My stories are pretty weak in comparison to Measureman's, but they're all I've got!
I've got a history of going to the coast for the regional BCA/APA events and playing like a dog. Last fall, thinking that I'd be a shoe-in for placing well in the B tournament, I make the 2 or 3 hour drive out there the night before and stop by the casino to maybe hit a few balls and meet up with some friends. I immediately jumped into a mini-tournament and took it down. At that point, I was feeling as though I was finally going to do well in one of these damn tournaments on the little diamonds.
Wrong. I go 2-and-out. The last game came down to a complete fluke of a leave by my opponent, which left me on one side of the side pocket, blocked by the 9, having to hit the 8 that was on the other side of the pocket. Yeah, didn't happen. Boy was I bummed and we still had another day and a half of waiting until the team event!
So I do what any bored and bummed player would do. I find an A that I know and play a couple of 9 sets for $20 each. Bad idea. I still stunk it up and he played pretty solid as usual. Ok, now I'm 2-and-out, have a ways to wait, burning vacation time and now I'm starting to lose what little money I had.
Back to the rental house to unwind for a few.
Knowing that I have to get myself playing well on the diamonds, I head back. I find the guy I was playing and he asks if I want to go again. I say, "Ok, but let's play 8." I split sets with him, but can tell I'm shooting better. After a little bit, we play another 9b set - I win. He says, "Play my friend." I say, "How good is he?" His reply.. "You can beat him." Ok.. race to 4 8b for $20.
His first shot, he lines up at the base of the ball and has a smooth stroke.. damn, I'm in trouble. He fails his runout at the end, I end up playing defensive and win. He gets me the next game. He breaks and flies the CB. I run out and follow with a BNR. He fights back and ties it up at 3. He asks, "2 ahead?" I agree. Shooting well and playing lock-up D, I get the next 2. When I tell him I just went 2-and-out in the B, he calls me "grandmaster B". He got 4th in the last master event and just lost a short race to 5 to a B that went 2-and-out.
Feeling good, I get into a short-rack bank game with a youngster that had just taken 2nd in the last master event. I ask him for 7-3. "I may as well just give you my money." 6-4? "Ok, 6-4." 2 out of 3 for $40. I took it quick, something like 4-2 and 4-3. I gave up my spot(I gotta stop doing that). I was making great 2-rail shots, twist banks and sharp straight-backs, but couldn't get the "easy" side banks or short corner banks down. He asked if I was holding back. I ended up losing on the hill, but it sure did feel good to be asked if I was stalling by somebody that shoots that well. The only problem was, everybody that ended up watching got the wrong idea of my game. :embarrassed2:
My B team did end up getting into the money, but I followed up my performance in singles by barely getting my money back the next time. Perhaps I'll finally get over that hump in October. With any luck, I'll have another story afterwards. And if you know anybody there that'll play some cheap bank pool, let me know.