Something I want Earl Strickland to hear.

justadub said:
I've thought about this quite a bit as I read this thread. You know why Earl is so popular with many of us? Beyond his amazing skill at the table, which can rival anyone's (and has for a great many years).....

Earl is more like us. He is flawed, and it's right out there for everyone to see. He struggles controlling his emotions, often spectacularly.

How many of us hit a shot poorly and make some sort of exclamation? How many people do you see slam their cues around? Or drop themselves into their seat in a huff? General b!tching and complaining? Just think about all the poor behavior you see or have seen in a pool room. I'm betting that most of it stems from that players frustration with something in their game. (And yes, there will always be some that are just plain poor sports, but they aren't the point of this part of the discussion. And probably a much smaller percentage of the all the people who exhibit such behavior.)

Even for those of us who don't lose it, even to as small a point as minor exclamations (or profanities)... how many of you aren't saying something to yourself when you miss a shot that you shouldn't have? The feeling is the same, it's the control of that emotion that is better maintained.

Earl lays it out there for all of us to see. Right or wrong. He reminds us of ourselves, in some small way. He is one of us, except that he plays WAY better. That is why so many of us are fans of Earl. Whether we know it or not.

I'm not saying that having good control of ones self at the table is a bad thing. I appreciate the skill and discipline that most all of the great players we see can maintain, under extremely high pressure. I strive to be better in my self control, as well. And I bet that Earl thinks so, too. But I believe he is so much more real than the other top pro's as a result of his lack of control.

Just a thought. Or two, or three. :p
Click to expand...

Nice post, dub!!!

Maniac
 
Hasn't Earl earned the right to be outspoken about his thought on the game of pool? I think he has and I also think he brings good points.
 
Honor thy Mother and Father

I have a love hate relationship with Earl, always have.
No doubt he is one of the greatest 9 ball players of all time.
I new Luther Lassiter and I can’t help think he was the best ever.

When the Seminole tour came to California Billiards Club this year, Earl and Mike Dechaine were there.

The Seminoles were selling seats all around the two main tables. I was the only one who paid to sit up front.
Why are pool players so cheap? Don’t they realize that the promoters need to make money?
It was only $20.00 to get a great seat?

Earl put his cue and stuff next to me and I watched his stuff for him for the rest of the evening.

It was early when Mike came over to practice on the table he and Earl was going to play on later.
I was the only player there when Mike started practicing.
He and I talked for about 45 minutes while he practiced.
He said Barney this is going to be a great game with no BS.
Mike said that the night before in the lobby Earl came up to him and said let’s have a good game tomorrow.

Well it wasn’t two minutes when Earl started make loud snide remarks when Mike made a great shot.
Earl would not let go and cryed and moaned on every shot of Mikes.
He was saying stuff like this kid doesn’t know how to play 9 ball.
Mike politely said Earl did I do something wrong.
Earl just ignored him and continued his tirade.

At one point when Earl was shooting and complained about how the game is played today.
Mike had had enough, he got up. I quickly said Mike let it go.
Mike looked at me and understood and sat down.
Earl had noticed and said what’s the matter?
Mike then said “Shoot pool Earl”.

Earl and I talked later about the state of the game and for the most part I agree with him.
Us old guy’s always believe the old ways were the best.

It hurt’s me when Earl makes a great shot and everyone claps and Earl
raises his hand and say’s oh no don’t clap for me. I am the bad guy.
He is not faking it he really means it.
I worry because you should not live in a world where you think it is me against the world.

It is not healthy to be angry when you are playing a game that you love so much like Earl does.

I am not sure why we have hot heads in pool and can’t control themselves. Yes they are great for entertaining.

There was another post where Larry Nevel was bickering and moaning.
After his loss, Nevel’s mother came to Dennis Hatch and apologized for her son’s behavior.

Earl “Shoot Pool”, but always Honor thy Mother and Father, Barney
 
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