I was shooting in my league last night and this big drunk guy comes over from the bar and starts watching us shoot. He's not talking to anyone, no one even knew him. Every time me or my opponent miss, he starts saying stuff like "What the **** was that?" or "Are you serious, man?" I asked him nicely after the second time to knock it off but he still did it. So after the third time, I go "Dude, if all you're gonna do is sit there and insult us, go back to the ****ing bar!" Well this dude got PISSED! He got up in my face and threatened to kick my ass. I wouldn't shoot til he left so eventually the bartender made him go back to the bar even tho initially she was neutral. Would anyone else have reacted this way or did I overreact?
Was I wrong for handling this the way I did?
- Thread starter Magyar19
- Start date
Tough call. There is an understanding that shooting in a bar league means that you will run into a slew of characters. Most if which you would not invite back to the house.
I understand your frustration and would have felt the same way. I probably wouldn't have said anything though. Just part of playing in a bar as opposed to a pool hall where basic etiquette is understood and mostly followed.
I understand your frustration and would have felt the same way. I probably wouldn't have said anything though. Just part of playing in a bar as opposed to a pool hall where basic etiquette is understood and mostly followed.
I may have reacted the same way as you but....
I think its best to learn to fade these things.You don't have to ignore it but if you can learn to not let it bother you then you are much better off.
I think its best to learn to fade these things.You don't have to ignore it but if you can learn to not let it bother you then you are much better off.
You should have punched him in the face
I think if you over reacted, in a manner that I'd consider over reacting, you could have been arrested. You walked right up to the edge and gave him the opportunity to provoke a reaction, luckily for him you maintained control. When that has happened to us during a league match other team mates from both teams will mosey on over and try to engage this person in a conversation, just redirect him a little progressively becoming more and more forceful. Usually as long as this person sees he's facing more than one or two people the situation improves, and if they wanna fight, reluctantly, we will oblige. But if it does come to that, make sure to get them outside of the bar. Once outside they usually lose interest or if you get them to go first there's usually no reason for you to follow, then they feel stupid and go away.
I would of said lets gamble.Most guys like this cant play.But then again beating a guy like this mite not be so wise.
Only ran into that type of P.O.S in 15 years. I beat the guy out of $400 or so.. Kept coming around my other cash game making remarks like that. I used to drink a little on the heavy side in my twenties, so long story short, I ended up in jail and my girlfriend got to take what was left of my cue home with a little blood on it.. Would I do it again? Maybe, maybe not.. Don't drink near as much these days, plus I don't like showering with dudes so jail is not where I want to be.... :thumbup:
I would've said, "Yeah, i know i probably don't play as well as you, but if you wanna play some after i finish here, i'd be happy to give it a shot".
Poolroom v. Bar
Sorry to say this, but these kinds of things happen in a bar. I prefer to shoot pool in a poolroom rather than a bar with pool tables. But, all too many times we do not have that luxury. It is becoming more and more difficult to find a "real" poolroom. They are all falling by the side. With today's economy, you have to really be savvy and have the right clientele to make a profit in a poolroom with limited alcohol profits.
Sorry to say this, but these kinds of things happen in a bar. I prefer to shoot pool in a poolroom rather than a bar with pool tables. But, all too many times we do not have that luxury. It is becoming more and more difficult to find a "real" poolroom. They are all falling by the side. With today's economy, you have to really be savvy and have the right clientele to make a profit in a poolroom with limited alcohol profits.
I agree with this. One of my friends swears to me there is a section in the APA rulebook dealing with fights.
there is:
Conduct During League Play
The purpose of this section is to provide you with specific guidelines concerning player conduct during League play. The APA has charged your Local League Management with the responsibility of enforcing these guidelines. League Management includes League Operators, Boards of Governors, or any other individual or committee that might pass judgments on misconduct. The guidelines contained herein deal with PHYSICAL CONTACT and VERBAL ABUSE. There is room for judgment in some areas and there is no room for judgment in other areas. The APA has cautioned League Management to strictly adhere to those areas where there is no room for judgment.
There are two kinds of action taken by League Management in these types of misconduct cases—IMMEDIATE ACTION and FOLLOW-UP ACTION. Immediate action is the action taken that immediately effects the actual results of the team match. Immediate action effects the entire team and it is recognized there are sometimes innocent individuals involved. Follow-up action is the action taken later, specifically against the individual involved in whatever incident occurred. The innocent members of the teams involved are not affected by follow-up action.
1. PHYSICAL CONTACT
Physical contact is the hostile physical contact between two players. This contact could be in the form of bumping, shoving, pushing, or hitting. Although this contact normally involves only the team members, League Management should impose the same penalty when a nonmember is involved if it is deemed the nonmember(s) involved is with one of the teams. With could mean a number of things; in general, if an offending person is deemed to be with the team, it would mean they came with the team or the team should have had some control over the person's actions. With is a judgment.
IMMEDIATE ACTION - If hostile physical contact occurs, THE MATCH IS OVER! There are only two possibilities to consider: only one team was guilty of hostile physical contact or both teams were guilty of hostile physical contact. LEAGUE MANAGEMENT MUST EXERCISE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TWO OPTIONS:
a.Only one side was involved. In this case, the offending team loses all points if it is a regular night of play on the weekly schedule, or loses the team match if it is a Session Playoff or any kind of a tournament match. The nonoffending team receives five points (75 points in 9-Ball) in the case of a regular night of play, or advances to the next level in the event of Session Playoffs or some sort of tournament play.
b.Both teams were guilty of hostile physical contact. In this case neither team would receive any points for the night in the case of a regular night of play on the weekly schedule, or if it is a Session Playoff or tournament play, both teams lose the match, which is the same as saying both teams are disqualified.
League Management has no alternative other than to enforce one of the above two options. When considering the above options, League Management cannot consider who started it, nor can League Management consider that the retaliation, if it occurred, was justified. The only way both teams can avoid the same penalty is for one of the teams to refuse to retaliate no matter what provocation they may have to endure.
2. VERBAL ABUSE
Verbal abuse consists of any name calling, threats, or any other language that could be considered to be harassment or could cause embarrassment to the opponent. League Management will always have to make judgments in this area. It is not considered harassment to root for your team—just do not do it while your opponent is shooting.
IMMEDIATE ACTION - If League Management can determine the verbal abuse was entirely one-sided, then the individual match must be awarded to the nonoffending player. This is the standard immediate action taken by League Management. The verbal abuse could be coming from the opponent, anyone on the opponent's team, or anyone who is with the opponent. It is only considered to be a one-sided situation if no one from the other side responds or retaliates in any way. League Management may call for forfeiture of the entire match if it determines the abuse and harassment put the nonoffending team in an unfair competitive situation.
If both players or both teams are involved in the verbal abuse, a situation commonly referred to as a screaming match, then the match results may or may not be affected based upon the decision of League Management. If it is in a tournament or playoff situation, both teams could be disqualified, as it is extremely disruptive to other matches and to the tournament in general.
3. FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS
It is during follow-up action that League Management is given the opportunity to decide who started the problem and whether or not the degree of retaliation was reasonable. Follow-up action addresses the long-term issues.
It is important that those ladies and gentlemen who cannot act like ladies and gentlemen adjust their demeanor appropriately or they will be removed from the League.
League Management must take action against any members involved in physical contact violations, no matter how remotely League related they are. It is not acceptable for a couple of members to take their fight outside, or to agree to meet and fight it out at a later date. If, indeed, they do fight at a later date and League Management determines it was as a result of League play, then League Management must take action. This action would be in the form of follow-up action. A fight that occurs outside, but during League time, will be considered to be the same as one that occurred inside. If a player threatens to wait outside until the match is over, League Management should rule that the entire team match is forfeited. How can a player and his teammates possibly concentrate on finishing a match if they feel they will be facing a brawl later on? In other words, a threat could be treated as physical contact in terms of immediate action. There is certainly room for a lot of judgment in this area.
Follow-up action by League Management results in penalties such as probation, suspension and permanent termination of League and APA membership. The latitude of these penalties is left mainly up to League Management, but the following guidelines should be observed:
a.To any person who starts a fight or brawl—permanent termination of League and APA membership.
b.To a person who gets into a fight or a brawl defending himself—a minimum one month suspension if first offense, and much longer if otherwise.
c.To someone who consistently uses foul or intimidating language—six month suspension, and longer for a second offense.
d.To someone who uses lesser degrees of verbal abuse—probation and suspension as deemed appropriate.
It is important that all team members are aware of these conduct guidelines. Your team should consider dropping anyone from your roster who does not agree with them. Any individual or team suspended from League play will immediately lose certain other membership privileges, including eligibility for APA tournaments, until and unless the suspension is lifted. Once a player is suspended that player will not have the privilege to coach their team, keep score or put up players, until their suspension has been lifted. Breaking this rule may result in a much lengthier suspension. You joined this League to have a good time and so did the vast majority of other members. Every member has the right to be treated in a sportsmanlike manner, and members who display offensive behavior will not be tolerated.
Everyone becomes a Pro eh?
Our team was playing a Tourney game in our Vegas League. Had a drunk stand at the end of the table directing everyones shots for them.
Pointing to the object balls and telling people where to cut them.
Finally after about 30 seconds, I had enuff and basically what you said to the guy was pretty mild.
There were a lot of F words in my instructions to the guy. But, he got the point.
Our team was playing a Tourney game in our Vegas League. Had a drunk stand at the end of the table directing everyones shots for them.
Pointing to the object balls and telling people where to cut them.
Finally after about 30 seconds, I had enuff and basically what you said to the guy was pretty mild.
There were a lot of F words in my instructions to the guy. But, he got the point.
Depends entirely on how big he was.
(You should have punched him in the face ) I second that !
All these suggestions of violence scares me. Seriously. Well, kind of seriously.
There is no way that I will risk my pass port for some drunken knob. Finally got a Pardon from the Fed Gov.
Funny that on certain nights there are so many young bloods acting out at the hall. Little Gang Bangers.
I know guys who could give you the look and you'd know. These are the quiet guys who wouldn't normally say Shite if their mouths were full of it.
Its the quiet guys you have to worry about. They walk softly and carry a big stick so to speak. Am I not right?
There is no way that I will risk my pass port for some drunken knob. Finally got a Pardon from the Fed Gov.
Funny that on certain nights there are so many young bloods acting out at the hall. Little Gang Bangers.
I know guys who could give you the look and you'd know. These are the quiet guys who wouldn't normally say Shite if their mouths were full of it.
Its the quiet guys you have to worry about. They walk softly and carry a big stick so to speak. Am I not right?
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The way I would interpret this is that it is referring to conduct between opposing teams. You can't very well make a drunk that is not an APA member follow APA rules.