Preparing For a Tourney

I decided to play in an 8 ball bar table tournament last December. 

It really is a tourney way out of my league, but I wanted to get out of the house, be around friends, and also buy some players in the calcutta if I had a chance.

Oh, and I decided to play.

I have played at this location a 1,000 times (leagues, weekly tourneys, big tourneys, playoffs, etc).  And in big tournaments, I usually falter pretty easily.  I get too distracted by my thoughts.

So, the week of the tourney and especially the 30-minute drive to the tourney on that Saturday morning, I prepared myself.  I thought about the things that cost me before, and tried to think about what I could do to prevent it this time to give me a better chance from going 2-and-out like usual, lol.

I told myself to learn from the past and to try and not worry about people around me.  Who is watching, what they are thinking, who I am playing, are people even watching me, people judging my decisions, etc.

This place has a rail around the entire room so it's easy for so many eyes to be on you.  Not that anyone is really watching little 'ole me play, but for some reason at this place it REALLY gets in my head.  And it doesn't help I'm suppose to be a top player in 8 ball, and also one of the few females playing.  So, I do over-think things and let my surroundings get to me there.

So, this time I prepared and thought about it a lot on the drive there that crisp morning, and reminded myself to REALLY REALLY focus on just the game in front of me; just the balls I'm shooting at, not who is watching. 

It is tough after a match when you don't even realize people are watching and someone says, "you should have beat that guy" or something like that. 

So, this tourney, I dressed comfy, had a small breakfast, was prepared mentally to just focus on pool.

I beat a good player my first match who went for about $100 in the calcutta (someone would tell me after I beat him), but I didn't know who he was.  He wasn't very happy with me.  I went hill-hill next match and should have lost but I won after a bad shot by my opponent late in the last game.  Next match I'm up 3-1 and then I lose focus and so it goes hill-hill but I manage to win that match as well.  WOW!

Then I play again and win AGAIN!

I'm 4 matches deep on the winner's side!?  REALLY?  I lose my next two matches but at that point I don't care b/c I'm guaranteed 5th (out of 43 tough players) and wanted to have fun with my friends instead (ooops).   I got an extra $100 for Last Lady... AND a trophy!!  (nice touch by the TD!).

Those pep talks really helped me out before I even got to the tournament.  I'm not saying that's why I placed so high (because I admit I didn't run into a heavy hitter until my 5th match), but I know it for sure helped my frame of mind and my focus!

Here I am below with my cute trophy, and my scotch doubles partner, Greg's (he won the tourney and got one, too):

People Mature and Change

The pool world is actually a very small universe in the universe.  We all know each other and if we stay in the same town, we see each other grow up into mature adults.  Well, most of us, lol.

So it's sad to me that they way we acted when we were immature (young), that "stigma" still carries over into adulthood.

I am even victim sometimes of judging people by their past.

But, I wish none of us did.

Most of the people we know, I mean like 98% of them, grow up and mature and outgrow their (our) stupid immature ways of either throwing temper tantrums, or being rude, or not thinking before speaking (as some examples).

I played scotch doubles with a guy in Vegas for BCAPL Nationals back in the mid 90s.  I didn't play that good back then (hell, neither did he), but he needed us to do well because he needed money.

Well, I didn't play good because I wasn't a good player.  I heard he told a few of my friends (because he was upset) that I "stepped on my dick."

Boy was I mad he was talking about me!  (even tho I didn't know what that meant at the time, lol!  Now I know it means I basically caused us to lose).

But, I was also immature back then so I didn't handle his criticism well or talking about me behind my back very well.

Fast forward 20 years and he played with a friend of mine in Vegas BCAPL Nationals last year.  They got in the money and were a great team together.  I overheard her say, "He's the best partner I've ever had!"

:-/

It shows how much he has matured!  He is now loved as a partner.  And he wouldn't dare talk bad about her because he now knows better as he has gotten older.

Yet, I still see people judged for how they used to act.  Although we think we know them still because we've known them for so long, people DO change.  People DO mature (well, most of them).  So, when you see someone from your past, because as we know the pool world is very small and you will run into people you played pool with years and years ago, give them a chance to show they aren't immature anymore.

Maturing is actually a very beautiful thing.  It also FEELS good.  Not only seeing it in others, but ourselves as well.

So, don't badmouth someone you hadn't see in a long time because they acted a fool or mean or rude 10-20 years ago.  Of course, as we mature we already know not to do that badmouthing anymore, too, huh?

Showing Emotion

You know how when we get upset at something or someone that we don't necessarily show our good side?

It's funny how when this happens, when we show we are upset, that it comes across as being a bitch or mean and we are kinda tainted with that image for a very long time.

I pride myself on my character as a pool player; as a representative of the sport.  A good, honest, even-keeled, level-headed player that people look up to (I've been told this, I'm not just making this up, lol).

So, imagine one night when an opponents' b/f is sharking me during league.  (granted - this is MY elevated interpretation of the night)

This particular night, I was playing my little heart out because I was vying for Top Shooter.  Even though it's just a little 'ole league, it is still very important for points, prestige, honors, wins for the team, etc.

This guy was very distracting to me because he came and sat down next to his g/f, where she was seated to play her match against me, and he was also talking to her.  Normally friends or sig others just watch from the team table.  So, it was crowded in our little space and the extra talking was just that more bothersome to me.  I actually spoke up that he should not talk to her during the match; it was bothering me that much.

I over heard him ask her, "did something happen at work?  Because you aren't shooting like you normally do.  You normally stay down better."  (something like that)  Although not technically coaching, it could have helped her figure out what was going on and to adjust.

He said something again and I got super upset.  I didn't throw things or throw a temper tantrum, lol, but my facial expression wasn't one of "oh hey, what a great night this is!"   It was more of a pissed off look I'm sure.  I wasn't smiling or having a good time.

My opponent was gracious and moved to the other end of the table so the boyfriend couldn't speak to her.  She recognized it was bothering me, and she did something about it.  I was impressed.

However, I was still upset.

Mind you - he didn't even realize this isn't proper or that he was bothering anyone.  You could see he just loves her with all his might, and was super sweet to her and wanted to help her and be by her side. 

As I reflect back it was really a miscommunication type of thing of the rules going on, was what it really was.  He meant no harm.  He meant no disrespect at all.  But unfortunately it hit me wrong because it was so difficult to focus with the distractions I'm not used to at league, and I had a lot on the line.

At the end of the night, he came over with her and apologized.  I was still upset and said, "that's coaching and it's not right" (or something like that).  Dammit; I didn't handle that well.  :(

I meant to write about this about 6-9 months ago when this happened but I'm glad I didn't.

Because there is a follow up to that night.

Pretty much, I was put in my place.

Fast forward a few months later and I run into the couple at playoffs.  I went right up to her (not even remembering it was her b/f that upset me that night at league) and told her how much I appreciate her humor on FB.  She is SUPER funny - like over the top hysterical - and I LOVE her funny comments on fb!  So, I wanted to be sure to tell her.

She then proceeds to tell me basically that I was rude that night.  Her b/f tried to apologize and yet I was still rude.

I thanked her for putting me in my place, as that is honestly the last thing I want people to think of me - as rude or a bitch or whatever.  I tried to give my side of the story, too, but I DID hear what she explained to me how I came across.

I think it's ironic I can't show emotion, though, without looking like a bitch.  I was upset that night.  I was mad, actually.  It's already difficult enough to play pool and with people talking and "coaching" going on also, made it for a much tougher time for me to really focus and concentrate on the game.  So, I showed emotion.  And now I'm forever tainted as a mean person to them (not forever, lol, but it definitely made them see me in a not so bright light).

I felt bad they got upset that I wasn't receptive when he tried to apologize.  I should have been more open and receptive to his apology.  Unfortunately, I was still upset and it's difficult to switch from beng mad to happy so quickly.  But, I wish I would have.

For her to call me on it - kudos to her!  Not many women (well, men or women) would have done that.  They would have just maybe talked behind my back and kept that crappy opinion of me, but she took me aside to talk about the instance to share their side of things.  And also how I came across.

And, we are now friends after that talk (I didn't know her before), which I am very grateful as she a great woman.
 
It's funny how we try so hard NOT to be that way, but when we have a lot going on in our lives, and trying to play pool being distracted, we don't always remain calm, cool, collected and smiling.  I usually am 96% of the time.  This time I wasn't.  For that, I apologize. 

Interesting Gambling Story from 1961

I wrote a couple of days ago about someone who saw her first pool room at 4 years old, and how enamored she was by the event.

I Google the owner of the pool room, Matranga, to see what I could find about the family, and this little gem popped up:

http://www.cuke.com/dchad/writ/misc/120213-gambling.html

I am going to paste the long story here in case it disappears some day from the URL above, because it's quite a story to read about gambling in 1961:


2-13-12 - Breaking a Fifty Year Old Vow

On the next to last day of my recent stay in Fort Worth, I broke a vow fifty years old, a vow never again to gamble. Since that time five decades ago until the fifth of February this year, I have not wagered any money on a bet, on a flip of a coin, on a card game, on one of many brief stays at Reno, Tahoe, or Las Vegas, not bought a lottery ticket. I can remember one member of the poker game at David Cohen's getting angry at me when I wouldn't join in one night I'd dropped by to say hello. I have never taken advantage of sure thing bets or those I know of that are easy ways to make money because they're counter-intuitive. It's not just because of the vow. I've broken many vows. It's also because I don't have the urge to bet. I don't like competitive games. I don't like to lose but I also don't like that much to win, don't like to get the better of others, would rather not get into that whole thing. But there's also an experience behind the vow that lead me not to gamble since back then, not a penny ever - till Super Bowl Sunday this year.

I made that vow in Henry Matranga's pool hall on a hot day in the summer of 1961. I was sixteen and on the way to my grandmother's house mid afternoon. Since I was going there or by there my mother had given me five dollars to give to her mother - don't remember why - a donation, dues, debt to a yardman. On the way, rather out of the way, I dropped by the pool hall. It was a smoky old place, maybe eight tables all standard, no snooker or billiards, cold drinks and cigarettes available from machines, bad coffee, a couple of pin ball machines, bare walls, hanging florescent lights, a few chairs.

Henry sat on a stool when he wasn't up and around, was bespectacled, looked to be in his seventies, short, welterweight, strict, quiet, but not unfriendly. I remember his son Frank knew my aunt Eleanor in high school, maybe even dated. Henry knew my grandfather to say hello. Maybe that's why he let me and my friends play there even though we were under eighteen. The other customers were always older.

Matranga is an Italian name and there was a small Mafia presence in Fort Worth which at one time I'd heard had earned the nickname Little Chicago - for gambling and prostitution. Even when I was a teenager I'd hear about such things going on in town. The only thing I remember organized crime being involved with in Fort Worth was pinball and vending machines. I didn't understand why. It was hinted that some people in this pool hall were involved with the Mafia. Maybe that was all imagined ambiance but I know I never had to worry about being hassled by toughs there or even near there. I loved going to Henry's to play eight ball, rotation, and smoke.

"One quick game of rotation," I told him. "Just got a dime."

Henry racked the balls himself, quickly and tightly. A man at the next table asked if I wanted to play. I said sure.

"How about eight ball?" he said.

"OK."

Henry heard and re-racked for eight ball.

"Play for a dollar?" the man asked.

I'd seen him play there before. He was a salesman from the neighboring Montgomery Wards headquarters building. He was better than me. I've never been very good at pool.  "Loser pays," I said.

We played a game of eight ball. He won. I reached into my pocket for the dime, handed it to Henry.

"Eight ball's fifteen," he reminded me.

"Oh yeah." I reached in some more. Nothing. "Play you for a nickel," I said to the man who'd just beat me and handed Henry the five dollar bill. He gave me $4.95 in change.

It was very important that I give this five dollar bill to my grandmother. I had to win this game. My mother would not approve of me giving Granny four ones and ninety-five cents in change. Granny wouldn't like it either. This guy wasn't that much better than me. I'd almost won the game before. I lost that next game badly though. I gave Henry another fifteen cents.

I calculated. "Play you for a quarter," I said. Loser pays was understood. Needed that fiver back.
He won again. Darn. Gave Henry another fifteen cents. That left me with $4.65 and a 30 cent debt. "Play you for 65," I said. He nodded.

I almost won that game. "That's ninety-five," he said. "Wanna quit?"

"No."

Gave Henry another fifteen cents. Counted my change while he racked. Darn. If I don't get that five back Mother will kill me I thought. Granny will scold but mother might get irrational, out of hand. She's really very nice but, little things like this sometimes can ignite her (back then). Hmm. Got $4.50 and so that's 50 plus 95 equals 145. "Play you for a dollar forty-five."

He laughed. "OK."

I choked bad on that game. Was ahead and missed a super easy shot. My hand was shaking. "That's two hundred and forty pennies my friend," said the salesman. He was enjoying it. Gave Henry another fifteen cents. I had $4.35 left and owed $2.40. Sixty-five and 240 is... is 305. "How about three bucks and a nickel?" We were on.

"Rotation?" I said. Maybe another game would change my luck. Henry looked up. The salesman nodded.

He broke. He'd broken every game except the first. Winner breaks. I was sweating. I still had enough to pay up if I lost this game, But then I'd have to face the consequences at Granny's and then at home. Sounds like no big deal now. But remember inflation. According to the Inflation Calculator on DollarTimes.com, five dollars in 1961 was worth $36.77 in 2011. So it's like you gave your kid or friend or whatever forty bucks to pay a debt and they gambled it away en route. Add that to the uh... importance of attending to details and the value placed on property and money in my family, and that sweat on my brow is more understandable. Don't get me wrong. My mother was generous and not a penny pincher. She just wasn't cool with wanton waste and household misdemeanors.
Only the fifteen ball remained. I had a shot. Missed. He missed. I had a better shot. Missed. He had a difficult shot. Banked it in.

Moment of decision.

"I gotta get back to work," he said as I gave Henry a dime. The salesman was waiting for his money.

"Three o five," I said.

"No," he said. "Three o five plus the 240 from before." That's five and... forty-five."

Uh oh. Forgot to add that. I counted my change. Owed $5.45. Only had a quarter and the four bills. No. Damnit. No. Let's see. Wow. No. I don't have it. What to do. Mind blank then spinning, grasping at mental straws. Pretend I think it's in the car then come back in and apologize and bring it to him tomorrow. Embarrassing. He'll be okay. Dread to do that. And then there's still no five dollar bill for Granny. I paused looking down. Looking for excuses to bring instead of the five dollar bill, finding none.

"One more game."

"OK. One more. Then I really gotta go."

"Rotation?"

"Rack 'em Henry," he said.

Henry was already taking the balls from the wall  and placing them in the triangular rack.

"Play you for six twenty."

"Six twenty," he laughed and nodded. "You've sure got some system."

Henry looked at me and shook his head a little. I think he knew what was up.

These old tables of course weren't the type that swallow balls. In eight ball we'd leave the balls in the leather netted pockets, moving one to another pocket if it got too full. With rotation we'd line them up on the wall on narrow shelves scooped to match the form of the balls so they wouldn't roll off. His balls were on the top shelf and mine on the next. Henry had  been looking at these rows of balls for decades and could tell you the sum of your row in a glance. Naturally in rotation the player whose balls add up to the highest number wins.

I was not doing well in this game. The salesman had a bunch of balls on his shelf  I hardly had any. There were five balls left on the table, mostly the highest number balls. I was getting numb all over with fear. Fear of two women in my family and now fear of the salesman and Henry too. He didn't like any funny business in his establishment. If I lost this I'd be over eleven dollars short. A lot of money back then.

I was wishing I could walk back in the room and redo this whole scenario. If I'd just played rotation instead of eight ball the first game, I could have paid with my dime and driven off care free but no, now I'm anything but care free. I'm the polar opposite of care free. More like polar bear opposite, polar bears that can rip your face off and suck the marrow out of your bones.

"Your shot," the salesman reminded me looking at his watch.

I looked at the table. Henry walked by and looked at the balls in the rack. "Which are you?" he asked.
"I'm the lower shelf," I said.

He looked at the table. "You've got to sink every ball on the table to win," he said and walked off.
I looked at the five balls on the table. I was stuck on a cliff and they were the rocks below. I heard the winds of panic rustling. I felt the like crying, like collapsing. But I didn't. I gathered myself. I pulled in all my forces. I spoke directly then to the highest on high mind of mind, and I prayed sincerely.
When most people think of prayer, I gather they think it's something you do to some other being somewhere that has power, usually a supreme being that has all the power and one asks that supreme being for whatever one wants. Please let me live, I don't want to die, for instance. I had a comparable feeling, but I wasn't raised on that type of prayer. I was raised on prayer being rooted in one's oneness with absolute perfect mind that was the one core truth of life, life beyond the material universe. So I didn't say, please god, let me win. I just directed a most sincere request as high, as deep, as subtle, as intimate as I could, and said silently in my mind, "If I sink all five of these balls, I will never gamble again."

Without pausing to reflect on the significance of the moment, I rubbed the green chalk cube on the round leather cue tip,  put my left hand on the white chalk cone and shook off the excess, placed that hand on the table with the business tip of the cue stick slid through the ring created by index finger and thumb resting on middle finger splayed out with the other two, sighted the ball with the lowest number, and pulled back my right hand which gripped the butt of the cue. All the fear and trembling dropped away. Just about everything dropped away except for my ability to stand, hold the pool cue and shoot.

This recent Super Bowl Sunday a few friends came over to mother's house in Fort Worth. Carl brought fajitas he'd made at home. Warren brought a salad and chips. Jackie brought a raw vegetable assortment with dip. John showed up - I told him not to bring anything. Jerry dropped by. Mother sat with us. We talked. Warren was in the kitchen getting the salad tossed and tortilla chips with cheese heated. Carl got out a piece of paper and drew horizontal and vertical lines. It was a Super Bowl pool. Each square represented a meeting place of two different scores. Each square cost a dime. There were lots of empty squares. To heck with it. I didn't want to be a Super Bowl pool pooper. I went to my room and got eight dimes, threw them in the hat and marked eight squares with DC. I lost it all.
It's been a good vow. I'm still thankful for it.

First Encounter With a Pool Room

I was on a shuttle bus hitching a free ride between Bally's and The Rio for the BCAPL National Championships tourney back in July (2015).

It was a little wait and there was a lot of people needing that free ride as well between the strip and The Rio.

Got to talking to a couple who saw my pool case and we swapped where we were from, and yes they were heading to watch friends play in matches at the Rio.

When I told them I was from Fort Worth, the females' face all of a sudden lit up with excitement!  She was all smiles and excited to share this story with me:

She went to her first pool room as a child in Fort Worth at a pool room in Montgomery Plaza.  This is what it looked like back then:

 It has since been converted into a lot of restaurants, condos, and shops (that I happen to visit often):

As she told the story, I envisioned the grey Montgomery Wards building I had seen closing down 15 years ago (if you are old enough to remember those stores). 

She said the pool room was near the Montgomery Wards and it was owed by a local mafia-type family, the Matranga Family.

But it was the way she described her "encounter" with the pool room that made me appreciate the affect it had on her.

She was only 4 years old, and this over over 60 years ago she said.

She visited the pool room at such a young age, that her Dad had to lift her above the railing to see the tables, and when he did that....

"all I saw was felt.  And it was amazing!"

She paused and you could see her remembering the moment in her eyes:

"There was no music.  No food.  It was very, very quiet.  They had seven tables.  It was so beautiful, all that felt.  And it was very serious, like church."

"And I've been hooked on the game ever since by what I saw that magical day,"  she shared.

How cool is that first encounter with a pool room she had at such a young age?!

Forfeiting Players, and a Classy Move

During the first Omega Billiards Tour of the season in early Jan (of this year, 2016) a couple of weird things happened.

I made a point (emphatically) during the players meeting that I might forfeit players if they disappear.  We had 97 players in the tournament and needed it to flow well because we had more players than usual.  And in the past, it has been VERY frustrating calling names and then we find out the players are out in the parking lot or down the street getting food when we have matches that need to be played.

I even joked it was my wish for the year for the Tour (and the two ladies that help me run it), if the players could be cognizant of where they are on the chart and not leave.

Although, I was really kinda joking.  I wouldn't forfeit anyone, lol.

Little did I know I would be put to the test 10 hours later.

Later into Saturday night, I found myself in a VERY tough position.  After waiting 30 minutes (WAY too long) for a player, I forfeited him.  A friend had called him and he was on his way back to the pool room, but we had been calling his name for over 30 minutes.  He walked in 5 minutes after I forfeited him and I felt like SHIT.

Then the next morning, my scotch doubles partner (and a guy who is like a brother to me), overslept and was late to his winner's side match.  I had to forfeit him, too.  He made it for the one-loss side match and ended up placing 5th.  But he was SUPER mad at himself, no one else.

But what about the guy from Saturday night?  He is a friend of mine, too, and I was super worried about how he would react the next time he saw me.  Well, if he ever played in another Omega.

He showed up deliberately Sunday morning to talk to me.  He gave me a big hug and said, "hey, no hard feelings at all.  It was my fault.  I looked at the chart wrong or thought I had more time."

I tried to apologize and he cut me off, "don't even worry about it.  Really.  Don't feel bad or anything.  You did what you had to do and I have no ill feelings at all," as he gave me another hug.

It was the first person/time I have every forfeited someone on a Saturday - I would normally skip their match and play someone else while we tried to find the players.  But with 97 players, we could not afford to (and I made a big deal about it during the Player's Meeting so I kinda had to stand my ground).

But being who I am, I still care and so I was really worried about his reaction.

He could have just never said anything, been rude to me, never played again, or just not even cared.  But, he did.

He completely blew me away by apologizing and coming up to the pool room the next day specifically to talk to me, to make sure *I* was okay.

Impressive.

I told many people about it - it was very classy.

 

Learn from Dennis Orcollo vs Corey Deuel 10-Ball Match (video clip)

Here is a great match to self train with!

Dennis Orcollo and Corey Deuel, 2013 10-ball finals, U.S. Bar Table event Reno.

Camera man is very close to the players and table on all the shots throughout the match.

You can really study front hand “bridge hand” back hand “stroke hand and  grip”  many times.

Also, eye pattern with shooting and overall playing the runouts and game.

Also, stance and strategy is all very clear, as well as observing “bear down“ that happens a lot.

See how many times the player will not rush and at times will get up off the shot until he is sure of what and how he wants to execute.

These champions are really determined and their determination is shown (you'll see it).

Pool Tips from a Friend

I asked permission before I shared these, and my friend said yes.  Lucky us!  This is from a fellow pool player/friend who has great knowledge of the game:

------------

Was just reading your blog and enjoying your writings there...

Been a little while and just wanted to say hello and say thanks for sharing all your thoughts and heart felt feelings..

As I have stated before, I do enjoy reading about all you have to say and feel. You are such a giver and caretaker.

Hey, I also wanted to share some pool things with you as well...
I know you really love pool and the pursuit of perfection with the game..

Rafael Martinez----Most amateur players have a crooked stroke and that is why they do not play like a pro...they do not hit the ball where they really want to and therefore they miss the ball or miss position too...

He says to hold the cue very lightly on most all shots...I mean very LIGHTLY...."like when your mother played that little game with you when you were a child and you had to drop those cloths pins from high above into the jar that was on the floor and you were standing on a chair....very light like that...

Jim Rempe--  The game is best played in regards to position of the cue ball...Always try to be at least within a shafts length of your next ball....you can be a farther away if the object ball is mostly hanging in the hole or very close to the pocket...However, if the object ball is say 1 diamond or farther from the pocket, then you really need to be within a shafts length for position on the ball...

Dan Louie--- World Champ..
Determination...."When I was playing my best and was beating all the best in the world, I had the mindset that I just had to win...second place was just not good enough...I HAD TO WIN AND WIN ONLY....Be DETERMINED  and always give it your best effort in all areas of the game..."

Buddy Hall---DEAD STROKE.... When a player is in dead stroke, he is only thinking about one thing....SPEED...all other things are already on automatic and already taken care of ....SPEED IS ALL YOU WILL BE THINKING ABOUT....(basically how hard you will hit the cue ball..)

Ok...hope you like these and you probably already know but who knows and just wanted to share with you cuz your are worthy of it for sure...

Your friend in pool .. Jeffrey

Staying Under the Radar

I got a call from Billiards Digest (well, the magazine itself didn't call me lol), and they wondered if I had a recommendation for their Spotlight Player of the Month.

I immediately thought of someone and they contacted him to set up an interview. 

The interview date and time came and went, and next you know I'm getting called because they can't get a hold of the guy anymore. 

Turns out the guy chickened out.  Although he appreciated the opportunity and that he was chosen, he wants to remain under the radar for future potential gambling purposes.

While part of me understands this, the other part of me doesn't.  I think it's a huge compliment and how COOL is it to be interviewed and then printed in a magazine! 

But, I suppose if you play pool for a living and gamble at tournaments, you wouldn't want your name in lights. 

How You Treat People

We all know certain players to be assholes, or shy, or outcasts, or different, or just not all there.

As a Tournament Director, I am in a leadership role.

As such, I try and treat everyone the same, even the "assholes" that no one likes or want to talk to.  Or the shy, different ones that everyone avoids.

But I proudly admit that I tend to smile more to all the "outcasts," or make it a point to say good morning more to them, or maybe try to make a joke so maybe they'll crack a smile for me.

I recognize that the "outcasts" are not very talkative and quite frankly, not being talked to by a lot of the players.  I have even heard other Tournament Directors pass judgement on them.

I go out of my way to try and make them feel comfortable, though, or least try and make them smile.  I don't avoid them like most people do, I am in a role where I can hopefully add a little bit of comfort or see their face light up a little bit.

I'm actually a very shy person, but in this element of running a tournament, it's really a role that I embrace and try to ensure the players have a comfortable atmosphere to play in. 

A little friendship goes a long way.

Taboo Subject But Gets the Point Across

//WARNING//  Graphic content ahead, do not read if you get offended easily.    //WARNING//

I was watching a friend play in a match for 4th place in a weekly tournament and his opponent had just two-stroked the 8-ball and missed it.  (btw, "two-stroke" means he literally only took 2 warm-up strokes, and we all know you need a lot more warm-up strokes to focus and make your ball).

After my friend won that game I shared my observation, "yeah, he two-stroked the 8ball but he took his time with all the other shots before that."

My friend agreed and then started laughing.

"You know, that's something I always pass on to the guys starting out. I tell them, "You don't stroke once or twice to masturbate do you?  Nope, you need to stroke more than that in pool, too.""

OMG I DIED LAUGHING!

But, pretty dang true!

Maybe this blog post will help someone from rushing their shots ;)

Leagues Are GREAT!

Leagues really are good for your game and I am where I am today because of them. 

So, please don't mistake my complaints yesterday about the payouts, or me wanting to take a break from league as a sign that leagues aren't good.  Because, leagues ARE GOOD.

The learning experiences you will gain will WAY out-measure the amount of money you make. 

Leagues have helped me become a State Champion and a National Champion!  Leagues help you get out of the house, get you around friends, help you develop great friendships, give you a lot of practice under pressure, allow you to take trips to state tourneys and national tourneys, etc.

And most importantly, the experience you gain from playing in leagues helps you become a better player!

I am a HUGE advocate for leagues.  It's one of the main reasons our pool game get better.

ENJOY those leagues and all those learning experiences and memories you are making!  One of the most memorable parts of a pool players life revolves around league events and the people in them.  :) 

League Payouts

I never played league for the money.  I honestly only played league to qualify for the State and National tourneys.  I found myself enjoying the MANY playoffs I have found myself in the finals of the league season with my teams, but overall, I was just trying to get my weeks in.

So, to see the payouts of the two leagues I was on last year still makes me disappointed.  Again - I don't play league for the money, but look how pitiful:

And the worst part of this is one team we WON the playoffs and another we got SECOND.  And still, the payouts were not that much.  Especially since we pay about $6 every single week.

#justsharing

/vent off/