Why is there so much rivalry and hate among leagues here?

ddadams

ddadams

Absolutely love this cue.
Silver Member
I can't go one day without seeing people bash APA leagues on here

Why is that? I understand the handicap system they use is absolutely stupid in the grand scheme of things but what do you recommend the players do?


Quit altogether and just play your buddies and whoever asks to play a few racks?


I don't get it. Yes, its amateur. Last I checked most people aren't Earl Strickland quality players....



Not trying to start another fight I just want to understand your reasoning for disliking the apa much more than any other league.



Is it all because of slop? I can understand that if so.
 
I'm with "dub" on this. When I play APA, some people ask about playing BCAPL like it was the holy grail of pool. "Those players are way too good for me". "They're the real pool players". "I can't compete". Excuses galore.

When I play BCAPL / ACS / VNEA, hear the dumbest things about APA / TAP. "Too much slop". "All the weakest players play that". "The rules are stupid". Guess the number one is the APA "slop". In the two years I've played APA, I've played around six hundred individual games. My guess is my opponent has made a slop shot in maybe ten games. Max!!! Heck, I've made a slop shot or two. Nothing but an excuse to make themselves feel better (superior).

If you're looking for an evening of fun, get out there and play. Doesn't matter which league system. Just go play!

Lyn
 
I couldn't care less, if i didn't have to play league to play tournaments I wouldn't do it.

APA is only a good league for beginners and sand baggers. NO ONE good around here plays APA.
 
jhanso18 said:
APA is only a good league for beginners and sand baggers. NO ONE good around here plays APA.
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J,

Last year, one of the players on a BCAPL team in our local league was caught intentionally missing an eight ball when the match was already won. Needed to keep his average down. Also helped keep the team average down. This crap happens in every league. Not just APA!

Lyn
 
jhanso18 said:
I couldn't care less, if i didn't have to play league to play tournaments I wouldn't do it.

APA is only a good league for beginners and sand baggers. NO ONE good around here plays APA.
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Apparently you missed the thread talking about pro caliber players that play APA.

There were many.

Maybe there aren't "any" good players playing APA where you live, but that doesn't mean its that way everywhere. I'm quite sure that you could find more than a few APA players that would love to have a match with you...
 
The APA doen't encourage players to reach a HIGH level of play. what's your top handy cap for a team 25??? so if your good enough to be 7-8-9 then you can only play with a bunch of 2-3-4's??? or you get booted from your team so they can play???


Let's hear all about the APA. I know there is sand bagging in every league, but if i play a lower division in BCAPL and start to catch a gear and play good my team and I are not penalized like I am in APA. I would put the best of the BCAPL against the best of the APA any day.

Of course I would put the non-league players against either.
 
jhanso18 said:
The APA doen't encourage players to reach a HIGH level of play. what's your top handy cap for a team 25??? so if your good enough to be 7-8-9 then you can only play with a bunch of 2-3-4's??? or you get booted from your team so they can play???


Let's hear all about the APA. I know there is sand bagging in every league, but if i play a lower division in BCAPL and start to catch a gear and play good my team and I are not penalized like I am in APA. I would put the best of the BCAPL against the best of the APA any day.

Of course I would put the non-league players against either.
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Cool. Enjoy yourself.

League has its place, and a lot if people enjoy playing it. Some very high speed players play, too. Go look them up, and see how you fare. Since they're only APA players, you'll be giving them a spot, right? Check out that thread, and offer them a spot.
 
I love playing in the APA. I've met a lot of great people and its more fun than playing the bar trash who all have their own 8-ball rules.
 
ddadams said:
I can't go one day without seeing people bash APA leagues on here

Why is that? I understand the handicap system they use is absolutely stupid in the grand scheme of things but what do you recommend the players do?


Quit altogether and just play your buddies and whoever asks to play a few racks?


I don't get it. Yes, its amateur. Last I checked most people aren't Earl Strickland quality players....



Not trying to start another fight I just want to understand your reasoning for disliking the apa much more than any other league.



Is it all because of slop? I can understand that if so.
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I don't like it because of the rules. I want to play in a league for real players. But I also think any pool game played between any type of serious players should be called shot, including 9-ball. I like the 10-ball rules, you miss, you should not be rewarded with an accidental safe either.
 
Although the APA 23-skill level point limit makes it hard to keep a team together, getting new players has it's advantages.
I had a pool / lunch date today with our new SL-2.
She said that she didn't own a cue, I said baby I've got 150 cues, lets go practice, what is your phone number.
The APA is not all bad.
 
Anything that gets people playing is good for the sport. Some people are just too short sighted to figure it out.
 
bigshooter said:
Anything that gets people playing is good for the sport. Some people are just too short sighted to figure it out.
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Let me see if I understand you correctly. It's good to have lots of new players enter the game of pool. Now, what is more important to the game of pool? Potentially millions of new players entering the game or around 100 or so "professional" pool players? Like any pool related business owner will tell you, they'll take the great unwashed every time! They're the ones actually paying the bills.

You hit the bulls eye. Well done.

Lyn
 
great for beginners

I think APA is awesome for MOST league players. APA is a great league and has its place. It's for the masses...not for the upper end players. The reason why you don't find a LOT of really good players in APA IMO is because the 23 handicap system actually forces teams that have really good players to split up to comply with the total handicap. Example...7+7+7+ anything equals too much.
THis system penalizes power teams, but u need to realize that it's because those power teams would discourage most other teams and lower players from playing in the league. This keeps the playing field for the average "joe" fair and equitable, and make them feel like they have a chance.

I personally think that when you reach 7+, if you want to play serious and compete with other friends your speed, you need to seek out other leagues. I also played APA masters, but it was very drab, boring, nobody was having fun...you still need a mix...I personally find other leagues more suitable for me, but I think APA has its place, and provides a great service to many players. These players will be our next greats-they need to start somewhere.
 
The hate probably stems from leagues being essentially the fast food of pool. People tend to hate on things that are successful because they target the masses rather than the elite. I personally don't hate leagues, but I also wouldn't bother participating in them.

As for rivalry, that is generally BCA vs APA/TAP/other. BCA is usually more acceptable among discerning pool players because it is geared towards better players. If APA were McDonalds, BCA would be In-N-Out or Five Guys.
 
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bigshooter said:
Anything that gets people playing is good for the sport. Some people are just too short sighted to figure it out.
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Get that level headed logic outta here. When it comes to leagues they are only as good as their operators. I could care less what rules they use within reason, but if you have a shitty operator it's a terrible experience.
 
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