situation with a friend of a friend, what would you do?

7960 · 03-20-2008, 02:40 AM

I've been playing pool for a long time and I'd say I'm pretty good. A friend of a friend has always said he's really good and is always talking about playing. I stopped in a bar and his league was just finishing (I didn't know they were at that bar) so he asked if I wanted to play. Of course I said yes. Turns out he's not very good.

Long story short, I did not intentionally throw any games but I did play like a practice rather than really going for the win. He accused me of intentionally throwing games. I did not intentionally throw any games.

This guy isn't a friend but I do see him at friends' parties and stuff. It was probably a combination of beer and ego, but he got way too pissed that he lost. I mean obnoxiously pissed about it. Anyway, my question........what would you do in this situation? Stop after the first game (when you realize he's not as good as he says) and lose out on free pool? Go all-out and just beat the snot out of him? Let him win a few intentionally?

Ardentfrost · 03-20-2008, 07:37 AM

I'd slaughter him.

Then I'd make fun of him for not being good.

Then when he got pissed, I'd make fun of him for being retarded since it's just a game and I was joking with him.

Then if he didn't give up his pissiness, I'd either pick on him some more until he cried, or if he was already crying, I'd buy him a beer.

Overall, the point is that if someone is really sensitive about something, it makes me want to make them cry about it.

7960 · 03-20-2008, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

Overall, the point is that if someone is really sensitive about something, it makes me want to make them cry about it.

He's a friend of a friend, but I've known him long enough to know he's the kind of guy who's going to call our mutual friend today and tell him I'm a dick. Mutual friend is probably going to laugh and tell him to fuck off. Or he might call tonight and say we should all go play.

His big beef was that I was playing like I was practicing. Occasionally I'd skip an easy shot to try to make a harder one. Or I'd worry more about the leave and miss what looked like an easy shot. One time that happened he reacted visibly so I told him, "I was looking at my leave and the next shot. I was trying to leave it here (pointed to the table) and wasn't paying attention to the shot in front of me." I don't think he believed me.

So it was a lose/lose situation for me. We were playing best of 7. If I played my usual game I would have won 4 straight and he would have been pissed. If I threw a game he would have been pissed. So instead, I put restrictions on my game and kind of played like he wasn't there....and he got pissed.

There's no real point to this thread other than to rant. If someone's better than me I don't get mad at them for it. I started playing straight pool (a game where you just run racks up to some number of balls...100 is common) and watched guys run 50 balls in a row only to play against me and not make more than 15. I knew they were practicing and could crush me at any time, but I also paid attention and learned from them rather than getting mad at them for being better.

WickedLou9 · 03-20-2008, 09:16 AM

Beat them mercilessly, and after you win, pummel them with the pool que whilst insulting thier manhood and pouring out thier beer.

He just needs motivation to get better.

Phantom · 03-20-2008, 10:10 AM

Are you really that worried about the feelings of other men?

Pool is a strange game though. Lots of people think they are good because they can beat drunk guys on crappy 7ft tables at bars. You did the guy a favor by putting him in his place, he'll thank you in the future.

Stylerod · 03-20-2008, 10:32 AM

Yeah. Just beat the snot out of them and they will usually lose the attitude and actually be cool about it. If you act like you are taking the game seriously and beat the shit out of the guy, what can he say? But if you are all arrogant about it and treat it like "he isn't there" then you are being kind of a dick.

JaJae · 03-20-2008, 11:34 AM

Sounds like a punk. Seriously, some people need to grow up. It's just a game. He's supposed to be having fun. Who cares if you're going for the tough shots.

When I was growing up I played a lot of basketball and was pretty good. I used to play against new people all the time who I heard of through friends and if I was a lot better I would often go easy on them, take further outside shots, take riskier lay-ups, etc.

kinggovernor · 03-20-2008, 12:38 PM

was there money involved? If not he should stfu

7960 · 03-20-2008, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by Phantom

Are you really that worried about the feelings of other men?

No

Pool is a strange game though. Lots of people think they are good because they can beat drunk guys on crappy 7ft tables at bars. You did the guy a favor by putting him in his place, he'll thank you in the future.

I doubt it.

7960 · 03-20-2008, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

Yeah. Just beat the snot out of them and they will usually lose the attitude and actually be cool about it. If you act like you are taking the game seriously and beat the shit out of the guy, what can he say? But if you are all arrogant about it and treat it like "he isn't there" then you are being kind of a dick.

I wasn't arrogant. I was taking the game seriously. More than once i told him exactly why I missed the shot... "wanted to leave the ball here (point) so I had more options later"... that kind of thing. All he saw was one ball near a pocket and me not going for it. Sure I could have, and probably could have made a leave but that doesn't help me out down the road. So I practiced and took riskier shots. When I said "play like he wasn't there" I didn't mean I ignored him or put him down or anything. I played to better my game.

Now the question...we met up by accident this week. Do I go back same time/same place next week or find a new bar?

7960 · 03-20-2008, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

was there money involved? If not he should stfu

No. It would have been ugly if there was. We usually make it easy and say $5/game and $1/ball on the table at the end (if you win and I have 3 left I owe you $8). I think the first two games ended with 5 or 6 of his on the table. If we were playing for money, four games would have ended pretty quick.

Linzyhop · 03-21-2008, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by 7960

I wasn't arrogant. I was taking the game seriously. More than once i told him exactly why I missed the shot... "wanted to leave the ball here (point) so I had more options later"... that kind of thing. All he saw was one ball near a pocket and me not going for it. Sure I could have, and probably could have made a leave but that doesn't help me out down the road. So I practiced and took riskier shots. When I said "play like he wasn't there" I didn't mean I ignored him or put him down or anything. I played to better my game.

Now the question...we met up by accident this week. Do I go back same time/same place next week or find a new bar?

i dont go for shots right in the corners because if you leave the balls there it usually blocks that corner. that's strategy.

if he was bitching about you leaving balls in the corners, then he doesn't know how to play.

7960 · 03-21-2008, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

i dont go for shots right in the corners because if you leave the balls there it usually blocks that corner. that's strategy.

if he was bitching about you leaving balls in the corners, then he doesn't know how to play.

He did not play with strategy at all. He was actually a decent shot but a bad player. For instance, I hate long shots that are slightly off center and he hit them easily. What he never did was worry about the next shot...or the next 3 or 4. So he got mad that I'd leave a ball that looked like it was an easy shot, and instead go for a slightly harder shot that would break up two balls or move another one into a better position....he would never do that. He just played the next easiest shot every time and would eventually get screwed because of it.

I talked to our mutual friend. He didn't mention that the other guy called him but I think he did because mutual friend invited me to "go out drinking next week" at that bar, on that night

Linzyhop · 03-21-2008, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by 7960

He did not play with strategy at all. He was actually a decent shot but a bad player. For instance, I hate long shots that are slightly off center and he hit them easily. What he never did was worry about the next shot...or the next 3 or 4. So he got mad that I'd leave a ball that looked like it was an easy shot, and instead go for a slightly harder shot that would break up two balls or move another one into a better position....he would never do that. He just played the next easiest shot every time and would eventually get screwed because of it.

I talked to our mutual friend. He didn't mention that the other guy called him but I think he did because mutual friend invited me to "go out drinking next week" at that bar, on that night

so do it. if he gives you shit, give him shit right back. say, this is how people play pool. if he doesn't agree, tell him to come down to boston and I'LL SHOW HIM.

7960 · 03-21-2008, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

so do it. if he gives you shit, give him shit right back. say, this is how people play pool. if he doesn't agree, tell him to come down to boston and I'LL SHOW HIM.

girls can't play pool

RMNIXON · 03-21-2008, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

Beat them mercilessly, and after you win, pummel them with the pool que whilst insulting thier manhood and pouring out thier beer.

He just needs motivation to get better.

Not the pummel part,

pooring out beer!

RMNIXON · 03-21-2008, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by 7960

girls can't play pool

They just love to rack balls!

kinggovernor · 03-22-2008, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

They just love to rack balls!

and a good stiff stick in their hands

Linzyhop · 03-24-2008, 04:39 PM

just cause your mom was like that ...........

WickedLou9 · 03-24-2008, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by 7960

girls can't play pool