hi my name is bernie friend, and i am fortunate to have been accepted as one of the 150 players for the i.p.t. my mind has been swaying like a weeping willow in a storm, over being invited. at first when i got the news i was really excited and happy. later i called my parents to tell them, and they said, why don't you save your money and stay home, you can't beat the pros. i hung up, and soon after got a cold, they emmotionally wore me down. then my wife brought me back around and said, i have faith in your ability, go and play your heart out. there is a lot to think about. i figure it will cost around $1000 to go down to orlando:~ hotel fees for 5 nights, air fare, taxi's food and drink, not to mention the $200 entry fee and that's just for the players meeting! on the other hand, there could be BIG things that are great that can happen. yeah, i might not beat the greatest player on earth marlon manalo, but maybe i could beat loree jon jones, (not that that would mean much), p.s. i already beat her in 8-ball in november 1986 long island n.y. at an exhibition. anyway, where was i? oh, yeah all in all the tour sounds great. i excell at 8-ball, i prefer round robin, i appreciate the fact the women pros are playing and feel confident allison fisher will always be in the top 10. i am excited and happy, yet i sometimes go through self doubt as any non-pro would, when facing to play 70 of the world's greatest pros. i figure, if i come in at #39, i'd be quite pleased with myself, considering the field. also, if they are filming for a reality show, i'm a big ham, and hope to be center stage sort of speak, and last but not least, i really and trully hope to talk to kevin about being a commentator. so to sum up, all of this is a far reaching dream, which half of me say's "don't do it, your extending yourself" and the other half say's " GO BERNIE GO!!!!!!!!!!!
Emmotional Swaying From The I.p.t.
- Thread starter 8-ball bernie
- Start date
T
Timberly
Guest
Welcome to the board & congrats on making it onto the IPT tour! Really, what do you have to lose here? Travel expenses.... you knew that when you sent off your application. I say don't sweat it! Go out there, play your best, and above all else... ENJOY it. 
thanks, that's all i could do, go enjoy, and let life take you where it takes you, thanks.
8-ball bernie said:
Our biggest regrets are the things we didn't do. You may have to make some sacrifices if you are on short money but it will be worth it no matter how you look at it. No matter what happens don't miss out on this. Even though I have been one of the most skeptical ones on here as far as this thing goes, I will be plunking down my grand to play in the open tournaments. You may be able to buddy up with someone to cut the expenses a little, I bet you are not the only one thinking about the cost.
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Sweet Marissa
www.Bella-Muse.com
I'm glad you listened to your wife... you don't want to go through life wondering "what if?" ... btw, you're a lucky guy to have a lady who supports you in this!
Congratulations, Bernie!
Congratulations, Bernie!
Grab life by the shorts....
Aye, I'll second that. Memories and experiences are what life is all about. You can't buy 'em! If you stay at home then you can pretty well predict what'll happen, but if you go... who knows?
Make the trip an' knock 'em dead Bernie! Life's too short.
All the best.
BS.
Aye, I'll second that. Memories and experiences are what life is all about. You can't buy 'em! If you stay at home then you can pretty well predict what'll happen, but if you go... who knows?
Make the trip an' knock 'em dead Bernie! Life's too short.
All the best.
BS.
8-ball bernie said:
Bernie, you have been offered one of life's greatest opportunites... for greatness or failure, all played out on TV. ON the one hand I am wishing you to go all the way, on the other I am expecting you to blow up short of the goal. Don't make me happy, make me PROUD. Good luck to you, and... preparation meets opportunity=luck. Don't ever miss the easy balls.
Way to go Bernie! I wish you great success!
You are most likely a lot better then you think you are, So just go out and have fun! You also have a few months to practice, so just practice as much as you can and you just never know, enjoy yourself first, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Because Win lose or draw it's all about the experiences in life that make us grow, pass them up and you lose for sure.
I know because I passed up way to many big opportunities in life because I thought I wasn't qualified and afraid to fail, only to have someone else no better then me try and do fine. I was more concerned about failing because I thought I had to be perfect or know everything. People that try and fail make it further in life, I failed by not trying new and challenging opportunities and learned to take any opportunity you get and make the best of it.
Look you got fans already
I'll keep a eye out for you and I'll be rooting for you! Bernie! Bernie! Bernie
You are most likely a lot better then you think you are, So just go out and have fun! You also have a few months to practice, so just practice as much as you can and you just never know, enjoy yourself first, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Because Win lose or draw it's all about the experiences in life that make us grow, pass them up and you lose for sure.
I know because I passed up way to many big opportunities in life because I thought I wasn't qualified and afraid to fail, only to have someone else no better then me try and do fine. I was more concerned about failing because I thought I had to be perfect or know everything. People that try and fail make it further in life, I failed by not trying new and challenging opportunities and learned to take any opportunity you get and make the best of it.
Look you got fans already
I'll keep a eye out for you and I'll be rooting for you! Bernie! Bernie! Bernie
I'm sure all the pros have been where you are, but just kept up the determination. If it's any consolation, Gabe got beat up by the pros on his first pro tour, the Camel tour. He was so mentally challenged over it, that he even quit for a year or so. But he had learned alot form them, and what he needed towork on, so when he joined it the next go around, he's been able to get a fair share of wins or placing to keep it going.
I'm sure it can be difficult at times with a family. But there are alot of pros that have spouses that are very supportive. Sounds like you have a very supportive wife! Is she going?
I'm sure it will be a great experience for all that attend. I too wish you the best of luck!
I'm sure it can be difficult at times with a family. But there are alot of pros that have spouses that are very supportive. Sounds like you have a very supportive wife! Is she going?
I'm sure it will be a great experience for all that attend. I too wish you the best of luck!
Kevin said:
Bernie, I must add a few more well-larded but well-intentioned phrases.
You are so lucky your wife believes in you. Do her right now and yourself proud, give the IPT 100% of your necessary prep and drills NOW leading up to the events, so you KNOW you can deliver when necessary.
and while you are giving your time to being a better pool player, I recommend at least 30% of your love for your wife and every chance for warm snuggles.... take it from me, it is well-earned capital when everyone else (me included maybe) may proclaim you a likely loser in ? X match, It ain't over till it is over, Keep fighting, never ever quit or concede the 9 or 8 ball. Those memories with your select snugglebunnes may never stop till you die... or just continue.....and memories better yet. Keep it all in perspective that pool is important, but your wife's better graces forever are satisfying happiness, you have made one female human being pleased... it may be the best you ever get in life, and all you need to do to succede is continue.
If you give 95% now to you and your game, and your wife supports you, your only limit is yourself... how close to perfect (as best you know now it can be) will you be? 3 years will tell the tale, I expect, whether to continue with tournament pool, consider other pool paths, or change fields radically and still kick butt. Best to you, your wife, and children. Future is NOW
very true, the two things i fear the most are, TIGHT POCKETS and the grueling races to 9-best 2 out of 3, which can make the typical match 3 HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!
i am truly humbled by all the positive and wonderful responses, your all so kind. i will definitely be going after reading all these positive responses, the energy i'm getting is great. i plan on trying to get in contact with Ginky and tony robles to see if they can get 5 hours of pure 8-ball in. i figure, if i could hang with them and break close to even, that would spur on my confidence. phil capele in play your best pool said something i love, he said " if you feel good, and things are going your way, STAY OUT OF YOUR WAY for as long as possible" and isn't that what the game is all about???? just playing for the love of the game, and letting your right brain play AUTOMATICALLY. anyhow, thanks again for all your support, it was very touching and i feel energized!
It is in previous threads
However, in a nutshell
1st 15 out get $6200
Next 9 out get 13,000
Next group out gets 20,000 unless it is a hall of famer then $30,000
then it goes in 10,000 increments until 2nd gets 100,000 and first 200,000
That is from memory but close enough?
JustPlay said:
However, in a nutshell
1st 15 out get $6200
Next 9 out get 13,000
Next group out gets 20,000 unless it is a hall of famer then $30,000
then it goes in 10,000 increments until 2nd gets 100,000 and first 200,000
That is from memory but close enough?
I think GabesMom maybe said it best. Practice like you hope to playl try hard, maybe get your butt kicked this year (but never ever give in mentally) or you may surprise yourself and do well... don't ever quit, you have another gear to SMOKE these FOLKS! There is always room at the top for the best.
Losing is just part of wininng.. tonight I wasn't my greatest but was there to chalk up and finish when my opponent dogged it.
And for Gabesmom, go Kansas Girls and boys! It annoys me BD and Inside Pool's features after the US Open said he came from Oklahoma or Texas, when in reality it is Wichita KS.. why doesn't Kansas get some credit here? I am NE KS Lawrence/KU Jayhawker, but stilll, fair is fair. If I ever made it big in the world of pool, would you all be calling me Japanese where I lived for the last 13 years, or American, where my passport is from for the other 32 years of my life?
Losing is just part of wininng.. tonight I wasn't my greatest but was there to chalk up and finish when my opponent dogged it.
And for Gabesmom, go Kansas Girls and boys! It annoys me BD and Inside Pool's features after the US Open said he came from Oklahoma or Texas, when in reality it is Wichita KS.. why doesn't Kansas get some credit here? I am NE KS Lawrence/KU Jayhawker, but stilll, fair is fair. If I ever made it big in the world of pool, would you all be calling me Japanese where I lived for the last 13 years, or American, where my passport is from for the other 32 years of my life?
nfty9er said:
Thats the pay-outs for "The King of the Hill" tournament.............unfortunately, Bernie Friend isn't in that one.............he's talking about the one at the end of January and I couldn't find out what kind of pay-outs there are if you end up in last place.
8-ball bernie said:
Bernie ... 33 years ago down in Houston, I knew a guy that was good. I
watched him shoot on a big table for an hour once just practicing, he
missed 1 shot during that hour. It was downtown Houston at the Golden
Cue where Boston Shorty, Jersey Red, Eddie Taylor and other shortstops
hung out. Well, this kid, 19, who they just called Squirrel, went to Vegas to
try and make some money, but he lost most of his money gambling. He had
just enough money to get back to Houston or enter the 9 ball championship
going on in Vegas. He said, what the hell, and entered the tournament.
He ended up the final match playing Luthor Lassiter, and he beat Wimpy to
win the Championship that year. So, always believe in yourself, Squirrel did.
Am I the only one that noticed this statement? Wow, that's surely saying a lot about manalo. And coming from someone that's on the IPT tour, it's even more believable. Can you elaborate as to why you think he's the "greatest player on earth", even above Reyes, Strickland, etc? I know manalo is good, bad dang...that's a strong statement.8-ball bernie said: