Bad attitudes & not shaking an opponents hand after the match aren't breaking the rules. But are they what defines a guy being a bad sport, as in unsportsman like conduct? And for the other scenarios, they address a player's skill level. That's completely different. I don't think I would want to type up a big post to define the difference but I can see it & that's good enough for me.
Ok, so then a ref is being unsportsmanlike when he does not inform a player he is lining up on the wrong ball?
And knowing what ball you are shooting at is also a skill based situation. You need to have the skill of counting, AND the skill of paying attention. The difference is that darn near everyone has the ability to count (at least to 9!) and, I would go out on a limb and say that a player who has not worked on his ability to focus during a match probably does not deserve to win any matches or events where any highly skilled players are involved! We all make mistakes, and we all pay for those mistakes! I do not expect to get rewarded or let off the hook for poor play, and poor strategy, why should I think I should get a free pass for not even knowing what my next ball is?
In all of the other examples I gave it is not necessarily a skill level situation. It is a lack of knowledge that could be corrected simply by a statement as an explanation. How many players do not have the SKILL to hit the rail at a specific point? They may lack the knowledge and experience to FIND the correct contact point, but they have the skill required to make the cue ball hit that spot. If they are lining up a shot with a center ball hit that the tangent line is going straight into the pocket, I am pretty sure that they have the skill to hit that same shot with a higher or lower hit, or to change the speed of the shot as to avoid the scratch. And in my last example I specifically stated that the player is very capable of performing the 2 ball run out with the proper placement of the cue ball to start with.
So, in every case given it is well within the skill level of the player to be successful IF THEY WERE GIVEN THE PROPER INFORMATION. So, by you wit holding that information, you are depriving them of their fair chance of winning! Well, at least by the logic offered up in here.
It is not your job to make sure that your opponent does not make a costly mistake. That is my main point. If you choose to correct him that is fine, but do not try to make it something sinister if that correction is not offered.
Again, I may not be thrilled if I shoot the wrong ball and commit a foul, but I PROMISE to NEVER put that responsibility on my opponent in any way, or even slightly imply that he "should have told me". I would be disappointed at myself for MY lack of attention. It is no different then if I miscued because I was too lazy to chalk my tip properly, or completely overshot my desired position, etc, etc.
And if it makes you feel fantastic to give your opponent an extra chance that they really do not deserve ( due to their inability to pay attention) then that is wonderful for you. All I am saying is that it is not to be expected, or considered unsportsmanlike to not do so. As I said, I have informed my opponent many times BEFORE they were about to do it. I am just arguing that it is absolutely NOT to be expected as one of my duties to do so.
Do you know how many times I have missed a ball because I took my eyes off of it for a split second on my final stroke? I took the time to make sure I am shooting the correct ball, decided what speed and spin I need to use to get shape, etc, etc. I did everything in a very focused and deliberate manner, right up to the instant before contacting the cue ball, and.... WTF? Crap, I lost my focus for barely an instant! I have to sit down and take the heat for MY lack of focus. Why should someone who can't even figure out what ball comes next get a pass?
One of the things I love most about this great game is the amount of focus and dedication it requires to play at a high level. This game will make you pay dearly for any flaw you have that you will not put in the time to correct. That is a big part of the appeal. So why should people not be penalized for not taking the time to even know what ball they are suppose to shoot? Why would you even THINK about trying to somehow have that responsibility shared by the guy sitting in the chair?
