Cueist Project: That Miss - Intro

I think we all have that one shot we reflect on where we were at a critical point of a big tournament, we can feel our tournament life on the line, and we can sense what a big moment it is. And as we reflect back, we then see that stupid, damn, easy shot we missed!!

I can picture mine like it was yesterday. It was a team event at BCA State. I had a very simple straight-in shot on the 8 ball in the side. If I make it, then my teammate gets to the play the hill-hill game. But instead, I miss it.

As soon as I missed it, I start jumping up and down and exclaim, "I was nervous! I two-stroked it! I didn't stay down!"  You know, because when embarrassment kicks in, we want to explain to everyone watching why we dogged it, lol.

That miss might have been 10 years ago. I still remember it clearly.

However, it taught me the most valuable lesson of all - to stay down on my shots when I'm nervous and to stroke more when under pressure.

Of course that was not the first time I dogged it - but it was the first time in a that crucial of a moment - and that's when we learn the most from.  I've dogged 1,000 nine balls.  But it was that 8-ball for the team win that haunts me most, but most importantly, it's the miss I learned from the most.

The Cueist recently had a similar experience, learning lessons from a crucial miss. Damn misses!

Here is his story:

I'm deep in a big state tournament. My opponent is spotting me 1 game and in a matter of about 10 mins, I'm down 4/1. I claw my way to being down only 5/3, and he misses his last ball. I only have 4balls on the table and I have the break on the hill game. Heck yeah, that's exactly what I wanted! I make my first ball, stop shot. Take a breath. 2nd ball, good shape. Take a breath. 3rd ball, had to go 2 rails for shape w/ inside English. Nail it and took a breath. Last ball before the 8 ball, and I have to draw it back off of the rail w/ outside English. Well, I didn't HAVE to do that, but that was going to get me perfect shape on the 8ball. I get down on the shot feeling a bit nervous and single stroked the shot, while chicken-winging it, and jumping up at the same time. Then took a breath. LOL. Cost me the match of course.

So what did he learn?

Well, I'll keep you in suspense!

He actually talks about 4 very important aspects of that miss.  And they are too important to talk about in just one blog post.  Plus, it would make for a very long read and I don't want to lose your attention (uh, hello?)

Stay tuned!

And while you are waiting with bated breath, what do you think his learning experiences were?  Write them down and compare your notes in the follow days.

Honoring Surprise at BCAPL Texas State

Bad Boys Billiards, who run the BCAPL Texas State tourney, came up with these two trophies for the top female and male finishers who play in scotch doubles, singles, and teams at the Texas BCAPL State Championship.

Click image to enlarge to see Royce Bunnell and Emma Davis's names on the trophies.

Such an AMAZING honor and a heart-warming idea.

I'm speechless.

Memories This Week

Facebook has this "Memories of the Day" thingy on it, and it shows you all the memories you had that day for every year you've been on Facebook.

This week happens to be the week of the Texas BCAPL State tourney.  Normally I don't like to see the memories of things I've posted that I no longer care to remember or were about my Mom's hospital stays, but I have to admit these memories this week are pretty fantastic!

This week these have come up for me:

• 3 years ago, my women's team won first place! 
• 2 years ago I won the singles! 
• 2 years ago I won scotch doubles with Marty!
• 1 year ago I won scotch doubles with Greg!
• And 1 year so I placed 2nd in singles!

What a great three years for BCAPL Texas State pool hardware for me!

Imma lucky girl!


Several people have called to give me sh!t for not being there this week, or asked me how I felt not playing.  Well, I feel pretty dang good about my decision!  I am working at work this week, not spending money on a hotel room for 6 days, getting rest, not going through emotional roller-coasters in matches, not dealing with drama, not trying to figure out 1099s, and getting things done around the house and in the yard - pretty dang good week for me :)

Sure, a smidgen of my heart imagined me playing in singles and I do miss seeing my cool fellow female pool playing friends that I only see when these tourneys come around, but otherwise, I'm very happy with my current titles that I walk by in the hallway every night as I walk to my room to lay my sleepy head.

Play By Play?

I was approached by the ladies who run the OnTheRail stream at the very beginning of the BCAPL Texas state tourney.

They asked if I would like to try something new.

They thought that my "fans" would love to follow me online and see my progress DURING the matches.

First of all, I doubt people want to follow me THAT closely.  Second, I was honored they wanted me to test it, but I was apprehensive.  Third, I really wanted to focus on my matches.

You see, I'd have to use their tablet or my phone and take score after each GAME - not each match.  I I thought it would actually be distracting for myself AND my opponent if I was to take score on an electronic device after every single game.

And I also thinks that's a little bit pressure to know my scores are online in real time.  She would have wanted me to advertise I was testing it, and I don't need any extra added pressure, lol.

I told her I was flattered she asked me, but since I was the defending champion, I just didn't want to do it during my first match, esp since I knew who we were to be playing in the first round of scotch doubles.

After we won, I again didn't want do do it because it was a tough team and friends.  I just imagined all these things in my head : distraction, upsetting my opponents, me not concentrating on my game, etc.

I went back and told them I didn't feel comfy.  She said, "maybe singles?"

Well, I was defending champion for that event, too, lol, and I really didn't want any distractions or interference.

I think if everyone does this, it would be okay, but having just a few people test it without it being well advertised would just be bothersome to myself and my opponents.  I know I would care more about how my opponent felt about me taking score on an electronic device and if I was bothering them, instead of focusing on my game.

And I had SEVERAL hill-hill, close, emotional matches and as I reflect back, it definitely would have not been good.

The website is called http://www.scoresaloon.com if you want to check it out.  Maybe this will be something in the future for all pool players?

Hug The Loser

I hate the word "loser."

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

But I want to express how heartbreaking it is to lose.  And how you can help.

Two of my friends were playing each other at BCAPL Texas State in the women's singles division in the match for 4th place.  As I walked by several times, each player was playing good and smart.  It was a tight match.  One player is seasoned, the other kinda new and shy about competing.  But the shy player was playing her little heart out, as the seasoned player was playing her heart out, too. 

Eventually, the match would go hill-hill! 

I saw the seasoned girl win, and everyone was happy for her and congratulating her.

Then I did something kind of on instinct:  I walked right into the playing area and made a bee-line to the shy girl. 

I know how it feels to lose.  I know how it feels when everyone is talking to and congratulating your opponent while you are trying to hold it together and not feel worthless.

I walked right up to her, and gave her a HUGE hug.  It was literally only minutes after the match.  I held her tight and whispered, "I am SOOOO proud of you."

I didn't know how she would react, as we only see each other twice a year at state tourneys, but she held me back tightly fighting tears, and she confided and whispered in my ear, "I wanted that win so badly."

Even as I type this, I'm emotional. 

I could hear in her voice how heartbreaking the loss was for her; how much she wanted the win.  

I am glad I gave her that hug.  I am glad I recognized her for what she DID accomplish - getting to 4th in a really tough tournament.  Why?  Because she really did play her heart out and wanted the win badly, and it HURT that she lost.

Sometimes I feel like my biggest gift to pool is empathy and understanding.

I can't begin to express how horrible it feels to lose.  Sure, we've all been there and have experienced it.  But, it's more than we can put into words sometimes.  So, if you see someone who just lost in a big event, hug them or tell them how proud you are of them.  Sure they feel defeated, but I can guarantee you that you will be taking part of the sting away. 

How to Watch Live Pool

Funny, really. 

While watching the finals at BCAPL Texas State tourney, that was being streamed LIVE on the Internet, someone next to me was watching the match, also.  In front of him, AND on his tablet!

OMG...

I HAD to take a pic and share this with you all!  Funny!

Ferrule Me This (photo)

Saw this at BCAPL Texas State.  I didn't even know something like this was possible!

It was on her break cue.  Pretty cool.

Really, More Hardware?

Pretty tough to do, but Greg Sandifer and I WON the BCAPL Texas state Scotch Doubles event undefeated!   Second year in a row for me!  And with a new partner.

Then came singles.  After a very long, exhausting, tough day full of close matches and lots of nerves and adrenaline, I found myself winning all my matches somehow and won the hotseat match.  I would be I the finals the next day!!

As you might recall, I won this event last year - THE tourney I always wanted to win.   To be in the finals the next year didn't even make sense to me how I could do that.

Felt pretty fortunate to be in the finals!!  I got double dipped by a super talented player (Ricki Casper), and plus I didn't play well enough.  But very pleased with second place in a really tough field!!

People kept acting disappointed when I told them (after they asked how I did in singles), that I placed 2nd (and not 1st).  Well, I still think I did great, honestly!!  (even tho someone actually told me second place is the first loser).   BUT.... I found out after the finals, that my opponent lost her Grandmother just the week before, and she wanted to win it for her. So, I'm even more glad she won!  I've been in her shoes and I know that means a lot. So again, second place was great for me, and my opponent played her heart out to win it!

And my women's team, 8 Ball Heat, placed 7th!!

Good pool week.  Made me reflect a lot about pool and where my future lies with it as I can sense a change acoming, but still feel extremely fortunate for my week!

FANtastic Idea

As I'm playing in my first round of singles at the BCAPL Texas State tourney, I see this across the way:

Portable fan!

I say do what you gotta do!  Use your tools.

Smart idea.

That's My Chair

I was playing in the women's singles event finals at the BCAPL Texas State tourney the week of April 6th.   As I was at the table, about a game down in the middle of the match, I was busy surveying the table for my next shot when I see out of the corner of my eye, a guy came from the large crowd (of mostly my opponents' friends) and sat down in my chair and then scooted it over close toward my opponent.

I stopped shooting and said to him, "that's my chair."

He looked at me funny and said, "I'll give it back."

First of all,  please get out of my chair.
Second of all,  I'm in the finals, that's very rude.
Third of all,  you just moved it away from where I was sitting!  That was my little comfort area, near my water and napkin.

I stood there not knowing what to say, and then my opponent found him another chair.   He scooted mine back, then proceeded to sit next to her and talk to her while I was shooting.  Very distracting!

After my turn at the table, I sat down (in my chair) and the guy leans over and says, "I'm sorry I took your chair."

I was pretty annoyed still.  I said,  "I wouldn't let any of my friends take her chair,  or let them sit next to me and talk.   We are in the finals. "

He didn't know what to say, as the last part of my sentence I really mumbled,  because I'm not one for confrontation.

Later on the the match, maybe closer to hill hill the first set, my opponent was at the table.  Someone came and sat right in my opponent's chair.  "Ummm,  that's her chair, " as I pointed to my opponent at the table.

He replies, "that's my home girl," pointing to my opponent.  I reply, "well, that's still her chair."  He finally looked around for another chair and sat in the new one.

I understand people want to watch the finals, or watch their friends play, but please be courteous of the chairs for the players.  It's so annoying and frustrating to come back from a shot to sit and collect your mind to a seat that is now taken by someone who is inconsiderate or not consciousness enough to realize the players have to sit and you might be taking their little chair that they had been in comfortably the entire match.  It throws off our rhythm.  You may think it's minor, but it's really not.

It's the place of comfort we retreat to.  And taking or sitting in our chair disrupts that. And we are no longer focused on the match, where our head needs to be.  Instead, we are trying to locate another chair to sit in, as is courteous etiquette towards our opponents to sit.

Team Spirit

While playing in the team event, I overheard some guys discussing what to do about their payouts, since one guy was a no-show on the second day for this match that put them out of the tournament.

One teammate was adamant,  "He doesn't deserve nothing!  He didn't show up or text us back, he just left and didn't say anything."

The captain asked another player, "What do you think? "

He went along with the first guy, and yet another said he didn't care.

The captain asked a fourth teammate, "What about you?  What do you think?"

He shared, "just give him a piece of it.  We are friends before pool players."

He was the only guy who spoke up like that.  Everyone else was still upset their teammate left and didn't play and wanted to punish him.  And this one kept defending his position about it as others really thought the missing player shouldn't get anything.

I was so impressed, that as that player walked by, I stopped him to say it was awesome what he just did.  He expressed, "its just pool.  We are friends first. "

He could have kept quiet or gone along with the masses, instead he spoke up and expressed how minor it was, even tho they had just lost and the outcome could have been different if they guy showed up.

Turns out the player was having a big argument in the parking lot with his gf before their 4pm match.  And didn't come back in or respond to their texts,  "where are you?"

I think the captain gave everyone equal share of the payouts.  Altho the amount was minor, good decision!

My National Ranking Angst

As I mentioned already, I played in the BCAPL Texas state tournament this past week and weekend.

It's amazing to me how many people complained to my face and also behind my back, and even on social media about my "open" player BCAPL ranking.

Some people are taking is very personal that I'm not an advanced player and I do not know why they are getting upset with me. When in fact, I do not control how national BCAPL ranks their members.

I have not finished well enough in Vegas at nationals to be rated an advanced or master player yet.

Who knows, maybe this year will be my year to place well enough in singles in Vegas at Nationals for BCAPL and then I will be moved up automatically, and naturally.

But for now I am an open player.  And for the few that defended me, I sincerely appreciate it.

I'm out here trying to play my little heart out and play the best that I can under the circumstances of my personal life.  I have a few successes, and instead of people being happy for me, they are bringing me down. All because of a nationally ranked ranking that I have no control over.

I see more haters and drama in competition the last few years and I have to say, it makes the wins less special.

Don’t get me wrong, I'm very proud (and a bit surprised!) of myself for winning scotch doubles and placing second in singles this week!  Just tough to fade some of the negative comments, when in fact I'm just trying to survive in this tough life, while also playing pool.

Teammate Times

I'm here at the BCAPL Texas state tournament this week and weekend.

I've already played in Scotch doubles and singles (which ill write about in detail later) and now I'm playing in women's teams.

My captain always sends a text to all of my teammates to let us know what time and what tables we play on next.

She always tells us to be there at the assigned tables 20 minutes before we play.

I, however, always show up at different times.  Sometimes earlier, but I admit usually later.

I always get there before we start (don't fret), but sometimes it is cutting it close.

But for some reason, and I admit I don't know why, she says I do not have to adhere to the time restraints of my teammates.  She knows I'm going to be there and that I don't need to show up 20 minutes early like everyone else.

I'm not sure exactly why though but it's pretty cool because I think she knows I don't really want to be early each time.  Maybe it's because I've been playing in tournaments for 20 years or maybe it's because I'm just, I don't know, dependable?

Either way it's pretty cool and I feel special I admit.  :)

Mutual Admiration

I had league last Thursday with my ladies team. 

As I said goodbye for the night, one of my teammates hugged me tighter than normal.

She finally released the hug, but held my hands and shared, "You know, next week we will be at BCA Texas State.  And that is exactly one year from the first time I saw you play pool."

I felt a little nervous, where was she going with this?

She exclaimed, "I have goosebumps!"  Then shared, "I was so in awe of how well you played and am honored we are friends and teammates now."

"Oh stop it," I said.

"No, listen, I mean it," as she held my hands tighter and looked me right in the eye.  "I love watching you play and I get so excited every Thursday night because I know I'll get to watch "Melinda play pool.""  She looked down at her arm, "I have goosebumps again!"

I got embarrassed, but also flattered a little, but still tried to leave.

She pulled me in for another hug and said, "I can't wait to play with you at State next week."

I remember her watching me play last year in the finals of scotch doubles at BCAPL Texas State, because they introduced me to her b/c we were about to be new teammates.  Although my partner and I won the entire event, I also remember missing an 8ball and another ball, so even though she talks about the match like she witnessed greatness, I saw it as, "wish you could have seen me play better,"  lol.

But it goes to show how impactful we can be sometimes to people.  And how we are being watched a lot of times.  I like to always be a representative of the sport and act like I'm okay, even if I'm steaming inside.  I have been complimented when I shake hands with a smile after I lose.  Well, it's who I am today.  And when I show negative emotions, I get upset with myself for showing that side (even if it's human to do so sometimes).

I drove home that night feeling really good.  A compliment goes a long way.  I had told her she had been playing really, really well, but she kept diverting my words from her to me.  Felt weird, but as I look back, I really do appreciate it.  And I really do admire how much she loves the game and has improved!

Scotch Doubles BCAPL Texas State Hiccup

Well, this is such sad news for my scotch doubles partner, Marty Jones, and I:

(click photo to enlarge:)

The reason why is, I decided not to play anymore in my Sunday league (for many reasons), and that was the league Marty plays out of.  The BCAPL Texas State tourney allowed players to play together in scotch doubles, even if you didn't play in the same league.  As long as you both played in a BCAPL league AND in Texas, you could play together.

I admit that when they made this changed a few years ago, I wasn't very happy about it.  I thought it was unfair that a good player from Dallas (for example) could play with a good player from say Austin, San Antonio, or Houston.  While the rest of us were putting in time in the same league.

Then, when I was making the decision not to play on Sundays, I figured, "well, this wont affect scotch at State, so that's cool."

And they JUST made this change on Monday.  MONDAY!  And the entry fee is due THIS Friday.  So, they literally made this last minute change.

There are three (3) main reason why this change affects me personally:  (1), I am only playing on a ladies-only league.  I quit my other two leagues.  Now this is becoming very painful that I made that decision.  In other words, I have NO ONE I can play with because the only league I play on is women only.  (2), Marty and I will not be able to DEFEND our title!  Oh, I am so BUMMED!  (3), playing scotch always got me ready for singles.  Ugh, so many personal impacts.

Life goes on, I know, but this change affects a lot of teams that were planning on playing together, I am hearing.  I actually think it's a good rule, but it just happened ti bite me in the butt this year, lol.

UPDATE!  After I posted this, they had listened to the many comments the received and changed the rule BACK!  Whew.

Texas BCAPL DVDs Arrived...

I actually ordered two DVDs from the BCAPL Texas State tourney held in April.

I ordered the streamed women's singles final (which I won) and also the streamed scotch doubles final (it went two sets), which my partner (Marty Jones) and I won, as well.

A BIG thank you to Rail2Rail TV for the stream and for the getting the matches on DVD!

I honestly only bought them to show to my best friend.  I don't really care to watch them alone. I only cared to show them to him so we could talk about my shots that led to my accomplishments. 

I was excited to be able to show him my shots in the finals of both divisions, because he couldn't be there in person.  And to share the experience with someone I cared about, was really all I cared about. 

Otherwise, I wont watch them alone.  I see no point.

Don't Look at the Crowd

One of the best advice that Joe Salazar has ever given me is to not look at the crowd.

He shared with me that he won many tournaments against other great great players with this tactic. 

I try so hard not to look at the crowd when I'm in any matches - whether the first match of a tourney or the finals. 

I have captured a glimpse of something or someone and it affects me the rest of the match.  And it sucks!

No one means to affect us or do anything to disrupt us, but sometimes we just see things or hear things.

Case in point, I'm trying not to look in the crowd when I was playing in the hotseat match of the BCAPL Texas State 8-Ball Championships.  But about half way through the match, I notice a friend come and sit near Tracie and I's match.  He's always been super supportive of me and my game so it was cool.

So I thought.

After a good shot by Tracie, she walks over to this guy (for some reason) and high-fives her for her safety and they laugh together.

I see this and am thinking, "What the hell?"

I thought he was my friend.  (childish much, Melinda? lol)

Now, this isn't what normal people think on a daily basis, but it IS sometimes what competitors think in the heat of battle.  It's a very tricky little mental thing we go through with ourselves.

We want support; we don't want negatives.

I tried to tell myself that it didn't matter; he is my friend too, he isn't AGAINST me. 

But this is the type of thing we can accidentally see.  For all I know she was high-fiving him because he was still in the winner's side of his division.  Who knows! 

I know what you are thinking, "WHO CARES!"

Well, that is easier said than done when you are competing.  You all know what I'm saying.

Think about those few friends when they walk up you feel immediately comfortable.  Now think of those few people when you see them in the crowd you kinda cringe.

So, I just try not to look at the crowd.  I don't WANT to know who is watching.  It just gets me thinking too much.  JUST LIKE Joe said.

So, if you see my not turning around, or you try to get my attention and I don't respond while I'm in a match, that is why.  I'm trying to focus all my might, mind, and energy looking at the floor and on the playing this already mental game.

:)

Stay Away Please

On my way to the hotseat match at the BCAPL Texas State 8-Ball Championships, I walk by a friend of mine from the Fort Worth area.

While he is a friend, he has also always rubbed me the wrong way and judges my play.  He used to comment about my mistakes after matches.  I call him "Straighty" in this blog entry I wrote about 2 years ago.

As I walk by him he says, "when do you play Tracie?"

"Right now,"

"Oh really?"

"Yep" as I keep walking.

I think to myself, "OMG please DO NOT come watch us play."

I would be too worried about what I'm doing wrong in front of him and what he would say to me later, instead of playing my game.

Luckily, he didn't watch.  Whew.

I was safe.

It's amazing how much certain people can affect us so negatively when we play when we have had bad history/experiences with them. 

Like a Champ

On Friday morning, April 4th, I got a text from my good friend Rebecca in the morning, "How do you feel?" she asked me.

I replied, "Like a Champ!!"

It was the first time I had ever said that.  The first time I even thought about saying that.

I texted it right away with no thought.  Why?  Because I finally felt like a champ!!

OMG....

It took Susan Lucci 18 years to win her Emmy.  It took me about 8 years to win the all-sought-after title I've always wanted to win, and always talked about it in my blog every year around April.

This is of course the BCAPL Texas State 8-Ball Championships tournament.  The one I have wanted to win so many years in a row; the one my friend Monica always told me: "you are the one to beat"; the on where I ALWAYS mentally psyched myself out and got jitters and could not win because I wanted it so badly I didn't play pool - I put too much pressure and "want" on myself.

As I mentioned before the tournament, I hadn't been playing too much pool, so I wasn't really prepared (I thought) but I did refresh on my mental toughness and 8-ball strategy (that I have hammered over and over already lol).

But why was this year different?  I can only guess:

• I had no pressure because I hadn't really been practicing,
• I had A LOT of support from my friends who couldn't make it (esp my friend Rebecca from Houston),
• I know the game of 8-ball well,
• The tourney wasn't packed full of Advanced Players (lol),
• It was my time to win,
• Mental toughness was always on my mind,
• And... I had played with a great scotch doubles partner for an entire day before I played in the singles tourney.

I don't like to look at the brackets, but while I was resting in the hotel room about 2 hours before the women's singles division started, I see someone tagged me on Facebook and said they were playing me first on the stream.  Well, so much for not wanting to know who I play, lol!

I played that friend first and her game has improved so much and I was nervous, but I was somehow able to win.

My next match, I shake my opponent's hand and say, "Hi, I'm Melinda."  She states back, "I know who you are."

Oh.

So I say, "Well, what's your name?" And then wished her a good match.

And good match it was!

She would tell me throughout the entire match how nervous she was to play me.  And I could see she was nervous.  But I tell you what - she played JAM up!  She was the only player to go to the hill with me and I honestly thought I was going to lose.
 
I was up 2-0 then 3-1, but then she she surprised me and broke and ran, ran a rack on my dry break, and then ran again after what I thought was a good safe.  She made a ball hill-hill and I saw her out and thought I was DONE.  But, I couldn't be upset - she played GOOD!

But, I was able to get to the table again and after a few safes back and forth, I finally won.  OMG I became very nervous as she kept getting out and getting out.  But I was able to hold it together and tell myself I wasn't doing anything wrong, just keep at it if I got another opportunity to play.

Whew!

I want to take a minute to give her a shout out as she placed a VERY impressive 4th in this event!  Congrat's Jody!

In my 3rd match, I go up 2-0 against a good friend and good player, but then I make silly, stupid mistakes.  I get upset with myself, but try to reflect on what is happening so I can get back into the game right away.  I didn't want to lose because I was making mistakes!  Just like Brad Gilbert talks about in Winning Ugly.

I realized I was distracted and moved chairs so I could regroup and refocus because the score was 2-2 and I did NOT want her on the hill first!  Esp after being up 2-0!  I then won 4-2 by refocusing and figuring things out.

As this tourney was in Texas, I would have to play yet another friend!  We had a great match and she has improved a lot as well.  I won 4-1 I think.

I then have a VERY long wait ahead of me as the match I was waiting on hadn't even started yet.  I had my friend Dana go check the brackets to see what table I would be on, as I didn't want to see where I was on the bracket.

I waited and waited. 

I finally had an opponent, fellow National Teammate, Tracie Voelkering, who won this event last year.  So I knew my hands were full.  But her and I are such good friends, we were just happy we were both still doing well!

As what happened a few matches before, I got ahead 2-0, but then lost focus.  Ugh.  I started to make really stupid mistakes and reminded myself to figure out what was going on.  Get mentally tough again and stop being distracted.  But those mistakes cost me my lead and now the score was 2-2.  I could feel the tourney slipping away from me again like always!

I recalled Brad Gilberts' words of advice and refocused.  Recognizing early I needed to not get comfortable I was ahead and instead refocus deeply again.  As before, I didn't want my opponent on the hill first after I was playing so good to get up 2-0.

And then I won 4-2.  WHEW!

I go see what time I play next.  And I start crying!  OMG I just won the hotseat!!!  OMG I had never been this far before!  I had never been in the finals!  OMG!

I didn't give a flip I was crying - I was elated and ecstatic and could NOT believe it!!!  The tourney director tells me, "Hey Melinda your nose is red."  lol.  I told her I didn't care haha!  I didn't care who saw me, I was SO happy!!!

I had no idea where I was on the brackets!

I text my scotch doubles partner and tell him that I was in the finals and I KNOW it was partly because of playing 7 winning matches with him the previous day.

The next day I try not to freak myself out like I normally do.  I wrote before how I went to Texas Roadhouse at 4pm to re-read my notes, my fav sections on Brad's book (Winning Ugly) and had a margarita to calm down a little.

The finals wasn't until 7pm so I had plenty of time to relax, read, and then hit balls.

I go hit balls about 6pm or so and I can already tell that the finals will not be starting on time at 7pm lol.  Both players (who I had already defeated) were playing their little hearts out and it went hill-hill.  Angela Garza had a great tourney getting 3rd and I would be playing Tracie again, this time in the finals and this time on the stream.

I hit some more balls, read over my notes some more, practiced my banks.

Go pee a lot (when I get nervous I go pee a lot), but I never thought ahead.  I tried so hard not to even THINK that I was in the final.  Even tho I was!  I just tried to remain in the present only.

But, Tracie would have to double dip me and I knew I would put up a fight.

We finally start at 8pm on the stream table. 

And I did put up a fight.

And I won 4-1 in the first set to win my first ever BCAPL Texas State title!!

FINALLY!!!

I remained calm.  Cool, collected.  I didn't think ahead.  Even though I could FEEL it inside me I was really going to win this time, I held it together and played POOL.

I didn't jump up and and down like I wanted to after I won, but I was VERY happy inside.  I was proud of Tracie for being in the finals after winning last year - now that's a lot of pressure!

SO many people shook my hand and congratulated me.  Roommie and teammate Janet was there and I told her not to hug me or else I'd cry.  She could only stand it about a minute and ran up to me and of course I cried!  And she whispered in my ear, "Your Mom sees you and is very proud of you."  I was already thinking about her and wanted to dedicate this win to her - my lovely Mom.

I called my boyfriend right away and was sobbing.  He was SO happy for me!  He told me, "I knew you could do it, Babe."  I was on cloud nine even though I could tell it hadn't really hit me.  Even now as I type this 3 weeks later, Wow, I'm really a Texas Champ?  WOW!

I saw Monica and she hugged me SO tightly, "I knew would do it, I knew it.  You were the one to beat!"  She has always been so supportive of me!

Two days later during the team event several people would stop and congratulate me.  One person in particular, Helen Hayes, stopped me and said, "I heard you won.  That is really a great honor and I am really happy for you.  It's a great feat!"  I could tell she was SO genuinely sincere AND that she knew in her heart how important it was.  It meant a lot she shared that with me, as I felt she knew how awesome it really was and how tough it can be to win it.  :)

Also during the team event, people would walk by as we were practicing and say, "Hey Melinda, congratulations" or "Good job, Melinda."  Finally Janet says, "What did you do?"  In this really sarcastic voice lol!!  I cracked up - she was so funny!

She would send me texts while sitting across from me at dinner or lunch and say, "hey guess what? You're a champ!"   It was cool to room with someone who was so happy for me.  :)

I can't believe it!  I'm the 2014 BCAPL Texas State Champion! 



For the past 3 weeks, every once in a while my b/f will catch me off guard and say to me, "Hey Texas Champ"  lol.  He's so proud of me.  :)

I admit I'm proud of myself.  All these years playing and all these years wanting and yearning to win this VERY tournament, I finally won. 

I had SO many experiences in tournaments that led me to this.  If I hadn't of played in all those tourneys, I never would have been able to collect all those experiences together to finally pull this off!  This game is so mental and normally I lose before I ever step in the tourney room because I would think too much bout what I wanted.

But I did so good this year!  No expectation, but still prepared by reading since I wasn't hitting balls.

I don't recommend JUST reading, but if you can't hit balls, you can still help yourself.

I joked with a lot of people I can now retire from pool.

Funny thing is.... I mean it!

But they would all say, "you'll just have to win nationals in Vegas now."

Uh, I don't think I'm that good, lol.  That isn't even a tourney I have ever fathomed I could possibly win. 

Texas State Champ.  WOW!

Still shocked....

No Smoking within 15 Feet

My favorite sign at the 2014 BCAPL Texas State 8-Ball Championships was this one:

Usually you just have to "go outside" with no restrictions.  This meant all us non-smokers would have to walk through smokers to get to our cars or come inside.

So, I REALLY liked this sign - no smoking within 15 feet of the building.  WOO HOO!

:)

For non-smokers, this was pure awesomeness.