Should I have been BARRED FOR LIFE here?

[MaskedMan]

My last night in Hagerstown, MD, at Hagerstown Billiards, I was asked to play some cheap 9-ball sets by a much lesser player who didn't know I played a lot better than him. I will repeat, I was ASKED. Well, I beat him until he quit, and then his friend wanted to play, so I played and beat him also. They were both pretty bad, but the first guy was an idiot with an attitude problem and a cocky air about him, so I layed down pretty fierce. Since I couldn't just drill his buddy, I layed down during those sets also.

Now, there's also an interesting situation with the clown who was working the front desk. He was in the middle of buying the business, and we used to kind of get along. Not good buddies, but it was tolerable. Well, the deskman, Roger, decided to be a douchebag to me because we had gotten into it over very trivial things in the recent past. So, in my last several visits to the pool room before I moved to North Carolina, there was an obvious tension between him and I. Actually, the other regulars and I were also not getting along with each other very well. When I first started playing, they pretty much robbed me, so I got better, didn't let them know about it, and then proceeded to rob them back as much as I could. Naturally, it was a recipe for disaster.

Anyway, Roger was constantly ragging on me and saying some very disgusting and innappropriate things to me. I usually let it go, but I started standing up for myself and fired insults right back at him. Flash forward back to the night in question. I'm playing the second guy, and Roger says he's closing at two. Well, it's ten till two when he says it, but we had already started another set before he said anything. I'm beating this guy 3 to 0 in a race to 4, and as the last game is being racked, Roger the douchebag says, "Don't even rack the balls, we're leaving now." HE CUT ME OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SET. He has never cut off anyone in the middle of a set. Many pool room owners have told me it's a cardinal sin to do so. He did it to me because we didn't get along.

Well, I don't get payed for the last set naturally, and Roger and I get into a heated argument, at which point he barrs me for life. That's fine. But then he has the balls to ask me to pay table time! What a joke. I told him to screw himself. By the by, I think he was also pissed because I was robbing the guys that he usually robs.

Sorry for the long post, but what would YOU do if you were cut off in the middle of a set? Mind you, we started playing that set before he said anything about closing, and he stays open for regulars sometimes until 3 or 4 in the morning, so the time on the clock means almost nothing. What would you do here?

 

[ChrisOnline]

he should have asked you to pay the time before he banned you for life.. i say its his fault for not getting paid..

chris

 

[Mystick Cue Fan]

he should have asked you to pay the time before he banned you for life.. i say its his fault for not getting paid..

chris

True.....that was kinda stupid of him. I think if there was always going to be tension between you two than it's better off you don't go back there anymore. I've been barred from a pool hall. I used to be a regular. Now i'm barred because I didn't get along with another regular. well that's the jist of it anyway. But it ended up being better for me. I was starting to hate going to the tournies because be and him would always get into it. It just wasn't worth it. Well anyway, move on to a bigger pool hall with better players. It's alot more fun.

Tony

 

[Snapshot9]

Closing Time

To answer your question, yes I have been cut off during a set. It is the player's responsibility to keep an eye on the clock. 1:40 am is the LATEST that a new set is started where I play, and even then, it is only a short set to 5, never longer. They are running a BUSINESS, and they have to follow the laws, if they stay past 2 and lock the front door, they are doing you a favor, but don't expect it all the time. THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO DO THAT, especially if it is only a little set and nothing big.

Ban fror life, or any ban is unreasonable, IMO, as long as you did not overpush the issue.

 

[TATE]

What would you do here?

Banned for life?

Well, try to look at it from the positve side. If you keep acting this way, it might be a short sentence.

Chris

 

[Gregg]

MaskedMan, it's hard to give opinions here, when nobody really knows your true history with the room owner, the patrons, and yourself. All we could do is speculate.

 

[Williebetmore]

All we could do is speculate.

G-man,
I don't think we need to speculate that the Masked-one owes money for the table time. Last I checked, it was illegal to run out of a business without paying what you owe. Heck, if we were allowed to stiff anyone we disliked; the IRS would be out of business.

P.S. - Come to think of it I'm REALLY ticked off at the oil companies, I think I'll drive off without paying the next time I pump - I'm sure the cops will be very understanding. Hey, I like this legal defense - please ignore this post.

 

[Gregg]

G-man,
I don't think we need to speculate that the Masked-one owes money for the table time. Last I checked, it was illegal to run out of a business without paying what you owe. Heck, if we were allowed to stiff anyone we disliked; the IRS would be out of business.

Yea, I guess I skipped over that part. You have to pay table time.

 

[Egg McDogit]

You're robbing his fish and you expect him to keep the place open late for you...for free? Get real

 

[ShootingArts]

well . . .

Let's see . . . You are feuding with the owner, you are feuding with the other regulars, you are disrupting the place and upset because he won't grant you a special favor he sometimes grants others.

I think the ban is reasonable. Should you have a change in attitude you might talk to the owner in six months or a year. On the other hand if everyone else there is truly wrong and you are the one right, why play there? I'd drive fifty miles to dodge the place.

Hu

 

[Blackjack]

It's his place, he can toss out anybody he wants whenever he wants. You owe him money for table time.

 

[The Kiss]

Yea, I guess I skipped over that part. You have to pay table time.

You should pay if he does'nt take your money then it's on him...


And Gregg being from the philly area you should know that your Joe Namath quote...Was actually said by Tug Mcgraw pitcher for the Phillies...

I can't let a Brilliant HOF quote be credited to the wrong guy

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

You're robbing his fish and you expect him to keep the place open late for you...for free? Get real

I was waiting for someone to say that. Seriously, if you wanted to keep the action going, you HAVE TO cut the room-owner in on it. Guarantee a 10% gapper and I can assure you, that room will be open for you all night. Having managed a room for two years, I have to say, I HATED IT when patrons told me they were in the middle of a set at closing time. All I want to do is go home and sleep and they could really care less.

 

[Billy_Bob]

If you lose your games most of the time, you can be rude, nasty, argumentative, etc. and no one will care very much.

If you win your games most of the time, you need to go out of your way to be friendly to everyone. Tip the staff well. Buy drinks for people. Be humble. Have them thank you for taking their money if possible. Say you got lucky after winning (of course it was skill).

Big shots in business have this down pat. They are the nicest people in the world. You have never met someone who is so friendly! But they will stab you in the back with a quickness and be ruthless in their business dealings.

Ever meet a politician? They will come up to you, smile, shake your hand like you are a long lost friend, etc. They are so glad to see you! Be a politician.

I guess there is a natural “balance” to things. Like the Chinese yin and yang. You’re doing a lot of winning and taking money from people, need to balance it out with a lot of friendliness and goodwill.

 

[Matt_24]

You need to earn the fine art of dealing with people to be a success in any aspect of life. It was his room, and a fish he won from (which you stated you already knew, and he knew that you knew). He didn't knock your action, so you should have made it clear to him that you were going to give him a little jelly out of respect for his silence. It could pay off dividends in the future (or could have). Also, you always pay the time. Thinking with a clear head will get you far...and remember.... It is a jungle out there, you have to play by the rules of the jungle.

 

[Salamander]

First off, you should not have started another set so close to closing time. 2ndly, you should have calmly negotiated with the owner to finish the set...suggesting that if you won, you would pay him a percentage of the winnings for that set. Mostly, depending on how cheap the set was, this did not sound like a bid deal. If I was already ahead money I would have just let it go. In all likelyhood, you would have had repeat customers in the two that you "robbed".

As far as paying table time after being told that I was banned....that is the only place where I agree with you....I would not have payed either.

Lastly, the fact that you don't get along with most everyone at this pool hall, makes me think that there is a "flaw" on your part. Perhaps you need to look at yourself and ask, "why don't people like me"? Not trying to be harsh...but it "takes two to tango".

Regards,

Doug

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

If you lose your games most of the time, you can be rude, nasty, argumentative, etc. and no one will care very much.

If you win your games most of the time, you need to go out of your way to be friendly to everyone. Tip the staff well. Buy drinks for people. Be humble. Have them thank you for taking their money if possible. Say you got lucky after winning (of course it was skill).

Big shots in business have this down pat. They are the nicest people in the world. You have never met someone who is so friendly! But they will stab you in the back with a quickness and be ruthless in their business dealings.

Ever meet a politician? They will come up to you, smile, shake your hand like you are a long lost friend, etc. They are so glad to see you! Be a politician.

I guess there is a natural “balance” to things. Like the Chinese yin and yang. You’re doing a lot of winning and taking money from people, need to balance it out with a lot of friendliness and goodwill.

Good points. Personally, I always cover all the time when I win money. I do this for a number of reasons but most importantly, I want to be viewed as a favorable person to lose money to.

 

[supergreenman]

If it was just one person that didn't like you then I'd say sh%t happens. But it seems that you've burned more than your fair share of bridges.

Suck it up Princess and go pay your bill, room owners have a hard enough time keeping afloat with out jerks stiffing them on the table time.

 

[cueandcushion]

Pool Room Owner opinion

As a pool room owner I know from a life time of experience that a pool player is never wrong in a situation. He should always be able to keep the room open free of charge to finish a set. He should always be able to talk down to the owner. God himself gave the pool player that right. A pool player should be able to borrow money at will and run a tab at all rooms. Interest free of course. Pool room owners OWE it to him.

Note..Anyone NOT seeing the sarcasm here, PLEASE stop reading this and schedule an appointment with a certified therapist immediately! Seriously.


I have noticed that everyday behavior in a pool room would get you thrown out of 99% places in this country. I cannot fathom going to a restaurant and screaming at the owner that I wanted to stay late or tell him I am out of money and will pay him later. Tell any restaurant owners that the food sucks every single day and still go back day after day? Tell them the tables are dirty day after day and still come back? Ever start screaming "f**king" this and "f**king" because you didnt like the price of ice tea at Applebees? Do you go to the Sears store and just sit and watch TV all day, because you spent some money in there? You know why that doesnt happen? Because you would get asked to leave on day ONE. No pool player wants to admit it but if you are getting asked to leave a pool hall, your behavior is SO BAD it's not only not worth the money you spend, but it means you are causing problems above and beyond what is acceptable...IN A POOL HALL. Do some guys just not get this? Thats like getting kicked out of the KKK for being too racist. Many pool halls are in violation of their business license if they stay open late. If they have alcohol, they can be shut down on the FIRST violation. What do pool players give the business owner if they get a citation? Maybe an apology? Usually nothing. Yes, this post hit a nerve with me. We have banned too many people to count. Most of them couldnt pay me $10,000 to get back in. Not an exaggeration.

 

[Blackjack]

As a pool room owner I know from a life time of experience that a pool player is never wrong in a situation. He should always be able to keep the room open free of charge to finish a set. He should always be able to talk down to the owner. God himself gave the pool player that right. A pool player should be able to borrow money at will and run a tab at all rooms. Interest free of course. Pool room owners OWE it to him.

Note..Anyone NOT seeing the sarcasm here, PLEASE stop reading this and schedule an appointment with a certified therapist immediately! Seriously.


I have noticed that everyday behavior in a pool room would get you thrown out of 99% places in this country. I cannot fathom going to a restaurant and screaming at the owner that I wanted to stay late or tell him I am out of money and will pay him later. Tell any restaurant owners that the food sucks every single day and still go back day after day? Tell them the tables are dirty day after day and still come back? Ever start screaming "f**king" this and "f**king" because you didnt like the price of ice tea at Applebees? Do you go to the Sears store and just sit and watch TV all day, because you spent some money in there? You know why that doesnt happen? Because you would get asked to leave on day ONE. No pool player wants to admit it but if you are getting asked to leave a pool hall, your behavior is SO BAD it's not only not worth the money you spend, but it means you are causing problems above and beyond what is acceptable...IN A POOL HALL. Do some guys just not get this? Thats like getting kicked out of the KKK for being too racist. Many pool halls are in violation of their business license if they stay open late. If they have alcohol, they can be shut down on the FIRST violation. What do pool players give the business owner if they get a citation? Maybe an apology? Usually nothing. Yes, this post hit a nerve with me. We have banned too many people to count. Most of them couldnt pay me $10,000 to get back in. Not an exaggeration.

This is far and away the best post I have ever read on this forum! You have to have been in a room owner's shoes to really appreciate the message that's in there. Thanks for brightening my day!