all about . . . snarkinus maximus

Posted: August 4, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: all about . . ., books, pool & billiards | Tags: , , | 9 Comments »

what comprise a man?

it’s for this reason i started the all about . . . project.  so far i’ve interviewed two heavyweight guests, omg and ms. rousey.  (funny enough, both of them are fairly petite.)  will the third one be as interesting?  you be the judge.  for this round, i’ve wrangled snarkinus maximus, also known as the pcn guy, for an interview.  yes, that snarky.

snarky has been a mystery to me.  i can’t figure out if he’s on the side of angels or he’s best buds with the evil leprechaun.  but the beauty of the greatest nation on earth is that we all get to have our own opinions, and that we’re free to voice them, for better or for worse.  so i decided to give snarky the floor and let him express himself, sans interruptions.

while the blogsphere does not lack those who hate/despise/ridicule/doubt the snarky one, i hope everyone will read the entire interview and form your own opinions afterward.  in this day and age, it’s all too easy to take one sentence and skew it out of context; it’s why i’m doing an interview instead of asking for one-line quotes from my guests, so they won’t be taken out of context.  and while it is a person’s right to take anything out of context, i fear that decision won’t be beneficial to whoever decides on that route.  free country though.

anyway, a quick recap of the format.  i email a list of questions to my guest, and he/she emails back the responses.  i send my guest additional questions if that’s needed.  i’ll do minor edits to correct spellings and such, and i also blur out the cuss words (if any).  if you see something in brackets [like this], i’m adding a comment to a response.  whatever type of editing i do, however, i do NOT change the actual responses themselves; all responses are posted as-is, minus the minor edits.  simple enough.

a big thank you to snarky for agreeing to this interview.

anyway, onto the show.  if you hate it, remember that this time it’s not about you, it’s all about . . .


SNARKINUS MAXIMUS


hairl00p: you have been a pretty controversial guy.  so what led you to go from equipment review to your current state of snarkiness?

snarky: I always think its funny that people find my blog controversial.  For the most part, I’m just saying what other people are thinking.  There’s a lot that’s wrong with pool and the billiards industry.  I just talk about stuff that people already are aware of and every once in a while try to throw out some helpful hints for turning the industry around.


hairl00p: a number of your posts contain interesting tidbits only pool industry insiders would seem to know.  how do you come about your info, or is that classified?

snarky: There are surprisingly large number of people that have information that they want to talk about, but feel they can’t for one reason or another.  Sometimes people email me with these little tidbits and I talk about them.


hairl00p: in some of your posts, you seem to direct your ire toward certain people in pool.  what would prompt you to unleash your snarkiness unto a person?  is it something a person would do, or is it the person’s character that would tick you off?

snarky: Yeah, that’s something I’ve tried to tone down a bit.  The few months leading up to be killing the blog the first time got really nasty which isn’t what I’m all about.  I’m always going to make fun of the Brown Recluse, but I do have love for all that she’s done for pool from a promotional perspective.  She’s the biggest draw in pool and has the most potential to get pool in the mainstream.


hairl00p: speaking of which, you seem quite critical of the black widow in some of your posts.  what prompts such criticism of her?

snarky: Let me say that I have much respect for the way that Jeanette has positioned herself.  She works extremely hard and knows how to get what’s best for Jeanette.  When non-players think of pro pool players that are currently playing, JL is the first one that comes to mind.  The relationship between Jeanette and pool is akin to the hottie social climber dating the ugly, connected guy.  They’re both getting something out of the relationship, but it is very much a use/use situation (in my eyes anyway).

Other than that, the biggest issue I have with Jeanette is that no one really knows who Jeanette is (other than her immediate family of course).  I’ve seen her be extremely nice and approachable, but that’s typically when she’s “on”.  I’ve also seen her play a number of mind games prior to and during matches.  Doing small things like chatting up her opponents when they’re trying to warm up or forcing re-rack after re-rack because her opponent isn’t racking the balls to her liking.  I don’t necessarily think that these are bad strategies, I just think that most people aren’t aware of the fact that she uses this sort of gamesmanship to her advantage.


hairl00p: tell us about your pool experience.  do you play leagues, tournaments, gambling matches, or just weekend/recreational stuff?  what attracted you to the game?

snarky: I am what is commonly referred to as a banger.  I play with friends (yes I do have some of those) and the most I’d ever bet on a game of pool is a round of drinks.  Leagues are too much of a commitment (plus I’m not very good).  As for gambling, there’s this misconception out there that I don’t like gambling when in fact the opposite is true.  I love to play blackjack and craps and I live in the sportsbook when I’m in Vegas.  My feelings about action and hustling have nothing to do with gambling.  As to what got me into pool, its the same as most people.  There were some tables at places I hung out when I was a kid.  We’d rent a table and bang some balls around.  As an adult, its pretty much the same.  If I’m out with my boys, we’ll play a few racks while we’re grubbing, boozing and watching the game.  I love the social aspect of pool.  Unfortunately, this is not what the industry chooses to focus on.


hairl00p: what first led you to blog about pool?  what kept you going?

snarky: There were a couple of reasons.  I dig the game and the business so it seemed like a good topic to write about.  There are a ton of great pool blogs out there, but almost all of them are either very technical or written from the perspective of the serious player.  It seemed like there was some room for a blog written by a casual player who has a passion for the business.


hairl00p: you’ve shut down your blog once; we won’t talk about that.  what made you restart your blog though?

snarky: I really enjoy writing.  When I shut down the blog, I really missed putting the pen to paper (well the virtual pen to paper anyway).  Plus, I wanted to try rebuilding the blog to be a little more constructive instead of just ripping on the standard industry punching bags.


hairl00p: describe your favorite foods.  what does maximus eat typically, and what does he eat on special occasions?

snarky: Ok, here’s the thing.  I joke every now and again about my diet consisting of Hot Pockets but actually I’m kind of a foodie.  Probably not to the extent that OMGWTF is, but I really like good food.  It doesn’t matter what kind of food it is, as long as its good.  There are so many good eats that it just doesn’t make sense to waste calories or stomach space on garbage.  Next time I hit Vegas, I’ll be at Mandalay Bay grubbing at Hubert Keller’s Fleur de Lys and Rick Moonen’s RM Seafood.  I’m not a food snob though.  I love having dirty water dogs in NYC, cheesesteaks in Philly and street tacos in LA and nothing beats an In ‘n Out Double Double.  Sometimes the best food is in those dingy hole in the wall joints that you’d otherwise walk by.  If its tasty, its going in my belly.


hairl00p: your posts reference a number of tv shows and movies.  what are some of your favorite shows and movies?  what attract you to those shows?

snarky: On the TV side, right now I’m really into Breaking Bad, Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, South Park, The Daily Show and Dexter.  I dig Entourage, but not nearly as much as I used to.  Same goes for Weeds.  For the network stuff, there’s not a whole lot.  I still tune in to the Simpsons every now and again and 30 Rock is always good for a laugh.  Chuck is a must see, as is Fringe and I’ll watch Wipeout whenever its on (because there’s little funnier than someone getting hit in the crotch over and over).  For the record, I hate Family Guy.  Easily the stupidest and most overrated show on TV.

On the movie side, there’s really too many to list.  I’ve seen (although not necessarily enjoyed) most of the AFI 100 and I’ve pretty much worn down my Kevin Smith collection.  The original Die Hard remains the single greatest action movie of all time.  The Bourne flicks are great popcorn and any time Roadhouse, Total Recall or Tombstone is on I have no choice but to stop what I’m doing and watch.


hairl00p: do you enjoy books?  what are your favorite books and why?  are there books that you consider life-changing?

snarky: I read a ton.  Again, there are so many great books that its hard to just pick out one.  I have lots of memorable books, but none that I would consider life changing.  Twain was an influence for sure.  Steinbeck too.  One book that I read recently which was an absolute riot was Candy Girl (Diablo Cody).  I have a mad crush on her and love the way she writes (although it doesn’t always translate well to the screen).  I’m usually reading a couple books at a time (I have serious focus issues) so right now I’m doing Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen), The Big Picture (Edward Jay Epstein) and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest (Steig Larsson).


hairl00p: since you asked j barretta a question about the kroft superstars, here’s one for you.  if you are a superhero/super villain, who would you be?  (choices limited to marvel & dc universe characters.)  :)

snarky: The guy I most identify with has got to be Magneto.  Bada~*, wears a cape and a b~*in’ helmet and he has justification for what he does.  If I had to be a good guy though, I’d go with Gambit.  That cat is a playa.


hairl00p: you seem to be pretty preoccupied with female pool players.  what’s behind that fascination, or is it purely primal?

snarky: I’d say primal, but that’s not really true.  Here’s the thing.  I’ve met a lot of pool players and with the exception of a very select few, all the women have been very friendly and approachable.  If you walk up to one of them, they’ll talk, they’ll sign an autograph and generally speaking they’ll work there a~*s off to promote pool and put the game in a positive light.  The men on the other hand, not so much. Don’t get me wrong, there are some really good guys in men’s pool but for the most part all they seem to be interested in is matching up and getting a check.


hairl00p: since you’re in the los angeles area, describe the LA pool scene in your perspective.

snarky: I’m not much into the hardcore pool scene, so I can’t really give a good answer to that.  If I’m going to an actual pool hall, I’d go to House of Billiards in the Valley.  Nice place, very casual and not the standard scumbaggery you find at other pool halls.  Fantasia over in Burbank is kind of the same thing.  Clean place, lots of tables and no drama.  Hollywood Billiards is nice too, but every time I’ve gone there the place has been packed.

[me: just a quick note about hollywood billiards.  according to hb's website, they're currently closed for some remodeling stuff; i couldn't find any info on when they'll reopen.  if you're planning a visit there call first; (323) 465-0115.]


hairl00p: what do you think the state of pool is, at this moment?

snarky: Well, the old Threat-o-Meter has been on extreme for a long time and I don’t see it getting better anytime soon.  Right now pool has a bad rep.  People who don’t play see pool players as hustling scumbags and pool halls as places that aren’t safe.  Anyone looking to hit some balls around is far more likely to go to a bar and grill type place or a Dave and Busters than an actual pool hall.  Pool wants to be taken seriously as a sport, but then you have the top pro players matching up for $1,000 a set or making a spectacle of themselves at events like the DCC in order to win a gambling title.

Pool players love to compare the game to golf, but when was the last time you heard about Tiger, Lefty, Paddy or Vijay going to the local muni looking to play someone for $1,000 a hole.  The defense is always “yeah, but golfers make lots of money on the tour”, but that isn’t a valid defense.  Others will say that you have to gamble in order to keep your game sharp, but that isn’t a valid defense either.  If you talk to most pool players, the action has a lot more to do with the gamble and bragging rights than making a living.  Action is all about the rush and the stories.  Anything else is simply an excuse used to chase the gambling dragon.

What pool really needs is to decide on a path and take it.  If you want to be a social, casual game with world class pros then be that.  If you want to be about the action and gritty underground then forget the “everyone’s game” stuff.  Vegas had the same problem.  In the 80s and 90s, they wanted to be a family destination where you could gamble.  It didn’t work and casinos were literally giving rooms away just to get people to come.  It wasn’t until Vegas adopted their “what happens in Vegas” mentality (and marketing campaign) that the city really thrived.  In my opinion, pool could be very successful going in either direction but as Mr. Miyagi said: “Walk on road, hm?  Walk left side, safe.  Walk right side, safe.  Walk middle, sooner or later, get squish just like grape.”

Oh, and having a standardized set of rules and regs that everyone follows wouldn’t hurt either.


hairl00p: you’ve had a slight tiff with justin collett of TAR.  care to tell us what led to the online exchanges in the first place?

snarky: Blast from the past.  I haven’t thought about that for a long time.  From what I can remember, Justin doesn’t like me for a couple of reasons.  A while back, I made the following statement about his boss (Mark Griffin) in reference to him running for a seat on the WPBA board: “The guy who bought the BCAPL, Diamond Tables, part owner of TAR and creator of that CSI league.  He’s passionate about pool and will likely win a seat, but let’s just say that not everyone is a fan of how he does business.”

While this was clearly a true statement, as Mark himself later went on to say that the APA wrote an “it’s us or him” type letter to the WPBA in reference to his nomination, Justin got all bent out of shape about it, as at the time he clearly thought that everyone loved Griffin.  So, he went after me for being anonymous, called me a “creepy WPBA stalker” and some other names.  I tried the “I’m rubber, you’re glue” defense but I spent many nights crying myself to sleep knowing that I’d never be allowed into the TAR clubhouse.  He also clearly didn’t like the fact that I paid so much attention to Sarah Rousey, which of course is ironic seeing how he wants to see Sarah grow in popularity.  Meh.  Whatev.  The guy doesn’t like me.  Not the first and certainly won’t be the last.


hairl00p: if you had your way, what would you like to see happen to pool the most?

snarky: I’d like to see pool find its true voice and take that path.  Be a wholesome “everyone’s game” or be a sleazy degenerates paradise.  It doesn’t matter to me which way pool goes, as both can be successful paths.  The important thing is that pool needs to choose a direction and go with it.  Oh, and standardized rules that were followed by every pro and amateur match would be nice too.  The fact that there has to be a players meeting before every tournament to go over the different little quirks and changes that the TD has made to the rules tells you all you need to know.  Each game should have one universal set of rules that everyone follows.  Until that happens, no one in the mainstream is ever going to take pool seriously as a sport.


hairl00p: and last but not least, cuisses de grenouille or escargot?

snarky: Escargot, but only because I haven’t had a chance to try frogs legs yet.  Plus, they’re usually dunked in garlic butter . . . mmmmm . . . garlic butter . . .


that’s it folks.  thanks for reading.  if you care to leave comments, please remember the rules of posting comments for this blog.  if you don’t know the rules, read them here.  and for this particular post, i ask all to be civil when commenting.  remember, only a civil dialog can foster growth.  if our verbal exchanges degenerate into a cuss match, no real opinions can be heard anymore.  as a ground rule, i reserve all rights to edit or delete your comments if they become personal attacks, irrelevant to the discussion, or morph into a cussfest.  again, thanks for reading this post!

all about . . . sarah rousey

Posted: April 28, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: all about . . ., books, pool & billiards | Tags: , , | 6 Comments »

well, i’ve done it.  i think i actually did something that can make the pcn guy jealous.  i interviewed ms. sarah rousey.

yes folks, this is yet another edition of all about . . ., and this time, i totally got lucky and interviewed ms. rousey.  being the super nice person that she is, she agreed to my harebrained idea and most graciously did the interview.  (she probably didn’t read my first all about . . . . :P )  again, i’m gonna take yes for an answer before she changes her mind.

in case you actually don’t know who sarah rousey is, well, she is that professional pool player with the women’s professional billiard association, the de facto ruling body for female pro pool players.  yes, i said professional.  you may have seen her on espn; you can definitely catch her on youtube.  TAR has her on their dvd.  if you live in asia, you might have caught her on live tv.  in short, she’s frigging famous in our pool community.  all the more amazing she’d agree to an interview with me, some dude who writes a lamebrain blog.  :P   that, of course, speaks volumes of her generosity and accessibility.  i mean, you try asking greg norman or maria sharapova for an interview as a random blogger.  you get the drift.

anyway, if you’ve read the first all about . . ., you know the deal.  if you haven’t, then a quick rundown.  i interview a person with a set of questions.  after receiving the responses, i’ll do some very minor editing: basic formatting, changing typos, adding weblinks to the guest’s blog/website, links to books/musics/equipments mentioned in the interview, and blur out the cussing if there’s any.  i blur the cuss words out, but i won’t remove it, because that’s part of the person’s response, and integral to the whole conversation.  i communicate all the changes with my guest, unless i brainfart and forget.  in that case i’ll contact my guest as soon as i remember.  if i find a response amusing, or if i want to clarify the question, i’ll add my thoughts in brackets, [like this].  there.  hope that’s clear.

anyway, a huge thank you to ms. rousey for interviewing with me.  i’m beyond grateful.

without further ado, let’s get the show rolling.  if you don’t like her responses, or feel very confused afterward, hard cheese; this post isn’t about you.  it is, however, all about . . .


SARAH ROUSEY


p00lriah: have you ever been rickrolled?  (i got rickrolled a few times recently.  d~* you cuteoverload.com april fools pranks!!)  do you think you have a great rickroll reflex, or just an average one?

ms. rousey: I have indeed been rickrolled a time or two.  I think that I learned from my mistakes and can feel it coming but for some reason in saying that, I feel a lot more of them coming!


p00lriah: please describe your worst loss in pool, or the loss that you can’t forget.  this could be any match.

ms. rousey: Anytime that I have been way ahead in a match and somehow not finished, absolutely eats away at me.  One loss that sticks out the most goes all the way back to the beginning of my pool playing life.  I was 13 years old and playing in the finals of the BCA Junior Nationals.  I was down in the race to nine, but clawed my way back to hill-hill.  I broke and ran all the way to the 9-ball but left myself with the nine a little below the spot and the cue ball about a foot directly above it.  I had to use the bridge, which I hate.  Cut a long story short, I hung the 9 so deep in the pocket that everyone in the room though if they groaned or exhaled really hard it might fall . . . but it didn’t, of course.  So I lost in the finals by giving it away.  :(   Still haunts me to this day!


p00lriah: tell us about your best win.  this could be any win.  how did you celebrate afterward?

ms. rousey: My best win would have to be beating Allison Fisher to make it to the TV rounds of the 2008 WPBA Tour Championship.  It wasn’t the first time that I beat her, although that time was great.  I didn’t feel like I earned the first one.  There were uncharacteristic mistakes on her part.  The second time though, I won and I won because I played great.  It was decisive, 9-4 with a lot more riding on the match (my first TV match) then the first 9-8 win in the first round of the losers bracket.  That is the match that I feel like I played my best pool ever.


p00lriah: i’m sure you experience lots of pressure in tv matches.  tell us what it felt like for you, and how you deal with it.  and if you like, please share with us any tips that have helped you deal with that pressure.

ms. rousey: Well I have only played two ESPN/WPBA TV matches.  With the first one, I was scared to death!  I was shaking and nervous for the first game but then with a little deep breathing and trying not to focus on the bright lights and cameras, I came around.  Until I got to the hill.  Once that happened the lights got bright, I got cold, started shaking and suddenly realized that I was only a few shots away from winning a televised match.  I got lucky that things went my way and I won the match.  The next one, I hardly shot.  Kelly Fisher tortured me 7-1 but I worked hard to win that one game, a break and run when I was down 6-0!

Playing TV matches in Asia are totally different.  Dealing with live tv is a whole different thing.  To know that they won’t be editing out anything plays some crazy games with your confidence!


p00lriah: after turning pro, did you find that you have to learn new skills, such as attracting sponsors, that you’ve not had to before?

ms. rousey: I didn’t really have to learn new skills, my biggest problem was being too shy.  I was always really quiet and kept to myself.  After some time playing on the WPBA I learned that it helps to talk, make friends, meet new people, etc.  I think I have made progress but I still have my moments of being a little too shy.  I think the hardest thing to learn is that you are part of something great and that you are looked up to.  I have a hard time picturing myself as anything other than just a person that really likes to play pool.


p00lriah: what is your general approach to pool?  have you developed a personal philosophy about pool, and if so, what is it (or what are they)?

ms. rousey: It has changed over the years.  My approach used to be that pool was life.  I was supposed to work hard, be the best, only play pool.  I realized that life isn’t all as great as it sounds.  Now my approach is to put less pressure on myself, just try to play my best.  Try to enjoy it because I am getting an opportunity that a lot of people don’t get in life.  Even if I never win a tournament, I can still say that I tried my hardest!  Plus, I have realized that playing pool at this level isn’t going to last forever.


p00lriah: i’ve noticed on your blog that pics of barbecued meats seem to show up pretty frequently.  are you a big carnivore, with a predilection for a good barbeque?  what has been your most favorite barbecue joint so far?

ms. rousey: HAHA, well I do have a thing for barbecue!  I would probably put cheeseburgers first on my meat list then barbecue, especially brisket.  Everywhere that I have gone for barbecue has been great.  I’m a fan of Rudy’s throughout Texas and I really like Arthur Bryants and Gates in Kansas City.

[me: pay up guys.  she just endorsed your foods.]


p00lriah: tell us about the most disgusting food you’ve ever tried.  (for the record, i think beef tongue tastes delicious.  it’s one of the beefiest tasting meat on a cow.)

ms. rousey: I think the idea of cow tongue grossed me out before I even tried it!  I would say the grossest thing is Octopus.  It was chewy and not for me.  I used to be very picky about what I would eat but now I will pretty much try anything so I am learning about a lot of things that sound gross but taste good.


p00lriah: this question is kind of personal.  you’ve talked about your boyfriend jason in a number of your posts; i believe he’s from canada.  how do you maintain such a long-distance relationship?  if you don’t mind, share some of your wisdoms/experiences on how you’ve managed to maintain your relationship.

ms. rousey: Well, it definitely isn’t easy!  The whole international part makes it really hard.  I think we both realize that it is rare to find someone that understands the ups and downs of pool and life.  We work through a lot of issues that a normal couple doesn’t have to worry about, but we make it work and have for five years so far and I think it makes us stronger.  The time apart is really hard to deal with.  Since he is Canadian he can only stay in the States for a certain amount of time each year.  We are in the process of figuring out a solution!


p00lriah: describe your ideal pool teacher/coach.  what characteristics/qualities will this person have?  (a description of yourself will qualify also.  :P   no!  the brownnosing . . .)

ms. rousey: I’ve been very lucky to work with a great teacher throughout the past 17 years, Mark Wilson.  He has what I think is perfect.  He is understanding, not too strict, always encouraging, always pushing me to get better.  The same goes for Jason and his helping me.  Someone that has the right amount of power to teach you something and motivate is definitely needed.


p00lriah: you’ve mentioned in your website that you’re quite petite.  generally, shorter players can’t reach shots as well as the taller players.  did you find that you have to play better position so you don’t have to reach, and in the long run develop better cueball control & play better pool as a result?

ms. rousey: I definitely play short person position . . . all long shots!  I have become more aware of how i play position especially at the end of the rack.  It took forever for me to realize that I should figure out if I can reach the shot from a certain spot on the table before I shoot the previous shot rather than after!  Plus I taught myself how to play left handed so that helps me get by a little bit.


p00lriah: have you thought about getting into the other side of pool, the manufacturing/business ownership side of the equation?  maybe a heartbreak pool hall?

ms. rousey: I wrote my first business plan for a pool room when I was 13 and I also tried to promote pool when I was about the same age to the school board here in Bloomington.  I got shot down!  I would love to get into the other side of pool but it is one of those things that you need to do after you are done with your career as a pool player.  I watched my dad succeed and fail in the pool room business so I learned about the hard work that it takes.  It might be in the future in years to come.

[me: maybe a chain of heartbreak halls.  :D   man, that sounds like a place where all the lonelyhearts hang out!!  :shock: ]


p00lriah: please describe your pool techniques.  do you follow a specific system to playing pool?  how did you settle on the techniques you’re using right now, i.e., coach, books, tv/dvd, other players, etc.?

ms. rousey: I don’t really have any techniques and I don’t knowingly follow any systems.  I tend to just go on feel which I’m sure holds me back a little bit.  I have tried really hard to learn systems but they just go in one ear and out the other.  I’m pretty sure that I do what I am taught, I just can’t ever explain what I am doing.  I do like reading books though.  I really liked Body Mind Mastery and I just picked up Mind Gym.  I like watching and learning from other players.  I like coming across players that can explain what they are doing.  I am really thankful to Helena Thornfeldt for how much she helped me with my game.  She is very knowledgeable.


p00lriah: you played the TAR match against monica webb back in ’08.  what was that like?

ms. rousey: That was a really cool opportunity.  It formed a great friendship with the TAR guys and it gave us a chance to play different games.  I got lucky to win the flip and decide the order of games and I was lucky to learn a little something about banking when I lived in Chicago!  I don’t want any part of a rematch there . . . Monica is playing every game great!


p00lriah: you mentioned in your blog that you enjoy reading.  is there a book, or are there books that you consider life-changing?  also, what’s your favorite book (or books)?

ms. rousey: I try not to get too deep into books.  I read really fast so I read a few books a week sometimes . . . I get lost in them.  I wouldn’t consider any of them life changing.  I am sure I have read some that really made me think, but honestly, I can’t remember.  I don’t have favorite books but I have favorite authors.  I’m a huge fan of Patricia Cornwell.  I’m always open to book suggestions too so if anyone has them . . . send them over!


p00lriah: you have traveled all over the world (or most of the world) to play pool.  tell us your most memorable trip so far.

ms. rousey: The most memorable is the nearly month long trip that I took to the Philippines and Shanghai, China.  Getting a chance to see how pool is in the mecca of pool was incredible.  I might not have enjoyed my time at the tournament, but I had a great time getting to hang out at the pool room around such greatness in Manila!  The second leg of that trip was Shanghai, China.  I love it there!  I had days of awesome food, soup dumplings of course!!  Also, there is so much to see.  We only had a chance to see part of what Shanghai has to offer because I feel like you need at least a month there to see it all!  I’m really into architecture so the ultra modern stuff mixed in with the ancient stuff was really awesome.  I hope to get a chance to go back this year!


p00lriah: since you’re so adorable, have you ever thought about getting a pixie haircut and becoming the magical tooth fairy and be loved by children everywhere?  (wow, that was awkward and creepy.)

ms. rousey: Haha, well, if you go back about 5 years, i had a very short pixie haircut.  I’m not sure that I resembled the tooth fairy though!  The short hair might reappear soon so your wish may be granted!  (please don’t pull any teeth to get that wish though!)

[me: for the inspiration of this awkward and creepy question, read the comment by "anonymous" in this post by ms. rousey.  :D ]


p00lriah: and finally, chocolate or vanilla ice cream?

ms. rousey: Vanilla . . . but add in some peanut butter and bananas…then it is perfect!


thanks for reading folks.  as i stated in the first all about . . ., i interview people that i think are interesting.  unfortunately, this also means that i’ve no idea when the next interview will take place.  anyway, gentle readers, hope you enjoyed this post.

all about . . . omgwtf

Posted: March 31, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: all about . . ., books, pool & billiards | Tags: , , | 13 Comments »


“oh agent starling you think you can dissect me with this blunt little tool?”

dr. hannibal lector to agent clarice starling, silence of the lambs

i’m nowhere near as smart as agent starling, nor as ambitious.  my sole motivation is to try to understand better, in pool and in life.  and i’m ecstatic about this new project i hatched in my immature brain.  the concept is very old, but i’m happy to explore its potential nonetheless.  i’m interviewing.

the concept is simple.  i interview a person with a set of questions.  after receiving the responses, i’ll do some very minor editing: changing typos, adding weblinks to the guest’s blog/website, links to books/musics/equipments mentioned in the interview, and blur out the cussing if there’s any.  i blur the cuss words out, but i won’t remove it, because that’s part of the person’s response, and integral to the whole conversation.  i communicate all the changes with my guest, unless i brainfart and forget.  in that case i’ll contact my guest as soon as i remember.  if i find a response amusing, or if i want to clarify the question, i’ll add my thoughts in brackets, [like this].  “all about . . .” will be the name of this project.

why won’t i change the person’s responses, or paraphrase the words?  simple.  there’s no way i can describe a person better than that person him/herself.  so minus the aforementioned minor edits, i leave the responses untouched, unchanged, unvarnished, and un . . . something.  you’ll have to read everything the person says and make up your own minds.  also, because i won’t cut or reword the responses, it means whatever the person says is his/her own opinion, not the opinions of myself or this blog.  i only want to present the words, so you can peruse at your pleasure.

for the inaugural post of this project, i interviewed omgwtf.  not sure why she’d ever agree to my rattlebrained idea; maybe she ate too much that day and food coma clouded her good judgment.  whatever the case, i’m taking that yes for an answer.  a very big thank you to omg.

btw, omg likes her twitter page!  for up-to-the-minute updates of her life (or when she d~* feels like it), go read her tweets.  http://www.twitter.com/adhesiveremover

so here are the questions and answers.  all omg’s responses are her own.  will omg’s responses give you a better understanding of her?  will they confuse you more?  frankly, dear readers, that is your problem, because this post is not about you.  it is all about . . .


OMGWTF


hairl00p: i personally think that you are not a controversial person, but rather a polarizing person, and maybe an evocative person.  that is, your presence alone can evoke a response.  to me, that creates a mystique, and from mystique, misunderstanding.  in your perception, what is the biggest, or what are the bigger, misconception(s) people have about you?  why do you think that is?

omg: People have absolutely no misconceptions about me.  I am different things to different people, but I am truly all those things, and for good reason.  You may rest easy knowing that I am EXACTLY what you think I am.


hairl00p: how would you describe yourself?

omg: Driven.


hairl00p: based on your years of playing, have you developed a philosophical approach to pool?  if so what is it?  were there any events that drove you to this approach?

omg: My approach to pool:
Do more, talk less.

The event that drove me to this approach:
Getting older.


hairl00p: is there a book, or are there books, whose philosophy or ideology drastically changed your outlook on pool or life?  what is it, or what are they?

omg: The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.

When asked this question, I always cite at least the first book (1921 Pulitzer Prize winner).  These two books are novels of manners that have absolutely nothing to do with billiards and most people in this day and age would be bored to tears after the first chapter.  I guarantee you 99.99% of people will not be able to see why or how I gained so much knowledge from these two books, but that is because everyone has a different perspective and learning process.  There is no one book that can make a difference for everyone.

Also: I can relate just about ANYTHING to life and/or billiards, but that’s because I’m a pool-obsessed nutcase.  Your results may vary.


hairl00p: do you profess faith in any religion?  why/why not?

omg: Karma’s a b~* with an excellent memory so do the right thing.


hairl00p: music can drive your emotions/mood.  what types of music you like?  do you let the music drive your mood, or do you let your mood dictate the music you pick?  why?

omg: I like many types of music.  It’s a better question of what music I DON’T like, which, in many cases, I couldn’t tell you until I hear it and say, “Wow, that’s a unapologetic load of crap!”  I only have one mood: to win.  As such, music doesn’t sway my mood and vice versa.


hairl00p: your use of ipod (now iphone) is famous in your blog.  do you find that music affect the way you play pool?  if so how does music affect your game, especially when you play with your ipod on?

omg: I use music more for a consistent background noise.  I don’t think it affects my game that much.  Having earphones on is more of a first-line defense against people who want to talk to me during practice.


hairl00p: when people say “smile!”, you want to:

a) smile
b) growl
c) stare blankly
d) punch them in the throat
e) leave to find some steak wrapped in bacon cuz you’re bored and hungry
f) d then e
g) c then e
h) c then d
i) c then d then e

choose only one.

omg: d.


hairl00p: you seem to make quite a bit of sacrifice in your pursuit of pool excellence.  do you think it’s worth the sacrifice?  why/why not?  do you think the sacrifice will eventually pay off?

omg: Sacrifice implies regret. In this case, I do not feel anything I do is a sacrifice — it is simply what must be done in order for me to accomplish what I want.  I am not concerned about the sacrifice “paying off” or not because my end goal is to play up to my own standards, not anyone else’s.


hairl00p: you’ve shared your cross country experience with your readers.  have you kept up with any exercise regiment?  if yes, do you think that gives you an edge at the table, or not that much of an edge?

omg: I take the bus.  When there are no buses, I walk.  When I am late and there are no buses, I run.  I do not do these things because I think it will give me an edge at the table.


hairl00p: describe your techniques at the table.  what sort of grip/stance/bridge/elbow position/wrist position do you use?  are these techniques from trial and error/books/coach/mentor?  how did you settle on these techniques?

omg: I like using an open bridge.  It was the first bridge I used in pool and it serves me well.  I don’t pay much attention to the rest of my mechanics.


hairl00p: are you picky with your equipments?  or do you treat ur equipments as mere tools, and you don’t really care what you use?

omg: It’s well-known that I am not an equipment fanatic.  I use whatever cue I haven’t broken yet.  I’ve played with fiberglass, production, custom, and house cues of a large price range ($8-$2,700).  Each has won very nearly an equal amount of money.

However, I must say that my last two cues are the only cues that I have noticed to make a big difference in my game.  Although both cues are in high demand, the cuemakers have not taken orders for quite a while.  They don’t need me to plug their product.  They know, the players know, and their fellow cuemakers know they make some DAMN FINE cues.  Thanks, dudes!


hairl00p: i’ve come across players that like to play mind games with their opponents.  not outright sharking by dropping the stick or a loud “accidental” bump against the chair/table, but subtle stuff like a soft backhanded compliment, facial expressions, whispering to bystanders, etc.  i call it gamesmanship.  do you think that’s unethical, or do you think it’s within the bounds of competition?  i ask this because when i watch nba on tv, i’d see players talk smack hoping to throw the opponent off.  that seems to be an accepted practice in nba.  i personally don’t agree with it, in basketball or pool.  what’s your take?

omg: It’s part of the game.  Deal with it or don’t play.  I don’t like it, but I know I have to deal with it.


hairl00p: what do you think is the current state of health of the wpba?

omg: I do not know enough about the WPBA to comment.


hairl00p: pro player mark wilson said this in a local paper.

“Another obstacle, muses Mark Wilson, is the players themselves.  ‘A band of renegades,’ he calls them.  ‘The only way you can get two of them to go in the same direction is if they agree to cut the third one’s throat.  Otherwise it’s every man for himself.’  This reputation, adds Wilson, has made the sport undesirable to sponsors, and without them, there’s little chance of landing a national tour.  And without a tour, there’s virtually no exposure, meaning the average Joe will never get to know the players.”  (retrieved from http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2005-10-19/news/rack-roll/3)

do you think wilson’s right on the money or way off base?  why?

omg: The question of sponsors and putting pool into the mainstream eye is a question for those who want the fame and money that comes with being in the mainstream eye.  I don’t play pool for the money and I don’t play pool for the fame.  Thus, I have no opinion on this matter.


hairl00p: you have an enormous success with your blog, and i think you have a fantastic writing style; it’s simultaneously engaging and engrossing.  did you have an influential english teacher/professor or do you have it naturally?  do you consider yourself more as a blogger or as a pool player?

omg: I do not consider my blog an “enormous success”.  I write the way I speak and that is my style.  Those who have met me will attest to this.  I have never considered myself a blogger.  If you notice, the best pool players have no time to do what I do on my blog because they are busy playing.  The very fact that I have a blog with such nice production indicates I’m only an average pool player at best.

[me: i don't know why but that made me laugh.  :lol: ]


hairl00p: do you think the men vs. women player debate is over?  why/why not?

omg: I’m assuming you mean who plays better.  [me: yes it is.  pardon my poor phrasing folks.]

Pool has been around in its most recognizable form for about 500 years.  Men have played it all 500 years.  Men have played it professionally for at least 100 years.  Women have played it professionally for 30 years.  Men currently have the benefit of time.  The women are catching up and some have already caught and surpassed some elite male players.  I might never see a woman become the greatest pool player in the world in my lifetime, but that’s not saying it won’t ever happen.


hairl00p: and finally, chocolate or vanilla ice cream?

omg: Coconut gelato gives them both the orange crush.

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