Have you noticed where the image of the pool player has been and is
now going? Or whether or not the image has made any changes at all?
In case you haven't notice then it's time you look, and while you're
at take a look at yourself too! The older image of the pool player
paints, a rather tainted picture. Although most of the champions
were men of integrity, the next level players were that of a
hustler's, thieves, con man, and others, giving out a bad image
to the aura of pool.
The pooloom was a dark, quiet, mystical type of place. It was an
action place.Things happened there! It was both an exciting and
scary place to be. Nobody ever told another person not to gamble
with someone. This was an unwritten rule! He didn't know whom to
trust, so you didn't trust anyone! There were con men everywhere
waiting for their opportunities, ready to pounce on the unwary,
eager for a chance to fleece their opponent and take every cent
he had! It was a time of confusion. The Vietnam War was going on.
We had the lottery system in effect, drafting men into the
military left and right! We were all afrad we'd be drafted, go
overseas, and die for a cause we knew nothing about!
Pool, drugs, and everything else was heavy on the scene during that
time. We wanted to experience all that we could! Fear of being
drafted and dying was a driving force. Everyone gambled! Hustlers
and con man made large sums of money lying, cheating, dumping stake
horses, and so on. It was greed that checked many good players
out of the championship level. Money was their friend. It came fast
and was easy to make!
I'm not saying, don't gamble. Gambling is one of the greatest ways
to test your ability under pressure. It also increases and creates
the need for the player to improve, at an accelerated rate. Clearly,
gambling is essential to pool. Image is also important. The
gambling image of the past needs to become more dignified in order
to insure the future growth and development of this sport. As
executives all over the world are beginning to enjoy this sport
more and more, we need to take on their style of attitude towards
pool. They gamble large sums of money in order to produce the same
kind of pressure a tournament would provide. In other words, the
executive crowd is using the gambling as a tool to improve, rather
than win the money. The money is just a way of keeping score.
Evolution is inevibable. To evolve is to change. Pool is evolving
from the hustler era into the player era and yet, still needs
your help. Today's billiard rooms are much different than those
of the past. They now have beautiful bright colored carpets, track
lighting, vivid wall colors being spotlighted with soft lights,
state-of-the-art music systems, and generally an atmosphere much
like the disco's of the '70s. Gambling rarely exists anymore. The
action seems to be headed in the direction of tournament play,
and with the tournaments, notoriety. The tournament winners are
in the spotlight, being closely examined and scrutinized by the
public. The public is looking for reason why they would, or would
not enjoy taking this game up as a recreational sport. Most
tournament winners, aware of this experience, rise to the occasion,
de-light the public and give pool a big nudge in the correct
direction. Yet, the old hustler image hasn't totally left the game
yet. Some players are going to tournaments conducting themselves
with the old hustler image, crying, complaining, sharking, and
generally doing whatever it takes to win. And when they can't win
gambling, some of these people aren't even paying off. It's no
wonder the public hasn't let go of this less desirable image.
These players desperately need to know the public eye is on them,
ready and eager to judge their actions! Are they so unaware of
their actions? Is this the image we want to present? And what about
the rest of us? This problem is partly our fault too. After all,
we do allow this crap to continue. Maybe, we could all try keeping
each other in check from now on. It's time for every player, no
matter what level, to begin conducting themselves in a professional
manner. To be a champion is to compete with champions. You need
to look like a champion, walk like a champion, talk like a champion,
pack like a champion and respect others like a true professional.
We need to lift the spirit of lesser players and encourage them to
continue in their improvements. We need to promote pool as a fun
game to play, no matter what IeveI of player a person is. This is
the image we seek.
It takes a combined effort of all players, at all skill levels.
Remember, you can be at the top of the heap, you can be at the
bottom of the heap, or you can be in the middle of the heap.
You're still part of the heap. It's a lot more fun to play a
bad player with a good attitude, than a good player with a bad
attitude. Its a more enjoyable experience to play a good player
with a good attitude. You'll get a lot more games if your opponent
feels honored to play you. Keep a good attitude. Represent the
game with respect to your fellow players. Be a champion!
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