How would you/I behave?
Thanks SCCues for the correction.
Not many people are aware of Earl's extra-corricular activities...
As so many have said: He's human like the rest of us. 'Course he is!
In my line of work, I get very upset if my plans are interrupted. Fair enough, I don't have an audience, but why should that change anything? Remember that pool is Earl's job. His livelihood. And, up until recently, a pretty poorly paid one at that.
It's easy to criticise a person that is fortunate to have achieved a place on the world's stage. But ask yourselves this? Who criticizes you?
Is there a forum for famous account managers?
A forum for famous train drivers?
Or a forum for famous secretaries?
Luckily no. (At least until the day when they invent AZmusicstoremanagers.com) Then I'll get a bashing!!!
My point is that people are people. That's what makes life so great. Earl is a character and we're lucky to have him. It's very unfair to label him an a$$. He has a great respect for other players. But he also believes deeply in his own game. And rightly so. I'll bet that Earl's best game comes from that ole' adage of 10% Inspiration and 90% Perspiration.
I have a friend that reminds me a lot of Earl Strickland. He's very difficult to know and a lot of people consider him to be an "a$$". But make the effort and it's worthwhile. My friend is a great person, but he has an unusual personality that doesn't appeal to everyone. He is, however, generous, fair, and would never do anyone a bad turn - unless a bad turn was done to him.
In short, treat people the way you would like to be treated.
However... I do think that Earl was wrong in his off-hand manner with Nick VDB. Nick didn't deserve that. He has always been a gentleman on and off the table. But... we all make mistakes. Whatever was in Earl's head at the time caused him to behave that way. He did apologize to Nick though. Immediatly.
Live & let live, I say. Be thankful that pool has dynamic characters like Earl Strickland, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mike Sigel, Kevin Trudeau, Quinten Hann etc...
There's more to these people than meets the eye.
Plus... who would we talk about?
BS
(Just my $0.02)