Who was in the wrong?

[kling&allen]

It sounds like she asked him for something, possibly a hug. He says no, something else, then you don’t want to touch me. Then it sound like Jason laughs.


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I think the joke that Earl makes is being left out of this discussion--a self deprecating remark is a good way to decline a hug ("no thanks, you don't want to touch me"). Maybe his joke was lost in translation which led to the awkwardness afterwards. Or maybe he had just farted and was trying to escape.

I think this is the only time I have ever defended Earl in my life.

 

[straightline]

Why don't somebody ask the parties in question?

 

[9Ballr]

Just caught the tail end of Earl's match with 21 year old Korean women's player Seo Seoa. She defeated Earl 5-1. After she shook Earl's hand, she went in for the hung and Earl shunned her. She was obviously elated to defeat a legend but should she have been more "professional" or should Earl have been more accommodating?

Why was anyone "in the wrong" to begin with?

People are under no obligation to hug just because someone comes running for a hug.

That being said I would have definitely given the child a quick hug.

 

[boogieman]

The bottom line is: an over the hill champion should realize that some opponents may want to pay homage to them, which you think would stroke their ego, and it would behoove them to be gracious about it. But Earl is such a cry baby, that's what you get.

IMO getting your ego stroked or stroking it yourself is a surefire way to lose competitions and your competitive edge. I get where you're coming from but as a competitor you gotta draw the line. You're there to shoot their liver out, not be a charming elder pool mentor.

Look at all the stuff Earl has done over the years to try to hack his body's inputs and feedback. Everything from shooting glasses, weights, wraps, finger tape, etc. Some people have problems processing the feedback they get without being overwhelmed. Some people are wired where it's easy to get overstimulated. It's not neurotypical and it's hard for those who are neurotypical to understand.

If you see someone who is constantly pissing about with touch and feedback, do you think they would enjoy being hugged? Short circuit your entire nervous system for a charming moment? Nah, might as well stick your keys in a light socket before your next match.

Put another way: If we looked at Earl's troubles as what they are, mental health related in which he works hard to overcome would we still think it strange for him not to hug? Would we give SVB hell if he didn't hear something an opponent said? Just because you can't see an issue doesn't mean it's not there or real. Sometimes when you are doing your best and overcoming inner struggles it doesn't make for charming television, but it is damn strong.

 

[ChrisinNC]

Why was anyone "in the wrong" to begin with?

People are under no obligation to hug just because someone comes running for a hug.

That being said I would have definitely given the child a quick hug.

I think it was just a matter of bad timing, seeing as Earl had just gone down 5-1 to complete what had to be a very disappointing showing for his entire week.

I could be wrong, but I’d like to think at some point after this incident, if they happened to have crossed paths, Earl might have made some attempt to make up for this awkward moment.

 

[Maniac]

I think this is the only time I have ever defended Earl in my life.

Well...don't let it happen again!!! LOL

 

[Sealegs50]

Just keep 6-8 inches away from the torso to avoid any incidental contact by another appendage.

Great advice. Don’t ever let yourself get into a spot where someone might think you were copping a feel.

 

[leto1776]

I see there is a lot more nuance to the discussion here, than the same topic over at r/billiards on Reddit, which doesn’t surprise me.

Most guys don’t want to hug after losing, period. Handshake, that’s it. It’s different on the ladies side, they often hug after a match, which probably comes from their mindset back in the 90s, of working together to grow the sport, compared to the cutthroat men.

Honestly, most guys don’t want to hug, period. Between close friends/bros, okay. People outside that group? Never. For men of Earl’s generation and older? Absolutely never. Handshake, that’s it.

Also, unlike 90% of the people on Twitter/Reddit who claim to be, I wouldn’t be surprised at all to learn that Earl is on the autism spectrum, as evidence by years of eccentricities.

All that being said, I feel bad for her.

 

[Dan White]

I did not read every post in this thread but this was discussed some time ago about Earl. Someone said that he has a thing about being touched by anyone -- like a phobia.

 

[tomatoshooter]

This guy snubbed his own wife:

I'm often pretty grumpy after a loss, but if I lose 5-1, I've probably gotten over it when the last ball drops.

 

[garczar]

F&*k hugs.

 

[gregcantrall]

Upon further review.
In the interest of full disclosure. Check out the handshake with Allison Fisher.

1:42 gets it.

 

[BRussell]

I love how people are medicalizing this. Earl’s an ass, that’s the only condition he has that would prevent him from giving her a little hug.

 

[cookie man]

It was ok for her to asked for a hug. It was also ok for Earl to decline. It was not ok for her to push the issue. This was a competition. Earl wasn’t obligated to hug anyone.

 

[Dan White]

I love how people are medicalizing this. Earl’s an ass, that’s the only condition he has that would prevent him from giving her a little hug.

I don't know if it was from Jay or who it was but it was someone who knows Earl. It was a fairly lengthy discussion of Earl not liking to be touched.

 

[Tooler]

I’m with Jason. No matter what he does,somebody will find fault with it.

 

[7stud]

I think the joke that Earl makes is being left out of this discussion--a self deprecating remark is a good way to decline a hug ("no thanks, you don't want to touch me"). Maybe his joke was lost in translation which led to the awkwardness afterwards. Or maybe he had just farted and was trying to escape.

I think this is the only time I have ever defended Earl in my life.

I watched the tape a couple more times, and I think you are right. This is what I can make out:

Earl as he was fist bumping after the match: You're great; you're better than me.

Earl as he was crouched down picking up his stuff: You don't want to touch me, I'm bad luck. Huh, huh.
Earl, still crouching: I've had covid too many times. Huh, huh.

Then Earl gets up, and with his stuff gathered in his arms, he walks out of the arena.

Ref: Don't take it personally. Don't take it personally.

Earl didn't seem mad, he just wanted to get out of there and not hug.

I watched the whole match, and Seo Seoa is a really good player. She trounced Earl.

 

[leto1776]

I watched the tape a couple more times, and I think you are right. This is what I can make out:



He didn't seem mad, he just wanted to get out of there and not hug.

I watched the whole match, and Seo Seoa is a really good player. She trounced Earl.

She’s very good. Her and Rita Chou being dead last overall honestly says just how good everyone else is.

 

[BuffaloSlim]

I don't see where Earl did anything wrong here .. he even laughingly said you don't want to touch me I've had covid too many times .. which from what I understand the last time he had it was very bad .. I do think she was very excited by her body language to have played with and beaten Earl and it was probably a gesture of admiration to give him a hug .. but let's face it some people just aren't huggers and that's ok .. I don't think people should be blowing this out of context like some are

EDIT .. what if it was Earl who went for a hug and she didn't want one would everyone still be pissin and moaning .. no I think not

 

[evergruven]

I have grown used to seeing and hearing behavior from Earl that is unsettling and worse. I watched the exchange between the two players and it appears she was very excited. She seemed to be very happy to even play him and the way she kind of trotted over to hug him was a show of excited respect from her.

For Earl it was just another poor display of character and it is what I expect Earl to do when he loses. Normally he looks disgusted and makes a few nasty remarks or blames the table, the balls, the temperature or anything else he can find. It amazes me that he gets invited to play in some of these events..

I didn't watch the match- was earl a poor sport during play?
at the end, as earl shook seo's hand, he said "you're great, better than me"
he then said/joked "you're luckier than me- you don't want to touch me, I'm bad luck"- and then he chuckled
earl left, and the ref told seo "don't take it personal"
good advice, I think.