Before I go into details about the many aspects of the trip, I just can't contain this news any longer! I have to share that a dream came true for me last weekend in Vegas!
The women's team I was on, WE WON! We went undefeated in the BCAPL 8Ball Nationals Women's Open Team event!
WE WON!
I am so proud to express that I am now finally a National Champion! I am so freakin' elated, I can't stand it! My teammates (Connie, Jennifer, Lisa and Monica) ROCKED! We all played so well together, had great team chemistry, and we fought like the champions we became!
How's My Rack? did it! We are National Champions!! OMG!
I hope you have heard of this by now, but if not, let me share with you a really cool new techie thing CSI has put in place for the players!
Text messaging!
Yea, sounds simple and easy. But it's more than that - it's clever and became an important and useful tool for the players. It saved time because you didn't have to walk across the convention center to check the charts all the time and it was extremely convenient.
You signed up at the Tourney Desk and gave them your name and cell phone number. At that point, you will then receive text messages about your matches - for every event you entered! (yes, even teams)
Here are some exact examples I will cut and paste for you. These examples show every possibility: a win, a loss, a table change, etc. The cool part was you also received a text 20 minutes before every scheduled match - nice little alarm clock. :)
Examples of Text Messages for Scotch Doubles:
Congratulations on the win Ewart/Bailey! You defeated Phillipe/Makus 3 to 1. Your next match is Mon Noon on Table: 231.
Match change: Ewart/Bailey vs. White/Asleson is now scheduled for Mon 4:30P on Table: 231.
Examples of Text Messages for Singles:
Congratulations on the win Melinda Bailey! You defeated Sharon Bledsoe 4 to 1. Your next match is Sat 4:30P on Table: 45.
Melinda Bailey vs. Amanda Pulley is on schedule for Sat 4:30P on Table: 45.
Good effort Melinda Bailey. Your next match is Sun 1:30P on Table: 44.
Examples of Text Messages for Team Event:
No Holes Barred vs. Secret Sauce is on schedule for Sat 9:00A on Tables: 22, 23, 24.
Congratulations on the win No Holes Barred! You defeated Junior Mints 9 to 3. Your next match is Sat 1:00P on Tables: 19, 20, 21.
No Holes Barred your Sat 1:00P match may be delayed. You must be prepared to play as scheduled, but your opponent is currently playing a match.
Final Text:
CSI and Bad Boys thanks you for attending the 2011 BCAPL 8-ball nationals! Hope to see you in 2012!
I thought the extra wording was thoughtful. "Nice Try" or the "Congrat's" was an extra added nice bonus.
I will sign up for these EVERY year now! You are only able to sign up one number at a time, so I would forward the texts to my b/f and friends so they knew I won and what time/table I was up next. Because CSI has to pay for every text sent out, they can only sign up one number at a time per name. Pretty impressive they are paying for this service!
For whatever reason, Vegas brings out awesome and unexpected team support more than any other tournament.
The Teams:
The Tiger Sharks are a team from Dallas that I only see in Vegas. Since I don't play out of Dallas (I play an hour away in Fort Worth), I really only see these guys in Vegas. Two of the teammates are good friends of mine, but we only get to catch up in Las Vegas. But for whatever reason, every year their entire team seems to support my team more than any other.
Texas Sharks! I joked with them this photo in the convention center tourney room looks like a police line up!
In addition to the Tiger Sharks, the day before the team events started I met two players from a team out of Houston called Double Down. Jeff and Juan (who knew my Vegas roomie, Rebecca, well) became fast friends with Amanda and Ashley and I and they became our cheerleaders, also.
Further, Darnell and her sister and teammates supported us again this year. Darnell is out of San Fransisco and even though we beat her team a couple of years ago and again this year, they still would send us texts for updates, watch our matches, and wish us good luck! They are super cool to hang out with and they always have a great time!
Ashley, Darnell and I
Friendships Bond:
This year it was so much fun to hang out with these other teams away from the pool tables, too. We watched them play black jack or 3-card poker, they would watch me play Let It Ride, we all watched the pole dancers together, we ate out at the likes of the Mirage Buffet (see video blog), Kristophers, and the Peppermill. We even ventured away from the Riviera and my teammates and I went to the HardRock Casino one night with the Tiger Sharks (I had never been there - the music is loud and FANTASTIC! Loved the atmosphere).
This year, for whatever reason, the support was even more than in previous years. But more importantly, I got to know the players on a personal level this year. I love eating out and the 3-4 times we all went out as a team was a blessing because it was so rewarding to get to know them better. Eating over good food with great company allows connections to form and we were able to talk and share in the great atmospheres. I found out about their kids, hobbies, family life, work life, etc.. I found out which one is the sports better , which one had a secret birthday he was trying to keep from us, which one had a great new girlfriend, etc.
An added bonus, all of the guys became like our body guards, too, and they kept watch over us, all the while supporting our matches.
I thoroughly enjoyed not only spending time with them, but also getting to know them.
The Support:
I can't begin to describe how much team support means. Yes, when playing in a big tournament or in a singles division (such as in BCAPL tournaments), support is amazing and extremely helpful. But team support is a different type of camaraderie. It's simply on an other level.
It's not just your close friends watching all your single's events, it's a whole entire team supporting your whole entire team.
These three teams would follow our progress, check the charts, watch our matches, and cheer us on. We would look for them in return across the large room. "Is that them? I wonder how they are doing?"
The other teams would text us often, "What table are you on? What time do you start? We'll be right there."
Even after the three other teams had to leave on Saturday late morning, they would continue to text us from the airport and during their layovers,
"How's it going?"
"Keep it up!"
"You gals are doing great!"
"Keep us posted."
Even from afar, on AZB forums we had supporters and followers. It was awesome to get messages of encouragement and congrat's when we placed 7th!
Sweating matches actually takes a lot of effort. We want to support our dear friends, so we try and watch as many matches as we can. Problem is, we ourselves need to be sure to get enough rest for our OWN matches.
While I want to watch my friends and be there for them, I have been in this rodeo for many, many years and if I have a match coming up, I will rest if I need it. Don't mean to sound selfish, but if I'm still in the singles event at the BCAPL Nationals, I NEED to be selfish and get rest and focus on me because I went all the way there and prepared all year for this event.
Once I am out of the tourney (which this year was super early, lol), I am able to support and watch many of my friends. And this year I watched as they clawed through the tough brackets in their events!
I watched Rebecca, Amanda, Monica and Ashley's matches. I tried to support them as much as I could on the sidelines. And if they couldn't come to one of my matches, I understood completely, and didn't take it personal at all. I had a few friends that felt obligated to watch their friends, and I while I understood that, I wanted them to rest and be selfish, too, tho.
Once I was out of the tournament, I become a better supporter. I watched Amanda Lampert play her 4 matches on Monday and 4 more on Tuesday to make it to the finals in the Master singles! Congrat's, Girlie! I saw Rebecca, Monica and Ashley last all the way til Monday in the Women's Open Singles! I was so proud of them all!
But I admit, it's tough to sweat matches, lol. Takes time, energy, and patience. You pass up dinner with other friends, gambling (but that helps save money, lol), and trips to other casinos. But we want to be there for each other, esp when it gets down closer to the end of a tourney!
I find it ironic (and confusing) that some people ask me to watch their matches and yet they don't think to watch mine. But I try to recognize I am playing for ME.
I found myself in an interesting and a great thought-provoking conversation on Tuesday afternoon. A dear friend of mine with more experience in pool than I (and I have been playing for 20 years) shared with me she laughs when her friends and b/f ask her to watch their matches. She laughed some more and shared that it's too tiring to watch matches, and since she can't be there for all of them anyway, people need to realize they need to play without support of their friends right there ALL the time. She added, "now if they get toward the end, I will watch every match! But to watch several rounds in the beginning? No."
It made me wonder about myself. I admit I long for my b/f to watch me in my matches in my events, but he isn't always around or doesn't always watch me. I get disappointed, but I try not to get upset and instead force myself to realize I'm playing for ME. Pool really is a single-person sport. We are on our own. Who are we really playing for anyway? But let's also be a realist and admit support on the sidelines from the ones we care about mean so much to us!
However, I'm hoping this conversation I had with my fiend will help me from wishing he was there all the time. If I can see it from her eyes, I can understand now why he doesn't necessarily have to be there for every single match. I feel that way about girlfriends - they don't need to watch every one of my matches. But when it comes to a significant other (like my current boyfriend), I just know how much better I feel if he's there supporting me. He has been the absolute biggest supporter of any guy I have ever dated - he wants me to win more than anyone ever before. :)
So, if I sweat your match, it means I care about you! However, if I'm not there I have a good reason. And don't be upset at me if it's a selfish reason for me needing rest or to get ready for my own match.
While sweating is a tough job, I SO enjoy being there for my friends and boyfriend. I enjoy trying to be their cheerleader, supporter, mental toughness, and gopher. I am their biggest fan!!
I wrote before about my worst team experience. I wont rehash it all, but a quick recap is the team captain made the experience of playing on her team horrendous because she second guessed our actions and was two-faced with her words of encouragement.
I realized this year more than ever, tho, that playing on a team is TOUGH. Well, we can make it tough on ourselves.
During the first Women's Open Team match this year at BCAPL Nationals, I wasn't playing well and got upset with myself. In the second match, I had a breakdown. After the first match, tho, I played good. Real good. I felt good about my play and I was lucky to feel good for the rest of the team event because of that.
However, I can't forget the first match how *I* thought my terrible play and my actions affected my teammates. When I threw my chalk down in disgust in our first team match, I mentioned afterwards to my boyfriend how embarrassed I was. He said I need to stop feeling embarrassed and not care what others think.
He's right.
Very right.
I have a problem with that, I admit.
I listened to his words for the rest of the team event, and it helped! If I missed a stupid shot or lost a match I should have won, instead of being embarrassed how my teammates thought of my play, I just tried to not let it bother me and move on.
Because let's face, if we let embarrassment fester, then we can't play our game for our next match because there is too much negativity in our minds to focus on pool. Once I get embarrassed, it can be difficult for me to recover, that's why I tried to not let embarrassment take control of my emotions after my discussion with him.
I also looked at this way: If one of my teammates lost or played bad, I never got upset at them. Not once. Not once was I on the sidelines thinking negative thoughts about them or wished they would have won or got mad at them because they missed a shot. So, If I lost (or lost it) I bet they didn't think twice about me either.
Just like in our final match, one of my teammates felt bad because she played bad. She took it hard because she thinks she let the team down. I feel for what she is going through, I really do. My heart actually aches for the pain she is causing herself. But I hope she realizes like the rest of us that we don't judge each other when we play bad nor do we blame each other when we lose. As a matter of fact, we all still loved that we came in 7th place!
Yes, we all are our own worse critics and want to play best all the time and please everyone.
But a Team event does not rest on the shoulders of one person.
It's a TEAM event!
And I am beginning to think if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. A team event is not for people who can't handle that they may have a bad day. I say this because that first team captain so many years ago that made a very bad experience for me should never be a team captain. I say this because if you are going to be depressed for weeks on end because you feel too bad about the way you played, then you shouldn't be on a team until you understand and accept that it's okay not to play good every single time.
A team event can be tough on our psyche.
I admit I do not get depressed anymore after I play super badly (like I did in my 20s) because I learned from Mental Toughness Training for Sports (by James Loeher) to play my best. It's actually not possible for one to get upset at themselves if you played your best!
As one of our co-teams captain said:
"We win as a team and lose as a team. I know easier said than done, right? But we all put too much pressure on ourselves and that is just the nature of the beast in a team environment. We don’t want to let anyone down. If we lose, we just pick ourselves off the floor and get back and try it again. We all give best effort and that is the best we can do. "
Words to live by!
No one is upset if I dog it, and I am not upset if a teammate dogs it. We really do all want to win and we try our best. Sometimes we get there and sometimes we don't. If we do or don't, it's what was meant to be. I still have fun and enjoy the friendship of the team members. I am lucky to be on such great teams that have fun, play with so much heart, and enjoy playing the game we all love!
Vegas isn't complete without lots of pics with my girlies! Below is a sampling for ya. Without my camera, I only had my camera phone, but I think it took some pretty cool pics still!
Ashley (now lives in TN), Me and Amanda (from Texas)
Kristen (2011 First Place Women's Master Team!), Me, Joanne (from Canada), Yvette (from Texas) at the Circle Bar in the Riviera
Ashley and I at the Mirage Casino
Amanda and Rebecca (Vegas Roomie from Texas) on our way to breakfast
Vicki (very successful league operator from CA), Me, and Kristen in the Riv Casino
Ashley, Darnell (fellow competitor and now good friend from San Fransisco!) and I
Manders and I at Kady's Restaurant
Gail (2010 BCAPL Women's Open Champ!), Ashley and I (using Ashley's phone with no flash) in the Pool Tourney Area
Vegas is one of those cool places where one might think, "Hey, I should get a tattoo while I''m in Vegas!" It's the city of adult fun after all, right?!
Well, while I've never personally got tattooed while in Vegas, just this year two of my friends did. And I have proof!
Conveniently, the Riviera Casino, which hosts the BCAPL Tourney, has a tattoo parlor in it! It's literally a few steps from the convention center. It's called the "World Famous 3 Lions Tattoo Studio."
One of my AZB Forum friends got this tattoo the first few days into the singles event (click to enlarge to see the fine details):
His team is from Odessa, Texas and they are called Bad Boys. I love the original design and how it incorporates pool and cards.
Then when the team event started, about 5 days later, my Vegas roommie's friend from Houston, Texas (Juan) decided to get his FIRST tattoo! He inked this awesome Phoenix!
And here he is with his tattoo artist (ain't she a cutey?!).
Juan and I both agreed what was cool about this design is he can add more future tats around it pretty easily because of the shape.
And finally, I took video footage of Juan getting this tattoo (I also took some footage of the pool area before heading into the tattoo parlor). Enjoy!
While I watched and cheered on some team matches on Thursday morning, I couldn't help but notice this one particular team with lots of logos on their shirts. Being the shy person that I am, lol, I walked to their tables and introduced myself. I just HAD to know how they were sponsored by the likes of Dunkin Donuts, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and Jagermeister!!! Yes, all named-brand companies!
The Drifters
Once I heard their story, I asked the team (The Drifters) if I could do a Video of their story and they said yes, much to my delight! :)
I was even further impressed with the spitfire attitude of the sole female of the team! Marcia was a big factor for the team, and her personal life amazed me.
BTW, the team is also sponsored by Tavern Players Magazine, in New Hampshire. Their magazine is sponsored by Dunkin Donuts, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and Jagermeister. So, they had their logos put on their shirts.
It was awesome to see such high-profile companies on a billiards team shirt, I must admit! That's why I had to share with you all the team. :)
This year, CSI had a new event in Vegas, and it was a huge hit imo!
They had two tables set up to run a 14.1 High Run Challenge that was held throughout the BCAPL Nationals. Played on two 9’ Diamond tables, each player who wanted to try out in the Challenge paid only $20 and had 4 chances with ball in hand and choice of break ball location. Each player shot until they missed or fouled and their final score was cumulative of their 4 runs (not their highest run).
So for example, if I ran 16 balls in my first inning and then missed, I still had 3 more chances and the total score was cumulative. It was pretty dang cool!
Monies were given in multiple divisions: single high run (of course) and the top four of each of these categories got paid: female amateur, pro (male and female), amateur male, and senior. I hear thanks are to be given to Charlie Eames and Steve Kurtz for this terrific idea and support!
Here is the first Video Tour I did of the 14,1 Challenge Area:
I checked out the area several times every day and would quickly say hi to Andy who ran the event and kept score, and also to John Schmidt and Bill Marop who hung around the 14.1 pit a lot. John had the first high, high run of like 121 or so and it held for many, many days til Danny Harriman took a turn at the table and ruined it.
Several people asked me when I would try it, as the high run for the women was around 32 in the first few days. I finally decided to play it almost a week after it started. I asked John Schmidt to show me the best break out shot and he practiced it with me for a few tries.
The day I choose to play, was the same day/time Mika decided to play. Not a smart move, but I didn't know he was to play that same day.
I felt pretty comfortable after my first try and had 19 or something points in 4 tries, lol. But I was in the top 4 for a few days against the other chickies who had tried it.
I didn't fair well the second time I took on the challenge (I tried it again right after the first time). I was more nervous than I realized. Even though everyone was watching Mika, there were a lot of eyes watching and it made my heart race. Talk about pressure - I felt it full force playing in front of everyone. Even though I enjoyed it, thoughts run through your mind a lot in front of a crowd. lol.
The first try I hit many tough shots and was proud of myself how well I was shooting on a 9foot table (since I had been playing on a bar table solidly for the past week). By the second try, even though it was right after the first, I was too nervous for some reason and didn't accumulate more than 15 total points, lol.
I should have tried it again, but ran out of time playing teams and trying to rest between the team matches. By the end of the challenge, I was no longer in the top 4, and shouldn't be with only 19 total cumulative points anyway, lol.
In the end, the top 8 pros were invited back to play a single elimination tourney the final day to see who would get the top cash. Each of the top 8 were already guaranteed $100, but who would get the larger prizes for first through fourth finishes?
Here is video of the final day:
I really enjoyed this event for several reasons:
(1) it introduced the game to a larger audience
(2) it was cool to see the pros playing right in front of us without having to pay some fee
(3) it was cool to watch the top straight pool players in person play this beautiful game
(4) it was cool it was open to anyone for only $20 a stab
(5) it was fun to see newbies assume it was easy only to find out just how tough the game is when they gave the challenge a shot, lol.
I was Really, Really hoping they would have this again next year, and Mark Griffin says YES!
BTW, here are the final stats:
313 - Harriman (including a 199 run) ($200 Hi- Run prize)
281 - Schmidt (run of 121)
261 - Immonen (run of 113)
233 - Deuel
194 - Appleton
160 - Silva
159 - Robles
151 - Eberle
Harriman defeated Eberle 100-56
Immonen defeated Silva 100-14
Robles defeated Schmidt 100-56
Appleton won by forfeit (Deuel was still in 10 Ball finals).
Immonen defeated Harriman 100 to 4 (with a 91 and out)
Robles defeated Appleton 100-36
Immonen defeated Robles 150 to 26 (with a 109 run)
Immonen = $800
Robles = $500
Harriman & Appleton $250 each
Eberle, Silva, Schmidt, Deuel = $100 each
Men's Amateur:
Mark Dimick - 120 ($720)
Craig Powers - 112 ($540)
Mike MIller - 105 ($360)
Lee Brett - 91 ($180)
Men's Senior:
Peter Lhotka - 56 ($200)
Mike Zygmunt - 54 ($150)
Lyn Weschler - 46 ($100)
Robert Hovick - 42 ( $50)
Playing Scotch doubles can be confusing - which partner's turn is it at the table to shoot? You'd think it'd be easy to remember, but after you watch your opponents shoot for a while and then it's "our" turn, whose shot is it?
I don't recall this as an issue in previous years. Maybe it's only on my mind because two distinct instances about this came up this year in Vegas BCAPL Nationals Open Scotch Doubles.
In our very first match at 9am on Friday morning, my partner and I find ourselves down 0-3 in a race to 4. We easily crawl back 3-3 because we were the better team. At one point in the final game, which was a messy chess match, the male player of the other team contemplated a shot for a long time. We never heard him say what he intended to shoot, but he made a ball, yet that's not what he meant. My partner and I were confused at what just happened, and we were thrown off our game a little bit because we didn't realize it was our turn at the table.
My partner walked to the table and while he got down on his shot, the female of the opposing duo says, "It's not your turn. I don't want to have to call a foul on you, but it's not your turn."
We looked at each other and started to go visualize who shot what last and whose turn it was.
She was right, it was my turn.
I thanked her several times, as did my partner (she didn't have to do that), while her male partner shook his head.
We didn't get out and neither did they in one inning - there were many more trips to the table by each team until we finally won 4-3. The male was so ticked, he wouldn't shake our hands. :( I am not sure if he was upset because they were ahead 0-3 and lost, or because she had said something. Either way, with the way the balls were tied up in that final game, they couldn't have run out with ball-in-hand anyway, even if they had called a foul on us.
It's a weird feeling when someone on an opposing team helps you out like that. I felt in awe of her honesty and help.
Fast forward in time about 12 hours and we are playing our 8th match at 10pm the same day. We are playing a team that plays pretty good, but we are still ahead in this match. Even though my partner and I tried all day to remember whose turn it was at the table (esp after that first match), we messed up again.
After my partner shoots a great shot, the male partner of the opposing team says, "I need to get a ref. That's a foul."
We look at each other in disbelief and then look at the table thinking, "WTH, that was a legal hit!"
Then he adds, "You played outta turn - it's her shot, not yours."
We again stood there, running through our tired minds who shot what last while we looked at the table to try and remember and sure enough it was my shot, not his. We told the opposing team they didn't need a ref, lol, it was a foul. The guy told us, "I didn't notice, she did" (referring to his partner).
At this point, I get a tad upset and disappointed. Really? Come on now. But in reality, those are the rules and we played out of turn. We won 4-1 so it was no issue, but it's amazing how differently WHEN the opposing team chose to tell us we played out of turn.
I wonder what I would do if I ever noticed my opponents playing out of turn? I honestly think if I noticed it before they shot, I would say something. If I'm still trying to figure it out after one of them shoots, I would prolly call them on it.
The difference I see is in the second instance, the female deliberately waited til we shot, which again, is legal. But I think it's funny how her partner threw her under the bus and confided, "she noticed it." lol.
The Riviera Casino has been the home to the BCAPL Championships for many, many years. I love the place - I'm a huge fan of familiarity! Many people complain about the Riviera because it's old, but I like it because I am a creature of habit.
Much to my surprise, the Riviera has changed a little! The Riv has a new owner who is putting in $120 million into the casino/hotel. The better news is, this isn't his first rodeo, so he knows what he is doing.
The one shock I ran across was the sports book was shut down the day before the pool players showed up. Miscalculation! Does the new guy not know pool players are gamblers? lol. I'm crossing my fingers it's only for renovations, and not shut down forever.
He also moved the poker room (I assume for renovations) to near the food court, and they have a deal now that if you stay for an hour, you get a ticket. If they call your name, you get to spin a wheel and win from $25 to $200. Well, the third time I sat down to play poker during my trip, they not only pulled my ticket, I landed on the only $200 spot on the wheel! WOO-HOO!
$200 Winner!
The other thing the new owner did was to create a kinda Crazy Girls section and added it to the middle of the casino! So, there are two dancers on pink poles dancing to great music, and the new pink table games have young, hip, dressed-hot dealers. They still have other previous table games, with the previous dealers, but the new section does create a crowd! (I snuck a quick video. Shh - don't tell the Riv!)
Crazy Girls Stage in the Middle of the Riv and New Dealers
Crazy Girls Stage in the Middle of the Riv and New Dealers
They have also added more tables games (like black jack and 3card poker) toward the circle bar and the cashiers cage - so there are many more tables games to choose from than just the original set of tables.
I talked to one of the new pit bosses and he said he was hired just to run the new high-limit baccarat section to the casino that will be added soon. Pretty smart new owner, huh?
And I was further impressed because one of the dancers was crowned the Best Pole Dancer in Vegas in a contest last year and she is working at the Riv of all places. The owner was smart to invest in her because she was def the crowd favorite!
Best Pole Dancer in Vegas!
Flava Flav is going to put one of his new chicken restaurants in the Riv, but not sure that is the new owner's doing or not. And I sadly share that Kristopher's new owner has changed the menu and the food was not as good this year as last. :(
There is also a new Pub, kinda where the old Italian restaurant was. It's a copy of a real Pub from England, so I didn't understand most of what was on the food menu, lol. Here is a video tour of it:
Other than Kristopher's and the now-non-existent sports book, I liked the changes he has already made and the changes being proposed.
Next year will be interesting when half the pool world population shows up to the Riv! Can't wait!
The second of three unfortunate things happened during teams. This is a very difficult blog entry for me to write. It's going to come across as vain and also will hurt some feelings. But as I mentioned, the journey of pool is not all positive and learning experiences abound for us to be better for the "next times."
This year we had a two new players on our team from last year. One of the players was semi-captain of her previous winning team and so she became semi-captain this year in Vegas, even though it wasn't completely decided. It was kinda morphed and just happened because we joked about it. Technically, we all had certain responsibilities and joked she was our co-captain.
In the first match, our Women's Open team, No Holes Barred, won hill-hill! I was playing so badly. :( The one game I almost won, I scratched on an 8ball, as the cueball barely hung up in the pocket. As I turned to shake my opponents hand, the cueball fell behind my back and each team member from both teams yelled in disbelief out loud. I got super embarrassed, shook her hand quickly, and as I stormed out I threw my chalk on the table that my teammates where sitting at. I went to the bathroom to calm down but very quickly returned to the area where we were playing. It was a team event, and I needed to NOT be upset so my teammates can focus.
I ended up losing all 4 of my matches. One of my teammates, who was having a worse time playing her matches, got one win because the girl gave her ball in hand on the 8ball.
One of my teammates called me after that first match to tell me I really did play well and not to let it bother me. It was really sweet of her to do that.
I could tell that for our next match I was ready to play! Whatever mo-jo was going on with me in the first match was over (I think I ate too close to the match, to be honest).
As I stood there at the 7pm match, ready to play, I look at the line up. And I'm not on it! We have five players and I'm not one of the 4 playing this round. Um, what?
Here comes the vain part. I was offended. I was hurt! How can I not be playing? Because I lost my four matches? I feel I am one of the top two players on the team and I wasn't playing? The co-captain tells me that her team last year sat out the person with the most losses from the previous round. She discussed it with the other co-caption before the start of the match, and she said that was okay. The other top player knew nothing of this, either, as when it was discussed we both weren't there yet.
The newly-appointed co-captain had to make a decision about the line up and simply went with what her previous team did.
But, I didn't have rationale thoughts going on. Instead, I tried to calm down. I sat back down and told myself I deserved to sit out. I clapped loudly for my teammates and cheered them on, but inside I was crying and deeply hurt and confused.
When the other top player finished her first game, I pulled her aside and asked her if my thinking was wrong. She said absolutely not. And added that it should have been discussed with everyone. I told her I would feel the same if they pulled her - I would not want that even if she lost her four matches the previous round.
Hearing the confirmation I wasn't totally out of my mind and that someone understood and empathized with me, I sat back down and cheered my teammates on again.
I had to put the team first and try as hard as I could to ignore my the pain because there is no I in Team.
Then I noticed my name was back in the lineup... and I became livid! I got super upset. You'd think I'd be happy, but I wasn't; at all! I felt so ashamed that because I got upset they put me back in. I didn't know it happened - the two co-captains decided to change it while I was trying to regroup with the other teammate.
I warned them there was no way I could play - I was too upset now! Actually, more upset than before when I first saw I wasn't on the lineup! I was mortified. Ashamed. Upset. I had disrupted the team and was so upset with myself for being selfish.
When the co captain finished her match, I told her I didn't want to be put back in just because I was upset. She shocked me and said, "I didn't even know you were upset." She said they decided it was not a good decision after all and was only going by what her previous team did, so they put me back in.
She also explained that she was put in a bad spot to make the decision in the first place when she didn't even know she was to be co-captain. Then I felt super bad for that - it was a very good point. She was all of a sudden forced to deal with an issue that she didn't sign up for.
We won that match and went on to place 7th, but I can't help but still feel bad for disrupting the team dynamics. :(
Vegas is interesting every time I go. Besides being my favorite city, it's the one place you are most often going to run into a celebrity. Sure enough, this year was no exception. However, I ran into more celebrities this year than any other year that I can remember.
The first person I ran into was in the Riv casino. Ashley is sitting near me as I play the table game Let It Ride and all of a sudden she says, "Hey, see that guy over there?"
"Huh, where?"
"The guy with the big clock."
"Who is that?"
"Flava Flav."
"The rapper/reality star guy? Oooh, let's take a pic!"
We rush to the roulette table and he graciously takes a pic with us:
Then a couple of days later I am filming another VLOG to show the walk to the convention center where the tourney room is, and I see Gallagher. I say on the video, "is that really him?"
After I finished filming, I went back and took a pic with him.
Then I am at the Peppermill Restaurant celebrating our awesome 7th place finish with my teammates and the drink girl points out that Holly Madison is walking in. Holly Feakin' Madison!! OMG! I love her. :) So, I told her I was a big fan and took this crappy pic because the lighting was bad. Still, Holly Madison!
And my fourth celebrity sighting was the all famous Ronnie Allen. Ronnie Allen is of course known as one of the best players in the country. At 72 (or did he say he was 73?), he's still a champion player who was winning one pocket at $2,000 and $3,000 A GAME just the previous day and the next day that I saw him in Vegas! He is a great friend of mine and he loves me. :)
I was severely bummed when I learned my boyfriend couldn't go to Vegas this year. I like to experience life with him and knew it would be tough for me without him in Vegas.
He has this saying he tells me all the time when I am playing that helps me out a lot, even more than the usual "Come on Melinda" type of comments that people say to inspire us during matches.
He tells me: "You Got This."
For whatever reason, it lights a fire under my belly and sparks my mental toughness to be strong. That saying from him has helped me on so many occasions when I'm in the middle of a match. I can't explain why those exact words mean so much to me, but they just ignite my passion and desire to play good. I guess it's a positive affirmation from him - like, he really believes in me, which of course is always helpful when one is in a match.
When we found out he couldn't join me in Vegas, he engraved for me a key chain with the words "You got This." !
Here is a pic of it. I hooked it on my jeans or black pants and kept it near me during every single match I had in Vegas! I now have it hooked on my purse and it's with me everywhere I go. :)
Although a lot of good things happen for me to share from my Vegas trip, there is sometimes some unfortunate things that happen. This is a "reality blog," so I feel obligated to share the bad things, too, and not sugarcoat everything that happens in my pool journey.
On Sunday when many singles matches were still being played, I walked by the Grand Master tables and someone (Jeff J) stopped me to talk about my blog. We met very briefly last year in Vegas (just introductions, really), but this year he specifically stopped me to share he was just telling his friend (Leo) about one of my blog entries, Asking Why. I was surprised he was discussing that particular blog entry, as it was from my personal blog that I thought no one ever read, lol. But, the topic I wrote about hit home with him personally. Therefore, we had a lengthy discussion about personalities and friendships, and the tough choices we sometimes make in regards to how much we want certain people in our lives. Do we put up with people that bring us down or make a tough decision to maybe take a hard step forward and decide we can no longer be friends with certain people?
The next morning, I find out that the pro who was playing a match near my conversation complained that it bothered him and he lost the match. My initial reaction was "he's a pro, he should have told me to be quiet" (since we are friends) OR, "Since he's a pro he should try and not not let it bother him." Don't use ME as an excuse.
I asked specifically if it was me and was told they heard my name.
Even tho I feel it was not my fault, I still felt badly, tho, as I don't like to bother anyone in their matches. Well, I don't like to bother anyone... anytime.
I told myself if I happened to run into this pro player, I will apologize. Sure enough, I happen to see him walking down one of the aisles the next day in the afternoon. I stopped him and told him I heard my converstion bothered him, and I apologized.
He looked me sincerely in the eyes and said I didn't bother him.
I tell him again, "I am sorry and I never would deliberately do that." He reiterated again I didn't do anything and even added, "I never even mentioned your name to (his wife); you can ask her." I still said sorry one more time and we hugged and he went on his way.
I figured he just said I didn't bother him to be nice or because maybe he realized he shouldn't have let it bother him. Maybe he just vented after he lost?
But then later on the same day, I sought out Jeff J to tell him how I affected someones match, since we had just talked the previous day about relationships and effects people have on one another, ironically.
Jeff J said he thought it wasn't my talking that bothered the pro, but instead the other blonde with curly hair who was sitting behind his match. Jeff saw the pro look around a few times glaringly at the other blonde before I even arrived (she was sitting in a chair a little bit behind his seat). He thought it really was her, not me. And that would make sense why the pro said sincerely it wasn't me.
It was a roller coaster situation - nice talk with Jeff, but affected someones play, tried to apologize, but in the end, not sure it was me.
If I try to figure out what happened in my mind, I see this scenario: The pro complained after the match about a blond with curly hair talking too much behind him while he played, someone remembered I was behind him, and that led to people hearing it was me.
Or, it really was me and he just didn't tell me.
Either way, it was not intentional whether it was me or my other friend with curly blonde hair.
I love Vegas, as it truly is my favorite city. I enjoy the gambling aspect, of course, but I think it's the nature of the atmosphere that I like best. Let's face it, it's an adult playground; and I love it. It's a place I can play Let It Ride with my friends around me while getting "free" drinks. It always helps when the dealer is nice and friendly, too. Of course playing real money blackjack online allows me the freedom to never get upset over any rude dealers, thankfully.
This was an interesting year for me in regard to my singles event in the BCAPL Nationals, much different from last year. This year I focused on pool.
I can play casino games online throughout the year so I wasn't craving gambling on the onset of the trip.
But, last year I admittedly went to have fun and didn't have any expectations about my singles event. So, last year I drank every night, stayed out too late, but also had a blast! It's almost difficult to admit I went to a ten-day pool tournament and didn't care how I faired in the singles event, but it's true.
This year, I did focus on pool. I got sleep every night but one, only drank too much two nights (after being out of the tourneys) and what did all this preparation get me? Well... I was rested which felt wonderful not to be hungover playing pool, lol. But I ended up still getting a bad sore throat that I had the whole trip. Figures. And I placed higher in all events last year than this year. I don't know what it all means.... but I wanted to give myself a better chance this year than last, so i got sleep, didn't stay out late, didn't drink as much...and yet I didn't place better (actually, placed worse in all events).
BUT, I felt better. Even tho I got sick (which normally happens with lack of sleep and too much drinking), I still felt better than the previous year because I wasn't exhausted all the time. Wish I would have placed better this year but I did PLAY good almost every single game in all the matches I played (in all 4 events). Not too shabby!
In singles I played so, so good, but yet I was out in three. I was heart broken. To play that good and lose over a few key out-of-position or funky scratches, was hard to swallow with how awesome my pre-shot routine is, how strong my mental game is, and how well I know the game of 8ball.
It's very frustrating to think I really can win this tournament with how well I am playing right now, and then be out so quickly. :(
In Scotch doubles, my partner and I (Tony Ewart) placed 7th out of about 385 players! We played really well together!
We didn't practice (as you know from last year I don't practice scotch doubles anyway), but he and I both know the game so well, and we play alike, so us playing together worked out really well. I asked him a few times during the tourney if the shot I shot was right, but he usually replied with "it worked out" or "I thought it was fine." Only time did he offer advice for maybe an alternative selection - and that was on the final day. We lost our final match hill-hill (2-3), and I know we could have gone farther! His wife was super supportive and was our personal cheerleader, which was comforting and helpful. We were only down in one match - the first one, 1-3 - and came back to win 4-3! The guy of the other team was so upset, he wouldn't shake our hands. Eeek. It was a scary start, but we played much better after that and missed much less than that first match.
My partner and his wife had to catch a 6am flight THAT morning and landed with less than an hour and a half before our first match because of cancelled flights. It started out a rough trip for them. Luckily the lack of sleep and distractions of the tough travel didn't affect his awesome play.
Women's Open Team Event:
For the team event, my team No Holes Barred, was an excellent team! We have chemistry, play well together, we each play well individually, AND we have fun! We placed 7th and had many hill hill, awesome matches, including the last one. I had a great, great time!
Monica, Ashley, Me, Jennifer and Connie
Here's a vid of the shirts that are embroidered with ribbons that meant lot to us.
Thanks, Ladies!!
Click here for refresher on the reasoning behind the team name and embroidery
I think it's funny that my new favorite drink is 7 and 7. And in scotch and teams we placed 7th in both! LMAO - maybe I need another new favorite drink with a 1 in it, lol. :)
I have a couple of rituals for when I arrive in Vegas and also depart Vegas.
First of all, I like to get a car service because when my bags are too heavy, I need help to carry them because the long taxi/shuttle line will end up hurting my back too severely. Here is a VLOG of me looking for my driver at the bag claim:
Showing up at baggage claim!
The other ritual I do every year when I arrive in Vegas is I have the driver stop at CVS so I can get snacks and drinks for the ten days ahead of me.
Might as well get the heavy drinks now, so the bell guy can carry my luggage and the drinks when I first arrive to the hotel. I also do this so I don't have to carry the snacks and 2 12-packs of drinks from CVS to the Riv. As you can tell, my doctor has instilled in me I need to take care of my back.
Here is a pic of what I bought (except I forgot to put the water in the pic).
Snacks and Drinks!
Everything is expensive in the casino and convention area, so I buy sodas, liquor, and bottled water and snacks for the week. Here is also a video of Tina P and I at CVS that first night to the Riv!
CVS Video Blog with Tina
However, I have decided after I packed to go home, that with more than half the water still left and more than two thirds of the soda left, I wont do this next year. I also had most of the snacks left over, too, and they are tough to bring back home because they are either bulky snack boxes or bags that get crumbled.
I drink a lot of the cold water during all my events from the coolers set up for the players in the convention center anyway. I am an advocate of drinking lots of water when I play pool. Further, If I do have a drink or two in the convention center, I still order drinks there just because it's easier and convenient.
So, next year I will end this ritual. :(
My departing ritual involves what I eat at the Las Vegas airport before I fly out. Check out my VLOG about what I buy every time at the airport when I leave Las Vegas:
Here I go - the first blog entry about my 2011 trip to BCAPL Nationals! Instead of one long blog entry, though, I will do one a day until I'm finished with the updates (yep, I took notes for blog topics!). Hope separate blog entries are okay instead of one super long one that would bore you to tears and put you to sleep. ;)
The first event I played in this year at the 2011 BCAPL Nationals was a new event. It was a new 9ball tournament! It was very different than the 9 ball challenge. Instead of playing against pros in that event, this was an open division (no masters allowed) and it had separate divisions for men and women, so I was all over that! No pros, no masters, not playing against males - it was a dream come true! lol. So I made my reservation to fly in a day earlier than normal and was set to play!
Only thing was....my 9pm flight was delayed two hours. I had a 9am match and didn't get to my room until 130am, plus unpacking and trying to sleep after a long night out the previous night in Texas meant for a very tired woman.
I still woke up in a good mood, happy to be around all the beautiful Diamond tables in my favorite city and in my favorite event of the year.
The 9Ball singles event was best out of 3 sets, race to 4 each set. Now I understood why each match had a two-hour window to play!
First match, I played one of the toughest players in the tourney (I know her from Texas), while around me girls were missing like crazy! The table was faster than I remembered and I struggled the first set and lost 4-2. Then I won the second set 4-0! I was happy to recover. :) The next set went her way tho and even tho I had a chance to tie the third (and final, tiebreaker) set 3-3, I accidentally hooked myself on the 9 ball for the 8ball ( O M G ) and lost the final set 2-4.
So I tiredly walked to the charts to see when I play next. And I was STUNNED!! There was no one-loss side!
WTF?!
I was standing there in disbelief, when a friend came up and I asked him, "uh.... is this single elimination?"
And he replied, "you didn't know that?" And he kinda laughed at me, which I don't blame him.
I was in utter shock. Still am as I type this almost two weeks later.
I was a little upset I lost, but now? NOW I was livid!
I put my cue up in my room and proceeded to my favorite table game Let It Ride and had a few 7 and 7s before getting a good nights sleep so I could be ready to play scotch doubles all day on Friday.
I was really disappointed I took an extra day off from work, had to pay an extra hotel night, with a delayed flight late at night for a dang single elimination tournament.
