The Mental Game and Earl!

Colin Colenso

Colin Colenso

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Earl has a different way of thinking about pool battles that most professionals, but I have come across some very tough players who think the same way he does.

So here's my psych 101 insight into the mind of Earl, made in the interest of examining our own mental attitudes.

Basically I believe Earl has what can be called a 'self-centered delusional mindset'.

This type of mindset has some advantages. It relieves one of the fear of failure to some degree, by being certain that you are the best and that anything that goes wrong must be the fault of someone or something else. It can remove doubt of self-error, allowing a confident style of play.

It also allows one to shark and mess with the mind of the opponent without any sense of guilt

However, this mindset has a serious negative, in that by being dishonest to oneself, it is hard to recognise and hence overcome flaws.

This mindset is kind of like the dark side. It has powers, but it ultimately prevents one from reaching their potential.

Just my opinion. What do other's think?
 
Earl has issues. Period. That's something he has to work out himself.

I wouldn't be surprized if his sponsers pulled the plug. I know I would.

Earl Strickland lost face with me back in the late 70s early 80s. Poor showing then, and he's only repeating it now.

If you're reading this Earl, I wish you the best of luck, and I hope you get your head out of your ass very soon.
 
Colin Colenso said:
Earl has a different way of thinking about pool battles that most professionals, but I have come across some very tough players who think the same way he does.

So here's my psych 101 insight into the mind of Earl, made in the interest of examining our own mental attitudes.

Basically I believe Earl has what can be called a 'self-centered delusional mindset'.

This type of mindset has some advantages. It relieves one of the fear of failure to some degree, by being certain that you are the best and that anything that goes wrong must be the fault of someone or something else. It can remove doubt of self-error, allowing a confident style of play.

It also allows one to shark and mess with the mind of the opponent without any sense of guilt

However, this mindset has a serious negative, in that by being dishonest to oneself, it is hard to recognise and hence overcome flaws.

This mindset is kind of like the dark side. It has powers, but it ultimately prevents one from reaching their potential.

Just my opinion. What do other's think?
Click to expand...

I think the analysis is reasonable. There are probably many other reasonable analyses. Who knows why he does this or how it is caused. All I know is his good friends & family better start to get through to him that he is driving fans and supporters away. He had everything going for him at the beginning of this match with Souquet: 1) He had a huge ovation when he was introduced (the crowd was on his side!); 2) He gave a touching tribute to Steve Mizerak before the match started (everyone was touched by his sentiments); 3) Behrman made a plea for him to be placed into the hall of fame (which again seemed to have at least moderate support from the audience); 4) he started out the match well, making his first mistake in around game 3 (I might be wrong on this). At this point, Souquet ran a couple and everything about Earl deteriorated as mentioned in other threads. The support and atmosphere had degenerated after about 8 more games to where Earl was getting boo'ed because of his actions. I've never seen such a rapid, self-inflicted destruction of crowd support before, and he deserved every bit of it.
 
in other words,,,he's a nutcase..............like higgins.

personally, i don't recollect any such type who has ever attained the lofty perch that some people have bestowed upon one as undeserving as earl. maybe his championship rings blind a few people. all "great" champions whom i remember have been rather methodical and in control, with a steady mindset and NEVER erratic.

it all makes comparisons between earl and players like sigel and reyes, silly.
 
Colin Colenso said:
Earl has a different way of thinking about pool battles that most professionals, but I have come across some very tough players who think the same way he does.

So here's my psych 101 insight into the mind of Earl, made in the interest of examining our own mental attitudes.

Basically I believe Earl has what can be called a 'self-centered delusional mindset'.

This type of mindset has some advantages. It relieves one of the fear of failure to some degree, by being certain that you are the best and that anything that goes wrong must be the fault of someone or something else. It can remove doubt of self-error, allowing a confident style of play.

It also allows one to shark and mess with the mind of the opponent without any sense of guilt

However, this mindset has a serious negative, in that by being dishonest to oneself, it is hard to recognise and hence overcome flaws.

This mindset is kind of like the dark side. It has powers, but it ultimately prevents one from reaching their potential.

Just my opinion. What do other's think?
Click to expand...


Well said Doc!

From what ive heard, he is known to get in peoples head whilst they play.
Call me stupid, but cant you just say to him, shut your mouth, play, and put your ear plugs in?

Cheers,
Dave.
 
Tickets said:
Well said Doc!

From what ive heard, he is known to get in peoples head whilst they play.
Call me stupid, but cant you just say to him, shut your mouth, play, and put your ear plugs in?

Cheers,
Dave.
Click to expand...

What tends to happen playing against guys like Earl, is you start thinking what you want to say to them, what threats you'll make, but knowing if you do the whole problem is likely to escalate.

That is frustrating and plays on your mind, making you play worse. He thrives on playing with tension in the air, but for most players, such conditions are unusual and so they find it hard to play to their abilities.
 
too true

Colin Colenso said:
What tends to happen playing against guys like Earl, is you start thinking what you want to say to them, what threats you'll make, but knowing if you do the whole problem is likely to escalate.

That is frustrating and plays on your mind, making you play worse. He thrives on playing with tension in the air, but for most players, such conditions are unusual and so they find it hard to play to their abilities.
Click to expand...


countless times you play someone, when the bickering over takes your train of thought, or your plan. you still may be able to pot balls, but your just not clearly thinking straight about what you want to do.

What ive found is, whilst the main cheek is occuring during a game, its best to tie the cue ball up with a killer safety, then sledge till your hearts content. Meanwhile your opponent will come back with half assed comments while trying to work out how not to make a goose out of him/herself.

dont get me wrong, i love nothing more than a game of pool where both players will look over the past game and view what happen as a sport, rather than a street fight.

My main point would be to people such as Earl- if you think you have to get inside peoples heads to beat them, rather than your ability, your obviously not ok with yourself.

Still, there will be plenty of people who believe what happens off the table is still part of pool. I dont belive it should be. bring on the cone of silence need be, or that room they use for the Jerry Springer show.

Just before i finish, here is an passage from a pool book i own, with an insight to sharking , which is exactly what Dr Colin is on about:

"it should also be noted in some cases, getting sharked is a self fulfiling prophecy. if your absolutely convinced your opponent is (or is going to try) sharking you, your concentration is already shot. your opponent might sit quitely and not move a muscle the entire match. Afterward, youll convice yourself that his intention was to shark you by not doing anything at all"

Cheers,
Dave
 
I think Earl is a perfectionist. Even when he is dominating a match, when he makes very small errors, like getting ever so slightly out of line, he beats up on himself. He ends up running out anyways, but it seems like he is only satisfied when he does everything perfectly. Earl realizes that he is better than almost every player at the tournaments he plays in, and he probably feels that he deserves to win every time.
 
All real good players

have a certain amount of ego, and some are just ego-maniacs
in action. Whether they exhibit that publicly usually depends
on their basic personality type. I tend to think of good players
being like gunfighters of old Western days, some showing no fear
when they run into each other, some trying to shark the other,
and some are more reserved studying the situation over. I think
the old saying, "He who lives by the gun, dies by the gun" kind of
applies to Pool players too, "He who lives by the cue, also dies by
the cue".
 
LastTwo said:
I think Earl is a perfectionist..
Click to expand...

that's what i thought. but if you play 9ball, then you can expect luck to go against you. maybe that's why he's so keen on this new offensive 14.1.....you control your own destiny.
 
It means ...

LastTwo said:
huh!? :confused:
Click to expand...

that he has lived his life on the table, and now he is getting older,
and he is dying on the table by not winning anymore, and it
is killing him inside.
 
Colin Colenso said:
What tends to happen playing against guys like Earl, is you start thinking what you want to say to them, what threats you'll make, but knowing if you do the whole problem is likely to escalate.

That is frustrating and plays on your mind, making you play worse. He thrives on playing with tension in the air, but for most players, such conditions are unusual and so they find it hard to play to their abilities.
Click to expand...

Spot on Colin, did you read my mind! :-)
 
What is the last tournament ...

What is the last notable tournament that
Earl has won? and how has his winnings gone
the last couple of years?
 
beetle said:
I think the analysis is reasonable. There are probably many other reasonable analyses. Who knows why he does this or how it is caused. All I know is his good friends & family better start to get through to him that he is driving fans and supporters away. He had everything going for him at the beginning of this match with Souquet: 1) He had a huge ovation when he was introduced (the crowd was on his side!); 2) He gave a touching tribute to Steve Mizerak before the match started (everyone was touched by his sentiments); 3) Behrman made a plea for him to be placed into the hall of fame (which again seemed to have at least moderate support from the audience); 4) he started out the match well, making his first mistake in around game 3 (I might be wrong on this). At this point, Souquet ran a couple and everything about Earl deteriorated as mentioned in other threads. The support and atmosphere had degenerated after about 8 more games to where Earl was getting boo'ed because of his actions. I've never seen such a rapid, self-inflicted destruction of crowd support before, and he deserved every bit of it.
Click to expand...

I don't think it was rapid destruction....I think Earl has worked hard at perfecting his skill of getting the crowd to turn on him...It has taken him a good 15+ years to develop this skill...

I think the crowd would rather cheer for Earl...Hardly anyone disrespects his game...However...With the image he has built up...the educated crowd at the US Open is waiting for him to act up, and are ready to let him know of thier despleasure of his actions....JMO

My un-educated C.C. psycology 101 thoughts are that Earl wants to be the center of attention....If he is winning he will be the center of attention...As soon as any player poses a threat to him not being the attention of the crowd he will act out in order to steal the attention of the (that day) better player.....This is why you never really see Earl act out away from the game...Away from the actual game table, he is a ICON of the game and will gain the attention of any room that he walks into that has any remotely knowledgable fans...

My guess is that he never acts out like this at Tennis or Golf as he has not reached the pinnacle of success that he did with pool...He is emotionally able to be the lesser player on the Tennis court or Golf course.... JMUEO

In short....He has "John McEnroe Syndrom"
 
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