This thread reserved for JAM's IPT updates

We're about 2 hours from Vegas, in a little town called Cedar City, Utah. We didn't drive in last night because our room reservations aren't until tomorrow, Friday, and Keith is really digging these indoor pools and saunas they have at the hotels out west. We're getting acclimated to the time change and will undergo another hour difference as we enter the Mountain Time Zone. Plus, we're both getting used to getting up at 6:00 a.m. I head straight for the FREE continental breakfasts, and Keith goes for a swim. It sure is a nice way to start the day off.

Well, leaving Denver was an experience I will NEVER forget. Those Rockies were unreal, breath-taking, scenic, and full of wildlife. I saw my first buffalo. I sure do love the buffalos. Driving up and down the Rockies at 75 MPH around those curvaceous roads was a little scary for this native Washingtonian city girl, but I got used to it pretty quick. We stopped off in Vail and walked around the shops. The cop cars in Colorado were Volvos, same car as I have. They're great snow cars, with the front-wheel drives, better than the SUVs, IMHO.

The Rockies were a memory I wil never forget. We saw a mother mountain goat and her baby climbing up some rocks. It was so cute, as the mother was trying to help her baby make the trek. The air is so clean. Then there was the Colorado River which winds its way around. We saw quite a few folks fly-fishing, I think they call it. The mountains were GREAT until we hit Utah.

Though at the beginning of I-70 in Utah, it was beautiful, looking very much like the pictures I have seen of the Grand Canyon, then we entered Nowhere Man's Land. I was literally the only car on the road, and there were signs posted up like "No Services for 102 miles." Needless to say, I gassed up pronto. I didn't like this desolate area. The reddish color mountains soon changed to wide-open spaces. You can see for miles and miles. I've never seen a rain storm from a distance, but here in Utah, you sure can. I was nervous when it got dark last night, being the only car on the road, but soon we hit I-15, the road to Vegas, and I saw civilization again.

Tonight, we will definitely be at the pool room, hitting balls. Now is the time for all good pool players to arrive in Vegas, and I'm sure there will be quite a few folks there. I'm hoping whatever hotel we stay in tonight will be nice with high-speed Internet provided. My dial-up laptop sucks, but it beats a blank when I have to check my business e-mails. I have my camera with me and will be snapping some pictures.

I got some great shots from Paradise Billiards in Denver night before last of WPBA Pro Melissa Little, Mark Haddad, and the cast of regulars there. Melissa has a new fan in me. I like her style, her attitude, and overall demeanor. Without a doubt, this young lady is an ambassador to the sport. Paradise pool room has been around since the 1960s, and it has a very rich culture. There was a family from Kentucky there hitting balls, and their 7-year-old son came up to Keith and asked for his autograph. Keith ended up giving this cutie pie a few lessons on how to hold his stick and aim better, and after an hour, the young'n was actually hitting the balls in the pockets, straight-in shots, but at least he got the idea of the hand-and-eye coordination down pat.

I'm so excited to be in Vegas today. I can't wait to see the players flock in from abroad. I will be posting back some updates on all of the festivities. I just hope wherever we stay at night, they have the high-speed complimentary computer. It sure does make it easy for my 150 words-per-minute fingers to disseminate the latest updates, and quite frankly, I'm happy to be able to share some of the fun that's going to unfold. See ya'll later!

JAM

Thank you! I love living the road trip vicariously. Good luck Keither, good luck Jennie!

Thanks ...

Jenny, for the great update. You make me feel like I am in the backseat ....lol Sounds like a wonderful adventure you and Keith are on, and I am excited about your 'living' posts to come.

Thanks for the great update Jam. Good luck to you guys at the IPT. Johnnyt

I have said this before and I'll say it again. I nominate JAM to be AZB's roving reporter. Towards this end I am willing to donate to the fund to buy her a NEW LAPTOP and a wireless internet subsciption to it. Jennie should have high speed untethered access to the net wherever she goes.

I have the first $50 to add to this venture - anyone else? If we just get her the wireless card and the subscription it will run something like $200 or even free with a subscription. The subscription will cost $50 a month or $600 a year. Come on AZ - let's do this for Jennie - who has given us more colorful action reports through the years???

John

Jennie,

Thanks for the awesome updates! Just want you to know, there are a couple ways to go wireless, there is a PCMIA card or a USB plug-in hardware dealy. They are both around $50- $60 bucks. Either one will connect to the wireless network around. I know, because I had to do it for my work laptop.

Keep the reports coming! See you soon.

Linda

Go Keith

Keithly,

All I've got to say is "keep your head down and your belly on the table".

I'd love to see you upset the apple cart, and have a major flashback to the 80's.

Remember Binghampton and the B.C. Open. You beat everyone to win that tournament. And I for one believe you could do it again.

If you get rolling Keith, you can still put the fear in their eyes.

Remember this, when you get down on a shot, take an extra moment to get locked dead on. Once your locked on a shot, you will not miss!

The best thing that could happen for this tour is for you to be in the finals.

I'll be over at the Rio, squeezing cards. If I hear you're rollin', I will try to stop by.

Toupee Man

Good Luck...

Good luck & thanks for the updates!

Donald

Good luck!!

Thanks for the updates Jam! and goodluck to Keith!

Keep them coming...

Viva Las Vegas

I am totally awestruck with Vegas. Driving in, we saw several fighter jets flying very low overhead. At first, this concerned me a bit, wondering why they were here in Vegas, and then Keith told me that Vegas is a training ground for these fighter jets, and they do this all the time. They were flying mighty fast, looking like swallow birds flying in formation.

There are people everywhere in this 115-degree weather. Though it is hot as Hades, it is a dry heat, and I didn't mind it much when I compare it to the D.C. humidity I am used to in the summertime.

First stop, we went to the Cue Club. Keith spent some time just hitting balls, hoping to get loose as a goose. Ian Costello, a young player who transplanted himself from the East Coast to the West Coast, was one familiar face I saw upon arrival. He said he's coming back to the East Coast very soon. He may try to go to the Joss Turning Stone Casino event next month.

Ike Runnels from Chicago walked in a little later, brandishing his trademark baseball cap with the acronym "TGI," meaning The Great Ike. He's been here for a few days and has been practicing, as has Russian Evgeny Stalev and Italian Fabio Petroni who put on a show for the spectators at the Cue Club. One gentleman who works there said he's never seen anyone break 'em like The Russian, and he was quite impressed. Swedish Marcus Chamat was accompanied by Mika Immonen, who just won a Norwegian championship in recent times. They spent several hours practicing at the Cue Club as well.

Some of the players have gone over to the other pool room in town, Lou Butera's place. They have two Diamond tables, but the cloth, I was told, wasn't the same as the IPT's cloth. However, both tables have been in use with players who have arrived here in the past few days. I saw Greg Sullivan from Diamond Billiards in an Eatery here at the Venetian, and he said these pockets on the 64 tables that he is setting up will be tight as can be. Mark Griffin, who lives in Vegas, sat down for a spell with Greg, Keith, and myself, as we wolfed down a quick meal.

What can I say about the Venetian! When we checked in a day early, the lady was so accommodating. She even gave us a Thursday rate of $169 per night, 10 bucks cheaper than our IPT player's room rate. There is a fragrance throughout this casino of lillies, which is quite different, but nice. There are so many stores and restaurants, and then there's the Blue Men and Phantom of the Opera which are getting rave reviews. Our room is the most exquisite suite I've ever seen in my life, two TVs, a separate living room, and the view here on the 17th floor of Vegas with all of its lights is breath-taking, especially at night.

Last night, we are in the casino game room, and I caught a glance of a familiar face, but I wasn't quite sure who it was. He looked at me, then smiled, and walked on over. It was English player Brian Saleh who happens to be in Keith's first group. He had a friend with him from England. What a charming young man. The four of us hung out all night long. He's in his mid-thirties and has such an enthusiasm for pool. It was very refreshing. I like this young man a lot.

Best news of all, a hotel business center employee here at the Venetian showed me how to hook up my old gray mare laptop computer to the high-speed connection. I had not realized my Windows 98 computer had a plug in it that would accept high-speed cable, but now I know, thanks to their assistance. I'm typing on my own laptop with high-speed cable. Each room is also equipped with a printer and fax machine. This place is nothing but luxury, and I'm going to enjoy every single minute of every single day while I am here. Heck, I'm happy just hanging out in the room, feeling like I'm living the lifestyles of the rich.

We're getting ready to head over to the pool room to practice. I'm sure the players are coming in by the dozens, and I'll report back with any happenings. This place is the BEST! Viva Las Vegas.

JAM

Thanks for the update JAM. Did you ever think about writing short stories to have published. Johnnyt

Thanks again Jam...

Im happy for you JAM. You deserve all the pleasures your experiencing.

shanesinnott said:

Jennie,

I am jealous. I can't believe I decided not to attend this event after attending the KOH and being very impressed with the setup.

I may just have to make a visit next week if you continue with the great updates and get me more and more hyped about this tourney.

Please keep the reports coming (no excuse now that you have high speed hook up in your room )

Thanks again!

Click to expand...

You're jealous?!?!? UGH, all I had to do was get myself to Vegas! Some of you know my buddy Gary from VF... he's taking his daughter & her b/f down next wkend... I could've roomed with them for free... all I had to do was get there! Darn rent, car pymt, electric bill...LIFE!! Always getting in the way. Hopefully I'll win the lottery one day... we play every week at work.

Jennie, like everyone else... I'm loving the updates. The BCA last May was my 1st time in Vegas.... it truly is a spectacular place! Of course we stayed at the Riviera but me & the big guy took a walk down the strip and took a gondola ride inside at the Venetian... it's a wonderful place & entirely too much to take in during one visit. You'll be back out there so take your time, don't rush, and just enjoy it.

LOL, Greg & Mark, together.... imagine that! I teased 'em at the DCC about being siamese twins.... I see some things haven't changed. They're both very nice people... you were keeping good company at breakfast.

The players are rolling in. We ran into Mika and Marcus Chamat again in the Venetian on our way to breakfast in the afternoon. Raj Hundal from England was with them. They had just returned from the Level 2G ballroom which is where the players meeting will be tomorrow, beginning at 5:00 p.m. sharp.

We surveyed the multitude of restaurants, but everything was a little formal for breakfast. We ended up going to the Noodle Bar and ate Chinese. There, we were joined by Cliff Joyner, who is in Keith's bracket, who was traveling with Otis from Dallas. Mark Bitore, a long-time friend of Keith's, was there too. Otis paid the whole tab for the meal, which was very much appreciated. Mark Bitore sure does have some great stories of being on the road with Keith and others.

After our meal, we decided to check out the players meeting room and ran into Little John who was traveling with his uncle. He's excited as can be about this event, as we all are. He told us to go on up to the fifth floor, which is the venue site. Man, that place is unreal, better than the King of the Hill in Orlando, if you can believe it. The Diamond tables are almost finished being set up, and the pockets are definitely tight. I saw them with my own eyes. They look tighter than they were in Orlando, IMHO.

After we left the fifth floor, we traveled downstairs and ran into Bernie Friend and Colin Colenso. They are going to go on over to the Cue Club and practice tonight. We'll probably be heading there as well, but we will take a cab, as the traffic here in Vegas is like gridlock. Man, this place is hopping on every single corner.

Inside the Venetian, there are many happenings, singers, bands, and mimes for all to enjoy. There's a wax figure of Simon Cowell which I'm going to take a picture of with Keith later on. It looks so real.

That's about it for now. Will report back later. This Vegas trip is fantastic. There's so much to do, and not enough time. It's hard to soak it all in, but we're enjoying ourselves to the fullest. I can't wait for the tournament. When you see the set-up, it will blow your mind. First class with a capital "C."

JAM

The players were busy as bees when we arrived at the Cue Club this evening. Every table was going. Francisco Bustamante was sparring with Charlie "Hillbilly" Bryant. Tony Robles, Luat, and Alex Lely were practicing dilligently. Keith took a table in the back alone and hit balls for several hours. The Cue Club is quite different at night than the daytime. By day, it's very quiet, but at night, the music is revved up with tunes ranging from heavy metal rock to a little country.

It must be a Vegas ritual, but I was surprised to see some ornate water pipes, standing about 3-feet tall. I was told that they are smoking some high-grade tobacco in them. These water pipes are very popuar at the Cue Club with the regulars.

Since we had our car with us, we gave Marcus Chamat of Sweden, Alex Lely of the Netherlands, and Imrad Majid of England a ride back to their hotel rooms. Just as we were leaving, up pulls a taxi and out walks Earl Strickland. He had us all in stitches with his quips and funny stories.

Not wanting to call it a night, we went downstairs in the casino game room and spotted Sally Timko and J.R. Calvert of InsidePOOL taking a break from their work duties. We joined them for a cold beverage. Sally looked radiant in a simple, but elegant, black dress. Soon some IPT staff folks came by to join in the festivities.

Later, we decided to grab a bite to eat at a Cheesecake Factory-owned restaurant at the Venetian. As we were chowing down, Keith saw Jimmy Mataya walking by and called out his name. He came over and sat down with us for a while. Keith's face lit right up and was having the time of his life sitting there with Jimmy, an old friend and comrade. I was elated when Keith asked Jimmy to be his cornerman.

Tomorrow the players will be decked out in suits and gowns for the 5 o'clock players meeting. Stay tuned because the BEST is yet to come.

JAM