of course it all began elsewhere...:thumbup:
in college I met two chilean guys
while their english was better than my spanish
they'd come to the US to study the queen's jive
so there was a still a little communication barrier
we still got along tho, and even more famously
once we discovered our shared adoration for pool
before and after (and sometimes during) class, we'd play
my friend rodrigo was the first player I'd seen
that stroked the cue so stylishly, à la bata
he could play too..wavy, but with gravy
cristian could play too, but he didn't have the same flair as pérez
he used an open bridge, and had a smooth, but strong stroke
at the time, I remember distinguishing between open and closed
probably for the first time
anyway, we'd play, and say I'd hit a good shot
("good" back then meaning I made a long cut, a bank or something)
a friend, probably pérez, would nod approvingly
but looking at the position of the cue ball (in trouble)
he'd say "and then?"
meaning good shot, but what are you gonna do now
this question alluding to an importance on cue ball control
an importance that only many years later I would begin to understand
if you've read this far, thanks for sticking with me
it's fun thinking about old times
and of course, the old times lead to new times
so-
the game within the game
just yesterday a pal of mine and I scrimmaged awhile
we played eight-ball and one-pocket
armed with the aforementioned experience
I thought for the first time
let's play "and then?"- !
so, in our eight-ball games, we agreed to shoot
and aloud, we'd say how we'd hit the cue ball
and how the balls on the table would react
now I realize this would probably be a rudimentary exercise for many
but for us, it was cool-
we gave ourselves time to think
and really ponder with scrutiny how to play
being a friendly game, we chatted about each others' shots
and had in-game discussions that were fresh and revealing
thinking out loud, we held ourselves, and each other more accountable
ultimately, I found this exercise fun, inspiring, and honestly
I think I played better as a result
of course in a match you can't do all this stuff
but for practice, I like it
check it out
in college I met two chilean guys
while their english was better than my spanish
they'd come to the US to study the queen's jive
so there was a still a little communication barrier
we still got along tho, and even more famously
once we discovered our shared adoration for pool
before and after (and sometimes during) class, we'd play
my friend rodrigo was the first player I'd seen
that stroked the cue so stylishly, à la bata
he could play too..wavy, but with gravy
cristian could play too, but he didn't have the same flair as pérez
he used an open bridge, and had a smooth, but strong stroke
at the time, I remember distinguishing between open and closed
probably for the first time
anyway, we'd play, and say I'd hit a good shot
("good" back then meaning I made a long cut, a bank or something)
a friend, probably pérez, would nod approvingly
but looking at the position of the cue ball (in trouble)
he'd say "and then?"
meaning good shot, but what are you gonna do now
this question alluding to an importance on cue ball control
an importance that only many years later I would begin to understand
if you've read this far, thanks for sticking with me
it's fun thinking about old times
and of course, the old times lead to new times
so-
the game within the game
just yesterday a pal of mine and I scrimmaged awhile
we played eight-ball and one-pocket
armed with the aforementioned experience
I thought for the first time
let's play "and then?"- !
so, in our eight-ball games, we agreed to shoot
and aloud, we'd say how we'd hit the cue ball
and how the balls on the table would react
now I realize this would probably be a rudimentary exercise for many
but for us, it was cool-
we gave ourselves time to think
and really ponder with scrutiny how to play
being a friendly game, we chatted about each others' shots
and had in-game discussions that were fresh and revealing
thinking out loud, we held ourselves, and each other more accountable
ultimately, I found this exercise fun, inspiring, and honestly
I think I played better as a result
of course in a match you can't do all this stuff
but for practice, I like it
check it out
