Won my first $6000 in the middle, AMA

[ShootingArts]

I personally thought the 10% was fair cause they saved me a parking spot upfront, anytime I wanted water someone ran and grabbed a bottle right away.. But I know plenty of stronger players who’ll never play there cause of the 10%.

I went into the world's greatest pool hall one day. Told them to put me on the special. As it happened I barely hit two or three racks of balls, spent my time BSing old friends since I rarely get in there anymore. I went to check out, the counterman told me two dollars. I threw two fives on the counter, "settle for that?" Confused the guy but I had agreed to a flat rate when I went in. Had they tried to go up I would be pissed. On the other hand I was happy giving what I usually paid and tipped. I will bet the counterman didn't get too many eight dollar tips on two dollar fees! Buff knows me and knows I treat his people right. It results in a little give and take which is appreciated.

Personally I think that it's a dishonest attempt to make the bet seem more than it is....With $6K "in the middle"..no one wins or loses $6K....Cheap marketing trick.

Indeed a cheap marketing trick to make the event seem bigger than it is to increase prestige, the pay per view, and the money at the gate. It is a hustle, nothing more. A thoroughly busted hustle now and nobody cares. Few care anyway. Unfortunately the pool world sets the bar pretty low!

Hu

 

[WGDave]

Money won is twice as sweet as money earned.

Fatboy Approved

Fatboy<——-wishing that was my original line, seem like it was in a movie or something No truer words have been spoken……if ya got hustling in your blood. If you trade hours for dollars, might not be as meaningful. I know what that means to me.

I thought it was “a penny saved is a penny earned”?

Maybe that was just my dad telling me to stay away from the pool hall degenerates, right after he said “nothing good happens after midnight”?

But dad, I won!

 

[chefjeff]

Lol yes. They stream, promote, hold the cash, help set up action, etc. Think like Roy’s Basement but not just for pros and less views. No idea how much Roy takes but I bet it’s at least 10% from each side. A bigger issue I had- a “friend” wanted to back me, I turned him down cause I felt like I couldn’t lose and also I didn’t want additional pressure. I rather lose my own 3k than someone else’s 500. Well, turns out he got REALLY upset I turned him down. Yelling and everything. Oh well.

I'd say you made the right call.


Jeff Livingston

 

[chefjeff]

Money won is twice as sweet as money earned.

Fatboy Approved

Fatboy<——-wishing that was my original line, seem like it was in a movie or something No truer words have been spoken……if ya got hustling in your blood. If you trade hours for dollars, might not be as meaningful. I know what that means to me.

I'd bet that you really don't agree with that saying, as it takes focus away from all the work real businessmen do that benefits society. What does a bet do for society overall? Nothing really, but maybe the subjective enjoyment of the thrill and that's worth something. But for society? blah

Betting is a zero sum game. I hate that saying.


Jeff Livingston

 

[JC]

Money won is twice as sweet as money earned.

Fatboy Approved

Fatboy<——-wishing that was my original line, seem like it was in a movie or something No truer words have been spoken……if ya got hustling in your blood. If you trade hours for dollars, might not be as meaningful. I know what that means to me.

If you want to double it, fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

 

[Fatboy]

I'd bet that you really don't agree with that saying, as it takes focus away from all the work real businessmen do that benefits society. What does a bet do for society overall? Nothing really, but maybe the subjective enjoyment of the thrill and that's worth something. But for society? blah

Betting is a zero sum game. I hate that saying.


Jeff Livingston

I’ve been a biz man my whole life. Made millions, more than I should have.

won probably a million

winning isn’t as profitable, but it’s 2x more fun

I stand by that

best
Fatboy

 

[cookie man]

Lol yes. They stream, promote, hold the cash, help set up action, etc. Think like Roy’s Basement but not just for pros and less views. No idea how much Roy takes but I bet it’s at least 10% from each side. A bigger issue I had- a “friend” wanted to back me, I turned him down cause I felt like I couldn’t lose and also I didn’t want additional pressure. I rather lose my own 3k than someone else’s 500. Well, turns out he got REALLY upset I turned him down. Yelling and everything. Oh well.

If he was a good friend or a potential good backer in the future I’d have probably let him in for about 500.

 

[chefjeff]

I’ve been a biz man my whole life. Made millions, more than I should have.

won probably a million

winning isn’t as profitable, but it’s 2x more fun

I stand by that

best
Fatboy

Now you know why I don't bet much.


Jeff Livingston

 

[JC]

I’ve been a biz man my whole life. Made millions, more than I should have.

won probably a million

winning isn’t as profitable, but it’s 2x more fun

I stand by that

best
Fatboy

The entire experience of gambling at pool in my view can be summed up with a simple nine ball break.

The joy of your nine ball break is not nearly adequate to cover the distaste of when it's done to you.

Turns out you wanted the game more than the result.

 

[Fatboy]

The entire experience of gambling at pool in my view can be summed up with a simple nine ball break.

The joy of your nine ball break is not nearly adequate to cover the distaste of when it's done to you.

Turns out you wanted the game more than the result.

I never looked it like that in pool.

I do understand your point and for me that applies to casino gambling the joy of hitting a royal on video poker and winning $1000 never offsets the misery of losing the $2000 you lose getting to that $1000 win.

Besides my break sucks so bad I hardly ever made the 9B on the pop anyways lol

good point,

Best
Fatboy

 

[chefjeff]

If you want some nerdy geekism about betting, I ran into this article this morning:

Betting Rules - Econlib

Tyler on the meta-lesson of our unemployment bet: denouement of the bet about the relative status of the people in question, and it produces a celebratory mindset in the victor. That lowers the quality of dialogue and also introspection, just as political campaigns lower the quality of various...

www.econlib.org

Jeff Livingston