Emily and Harry (video clip)

Pretty dang cool when pool makes mainstream, right?

My friend and professional pool player, Emily Duddy, was on the show "Harry," which is a daytime talk show hosting by the hot singer/actor himself, Harry Connick Jr.

Here are two clips from the show of the episode she was on just this week:



and:



I unfortunately first met Emily in a match at BCAPL Nationals in Vegas, lol.  I thought I would get to shoot more, as every time a tough shot was in front of her, I knew I'd get another chance at the table. Well, I was WRONG. She made tough shots and had great outs.

But I enjoyed meeting her and it has been so cool our paths have crossed throughout the last 8 years, where we get the usual selfies and hugs.

It's also been cool as fellow female player to see her rise to stardom.  I am so proud of her accomplishments on the table and in the media (she has been on other tv shows as well and in print magazines a lot).

Show her some love over at https://www.facebook.com/BilliardBombshell

Or, follow her and other pros at the WPBA US Open THIS weekend!  All six tables are being streamed live.  Check it out.

Congrat's, Emily, on being on the show!

Tattoo of Your Fav Pool Player (photo)

You know you've really reached celebrity status when someone gets your face tattooed on their bod.

Actually, the Ashton twins (JoAnne and Beverly) from Canada are already well-known pool players and quite famous.  They have endorsements and such, too.  SUPER fun gals to hang out with and will make you smile every second you are around them! 

And, check this out:

No matter what you think (stalker, crazy, ouch), this is pretty damn cool!

JoAnne Ashton and her likeness:

Courtesy of Sean Johnson's back.

Pool Dancer, GaYoung Kim

GA-YOUNG KIM - Pool Champion AND Dancer Extraordinaire

Kim has many talents (complete pool game, singing, speaks several languages, etc.) and she can dance, too.

What separates those talents from others is that she was on the Korean version of Dancing With the Stars!!

As Phil Capelle stated, "the way she smoothly glides around the table planning and shooting reminds me of a dancer, and so she is!"

Can you IMAGINE the propulsion pool would get in the USA if a pool player was on our Dancing With the Stars?!?  Wow.  Just Wow.

Here are some clips of Ga-Young Kim from that show.  Impressive!

Women's International Pool Championship

The Women's International Pool Championship is going on right now in New York, December 16th-21st, 2014 at Steinway Cafe-Billiards.

I actually got an invite!

I could not believe it, really.  I was very honored they thought of me.

But I could not take a week off of work, could not afford the airfare, nor the entry fee (about $500 or so), plus all the NY expenses, lol.

Plus, and most importantly, I do not even care if I play with the pros or not.

I'm just not interested honestly.  

I don't put in any practice and I'm not even close to the pro level, so why spend all that money to go?

I found out I could save a smidgen of money b/c I could have stayed for free, but still - airfare and entry alone was over $1,000, plus losing 5 days of work. 

It just wasn't feasible to me.

I will say that I have played in a pro event (the WPBA Women's U.S. Open) and I LOVED the experience!  I even won a match  :)  lol.  But, it was within driving distance and I shared a room with another player.  And, I only had to take about two days off from work.

I will never forget that experience, ever.  

But the cost of playing/flying/staying in NY is not worth it for me.   

Ironically, I'm not even jealous of all the pics and posts from the event from my friends.  I'm just happy for them that they get to play the game we love in such an awesome setting!  And one of my friends, Debra, has never played in a pro event before and I am SO excited for her!  She will love reflecting like I have with my first pro event.

Janet Atwell - Inspiration

A video about WBPA Pro and friend, Janet Atwell:

Blast From the Past - Questions for the WPBA Pros

My friend Shayla and I maintained the Hunter Classics Tour website way back in 2000 (yes, the Internet was around then, lol).  The two board members that ran this ladies tour in Texas (and surrounding states) back then also played on the WBPA tour, so we had an avenue to ask the female pro players questions, and then post the answers on the website.  I looked for that Q & A ten+ old webpage the other day... and finally found it for you all!

Remember, these answers are more than ten years old, but still applicable to today and fun to read today.  :)

What keeps you motivated when/if you feel like you aren't playing your best game?
Allison Fisher: That's a very good question. I have to have the desire to maintain what I've already achieved. I try to play my best every game, especially in close matches. I have to find the fine line in practice because over practicing staunches my motivation -- I need to go out there wanting to play. Under practicing undermines my confidence. Each person has to find their practice time so they can be excited about competing in a match. I love the competitive edge that a tournament gives me. If I just practiced and didn't play in tournaments I wouldn't be motivated at all. And to those of you who say "I'm not good enough to play in a tournament" -- well, you have to get as much tournament experience as you can -- you're going to learn from playing in tournaments.

As an aside -- I watched Allison play in a match she was ahead at 5-2 when she took a shot on an 8-ball and got mediocre shape on the 9 ball. I could see the disappointment on her face which turned to annoyance at herself and then changed to determination. I could see that she was not happy with her shape and that she knew she played better than that. After that game (she won it) she went out there and started playing perfect shape on every single ball after that.

Now, that's motivation! Her opponent did not win another game.

Allison Fisher

What type of cue do you use and how long have you used it?
Linda Haywood -- Tim Scruggs
Aileen Pippen -- Meucci. I've used it since I started playing 8 years ago.
Mauro Seto -- Cognoscenti. I've used it for 1 1/2 years.
Vicki Paski -- Huebler cue and Palmer break cue.
Shari Stauch -- she uses all types of cues, depending on her mood and dress.

When you break, do you use the same cue that you shoot with? If not, why not?
Nikki Benish (has one of the biggest breaks on tour and sponsored on the tour by Cuetec): I use a Cuetec break/jump cue. It saves my shooting cue from the stress created by the break shot. My break cue has a flatter tip which is good for breaking and for jumping. My regular cue has a rounder tip which is better for drawing and English.

What do you eat, when do you eat or DO you eat during tournament play?
Dawn Hopkins: "2 hours out. For me it is very important because I have to monitor my blood sugar level. I eat protein, rice, pasta. No sugar and no caffeine."
Gerda Hofstatter: "2-3 hours before match, I eat light"
Jeanette Lee: "3 ½ hours ahead of match, I eat chicken and pasta. I eat only foods that are easy to digest."
Neslie O'Hare: "2 hours out, I eat protein."
Mary Guarino: "I eat light, soup usually, then I pig out after the match."
Robin Dodson: "2 hours out, I eat a chicken sandwich."
Aileen Pippin: 1 ½ hours before match I eat very light, no grease. Usually rice or vegetables.
Belinda Campos: "No food, unless it's a bagel."
Ewa Mataya Laurance: "3 hours before match, I eat pasta."
Nikki Benish: "Nothing"
Laura Smith: "No food, no caffeine. On a long day, I will eat a little, but very light."
Helena Thornfeldt: "2-3 hours before match, I eat vegetables or pasta. No meat"
Jennifer Chen: "1 hour before match. I don't care what I eat, but I do not eat before my first match ever."
Loree Jon Jones: "2-3 hours before match, I eat chicken or pasta"
Maureen Seto: "2 hours before match. Just no grease"

 Jeannette Lee

Why do you break from the corner instead of from the center, or do you?
Allison Fisher: "I can rest my hand on the rail and I get more power."
Vivian Villarreal: "I have changed to the center to get more cue ball control."
Dawn Hopkins: "It varies-but the side break is for making the the one ball in the side or the corner. I move to the center to control the cue ball."
Gerda Hofstatter: "I get more power because I can rest my hand on the rail, but I am practicing now breaking from the center."
Jeannette Lee: "From the corner you have the best chance of making the one ball in the side and banking the end ball in the corner."
Neslie O'Hare: "I break from the center, because I have been playing in men's events and the corner break is prohibited."
Belinda Campos: "Today's equipment, napless cloth makes the side more effective, if you can control the cue ball."
Ewa Mataya Laurance: "I don't break from the corner, I break more toward the center."
Nikki Benish: "More action on the cue ball, but control requires as much practice as you do for very difficult shots."
Laura Smith: "Power."
Mary Guarino: " It depends on how balls are moving. It is easier to make the corner ball from the side. I start from the center and then move out if I have control of the cue ball."
Robin Dodson: "I break closer to the center, it it varies. If I can't control the cue ball, I move more to the center."
Aileen Pippin: "I break from the center"
Helena Thornfeldt: " Easier to control cue ball"
Jennifer Chen: "I break from the center for control and from the side for power:
Loree Jon Jones: "I just get a better break."
Maureen Seto: "I do both, if one isn't working I try the other. Different tables have different sweet spots."

Vivian Villarreal

To Allison, Ewa & Loree Jon, How would you like to be best remembered, on or off the table?
Allison Fisher: "As a champion in all ways, not just as winner of matches. I want to be remembered as a true professional, as a person who always had time for the fans, for family and for friends. To be thought of a person of integrity in all aspects of my life."
Ewa Mataya Laurance: "Off the table, as Nicki's mother and Mitch's partner. With respect to pool, as a fighter as someone who never backed away from a challenge, who never gives up."
Loree Jon Jones: "I want to be remembered as a person who always placed my family first."


Photos copyright melindaswindow.com, Q and A copyright HunterClassics.com

Ultimate Experience

I entered the Women's Division of the Ultimate Ten Ball Championships that was held in Frisco, Texas the weekend of April 23rd.  I signed up to play in the tourney for three main, important reasons:

• it was a pro event that I could enter (some events are limited to just the top WPBA players), 
• it was close to where I live (no travel expenses were needed except gas) and 
• it would be a great experience for me.

I admit it was pretty convenient to play in a pro event close to home.  If the tourney had been just 4 hours away, I wouldn't have gone.  But to be able to not pay hotel expenses and the venue to be only about an hour from my house was pure bliss!

Plus, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to play in a pro event like this.  Most pro events are WPBA events and I am not ranked high enough to even get an invite.  So, I was anxious about craving this rare experience.

This tournament would be even more enjoyable because the male pros were playing alongside the female pros.  So I as walk into the arena to practice on the Diamond 9-foot tables before the 9pm Thursday night Player's Meeting, I'm among the top echelon of the pool world.  I admit this blog entry would have more child-like, star-struck, "guess who I just met!" comments if I didn't know all the pros already.  Alas, I already know all the male and female pros, so for me it was more like a cool family reunion than being in awe of my idols like some of my friends were (which was very cute to witness!).

But to name drop, I got to hug and say hi to:  Johnny Archer, Darren Appleton, Rodney Morris, Donny Mills, Lee Brett, Krisit Carter, Monica Webb, Gail Glazebrook, Cristina Dela Garza, Angel Paglia, Alex Pagulayan, SVB, Kelly Fisher, etc. etc. 

I felt special to be able to watch all the pros mingle and catch up Thursday night before they got to work beating each other up on the table.  :)  Even though they are out for blood, they are all friends off the table.

I got my badge, practiced, listened to the rules by TD Ken Shulman and then hung out with friends at my favorite jaunt - Vinos.  I yearned for a relaxing evening before I played at noon the next day.

It's not official til you get your badge.  ;)

Even though I knew my lack of competing over the last 6 months would do me no favors, I was surprised how calm I was.  But, grateful that I was calm!  And not overly nervous or full with anxiety.  As Cristina Dela Garza has stated in her blog, you gotta get out there and play and put yourself in pressure situations.  I truly believe deciding to play in the Women's US Open back in July helped me not be so nervous about this event.

I was excited when I found out my first match was against only Vivian Villarreal. ("only," lol).  Seriously tho - she is a fun player and a friend of mine, and so there would be no embarrassing moments for me when I played her.  I would be in a fun atmosphere with her and not be intimidated if I missed shots (which leads to stress and embarrassment).  Instead, I was looking forward to the match.

Alas, I only won one game in a race to 7, but I still had fun and I thoroughly enjoyed watching her play so smart and well.  She's always a treat to watch (I wish she would have won the tourney!).  I joked with her afterwards:  thanks for hooking yourself on that 8ball so I could win a game.  lol.  :)

That match was at noon on Friday and to utilize my next 6 hours well to still be prepared for my evening match), I watched matches and rested.  Yea, I mingled with friends, too. 

Me and my pal, Juan - his first Pro event!

My 10pm match was rescheduled to 8pm.  Then about 7:45pm Tourney Director Ken points to me and then the stream table and states, "Hey Trigger, you and Sunny on the stream table at 8pm."

Oooohhhh!  I was so excited!  I immediately tell my boyfriend in front of a crowd, "I'm on the stream table.  Woo-Hoo!"  He's like, "really?"  And I was all smiles as I walked briskly to grab my stuff from my practice table.

At this point.  Nerves set it.  I can feel my adrenaline rise exponentially.  I walk by the tourney director's table and I overhear Sunny - she is stunned we will be on the stream table.  She expressed to me she has been playing bad and the people on the chat will complain to see someone "banging balls into the rail and wasting their time."

I was surprised she told me ahead of time that she was not playing well.  I wanted to take advantage of that inside knowledge because I knew that meant she would be more nervous on the stream. She is a dear friend of mine and she genuinely cares for me, and I for her.  But I knew she was already apprehensive about how she was playing.

Me on the stream table

As the match started, I could see how nervous she was.  Yet I was extremely comfortable - I knew I would have support from the chat room and I also felt comfortable on the Diamond tables.  I had no fears or anxiety as the match started.  I tried not to think of the stream and who might be watching.  I knew those thoughts would only interfere with my game.

But as everyone knows - crazy things can happen in any match.  I didn't let this get to me, but I got hooked - A LOT.  At first it was from her misses, but then it was from her good safes.  Every accidental miss that hooked me I tried smile off and not let it get to me.  But if I didn't have to kick so much from missed shots early in the match, the outcome would have been different.  The first two games I lost because I had to kick at a ball and left her a two-ball out.  But, from experience I knew not to let it get to me.

However, I did falter at the speed of my draw shots.  Two shots cost me a game - I drew the ball too much.  I don't draw well, but Diamond tables do.  So, I would over-draw at crucial times which caused me to have to play safe instead of running out.

I tied the score at 3-3 and was pleased I made a comeback from being down 0-2 (I think).  At 3-3 I was scared of a tough 9ball sitting frozen on the long rail and hoped she would have to face it, not I, lol.  But, I was allowed back at the table to face my fear.  But I nailed it!  I had just learned to use center, not top, on the long rail shots that I normally missed, so I was so pleased to see it fall nicely into the pocket!  But, then .... I missed the 10ball!  :(

In the next game I make another tough but strong shot on the 9ball.  I had to cut the 10ball in and while stretching, I put some English on the cueball on my last stroke and threw the 10ball away from the pocket enough to miss it. :(

I was now down 5-3 in a race to 7 because of those two crucial misses.

My boyfriend was giving me the "you got this" look and "it's okay" as I sat tall, still filled with pride that I wasn't going anywhere yet!  

 Me and Brian - we clean up nice, huh?  Brian played in his first pro event!

Sunny then got some extra confidence (I assume because of the score?) and she started to shoot much better.  She then grabbed the next game to get on the hill first.  I still wasn't worried.  I was waiting for my opportunities and still felt I could win. Score 6-4 her.

While she was running out for the win, she got jacked up over the 10ball and missed the 9ball.  I approached the tough shot left for me but hit the 9ball solidly to roll the cueball nicely around the table to the 10ball to grab another score.  On the next game, I run out well and get within one.  Score 6-5 her.

I use the bridge while on the 3ball in the next game because I lost cueball control after I hit the 2ball.  I scraped the 8ball with the bridge just a tad and the all-ball foul rule led to her having ball in hand.

And I tell you what - she ran out GREAT!  I was very impressed as she kept me in my seat the rest of the last game.  She was even jacked up again on a tough shot but nailed it!  She ran out beautifully.  She won 7-5.

I was not sad or upset or mad.  I should be disappointed with the two missed 10balls (obviously, that could have changed the whole outcome), but I really did give it my all and I played many, many great shots.

So, out in two.

But I am so thankful for another great experience and a good, personal tourney.  I am very pleased and I had a fun time.  Life is about living it to the fullest.  Just being able to play in this tourney is a blessing.

I would link you to the stream of my match, but the link isn't up yet from InsidePool.  Once it's up, I will post it in a new blog entry for ya.

I should also have some photos soon.  Although *I* might know a lot of important people, the main photographers don't know me from Adam so they didn't capture photos of me.  Being non-famous has it's downside - my second pro event and no photos to prove it, lol.  Luckily tho - one of my friends photographed the whole event and he got some shots of me.  I will post them when I receive them so you can all see I really did play in the event, lmao!

This is what I was going to wear on Saturday, but I didn't get to make it to day two (frown).  Black halter top with rhinestones.  In this event we were allowed to wear non collared shirts and so I took full advantage of my clothing plans!  lmao.  :)

IN dress code.  lol

Oh, and in case you missed it, here is my video tour of the event/arena: http://youtu.be/q3VPaOeOgWY

Texas State Women's Champsionship!

Music to my ears, and some of the greatest words in one sentence:  "Texas State Women's Championship!"

The OB Cues Ladies Tour will be hosting a Texas State Women's Championship!  Either for first time ever, or for first time in a long time!  Woo-Hoo

It will be held at Casper's Billiards in San Leon, Texas the weekend of April 16th!

A State Championship, sanctioned by the WPBA, requires a few, crucial pieces to fall in place for one to come to fruition:

• Tournament must be played on 9 foot tables.
• All levels of pros are allowed to play in State Championships.
• The pool room is supposed to pay a $500 membership (vs the $100 membership they were required to pay in order to have a regular qualifier before).
• Minimum added money for a State Championship is $1,000.

The OB Cues Ladies Tour guarantees $2,000-added, so the $1,000 added was not a problem. 

Why the excitement, then?  Well, it's been tough to meet all the qualifications.  Nine-foot table pool rooms are few and far between in Texas, and the pool room is already adding $2,000 so the extra $500 was not an easy sell.  Magoo's in Tulsa, Oklahoma held an Oklahoma State Championship through the OB Cues Ladies Tour for years, but it was always very tough to get one in Texas, that's why we hadn't had one in a very long time.

Further, all State Championships are qualifiers for the Women's US Open!  And technically, the only means to have a qualifier for the US Open.  And as you can imagine, there are a limited number of qualifier spots available for the US Open.  This event will be a qualifier for the 2011 US Open! 

This is a huge score for Texas, the ladies, the fans, the WPBA, and especially the OB Cues Ladies Tour!

Don't be confused about the Texas Open - yes, it's a state tourney, but the women's division was never WPBA-sanctioned by the pool room owners (we tried!), so it was never an official Texas State Championship like this one will be.

Pros are not eligible to play on the OB Cues Ladies Tour, but one of the rules of the WPBA-sanctioned State Championship is pros are allowed to play in them.  So, get your game on pros - get your butts to Texas and compete on one of the strongest tours in the country!  We aint scared of ya!

Playing Pool in Bras

I'm not trying to be like PoolSnark over at blog Pool Cue News and Review. I swear!  He is the one that normally talks about gossip-type things but I guess today it will be me.  Since I visit People.com once a day, that makes me an expert, right?  lol.

At the WPBA-recognized event (previously known as the Regional Tour Championships) held in Houston last weekend, Yu Ram Cha went scathing through the 63 other players to win the event. 

A second chance tournament was held starting Saturday night for those not in the main event and the pool room's owner gracioiusly added $500 to it. 

I'm not at the event, I'm tucked away in my bed at home 4 hours away getting rest for a big poker tourney the next day.  About 11pm that night, I start getting texts and phone calls about two players who are playing pool in their bras!  What?  WTH is going on down there!? 

Turns out two players (I wont name names) in the second chance event were playing a match and tried to out-do each other to get attention.  When one took their shirt off, so the other followed.  As expected, everyone grabbed their cell phones to take photos and videos.  The crowd gathered (imagine that) and the attention-ploy worked! 

Eventually, enough people complained to the Tournament Director who then came rushing over and immediately disqualified them.  The TD happened to walk over when it was hill-hill and one of the players was on the 8ball.

Words were exchanged, shirts were put back on, apologies were stated, some tears might have been shed, and explanations and also defending was going on.  I heard they were indeed allowed to finish that last game (not sure why).

As a WPBA-recognized event, I'm sure embarrassment is rampant right now.  It was still a very good, well-run, successful event, tho!  This black eye is nothing they should be ashamed of.  Heck, I don't even consider it a black eye - it's just another thing that happened to happen at a tournament.  Hell, I've heard of much worse.

My thinking is, tho, maybe this should catch on!  Everyone complains about how pool isn't mainstream and we need more sponsors and pool is hurting and no one cares about us, blah blah blah.

Maybe this should be our new marketing scheme! Playing pool in bras!

Recent Big Tourney Decisions

The WPBA is hosting the Regional Tour Championship (RTC) again.  This year at the end of March in Houston, Texas at Bogies Billiards!  This $100-entry fee, $6,000-added tourney will be a little different than most years (not round robin, for example), but basically it's a cream-of-the-crop tourney for aspiring pros.... and the top 8 finishers in Houston will receive a spot on the WPBA Tour this year!

First, 29 WPBA pro players are invited to play in the RTC (those that didn't get a spot in 2011 because the WPBA reduced their tourneys from 64 players to 48 players).  Secondly, the regional women's tours get a certain # of invites, also.  The # of invites for each tour is different because it's calculated using a percentage of paid WPBA members on each tour.  There are 9 tours in good standing and the OB Cues Ladies Tour received 16 invitations.  In comparison, and only for example, the Arizona Women's Tour and West Coast Women's Tour each get 4 invites.

A total of 93 players will be invited.  I am one of those, because I finished the year 9th on the OB Cues Ladies Tour. 

But... I decided to decline the invitation. 

It pains me a little bit to turn down an invite to an event so close to home (this pool room is only about 4 hours away).  Heck, last year if I went I would have had to travel to California!  But, I can't see myself taking two days of vacation and spending travel expenses to attend an event against pros when I haven't even competed in any regional tour events since last September. 

The event is starting Thursday evening because the pool room does not have enough nine foot tables to finish the event in three days or less.  If I could drive down Friday night, I *might* consider throwing my hat into the mix (and stop using excuses why I wont attend, lol). 

My Mom being the hospital (I'm her caretaker) for over 90 days (she just got out Jan 7th) has put a different perspective on everything right now.  I'm not complaining, just saying some things have shifted.  I was away from playing competitively in regional tours and big tourneys since September.  I currently lack the desire to compete right now.  And I have always disliked playing against pros, anyway.  Lol.

As many of you know because I do not wish to compete on the pro tour, I struggled back and forth back in July 2010 on if I should accept the invite to play in the WPBA U.S. Open.  I love pool, but I do not have the time to dedicate to it to become a top player.  I am a realist.  Yes, this RTC tourney would be another great experience, as was the U.S. Open, but I just am not interested at this point in my life to travel down there and spend money to compete for a Tour Card when playing on the Pro Tour is not top priority right now.

HOWEVER....

You mighta heard about the Ultimate 10 Ball Championship that is being held in Dallas.  Hey, I live in the Fort Worth/Dallas metro-plex!  This $150-entry fee, $15,000-guaranteed added for the women's division is being held April 21-24, first round matches on Friday morning (alongside there is a men's division with $35,000 guaranteed added). 

The women's division is being considered a WPBA Satellite Tournament which means each of the top 48 WPBA Pros will get an invite to this event.  Well, I received one of the promoter spots! 

Even though I am passing on the Houston tourney to play with the pros, ironically, I am excited about this tourney!  It's right in my back yard so I only have to take off one day from work, wont have hotel expenses, and wont have to travel far to the event.  I think it will be a great event and a wonderful experience for me. 

I guess it's pretty obvious convenience is key right now for me, huh?  If this event had been held in another state (heck maybe even another big city in Texas), I wouldn't have gone because of the travel time, travel cost, and I would have had to use an extra vacation day. 

My name is already on the list!  :)

I Got Another Invite!

I received this from the WPBA last night (ironically I received the email on my phone right in the middle of my practice session with fellow shooter, Ms. Ashley Nandrasy).

It said:

Hi Melinda,

This is to let you know that you are on the waiting list for an opening at the Tour Championship in Niagara. At this time, there are a couple of players ahead of you. Please review the information and let me know if you have any questions. If you are invited, I will need an answer asap.

Wow!  Did I really get another invite to a WPBA event??  It might seem minor to you all, but it's pretty cool that I attended that WPBA pro event in July and now I received this invite.

However, I will have to pass.  :(  Too close to make all the arrangements (Dec 1 is the Player's Meeting) and I bet the flight is super expensive for this last minute decision.

Still, I'm SO flattered!

WPBA Amateur Nationals Decision

The WPBA Amateur Nationals has been resurrected, thanks mostly to Melissa Little. 

Melissa and Wynkoop Brewing Company are hosting the WPBA Women's Amateur National 9-Ball Championships November 19-21. $1500 added and the winner gets a paid entry into the 2011 WPBA US Open.

The entry is $75 Entry - which includes the WPBA Membership - $1,500 added; Pro are not allowed.

This is a pretty prestigious event.

I have been playing well.

Do I think I could win it?  No.  But I still might place well.

And I have friends who live in Denver I haven't seen in a while.

But, I have also not been playing pool lately because of home things (Mom is back in the hospital).  :(

And! The flight prices have gone up $100 in the last month.  Now they are over $300.  :(

What to do, what to do....

Final Vlog from Women's US Open

It took Ashley and I awhile to find the time to do our last Vlog (Video Blog) of our Women's US Open tournament/trip- I don't think either of us wanted to record the vid - it was kinda a symbol of closure for us, and we didn't really want the experience to end!!

However, we wanted to express our sincere thanks and hopefully this video captures our heartfelt appreciation for everyone:


Ashley and I saying Thank You!

Women's U.S. Open Details - Match Three

Day Two of the Women's U.S. Open was a completely different story for me, mentally. Remember my description of "numb"? Well, it was not in the Melinda vocabulary this day.

I heard the night before I was going to be playing Megan Smith and I became nervous at that very moment, and forward. :( I think the difference was I didn't try to get over being nervous before I played her. When I felt the pressure to play Kim White, I admittedly accidentally kinda rationalized in my brain about the match and my feelings. I didn't plan to do that, but I wonder if that helped me not being nervous the previous day?

I got enough sleep the night before and then drank a lot of water as I watched my friends in the 10am round. I felt "okay," but texted Cristina Dela Garza that I was nervous. She reminded me to just breathe, but it really was too late for me. :(

Me, playing Megan, (photo courtesy and copyright of Anne Craig)

Megan has been playing very well lately - doing well in a men's event in Houston the weekend before, winning two state championships in the NE in the last two months, etc. I knew her game was way up there and I was nervous. Yea yea, I know, you aren't suppose to play the person.

But, I fully acknowledge that even if I wasn't nervous, I MAY have won only 3 games on her. She played SO well! Her safes were meaningful and smart (she three-fouled me one game) and she hid me very well many many times! She really only missed a few balls - she had nice patterns and great shots throughout the match.

I finally talked myself OUT of my nervousness at 0-6, but I didn't get enough opportunities to win not even one other game. :( Yes, I lost 0-9, AGAIN!

I felt good to not be nervous at the end, but there sure were a lot more people watching than Thursday. Wow! It was so cool!

Megan Smith, (photo courtesy and copyright of Anne Craig)

After the match, while we put our cues up, I told her I was nervous against her, and told her she played SO good. She thanked me and then added, "you know, I saw your match with Kim White. You played really good - I had no idea you could play that well." OMG! That meant so much! She told me she understands that each match is different, when I told her I was nervous against her, and I reiterated gain how solid her safes were. But, it meant a lot she told me that about my other match - I didn't feel bad at all losing 0-9, lol!

A friend of mine watched that match with Megan and told me via email after the tourney, "I thought you did a good job. And fundamentally, you are very solid. It's a lot of pressure playing in that format."

He knows I have been struggling with my fundamentals and staying down, so his comments resonated with how I truly felt about the tourney - that I held my own under the circumstances.

Tourney Description: Priceless

Women's U.S. Open Details - Match Two

My second match was against Jasmin Ouschan at 6pm on Thursday. Yea, you know, that blond from some "A" country who plays pretty sporty. Oh, and was the #1 seed of this event. :)

I was "numb" again going into this match, just as I was in my first match earlier in the day - not nervous, not thinking ahead, had no worries or concerns. I wasn't scared of Jasmin - who was I to be scared? I had nothing to lose; I was just going to continue to experience my first pro event.

Jasmin and I had to wait on our table to be available, and as I sat around, I sat near some guys who analyzed EVERY SINGLE shot of the match we were waiting on between Naomi and Gerda. I finally had to move - I knew they'd be watching Jasmin's match and couldn't listen to their comments and second guesses any more.

The match we were waiting on was very good, btw! Gerda had won in San Diego in the Spring, but Naomi was a force to be reckoned with. It went hill-hill and it was a brutal win for Gerda when she went for a two-way shot and missed the 8ball. Naomi fired the 8 ball in but the cueball somehow slid behind the 9 and scratched. WOW!

Jasmin immediately hits some balls on our now-open table and then asks if I want to hit any, and I say, "no thank you" as I felt comfy from earlier in the day. We lag, I lose. I rack.

She wins the first game well. The next game she struggles with the 8 ball and accidentally makes it in the wrong pocket and apologies sweetly by raising her her hand toward me to say "sorry." She easily made the straight in 9 ball. Down 0-2. I still sit there with my chin up, back straight, no worries at all. I get to the table in the third game, but I play safe but it wasn't good enough. But, she missed another 8ball, but left a thin cut that I could hardly see behind the 9 ball. I missed it (barely) and she got out. Next game I break and am running out but miss a tough 7 ball that I left myself. She gets out. Next game she misses a 7 ball, but it rests tough and I can't make it. Down 5-0. Next game I am running out again from the break but hit the 8 ball too hard and it goes in another pocket. Oops, sorry! I then, FINALLY, make a 9ball, but I scratch! lol. A few guys in the stand laugh, but I don't let it get to me.

Jasmin (photo courtesy and copyright of Anne Craig)

I was running out again and had an out but missed a 7 or 6 ball and she got out. I wasn't nervous or anything, though! I just wasn't shooting that well late in the rack. Talk about GIVING opportunities! When she had me 0-8, she scratched but I missed a tough ball-in-hand to get shape (eeek) and she got out.

She skunked me! I win my first match but then lose 0-9. WOW!! Look at me! lol.

However, I'm most proud I had NO negative thoughts, no embarrassment, wasn't nervous, didn't get mad/upset/frustrated, or anything. There were more people in the crown than there was at 10am and I still wasn't nervous - I felt "in my element" (even though I lost 0-9). I am very happy about my mental attitude. :)

I admit I had chances and could have won 4-5 games. Can you imagine? I might have put pressure on the number one seed (I didn't know she was the number one seed until they made the announcements, nice!). I admit I was surprised how many chances I got, though.

Me (photo courtesy and copyright of Anne Craig)

Right after the match, I found a seat next to my friends to watch Lisa Marr (fellow OB Cues Tour player) play her 745pm match and a guy came right up to me and asked me to sign his pamphlet. I said, "sure" and even personalized it:

"To Matt, Thanks for Watching." (then my sig).

It was cool of him to ask me for my John Hancock, even though I had just lost 9-0! He didn't care I had just lost, he was a fan of the women players. It goes to show how popular the WPBA is!

Women's U.S. Open Details - Match One

Warning: Because this was my first pro event, I thought I would write out each match in detail, because it was such an amazing experience (and because otherwise one blog post about the US Open would be WAY too long).

My first match at the Women's U.S. Open was in the very first round: at 10am Thursday morning. I didn't go to the player's meeting the night before because I was driving TO the venue (3 hours from my house) while the player's meeting was going on (I got an invite last minute to fill a spot). I therefore needed to get to the tourney room earlier than usual so I could not only warm up, but also complete all my paper work in order to even play in the tourney: fill out a bio form, pay my entry fees, and get my stinkin' badge.

My match was on the end table, on the right side of the tourney room that was filled with 8 tables total, and my opponent was Kim White, ranked 20th on the WPBA. She is from Texas, too, so it was kinda cool I was playing someone I knew. But, when I found out the night before I would be playing her, I felt a lot of pressure.

Kim White (photo courtesy and copyright of Anne Craig)

But then I came to the conclusion that "hey, she is suppose to win and everyone knows that and therefore I shouldn't be embarrassed by my friends when she beats me."

While I hit some balls on the table to warm up Thursday morning, I was hitting them well and admit I was feeling super comfortable. I was staying down and making shots. I felt good. I love Diamond tables, and love nine foots, too! I then practiced many bank shots to try and figure out the bankness of the beautiful Diamond tables. Kim came up and said hello and hit some balls again herself. I then hit a few long shots (still trying to figure out how to make a long straight-in shot).

As I mentioned to NYCGrind.com when they interviewed me, my goal was to get comfortable in my surroundings. “I was invited at 4:50 on Wednesday and needed to let them know by 5:00 whether I would play, so I had no time to anticipate it much,” said Melinda, ”The most important thing to me when I arrived was was to get on the table and get comfortable. With playing under different conditions with the crowd and the new atmosphere, my goal was to do everything possible to get comfortable in that setting.”

I would describe my demeanor going into the match as "numb." What I would come to realize later was this "numb feeling" I had is when I play my best, no matter what tournament - I have no expectations, no fear, no worries, no negative thoughts... while I am still very aware of where I am. Being "numb" is VERY difficult to describe. It might be "in the zone" but I have been in the zone and it feels nothing like "numb." What surprised me is I felt "numb" in my first pro event match. I wont ever be able to describe why, though.

I was running out the first rack and felt pretty good! I missed shape on the 6 (or 7?) ball and had to play safe. She missed the kick and I got ball in hand and ran out. Eeeek, that felt good. :)

Before I go on, let me mention my goal in this whole tournament was get to FOUR GAMES (yes, total, in the two matches I would play).

Side note: the players have to mark down stats per game on a piece of paper for every match. Who won, balls on the break, push outs, scratches on the break, break and runs, etc. So, I was figuring this all out while we were playing.

In the second game, she misses a tough 9ball and then leaves me tough. I'm almost on the rail, length table, could scratch in the side. I just simply told myself to stay down and had no expectations, and I made it. WOW! I got a few claps, but not loud, but it was coolio.

I then somehow, miraculously, found myself up 5-0. Five to zero? Kim took a break at this point. While I was playing good, she wasn't having a good time at the table. I realized the break could ice me over, as I went to the bathroom to wash my hands. It was so STICKY in the tourney room. The humidity was brutal to our cues and hands! Everyone was talking about it, and using the towels, baby powder, and shaft cleaners to the max, so hand washing was a must right now.

Me (photo courtesy and copyright of Anne Craig)

When we came back, I knew she would literally come back on me in the match, but I somehow found myself up 7-2. At this point, my heart is beating out of my chest. I am trying to take deep breathes but the pressure of being ahead was so strong in my heart, body and mind. Many times I found myself at the table with a decent layout, but couldn't get out! I got too close to a 5 ball, missed it and she got out. I got too close to a 6 ball, missed it, she got out. I was running out and knew this other tough 6 in front of me was make-able but I missed it thinking about shape. The pressure was immense. She got out. Every time she made a nine ball, the claps for her were loud with support. But, I have learned that the claps aren't against me, they are just for her, so they didn't get to me, but I was aware what was going on around me. I also was checking out the scores of all my friends across the room. It was cool to see Kim Pierce, JoAnn Ashton, Ashley Nandrasy, and Jennifer Kraber all playing along side me.

At 7-6 me, I broke. After I won that match and then racked, I sat down and wondered, "did I just break and run?" I looked down at the little score sheet thingy and sure enough she marked down that I just broke and ran! I did that to get on the hill - really? I had no idea!

She won another game to inch the score closer 8-7. Then we had a brutal game. I missed a long straight in shot, she missed a 6 ball, then I hooked myself on the 7! Then we played safe on the 7 but she hit it beautifully! But the table rolled too much for her after the 8 and left her a funny angle on the 9 ball in the side. I thought she was going to make it and I told myself I would be very happy to say I lost hill-hill my first pro event against Kim White. But, she missed the off-angle shot and I had an on-the-rail straight in 9ball shot in the side. All I remembered while I was down on this shot was I had a similar shot in April in a big team event that I completely DOGGED by jumping up because I was so nervous at what was at stake. I vowed to not let that happen this time and I stayed down on my shot, even with the brick on my chest, and made the 9ball to win 9-7! The claps were much louder, and I could hear a small group of people in a different area clapping loudly for me (must be where my friends were now watching from).

She shook my hand and gave me a hug and told me I played really well. I almost started crying - that meant so much that she told me that after the match she had. SO MUCH!

I gathered my things and tried to figure out how to finish scoring, where to turn it in, etc. I was shaking. I was in aww. I was shaking!

I finally walked to the back and there was Lisa and Ashley and when they hugged me I cried. It just came out. I couldn't believe I won! My first pro event and I won a match? WOW. We then all went outside the tourney room and Ravee told me he was keeping Amanda updated via texts, but I called her anyway, lol. Then I called Rebecca and she was so happy for me, too. Then... I called Mom. I called and told her I won and I was crying telling her what happened, and she joined me in crying. OMG, writing this I sound like a little girl! But I was SO happy she "witnessed" my first pro tourney and that I could call her to tell her I won my first pro match. She sounded so happy for me. :)

Ashley and I then went to our room to do the Vlog (video blog) update. I updated peeps on AZB and FB, then Ashley and her Dad and I went to Chilli's. I then rested in the room for my next match at 6pm.

I am still in shock!

WPBA Advertising

I wondered how the Riverwind Casino was advertising the Women's US Open. How do all those visitors gambling in the casino find out about the awesome pool tourney going on?

I put in $20 in a slot machine the last night and check out what I saw!


Here is a close up of the little video announcement on the slot machine:

Yes! That sure is Jasmin Ouschan on the screen of that slot machine! WOW! It says "SHARK." We checked the other machines and every one of them was like this. I was impressed and happy to see this for our sport. :)

Day Two Vlogs - 2010 Women's US Open

Video blogs of Day Two of Ashley and I in the Women's U.S. Open! Awesome experiences continue for our first pro event. Again, details on my matches (highs, lows, emotions) to come later.


Before our Friday morning matches.


After our Matches.

Day One Vlogs - 2010 Women's US Open

Well, my first full day of the Women's U.S. Open is complete! Fellow First-Timer also to a pro event, Ashley Nandrasy, decided to do Video Blogs for our tourney (we call them Vlogs). Here are the first days videos for ya! Details on the matches to come later. :)


Before our 10am Matches.


After our 10am Matches.


After my 6pm Match.

Arriving at the Women's 2010 US Open Vlogs

Well, I took some vids of my arrival to my first pro tournament at the Riverwind Casino in Norman, Oklahoma (Women's U.S. Open). Fellow First-Timer also to a pro event, Ashley Nandrasy, was my awesome roommate. We will call these Video Blogs "Vlogs".


This is me driving up to the Riverwind Casino


This is the awesome hotel room at the Casino!