Sharking

‘Sharking’ is just another word for unsportsmanlike conduct and unprofessional behavior. Respect your opponent’s time at the table. The profressionals understand this.
This is from the 2014 BCAPL rule book that I carry.
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Haven't found the penalty prescription but tournament director discretion can include expulsion for ever.
 
If you play somebody on the reg, it's important to know what their weaknesses are both in terms of what they can execute on the table, and how strong their mental game is. A couple of years ago I relocated to a new city, and dutifully set out to find the local spot. Said spot was a local "pool bar" with a strong contingent of players and nice Diamond bar boxes. After talking with the bartender and screwing around on a table for a bit, I get matched up with a local kid, who looks to be spending all his free time practicing 8 ball on these tables. I gave him the first break, as it was his table, and he proceeds to runout or control the table for 7 - 8 games. As I was racking the balls for the next game I said "I got to get him off of the break". This was in a low voice, as I was really talking to myself as a pep-talk. He asked me what I said, and I told him "I have to get you off the break, 'cause your killing me". Well, he proceeded to break dry for the rest of our session, and we ended up pretty even. We have since become friends, and these days I just play to make him shoot shots he's not comfortable with or good at. But it was interesting to learn that a compliment can be just as devastating for some people as something more egregious.
 
This is from the 2014 BCAPL rule book that I carry.
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Haven't found the penalty prescription but tournament director discretion can include expulsion for ever.
Best defense against ‘sharking’:
In an unrefereed match, your opponent acts as referee. Unsportsmanlike conduct usually elicits a warning initially. If said conduct continues, as acting referee, you could declare the match forfeited. Under that threat, most would avoid repeating any actions that could be thus construed, no matter how seemingly innocent.
 
Best defense against ‘sharking’:
In an unrefereed match, your opponent acts as referee. Unsportsmanlike conduct usually elicits a warning initially. If said conduct continues, as acting referee, you could declare the match forfeited. Under that threat, most would avoid repeating any actions that could be thus construed, no matter how seemingly innocent.

Only catch, the opponent has no real power. Even just calling a shot. In a disagreement the call goes to the shooter. A situation that has happened over and over was people trying to take "cue ball fouls only" literally. When someone told me that after moving multiple balls I simply raked everything but the money ball, shot the money ball, and declared myself the winner! That went over like a lead balloon and we quickly gained an understanding of what cue ball fouls only really meant.

Hu
 
Wetting the chalk isn't a shark, it is sabotaging equipment.
As time has passed, the more annoyed I am about this. You're right, there's 'unsportsmanlike conduct/sharking' and there's 'being a total dick'

I have spoken to him since then, and he still claims it wasn't him. Even though I didn't use the toilet in the break... I went for a smoke, and he did go the toilet... It's literally on video... Like telling off a toddler. I am unlikely to play with him again, unless he wants to put a bit more into the match up.
 
As time has passed, the more annoyed I am about this. You're right, there's 'unsportsmanlike conduct/sharking' and there's 'being a total dick'

I have spoken to him since then, and he still claims it wasn't him. Even though I didn't use the toilet in the break... I went for a smoke, and he did go the toilet... It's literally on video... Like telling off a toddler. I am unlikely to play with him again, unless he wants to put a bit more into the match up.

i don't understand fully, did he bring your chalk to the toilet and hold it under the water, or worse, or did he drop water in it while it was at the table?

(my favorite smoke break joke is to switch around the 9b and the corner ball if the balls are racked when people go out for a smoke. worked best when we still broke from the rail)
 
i don't understand fully, did he bring your chalk to the toilet and hold it under the water, or worse, or did he drop water in it while it was at the table?

(my favorite smoke break joke is to switch around the 9b and the corner ball if the balls are racked when people go out for a smoke. worked best when we still broke from the rail)
He came back from the break, and I was already back chatting to a friend. It was his turn to break. He picked up my chalk by 'mistake' then his own and broke as usual. Next time I picked it up, it was wet and stodgy. Then he proclaimed his hands were dry and I was trying to paint him as some dishonest guy. I didn't even go outside, I had a smoke with my friend.
 
He came back from the break, and I was already back chatting to a friend. It was his turn to break. He picked up my chalk by 'mistake' then his own and broke as usual. Next time I picked it up, it was wet and stodgy. Then he proclaimed his hands were dry and I was trying to paint him as some dishonest guy. I didn't even go outside, I had a smoke with my friend.
Nuther thing done is the fingernail under the tip. Only takes a quick move to set failure in motion. Other things like your car are fair game as well.
 
I’m surprised that no Filipino’s have entered the discussion. Those guys can play with hundreds around the table and goats walking past
Some of the great’s of the past used to shark all the time. Siegel etc.
I remember Siegel sharking Effren in the final of something. He started sharking, calling him a little man, if I recall. Effren won!
 
I must be good at sharking while driving , the correct use of turn signals and doing the speed limit makes them all crazy ...

I am the first man in the state of Louisiana to wear out a right turn signal light bulb!

I ragged a man that came down from New York to New Orleans to work. He was talking about drivers. I said, "Yeah, I bet you are one of those idiots that stop for a yellow light while six cars behind you are accelerating like hell to get under it!" He had to acknowledge his guilt.

Hu
 
I am the first man in the state of Louisiana to wear out a right turn signal light bulb!

I ragged a man that came down from New York to New Orleans to work. He was talking about drivers. I said, "Yeah, I bet you are one of those idiots that stop for a yellow light while six cars behind you are accelerating like hell to get under it!" He had to acknowledge his guilt.

Hu
Nothing wrong with getting through on yellow. In MS it seemed you had to wait as a light changed to green for about 5-7 seconds as 4-5 cars would come through from the side that turned red. They were definitely not coming through on yellow.
 
Nothing wrong with getting through on yellow. In MS it seemed you had to wait as a light changed to green for about 5-7 seconds as 4-5 cars would come through from the side that turned red. They were definitely not coming through on yellow.

In Louisiana you can be ticketed if you accelerate to go under a yellow even if you go through the intersection while the light is yellow. However, I explained the twenty second rule to the guy from New York. Yellows don't count, neither does the first twenty seconds of a red light!

A man recently arriving in Rome was having to learn how to drive. The instructor explained that if the light was red you had to stop and look both ways before running the light. If the light was green you had to stop and look both ways in case somebody was running the red light. The newcomer asked what the yellow light was for. The instructor thought a minute. "Variety"

Hu
 
Only catch, the opponent has no real power. Even just calling a shot. In a disagreement the call goes to the shooter.…
? When the call is close, shooter gets benefit of doubt. Otherwise, if I observe an obvious foul the shooter does not call on himself (in an unrefereed match), I technically have the right to enforce a penalty. An opponent that disagrees, wouldn’t get another game.
 
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? When the call is close, shooter gets benefit of doubt. Otherwise, if I observe an obvious foul the shooter does not call on himself (in an unrefereed match), I technically have the right to enforce a penalty. An opponent that disagrees, wouldn’t get another game.

When gambling jerks didn't get a second chance. Unfortunately, tournament play means you have to play people you wouldn't play by choice.

One of the things I did when people didn't call an obvious foul on themselves didn't break any of the obvious rules although it could be called unsportsmanlike. I started playing shape whenever possible so that they spent a lot of their time in the chair looking at my butt at close range. Then I would shoot and jerk my head around as if checking if they saw anything. I sometimes had people scream "FOUL!" "Really, what did I do?" Then all they could do was guess. Since I hadn't really fouled during the shot they were wasting time. By the time I did that a few times my opponent's nerves were in tatters. I never did it to anyone but obvious cheaters and I never lost a match when I did it. Made them freaking crazy!

Hu
 
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