Dream or Nightmare: Your Next Match Has Just Been Called for the Accu-Stats Table
- Thread starter lfigueroa
- Start date
Lou,
I've always liked the role of the underdog.
I've been in this situation many times in my life. The first thing I do is set a reasonable goal for myself. If I'm playing a race to say: nine. I will set my goal at winning six to seven games and be satisfied if I reach my goal.
A funny thing has happened on occasions. I've reached my goal and then some. This is when things get real interesting. The FAVORITE is the one now feeling the pressure. He's supposed to win. I, on the other hand, feel little or no pressure.
I've played and beaten many a top player, using this philosophy. I know it works.
______________________________________
http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
I've always liked the role of the underdog.
I've been in this situation many times in my life. The first thing I do is set a reasonable goal for myself. If I'm playing a race to say: nine. I will set my goal at winning six to seven games and be satisfied if I reach my goal.
A funny thing has happened on occasions. I've reached my goal and then some. This is when things get real interesting. The FAVORITE is the one now feeling the pressure. He's supposed to win. I, on the other hand, feel little or no pressure.
I've played and beaten many a top player, using this philosophy. I know it works.
______________________________________
http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
You are welcome Lou, next time I beat some monster I will try to make some paragraphs in the story..
last year at european championships my first round match in 9ball division was against ralf souquet.funny thing was i had an email exchange with ralf few months before EC and i wrote him that i would love to play him sometime in the future and he replied that some dreams come true earlier than one thinks... ..................realized that ralf didnt miss a single ball during our match,but he scratched on his break 3 times and made one bad safety...seems like the spectators helped me a lot to play good game[/QUOTE
First ,It's phenomenal that you remembered so much detail because you must have been," in the zone." Second , screw the grammar lessons. It was a great story that had my adrenaline running just reading it. For a banger like me I can't imagine the high you were on after your win. I'll bet it was hard to talk when they interviewed you. Thanks for sharing the moment.
Hi,
I dont have such phenomenal memory as it may seem
Tom, I can completely identify with this. A few years back I was playing in the finals of a 1pocket tournament, coming from the loser's side. My opponent was a well-known instructor. I won the first match and got off to a quick start the next and suddenly it was all on him: being double-dipped by the underdog. I could tell the pressure was all on him. It was great
Lou Figueroa
Lou,
The first time it happened to me was in The Eastern States Nine-ball Championships in New London, Ct.
I was playing Ray Martin for third and fourth place.
I had come through the losers side and was playing my forth match of the day. I had come from behind to win all of my previous matches. I was a virtual unknown player and the New England crowd was completely on my side.
As one spectator was about to sit down, one of my friends told him, "If you're not rooting for McGonagle, get out of here."
Of course I fell behind, once again, 8-3. Then I found my fifth or sixth wind and things got real interesting. I turned the momentum in my favor and the crowd was going crazy. It was almost embarrassing. Everyone was rooting for me.
I tied the score at 10. Then Ray and I put on a kick-safety clinic. We each kick and safed each other four consecutive times on the two-ball. I finally broke him and got a shot. I ran out to win the match.
I had David Howard 6-1 the following set and lost 11-7.
It was the stuff that dreams are made of.
The first time it happened to me was in The Eastern States Nine-ball Championships in New London, Ct.
I was playing Ray Martin for third and fourth place.
I had come through the losers side and was playing my forth match of the day. I had come from behind to win all of my previous matches. I was a virtual unknown player and the New England crowd was completely on my side.
As one spectator was about to sit down, one of my friends told him, "If you're not rooting for McGonagle, get out of here."
Of course I fell behind, once again, 8-3. Then I found my fifth or sixth wind and things got real interesting. I turned the momentum in my favor and the crowd was going crazy. It was almost embarrassing. Everyone was rooting for me.
I tied the score at 10. Then Ray and I put on a kick-safety clinic. We each kick and safed each other four consecutive times on the two-ball. I finally broke him and got a shot. I ran out to win the match.
I had David Howard 6-1 the following set and lost 11-7.
It was the stuff that dreams are made of.
last year at european championships my first round match in 9ball division was against ralf souquet.... <rest of story snipped> seems like the spectators helped me a lot to play good game
Good story! Congrats, and what a zone that must have been for you!! I have had moments where I shot extremely well against a huge overdog and could visualize exactly where the balls were going to end up. That was sporting of Ralf to acknowledge your good play too!
I can also identify this. My approach is that, I have an opportunity to create an upset and/or create a important moment in my competitive career. But at the same time, I have nothing to lose.
It works well, I remember being down 10-7 in a race to 11 and running out the match from there just free stroking everything.
I luv it too, especially the last paragraph. The "magician" will always be #1 with me.
Good thread Lou! Lots of interesting stories here. I had one similar experience last year at the U.S. Bar Table Championships. It's the first day and the first round and I'm warming up to play my Eight Ball match. I just want to get one match under my belt and start getting in stroke and get used to the tables. All of a sudden I'm called over the loudspeaker to come to the TV table.
My match had been moved to the TAR table and was now being live streamed. I was not happy about this, since I didn't feel ready, with little practice or preparedness. Anyway, I had no choice as big Justin loomed over me and told me good luck. In the booth were crammed Mika, Thorsten and Darren! OMG, some of the best players in the world were going to sweat it and commentate my match. UGLY!
And that's just how I played....UGLY! I shot balls into the rail, scratched from all angles and generally shit all over myself. I lost something like 5-1. I was not only beaten, I was humiliated. I could hear these guys in the booth laughing at my inept play, and it was. I vowed to somehow redeem myself before it was all over. And I did, winning the next five matches in a row and reaching the final 32 players (out of 170+ players). At least I had made the money and cashed, instead of going two and out.
My match had been moved to the TAR table and was now being live streamed. I was not happy about this, since I didn't feel ready, with little practice or preparedness. Anyway, I had no choice as big Justin loomed over me and told me good luck. In the booth were crammed Mika, Thorsten and Darren! OMG, some of the best players in the world were going to sweat it and commentate my match. UGLY!
And that's just how I played....UGLY! I shot balls into the rail, scratched from all angles and generally shit all over myself. I lost something like 5-1. I was not only beaten, I was humiliated. I could hear these guys in the booth laughing at my inept play, and it was. I vowed to somehow redeem myself before it was all over. And I did, winning the next five matches in a row and reaching the final 32 players (out of 170+ players). At least I had made the money and cashed, instead of going two and out.
I've always thought about entering the U.S. Open - just for the heck of it. Barry Behrman told me on the phone a few years ago to come on down if i had the $500, i would have a great time. He said he would even find me a cue if i didnt have one. i told him i had plenty of cues, and he told me i would regret not playing one of these days if i didnt play.
So, with my luck, i draw a pretty good player who gets drunk or falls asleep and misses our match and has to forfeit. and then I get paired on the TV table with Bustamante or Souquet and get it handed to me 11-0 and miss ducks and tap-ins and Wych and Incardona are laughing on Accu-Stats at me. Then all the AZBers would be laughing at me too.
Guess it would be a nightmare for me...:sorry:
Mike
So, with my luck, i draw a pretty good player who gets drunk or falls asleep and misses our match and has to forfeit. and then I get paired on the TV table with Bustamante or Souquet and get it handed to me 11-0 and miss ducks and tap-ins and Wych and Incardona are laughing on Accu-Stats at me. Then all the AZBers would be laughing at me too.
Guess it would be a nightmare for me...:sorry:
Mike
LOL! I busted out laughing when I got to the part about who was in the booth. I suppose it's what makes the question so interesting: if you play up to your speed it's there for posterity. But if you dan't....
Lou Figueroa
Hey, but you got in the ring and took your lumps. THAT is something to be proud of and you'll have that under your belt and do better the next time.
Lou Figueroa
Mike,
Can you give me the Accu-Stats Dvd number for this match of yours? I have one of those type dvds of a match I played in Gulfport, MS a while back and it needs some company so I won't feel like the Lone Ranger. :grin:
Wait a minute guys......
i did NOT mean that happened. I was just trying to present a scenario as what might happen with my luck. sorry for any confusion.
Mike
p.s. i dont think i would lose 11-0......
i did NOT mean that happened. I was just trying to present a scenario as what might happen with my luck. sorry for any confusion.
Mike
p.s. i dont think i would lose 11-0......
I re-read your post and I see that now. Thanks.
Just let me know when it does happen, I still want a companion blooper DVD to go with mine. :smile: