Ready to take this heath thing to another level........
After the results I am seeing from eating all real stuff and not all this processed stuff is amazing.
I played pool for the first time in a long time and felt like I was going to win. I didn't, but the only way I was going to lose was the other guy needed to keep me off the table. And he did. Race to 5 10 ball I got one shot and scratched on a freak incident. If not for the scratch i feel i could have won.
Now that's feeling powerful. Something I havn't felt for a long time.
This has been about a 4 year journey. During that time I endured major shoulder surgery on my shooting arm and a life threatening crushing under the weight of a 27' Southwinds Fleetwood class A motorhome. Multiple broken ribs and lots of internal bleeding.
During this recovery time I had to do many things to relieve the pain and just try to go on living. Living and staying alive became my number one priority in life and at times seemed kind of meaningless and impossible to endure.
Playing pool was a motivating factor in my recovery.
Little by little I have been eating better and better and the results are pretty pronounced. I played Bobby Sr after the tourny yesterday and I was really tired. I had only 5 hours of sleep the night before. Just couldn't sleep.
I not only played well up until the end of the tourny but i played well against Bobby Sr on the 9 foot diamond afterwards.
We were playing our usual race to 9 for the cash and I missed a few shots right away and I thought to myself, here we go again. So tired I can't hardly stand up and my game goes into the tank.
With Bobby on the hill and me on 1, I decided to quit whining to myself about being tired and dig in. you see I was used to going into this mode where i couldn't make anything. I just had to make up my mind to try and the results were pretty amazing. I could feel the power and I was so dog gone tired I could hardly stand up. I had a couple of tough shots and made them to get out a few times and i played some safes that kept me going also. Bobby missed a few shots and pretty soon I was on 7.
I didn't sell out I just got hooked on a shot that I did well , just a couple of inches short on the shape.
My body is getting stronger everyday. I don't know how long it will take to get there all the way but I'm up to the challenge. It's all about the body and the pool game right now. I have all the tools and know how to get there.
This is what you need to get to the end of a tournament or match up for the cash.
I have to admit that I have been pretty careful when I bet the cash because I would never know when I would go in the tank. Mentally and physically. That's about all you have to play this game with. That's the whole thing.
I will win some tournaments here in the near future. I can envision that now. This eating correctly and taking care of myself is finally paying off.
Players that knew me back in the 80's and 90's mistaken being smart and having heart. There is a difference. I know where I'm at and I know where I've been. Soon I can see I won't be afraid of my health and my game.
For about a 10 year period i busted just about every player that came up to Wisconsin to get me. they usually didn't come back. Those that did usually brought a backer or a different one. I had allot of money and I made it real tough to get. I played even with everyone that walked into Geno's saloon.
If I can keep this body together I will be making some noise here in the pool world.
In 1999 i quit playing pool. I was diabetic and didn't know it. i just knew I couldn't play anymore. too wore out.
I didn't pick up a cue again until the fall of 2008. And at 250 lbs it was tough to play for sure.
This whole journey started out with a stroke in Nov of 2008. If someone would have told me I would be where I'm at with my game and life I would have laughed.
Winning a big one would be such icing on the cake.
And that's why we play the game to win. Some of us just have to cross more hurdles and work harder to get there.
But this is the nice thing about this great game of pool that we all share. We can just go to the local poolhall and do our thing and know where we're at and feel good about it.
I feel pretty good right now and I hope my story will help motivate a few fellow pool players.
I need to get down to the poolhall and hit a few balls. I'm sure Bobby Sr will be down there to play some. This guy has more heart than anyone I have ever seen. I couldn't ask for a more Perfect sparing partner.
I'm just so thankful and feel blessed right now.
One man a van and the road...........