What's your greatest pool accomplishment?
- Thread starter mvp
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1. Made the 5th place with my team at the state championchips (North Rhine-Westphalia) here in Germany.
2. Had the pleasure to meet the best guys in pool at the Hangelar Open the last several years. Names like Earl Strickland, Jonny Archer, Mike Sigel, Nick Varner, Efren Reyes, Niels Feijen, Nick van den Berg......
2. Had the pleasure to meet the best guys in pool at the Hangelar Open the last several years. Names like Earl Strickland, Jonny Archer, Mike Sigel, Nick Varner, Efren Reyes, Niels Feijen, Nick van den Berg......
Been playing since 89 (late bloomer). Still suck. Now my near vision is going to boot. I will never be any good at it. I have won nothing and lost much.
I still love the game and the equipment.
My biggest accomplishment is all the new players i brought to the game, all of which are now as good or better than myself.
I have built many a cue that will serve these players long after my demise. That is all. Nothing more.
I still love the game and the equipment.
My biggest accomplishment is all the new players i brought to the game, all of which are now as good or better than myself.
I have built many a cue that will serve these players long after my demise. That is all. Nothing more.
Proud isn't a big enough word
1. Winning back to back "Invitational World and Beyond Pool Tournament"
championships.
2. Being Director of invitations to the "Invitational World and Beyond
Pool Tournament"
As a side note I am in the process of searching for one open spot in
this years tournament. The runner up from the first two tournaments
(DEANOC) has refused to play this year, sighting what he calls exceedling
high entry fee and a stacked payout format. (winner take all). You would
think that just receiving an invitation to play in such a prestigious event
would far outweigh a mere $5000.
jack IWABPT champion (twice)
1. Winning back to back "Invitational World and Beyond Pool Tournament"
championships.
2. Being Director of invitations to the "Invitational World and Beyond
Pool Tournament"
As a side note I am in the process of searching for one open spot in
this years tournament. The runner up from the first two tournaments
(DEANOC) has refused to play this year, sighting what he calls exceedling
high entry fee and a stacked payout format. (winner take all). You would
think that just receiving an invitation to play in such a prestigious event
would far outweigh a mere $5000.
jack IWABPT champion (twice)
Mine was winning two Mc Dermott tournaments in a row. Either 1996 or 1997. I won the last tourney off the year at Tightpockets beating Paul Turner and Earl Kellum ( old road player) in the finals and winning the very first tourney at Twains in Decatur,Ga.Tightpockets was in Hapeville,Ga. Beat Bill Blanda in finals there. Lots of great players there. Got real lucky in both tournaments.
Actually mine was just yesterday. My APA Masters team won the City Championship.
In the Semi's and in the Finals I played last and had to win or we would be eliminated. Race to 7. In the Semi's I was down 1-4 and the other guy looked unstoppable. Was doing stuff like jumping and pocking a ball, then running out. Meanwhile I had missed 4 balls. Then I missed an easy money ball in the side to go down 1-5. I stayed calm, hit a gear, and won 6 games in a row to take the match.
In finals I had to play last again, and had to win our we would be eliminated. Got down 1-3, stayed calm, and came back to win 7-5.
Two amazing wins (for me), with a crowd watching. Amazing day.
In the Semi's and in the Finals I played last and had to win or we would be eliminated. Race to 7. In the Semi's I was down 1-4 and the other guy looked unstoppable. Was doing stuff like jumping and pocking a ball, then running out. Meanwhile I had missed 4 balls. Then I missed an easy money ball in the side to go down 1-5. I stayed calm, hit a gear, and won 6 games in a row to take the match.
In finals I had to play last again, and had to win our we would be eliminated. Got down 1-3, stayed calm, and came back to win 7-5.
Two amazing wins (for me), with a crowd watching. Amazing day.
I really haven't gotten the chance to compete as much as most on here. If there was a spectrum where we had hobbyists on one end and die-hard, full-time pool players on the other -- I would barely get out of the hobbyist area of the spectrum. I've played in my fair share of local tourneys and a few state level ones but overall -- really not too many. I suppose we all make our choices in life and I'm happy with the ones I've made so far.
So for a basement dwelling, husband, and father of three who's managed to stay pretty active in their upbringing -- I think I play pretty good. I have a few plaques hanging in the basement near the table that I'm proud of but my favorite is probably the signed twenty dollar bill that has Nick Varner's signature on it.
So how'd it get there? Well, funny you should ask. This was a few years back at the Indiana ACS State Tournament and Nick Varner was there putting on exhibitions and taking on all comers. All weekend long you could take a swing at this Hall of Famer by forking over 20 buckaroos and then playing a race to 4. As the tournament was going on and I was walking back and forth from the tournament room -- I would stop and watch Nick run out on his next victim. After a few days of this, I asked the guy handling the money, how many times Nick had lost and he laughed and said nobody had even gotten close. I found this surprising since this was bar-table eight ball we were talking about. I figured surely there were a handful of guys in the room who could give him a run for his money. Hmmm, I thought to myself. If I get a little lucky on a bar-table I can beat anybody I thought. So I forked over my twenty and gave it a shot.
I got the first break and I managed to break and run. 1-0 me.
Nick breaks the 2nd rack dry. The table was tough so we exchanged a few safeties and I beat him to the shot and managed to get out. 2-0 Basement Dweller
3rd rack: I smash them open pretty good and get out. Now I'm up 3-0 and there's quite a few people watching at this point. I hear one guy off in the distance say, "Who the hell's this guy?"
4th rack: I'm standing off to the side and I rarely wish for bad luck on my opponent but just this once I'm praying to the pool gods for a dry break and for once they came through. I get to the table and I'm actually getting pretty nervous. I remember working my way through the rack until my final two balls. All I can remember from that point on is the shot prior to my key ball. I had a really thin cut where I had to kill the flying cue ball by hitting another object ball flush. If I missed the object ball the cue ball would have been long gone. I hit it perfect and ended up getting out. 4-0 Basement Dweller.
Now I'm certain that quite a few amateurs have beaten some pros 4-0 over the years, but how many players are walking among us who can say they have a lifetime ball pocketing advantage of 32-0 over Nick Varner? I've seen Nick do this at a couple of the other tourneys I've attended since this and I've kept my 20 in my pocket. I really like the sound of that 32-0.
Nice thread.
So for a basement dwelling, husband, and father of three who's managed to stay pretty active in their upbringing -- I think I play pretty good. I have a few plaques hanging in the basement near the table that I'm proud of but my favorite is probably the signed twenty dollar bill that has Nick Varner's signature on it.
So how'd it get there? Well, funny you should ask. This was a few years back at the Indiana ACS State Tournament and Nick Varner was there putting on exhibitions and taking on all comers. All weekend long you could take a swing at this Hall of Famer by forking over 20 buckaroos and then playing a race to 4. As the tournament was going on and I was walking back and forth from the tournament room -- I would stop and watch Nick run out on his next victim. After a few days of this, I asked the guy handling the money, how many times Nick had lost and he laughed and said nobody had even gotten close. I found this surprising since this was bar-table eight ball we were talking about. I figured surely there were a handful of guys in the room who could give him a run for his money. Hmmm, I thought to myself. If I get a little lucky on a bar-table I can beat anybody I thought. So I forked over my twenty and gave it a shot.
I got the first break and I managed to break and run. 1-0 me.
Nick breaks the 2nd rack dry. The table was tough so we exchanged a few safeties and I beat him to the shot and managed to get out. 2-0 Basement Dweller
3rd rack: I smash them open pretty good and get out. Now I'm up 3-0 and there's quite a few people watching at this point. I hear one guy off in the distance say, "Who the hell's this guy?"
4th rack: I'm standing off to the side and I rarely wish for bad luck on my opponent but just this once I'm praying to the pool gods for a dry break and for once they came through. I get to the table and I'm actually getting pretty nervous. I remember working my way through the rack until my final two balls. All I can remember from that point on is the shot prior to my key ball. I had a really thin cut where I had to kill the flying cue ball by hitting another object ball flush. If I missed the object ball the cue ball would have been long gone. I hit it perfect and ended up getting out. 4-0 Basement Dweller.
Now I'm certain that quite a few amateurs have beaten some pros 4-0 over the years, but how many players are walking among us who can say they have a lifetime ball pocketing advantage of 32-0 over Nick Varner? I've seen Nick do this at a couple of the other tourneys I've attended since this and I've kept my 20 in my pocket. I really like the sound of that 32-0.
Nice thread.
What is the IWABPT ?
After many decades of study, thousands of hours of practice, numerous gambling matches, lots of tournament play against the best pool players in the world, I FINALLY CONVINCED MYSELF I COULD PLAY A LITTLE.......and then easy-e came to town.
JoeyA
I see you've developed an enthusiasm for brevity.
For me, I pretty much quit playing. The atmosphere of being around 98% of losers had its end with me!
I haven't gone out in over a month( pool hall) and its the best thing I ever did
Now, I'm focused on making my dream come true,,, buy my favorite boat, 36ft grand banks trawler and cruise the "ditch"
(intercoastal water way)Pool, in the grand scheme of things, has been nothing but a heartache for me. I've met hundreds & hundreds of people out there and I can safely say I made 4-5 good friends!
Pool can definitely have a way of taking you away from the "real world", and it did for me, a few years or so! But now, see ya bye
Life is too short and the world too big to stand around a table and bang balls for pretty much nothing!
To each his own, and remember, stay safe!
Eli
For me, I pretty much quit playing. The atmosphere of being around 98% of losers had its end with me!
I haven't gone out in over a month( pool hall) and its the best thing I ever did
Now, I'm focused on making my dream come true,,, buy my favorite boat, 36ft grand banks trawler and cruise the "ditch"
Pool, in the grand scheme of things, has been nothing but a heartache for me. I've met hundreds & hundreds of people out there and I can safely say I made 4-5 good friends!
Pool can definitely have a way of taking you away from the "real world", and it did for me, a few years or so! But now, see ya bye
Life is too short and the world too big to stand around a table and bang balls for pretty much nothing!
To each his own, and remember, stay safe!
Eli
Pat Howey of Rochester NY.....he worked full time...had his own boat...did fishing charters...
...and still managed to be a great pool player...he and Sigel ran 100s on each other at
straight pool.....he played Irving Crane one time to 200, Irving didn't make it to 50.
...played good one pocket and gave the Vietnamese action at straight rail.
His enjoyment playing pool was NOT dependent on who was in the pool hall....
...it was Pat and the game of pool.
You'll be back.
Ti kanis
pt
I switched from APA to BCA for a season or 2 and got a quick lesson on what shooting real pool felt like. Still, while my pocketing skills lacked precision, my short game was on point.
I was playing against the team captain who had won the Indiana State championship 2 years before in 8 ball. We shot down to him with 2 balls on the table and me with the 8 tied up on one of them near the second diamond on the long rail. I called defense and pocketed his other ball. He slow rolled the cue and gently repositioned his ball near the 8 on the rail so it was C - 8 - O.
My 2 rail kick skills spring into action and I shoot around the near corner pocket with just the right speed to thin clip my ball and leave C - O - 8.
He shoots back and I get ball in hand. Of course I play to nudge the 8 up the rail and stay behind my ball but I hang the 8 in from of the side and he kicks it in.
Even though I lost, I've been forever proud of that 2 rail kick.
I was playing against the team captain who had won the Indiana State championship 2 years before in 8 ball. We shot down to him with 2 balls on the table and me with the 8 tied up on one of them near the second diamond on the long rail. I called defense and pocketed his other ball. He slow rolled the cue and gently repositioned his ball near the 8 on the rail so it was C - 8 - O.
My 2 rail kick skills spring into action and I shoot around the near corner pocket with just the right speed to thin clip my ball and leave C - O - 8.
He shoots back and I get ball in hand. Of course I play to nudge the 8 up the rail and stay behind my ball but I hang the 8 in from of the side and he kicks it in.
Even though I lost, I've been forever proud of that 2 rail kick.
Paul,
Thank you for remembering my friend Pat. He was truly one of the greats. Job and family came first instead of pool. One of the prettiest slip strokes ever! Mike Sigel told us Pat played the best patterns of anyone he played. Me and Pat played most every day till he moved to Tampa Bay. The players in Rochester miss him. And YOU!
Lyn
I loved playing with Pat.....he was all pool player, took nothing about competing personal.
I beat him in a straight pool tournament....and beat his high run while doing it.
Next time we met was in a nine-ball tournament...Pat says "Well, you beat me at my best
game, I guess I'm toast here."...and laughs....then he beat me 9-2.......
...and laughed his head off....we went to karaoke after...he outsang me also....
I loved playing with Pat.....he was all pool player, took nothing about competing personal.
I beat him in a straight pool tournament....and beat his high run while doing it.
Next time we met was in a nine-ball tournament...Pat says "Well, you beat me at my best
game, I guess I'm toast here."...and laughs....then he beat me 9-2.......
...and laughed his head off....we went to karaoke after...he outsang me also....
That makes you our un-sung hero.
Jeff Livingston
Going a few rounds in a local tournament.
Sorry, that's it.
I won my first match against what I thought was a bettter player.
I felt like P. Newman in TCOM after winning his match in AC.
When he went outside the casino and yelled YES!
I did it in the bathroom though lol.
Sorry, that's it.
I won my first match against what I thought was a bettter player.
I felt like P. Newman in TCOM after winning his match in AC.
When he went outside the casino and yelled YES!
I did it in the bathroom though lol.
time to crow?
Mine are not as great as others, but great enough for me:
1) The first pool tournament I ever won; it proved to me that I could do it, whereas before, I had doubts...
it also made me feel like I was more than just a banger, that I could play a little bit.
2) A handicapped tournament in San Francisco's old Hollywood Billiards when I beat Keith McCready; the first pro I ever played....sure he had to give me a handicap, but how many sports in life can you play with and beat a pro and a legend?
3) The times when better players complimented me on my game; it just kind of validates your belief in yourself, really makes you proud and it's a feeling that you're glad you got to experience in your life.
Mine are not as great as others, but great enough for me:
1) The first pool tournament I ever won; it proved to me that I could do it, whereas before, I had doubts...
it also made me feel like I was more than just a banger, that I could play a little bit.
2) A handicapped tournament in San Francisco's old Hollywood Billiards when I beat Keith McCready; the first pro I ever played....sure he had to give me a handicap, but how many sports in life can you play with and beat a pro and a legend?
3) The times when better players complimented me on my game; it just kind of validates your belief in yourself, really makes you proud and it's a feeling that you're glad you got to experience in your life.