Dear Gentle Readers,
Tuesday headline: Kentucky Pals Embrace.
In the most gentlemanly concession of the Derby, John B. showed genuine affection for his pal, Shannon. The handshake was more than perfunctory, the bro-hug was … well, not overly demonstrative, but sincere.
For me - - oh boy! - - one-pocket started. As it turned out, it didn't last very long. Hollywood Justin Hall bested Iron Mike Davis pretty quickly. Then, SVB routed Shannon with three 8-and-outs. Yet another Shannon (what’s going on here? Have I confused my Shannons?) flicked Jason Shaw away.
Before the Banks semis started, there was an appropriate, and touching moment of silence for Mr. Beard and an Accu-Stats cameraman.
Then, AZB's Mike H. presented the newly-minted male Player of the Year trophy to SVB.
Next … a ceremonial drawing to determine the bye for the last three Banks contestants … Efren, Shane and John. (John won the bye. I wonder who he was rooting for in the semi? Maybe his Kentucky friend?)
Query … why is there a bye drawing in Banks anyway? Do they draw for byes in any other disciplines?
After John won the lag for the finals, he mock-sniffed the two cue balls to determine which one to break with.
Flu has struck Derby, causing some forfeits. / Should vaping be allowed in a tourney? / Nick Varner’s friendly drawl was almost hypnotic. / In banks can you be credited for a combo-bank?
Interesting how quickly the banks matches go compared to one-pocket. Of course it’s 9 balls v. 15.
Audience pans underscored the age / gender demographic challenges that pool faces.
The player intros are repetitive but sweet nevertheless.
Some wit and wisdom from Tuesday …
“You’ll never be a great player without going through at least one wife”
“I believe in playing all the games. A lot of players - - I’m not going to mention names - - don’t play one-pocket.”
“There are fewer players in 9-ball than in one-pocket and banks.” (411 in banks.)
“Hall plays with one of the longest bridges you’ll ever see.”
“Hall and Bergman were known (affectionately in the Mosconi Cup) as Beavis and Butt-head.”
During the SVB one-pocket match … “Shannon is intimidated. He’s afraid to shoot.” (This became a meme.)
“When you’re running balls, you don’t want to run into balls.”
Before the Efren / Shannon banks semi, commenting on the winner breaks formant … “Oh wow, it’s possible to lose the lag and not get a shot in the entire match.”
“He got to the Brooklyn side of the 1-ball.” (Scratched on the break.)
On banks … “I’ve lost so many games leading 4-0.”
“Shannon was a seasoned veteran at 15.”
“You can’t take away all the (offensive) shots in banks like in 1-pocket.”
“In banks, shooting at a just-spotted ball is ever-present.”
“Banks could be a game that the public could watch without knowing much about pool.”
Anyone seen Jeffrey?
Curiosity is my life,
Sunny
Tuesday headline: Kentucky Pals Embrace.
In the most gentlemanly concession of the Derby, John B. showed genuine affection for his pal, Shannon. The handshake was more than perfunctory, the bro-hug was … well, not overly demonstrative, but sincere.
For me - - oh boy! - - one-pocket started. As it turned out, it didn't last very long. Hollywood Justin Hall bested Iron Mike Davis pretty quickly. Then, SVB routed Shannon with three 8-and-outs. Yet another Shannon (what’s going on here? Have I confused my Shannons?) flicked Jason Shaw away.
Before the Banks semis started, there was an appropriate, and touching moment of silence for Mr. Beard and an Accu-Stats cameraman.
Then, AZB's Mike H. presented the newly-minted male Player of the Year trophy to SVB.
Next … a ceremonial drawing to determine the bye for the last three Banks contestants … Efren, Shane and John. (John won the bye. I wonder who he was rooting for in the semi? Maybe his Kentucky friend?)
Query … why is there a bye drawing in Banks anyway? Do they draw for byes in any other disciplines?
After John won the lag for the finals, he mock-sniffed the two cue balls to determine which one to break with.
Flu has struck Derby, causing some forfeits. / Should vaping be allowed in a tourney? / Nick Varner’s friendly drawl was almost hypnotic. / In banks can you be credited for a combo-bank?
Interesting how quickly the banks matches go compared to one-pocket. Of course it’s 9 balls v. 15.
Audience pans underscored the age / gender demographic challenges that pool faces.
The player intros are repetitive but sweet nevertheless.
Some wit and wisdom from Tuesday …
“You’ll never be a great player without going through at least one wife”
“I believe in playing all the games. A lot of players - - I’m not going to mention names - - don’t play one-pocket.”
“There are fewer players in 9-ball than in one-pocket and banks.” (411 in banks.)
“Hall plays with one of the longest bridges you’ll ever see.”
“Hall and Bergman were known (affectionately in the Mosconi Cup) as Beavis and Butt-head.”
During the SVB one-pocket match … “Shannon is intimidated. He’s afraid to shoot.” (This became a meme.)
“When you’re running balls, you don’t want to run into balls.”
Before the Efren / Shannon banks semi, commenting on the winner breaks formant … “Oh wow, it’s possible to lose the lag and not get a shot in the entire match.”
“He got to the Brooklyn side of the 1-ball.” (Scratched on the break.)
On banks … “I’ve lost so many games leading 4-0.”
“Shannon was a seasoned veteran at 15.”
“You can’t take away all the (offensive) shots in banks like in 1-pocket.”
“In banks, shooting at a just-spotted ball is ever-present.”
“Banks could be a game that the public could watch without knowing much about pool.”
Anyone seen Jeffrey?
Curiosity is my life,
Sunny
