What is Borana Andoni's speed?

[suprnva]

Hi everyone, this is Emily Duddy from KOD.

I want to thank everyone for any feedback they've posted. All publicity is good publicity. I speak for myself, although I'm sure my teammates agree, that we truly appreciate those that know us and have stood up for us during this discussion.

The fact is we are all 110% dedicated to the sport we love and on improving our games. We are all heavily involved in the pool scene, ranging from running leagues and pool tours, to running websites, writing articles and blogs, giving lessons to children, and promoting charity events. On top of these things we compete nonstop in NYC and a number of other places. In the end we love pool, play well and are just being ourselves.

We all practice diligently and whenever we have the time between working our busy jobs. We put our money and energy into playing and travelling to as many tournaments as possible.

To respond to BET'S last post (forgive me as this is one of my first posts and don't know how to pull quotes)- All of us our working to improve our games regularly, compete on the JPNEWT (one of the toughest Women's Regional Tours in the country) and have beaten tough WPBA pros along the way.

Personally, I've worked hard for the past 6 years travelling to qualify for the WPBA. I've worked in 4 different pool halls, managed one full-time where I ran tournaments and leagues, and I have countless dollars invested in my game. I moved from Northern California to NYC in 2007, after graduating college, because of the level of competition in the pool scene and with the hopes of improving my game enough to compete with the best.

I'm proud to say I qualified for the WPBA this past February 2010 at Hard Times Billiards through the Regional Tour Championship. I finished 5th-8th out of the top 64 regional tour players and earned my Pro Tour card for the Classic Tour of this year. I played in the San Diego Classic finishing 33rd-48th, being my first Pro event it was a tremendous learning experience and I feel I will only get stronger. I've been practicing non-stop and hope to continue to do well and improve my game while on tour.

You have no idea how much heart, diligence, class, and determination each member of KOD possesses. That is why we are getting attention, because we work hard and are graceful doing it. For all of us on KOD it is about playing the best pool we can. If we happen to be marketable, that is who we are.

I might be the first on KOD to get on the WPBA, but the rest of my team work hard and have more heart and natural talent than you can imagine. They all play close in speed with many women on tour. I have played dozens of WPBA players over the last 6 years, and have watched the rest play, and have known the games of KOD for the past 3 years. Their games are progressing everyday cause of time they sacrifice, I cannot speak of the desire of my friends, but if their goal is to make it on Pro Tour they will succeed.

I suggest BET to do your homework before you make broad statements about mid-level amateurs and practice regimens.

Again for those of you who contributed positivity, thank you for your words of encouragement and hopes for success. We will focus on being ourselves, continuing to work hard, but most importantly enjoying the game we adore.

For the rest of the feedback, thanks for your opinion and interest!

I wish you all the best as well!

Hi Emily,

Thanks for joining our community.

There are a couple things I need to address in your post. First, you say all the KOD girls show class and are graceful when they play. I'm from Wisconsin and I've been to a few tournaments that Alison has been at. I also know the vast majority of player in Wisconsin and many of them have been to tournaments she's been at, and even played in on a team with her, and I'm curious if when she's been seen storming off crying and throwing chalk after she loses counts towards the class and gracefulness?

Also, I appreciate the fact that you come here stating how well the other members of KOD play. It's great to see a team that is so tight that they are happy to speak highly of each other's games. What I want to know though is why are there people, with very highly regarded opinions, stating that KOD plays at a mid-level amateur speed? Hmm, maybe you need to step outside the KOD box and look at how well each girl really plays and now how you seem them due to their being your friends and teammates? I'm not saying that none of you have any talent or can't play, I'm just saying that when the majority of people say one thing and then you say something different, I'm going to go with the people in the majority that don't have a biased opinion.

Again, I wish you great success and I appreciate you joining the AZ family.

Take care,
Patrick

 

[Butterfly]

Thanks so much Christina for your opinion! That also reminds me, my money is on Queen B against Melinda. Although I haven't seen Melinda play for years, I know Boranas game and heart. She has that killer instinct. Gotta go with my girl!

I think it we be a great match. Win or lose I commend both girls on playing and think its a great experience. I have a lot of respect for you both and will be there to sweat the action.

 

[tksix]

Maybe as pool players we can learn something from these women?!? Lets face it, there are so many great stories male and female out there in our leagues / pool rooms. Great people donating time, money, and helping out their communities who are also passionate about cue sports. It would be a good thing to hear all these stories.

THIS IS the publicity our sport needs. Regardless of the talent level, or where they are at this time in their journey. These women relate to more than 90% of our pool population..........what I mean by that is, they are currently at the level the majority of us are "mid-level" amateur. With a GREAT win in a team event, some individual tourney wins, and one of them getting their pro card. How cool is it to be able to follow there journey?.......................the same one we are all on.

Getting on a cover or having some attention thrown your way for your investment into this sport as an amateur player...........................UHMMMM Billiard Digest I am sending my resume!!! Come on................that is all good stuff

Yes watching and listening to pros who have made it is great as well..................but someone on "our" level who has broken through, or who is struggling our struggle, that is powerful stuff!!

We are all in this together..................I for one am happy for them and for anyone who is noticed, and reaches their goals. No matter how small or big!!!!

Mike

 

[TXsouthpaw]

Im not gonna read 17 pages of this but I will chime in. Any press is good press. Everytime a pretty girl get press in the pool world theres guys out there who cant stand it. Call it sexism call it chauvenism whatever.

Same thing happend with Cdlg awhile back. All these ladies can play and, maybe not pro speed but having women in a male dominated sport is always a good thing. And theyre all a credit to the game. Whenever we hear something about these ladies its usally a good thing. I cant say the same for alot of the guys in our sport. Not to single him out but everyone know what happend with trex. And god knows theres many other stories out there. Were not hearing about drugs or anything bad from these girls. just pool. So the guys who cant stand a girl in the spotlight should just lay off.

 

[Butterfly]

Breakiing into the Mainstream

Hi patrick,

thanks for your welcome!

You're entitled to believe whoever and whatever you want. More power to you. You can say my view is biased, but from my experience in the pool world it is well-informed. I wanted to share my thoughts and provide some information about the girls that some people may not know.

No one you speak of can has seen as much of the girls play as a whole as I have, but since you don't know me, or my knowledge and experience level, I understand where you're coming from.

Hopefully you'll get a chance to see ALL of the girls play sometime, perhaps in Vegas, so you can make your own decision. Either way it doesn't really matter because we"re just going to keep doing our thing because we love pool. It's all about the game, and to combine hard work and having fun. Which is what I think life is all about.

The only way pool can ever break into the mainstream is if it can be marketed correctly. We need to see the cool side, the classy and bad-ass side. Not focusing on who is better than who. Thats why pool has been stuck with no cash. Gotta drop the ego.

All the best!
Emily

 

[Scott Lee]

Patrick...No matter how badly you want to play down KOD's strengths, and highlight their shortcomings (I'll bet there have been times in your competitive life where you didn't act politically correct too), the fact remains that this team WON a highly competitive, unrestricted, national championship, beating 100s of other teams. You can't seriously think that they could win this prestigious event with no talent? I have no dog in this hunt, know none of players personally, and yet I still applaud their victory, their media attention, and the positive image they project on the sport I love. That alone qualifies me for an "unbiased" opinion.

Scott Lee ~ now climbing down off his soapbox
www.poolknowledge.com

What I want to know though is why are there people, with very highly regarded opinions, stating that KOD plays at a mid-level amateur speed?

I'm not saying that none of you have any talent or can't play, I'm just saying that when the majority of people say one thing and then you say something different, I'm going to go with the people in the majority that don't have a biased opinion.

Patrick

 

[Scott Lee]

tap, tap, tap! :thumbup:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Hi patrick,

thanks for your welcome!

You're entitled to believe whoever and whatever you want. More power to you. You can say my view is biased, but from my experience in the pool world it is well-informed. I wanted to share my thoughts and provide some information about the girls that some people may not know.

No one you speak of can has seen as much of the girls play as a whole as I have, but since you don't know me, or my knowledge and experience level, I understand where you're coming from.

Hopefully you'll get a chance to see ALL of the girls play sometime, perhaps in Vegas, so you can make your own decision. Either way it doesn't really matter because we"re just going to keep doing our thing because we love pool. It's all about the game, and to combine hard work and having fun. Which is what I think life is all about.

The only way pool can ever break into the mainstream is if it can be marketed correctly. We need to see the cool side, the classy and bad-ass side. Not focusing on who is better than who. Thats why pool has been stuck with no cash. Gotta drop the ego.

All the best!
Emily

 

[Butterfly]

Thanks Mike

Maybe as pool players we can learn something from these women?!? Lets face it, there are so many great stories male and female out there in our leagues / pool rooms. Great people donating time, money, and helping out their communities who are also passionate about cue sports. It would be a good thing to hear all these stories.

THIS IS the publicity our sport needs. Regardless of the talent level, or where they are at this time in their journey. These women relate to more than 90% of our pool population..........what I mean by that is, they are currently at the level the majority of us are "mid-level" amateur. With a GREAT win in a team event, some individual tourney wins, and one of them getting their pro card. How cool is it to be able to follow there journey?.......................the same one we are all on.

Getting on a cover or having some attention thrown your way for your investment into this sport as an amateur player...........................UHMMMM Billiard Digest I am sending my resume!!! Come on................that is all good stuff

Yes watching and listening to pros who have made it is great as well..................but someone on "our" level who has broken through, or who is struggling our struggle, that is powerful stuff!!

We are all in this together..................I for one am happy for them and for anyone who is noticed, and reaches their goals. No matter how small or big!!!!

Mike

Thanks so much Mike, that means a lot! We are all together in that struggle and it feels great to have others who understand. We battle everyday, but it's so worth it. Just trying to enjoy the moment and connect with the things and people we love. Cheers!

 

[suprnva]

Hi patrick,

thanks for your welcome!

You're entitled to believe whoever and whatever you want. More power to you. You can say my view is biased, but from my experience in the pool world it is well-informed. I wanted to share my thoughts and provide some information about the girls that some people may not know.

No one you speak of can has seen as much of the girls play as a whole as I have, but since you don't know me, or my knowledge and experience level, I understand where you're coming from.

Hopefully you'll get a chance to see ALL of the girls play sometime, perhaps in Vegas, so you can make your own decision. Either way it doesn't really matter because we"re just going to keep doing our thing because we love pool. It's all about the game, and to combine hard work and having fun. Which is what I think life is all about.

The only way pool can ever break into the mainstream is if it can be marketed correctly. We need to see the cool side, the classy and bad-ass side. Not focusing on who is better than who. Thats why pool has been stuck with no cash. Gotta drop the ego.

All the best!
Emily

I don't doubt that you've seen KOD as a whole more than anyone, but I have seen at least 1/6th of KOD with my own eyes and I know that what I've seen doesn't represent what you say KOD stands for. Be it I haven't seen Alison play in some time so it's possible that she has changed and is more classy and graceful now than she was in the past. I can only state what I've seen for myself and what people, who's opinions I respect very much, have told me. I hope you understand the reason that I value other's opinions more than yours when it comes to the play of team KOD. It's kind of like how very few, if any at all, people value my opinion of Larry Nevel's game. I am close friends with Larry and believe he plays far better than the majority of other people believe he plays. I will defend him until I'm blue in the face, as you will with KOD, but it doesn't mean that I'm actually right with my opinions.

I will be in Vegas from May 14th to the 19th and I do hope I get to see team KOD play in person. I know I won't be able to see the team division, but I'm sure you're all playing the singles and possibly the scotch doubles divisions so I'll at least get a taste.

 

[suprnva]

Patrick...No matter how badly you want to play down KOD's strengths, and highlight their shortcomings (I'll bet there have been times in your competitive life where you didn't act politically correct too), the fact remains that this team WON a highly competitive, unrestricted, national championship, beating 100s of other teams. You can't seriously think that they could win this prestigious event with no talent? I have no dog in this hunt, know none of players personally, and yet I still applaud their victory, their media attention, and the positive image they project on the sport I love. That alone qualifies me for an "unbiased" opinion.

Scott Lee ~ now climbing down off his soapbox
www.poolknowledge.com

Scott, if you go back and read many posts of mine in this thread, I have given them credit for winning that national amateur title. I have also never stated that they have no talent or cannot play. I guess you either missed those comments from me before or just decided to ignore them.

 

[ze fraulein]

They sure would, honey!!

Ok....have to stand up here for my team.


KOD being in the front cover of Stroke Magazine had nothing to do with us promoting ourselves. If we are going to get attention, we will take it and make the best out of it. Period.
Wouldn't you?

 

[ze fraulein]

AMEN!!
I hope that what team KOD is doing with their promotion inspires ladies all over to start promoting themselves more. While I love the professionals of this fine sport, there is an entire world of women's pool that exists and thrives outside of the WPBA. I think it's about time to bring that to the forefront.
Ladies...let's bring it!!
:clapping:

Oh Jeanette was out there putting rubber to the road promoting herself long before she won an event. I was there.

If the pool world as a whole worked 1/4 as hard as Jeanette does to promote the game then we would be doing fine. If the BCA had worked 1/8 as much then we'd be much better off.

Every sport should be about performance first and looks second. But we all know that the "good looking" players in any sport get more attention.

Anna Kournikova need I say more?

These women however have done something, they have a title that belongs to them forever.

If they get on the cover of some mags then so be it. If they get publicity out of it then so be it.

If it was all about titles then the Luther Lassiter story would be playing on cable. Earl Strickland would be on the cover of Sports Illustrated. When it comes to pool the only thing that it's good for in the media world is filler and the more interesting the better. NYC Women Win - great for filler - five women five stories.....milk it.....some of them are "hot" - great even better milk it some more......

No sense to hate on them because they are getting some attention. It's not like they are lying about their ability and making shit up like some people out there who are promoting themselves as professional players.

I hope they manage to parlay their win into bigger and better things. Isn't that what we all dream of? Catching the wave and riding it all the way to the beach?

Will no one bet me that the team finals of the league events WILL NOT be broadcast this year. I bet that they won't for the 30th year. Any takers?

 

[watchez]

Emily - any disappointment in devoting your life the past 6 years to becoming a WPBA touring pro to find out that now they don't have a tour?

 

[ScottR]

There are women that play just as good as JL. Are they making nearly half the money that she is?
That answers it all.

Have they worked 1/100th as hard and or as long as Jeanette has?

To me, that answers it all. Or, at least 99% of it.

Scott

 

[satman]

I just got here

Hi patrick,

thanks for your welcome!

You're entitled to believe whoever and whatever you want. More power to you. You can say my view is biased, but from my experience in the pool world it is well-informed. I wanted to share my thoughts and provide some information about the girls that some people may not know.

No one you speak of can has seen as much of the girls play as a whole as I have, but since you don't know me, or my knowledge and experience level, I understand where you're coming from.

Hopefully you'll get a chance to see ALL of the girls play sometime, perhaps in Vegas, so you can make your own decision. Either way it doesn't really matter because we"re just going to keep doing our thing because we love pool. It's all about the game, and to combine hard work and having fun. Which is what I think life is all about.

The only way pool can ever break into the mainstream is if it can be marketed correctly. We need to see the cool side, the classy and bad-ass side. Not focusing on who is better than who. Thats why pool has been stuck with no cash. Gotta drop the ego.

All the best!
Emily

I know none of these ladie's personally. And like a previous poster said, "I have no intention of wading thru 17 pages". I got in on page 16, and this is my 2 cents.

From what I have gathered, there is a team of ladie's, who are getting some good press for winning a team event. Congratulations ladies. It's hard to find a team that everyone can get along and play well together. Don't let all the negative talk on here, detour your hopes and dreams. There are a lot of different opinions on this site. I am not aiming this at anyone in particular, but there are some people on here, who don't play too well and still have some very high opinions of what they know.
Maybe you and the members of your team are not Pro level players, or maybe you are. Play because you love the sport, the competition that goes with it, and the great friends you will make along the way. There are always gonna be some people who get jealous of your accomplishments, whether it's pool or press related. Maybe they just won't like the style of your play. Personally, if you all play good enough to win an OPEN event as a team, I think your headed in a good direction and have some talent.

I read a couple of your post's. They're well written, and sound like you have some knowledge and experience in the sport. Don't let a few of the people here drag you into rediculous arguments on here. They are a waste of time, unless they want to tell their real name, and are perhaps wanting to match up. Best of luck to you all.

 

[satman]

Ok

Hi patrick,

thanks for your welcome!

You're entitled to believe whoever and whatever you want. More power to you. You can say my view is biased, but from my experience in the pool world it is well-informed. I wanted to share my thoughts and provide some information about the girls that some people may not know.

No one you speak of can has seen as much of the girls play as a whole as I have, but since you don't know me, or my knowledge and experience level, I understand where you're coming from.

Hopefully you'll get a chance to see ALL of the girls play sometime, perhaps in Vegas, so you can make your own decision. Either way it doesn't really matter because we"re just going to keep doing our thing because we love pool. It's all about the game, and to combine hard work and having fun. Which is what I think life is all about.

The only way pool can ever break into the mainstream is if it can be marketed correctly. We need to see the cool side, the classy and bad-ass side. Not focusing on who is better than who. Thats why pool has been stuck with no cash. Gotta drop the ego.

All the best!
Emily

I read the first page of the other Borana thread, clicked on the link, and looked at the pictures. I can tell you, in my honest opinion, that about 70% of the guys who post here, can't win playing even against her. Just looking at how she addresses the shot, and her stance, I'm guessing she plays pretty well. Unless her follow thru is absolutely horrible. Not to mention, her looks would be a little distracting to most guys.

 

[suprnva]

I read the first page of the other Borana thread, clicked on the link, and looked at the pictures. I can tell you, in my honest opinion, that about 70% of the guys who post here, can't win playing even against her. Just looking at how she addresses the shot, and her stance, I'm guessing she plays pretty well. Unless her follow thru is absolutely horrible. Not to mention, her looks would be a little distracting to most guys.

That's some funny shit. That's like saying you looked at the picture below and there's no way that guy could play because his fundamentals are too f'ed up.

Pictures can't show anything. Seeing a video or seeing the person play in person are the only ways you could really tell how they play.

Oh, and no matter how good the stroke and stance and everything are, the mental aspect of the game can never been "seen".

Again, I'm not saying Borana, or anyone on KOD, can't play. I'm just saying that you can't judge anything based on a picture.

 

[derekdisco]

Emily Duddy

My team of misfits wants to play Kiss of death. Ask around about our playing abilities, youll find out that the men on our team are garbage.

 

[CrisDeLaGarza]

Btw, congrats to Olga for her MTV.com exposure this week!

http://www.mtv.com/videos/interview/ludacris/503246/ludacris-holds-his-own-on-the-pool-table.jhtml#id=1635777

 

[SUPERSTAR]

I can't believe all the insensitive people posting in this thread.
All the hostilities are, SNIFFLE, making me tear up, SNIFFLE POUT, and reaching for the tissues.
I love everybody.
Can't we all just get along?

<---Totally, 100%, KIDDING!!

If i have to say one thing, it's this.

Borana should be sitting there with a big sh!t eating grin on her face as should the whole KOD team.

If the mere MENTION of the name Borana, is going to set off the forums and get everyone all bent out of shape like this, that's the best attention there is.

This thread would NEVER have taken off like it did, if there weren't all sorts of people pissed off at SOMETHING.

<---knows all too well about the power that comes from being both infamous and notorious.