It wouldn't be appropriate if Jay was commentating; but here at the forums Jay can be Jay.
I don't think you see commentators for other sports go on message boards and disparage players. It is just unprofessional
It wouldn't be appropriate if Jay was commentating; but here at the forums Jay can be Jay.
Is it really proper for a commentator to make such a rude comment about a player in his sport that has accomplished so much?
I don't think you see commentators for other sports go on message boards and disparage players. It is just unprofessional
Earl blatantly and unjustly disrespected the most powerful sports network, ESPN, in that clip. Earl also is the person to quit in the finals on the Camel Pro Tour, known as "the straw that broke the camels back" to many. These types of comments and actions can be extremely damaging to pool.
As said by another, Jay is not commentating, this is a public forum. I support Jays comment. Let the truth be known.
Speaking of truth my friend, did you know that Earl was playing in the FINALS of the Caesars Palace 9-Ball Championship in 1984. It was also televised by ESPN, who were paying all their own production costs. Not like today where tournament promoters must pay to get on ESPN. First prize was $25,000 by the way! Earl, along with several other players, refused to sign the television releases for the shows to be aired. Thus, the shows never appeared on ESPN and they ended their affiliation with professional pool for many years after that. It also was the end of Richie Florence's string of big dollar events. Now you tell me if that was a "smart" decision or not.
Why did he and the others do that? That seems very strange and counter-productive to their own cause. Seems like there must be more to the story
I agree with your assessment of Earl being mentally unstable. I just thought to call him outright "dumb" was a bit harsh.
I just feel like people are kicking the man when he is down. Something is obviously not right with him and there is no need to add to his misery.
Someone most likely convinced them that they were like actors/talent and should get a cut of the show if it was going to be aired. What they didn't think about was that the first thing you need to do is get your foot in the door. Once you become established you can let the snowballs roll downhill to you. During the 70's the World Series multi champ Oakland A's players worked at Sears during the off-season.
Personally I think that Nathan films all aspects of pool better than anyone. He films pool in a WSOP kind of way which doesn't just cover the table. I choose him to start sending film to ESPN.
Why did he and the others do that? That seems very strange and counter-productive to their own cause. Seems like there must be more to the story
I agree with your assessment of Earl being mentally unstable. I just thought to call him outright "dumb" was a bit harsh.
I just feel like people are kicking the man when he is down. Something is obviously not right with him and there is no need to add to his misery.
The answer to your first question is Bad Advice, by someone who was a direct competitor of Richies. He wanted Richie out of the way and he accomplished just that, with the help of the players of course. Once again, their own worst enemies.
You are correct, I should have just left it alone. I've said as much several times before. Maybe I'm a little mad at Earl for throwing away his God given talent. I knew the Earl of the 80's and 90's, a brilliant player who was opinionated even then. But his focus was on playing and winning, not talking a lot of trash about everyone and anyone. He worked harder at his game than anyone else (like Shane does today), and played better than anyone else as well.
I know maybe a little too much about what led to his downfall and slide into mediocrity. It has been disappointing for me to see one of the greatest players of all time allow himself to get so far off track. Every time I see (and listen) to him pontificate like that, it just makes me sick. He wasn't always that way. He was a pool genius once, on the table and not off. :embarrassed2:
You are correct, I should have just left it alone. I've said as much several times before. Maybe I'm a little mad at Earl for throwing away his God given talent. I knew the Earl of the 80's and 90's, a brilliant player who was opinionated even then. But his focus was on playing and winning, not talking a lot of trash about everyone and anyone. He worked harder at his game than anyone else (like Shane does today), and played better than anyone else as well.
I know maybe a little too much about what led to his downfall and slide into mediocrity. It has been disappointing for me to see one of the greatest players of all time allow himself to get so far off track. Every time I see (and listen) to him pontificate like that, it just makes me sick. He wasn't always that way. He was a pool genius once, on the table and not off. :embarrassed2:
Is it really proper for a commentator to make such a rude comment about a player in his sport that has accomplished so much?
Jay, knowing what you know re Earl's decline/illness...do you see any possible redemption for him professionally? Does he have any support network left?
Like many here, I've always been a huge fan of his game, and I found these clips of him ranting and raving beyond sad.
Earl blatantly and unjustly disrespected the most powerful sports network, ESPN, in that clip. Earl also is the person to quit in the finals on the Camel Pro Tour, known as "the straw that broke the camels back" to many. These types of comments and actions can be extremely damaging to pool.
As said by another, Jay is not commentating, this is a public forum. I support Jays comment. Let the truth be known.
I have no respect for Joe and anyone else there who decided to take the piss out of Earl. Joe's got himself a bunch of material to channel Earl a 2nd time but I hope he realises that mocking the afflicted is a bad thing to do.
Probably being too honest for my own good here but nobody knows me personally (yet) so I don't feel too bad. But I did almost want to tear my hair out at the way they treated Earl in that video. It was as if they were trying to provoke him and NOBODY deserves to be taunted in that way.