What's The Point Of It? Seriously . . . Brutal Honesty Required . . .

Kickin' Chicken said:
Why I play very likely has to do with my having a defective personality.

I am a showoff in most areas of my life. I see it, I recognize it, and yes, I actually embrace it. :o

brian kc
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In every man is a Kickin C. waiting to get out. Have fun. Enjoy. Pool is a game. Pool is a show. Pool is a lifestyle.
 
Without reading all the responses thus far, Pool is one of two hobbies that I have left in this world that don't in some way or manner cause considerable pain.

Rodeo, baseball, bowling, golf, and a few others coupled with a pretty reckless youth have taken enough toll on my body that Pool and Fishing are all I have left that the body's aches and pains can tolerate.

Yes. I do love the game and have always loved it and I'm damned sure positive that it in an overall sense, it has in fact taken up a lot of time that could have been used more productively.
 
This topic, with some variation, comes up from time to time. I have posted the following passage a few times now, but maybe some new eyes will see it here. It's the best thing I've ever read about the appeal of the game of pool. Beauty ... heart ... renewal -- it's all there in two brief paragraphs.

Playing Off The Rail, by David McCumber, Random House, 1996, pages 276-277. It is presented as the author's thoughts while watching Tony Annigoni's 9-3 9-ball masterpiece over Johnny Archer.

"Tony broke, and made two balls, and I could see the table unfold in my mind, and I knew he could see it even better, and would run it. As he made the shots I was overpowered by the beauty of this game, at once immutably logical, governed by physical inevitabilities, and at the same time infinitely poetic and varied. This game at its best, as it was being played before me, had the transcendent power of a Handel chorus.

I thought about what an impressive mental exercise it was for Tony, after a miserable session against an unremarkable player two hours earlier, to reinvent himself so completely. It was a question of heart, a gathering of everything stored inside a man, a refusal to fall after stumbling. It was a very rare thing for a player to take such advantage of the game's intrinsic quality of renewal, the fresh start with each match, each rack, each shot. Nothing pharmaceutical could ever exceed the jolt of bliss that comes with the self-mastery that sort of play entails: knowing the ball is going in, knowing the cue ball is going to stop precisely where you willed it to, knowing that the next shot is going in too. I thought of Willie Hoppe, running an astonishing twenty-five billiards in an exhibition in 1918, seeing all those rails and angles and spins and caroms in his head like presents waiting to be opened. It was no accident that Hoppe was the most disciplined and controlled player of his era. Power over the cue ball, over the object ball, is power over ourselves. It is the sweetest irony that pool has gathered the reputation of being a game for louts and idlers, when, to be played well, it demands such incredible discipline of movement, of thinking, of emotion."​
 
Luxury said:
I've played music on stage in several bands and was a way over the top showman.
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Uh-oh, BUSTED!!! I know who you are now...........you're...........Jack Black (School of Rock). :thumbup:


Maniac (stick it to the "man")
 
I'll respond before reading the other replies.....

I play because the game is challenging. It's incredibly complex. It's something I can do for a lifetime unlike some sports I played when I was a kid.
I think at its purest form, it is a gentlemans game and is quite classy. Because I think that, I left for several years as I didn't find it to be so in the places I was playing. I've come to terms with that and came back. I missed it, too.
I also have made some incredibly hard shots and outs (on purpose) and that keeps me coming back. I think we tend to believe we're as a good as our best game even though some of us seldom play at that level. I know that my average game is a far cry from my best game and best shots. I'd like to move the average closer to my best showings. So I come back to work on that.
I also like the esprit de corps of the game. Generally speaking, we help each other and pull for each other to do well and get better.
I love the history of the game and the artistry of our tools. Having said that, I appreciate when someone dominates with just a bar cue.
 
I'm going to reply before reading what others have posted (as to not tarnish my immediate thoughts when asked...)

Being a highly competitive person is what drew me to trying ANYTHING that is competitive. My baseball days are over for the most part, and golf replaced that quite nicely. Living in IL means I usually have MONTHS of not playing golf....and believe me it's like an itch that needs to be scratched!!! I have always enjoyed pool, but never took it too seriously, until about 2006. I played before that, and could usually hold my own ok walking into a bar and throwing down some quarters to play. One night I did just that, walked into a local bar and threw some quarters up to play the winner. I think I had won my first 4 games (of barbox 8 ball), before one of my opponents asked how long I'd played for this team. What team?? Apparently it was league night, and I had wandered onto the practice table of the visiting team. The captain of that team had asked the question, and when I told him I don't play for a "team", he immediately asked if I wanted to (for his). lol. I did, and that lead to a weekly tourney now and then, then maybe a regional one, and so on. I still hardly play any pool in the summertime (leagues or tourneys), but I do have a table at home so I can try to stay in stroke.

I like to say/think that it is just another competitive outlet for me, but my appreciation of the games has grown, and I know, truly, it'll be something that I do until I kick the ole bucket.

Some of my friends only like the gambling aspect of the game, and some do it to gain respect of others, etc. I couldn't care less what ANYONE thinks of my game, and I'm not a huge fan of taking someone else's money, but I play along with or tolerate, maybe is a better word, those other facets of the pool world. I just want the competition. :cool:
 
TATE said:
There is a huge difference between playing pool and hanging out at the poolroom. Playing pool is a skill and challenge, a quest to conquer and perfect the imperfectable. It is being proud of our skills, the pride of winning and learning to accept the shame of losing.

Hanging out at the poolroom involves adventure, entertainment, and loneliness.

Loneliness is something most of us never discuss. We can be lonely for a sense of brotherhood, lonely in our lives even when stocked with family, friends and co-workers. There is something about me that a pool room fulfills. It is a place stocked with people I understand, an atmosphere I like and understand.

Top boil it down to one statement: We play pool because we are pool players.
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Good description....I especially like your first paragraph + add ALLOT of learning.
 
No matter where I go I feel at home in a ''real'' pool room. No matter what state I'm in, I Always seem or know someone from somewhere else. A few yrs back I actually ran into a guy that I played with when I was 15 ys old. Then 40 + yrs went by and we happened to be in match at Capones in Springhill FL. And I ran into Varner, whom I played against in the midwest collegiate 14.1 finals 1969 or 70, Earl the pearl was there, and got to know rocky and Rob Saez/first time we met, and few others, made me feel right at home INSTANTLY.
 
Cracktherack said:
The question about why we play pool may be found in the admiration and respect we receive when we defeat a tough opponent or beat the toughest guy in town on a regular basis. We drill people in 9 ball, 10, ball, straight, one-pocket and 3 cushion and perhaps the answer of it all is pride.
We do it because of the insatiable desire within us to feed our ego and drink from the cup of acceptance. When others think highly of us, we then think highly of ourselves as well.
More valuable than a world cup 10 ball trophy, is being admired for your character, not your ability at pool.
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I think this answer most resembles what Makes me want to play.

I used to have a whole lot of hobbies, drumming, building VW race cars, BMX freestlying (when I was a teen) etc. never did i play pool never even thought of the game because I was busy with my other hobbies. even woth those, I had a great feeling when others would say something positive about what i was doing I treated it like a competition. even if it was with myself, everything was self taught, and I took extreme pride in that but it was always good to have comfirmation from others.

Now, fast forward to 12 years ago, when i first picked up a pool cue, i just happened to be in a bar when I was asked to fill in an open slot on a team who needed a body. when I first shot pool it was the standard banger game. and I overheard someone say " boy that guy has no idea of what he's doing," and truthfully i didn't. I took this criticism and went with it, told myself that I was gonna learn what i can from books videos older guys who I felt had good advice. and come back and shut these critics up

so by the next season. I had not only learned to not be a banger I had the highest winning average. for the season. thos "kudos" was a good feeling which feeds my need for competition mentioned above, I went from a SL4 in the APA to a 6 in 2 monthes after that and then a 7 a year later. now i understand that doesnt mean alot in the grand scheme of things but it is a good feeling to see such an improvement.

the other half of this game is the constant challenge to just be consistant, which is the trouble I currently have. this drives me to be addicted to this game (probably more than i should)
 
im just finishing dinner:frown:
quick scan of posts doesnt show kickin chickens reply
if he did could someone post the #
if he didnt
CMON MAN:D
 
I travel around a lot and I've found that almost all the friends I've made have been through pool. It overcomes barriers of language, income, and status and is a great form of communication. When I came to Japan years ago, the regulars at the local hall took me in as one of their own even though I couldn't speak a lick of Japanese and we have remained friends ever since.
 
Because periodically you get to execute, and witness, small miracles. And because in special moments you get to connect with something that is part of you and larger than you at the same time that works through you.
 
Why I play pool....

1. I'm anylitical...and pool feeds that monster for me, the angles, percentages, diamond theories, etc.
2. I love to WIN...at anything...it makes me feel good...I need it, which is why I have worked straight commission jobs in sales my entire life, so I can win and get paid for it.
3. My personality is such that I respond to trophies, plaques, admiration, pats on the back...pool gives me a chance to feed that monkey too.
4. I like to get out with the guys and have a couple drinks...with a family at 42 yrs old, pool gives me a great excuse to do just that...once a week.
5. Submersing myself in pool makes my brain go numb for a night...like a drug...melting away my stress and problems...I need that...I'm addicted to that, once a week. It's my stress fix.
6. My cues are like art work that I enjoy admiring...like paintings locked up in a room...it's nice to take one or 2 out each week and admire the work that went into it, the sharp points, the grain in the ivory, the woodwork...
7. Something crazy always happens at the bar or pool hall...and I like to laugh...it gives me a chance to laugh.
8. Pool offers me opportunities to learn, and also put to use, valuable high stakes mental conditioning...allowing me to practice, learn and exercise mind control...a never ending quest I can only hope to continue to grow and foster forever.
9. It teaches me discipline.


I think that's it...and I tried to be completely honest. :cool:
 
This thread has been a major bummer, i know it was not meant that way but i have had a long lay off from pool and I'm starting to wonder if i should even come back to the game..Maybe i should just move on.
 
Started to play in grandparents basement at the age of 8. At 12 or so beat the other kids (teens) at the bowling alley except this "Abruzzo" dude who was a year ahead of me in school. i was a big kid who looked a lot older than his chronological age, upon graduating from 8th grade walked to Harry and Paulines for a couple of beers. Started playing drunks barpool at 14 or so, did ok cause i had jingle in my jeans the majority of the time. By the age of 16/17 i discovered a myriad of ancillary income streams which were pool/pool hall/street related and spent the next few years with the goal of beating somebody, out of something every day by any means necessary. Gambled with pretty much anybody beacause i was shooting toothpicks or air more often than not. i was nationwide until the ARMY found me and my wardrobe consisted of mostly green while spending the majority of time runnin through the jungle or crawling on my belly like a reptile. At about that time i realized there might be more to life than what i experienced to date, so, upon mustering out i decided to give the work thing a try.

It seemed like i was good at what i did and started getting promotions, etc. Even hired a pool buddy (Jimmy King-Oak Park) to keep me somewhat plugged in and grounded. Pool was still ok although my roguish days and ways were behind me. It dawned on me that i was no longer the hunter but, more often than not, the hunted. Didn't play much between 69 and 76.

Job change necessitated relocation and upon arriving in the south i worked and went back to what i knew which was hustlin the bars. Winning was validation that although uncomfortable in my job (upper level mgr for lg paint co which i bullshit my way into) i was good at something. Played until 79/80 and then quit to focus on marriage/family/work. Got comfortable in those venues and started to play again in 88/89 at which time i was a vp of a $500mm Co with 7 manufacturing locations coast to coast. Extensive travel kept me plugged into the pool scene on a first hand basis and was playing enough of the right people to build a $150k +- cue collection and maintain a fat right front pocket. Cues and cash were nice, but again, validation was the nuts.

Health failed late in 92, retired, bought a poolhall in 96 and started to play again on a recreational level which was enjoyable until apprx 02. i found that competitive, team pool has it's own unique stress as compared to being a lone wolf.

i coulda bin a contenda if life hadn't gotten in the way:)
 
I liked it since the film Donald Duck in Mathamagic Land was shown to my class.
1. the mathematics is intriguing to figure out, then couple it with my human error factor and it becomes a lot of fun
2. I like an indoor activity that I can do with my wife and friends, or by myself that isn't staring at a screen (Kindle or computer monitor)
3. I love the antique tables as furniture with a purpose and style
Craig
 
When I was young I started playing pool. I also played basketball, baseball, football, softball, hiked over mountains, packed elk carcasses for miles after chasing them for days with a bow and arrow. I ran and jumped. I love to compete. I love to do things I'm better at than others doing it around me. Now at 54 years old I'm like this because all those other things wane and pool persists. Pool is the only thing I'm better at now than when I was younger. Where the younger players can't get the upper hand just by being younger. I sort of feel like this:

http://youtu.be/HiIZLDeMOg0
 
Pool, to me, is also a microcosm of live.

I've always thought of pool as a way to express myself. Some people play music, write poems, draw/take pictures, create business plans, teach, martial arts, govern, sing, dance, etc. - I use pool to satisfy this "artistic desire".

Pool, to me, is also a microcosm of live in general with scenarios like "risk/reward", "win/win", "win/lose", "goal setting", "human nature tests", "structured rules", "honesty/dishonesty", "systems & controls", "capitalism", "money management", "socialism", "democracy", "social skills", compassion, understanding, problem solving, meditation, hand/eye coordination, calibrating people, gambling, drug/alcohol reality, reading road maps, etc.

I've learned a lot about life, people, human tendencies, and especially myself playing and competing at pocket billiards (and other games/sports). I'm told humans can learn life just living "life on life's terms," and I'm not sure it could be as well rounded and diversified as matching up and competing. If you can survive in the greatest pool rooms you certainly have a head start on those that just learned in class room environments.

I'm not sure if I love pool, have a passion for it, or was just destined and born to play. Can any of us honestly answer that question? One thing's for sure, we've had "life experiences" that we could get no other way. :wink: 'The Game is the Teacher' CJ Wiley
 
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