9BallPaul's Derby City Blog

Here we go

I'm outa this hotel in about 20 minutes. Gotta say I've had enough pool to satisfy my jones for a while. Hate to miss the 9-ball, but that's the way it is.

Haven't struck a ball since I been here, even though I've been lugging two cues around for five days. Of course, the cue case provided easy cover for sneaking beers into the tourney, where the cheapest is a bottle of Bud for $3.50.

Anyways, this has been a blast. Thanks for all your kind comments.

If I run into action on the way home, I'll post, just to complete the circle. Cheers
 
9BallPaul,

thanks for you blog... I enjoyed reading it. You sound like a cool guy!

and sneaking in beers would be something I would do too.
 
I didn't exactly sneak them in

[QUOTE="CaliRed".]9BallPaul,

thanks for you blog... I enjoyed reading it. You sound like a cool guy!

and sneaking in beers would be something I would do too.[/QUOTE]

But I carried a few back from my room. If security caught you walking down the hall, they would make you dump them. But there's no way I can pay 3.50 a beer over a whole weekend. I had an average of 5 or 6 a night, over 4 nights.

Paul, thanks for the blog. Even tho I was there, it's nice gettin someone elses point of view about things.
 
9BallPaul said:
It's now about 2:30 a.m. and I just returned from the action room. What amazes me is how many oldtimers are still wandering around the tournament at this hour. Actually, I'm amazed that I'm doing it, since I'm usually tucked in by 10:30 at night.

During my latenight stroll I encountered Shane Van Boening, who looks so young he'd probably be carded for buying bubble gum. Dressed in all black and very sharp -- not like many others who, let's just say, will never make the pages of Esquire.

Once again, that's what's so great about this tournament. Next Sunday 80,000 people will attend the Super Bowl, paying thousands of bucks for the privilege, yet never get close to the players. Here, the players are in full view and very human. Hell, I even took a leak next to Jose Parica, who was muttering to himself the whole time. Don't know why, but he left with a scowl.

Wish I could find someone who could help me with the camera, because I'd like to take some shots of players just relaxing, not stroking the ball. Lots of pictures out there like that. Seeing these guys just roaming around is really cool -- guess I'm just a 60-year-old groupie. Oh well.
Click to expand...
I think it's fair to say that poolplayers in general don't spend a lot of money on clothes.
 
9BallPaul said:
It's now about 2:30 a.m. and I just returned from the action room. What amazes me is how many oldtimers are still wandering around the tournament at this hour. Actually, I'm amazed that I'm doing it, since I'm usually tucked in by 10:30 at night.

During my latenight stroll I encountered Shane Van Boening, who looks so young he'd probably be carded for buying bubble gum. Dressed in all black and very sharp -- not like many others who, let's just say, will never make the pages of Esquire.

Once again, that's what's so great about this tournament. Next Sunday 80,000 people will attend the Super Bowl, paying thousands of bucks for the privilege, yet never get close to the players. Here, the players are in full view and very human. Hell, I even took a leak next to Jose Parica, who was muttering to himself the whole time. Don't know why, but he left with a scowl.

Wish I could find someone who could help me with the camera, because I'd like to take some shots of players just relaxing, not stroking the ball. Lots of pictures out there like that. Seeing these guys just roaming around is really cool -- guess I'm just a 60-year-old groupie. Oh well.
Click to expand...
I hope you didn't ask Parica to shake hands!
 
9BallPaul said:
I'm outa this hotel in about 20 minutes. Gotta say I've had enough pool to satisfy my jones for a while. Hate to miss the 9-ball, but that's the way it is.

Haven't struck a ball since I been here, even though I've been lugging two cues around for five days. Of course, the cue case provided easy cover for sneaking beers into the tourney, where the cheapest is a bottle of Bud for $3.50.
Anyways, this has been a blast. Thanks for all your kind comments.

If I run into action on the way home, I'll post, just to complete the circle. Cheers
Click to expand...
Great blog Paul! I hope to be there next year but with the nice coverage you have given us along with Tar's live feed I've felt like I've been a part of the great event. Hopefully next year the venue will be able to work more closely with AZB to keep tournament updates flowing so those at home can see who played whom and know who has survived to another round. That is something I missed this year. Paul you did a wonderful job of reporting and I also like your writing style. Drive safely, Phil
 
Postin from Forestell, Mo.

Did a hard day of driving yesterday and couldn't believe the snowstorm and it's aftermath. Leaving Elizabeth, we saw miles and miles of destruction, with semis jackknifed across the road, trees down everywhere, and general chaos. We had lunch at a Cracker Barrell and it was jammed with storm refugees who had no power to cook at home.

And the Derby is being contested right in the middle of this mess. Lucky it didn't shut down the whole tournament.

Facing another day of driving today, but our goal is wind up in the same Kansas town where I began this story. I made some buddies at one of the honky-tonks and hope to hook up with them again today.

Starting to wish I could have hung around for the 9-ball, but so it is. And I guess they'll have to conduct the awards banquet Sunday night without me, and present me my awards in abstentia. (OK, save your nasty posts, this is a joke.)

I'll post tomorrow if this trip concludes with same pool action. It's been a week now....
 
And the trip concludes

WAKEENEY, Kan. -- This will be my last post on this thread. I closed the loop on this trip by returning to the same barroom that I described in my first post. Once again, the custom sticks arrived and good players showed up. My first opponent played with a McDermott and another was toting Meucci. The locals in Kansas seem to have an eye for nice cues.

I recognized a few of the guys from last week and they all wanted Derby stories, so I had a few. When my quarters came up, I held the table for four games, then made a shot that created a nice buzz in the room. With the eight-ball perched on the lip of the lower left-hand corner, and forced to shoot from the kitchen, I threaded the cue ball three rails through a crowded field to make the eight in the lower left-hand pocket and leaving whitey hanging on the edge. It's not a hard shot when you know it, but I admit I got lucky to get around the table untouched. I decided to give up the table and be satisfied with that.

For the night, I held the table four games, won four beers. I know, Big Whoop, but this makes me a winner for the trip. It was the first time I'd struck a ball since being in the bar a week ago. Total winnings for my DCC week -- $19, all of it in beer. But that makes me a winner, no?

My other expenses all fall under the entertainment budget and I'm embarrassed to say how much my hotel bill came to. But that included a nice steak dinner at Jack Binion's on my final night. Also did a rough calculation of all the miles I walked this week and came up with 42 -- about 8.5 per day.

I know there's been lots of debate about the venue, but I'm hoping the Derby returns to the Horseshoe. Considering how the hotel bounced back after getting wallopped by the snow storm, I'd say they deserve our business.
But I'm also aware that many were unhappy with the place.

Becky and I are hosting a Super Bowl part this evening, and I intend to make a small wager on the Steelers. It's been a helluva week. Thanks to those who came along with me, and for all your encouragement. Cheers.
 
Last edited:
Derby

Nice read, especially for those of us who couldn't be there. Thanks.
 
Paul...Sorry I didn't get to meet you this time. I'll look you up the next time I'm out in the Denver area (you're in Golden, aren't you?). Thanks for the offer of the beer...I'll take you up on it then! :D Thanks for the nice blog!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

9BallPaul said:
WAKEENEY, Kan. -- This will be my last post on this thread. I closed the loop on this trip by returning to the same barroom that I described in my first post. Once again, the custom sticks arrived and good players showed up. My first opponent played with a McDermott and another was toting Meucci. The locals in Kansas seem to have an eye for nice cues.

I recognized a few of the guys from last week and they all wanted Derby stories, so I had a few. When my quarters came up, I held the table for four games, then made a shot that created a nice buzz in the room. With the eight-ball perched on the lip of the lower left-hand corner, and forced to shoot from the kitchen, I threaded the cue ball three rails through a crowded field to make the eight in the lower left-hand pocket and leaving whitey hanging on the edge. It's not a hard shot when you know it, but I admit I got lucky to get around the table untouched. I decided to give up the table and be satisfied with that.

For the night, I held the table four games, won four beers. I know, Big Whoop, but this makes me a winner for the trip. It was the first time I'd struck a ball since being in the bar a week ago. Total winnings for my DCC week -- $19, all of it in beer. But that makes me a winner, no?

My other expenses all fall under the entertainment budget and I'm embarrassed to say how much my hotel bill came to. But that included a nice steak dinner at Jack Binion's on my final night. Also did a rough calculation of all the miles I walked this week and came up with 42 -- about 8.5 per day.

I know there's been lots of debate about the venue, but I'm hoping the Derby returns to the Horseshoe. Considering how the hotel bounced back after getting wallopped by the snow storm, I'd say they deserve our business.
But I'm also aware that many were unhappy with the place.

Becky and I are hosting a Super Bowl part this evening, and I intend to make a small wager on the Steelers. It's been a helluva week. Thanks to those who came along with me, and for all your encouragement. Cheers.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top