Just spent all day at the Gem City Classic in ATLANTA, and it is a great event. If you are anywhere close, you should get out to Johnny and Kim's Marietta Billiards Club tomorrow for the final matches. There is also quite a few cue makers there.
A few things that I saw:
Earl playing Tony Crosby was an Earl-common trip my friends. Tony got up on Earl by several games and had reached the hill. Earl then puts his cue case on his shoulder and starts to play like that. It must have had some effect, as Earl started making a comeback. I could not see the score, but friends tell me that Earl came back to make it a hill-hill match. Earl then scratched on the break, started to break his cue down and again put his cue case on his shoulder, standing there like he was ready to walk out. At this point Tony had all he was going to take and had some words with Earl about the behavior (I couldn't hear what he said). Tony had a shot, but he played a good safety on Earl instead. Earl looked at the shot, got that look in his eye, and then just scattered the rack, conceding the match to Tony. If I had not seen Earl do things like this before, I would say it was the craziest thing I have ever seen a player do in a big tournament like this. It was the winner's bracket, so Earl continues to play. I have discovered that he is easier to get along with when he is winning.
Watched Kim Davenport play a couple of matches. Haven't seen him play in many years, but he is still impressive. The guy is an excellent strategy player, and I learned a few new tricks from this old fox today. I was also impressed with his kicking and patterns. He is still a quality player and remained in the tournament when I left late this evening.
Scotty Townsend from ALABAMA was playing super today also and he remains in the game.
Corey Deuel is out. I watched both matches that he lost, and he did not play badly at all. He just ran into two young guns that were hotter than he was today. I think one of the young guys was named Klatt. Klatt put Corey out this evening. It appeared to me that Corey drew much tougher opponents than many of the other players did. He wasn't making any excuses though, he was professional and a gentleman in the loss, even though there was some disagreement during the match over the rack.
Archer drew Morris early. I don't know who won, but I watched Morris practice prior to this match, and I have never seen anyone in command of a pool table like he was. If he loses to anyone, it must be his decision making, as he has no flaw on the table, just unbelievable.
Putman lost an early match to Crosby, but it was very close.
Johnny, Stevie, and Bartrum all are playing lights out. Did not get to watch Nevel at all.
Still lots of strong players in this hunt. Johnny and Kim are putting on one helluva show for us here in the South. If you can get there "Git thar!" You will enjoy it...
RC
A few things that I saw:
Earl playing Tony Crosby was an Earl-common trip my friends. Tony got up on Earl by several games and had reached the hill. Earl then puts his cue case on his shoulder and starts to play like that. It must have had some effect, as Earl started making a comeback. I could not see the score, but friends tell me that Earl came back to make it a hill-hill match. Earl then scratched on the break, started to break his cue down and again put his cue case on his shoulder, standing there like he was ready to walk out. At this point Tony had all he was going to take and had some words with Earl about the behavior (I couldn't hear what he said). Tony had a shot, but he played a good safety on Earl instead. Earl looked at the shot, got that look in his eye, and then just scattered the rack, conceding the match to Tony. If I had not seen Earl do things like this before, I would say it was the craziest thing I have ever seen a player do in a big tournament like this. It was the winner's bracket, so Earl continues to play. I have discovered that he is easier to get along with when he is winning.
Watched Kim Davenport play a couple of matches. Haven't seen him play in many years, but he is still impressive. The guy is an excellent strategy player, and I learned a few new tricks from this old fox today. I was also impressed with his kicking and patterns. He is still a quality player and remained in the tournament when I left late this evening.
Scotty Townsend from ALABAMA was playing super today also and he remains in the game.
Corey Deuel is out. I watched both matches that he lost, and he did not play badly at all. He just ran into two young guns that were hotter than he was today. I think one of the young guys was named Klatt. Klatt put Corey out this evening. It appeared to me that Corey drew much tougher opponents than many of the other players did. He wasn't making any excuses though, he was professional and a gentleman in the loss, even though there was some disagreement during the match over the rack.
Archer drew Morris early. I don't know who won, but I watched Morris practice prior to this match, and I have never seen anyone in command of a pool table like he was. If he loses to anyone, it must be his decision making, as he has no flaw on the table, just unbelievable.
Putman lost an early match to Crosby, but it was very close.
Johnny, Stevie, and Bartrum all are playing lights out. Did not get to watch Nevel at all.
Still lots of strong players in this hunt. Johnny and Kim are putting on one helluva show for us here in the South. If you can get there "Git thar!" You will enjoy it...
RC
