Played a real good player in CO, Joey Ryan, some barbox 8 ball. Had no idea who he was, but figured I should be able to hang with anyone in CO that I didn't know, at least in BB 8 ball. Played awful the first set, fished for a spot, and got it.
Continued to play bad, and was down 6-2 in a race to 7, with my opponent running out. He inexplicably failed to get out, and I sat there for an extra few seconds trying to get my mind right, and thought to myself, "No more of this bunting the ball. He might beat you, but at least try to let him know you were in the match."
I then got up and ran out that game, and ran another 4 racks behind it to get even. The greatest compliment was when Joey and I ended up on a BCA team together at nationals, and we are walking and Joey sees Shaun Wilkie.. Joey says hi, since they know each other, and I get the idea that Shaun respects Joey's game from when Joey lived in the same area. Joey turns to me and then tells Shaun, "This is my teammate Russ, the first time I met him, he gets me to give him a spot, and then runs the entire set out!".. I laugh, and shake Shaun's hand, and tell him that it was nice to meet him...
Another time from about the same time period (I had lost some weight and was practicing a lot..) I was playing in a local long-race (15 or so?) BB 8 ball tournament against a very good player who was known for his creative safety play in BB 8 ball. I end up winnning the set by a lopsided score, and my opponent tells me, "You are the only person I've ever played where I play a great safe, and come back to the table in a much worse position, game after game..." That compliment kinda stuck with me.
Continued to play bad, and was down 6-2 in a race to 7, with my opponent running out. He inexplicably failed to get out, and I sat there for an extra few seconds trying to get my mind right, and thought to myself, "No more of this bunting the ball. He might beat you, but at least try to let him know you were in the match."
I then got up and ran out that game, and ran another 4 racks behind it to get even. The greatest compliment was when Joey and I ended up on a BCA team together at nationals, and we are walking and Joey sees Shaun Wilkie.. Joey says hi, since they know each other, and I get the idea that Shaun respects Joey's game from when Joey lived in the same area. Joey turns to me and then tells Shaun, "This is my teammate Russ, the first time I met him, he gets me to give him a spot, and then runs the entire set out!".. I laugh, and shake Shaun's hand, and tell him that it was nice to meet him...
Another time from about the same time period (I had lost some weight and was practicing a lot..) I was playing in a local long-race (15 or so?) BB 8 ball tournament against a very good player who was known for his creative safety play in BB 8 ball. I end up winnning the set by a lopsided score, and my opponent tells me, "You are the only person I've ever played where I play a great safe, and come back to the table in a much worse position, game after game..." That compliment kinda stuck with me.