Not Looking at the Bracket - Project Hunger Games

I have written many times how I have test anxiety, and that's one of the reasons why it took me so long to finally win that title tournament I yearned for for years!

But even after I got mentally strong and became more successful, I still never wanted to look at the bracket; I just didn't want to see who I was playing next.

I would psych myself out before even getting to the table with them, lol. If they were a top player, I could get timid and scared. If I thought they didn't play well, I could get too cocky.  Either persona doesn't look pretty, right?

Recently I had a convo related to this with Katniss.

She was explaining a tournament experience and in that recap, she said she had asked a friend to go over to the bracket and tell her when she would be up next, as she didn't want to see the bracket.

I immediately felt giddy of course, because I could relate! I told her, " I don't like to see who I am playing next either. "

But, she shot me down.

She wasn't saying that at all!

She told me, "I don't mind who I'm playing next, I don't mind knowing that at all, but I don't want to see how much money I could potentially make if I won a few more matches."

Oh!

So, this goes to show that we each have different things we don't want to see or know about because because it might affect our thoughts and emotions. 

What Side Are You On?

I hate the word "loser."

I can't even say "loser's side."  I prefer "one-loss side" when I talk about the left side of the brackets.

One of my friends pointed this out the other day when we were talking about a tournament.

He said, "Hey, why do you say "one-loss side"?  It's really the loser's side."

I told him I just couldn't say that - it seems like a negative term.  'One-loss side' has no negative connotation at all to it.

And he just laughed and shook his head, "of course you would think like that."

I even searched my blog articles because I thought I wrote about this before.  Instead, I noticed the last time I used the term "loser's side" in my blog was in 2007!

Hey, I try to be optimistic!

Paper Brackets - Goodbye, Mementos

I can tell I'm moving on from my pool playing days.

I recently came across all these paper brackets I had saved from the numerous Ladies Tour Second Chance tourneys that I won:

These paper brackets were proof of the little successful beginner in me. 

Let's face it, the first true steps in moving up the pool ladder are always the first few tourneys you win, no matter how small the field.  These tourneys only had 10-18 players, but your first wins are still so awesome, right?

I recall how after each win, I would be so proud to be able to take these home and save them to remember my accomplishments!  These wins were few and far between and I cherished them so much, and wanted to always remember them!  (so I thought.)

But, I have already delicately placed all these paper memories into my recycle bin. 

I felt funny parting with these large brackets, the proof of my early successes, but I admit the newer plaques and trophies obviously mean so much more to me.

But after I leave this world, who is really going to keep these around because the win column says "Melinda"?

Time to recycle.  :)

The Beauty of Online Brackets

I am playing in singles event of the BCAPL Texas State 8-Ball Championships this week (along with scotch and teams).

After I won my 3rd round match 4-2, my opponent says to me "I wonder when I play next?"

I confided I didn't know.  I knew I played in about 30 minutes, but wasn't sure of her next time (because I didn't look at the one-loss side times).

She says, "Well, I better check right now in case it's soon."

I was putting my cues up and collecting my stuff and noticed she didn't get up to check the brackets on the other side of the room.

She was on her phone.

I said, "OMG what are you doing?"

"I'm looking up the time online on my phone so I don't have to walk all the way over there."

LMAO.

Clever girl!

As I walked down the aisles the last couple of days in the Convention Center in Temple, Texas, I've actually seen MANY players looking at brackets on their phones .  

It's pretty cool actually!