Shane said #2

[Johnnyt]

When asked how much he practiced. He said, "I'm getting older and I don't practice much anymore. " practiced for a week before the DCC, that's all I could handle. I've come to realize that there other things in life besides pool." (not an exact quote) For years the answer to that question was about 6-8 hours a day or more. I hope he can stay in stroke playing that little.

I think he's just bummed out over TAR packing it in and the small amount of tournaments left to play in.

If I spent 6 or more hours a day for 20 years and I was going from 150+k a year to probably lucky if I make 75k...I'd be more than down a little. Johnnyt

 

[Maniac]

When asked how much he practiced. He said, "I'm getting older and I don't practice much anymore. " practiced for a week before the DCC, that's all I could handle. I've come to realize that there other things in life besides pool." (not an exact quote) For years the answer to that question was about 6-8 hours a day or more. I hope he can stay in stroke playing that little.

I think he's just bummed out over TAR packing it in and the small amount of tournaments left to play in.

If I spent 6 or more hours a day for 20 years and I was going from 150+k a year to probably lucky if I make 75k...I'd be more than down a little. Johnnyt

But...there ARE other things in life besides pool (If in fact he said something along those lines)!!!

Even though they are following a dream, I still cannot help but feel sorry for the athletes (Olympians, poolplayers, etc.) that spend practically their entire youth, and much of their adulthood, focusing on one thing and one thing only. I'm sure many of them wake up some day and wish they had spent more time on some of the many other pleasures life has to offer.

Shane probably has enough money socked-away to turn the burners down a bit and still come out okay in his later years....unlike many other pool players, who have fared a lot worse, being broke and needing help in their last years.

Maniac

 

[jeffj2h]

It's been said Shane has devoted a lot of time to the Craps table. And is probably having a lot of fun traveling around.

His spending 8 hours a day practicing is like one of us spending 8 hours a day at a job. The fact there are less tournaments now does not mean all those hours were a waste.

 

[Johnnyt]

But...there ARE other things in life besides pool (If in fact he said something along those lines)!!!

Even though they are following a dream, I still cannot help but feel sorry for the athletes (Olympians, poolplayers, etc.) that spend practically their entire youth, and much of their adulthood, focusing on one thing and one thing only. I'm sure many of them wake up some day and wish they had spent more time on some of the many other pleasures life has to offer.

Shane probably has enough money socked-away to turn the burners down a bit and still come out okay in his later years....unlike many other pool players, who have fared a lot worse, being broke and needing help in their last years.

Maniac

I agree. I'm far, far from a pro and I feel I've wasted a lot of my life on pool. If I could do it over I don't think I would play any where near that much. All the memories of my hustling days are nice, but I've missed a lot of other could have beens memories along the way. Johnnyt

 

[FairladyZ]

I couldnt play pool 8 hours a day for love nor money...... While I love the game, I'd get very burned out on it very fast at that rate...... I put in about an hour a day...if I feel like it. It's purely a release and a hobby.

 

[pt109]

I feel that once Shane hit enough balls (10,000 hours?), he doesn't have
to hit as many to stay in stroke.

He's got all the pool muscles he needs, just keep them in shape.

 

[sjm]

Pool, unfortunately, does have an offseason.

Perhaps the only big paycheck available to Shane on American soil in the short term will come at the Super Billiards Expo event in March. Things are just a touch quiet during the spring, but the real "earnings season," based on my own knowledge, the WPA calendar, and a little speculation, starts on June 1:

June 1: China Open
June 16: World 9-ball Championships
July 16: Pro events at the BCAPL Championships
July 28: World Team Championships
August 4: Dragon World 14.1 event
August 26: World Cup of Pool
October: US Open 9-ball
November 19: Japan Open
Date unclear: Challenge of Champions
December 1: Mosconi Cup

Hence, it is the six month period from 6/1-12/1 in which nearly all the big paychecks available in our sport can be earned.

Taking a breather from pool workaholism seems well timed for Shane. He has certainly earned some rest. I'm sure he knows he'll have to find his highest gear again when "earnings season" comes along.

 

[(((Satori)))]

Pool is a team sport

It doesn't matter if you are the only one who is playing you have mentors, road partners, practice partners, family and friends who all make up your team just like a Nascar driver has his crew.

Make no mistake about it TAR was a big part of his team and I'm not even talking about financially. He has to be affected by the loss. Justin is a big part of his team too and the thoughts about pool from Justin has had an influence on Shane imo.

Shane's team has served him well throughout the years but in life there are ups and downs and right now they don't seem to have the best attitude towards pool that I have seen from them.

 

[Island Drive]

Reality

This situation is Normal for many American greats since Pete Margo etc. Shane had family, and support from his roots, different animal. I know some may find my next comment negative, but I find it totally real in the US. The tide seems to be turning a little, especially since Match Room chose Mark for team captain.
When I first saw Gabe Owen on the Front Page after his US Open win I felt happy/sad (because it doesn't get ANY better than this). Because w/o anything to fall back upon in your chosen endeavor, you just keep on keepin' on, and hopefully you'll win next year/week/mth but that mindset doesn't always play out. Matchin' up or small tournines had to be your next course, and twelve mths later you get another chance. But now that your better your barred for life from many smaller events, and forced back into the trenches.
Anyone know how Gabe is doing these days?

 

[CreeDo]

They asked shane if he played any other games, he said no... no chess or cards.
But he does seem to love to fish. Sounds like he's got things that he loves besides pool.
Wonder if he's got the family itch.

At no point should we be surprised if he starts to fall off or whatever.
He has kept up a tremendous pace of winning majors for several years.
And he started pretty young and is still pretty young.
His competitive drive will probably fall off before his physical skills.

 

[ceebee]

Van Boening is the epitome of a Champion. I first met him in 2005 when him & a friend came thru Tulsa. His friend told me then that he was gonna be a world beater. He won 2nd in a big tournament in Tulsa, watching him play was a joy. This young man would just waltz around the table & knock balls in from everywhere. He was so relaxed & always had a smile.

Van Boening has even shown the pool community how to do it, but few were up to the task. His focus on the game may be unmatchable & that may be the separation factor from the others.

He will stray from limelight, but he will be back again & again to test his metal.. He truly loves the game & some of the people he associates with. He's a great ambassador for our chosen sport.

Good Luck to him & his future...

 

[naji]

When asked how much he practiced. He said, "I'm getting older and I don't practice much anymore. " practiced for a week before the DCC, that's all I could handle. I've come to realize that there other things in life besides pool." (not an exact quote) For years the answer to that question was about 6-8 hours a day or more. I hope he can stay in stroke playing that little.

I think he's just bummed out over TAR packing it in and the small amount of tournaments left to play in.

If I spent 6 or more hours a day for 20 years and I was going from 150+k a year to probably lucky if I make 75k...I'd be more than down a little. Johnnyt

Johnnyt, if you pay close attention to the top players break, 9 or 10 ball you will see that all object balls are magically get parked very close to pockets after they sink the corner or side pocket ball, they leave easy layouts where the margin of error for making the shot is very large; so if SVB missed few hours of practice, his break makes the games so easy to run he did say he practice the break alot; only when he gets bad break he has to work a little hard. Short races do hurt a pro that does not practice much, but long ones they catch up and get their stroke in time.

 

[Nostroke]

Shane probably has enough money socked-away to turn the burners down a bit and still come out okay in his later years....unlike many other pool players, who have fared a lot worse, being broke and needing help in their last years.

Maniac

You are declaring him solvent forty plus years from now in his latter days and then praising him for it?

 

[Johnnyt]

Johnnyt, if you pay close attention to the top players break, 9 or 10 ball you will see that all object balls are magically get parked very close to pockets after they sink the corner or side pocket ball, they leave easy layouts where the margin of error for making the shot is very large; so if SVB missed few hours of practice, his break makes the games so easy to run he did say he practice the break alot; only when he gets bad break he has to work a little hard. Short races do hurt a pro that does not practice much, but long ones they catch up and get their stroke in time.

Most pro players that are use to practicing for hours every day and then only practice a week before a major tournament get away with it for a few months, then they start not cashing often. Then you have players like George Breedlove that work hard all week and go snap off a mid size tournament or win matching up gambling on the weekend. I hope Shane starts to do other things he likes and he is the type of player that only needs a few days a month to practice to be in top form. Very few can do it. Johnnyt

 

[sjm]

Johnnyt, if you pay close attention to the top players break, 9 or 10 ball you will see that all object balls are magically get parked very close to pockets after they sink the corner or side pocket ball, they leave easy layouts where the margin of error for making the shot is very large; so if SVB missed few hours of practice, his break makes the games so easy to run he did say he practice the break alot; only when he gets bad break he has to work a little hard. Short races do hurt a pro that does not practice much, but long ones they catch up and get their stroke in time.

Except at the Mosconi, where the nine goes on the spot. Shane has a 9-9 career record in singles at the Mosconi Cup, and needs to work on the Mosconi break. Knowing Shane's passion for the game, I'm betting he'll work hard on it.

 

[gxman]

Can the arguably #1 player in the planet find action with any kind of frequency? It would be nice to win a few $100-1000 sets a week. good luck finding anyone thats willing to match up.

 

[Gerry]

Pool, unfortunately, does have an offseason.

Perhaps the only big paycheck available to Shane on American soil in the short term will come at the Super Billiards Expo event in March. Things are just a touch quiet during the spring, but the real "earnings season," based on my own knowledge, the WPA calendar, and a little speculation, starts on June 1:

June 1: China Open
June 16: World 9-ball Championships
July 16: Pro events at the BCAPL Championships
July 28: World Team Championships
August 4: Dragon World 14.1 event
August 26: World Cup of Pool
October: US Open 9-ball
November 19: Japan Open
Date unclear: Challenge of Champions
December 1: Mosconi Cup

Hence, it is the six month period from 6/1-12/1 in which nearly all the big paychecks available in our sport can be earned.

Taking a breather from pool workaholism seems well timed for Shane. He has certainly earned some rest. I'm sure he knows he'll have to find his highest gear again when "earnings season" comes along.

would you PLEEZ quit making so much sense all the damn time!

I was picturing SVB sitting on his tattered suitcase on some backwoods dirt road thumbing a ride to the next little town.....

now you ruined it!


how have you been man?!


G.

 

[naji]

Except at the Mosconi, where the nine goes on the spot. Shane has a 9-9 career record in singles at the Mosconi Cup, and needs to work on the Mosconi break. Knowing Shane's passion for the game, I'm betting he'll work hard on it.

I agree 100%; that goes to many pros as well, especially Earl S. and Efren. The most consistent break IMO, is Dennis O, Robo cop, Thorten H has good break too; ..Sorry JohnnyT hijacking your post!

 

[sjm]

would you PLEEZ quit making so much sense all the damn time!

I was picturing SVB sitting on his tattered suitcase on some backwoods dirt road thumbing a ride to the next little town.....

now you ruined it!


how have you been man?!


G.

Hey, Gerry, hope you're well. I'm doing my best to enjoy life. I always try to make sense, but it doesn't always work out.

Even fans have an offseason, you know. Only here on the AZB forum is it a year round thing!

 

[pwd72s]

I couldnt play pool 8 hours a day for love nor money...... While I love the game, I'd get very burned out on it very fast at that rate...... I put in about an hour a day...if I feel like it. It's purely a release and a hobby.

This is how we mere pool mortals should treat pool....as the great recreational activity it is. I feel sorry for those who make it their entire life. Yes, this includes the top pros.

There is a lesson to be had when watching the old twilight zone "a game of pool". It should be heeded.