that I can't find, and there is another playing bank where I lose to SVB hill hill and he almost broke his cue in the second game smashing it on the table lol......I guess he thought he wasn't supposed to lose to me, and he was right...he didnt:eek:

I got thick skin, and like I said I quit playing pool serious in 2007.

I test hit cues, and play after drinking 24 beers now....that's a requirement.:grin:
 
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lfigueroa said:
The new normal on AZ is to take a video of an AZer and trash him if he doesn't play at pro level.

Too many here are too accustomed to seeing nothing but the "highlight reel" stuff. We watch the pros on TAR, or Accu-Stats, the MC, or another event and when an AZer's performance caught on video doesn't measure up to that standard the trolls come out and bash. Hell, just from the MC feed alone you could put together a blooper reel from Archer to Dechaine -- that would match any misses by the amateurs. But, it is all to easy for the wankers who have never done anything, much less put themselves into the ring, on video, to take endless pot shots at someone who has.

I've been on two TAR match streams from the US One Pocket Open, a couple of DCC 14.1 Challenges recordings, and a Red Shoes 14.1 feed and while I am proud of one of my TAR matches and a 40+ run on one of my Challenge attempts. The rest ain't exactly hall of fame stuff. *But I'm an amateur -- just like most of you out there readings this -- as is Sean.* But too many here let the trolls fire away. The bottom line is that Sean is a hell of player and I know for a fact that the locals in Sean's area aren't exactly going out of their way to match up with him -- he's tough as nails.

Put a camera on yourself your next practice session and imagine being recorded, in front of a crowd at a big event, on an unfamiliar table, new cloth and balls, a quality opponent, and it going out live on a stream. No stopping the camera, no second takes, no mulligans. I promise you, it ain't going to be pretty.

Lou Figueroa
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Never thought I'd say this but... Good post and very true
We may not agree on. A lot of things but you couldn't be more spot on
 
sfleinen said:
For the last time:
That day I was playing, I was suffering a SEVERE bout of sinusitis and accompanying headache. I WAS IN NO SHAPE TO PLAY THAT DAY AT ALL, even the tournament director, Frank DelPizo, noticed it. I should've forfeited out. But Frank DelPizo convinced me to play, because Alvin Nelson of InsidePool selected this match to stream because he wanted to see Joey Testa play. And if you listen to the commentary, you'll notice the commentators mention it as well -- they saw me in pain in my seat. Joey Testa is a known pro player (and a great guy), so let's skip the "beating about the bush." And anybody who knows me / has played me knows that I play MUCH BETTER THAN THAT.

-Sean
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What's wrong with just saying "man I sucked that day didn't I" and leaving it at that? All the excuses just make you sound like a whiner. No shame in having a bad outing but making excuses is shameful. No one really cares why you shot so bad except for you and that's why they rub it on you.

JC
 
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Its not like Jersey Joe ran out ten racks. Sean showed little ability to play by his choice of shots, stroke, etc. I can understand not pocketing balls because of a headache, etc. Sean looks like a ball banger. Not because of who he played but because of how he played.
 
lfigueroa said:
The new normal on AZ is to take a video of an AZer and trash him if he doesn't play at pro level.
Click to expand...


I don't think that's strictly true, although I can see why you'd think so. Anyone who provides advice on how to play the game deserves to have their own game scrutinised, especially if they are cheer leading for fads or systems. The same principle holds true for those that are against them.

To jump on Sean here is uncalled for, however (he said hypocritically :smile:). But I think damage is limited when you just laugh off your failures, rather than excuse them.
 
lfigueroa said:
The new normal on AZ is to take a video of an AZer and trash him if he doesn't play at pro level.

Too many here are too accustomed to seeing nothing but the "highlight reel" stuff. We watch the pros on TAR, or Accu-Stats, the MC, or another event and when an AZer's performance caught on video doesn't measure up to that standard the trolls come out and bash. Hell, just from the MC feed alone you could put together a blooper reel from Archer to Dechaine -- that would match any misses by the amateurs. But, it is all to easy for the wankers who have never done anything, much less put themselves into the ring, on video, to take endless pot shots at someone who has.

I've been on two TAR match streams from the US One Pocket Open, a couple of DCC 14.1 Challenges recordings, and a Red Shoes 14.1 feed and while I am proud of one of my TAR matches and a 40+ run on one of my Challenge attempts. The rest ain't exactly hall of fame stuff. *But I'm an amateur -- just like most of you out there readings this -- as is Sean.* But too many here let the trolls fire away. The bottom line is that Sean is a hell of a player and I know for a fact that the locals in Sean's area aren't exactly going out of their way to match up with him -- he's tough as nails.

Put a camera on yourself your next practice session and imagine being recorded, in front of a crowd at a big event, on an unfamiliar table, new cloth and balls, a quality opponent, and it going out live on a stream. No stopping the camera, no second takes, no mulligans. I promise you, it ain't going to be pretty.

Lou Figueroa
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And do all of this when you are sick as a dog to get the full affect !!
 
TheThaiger said:
I don't think that's strictly true, although I can see why you'd think so. Anyone who provides advice on how to play the game deserves to have their own game scrutinised, especially if they are cheer leading for fads or systems. The same principle holds true for those that are against them.

To jump on Sean here is uncalled for, however (he said hypocritically :smile:). But I think damage is limited when you just laugh off your failures, rather than excuse them.
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Couldn't agree more. Where is the link to you at the table?
 
JC said:
What's wrong with just saying "man I sucked that day didn't I" and leaving it at that? All the excuses just make you sound like a whiner. No shame in having a bad outing but making excuses is shameful. No one really cares why you shot so bad except for you and that's why they rub it on you.

JC
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JC:

I can see why you'd think that way. If you're not familiar with the history of this particular video (and the people hitting me over the head with it), it might look to you like I'm whining or else a fountain of excuses. I can definitely see that.

But there is a history behind it, and being I'm the one that's exposed to it regardless of the venue, there comes a time when you say to yourself, "ok, enough's enough." The point was not to douse the thing with excuses, but to finally add context to this video so that the next time someone brings it up, I won't have to. This thread is also a good reminder, as well.

And Lou's right -- it's unfortunately the norm here for anonymous faces in the crowd to want to take pot-shots at any AZB'er that doesn't perform to "set expectations" related to the level of performance they're "used to seeing" from pros.

You notice the only people that are knocking me are also the same ones that do *NOT* have any videos or other solid proof of their playing ability? Every single one of them. It's so easy to knock from the bleachers.

I guess many folks here are right -- the only way to counter this, is to laugh it off. The right people know how I play, and in the future, I'll have to focus on making sure another video gets out there that truly shows what I can do on the table. Matter meet anti-matter.

Besides, there are other things in life, and those in the know know that I have something of my own to celebrate. ;) :thumbup2:

-Sean <-- knows he did suck in that video
 
Meh.

Let's put this in context-

Fer one, Sean never bragged about being a world beater. If anything, he mentions that he is just another working stiff that plays Pool.

B: What is the big deal? He had a bad day at the table.

3d: Who cares? It's not how he make a living.


Eric >4 pages, hmm...
 
Eric. said:
Fer one, Sean never bragged about being a world beater.
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I'm not saying it's a brag of being a world-beater, but does he not claim a 130+ break at snooker? I can see how some would construe that as talking up one's own game.



The way I see it is that almost everybody (and certainly non-professional / top tier players) has their off days. I'm a fairly mediocre player and I have days when I don't miss and then days when I feel as though I can't make a ball. Pool is that kind of game, and judging anybody's skill level on one match is obviously a foolhardy exercise.

With that being said, I do tend to agree with TheThaiger's sentiment that laughing it off limits the damage a lot better than making excuses (regardless of how valid they are) does.
 
I can relate to the sinus problems...I have had sinus surgery before where they did a partial break on my nose to fix the deviated septum, put a small balloon in my left nostril and expanded it as that side at completely collapsed, and also scraped out built up junk under both eyes. From someone who prior to that surgery had multiple sinus infections and other issues, let me tell you it CAN affect the game big time depending on the person and the issue.
 
sfleinen said:
JC:



You notice the only people that are knocking me are also the same ones that do *NOT* have any videos or other solid proof of their playing ability? Every single one of them. It's so easy to knock from the bleachers.



Besides, there are other things in life, and those in the know know that I have something of my own to celebrate. ;) :thumbup2:

-Sean <-- knows he did suck in that video
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I've definitely noticed that Sean. The most annoying trolls here wouldn't be caught dead sharing a video of themselves hitting a ball. No matter how many times people call them out on it they pretend not to hear the challenge nor notice the irony. Don't let them get under your skin. I know for a fact I'm in the top tier of players in Oregon with a real job and a family. And yet still, some days I suck balls at the table :smile:

JC
 
Sean, you have nothing to prove.
Hope we get the chance to shoot around some day.

Koop
 
And the good things in life certainly are far more important, and worth celebrating!

:p

I think its a great hustle for ya, anyway.
 
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