2014 - the best of the best

CJ Wiley

ESPN WORLD OPEN CHAMPION
Gold Member
Silver Member
The sands of 2014 have almost passed and 2015 will be here before we know it.

What was your best, or fondest memory involving pool in 2014?

Please try to restrain from negativity and highlight the "best of the best" in 2014
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Jayson Shaw

Jayson Shaw dominating the finals at Turning Stone in September. His top gear is unbeatable. Looking for him to do it again at Turning Stone XIII January 8th-11th, 2015.
 
I'm glad that as a "somewhat" youngster I was able to see the best "current" american (not gonna get into that whole best ever/in the universe thing) make history in the US Open. 30-40 years from now if i live to see i can talk to the real youngsters and tell them that i say one of the greatest finals ever and it culminated with an entry into the record books.
 
No High Lights for myself. First League Season that I haven't played in approx 20 years.

Was going for a back op and cancelled it for a later date, so cancelled pool for nothing.

I guess my one High Light will be playing in a small tourney today.

4 of my friends have a team that made 1st place so far this first half season. In an Upper Division too.

That's a High Light cause they are all pretty good guys and had to work at this one, so they deserve it.
 
Table

Retiring and getting a nice old 9 foot Rebco table and another Pat Diveney "sneaky" made from a beautiful piece of cocobolo. A dream come true!
 
Meeting another AZ'er and making a new friend.....even though he said "I never said I liked you, I just let you play pool at my house for free." Thanks Bill.
 
Watching the old, washed up has-been... Efren Reyes win yet another DCC 1-Pocket title in some of the most flawless, suffocating one hole I've ever seen

Jose' Parica finally getting inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame.

Shane Van Boening doing the 3-peat at the US Open

Flying up to NJ to watch and commentate the Lou vs John epic internet death match (my first Accustat match!)

Another amazing Euro Mosconi Cup win

Buying my retirement home and getting a 9' Diamond Pro Am installed.


Freddie <~~~ living the dream
 
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I have a Few..

-Getting my 9ft Diamond Pro Am
-Getting 3rd in Shreveport, La behind Archer and Henny
-Getting to Meet you Cj, Johnny Archer, Hennessy, Bryant.
-Achieving a goal of getting in a Magazine and on AzBilliards for placing in a tournament.
-Some of the Smaller wins this year are also Huge

I have meet and become Friends with some of the Greats of the Sport. But I know 2015 will only be Bigger and Better! I have established a Great foundation for myself and now I will start to the construction.
 
Picked up two new sets of bicentennial balls - Total cost 45.00 -
Hard to top that and legit too -

Happy New Year AZer's -


bill
 
For me, it was the Bank Pool Ring Game at Derby City, in which Sky Woodward's performance was one for the ages. Freddie the Beard, who would sadly pass just four months later, called it the best banking he'd ever seen.

Woodward ran three different sixes on the road to victory, an incredible effort in bank pool.
 
A few personal tournament wins, nothing special, but nice to finally perform in the finals of a tournament, after always being the bridesmaid and never the bride.

Watching Ronnie pull out an insane 147 in the clincher against Ding in the Welsh Open.

Seeing a hard-fought Mosconi Cup where I didn't have to turn it off out of embarassment for USA's behaviour.

Meeting a whole bunch of Azers who came to Japan for a visit this year!
 
I downloaded some free video lessons by Tor Lowry, then quickly bought the rest of his video instruction set. Shortly thereafter, I bought Mark Wilson's book Play Great Pool. Using Tor's videos and Mark's book, I've been studying and practicing for about three or four months now.

Between these two fine instructors and their works, I have managed to develop a reliable and repeatable stroke for the first time since I returned to pool after a very long layoff. I can finally play a little. I can run out in 8 or 9 ball more often than ever before. No kidding - their work was that helpful, and continues to be so.

For me, this is a great improvement. My time spent with the instructional materials from Tor Lowry and Mark Wilson have simply made my year in pool. Those two fantastic teachers will be on my top-of-the-year list for some time to come.

Secondary to that, I made a bad mistake, and bought a pool table from a good Xtian lady who was not exactly fully truthful (as I should have suspected since she proclaimed her Xtianity loud and often). A mechanic recommended by AZB has been helping me out of this mess, and I can say he has been a real friend, and a credit to his or any profession. When the time is right I may start a full thread about his helpfulness, with his permission.

Last but not least, I have made a few buys and sales of pool and other hobby gear in the second half of this year. The buyers and sellers, some on AZB, have all been a pleasure to work with, and everything has gone down smooth as silk, which is the way sales should work between forum friends.

So my top of the year list consists of three good things in the realm of pool, but I have to remember what is really most important: my family, our health, our happiness, good friends, pets to love and care for, and worthy causes to fight for - to mention just a few of the things for which I am thankful as the new year approaches.
 
Freddie Bentivegna posting "God bless you, PT."

Doesn't take a lot to make my day
 
CJ--for me ,,was having my Son , Riggs and his friend witness a flashback, with a 137 Ball run on a tight Brunswick Centennial ---Yep That made My Day ,,For A Few Weeks
 
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