Would you buy a SHARKING video?

[JoeyA]

By now you would think I am shark proof but like everyone else in the world, sharking can get to anyone. Sometimes it's instantaneous and other times; well, it can take time to break through a player's concentration.

I've studied people for most of my life, especially pool players and I know sharking better than most, although I make special attempts to keep it out of my game.

We have some of the greatest sharkers in the world, here in New Orleans. I think the sharking techniques that I have seen were incubated at the infamous Sport Palace of New Orleans. It was a pool player's gambling mecca for decades and mercy was never shown to the uninitiated.

Anyhow, I was just wondering if the AZ Main Forum members would purchase a video that had two players, playing pool: There would be voice overs that would discuss the particular game, bet and other game situations that was taking place, as well as discussion of the nuances of the shark that was taking place.

This is probably just a waste of time. I doubt if many people would want to pay to see actual sharking take place. It can be seen for free at practically any pool tournament or gambling venue in the world.

The purpose of the video would not be to promote sharking but simply to inform and educate, kind of like the racking techniques/reading the rack discussed by Joe Tucker in his videos.

PLEASE DON'T say you would buy the video because you like me or that you would buy it if it was entertaining enough, etc. I really am curious if anyone would be interested in purchasing such a video as I have never seen one done.

Thanks for your input and suggestions. I am open to hearing all of your ideas.

Keep in mind that this poll will be PUBLIC, which means that anyone will be able to see how you voted.

Thanks,

JoeyA

 

[jay helfert]

Quit trying to shark me Joey!

I've seen most every "shark" move ever invented so I don't need a video to remind me. Everything from jingling the change in your pocket to wiping down your cue, off to the side of your opponent's field of vision. The best one ever was when Fong Pang Chao abruptly turned his head just as Oliver Ortmann shot, while Chao was directly in his line of sight. It worked too! Oliver missed badly. Another good one was having his manager (who was in the stands watching the match) call him on his cell phone right as Oliver was shooting. Ring! Ring!

The cough is a nice friendly shark, and purposely talking to someone seated near you while your opponent is shooting can work wonders as well. I particularly like the players who jump out of their chair to check to see if you're hooked. If they just remained in their chair they would soon find out merely by watching you. Or how about the player who waits until your down on the shot to ask you if a ball is frozen.

Okay, you get the idea. Enough for now. Joey you have my permission to add to this list.

 

[Predator5K4]

It might be good just to be familiar with some of the sharking methods out there, so that you are not surprised when it happens? Other than that, I can't say I'm interested in learning how to shark my opponent.

 

[JoeyA]

Quit trying to shark me Joey!

I've seen most every "shark" move ever invented so I don't need a video to remind me. Everything from jingling the change in your pocket to wiping down your cue, off to the side of your opponent's field of vision. The best one ever was when Fong Pang Chao abruptly turned his head just as Oliver Ortmann shot, while Chao was directly in his line of sight. It worked too! Oliver missed badly. Another good one was having his manager call him on his cell phone right as Oliver was shooting. Ring! Ring!

The cough is a nice friendly shark, and purposely talking to someone seated near you while your opponent is shooting can work wonders as well. I particularly like the players who jump out of their chair to check to see if you're hooked. If they just remained in their chair they would soon find out merely by watching you. Or how about the player who waits until your down on the shot to ask you if a ball is frozen.

Okay, you get the idea. Enough for now. Joey you have my permission to add to this list.

You mean the abrupt turning of an opponent's head just as you are about to shoot is an intentional shark? Your cell phone ringing conincidentally at the exact time your opponent is taking his last stroke, a shark?

Come on Jay. You sound paranoid! :help:
(Send more actual accountings) Those weren't too bad.

JoeyA

 

[ShootingArts]

Sharking

Joey,

I would buy a video showing a wide variety of sharking more for the humor than the information. There are a million and one, make that two, ways to shark and no way can you cover them all.

I played a young lady years ago in a moderately low cut dress but nothing excessive. The dress had that simple homemade look to it, made me think of the dress patterns that were sold in my grandmother's department store. When she bent over to take a shot at the other end of the table the secret of the dress was revealed to me. I could see that she wasn't wearing panties, looking down the top of the dress! It fell away a foot or more when she bent over. Didn't work though, one of the first places that would let me in the joint to play pool when I was fifteen was a topless bar.

Hu

 

[JoeyA]

Joey,

I would buy a video showing a wide variety of sharking more for the humor than the information. There are a million and one, make that two, ways to shark and no way can you cover them all.

I played a young lady years ago in a moderately low cut dress but nothing excessive. The dress had that simple homemade look to it, made me think of the dress patterns that were sold in my grandmother's department store. When she bent over to take a shot at the other end of the table the secret of the dress was revealed to me. I could see that she wasn't wearing panties, looking down the top of the dress! It fell away a foot or more when she bent over. Didn't work though, one of the first places that would let me in the joint to play pool when I was fifteen was a topless bar.

Hu

Dammit Hu! I'm not going to make a porn video. :blush:

JoeyA

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

I think it's an interesting topic but not necessarily specific to pool. Like, I'd be curious to see something resembling a documentary with sports where sharking is perfectly acceptable (ie., basketball's visiting team foul shots) and instances where you would think it was acceptable and it wasn't (Alex Rodriguez screaming at a 3rd baseman, making him miss a routine pop-up).

I'd also be curious to see what scientists would have to say about what exactly happens when someone is sharked. Are there different types? What is most effective? What can you do to minimize such a distraction?

I mean, I don't watch a lot of television but I doubt there's very much on Discovery Channel about this.

 

[JoeyA]

I think it's an interesting topic but not necessarily specific to pool. Like, I'd be curious to see something resembling a documentary with sports where sharking is perfectly acceptable (ie., basketball's visiting team foul shots) and instances where you would think it was acceptable and it wasn't (Alex Rodriguez screaming at a 3rd baseman, making him miss a routine pop-up).

I'd also be curious to see what scientists would have to say about what exactly happens when someone is sharked. Are there different types? What is most effective? What can you do to minimize such a distraction?

I mean, I don't watch a lot of television but I doubt there's very much on Discovery Channel about this.

I like the way you think.
JoeyA

 

[cuesmith]

No offense intended, but if anyone was to do such a video, I believe that Freddie the Beard would be the best suited. He's turned sharking into an artform over the years. BTW, I'd also like to compliment Freddie on his "Banks That Don't Go, But Do" series. I've seen the shots before but never heard anyone explain them as well.

 

[The Kiss]

I'd like to hear some of the more creative sharks out there. I'm a pretty resourcefull and person so i have never been at a shortage of my own personal creations when I had to pull one out or even the score after being sharked

 

[Tom In Cincy]

30+ years of playing pool and maybe 25 as a PRO, when he is sitting in the chair, he gets up and asks his opponent (who is staring at a cue ball ½ inch from the Object ball) .... "What's the rule here?"

A blatant shark by none other than Johnny Archer against Ronnie Wiseman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-LHP6hm9Eg

 

[sfleinen]

Although I personally think sharking is a DISGUSTING and repulsive technique, I think a video of this type could be very informative in knowing what type of sharking techniques exist, to better prepare yourself for them. For instance, Hu's example of the homemade dress that falls away from the young lady's body when she bends over to take a shot, that he was already prepared for because he'd cut his teeth playing pool in a topless bar, is a good example of preparation. (Admittedly, the "preparation" was unintentional though.)

I think more than just the entertainment value (ya gotta admit, the content in a video of this type just screams for a quick-witted presenter to have fun with it!), this video could prepare the serious player to recognize opportunities where he/she "could" be sharked (e.g. the opponent being in his/her line of sight during a shot), and prepare him/herself for any underhandedness.

Personally, whenever I found out that my opponent was using sharking techniques to throw me off my game, I'd point it out to him/her, let him/her know that I "caught" it, and just as he/she starts with the "but-but-but...that was unintentional" back-pedaling thing, I'd do the old "talk to the hand" while giving him/her a warning. Repeated offenses resulted in an overt declaration that I never wanted to play him/her again. I just think sharking is such a disgusting practice for what's supposed to be a gentleman's / gentle lady's game.

-Sean

 

[KoolKat9Lives]

"I'm considering putting out a video demonstrating sharking. Please understand, it's not intended to teach people how to shark. Any interpretations of it in that regard way would be incorrect."



Interesting idea Joey. My 2 cents would be... If you added in suggestions as to how to fade sharking (as Joe T similarly does as he guides us to avoid bad and mechanic racking), then you'd not only expand your audience, but also not feel as ... dirty.

KK9 <-- mis-executed a $200 shot night b4 last on what may (or may not) have been a pretty ingenious shark.

 

[Falcon Eddie]

Ok Joey This might be a good reality show...could be humorous, dangerous, and just -for-us. lol

 

[TXsouthpaw]

Id buy it if you could get some of the top pros to give up their moves. I doubt you could get anyone to admit theyve ever done it. Its definitely something different thats for sure.

 

[JimS]

Sharkiing is cheating.

And, I guess I might as well say it... sharking is chicken-sh!t behavior. Afraid they can't handle the heat and win the game/match through skill the chicken-sh!t resorts to sharking.

It shows what's more important to that person... being a man or winning the game. If winning the game is more important than being a man, then you just aint' a man. Sharking makes a man a punk.

There it is. :groucho:

 

[Hank]

sharking

Here's a good one 8 ball or 9&10 ball,while taking the rack off just mention that the 9 ball won't MOVE and watch the cue ball go flying off the table.It is amazing to watch[in a friendly game of course.]

 

[mdavis228]

I'd be in for a copy. Don't care about using it - AT ALL - but the more perspective gained, the better.

 

[blah blah]

Don't encourage BAMN...

Sharking doesn't exist because:

1. the person doing the sharking will never admit to doing/ trying it
2. the person being sharked is really just a crybaby because he should be a strong enough player that he is shark proof (e.g. if he missed over a shark, he wasn't that good a player anyway.)

These two factors always work in favor of the "shark" (or the person who wants to win By Any Means Necessary, on or off the table), and already make him bulletproof. Why give the BAMN player more ideas?

If you could do a video that shows how to build the mental strength to play through any distraction, especially since you yourself are now shark proof, I think you will be furthering both the sport's appeal and reputation.

Ideas for this different video:
1. Interviews with other sports, like with basketball players on making shots while the opposing supporters are waving all of that Nerf crap behind the hoop and horns are playing/ similar baseball interviews, etc.
2. Interviews with pro pool players on concentration
3. Techniques, like playing two different sound types (radios/ ipod/ bluetooth headphones) at once while you practice... How did you become sharkproof? Share those techniques and the video will make money.

 

[iba7467]

A short list of some sharks:

1. Slow leaning of the cue while in line of sight.
2. Light humming
3. Ridiculously out of place music (gansta rap in a country bar)
4. Chalk on the table chalk side down
5. Obviously intentionally missing a ball early in a match- this works great. The guy will most likely think you are laying down and be more scared of you.
6. Playing while on the phone
7. Any strange facial or body gesture repetition (i.e. mouth wide open while shooting or excessive blinking
8. Bathroom breaks (almost all pros do this to put the other guy on the ice)
9. Baby powder on pool table or around player's chair
10. Slowly chalking after every miss, especially if there is only one piece on the table
11. Readjusting the coin during the game.