What's your greatest pool accomplishment?
- Thread starter mvp
- Start date
Like you I have met some great people playing pool....several have become good friends.
Like cardiac kid I hopefully dont break my arm patting myself on the back mentioning some moments that I cherish during playing pool.
Winning top shooter in Napa league where I was I believe a s/l 40 playing I believe a s/l 105 in a 3-7 race in 9 ball and winning 3-0.
Going undefeated to the finals in 8 ball regionals only to lose hill-hill when I rattled the pocket on my last ball trying to get position on the 8 and my opponent runs out. Although I lost I was happy with my level of play all weekend.
Going to Vegas 9 ball nationals where I played the best I ever have. I won my first match vs another 5 by a score of 38-4 for a 20-0 skunk. My first ever skunk and it was at nationals no less.
My 2nd match was vs another 5 where I won 38-19 for a 19-1 score.
My 3rd match was vs a 7 and I outscored him by one point once I got to the table and still lost. He broke and ran the first rack . Broke and ran to the 9 which he missed in the 2nd rack. I was down 18-0 before I ever got to the table and scored 37 to his 36 from that point on to lose 55-37 in a 55-38 race.
Having a conversation with one of my opponents captain later on in the casino lobby where he told me he had been a captain for 25 years and had been to Vegas 17 times and had never seen a 5 as good as me. He said there were 7's in his town that could not hang with me. His co captain said it was a pleasure watching me shoot. He said my composure at the table and my shotmaking reminded him of Alison fisher. Although he compared me to a female pro I felt good being compared to a pro.
Now the above may lead you to think I am the biggest sandbagger around but honestly I am not.
I have mulled over my level of play out there several times and I contribute my level of play to 2 things. The weather really felt good to my disabled grip hand. No aches or pains at all like I deal with daily here in Memphis.
The other factor was the jack Daniels I was drinking. Laugh all you want but alcohol in moderation does wonders for your nerves.
Lol, you were the only one playing that day, I'm a head case!
Running my first rack of pool (with a pool cue I built myself).
The running of the rack wasn't a big thing... I'd done it thousands of times before.
It was the journey of learning to build cues, finally finishing one, then using it that was rewarding.
I'd long lost interest in the "pool scene" by this stage. I was just doing it for me.
The running of the rack wasn't a big thing... I'd done it thousands of times before.
It was the journey of learning to build cues, finally finishing one, then using it that was rewarding.
I'd long lost interest in the "pool scene" by this stage. I was just doing it for me.
I've had more than a few accomplishments that I'm proud of but a couple of the most memorable were producing the first L.A. Open 9-Ball Championship in 1993 and getting it on ESPN, and publishing my first book. The total prize money of the L.A Open was $140,000 with Earl winning the top prize of $21,000 and Peg Ledman winning the women's division and $10,000. It was held at the Burbank Hilton Convention Center and we had packed houses all weekend long (seating for 1,500!).
We got coverage on five local television stations on their nightly sports news and feature stories in the Los Angeles Times, plus coverage by the other major newspapers in the area. It didn't happen by accident as we worked very hard to promote the event all over Southern California.
I was very apprehensive as to how my first book, Pool Wars, would be received. But the overwhelming positive response and the fact that I had to print more books twice in the first year was really gratifying. Pool Wars continues to sell to this day. :smile:
We got coverage on five local television stations on their nightly sports news and feature stories in the Los Angeles Times, plus coverage by the other major newspapers in the area. It didn't happen by accident as we worked very hard to promote the event all over Southern California.
I was very apprehensive as to how my first book, Pool Wars, would be received. But the overwhelming positive response and the fact that I had to print more books twice in the first year was really gratifying. Pool Wars continues to sell to this day. :smile:
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jmarcum1984
Registered
I joined an APA league at age 45 and was promptly assessed as a skill level 3. I worked at the game and made it to skill level 5 by age 50 and played in my first singles Regional in 9ball. I was of course nervous and lost my first match. I buckled down and won through the losers side and guess who I had to play in the final. Yep, it was the guy who beat me in the first round. He won through the winners side and was still a 5. They bumped me up to a 6 by winning through the losers side. I did not think this was fair, so did not even try to run balls, but made any easy shot I could and ducked like a whiny baby on any shot I had a chance of missing. This evidently got in the guys head and he started missing shots he did not in round one, and I came out victorious in my first ever regional tournament. Had to go to Nationals as a skill level 6, and that did not do me in any favors, but the road to getting there still lives in my head. They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, so I feel pretty good about learning some old tricks and being competitive after starting this game at such a late age.
I had been playing pool 2 years and found myself in the finals of the APA regional singles 8 ball tournament, playing as a 6. This is the tournament that sends you to vegas. Well I was just there to have fun and I was going to have fun in the finals too, I think it was my 6th or 7th match for the entire day so a lot of pool. Except I lost the lag, the other player broke and ran, broke he missed I missed and then he runs out, and then broke and ran on me. So in a race to 5 I'm down 3-0 and thinking I'm not having fun anymore. He breaks and jumps the cue ball off the table. I had heard the guy was a real genuine run out player in the jayson shaw sense without the skill, and didn't have a good mind for defense. So I slowly grind him down until i'm up 4-3 and after a rather long rack with a lot of jockeying for position and balls in holes I am on the 8 and put it up table. He makes a couple balls and is on the 8 with a really crappy long shot with the cue ball on the rail. I think to myself ok we are going hill hill. Except he just missed it and left me a thin cut that I knew I could make except it was not looking so easy!!!! But I cut it in for the win and it was genuinely the most satisfied I have ever been. I went on to vegas and finished 17th, in the money
In 1964 I got to play Willie Mosconi an exhibition game of straight pool.
I was beaten soundly but did turn in a world class performance as a rack boy. :thumbup:
I was beaten soundly but did turn in a world class performance as a rack boy. :thumbup:
I would say three:
Getting my me for $10 in calcutta that paid about 850.for my finish
Getting my me for $5 in calcutta that paid about 400.for my finish
Not having to get a real job until i was over 30...though i do have a coupel friends who retired from military befor they hit 50. That just might make all the above the worst things that happened c/o pool.
Fuggem! They all got 10-8 and the crackles!!! :sad:
Getting my me for $10 in calcutta that paid about 850.for my finish
Getting my me for $5 in calcutta that paid about 400.for my finish
Not having to get a real job until i was over 30...though i do have a coupel friends who retired from military befor they hit 50. That just might make all the above the worst things that happened c/o pool.
Fuggem! They all got 10-8 and the crackles!!! :sad:
Well, several things come to mind, but lately it was beating SVB at the US Open 14.1 in 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1AQ21-oBmU
Sometimes it's hard to find good commentators.
Sometimes it's hard to find good commentators.
Here's my current top three pool accomplishments:
1.) The Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots (VEPS), a truly epic DVD series with Tom Ross.
2.) The Billiard University (BU) and the BU Playing-Ability Exams.
3.) Playing my first-ever perfect match in last year's VNEA Open Singles Tournament in Vegas: B&R, TR, B&R, TR, B&R, not one missed shot or dry break. My opponent pocketed only 3 balls.
Fun thread,
Dave
1.) The Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots (VEPS), a truly epic DVD series with Tom Ross.
2.) The Billiard University (BU) and the BU Playing-Ability Exams.
3.) Playing my first-ever perfect match in last year's VNEA Open Singles Tournament in Vegas: B&R, TR, B&R, TR, B&R, not one missed shot or dry break. My opponent pocketed only 3 balls.
Fun thread,
Dave
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Well aren't you just a tough old cookie who likes to beat young ones.Sure hope I don't break my arm patting myself on the back on this one but.....
In the past six years, I've won the Super Billiards Expo Super Seniors event twice, finished second once, third/fourth once, one did not play and one fifth/eight finish where I had to forfeit due to a conflicting Seniors match. Also finished in the top 64 players in the Open event out of the 1024 entered this year. Beat a few of them youngsters along the way too
Lyn
Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk
I've had some cool moments playing pool, but one of my favorites was a 5th set of a final. Match is 2-2 and I'm playing against a 5. The race is 5-3.
My opponent won the lag and broke. He made a ball on the break and ran 3 more before missing. I went to the table and ran out. I broke and ran the next 3 to get it to 4-0 and snapped an 8 to win the match 5-0. That was the first time I ever ran 4 racks and to do it in the 5th set of a finals made it even better.
My opponent won the lag and broke. He made a ball on the break and ran 3 more before missing. I went to the table and ran out. I broke and ran the next 3 to get it to 4-0 and snapped an 8 to win the match 5-0. That was the first time I ever ran 4 racks and to do it in the 5th set of a finals made it even better.
There are several for me, both as a player and as a teacher! Finishing 3rd at a national tournament; playing in the final tournament of a "king of the hill" event at Tom Karabotsos' Cue Can Do, where I triumphed over Neal Jacobs, Larry Schwartz, and Marco Marquez...all well known players...only to be Billy Incardona's rack b!tch in the finals! This was the best I ever played, because every match I had one game, my opponents were on the hill, and I clawed my way back to hill-hill and won; and lastly getting a 30-zip in the VNEA, which was the only one in the entire western US that year (lived in MT at the time).
As a teacher, I had the honor of teaching the BCA Summer Youth Cue Camp, with Jerry Briesath and Mark Wilson for the three years it was held...Sarah Rousey came from these camps; taking a college student from being a beginner all the way to winning the Collegiate National Championship; teaching 1000's of players how to improve...many who became, or already were great players...I've been fortunate to work with a couple of stars, SVB and April Larson!
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
As a teacher, I had the honor of teaching the BCA Summer Youth Cue Camp, with Jerry Briesath and Mark Wilson for the three years it was held...Sarah Rousey came from these camps; taking a college student from being a beginner all the way to winning the Collegiate National Championship; teaching 1000's of players how to improve...many who became, or already were great players...I've been fortunate to work with a couple of stars, SVB and April Larson!
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
finally threw them all away
I have only played in Amateur events
Some Minnesota State Titles, Seven State Titles, some VNEA World Championship Titles.
Really fond of a 2nd place in 9 ball in the 50 year old classic VNEA World Championships as the only time I have played 9 ball is at the championships.
A couple of VNEA 30-Zip awards and a 50-Zip award. 27 league championships &
21 second place finishes.
VNEA World Champion in 8 ball division classics in the past.
Was honored by my league charter holder of being nominated to their original class of " Hall of Famers ". It meant so much to me, I threw 131 trophies away. Kept the name tags to put on a big plaque one day.
Here's a photo of trophies that hit the dumpster after my hall of fame induction. I did keep the VNEA Cougars from the world championships though.
Not bad as pool is a fun hobby and have met hundreds of wonderful people. Just a great sport to be part of.
I have only played in Amateur events
Some Minnesota State Titles, Seven State Titles, some VNEA World Championship Titles.
Really fond of a 2nd place in 9 ball in the 50 year old classic VNEA World Championships as the only time I have played 9 ball is at the championships.
A couple of VNEA 30-Zip awards and a 50-Zip award. 27 league championships &
21 second place finishes.
VNEA World Champion in 8 ball division classics in the past.
Was honored by my league charter holder of being nominated to their original class of " Hall of Famers ". It meant so much to me, I threw 131 trophies away. Kept the name tags to put on a big plaque one day.
Here's a photo of trophies that hit the dumpster after my hall of fame induction. I did keep the VNEA Cougars from the world championships though.
Not bad as pool is a fun hobby and have met hundreds of wonderful people. Just a great sport to be part of.
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Yeah, I am a tough old cookie. 73 years young. Truly do enjoy beating the youngsters. Specially the ones who think they should win because they're hot shots and I'm too old. My favorite retort is, "Son, how does it feel to get beat by your grandfather". Sadly I've used that phrase too many times now. Perhaps when YOU get to be my age, you'll understand.
Lyn
