Sportmanship at US Open

[tedkaufman]

I've seen Larry many times in tournaments. Nearly always, unless things are going very well, Larry has had an outburst of some measure. I hate to see it, because Larry really is a great guy.

The sad thing is, it is clearly self-destructive. He could be the most talented player in the game. If he could develop the mental toughness of, say, Stevie Moore, another local player, Larry would be a world champion. Maybe he needs to watch videos of his outbursts to see what others see.

 

[markgw]

I've seen Larry many times in tournaments. Nearly always, unless things are going very well, Larry has had an outburst of some measure. I hate to see it, because Larry really is a great guy.

The sad thing is, it is clearly self-destructive. He could be the most talented player in the game. If he could develop the mental toughness of, say, Stevie Moore, another local player, Larry would be a world champion. Maybe he needs to watch videos of his outbursts to see what others see.

It just seemed that Larry was in a negative space in his head. He needs to find some positve energy somewhere and hold onto it. Maybe there are things going on in his life that we don't know about that is causing his negative demeanor. He should be happy with his high finish though, but go back to the drawing board on his mental game.....

 

[franko]

Like

Larry was done before the lag.... That Alex match destroyed his confidence.... All you Nevel lovers come in and defend him all you want... But he had no business getting that deep and it showed.... Issue with Larry now and will always be between his ears.... Prob most talented player in the game today.... He got there on pure ability alone.... Imagine how deadly this man would be if he would learn to play the game correctly??? How many times are u gonna attempt to fram when u can just float shortside??? Very stubborn man that refuses to accept what the table gives him... He is aware of his ability and relies on it way too much.... simplify, simplify, simplify

Like Buddy Hall likes to say " don't play shape if you have shape"

 

[SUPERSTAR]

If you don't like his behavior, then tell the sponsors/promoters, to make some rules and actually enforce them to prevent it or punish it, but people need to stop with the whole "ruining the public image/attracting corporate sponsor/mainstream prime time pool" pipe dream already.
Nobody cares. Pool had it's shot and failed.
Larry breaking his shaft, or lack thereof, is not going to change pools status in this country, AT ALL.
Pool popularity will never rise above niche status here, EVER.
Not when you have the full menu of other mainstream professional sports and entertainment and all their associated fantasy leagues to pick from.
This isn't the Philippines or England in regards to snooker.

The culture of this country doesn't care about pool, and never will.
Pool will exist as a sports/entertainment side-note, just like it always has. It doesn't matter how much you clean it up or how much money you throw at it.

 

[Koop]

If you don't like his behavior, then tell the sponsors/promoters, to make some rules and actually enforce them to prevent it or punish it, but people need to stop with the whole "ruining the public image/attracting corporate sponsor/mainstream prime time pool" pipe dream already.
Nobody cares. Pool had it's shot and failed.
Larry breaking his shaft, or lack thereof, is not going to change pools status in this country, AT ALL.
Pool popularity will never rise above niche status here, EVER.
Not when you have the full menu of other mainstream professional sports and entertainment and all their associated fantasy leagues to pick from.
This isn't the Philippines or England in regards to snooker.

The culture of this country doesn't care about pool, and never will.
Pool will exist as a sports/entertainment side-note, just like it always has. It doesn't matter how much you clean it up or how much money you throw at it.

+1
How many people outside who was there and who reads billiards forums even know it happened, let alone the fact that the US Open just occurred?

 

[Apocalypse2017]

+1
How many people outside who was there and who reads billiards forums even know it happened, let alone the fact that the US Open just occurred?

I was thinking the same thing. He should have hit someone in the stands with his cue, maybe the US Open would have got some news coverage :thumbup:

 

[Black-Balled]

+1
How many people outside who was there and who reads billiards forums even know it happened, let alone the fact that the US Open just occurred?

Well, seems like you are misreading SStars input...or maybe not.

Doesn't matter who saw it. Any potential supporter that was there witnssed it and we will never be a measurable value to the act. In fact, every time it happens it is seen, and it happens lots.

So, like SStar said: It doesn't matter how much you clean it up or how much money you throw at it. People already know how a pool player acts.

 

[Koop]

Well, seems like you are misreading SStars input...or maybe not.

Doesn't matter who saw it. Any potential supporter that was there witnssed it and we will never be a measurable value to the act. In fact, every time it happens it is seen, and it happens lots.

So, like SStar said: It doesn't matter how much you clean it up or how much money you throw at it. People already know how a pool player acts.

Nope, no misunderstanding, just expanding on it.
I'd be willing to be that MOST people have no clue how a pool player acts because they don't realize that anyone plays the game seriously let alone is considered a Pro.

Koop - called a pro by a local APA guy once...LOL...that tells you what most people know.

 

[Jadssons]

Being labeled a "pro"at anything should carry a certain amount of professioanlism and integrity. While people outside the pool world may not have seen Nevel's antics, the people who are pool savy did see it and it doesn't take a genius to see it was out of line. If I saw a "professional" ping pong player break his paddle, I would know it was poor etiquette and poor sportsmanship even though I do not play ping pong.

 

[Koop]

Being labeled a "pro"at anything should carry a certain amount of professioanlism and integrity. While people outside the pool world may not have seen Nevel's antics, the people who are pool savy did see it and it doesn't take a genius to see it was out of line. If I saw a "professional" ping pong player break his paddle, I would know it was poor etiquette and poor sportsmanship even though I do not play ping pong.

True, not saying it was right or should be overlooked.
A temper tantrum is a temper tantrum, period.

 

[Apocalypse2017]

Silly "Pro" Sports

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/galleries/sports_greatest_meltdowns/sports_greatest_meltdowns.html

 

[juegabillar]

Sweeping the balls because he was frustrated and getting trounced? In front of everybody at the country's (possibly the planet's) most prestigious event?

What a great display for his sponsor - LOL. An ambassador for a company? Yea right.

The US Open should look hard at sportmanship for next year.

So what do you think about Gabe Owen not showing up for his match at the TV table with John Schmidt?

 

[Runnintable]

Growing pains

Will this ever be broadcast on TV?
or any of the filmed matches for that matter?

I am just sorry he ended his run at the US Open in that fashion, but that is for him to reflect on now. (The raking of the table Forfeit)
I watched that video of the shaft breaking, and from what I can tell;
The leather tip caught the rug and surprised the shit out of him. He also looked embarassed on top of already being frustrated with himself.

 

[SUPERSTAR]

So what do you think about Gabe Owen not showing up for his match at the TV table with John Schmidt?

Maybe Barry should take away that freeroll option for people who obviously don't care. I know i would.

Heck, ban him from the tournament and watch the excuses fly.
People will come running to his defense claiming that he was all geared up for the match, but came down with a serious case of the squirts from eating the buffet or some other ridiculous excuse.

Maybe accu stats can learn from this that gabe should never be on the feature table again, unless he makes it to the final 3 matches. (where you figure he might actually care at that point)

Like anyone doesn't know what gabe is all about after that one pocket "exhibition" where they were in such a rush to cut it up and get out of there, they could have cared less about making it a good show for the fans.

If it was his money, fine, quit all you want, but quitting is a dump when someone else is footing the bill.

And people think pool in this country can go mainstream?
HAHA, that's funny.

 

[Eric.]

Maybe Barry should take away that freeroll option for people who obviously don't care. I know i would.

Heck, ban him from the tournament and watch the excuses fly.
People will come running to his defense claiming that he was all geared up for the match, but came down with a serious case of the squirts from eating the buffet or some other ridiculous excuse.

Maybe accu stats can learn from this that gabe should never be on the feature table again, unless he makes it to the final 3 matches. (where you figure he might actually care at that point)

Like anyone doesn't know what gabe is all about after that one pocket "exhibition" where they were in such a rush to cut it up and get out of there, they could have cared less about making it a good show for the fans.

If it was his money, fine, quit all you want, but quitting is a dump when someone else is footing the bill.

And people think pool in this country can go mainstream?
HAHA, that's funny.

In all fairness to GAbe, supposedly, he had a family emergency involving his brother.


Eric >only hearsay

 

[Black-Balled]

In all fairness to GAbe, supposedly, he had a family emergency involving his brother.


Eric >only hearsay

Its an emergency! Quick! Get a pool player!

 

[Jadssons]

maybe barry should take away that freeroll option for people who obviously don't care. I know i would.

Heck, ban him from the tournament and watch the excuses fly.
People will come running to his defense claiming that he was all geared up for the match, but came down with a serious case of the squirts from eating the buffet or some other ridiculous excuse.

Maybe accu stats can learn from this that gabe should never be on the feature table again, unless he makes it to the final 3 matches. (where you figure he might actually care at that point)

like anyone doesn't know what gabe is all about after that one pocket "exhibition" where they were in such a rush to cut it up and get out of there, they could have cared less about making it a good show for the fans.

If it was his money, fine, quit all you want, but quitting is a dump when someone else is footing the bill.

And people think pool in this country can go mainstream?
Haha, that's funny.

tap...tap...tap!!!

 

[Cameron Smith]

It's reasonable to expect certain conduct to carry a fine (maybe $200-300). The industry needs to be shown as not tolerating silliness. I think that's the most important part, players are always going to act childish in every sport. Being talented doesn't mean you need to have manners, know how to conduct yourself properly or be educated, as such the ranks of top players will always have a variety of personality types. Furthermore a competitive environment is often going to bring out sides of people that you'd never see in day to day life due to emotions running high. All you can really do is show that your organisation conducts itself in a professional manner and do your best to keep players in line. UFC fighters often act like children which people eat up from an entertainment perspective, but you can still maintain respect for the sport and the organisation when they get banned, fine or punished in some reasonable manner.

That said, I don't think sponsors will go running for the hills if they see Larry breaking his cue, Earl getting angry at fans etc. Sponsors are primarily concerned about exposure and although pool fans just want to see fine displays of ability and sportsmanship, drama and personalities will draw far more attention to the game than anything. People would tune in simply to see players lose their cool and get completely unhinged.

So many non-poker fans tuned in to see phil hellmuth pout and complain about how he was the best player and he should always win. The Ultimate Fighter was may peoples first introduction to the UFC and it featured a few good sportsman but it also had (and has) a bunch of adults acting like 13 year olds. The biggest sporting headlines of the year are often the drama that occurs on and off the field and it gets people watching.

I've mentioned Alex Higgins before, but again this man was partially responsible for the explosion in popularity of snooker in the uk. He drank during his matches, he headbutted referees, he was always in the tabloids for absurd behaviour and people loved to hate him or loved to love him. People watched cause you never knew what you were going to get, either he'd play the greatest snooker ever or he'd completely lose it. People came to watch Alex and a lot of them stayed to watch the calmer more sedated Steve Davis or the funny and goofy Dennis Taylor etc.

There are so many examples in sports where people tune into to watch the train wrecks, and whether we like it or not drama is what sells.

So in my opinion, fine them if they get out of line but don't sweep them under the rug. We need a little colour. I sincerely hope they still make a DVD out of Nevel's match and when it get's rebroadcasted (they show the US Open on Rogers in Canada) I hope they show it because it will get more interest from viewers than Klatt's 7 rack run and Darren's epic comeback (which was the highlight for me).

 

[mikeyfrost]

Okay Nevel should get a small slap on the wrist, like a warning. I say this because he broke his own shaft, didnt break it on the table, and really only hurt himself in that.

Larry is a competitor. That type of reaction shows you how much he was trying to get there man. Guy was fighting as hard as he could and getting tough tough luck out of it.

I'll make it real easy. I'd rather see Larry breaking his shaft, going real deep in major tourneys than not seeing him at ALL. Larry is the best player that hardly shows up at events. With most of you posting the things you are, I can't blame him one bit. This guy has a ton of talent and almost won the US Open and theres 100 posts about him snapping his shaft and not 10 about how good he played.

Go figure.

 

[mikeyfrost]

Maybe Barry should take away that freeroll option for people who obviously don't care. I know i would.

Heck, ban him from the tournament and watch the excuses fly.
People will come running to his defense claiming that he was all geared up for the match, but came down with a serious case of the squirts from eating the buffet or some other ridiculous excuse.

Maybe accu stats can learn from this that gabe should never be on the feature table again, unless he makes it to the final 3 matches. (where you figure he might actually care at that point)

Like anyone doesn't know what gabe is all about after that one pocket "exhibition" where they were in such a rush to cut it up and get out of there, they could have cared less about making it a good show for the fans.

If it was his money, fine, quit all you want, but quitting is a dump when someone else is footing the bill.

And people think pool in this country can go mainstream?
HAHA, that's funny.

What if someone in Gabe's family was diagnosed with a very serious medical condition that is very life threatening? How would you feel for judging him in that case? I'd bet 90% of us would have missed that match that he did if they were going through what he was.

Just sayin