First WPBA match

[Wally in Cincy]

Melissa,

Hi

I'm sure you remember your first WPBA match. Who did you play? Were you nervous (stupid question I know )? Did you win? What was going thru your mind?

Thanks in advance.

Wally

 

[Melissa Herndon]

My very first WPBA match was here in California, at the WPBA tour event that coincided with the LA Expo. It was in October of 1999 I believe. Since I was on home turf, I wasn't as nervous as I could have been, but I was still pretty jittery.

Ironically, for my first match I drew Cassie Anderson, who was my number one opponent on the So Cal regional tour. She and I had battled back and forth, each winning qualifiers and fighting for the number 1 position. So, she was a familiar opponent for me. Even so, I had mixed feelings about having to play her. In some ways, it made it easier because it was familiar territory. I could simply pretend that it was another qualifier. On the other hand, I was disappointed that I wasn't getting to play someone new...someone like Eva or Jeannette. I wanted to test my mettle against a top player...not someone that I could play regularly on the regional tour. Anyhow, I won the match 9-6...and a friend of mine taped it, so I will always have it.

FYI, I played Tiffany Nelson in my next match, and lost 9-7. It was a close match though...I had scratched on 2 9-balls that I made...the cloth had been faster than I was used to. If I hadn't lost those 2 games, I might have won the match. I wasn't so nervous during that match...it was just fun to be out in that arena. After that, I had to play Diana Minor. I had never heard of her, and I underestimated her game. She was a great opponent and beat me 9-6 I believe. I don't think that I gave my best effort during that match...I was definitely not focused and easily distracted.

And that was my first WPBA event!!!

Melissa

 

[Wally in Cincy]

My very first WPBA match was here in California, at the WPBA tour event that coincided with the LA Expo. It was in October of 1999 I believe. Since I was on home turf, I wasn't as nervous as I could have been, but I was still pretty jittery.......

Thanks Melissa.

Did you play in the LA event in 2000 (I think) where they had the tent set up for the tables and the humidity was terrible? That had to be quite an experience.

 

[Melissa Herndon]

Actually, that is the one I was talking about...I might have gotten the year wrong....except the experience wasn't as horrible as you might have heard.

Yes, there was a tent set up over the playing area...but it was an extension of a indoor area...kind of hard to explain unless you see it. As WPBA players, we are used to a certain arena...plush ballrooms of hotels, or conference area at casinos. But, given what they had to work with, I think they did a good job providing an area to play in. As far as the humidity goes, I cannot be impartial because I live in this area and I am used to the climate. Given that it was later in the year...sometime in fall...the weather was definitely not as bad as it could have been. To be honest, I don't remember much humidity, but my matches were earlier in the day (like 10AM), so the heat/humidity might not have set in yet when I played.

In my opinion, the comfort level of the venue needs to be geared toward spectators anyway. As a player, I don't mind much of I play in a tent, outdoors, whatever. But, the people who pay to watch us play need to be comfortable. Often, they are sitting for 8 hours, so we should gear an arena to their comfort. Metal bleachers are tough to fade for a long period of time...so I would like to see a time when fans of pool can relax in comfortable seating and enjoy good matches.