I'm embarassed to say that I can't sleep. I seldom have trouble sleeping EVER and I mean ever. Even when I was sleeping under the stars in Vietnam, I could close my eyes and within a minute I would be fast asleep. I wake up the same way, fast. Well maybe I don't wake up as fast as I used to but I'm still pretty quick on my feet.
Tonight I fell asleep quickly as usual, then about an hour ago I started thinking about the tournament in Galveston and what a great time awaits me and all of the other players. So many thoughts are racing through my mine that they are not allowing me to continue my normal deep slumber. It is what it is. I'm sure it is simply because I am excited about this tournament for more reasons than I can share in this post.
While there is going to be a tremendous payout for some of the top finishers for AMATEURS and PROFESSIONALS, it is more than that for me.
I have a few goals for this tournament and they have me running on high octane at the moment. Yeah, I know; it doesn't take much for me to get excited.
I want to sit in the commentary booth for this tournament and give my very best to those who cannot attend as well as for posterity.
I want to make the tournament commentary special for everyone including my guests.
I want to invite players like Billy Incardona, Ralf Souquet, John Schmidt, Grady Mathews, Buddy Hall, Danny Harriman, Keith McCready, Rodney Morris, Johnny Archer, Corey Deuel, Niels Feijen, Allison Fisher, Karen Korr, Jasmin Ouschan, Dennis Hatch, Chris Bartram, Darren Appleton....My God, I could go on and on. It would be great to have different players from different countries where our languages are not the same but with whom we could cross the languange barrier to share their perspective about our great sport, maybe even players from China, Korea, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE. I can imagine sitting in a booth with Fong Pang Chao doing commentary, like the United Nations do with a translator describing his every word and mine as well in his native tongue.
I want to give the players the honor they deserve for being in this sport and giving so much of their lives to it.
I want to give the player's sponsors my very best to showcase their products and services in the best light.
I want to give the new and old players a chance to market themselves to new sponsors.
I want to give an opportunity to young players just coming up a chance to share their youth and passion for our sport and to expose them to potential sponsors.
It would be one of my special ambitions to find sponsorship for a deserving player, OUTSIDE of the industry.
It would be so cool to have people like Jennie Malloy to sit in the booth and provide commentary. The stories that girl could tell. :wink:
And how cool would it be to have THE NICEST GUY ON AZ BILLIARDS also known as "THEY DON'T MAKE THEM ANY TOUGHER", Terry Ardeno in the booth.
And how could I forget my mentor Jay Helfert. Jay and I once did some fine commentary in Fayetteville NC. It was my very first match and Jay and I were fresh and excited, simply seizing the day and rolling like cue balls on new Simonis cloth and Diamond Billiard Tables. Unfortunately, there were system problems and Internet problems that plagued our match and it was never heard. It was probably some of our best work.
Well, I'm still not sleepy but I have a big day tomorrow. I have to give up the nuts in Buffalo's FREE one pocket tournament , (like I always do on every Friday) (thanks ChrisB) and I know you're getting bored with my run on. Typing helps me unwind.
Oh yeah, I want to give remembrance to my great grandfather and great grandmother who I never met, but who traveled from Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia in the later 1800's to settle in Galveston, TX, only to lose their lives to THE GREAT HURRICANE OF 1900 (you can google it). And how could I not give my note of respect to my grandfather, who at the age of 14 was orphaned in that same town or maybe I should say the Gulf of Mexico. He started our family over when he moved from Galveston to Louisiana and I think he would have loved to see me sitting in the booth in Galveston, helping in my own small way to bring a little life back to Galveston, Texas.
My horse Efren playing in the nightly mini-tournaments, me playing in the one pocket tournament, watching all of the amateur events going on, and who will be able to take their eyes off of the Ten Ball Championship with the most determined players in the world coming to win some of the BIG MONEY which is there for the taking, seeing old acquaintances and meeting new friends... ah yes, those are just lagniappe.
Hope to see you all there.
OH... and all this and I haven't even been hired, YET. :thumbup:
JoeyA (maybe now I can go back to sleep to dream some more).
