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

Cornerman said:
I've posted this story before, but I always come back to it when someone ask the question:
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I think I was 9 or 10. I went with my Dad to pick up my sister at the
Masonic Temple. She was waiting at the Temple in a rec. room playing 8-ball on this 9' table. I'd never really played before but was fascinated by the click of the balls. Neither my sister nor her friend had a clue as to what they were doing, but occasionally, one of them would catch a ball just right. The ball would hit the leather pocket with that wonderful *thwap* sound.

My sister let my father and me play a bit before we went home. For a guy who never plays, my dad has some obvious natural talent. My father only knew one game: rotation (we are Filipino after all). So that was the first game that I knew as far as rules go.


In that first magical rack, I couldn't make a straight shot to save my life. I was able to make all of two balls: a bank on the 5, and a kick on the 13. My father apparently feeling no need to praise his young son on these accomplishments rewarded me with "lucky shot" on each.


And such was the spark that lit my burning desire. I never wanted to hear him tell me "lucky shot" again. Gee, dad. Thanks.
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And now you newbies now the rest of the story (of why I'm such a bitter prune)

Freddie <~~~ vengeful bastard
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Lock N Load <----- Thought Freddie was a good guy!!!
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
For me, after 20 years, it's the search for perfection. I know that my game is far from perfect, but I keep learning, evolving and facing challenges so it never gets boring. Also, when played properly, it's an elegant game and I appreciate that.
 
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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TAP. TAP. TAP. Damn near Freudian right here

Good isolation of the two factors at hand here (for me anyway). I am not sure what percentage, but obviously, others have that same feeling inside. Pool is truly a beautiful art that I love and can play anywhere, but the hanging out part is a darker story.
 
I play to become the best on earth !

I know it's a bold statement, and many won't agree. But you said you wanted honesty, right ?

My mindset is.....if you out-work the best player in the world, does that make you the best player ?......Yes,,, Yes it does ! (Ben Hogan)
 
i do it for the love of it..hell i play basketball i know the heat wont call ...play golf an i know the pga wont call. so it all in fun.......
 
I enjoy the challenge. I'm new to the game and I suck, but it's fun trying to improve. At 59 years old, I just want to play a respectable game; no intention of competing beyond friendly matches.

I enjoy the geometry and physics of the game. Of course, you don't need to know or think about those to play well, but I enjoy them.

I enjoy the social aspects of a friendly, competitive game. I play with a bunch of other guys who are the same age, speed, etc. It's like getting to know a person by playing golf with them; we spend as much time talking about "stuff" as we do playing pool.

As others have said, I enjoy playing because I can forget about everything else.
 
great!

pt109 said:
Meezer thought this would be a worthy addition to this thread...
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=302763
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thanks for posting this link, pt.

here are two paragraphs from "In Praise of Pool" that hit me just right:

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"Combining beauty and frustration in equal proportions, pool is geometrical purity raised to an art form. Its infinite variability makes its apparent simplicity a mocking yet seductive illusion."

<->

"For all this, the pool fraternity labors for scant recognition and its victors claim but stingy rewards. The winnings of the fifty finest contemporary professional players, taken together, do not approach the earnings of one nationally recognized golf or tennis luminary. Moreover, not one American in ten thousand can identify a front rank cueman, whether by aspect or by name. Clearly, then, the pool player submits to this rigorous discipline in hopes of gaining neither fame nor fortune, but purely for the love of this most perfect of all games."

O
/ \
-\--\--- o o
Phil Freedenberg
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best,
brian kc
 
A book, The pleasure of small motions: Mastering the mental game of pocket billiards by Bob Fancher covers this topic well.
 
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