I have about a million things to do on Saturdays (okay, I'm /slightly/ exaggerating), and that's even with having a great team helping me. With over 80 players, there's just a lot going on and a lot to do on Saturdays. It's truly jammed-pack with a lot duties along with handling the logistics with all the players.
Sometimes I don't even get to say hi to someone for 2 to 3 hours. This happened last month when I walked briskly right by a friend who wanted to say her hello's but I had to locate a player and then quickly start the calcutta. She just happened to want to get a hug and say hello when I was SUPER busy. I wasn't able to catch up with her literally until about 1pm (yet she got there that morning about 10:30am).
At the March stop, a friend of mine asked me a question about the music playing as I quickly walked past him. I didn't respond, kept walking, then handled an issue at the brackets. As I walked back by him to handle something else, I then responded to his question. He was surprised I had actually heard him, because I hadn't responded when he first asked. I did hear him, was just swamped at that moment.
It's also very tough to complete a conversation with someone, lol. I either get interrupted or need to address something that has suddenly come up - whether it be calling a shot, or I see an open table, or someone needs me for something. It's the life of a pool Tournament Director that runs a large tour. I'm not complaining, AT ALL, but it sure makes it difficult at times to be nice and friendly and give everyone their quality time.
And while I'm sure everyone understands when I have to hastily rush away to handle something, I do think later as I'm driving home or taking a hot bath later that night trying to recoup, "did Pam get to finish her thought with me?" Or, "did Mike get to finish all he wanted to share with me about the tourney?" Or, "Did Joe finish telling me his story?"
I get so preoccupied and engrossed in all that needs to be done, that I am not sure the conversations get finished or not! Pretty sad, huh?
I respect friendship and understand the importance of communicating with all the players and fans at the tournaments, so I need to work on that. Because no matter how busy I am, chaotic it is, or how much I'm multitasking, players, friends, and fans of the Tour come first.
1 comment:
I respect the work that you and all TDs do! You are among the game's largely unsung heroes. On Madame Secretary Sunday night her speechwriter gave a speech to a graduating class at a college, and he said there are so many people who quietly go about their work who are among society's heroes. I agree!
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