Pep Talk - Video Clip

I saw this the other day on TV and LOVED it!

Check it out for yourself and see how ironically not funny this pep talk is!

Getting Upset at Rolls?

I have seen bad rolls really get to a player.  To the point they get so mad and frustrated at bad rolls, that they are no longer playing pool.

They are too pissed to play pool with a clear mind.

I find it funny - not laughing funny - but funny in the sense people take it PERSONAL that an inanimate object rolled a little bit more than it should behind a ball.  Or scratched b/c it rolled too much.  It's a little ball!  And yet people get irate over rolls.

The ball did nothing personal to you; it's not even possible!  Yet, people fume and let the "bad rolls" interfere with what could be a great match ahead of them; most likely a winning match!

The key to any match is to not pass judgement on anything.  Try as hard as you can to smile, sit up straight, and breathe, breathe, breathe.  Bad rolls happen, it's part of the game.  If you let it get to you, then you aren't 100% ready for the shot you are about to take.

You need to be 100% ready to shoot again.

If things upset you, that takes oxygen away from the brain, which makes you think foggy, instead of clear.

There's a thing I read in a book once that said even actors that 'act' upset have lower levels of oxygen going to the brain.  This means you can trick your mind into thinking clearly, too!  Just remain calm.  Accept the shots as is - be thankful you get a shot!  Not upset you are hooked.  Don't place a label on a good roll or bad roll.  It's just a roll.  Life goes on.  Life is short.

Fill yourself up with the immense, wonderful feeling of being able to play the sport you love.  Breathe the air in as you smile upon yourself as you realize you are so blessed to be able to play this game you love.  Some people sit at home, with disease, depression, health issues, family issues, etc., and aren't even able to get out of the house, aren't even able to walk.  How blessed we are to get hooked!  Plus, every roll someone gets while playing usually means you will get a roll later.  It all evens out.  Breathe.  Smile.  Focus on the air going in.  Focus on letting it out. 

Have you ever seen Belinda Beardon Campos play?  If someone shits in the 9-ball against her, she never, ever makes a face about it.  Never.  She gets up, and racks.  You would never know it just happened to her.  Because it didn't!  It didn't happen to her - it happened on the table.  The ball didn't know it did that 'against' you - it's an inanimate thing doing something - not to you personally - it doesn't even know you are there.  

It reminds me of roulette.  If you see ten odd numbers come up, people think to bet on even.  The little ball doesn't know that though.  It's still a 50-50 chance to get odd or even.  It doesn't have any outside, human influences.  Just like a roll or hook - the ball didn't do it to you personally.  It just happened because of physics - the ball causes friction, there was speed involved, they hit it too hard/soft and there was a hole to go in or a ball to stop behind.  It doesn't know it was your turn to shoot.

Know your ability.  Trust it.  Practice it.  'Feel' your calmness and stroke and ability.  Literally feel deep inside you the way it makes you feel to be playing good.  Take that feeling with you to your matches.  Enjoy being able to play.  Enjoy the experience.  You know how it feels inside you to be playing like you are on air, no one can stop you, everything is going in, nothing is bothering you... now, if something distracts you (a hook, slop shot, miscue, etc.) it's not directed at you personally and don't give it a bad or good label - remember, a slop shot doesn't know a human is even involved - don't get upset about a little ball that doesn't have the ability to make it's own decisions.  Don't pass judgement and also don't take them personal.

It's how you react to these instances and how you accept or not accept hiccups in matches that will make you a champion.

Practice more in your mind, if you can't get to the table.  Do something, anything - read the forums, watch videos, read books, learn.  Practicing and confidence aren't about getting to the table and putting in hours, it's also about running out a game of 9-ball in your head once a week to keep you on your toes.  Remembering the key matches you have had.  

You can't change the future, don't worry about expectations.  The only expectations you should have are your own - set your goal each tournament, reach for them.  Don't let things bother you - only you can control what bothers you.  

Women on the Stream

This past weekend at the Texas Open, I had some major high points and some major low points.  I'll get to that soon, but before I do, I want to share a situation that happened to me that I'm not very happy about.

First of all, let me preface by saying had I won the match I'm about to talk about, this article would be entirely different and not as bitchy!

Obviously, lol.

I had a bye, then won my next two matches on Saturday and Sunday of the Texas Open in Round Rock, Texas at Skinny Bob's Billiards.  I played FANTASTIC the first two days.  However, Monday was an an entirely different story.

I played pro player Vivian Villarreal about noon on Monday on the winner's side.  I played BAD! 

Compared to my previous two matches, it was like I was a completely different person. 

I know the culprit, too - lack of sleep.

I wasn't nervous at all, as Vivian is a friend of mine and I always use the experience as a good one when I play her.  I had competed with her numerous times, so nerves was not a factor at all.

I had a chance in at least 5 games but I dogged it.  Badly.  I could only run about 2-3 balls and after bad shape, I would then miss.  :(  I was so embarrassed how I played.  I know I can play SO MUCH better, but I just didn't show up.

And to see chances before my eyes disappear because I was playing bad, was an even worse feeling.

The lack of sleep really hurt me and I was not focused.  Further, she plays so fast, the match was over before I could recover during the match to figure out what was going on with me.

The WPBA Pros can only be shown on a stream table if the WPBA is given $50.  So, each time a pro is on a stream table, someone has to cough up $50.  If two play each other, that's $100.  No one was ponying up the funds to see them on the stream (even though everyone was asking I heard), so the women's matches were never shown.  Not even the semi finals or finals.  The whole weekend only the men were on the stream.

Now, why a match with two non-female pros was never showcased on the stream, I do not know.  But, usually, the men's matches get dibs for some reason anyway.

Anyway, so I knew our match would not be streamed and I was okay with it, esp since I DOGGED my brains out. 

Embarrassment is such a horrible feeling.  :(

Here's the view from table I played my match on with Vivian, looking over the stream table

After I lose, I walk to the seating area and sit down with my friends.  I mention how badly I played and then my boyfriend tells me, as he's pointing to the stream camera/screen, "They didn't have a men's match playing, so they zoomed in on your match with Vivian and showed most of it."

WHAT?

Are you freakin' kidding me??

My bad play was on display for all to see?!?! 

OMG...my embarrassment factor rose 1,000 percent as I sat there in utter shock.  I was mortified.  Perfect word:  mortified.  

I know I am not suppose to care what others think.  I know it's just a game.  But dammit, I play better than that.  I played phenomenal the previous day - that match with Vivian that was now seen by everyone on the Internet (love my exaggerations?! lol) was not an indicator of how well I have been playing.  It did NOT represent me at all!

I was pissed and shocked. 

And then the embarrassment feeling got worse inside me. 

Freaking mortified. 

I'm still pissed as I type this.....  I feel blindsided for some reason.