My first day observations - This one is going down to the wire on Sunday, two very evenly matched teams. All the players were having trouble adjusting to the speed of the table. It's cold in the arena and the cloth is really slick! The cue ball rolls a few inches further than expected on almost every shot. Plus the players are pumped up, with the adrenalin flowing. You have to play "Efren" type position, where the cue ball just barely creeps into place.
It looks like all the players are handling the pressure fairly well so far, although the pressure will grow as the week progresses. Shane seems somehow not quite with it, sometimes a little distant from the rest of the team. I have my suspicions about this, but I will keep them private. The European squad has very good chemistry and seems anxious to make up for their failure last year, when they were the favorites.
Corey has Mika's number, he just seems to play better against him. But I look for Mika to come up big before this is all over. He is on a mission to redeeem himself from last year's debacle. These are veteran teams, with Karl Boyes being the only rookie. Karl looks unfazed by it all though.
The first match tomorrow will be very telling with USA's #1 and #2 players (Shane and Johnny) teaming up against Darren and Karl. On paper team USA appears the favorite in this match, but you don't win on paper. I think they will wait and make up the missing match on Saturday, when only three matches are scheduled in the afternnon. The first (team) match took far longer than expected, that is what threw us behind. That is the only full team match scheduled.
See you all tomorrow.
P.S It's loud in here, sometimes so loud I couldn't hear what Jerry was saying and he is sitting next to me. :wink:
