This is a major underlying theme in pool. The people who run tours, run leagues, run organizations, run major events, They are stealing all our money!!! Also they manipulate the course of tournaments within their events many times for their own benefit. when you’re honest about your “speed” and someone else is “sandbagging”. The worst thing poolroom owners can do is schedule tournaments on the same day it’s like 2 gunslingers drawing at the same time and shooting each other in the head every week. Nobody wins....they all lose.
This is not for everyone. And not everyone who is doing it all is doing the same thing. BUT? It’s all going on in some shape or fashion for the majority of the events in the majority of the country. I want to apologize right now to all the people who are on the UP AND UP in this game. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart (and my pocket.) I make a living off this competitive art form. And it’s the people like you, who have kept me from totally going postal. And actually still, despite all the bad, I have been able to be successful in my travels with just a piece of wood, a tip of leather, some chalk and a lot of talent and heart.
My goal is this: One day it will be worth saying to your mother, father and teachers when you’re young and they ask you, “So what do you want to be when you grow up little fellow?” and you can proudly answer “a professional pool player!” And they will be very proud and supportive of your answer. Because to be a professional pool player will be a prestigious place in life and generate millions of dollars as a career. I hope to be a powerful role in that effort and ultimate goal. I love pool…and for the majority…I love the people within it. We need to all come together and not be selfish and look out FOR THE PLAYERS…and constant progression for everyone playing ...all over the world.
You are role models for all the new up and comers in the business side of the game. And in my opinion should be teaching younger players how to do things right on the opposite side of the counter so we can start to breed a new fleet of room owners, tournament directors and league organizers, as well as players to make pool worth playing monetarily, morally and emotionally. Now, I don’t just want to put all the blame on the people involved in running the show. There is much responsibility that lays in the players hands also. The hustling (as in sand bagging) part of the game needs to end in the league environments! It will always be a part of the gambling world so if you agree to play someone you don’t know for money just understand that there Might be a chance he’s not playing his full speed to keep you on the hook and milk you while you think you can win, and that he, “ JUST GOT LUCKY”.
-Sincerely, Jason “Buffalo” Hunt http://anditdntstop.wordpress.com/ • anditdntstop@yahoo.com
It is your responsibility to police yourself as a grown adult. Nobody should be there to protect you. As a matter of fact, if I had a pool room and there was a guy in there who was a “Stool Pigeon” or “action killer” and went around knocking peoples action, he wouldn’t be a customer for very long. That’s bad for business. And let’s face it: people make a living at playing pool. They don’t need outside people getting them fired from a job before they even get hired. However, in a league environment, where people pay money to be involved in a fair handicap system league with the chance to go to Las Vegas and win money as a team and individual, it’s a real spit in the eye 35
Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - September - 2013
