thinking about going pro

[justnum]

There are rumors that when starting out the move from amateur to pro, very interesting (shady) people might help you along the way.

Are there pros,semi or retired that have a history with shady people willing to share?

The most common stories are people that will support for a price, people that promise one thing but deliver something else and the people that do everything but take a greedy cut leaving the player with little to invest with.

There are some players which I'd rather not name who have won major titles but for various reasons do not compete anymore. In such an international sport I don't doubt there are cheap business players looking to tool talented amateurs.

But how can a person who only knows how to play pool protect themselves from the seductive and well-thought out plans of a business player trying to invest wisely?

 

[MahnaMahna]

There are rumors that when starting out the move from amateur to pro, very interesting (shady) people might help you along the way.

Are there pros,semi or retired that have a history with shady people willing to share?

The most common stories are people that will support for a price, people that promise one thing but deliver something else and the people that do everything but take a greedy cut leaving the player with little to invest with.

There are some players which I'd rather not name who have won major titles but for various reasons do not compete anymore. In such a international sport I don't doubt there are cheap business players looking to tool talented amateurs.

But how can a person who only knows how to play pool protect themselves from the seductive and well-thought out plans of a business player trying to invest wisely?

After re-reading this 3 or 4 times, I decided not to try and read it a 5th time.

 

[justnum]

After re-reading this 3 or 4 times, I decided not to try and read it a 5th time.

I didn't know you are a fan. I've given speeches before, but having regulars is nice. It is almost as if you'd be a benchmark for what I could've been if I had just stop thinking and gave up writing altogether. Mostly bad english with poor communication skills, I might have had a real difficult time socializing with people too.

To my number one fan MahnaMahna.
Don't give up, start reading simpler stories. Maybe put more space between the words. I try to paragraph the ideas, so you don't fall asleep with the iterations on the main point. I will try to write more simply and concisely, just for you number one.

 

[arcticmonkey]

After re-reading this 3 or 4 times, I decided not to try and read it a 5th time.

You don't have the secret Pocket Point decoder ring?

 

[MahnaMahna]

I didn't know you are a fan. I've given speeches before, but having regulars is nice. It is almost as if you'd be a benchmark for what I could've been if I had just stop thinking and gave up writing altogether. Mostly bad english with poor communication skills, I might have had a real difficult time socializing with people too.

To my number one fan MahnaMahna.
Don't give up, start reading simpler stories. Maybe put more space between the words. I try to paragraph the ideas, so you don't fall asleep with the iterations on the main point. I will try to write more simply and concisely, just for you number one.

Thanks buddy, you just keep on copying and pasting random text from the internet and turning it into posts, I will keep pointing out how retarded they are.

 

[poolhustler]

Aother useless thread from Mr. Just Numb.

 

[justnum]

Thanks buddy, you just keep on copying and pasting random text from the internet and turning it into posts, I will keep pointing out how retarded they are.

Its great we can chat about this most people aren't so open with their feelings. So tell me what isn't retarded. Share your wealth of ideas with the forum. They seem so short in your previous post.

I don't want you to hold back because you are modest about your intellectual capabilities. Please I've learned to deal with a much broader intellectual group and I'd enjoy the enlightenment.

Your so direct it is refreshing but lets hear what you have to say.

 

[JoeyA]

There are rumors that when starting out the move from amateur to pro, very interesting (shady) people might help you along the way.

Are there pros,semi or retired that have a history with shady people willing to share?

The most common stories are people that will support for a price, people that promise one thing but deliver something else and the people that do everything but take a greedy cut leaving the player with little to invest with.

There are some players which I'd rather not name who have won major titles but for various reasons do not compete anymore. In such an international sport I don't doubt there are cheap business players looking to tool talented amateurs.

But how can a person who only knows how to play pool protect themselves from the seductive and well-thought out plans of a business player trying to invest wisely?

You're not likely to entice any pros, semi-pros or retired pros to share such information about "shady" people that may have done not so savory things.

Hustling pool has cost many a pool player but telling shady people's business gives that the orange crush.

It sounds like you shouldn't get any "backers" and just do the solitary thing.

 

[justnum]

You're not likely to entice any pros, semi-pros or retired pros to share such information about "shady" people that may have done not so savory things.

Hustling pool has cost many a pool player but telling shady people's business gives that the orange crush.

It sounds like you shouldn't get any "backers" and just do the solitary thing.

Fictional stories, with changed names, possibly even change the industry. Just need the basics facts on the con. Was a fear thing, a need extra cash thing, or I know a guy who knows a guy thing.

 

[book collector]

In the player backer scenario, I have yet to see the backer, not need the 5 out in larceny from the dumbest player on the planet.
Have you heard the story of the player with the "dangerous " backer .
He gets a pile of cash from the guy and shoots his wife in the arm to make it look like they were robbed?
This is the guy that all the players say hustled huge scores on the table. Now if he was making giant scores and still felt compelled to double cross a killer for what I think is a pretty small sum.
Think about what some 60 /40 player with mouths, or a habit to feed, will come up with.
For what it's worth , I believe that, without backers, you would have a hard time finding a 100 dollar game, between 2 equal players, most places in the United States.
I would have said world , but I haven't played all over the world, so I don't know for sure.
If I thought I could play good enough to win , why would I want to split my winnings with a backer?
This is a rhetorical question.

 

[Russ Chewning]

If I thought I could play good enough to win , why would I want to split my winnings with a backer?
This is a rhetorical question.

Most players I have seen using a backer don't "know" they can win. The backer is just a free shot to play over their head in a bad game and hopefully make a score.

Russ

 

[Jaden]

I think it might be more....

Most players I have seen using a backer don't "know" they can win. The backer is just a free shot to play over their head in a bad game and hopefully make a score.

Russ

that at higher level play, it is kind of a coin toss as to who will win on a given night, so it is easier to play on someone else's dime and even have two or three different backers so that regardless how the coin toss goes, in the long run the player ends up on the winning end...

Jaden

 

[MahnaMahna]

Have you heard the story of the player with the "dangerous " backer .
He gets a pile of cash from the guy and shoots his wife in the arm to make it look like they were robbed?
This is the guy that all the players say hustled huge scores on the table.

OK, so I had to use the search function before I responded to this to make sure I was not completely clueless on this one.....

If I am reading this right, you are saying that Jack Cooney shot his wife in the arm to fake a robbery?

 

[book collector]

OK, so I had to use the search function before I responded to this to make sure I was not completely clueless on this one.....

If I am reading this right, you are saying that Jack Cooney shot his wife in the arm to fake a robbery?

I don't know who it was. I read the story, either here or on One Pocket.org.
I asked the original poster if he had read the story.

 

[FranCrimi]

There are rumors that when starting out the move from amateur to pro, very interesting (shady) people might help you along the way.

Are there pros,semi or retired that have a history with shady people willing to share?

The most common stories are people that will support for a price, people that promise one thing but deliver something else and the people that do everything but take a greedy cut leaving the player with little to invest with.

There are some players which I'd rather not name who have won major titles but for various reasons do not compete anymore. In such an international sport I don't doubt there are cheap business players looking to tool talented amateurs.

But how can a person who only knows how to play pool protect themselves from the seductive and well-thought out plans of a business player trying to invest wisely?

I understand your post perfectly.

Pool is no different than anything else in life. Talented people will always have to watch out for cons looking to latch on to them.

The answer to protecting yourself is in having a strong sense of right and wrong and don't get greedy. Play with your own money. Pay your own expenses. Stick to organized events, like tournaments. Partner only with people you know well and trust.

 

[sunnyday]

After re-reading this 3 or 4 times, I decided not to try and read it a 5th time.

OK, good. I thought it was just me with language barrier or something

S.G.

 

[JoeyA]

Fictional stories, with changed names, possibly even change the industry. Just need the basics facts on the con. Was a fear thing, a need extra cash thing, or I know a guy who knows a guy thing.

Then you may as well make up your own stories.

 

[mrjobe]

I'd say, use your better judgement?

Know your "contract"?

I wouldnt expect someone to put up all the cash with nothing to gain...thats just silly.

My assumption would be, the split would be determined before hand. Now say your backer decides to screw you out of your cut? Or whoops your ass for losing?

Theres a pool movie where the "young star" gets strunge along by a "friend" watching out for him and soon realises that the "backer" has kept him from reaching his potential. The player gets out from under him and the backer is out for revenge..."pool hall junkies" maybe?

Are you talking like a Don King/Mike Tyson deal?

 

[justnum]

I'd say, use your better judgement?

Know your "contract"?

I wouldnt expect someone to put up all the cash with nothing to gain...thats just silly.

My assumption would be, the split would be determined before hand. Now say your backer decides to screw you out of your cut? Or whoops your ass for losing?

Theres a pool movie where the "young star" gets strunge along by a "friend" watching out for him and soon realises that the "backer" has kept him from reaching his potential. The player gets out from under him and the backer is out for revenge..."pool hall junkies" maybe?

Are you talking like a Don King/Mike Tyson deal?

Some of the players I've watched and read about seem to have this grand idea that they can hit it big at a major event, to pay off their expenses for most of the year. It just seems like newer players that are starting to travel more to compete, might not have the right ideas about the gambling.

It is a big gamble for a pro to compete globally, but how can they prove themselves, if they don't make the trip.

The big problem I am talking about is what type of financial situation should a person be in to compete globally without having to rely on friends to get through the week.

How do you argue with someone that thinks placing at an event but still loses money because of travel expenses is a good thing? Especially when they think that competing/winning against touring pros elevates their status regardless of the price they pay to compete with them. How do you reason with someone like that?

I know a handful of types that would rather take a chance than to play it safe because the gutter conditions they are living provide little opportunity for a different life. And when they get the idea that they have a chance it is better to take it than stay put, that situation creates a lot of drama.

 

[OneIron]

If I thought I could play good enough to win , why would I want to split my winnings with a backer?
This is a rhetorical question.

Because most money players are chronically broke due to negligible money management skills. And chemical dependency.