We arrive Friday night shortly before the draw. I see a friend from Tri-cities and go to say hi. Before I can say anything, he starts telling me how he just watched this guy run six racks. I look to the table he is indicating and see a guy I do not know unscrewing his cue. He then tells me his name is Brady Golan and he won the tournament last year.
Now my wife walks up and tells me she just saw the draw and I am playing Brandy Golden, maybe a girl. I suspected otherwise! I go look at the board and will be playing Brady Golan on the tv table at 11 the next morning. The rest of the evening every person I speak with relates another story of his accomplishments. Starting with Dan Louie, who tells me, "Oh yea Brady has won this tournament more times than anyone." Then I get to hear how he ran seven racks in the finals one year, someone else thought he had won the tournament seven times, another talked of Canadian snooker championships.......and on and on.
Nervous, does not describe how I felt. Still it is what I came for.
The next morning I put my game face on and prepared to die in battle with honor. I played up to my ability and did win 4 games! My hands did quit shaking after I had won 2 games. Brady is a true gentleman and I definitely got my monies worth.