I saw an announcement in June that there would be a week-long tourney called the "Shootout at the Sands." It would be a $15,000 added tournament held in Reno, NV at Terrible's Sands Regency Hotel/Casino. Besides a men's division and doubles division, there would be a women's division for both 10-ball and 8-ball! I was very excited and thought about seriously attending. I really wanted to go test my skills at a great bar table tourney played on diamond tables hosted by CSI! And hanging at the casino, seeing how I would fair in the diamond bar table tourney, hanging with friends, spending tine with TAR, and just hanging out sounded so good.
I asked off for work, booked the flight, made my hotel reservation, and sent in my entry fee. I was pumped!
Then.... three weeks later, my Mom fell ill. She has been in the hospital for 18 days now (as I write this) and with the Reno tourney less than two weeks away (as I write this) and her not yet out of the hospital (as I still write this), I'd have to cancel my trip. My Mom wanted me to go and get a break from the stress, but until she feels well enough, I do not want to be that far from her for that long of time.
I was going to wait until the end of the week when I had more time to cancel everything, but it turns out the decision was made for me.
The Shootout at the Sands tournament was canceled! :(
The event was canceled by Terrible's Sands Regency hotel/casino themselves, not CSI. Only about 50 players have signed up and even though more players might have entered the day of the event, the Sands decided since not enough players had signed up yet (and they were the ones adding the $15,000) that they had to cancel the event.
I don't blame them, and I couldn't have gone anyway, but it is still sad when events get canceled. :(
I will keep my little eyes open for potential tourneys in Reno - so I wont lose any money on the plane ticket I bought. ;)
Best of luck for your mom and her illness. It's a shame you couldn't go, but with your mom still in the hospital you wouldn't have played well anyway. Well, maybe you're mental game is so strong you could have, but most people couldn't.
ReplyDeleteCanceling tournaments just adds uncertainty to the mix and hurts the game in the long run. When players are deciding to go, and lay out the money and make arrangements, the chances that the tournament might not even happen has to enter into their minds.
I understand that with tournaments that are essentially one-offs there isn't incentive for the promoter to take a loss for the good of the sport. I guess that just speaks to the need for tours rather than single tournaments.
Anyway, I hope your mom gets better quickly and that you get back to competing.
Thank you for the kind words about my mom jbiddle. It means a lot.
ReplyDeleteYou are right - if I would have gone, I wouldn't have been able to play well. I was excited to recognize a few years ago that I have indeed develop a strong mental game, but at the same time, I also found out that when things like this are going on, my mental strength goes right out the window. But, that's okay.
As for the tourney being canceled - I do understand and it is unfortunate but every tournament has to start somewhere. You are correct that the tours are more successful.
Thanks again.
mom outranks anything pool related, that's the formula. i think that's more true the older a person gets. hope she feels better.
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