Wanted to take a minute and acknowledge one of our own who had a pretty good weekend.
Jerry Stuckart flew in from his summer in Wisconsin to play in the Az BCA State Championship over the weekend. Jerry joked before the event with me that he hoped the smaller than anticipated turnout would not put an * next to his name after he won the open division.
Well, Jerry went on to win the open division with some outstanding play for 2 days.
I consider Jerry a friend and friends razz their friends. So I razzed Jerry for a while about putting an * next to his name.
Of particular interest though was a match that Jerry's team was in during the open teams division. Jerry's team was favored to do well in the event and they were trailing late in a winners side match. Every game they could win was important and Jerry was left with a jump shot on his last ball while his opponent was already on the 8. Jerry tried the jump but miscues and hit the intervening 8-ball first.
With the pressure of the match on his opponent, it did not register that Jerry had fouled and he was sizing up a tough little cut on the 8-ball. To no one's surprise, Jerry quickly waved his opponent off the shot and reminded him that he had ball-in-hand.
Jerry's team went on to lose that match, but in my opinion Jerry's act was that of a true champion.
So Jerry, all friendly razzing aside. There should never be an * next to your name and even when there is a new winner of the event next year, I will always consider you a champion.
Mike
Jerry Stuckart flew in from his summer in Wisconsin to play in the Az BCA State Championship over the weekend. Jerry joked before the event with me that he hoped the smaller than anticipated turnout would not put an * next to his name after he won the open division.
Well, Jerry went on to win the open division with some outstanding play for 2 days.
I consider Jerry a friend and friends razz their friends. So I razzed Jerry for a while about putting an * next to his name.
Of particular interest though was a match that Jerry's team was in during the open teams division. Jerry's team was favored to do well in the event and they were trailing late in a winners side match. Every game they could win was important and Jerry was left with a jump shot on his last ball while his opponent was already on the 8. Jerry tried the jump but miscues and hit the intervening 8-ball first.
With the pressure of the match on his opponent, it did not register that Jerry had fouled and he was sizing up a tough little cut on the 8-ball. To no one's surprise, Jerry quickly waved his opponent off the shot and reminded him that he had ball-in-hand.
Jerry's team went on to lose that match, but in my opinion Jerry's act was that of a true champion.
So Jerry, all friendly razzing aside. There should never be an * next to your name and even when there is a new winner of the event next year, I will always consider you a champion.
Mike
