What do you hope to achieve from the game....

NolesFan83

NolesFan83

Wannabe pool player
Silver Member
I plays this game we love everyday. Without question. I'm loyal. I may not like the poolroom I play in or even all the people. But I play everyday. I push through all that noise and just play. I play in hopes that one day, a stranger walks thru those doors and when he says " anyone gamble?". That I can say, with confidence, "I play a little". After the match, win, lose, or break even. That man says to himself. Damn that guy played good.
I never aspired to play pro pool. After seeing what they have to do just to get paid, and a lifestyle I'm not sure wanna live, I'm pretty sure what I hope to accomplish in this game. I want to be competitive. With anyone. Doesn't matter what your name is, what you've one. For that one match we play, I'm gonna give you hell. I'm far from being that guy, but half the fun is getting there. People play this game for alot of reasons. This was mine.
 
I'm not sure now that you mention it, actually, because for so long I have aspired to play professional 3C... I know that the chances are stacked millions against me and I am presently nowhere close to that level, but hey, i've got a while... I think. Maybe i'm just scared to "settle" and lose the desire to explore. Anyway, aside from that hope, I have gained many new friends and good experiences. I don't really "expect" to gain anything because I 'already do', if that makes sense. When I go play, I know it will put me at ease with the rest of everything else going on in life. The thrill of a match, socializing with friends or meeting new people, the tea they serve (at the parlor I frequent), the alone-but-not-lonely feeling when practicing alone, the gratification when you see your own improvement.
 
To be at a level that most players respect and beat a full time pro player in a tournament. I have been fortunate to beat some of the top players in my state even up in tournament matches so I feel its possible and I am getting better every year. I wonder how I will feel about the game when I stop getting better, I know the learning curve is starting to flatten a little bit, in the beginning you can move up several balls quickly, to get another 2-3 balls better will take lots of table time and dedication. :)
 
To have fun playing. Otherwise, what's the point? I think some people take it too seriously.
 
Last edited:
JMW said:
To have fun playing. Otherwise, what's the point? I think some people take it too seriously.
Click to expand...

There is no such thing as "taking ___ too seriously" if one has a passion for something (no matter what that something is) it's that passion that makes life fulfilling. It doesn't matter if that's swimming, biking, law enforcement, politics, tiddlywinks, archery, clock repair, computers or whatever.

This communication form, the cars we drive, the homes we live in, the food we eat, the sports we watch and everything else that we now enjoy are all products of people who have "taken it seriously", for me one of those things is pool; for this guy it is trains.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVABLCA8XSo&feature=fvwrel
 
I want to see just how good I can get now that older age is approaching and the eyes are going bad slowly.

If I can get to what would be considered professional level or shortstop level, then that would be great.

If that is not in the cards, I just want to be as good as I can get. No ulterior motive. Just my own satisfaction that the next goal was met.
 
Definitely not looking to turn pro but I don't know exactly where I want to 'stop'... coming up with a goal, like "I want to be exactly this good" ...seems almost limiting. I will constantly be learning and improving, as time and the wallet permit.

Also, I want to never backslide in skill and be that guy who 'used to shoot a lot better'.
 
I hope to achieve some sense of fulfillment, knowing that I did as best as I could. To realize that as important as One Pocket is to me, there is a bigger picture to be aware of. As Mr Spock, so eloquently stated: "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or, the one."
To boldly play where no man has played before.
To finally stand before the Klingon high council and flip them the bird.
To date Lt. Uhura and not have people talk about me behind my back.
To...
 
PGHteacher said:
There is no such thing as "taking ___ too seriously" if one has a passion for something (no matter what that something is) it's that passion that makes life fulfilling. It doesn't matter if that's swimming, biking, law enforcement, politics, tiddlywinks, archery, clock repair, computers or whatever.

This communication form, the cars we drive, the homes we live in, the food we eat, the sports we watch and everything else that we now enjoy are all products of people who have "taken it seriously", for me one of those things is pool; for this guy it is trains.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVABLCA8XSo&feature=fvwrel
Click to expand...

I agree.

The movie Lemans: Background: Female lead's husband has died the year before in a crash. She's back at the race the following year. I guess she is trying to find some closure. There has just been another terrible crash, & the press are harassing here with questions. Steve McQueen wisks her away to his trailer & during their conversation she asks............'Racing? Why do you do it?' Steve McQueen answers......Racing is living, everything else is just waiting til I can live again.'

Passion....for some it is that intense, for others it's not quite so, but damn close.

I'm married & have four children. I loved playing football & indoor ball, but can longer play them. I also love golf. I love my parents. So putting family all in one group.

There's family, & pool is third. I know that's only two, but Who I left out know's Who He is.

I'm an amatuer and I play for the love of the game. I want nothing more than the joy & pleasure it gives me, especially when I play well.

It is a challenging game that gives almost immediate gratification/satiafaction &/or disappointment. It is very similiar to playing football & golf.

I want nothing from the game but the game itself.

Rick
 
Last edited:
Pool's always been an "inner expression" like a painting or song is to an artist

NolesFan83 said:
I plays this game we love everyday. Without question. I'm loyal. I may not like the poolroom I play in or even all the people. But I play everyday. I push through all that noise and just play. I play in hopes that one day, a stranger walks thru those doors and when he says " anyone gamble?". That I can say, with confidence, "I play a little". After the match, win, lose, or break even. That man says to himself. Damn that guy played good.
I never aspired to play pro pool. After seeing what they have to do just to get paid, and a lifestyle I'm not sure wanna live, I'm pretty sure what I hope to accomplish in this game. I want to be competitive. With anyone. Doesn't matter what your name is, what you've one. For that one match we play, I'm gonna give you hell. I'm far from being that guy, but half the fun is getting there. People play this game for alot of reasons. This was mine.
Click to expand...

The Game's been many things to me over the years, a way of self expression, a way of passage and a way to get closer "Things that are natural in a Super Way" :wink: To give an example of one of those things there's a story about the beginning of my Professional career, a man that made a "supernatural impression"...

I was hanging out at my pool room "CJ's" behind the bar of all places....I really didn't spend a lot of time back there, but this day was the exception. An older man came in, sat down and ordered a soda...I knew how to "mix" that one so I got it for him and set it down.......he said "you are the professional pool player CJ aren't you?"....I replied "yes, that's me, unless I owe you money:smile: LoL"....he laughed, took a drink and said, "no, you don't owe me money, but I would like to ask you a question"......I suddenly felt him get serous and wondered what this older man was up to "sure, you can ask me whatever you want" I said, leaning against the cooler.....the man pointed at the pool table and ask "what are you trying to achieve playing that Game?"....I hesitated, thought and replied "I'm trying to be the best player I can be, maybe even the best in the world, at least once".....the man place his napkin between us, looked into my eyes and said firmly "you know this Game you play is already PERFECT....it's up to you to uncover it" and immediately turned over the napkin and looked under it....."Do You Understand" he said firmly again "The Game is ALREADY PERFECT, it's just up to you to uncover that Perfection", again he lifted up the napkin, looked under it and then quickly back into my now defocused stare......His eyes by now felt like they were probing my very soul and I squirmed a bit, suddenly feeling very warm and answered "I think I understand.....it's not me that has to be perfect, it's the game, so I don't need to try to be perfect, I just need to Uncover the Perfection that's already been placed there...in the Game.....by...uhhhh".....he smiled at my hesitation and finished "by the Breath of the Universe or The Breath of GOD, right now that's not as important as YOU having Faith that it's TRUE!.....He then told me to hold on for a minute and went to his car and brought back a book called 'A Parenthesis in Eternity', that I read and still have to this day.....this was one of those occasions that influenced me so much I find myself wondering if this old man was really an old man.....or.....angel....no, that would be silly now wouldn't it?.....hmmm, I still can't help but wonder..." 'The Game is the Teacher'
 
1. Have fun with friends.
2. Beat my friends
3. Make new friends
4. Repeat

Sure, I try to improve. Human nature forces us to want to do better. But the reason for me to play is to have fun.
 
I play for those times when I am able to execute a shot exquisitely. The feeling that you get when the table and balls have given in to your will and obeyed your commands. It's a great feeling when you can make something happen exactly the way you wanted it to.
I don't really care much if someone else was there to witness it or not, it's a personal, somewhat private moment that disappears as quickly as it showed up.


It's kind of like the way Roy McAvoy describes his glof swing in the movie "Tin Cup"

"What Is The Golf Swing,"

by Roy McAvoy?

I think of the golf swing as a poem.



The opening phrase of this

poem will always be the grip.


The hands unite to form a single unit

by the simple overlap of the...

...little finger.



Lowly and slowly...

...the club head is led back, pulled

into position not by the hands,


...but the body, which turns

away from the target,


...shifting weight to the right side

without shifting balance.


Tempo is all, perfection unattainable,

as at the top of the swing...


...there's a hesitation,

a little nod to the gods.


A nod to the gods?


To the gods that he is fallible.


That perfection is unattainable.


Weight shifts to the left pulled

by the powers in the earth...

...it's alive, this swing,

and a sculpture...

...and down through contact...

...striking the ball crisply...

...with character.

A tuning fork goes off in

your heart, your balls...

...such a pure feeling is the well-struck golf shot.

Then the follow-through to finish...

...always on line.

The reverse-C of the Golden Bear,
...the steelworkers' power and

the brawn of Carl Sandburg's...

...Arnold Palmer!



And the unfinished symphony of...Roy McAvoy.

Have a great weekend everyone!
 
PGHteacher said:
There is no such thing as "taking ___ too seriously" if one has a passion for something (no matter what that something is) it's that passion that makes life fulfilling. It doesn't matter if that's swimming, biking, law enforcement, politics, tiddlywinks, archery, clock repair, computers or whatever.

This communication form, the cars we drive, the homes we live in, the food we eat, the sports we watch and everything else that we now enjoy are all products of people who have "taken it seriously", for me one of those things is pool; for this guy it is trains.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVABLCA8XSo&feature=fvwrel
Click to expand...

As a rail fan, I can say those are some pretty nice locomotives.

I wish I could be that excited and passionate about something. I really love pool and play every day and try to be better than the day before but that excited? I don't know if I could ever reach that point. Last night I broke-and-ran a rack of 8-ball for the second time in memory and all it elicited was a small "sweet."
 
whatyougetfrompool.jpg

I mean, other than that, not much.. just the usual..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top