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

Quote:
Originally Posted by kickin' chicken
"it" being what pretty much all of us here on az do, namely, play pool.

Did you ever think about just how much of our time is wasted chasing 2 1/4" plastic balls into pockets.

And we know that the absolute vast majority of us will never go any further than being a shortstop level player, and even that, if we're lucky.

Couldn't this time be much better spent doing something productive?

So, why do we?


sfmc-x1 said:



Dude, don't be a kill-joy.

First off, the responses denoting sarcasm are the best and by far the most honest.

No, this question does not require soul searching to answer but it kills the soul when the truth and reality is confronted.

What working stiff has the kind of disposable time to devote to becoming anything better than a shortstop.

Whether its a passing hobby, a pastime, or a way to kill time, people engage in recreational sport as a means to escape(excluding pro tour players). What they're escaping from is different from one person to the next.

I don't like my job and I can't leave it. Too young to collect retirement, not busted up enough to collect disability, I look forward to playing pool because it allows me to forget how miserable it is trying to fight to stay ahead of the poverty line.

If playing pool without the intention of becoming a pro is wasting time, what other comparisons are you drawing conclusions to?
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In my op I was simply asking a rhetorical question to provoke some thought. :)

best,
brian kc
 
My reasons have all been stated repeatedly.

A better question would be to ask the other 99%: Why DON'T you play pool?
 
Love this game

I am a pool warrior!!

I play pool for the thrill and excitement of the game that gets my heart pumping and body sweating. Heck, I will say it and I'm sure many of you probably think the same....."it's better than sex"....(Just don't tell my wife lol).

When I'm on the table against my opponent, there's no mercy and I decide their faith...it's war and you're going to lose. It's a fantasy world for me, where I am the warrior that travels everywhere to find my next opponents to constantly improve my skill until I am the best in the world. I've beaten world champions (they call me Duke the fluke for a reason) :)...just recently I took out Ronnie Alcano (only race to five).

I love this game, there no money in it...but I will always plays just for the thrill of the challenge. This has got to be the most dynamic game/ sport in the world where anyone has a chance to be the best in the world. Not biased like other sports/games where you have to have certain quality to play the game. It's has both mental and physical aspects that make it of the best games/sport that unparalleled in the history of mankind!!! Yes, I love this game!!!

Duc.
 
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I shoot, because in the realm of games, BILLIARDS is the queen mother of bad-assness: The Grand Equalizer of mind and body.

Being the "strongest" man in the world will not help you beat me.
Being the "most intelligent" man in the world will not help you beat me.
 
I always tought I was in love with the game. After 60 years playing pool, a few months ago I had to hang my cue up for good. The pain after playing for even a half hour got to be too much. I figured it was going to tear me apart not having pool in my life anymore. About 2 weeks after quiting I was over it. You don't forget about someone or something you really loved for all those years in two weeks. I got to thinking why I got over it so fast. I believe it was because pool was always about the money for me. Even at 12 years old I was bringing someone home from school and beating him out of money, baseball cards, sporting goods, and even beat a kid out of his top of the line $75 Panther bike once. I always only played pool like it was a job or a partime job for 60 years. I miss working as a nurse much more. Johnnyt
 
I came to the game of pool later in life, starting at 46. I had played the occasional game with other kids at the YMCA when I was a kid and had fun, but it never grabbed me.

So three years ago, my best buddy starts bringing me to the local Eagles Club where he was a member, and where he played a lot, in a couple different leagues. I went along for the hell of it, after all, they had beer, right?

After going a few times over the next few weeks, he mentioned something about his team needing to add players for the fall. I told him that I'd give it a try, but I didn't want to disappoint him, my being so bad. He grinned and said thats no problem, we need beginners too. (APA league, obviously...)

Well, long story somewhat shorter, I got hooked. I have found, over the years, that if an activity captures my attention, I become somewhat obsessed with it. Reading up on it, practicing, try to learn more. Pool is no exception.

I like the combination of physical and mental challenges pool presents. There is a whole physical element that requires skill and precision, and practice to refine those skills. All the while, the mental part of the game is fascinating, both the game and the managing of ones mental state while playing. To play well requires all of these things.

I love the social aspect of playing league, or just going to the club and shooting with whoever is there. I can play pool no matter what the weather is like, and I can play most any time of day or night. I can enjoy a drink or two, or I don't have to if I'm being more serious about things.

I enjoy the competition, and trying my skills against others.

I won't go so far as to say that I live for pool, but its close. I came to pool at a time in my life when I was having a lot of problems at work, and problems at home. It has served as an escape of sorts, something that I enjoy that I can dive into. I won't be so melodramatic as to say pool saved my life, but that might not be inaccurate. I do think its saved my sanity. (Of course, it tests my sanity in other ways, too.) I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't play pool right now. It wouldn't be good.

I think about pool a lot, it helps me get through some days. Of course, having access to AZB on my phone is only enabling that. :p

I love it. I hope I never stop loving it. I've met so many great folks playing, and I'm inspired to try and improve my game, whenever possible.
 
I dont really play pool to win...or to get better. Pool is relaxing to me. Im in control of what I can do. I can tune everything out and just dance the cue ball around the table. If I have a bad day...Ill put some blues or jazz on low and shoot pool. Not really caring if I make a shot or not. To me playing pool is theraputic. Its my yoga.
 
Hungarian said:
You lathered us up for this?

We want to know more about your defects...

You bailed out on the honesty man...
Click to expand...

I know! I stopped reading when the chicken sterted talking about playing with himself for hours at a time.

Eww. Did not need to know that.
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
and a little later than I expected since this has gone way over 25 replies in a big hurry.

For the purpose of this thread, no details are needed about how and when my love affair with pool began but I have posted about that before.

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

Regarding pool, I *always* and without exception am a good sport.

But with that said, I am driven to not just win but to do it in such a way that gets notice. I like flair. I thrive on the accolades.

Lots of people can beat me, that's for sure. But I do win much more often than I lose. Unless I'm in a very meaningful game, I will play big risk / big reward shots more than I should.

If I play an exceptional set (for me) where shotmaking, position play, kicks and banks are all working, it's an adrenailine rush for me.

I can thoroughly enjoy playing by myself in the basement for hours on end. There is real beauty and satisfaction in solving the puzzle presented after each break.

But this is only preparation for playing in public where I can get what I really need.

I'm shallow.

best,
brian kc
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I'm very similar. I've played music on stage in several bands and was a way over the top showman. Also dabbled in magic to entertain the kids.

Pool is a great stage to be a showman and pull of some magic that adults can appreciate.

Also I have played pool in a lot of clubs where the girls are playing as well and having a sexy pool game makes things a little easier.

However I've always been highly competitive in sports. Played all sports well but in High School I was the number one tennis player as a freshman. When the football players gave me a hard time I explained that I can prove I'm better than someone playing tennis but they can't in a team sport.

Pool is another great one on one sport and living in rainy Washington it is ideal.

My dad was a chess champion and when I showed him how I plan an eight ball break n run he finally understood and appreciated the game. I love that pool is such a cerebral game as well.
 
Luxury said:
I'm very similar. I've played music on stage in several bands and was a way over the top showman. Also dabbled in magic to entertain the kids.

Pool is a great stage to be a showman and pull of some magic that adults can appreciate.

Also I have played pool in a lot of clubs where the girls are playing as well and having a sexy pool game makes things a little easier.

However I've always been highly competitive in sports. Played all sports well but in High School I was the number one tennis player as a freshman. When the football players gave me a hard time I explained that I can prove I'm better than someone playing tennis but they can't in a team sport.

Pool is another great one on one sport and living in rainy Washington it is ideal.

My dad was a chess champion and when I showed him how I plan an eight ball break n run he finally understood and appreciated the game. I love that pool is such a cerebral game as well.
Click to expand...

What are saying there KickIn ? <_____ Sounds like a pool stud lol
Just screwing widya
 
I play poool because.......

I play because there are times when I'm playing that everything clicks.......my stroke is smooth, effortless and measured......the sound the cue ball makes striking the object ball is a solid click......the object ball rolls end over end without "any" wiggle or wobble right to my pocket aim point.......and the cue ball glides to its target position for the next shot shape........those are the moments I live and play for because when I run a 9 ball rack without any difficult shots having to be made or just run more than two racks in straight pool.....I owned the table for that albeit short-lived moment and absolutely no one in the world could have done it any better........I was as good as one can hope to be.

Afterall, when your opponent doesn't get to come to the table and shoot, you're as good as anyone can be for at least awhile.....and when you do get into trouble or return to the table after your opponent has played a really tough safety ........and I study the shot and pocket a seemingly impossible 88 degree long rail cut shot down a 9ft table (passing the side pocket along the way) and pocket the object ball in the corner pocket, well for that one moment, I played as great as even Mosconi could have played...........but only for that moment for as long as it might last.....irresepctive of whether it's just one shot, or one game or a couple of racks............that's why I play pool.
 
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Read thru all the responses and get the same from most all-----because we love the game----good or bad. I tell my clients some people play golf I play pool.
 

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Genghis Khan -- The Emperor of All Men

Nay,” responded the Khan, “to crush your
enemies, to see them fall at your feet to take their
horses and goods and hear the lamentation of their
women. That is best.”

This is the best description of why the DCC at the Exec. West was GREAT...

and why I enjoy a friendly game of "pocket billiards" :D
 
Because I enjoy the company of people I play with, and because this is the only time in my day I don't think about anything else, only pool, and I love it.

And I usually feel more confident than I do doing anything(almost) else.
 
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