Hay Bernie

[macguy]

You know Bernie, I am not trying give you advice but I will tell you what I would do if I were you. I would not post anymore to this board it is of no significance and does nothing to further your goals. You don't see any top players posting here even though they may read it from time to time.

Then I would put all my efforts into doing as well as I could in this last tournament everything you can to give yourself the best shot and you will have nothing to be ashamed of. Don't spend your time socializing or goofing off with the other players but concentrate only on the tournament, all business.

This is not fun and games or a social affair or a family vacation, it's business and has to be looked at that way. What even happens happens and you will live with it but just don't piss away the opportunity you have been given. What you do is up to you, but that's what I would do.

I would bet quite a few players wish they could start this thing over and they would do things differently, and not treat it like a fun social event. It may be too late now for many of them.

 

[8-ball bernie]

good advice, let me say this to that however,the first tournament,in vegas i was just testing the waters, getting my feet wet,i played well, but did nothing as far as progress into the tournament. the second tournament reno, i wanted to play exact, everything just so, the conditions bit me in the ass, and thus although i played great,hardly missed a shot,my scores sucked, now for chicago, i am just gonna pocket balls,nothing more and nothing less!!! i can't seem to get anywhere no matter what i do, so i am just gonna "wing it" i am just gonna be a shotmaker,throwing caution to the wind! the other way around got me no where, so now~~i'll just shoot. hey, i can't score any worse! p.s. was it you who posted a while back where is the IPT hiding their players? if so i thought that post was fantastic! in other words, where the hell are the buvks for promoting the IPT players?

 

[PoolFool]

i played great,hardly missed a shot,my scores sucked, now for chicago, i am just gonna pocket balls,nothing more and nothing less!!! i can't seem to get anywhere no matter what i do, so i am just gonna "wing it" i am just gonna be a shotmaker,throwing caution to the wind! the other way around got me no where, so now~~i'll just shoot.

You know, there is more to pool than just shotmaking. That's why you didn't win in the first place. If that's what you think that all you need to do is make a shot, you are seriously delusional.

 

[macguy]

good advice, let me say this to that however,the first tournament,in vegas i was just testing the waters, getting my feet wet,i played well, but did nothing as far as progress into the tournament. the second tournament reno, i wanted to play exact, everything just so, the conditions bit me in the ass, and thus although i played great,hardly missed a shot,my scores sucked, now for chicago, i am just gonna pocket balls,nothing more and nothing less!!! i can't seem to get anywhere no matter what i do, so i am just gonna "wing it" i am just gonna be a shotmaker,throwing caution to the wind! the other way around got me no where, so now~~i'll just shoot. hey, i can't score any worse! p.s. was it you who posted a while back where is the IPT hiding their players? if so i thought that post was fantastic! in other words, where the hell are the buvks for promoting the IPT players?

You know sometimes that is all you can do. I won a tournament once and got into a car accident the night before the tournament. The next day I wasn't even going to play, the car was wrecked we hadn't been to bed and I was to play at 10 am. I say what the heck, we're here so I'll play and see what happens.

My first match is a guy named Toby Sweet a real good player. I free wheel right through him, I am so dead tired and loose I never missed a ball. To make a long story short I win the tournament the following day beating Mizerak in the final. All you can do is give it your best and that's about it. I wish you luck in the next tournament just do the best you can but in the words of Danny DiLiberto, don't socialize yourself out of it.

That is what he told me once after I lost a match, I was playing too much to the crowd and socialized myself out of the match. You want people to like you and can be nice without letting yourself be distracted.

 

[Grilled Cheese]

NOTE: I'm not directing this towards Bernie. Just some generalized discussion.

I think that a number of the selected IPT players have no chance to stay on the tour regardless of what kind of crash-course/cramming practice routine they do. A year is simply not enough time to improve their game the equivalent of a ball or two at the professional level to win a card. In fact, they won't have a year. I wonder how many will accept the reality and how many will take a shot at the qualifier in December. I'd say those who are 101-120 probably should try the qualifier...beyond that it's just delusional.


There's a HUGE skill spread in the IPT right now. From the best on Earth, to people who are nothing more than low level A players that get their asses handed to them in local tournaments by dozens of local non-pros.


2007 will be a much, much better season. It will truly be the first measure of skill, as the best of the best will have a tougher time getting through as there are no more freebie or easy matches. 1/2 of the current IPT will not be back in 2007. They will be replaced by qualifiers and new tour card winners, half of whom can challenge all the way to round 5 in an IPT tournament.


We do these threads about strongest groups etc...in 2007, it will be very rare to find a "weak" group at all. None of this is to suggest that the top players now are lucking their way in. Not at all. But the format will be a much bigger mine-field when every single match is against someone with a realisitic chance of beating you (if you're a top player).

 

[recoveryjones]

NOTE: I'm not directing this towards Bernie. Just some generalized discussion.

I think that a number of the selected IPT players have no chance to stay on the tour regardless of what kind of crash-course/cramming practice routine they do. A year is simply not enough time to improve their game the equivalent of a ball or two at the professional level to win a card. In fact, they won't have a year. I wonder how many will accept the reality and how many will take a shot at the qualifier in December. I'd say those who are 101-120 probably should try the qualifier...beyond that it's just delusional.


There's a HUGE skill spread in the IPT right now. From the best on Earth, to people who are nothing more than low level A players that get their asses handed to them in local tournaments by dozens of local non-pros.


2007 will be a much, much better season. It will truly be the first measure of skill, as the best of the best will have a tougher time getting through as there are no more freebie or easy matches. 1/2 of the current IPT will not be back in 2007. They will be replaced by qualifiers and new tour card winners, half of whom can challenge all the way to round 5 in an IPT tournament.


We do these threads about strongest groups etc...in 2007, it will be very rare to find a "weak" group at all. None of this is to suggest that the top players now are lucking their way in. Not at all. But the format will be a much bigger mine-field when every single match is against someone with a realisitic chance of beating you (if you're a top player).

Good post.
I was having the exact same thoughts,totally.Like you ,I can't wait to check out the IPT next year when it's not as watered down talent wise.
RJ

 

[Snapshot9]

The other side ...

Good post.
I was having the exact same thoughts,totally.Like you ,I can't wait to check out the IPT next year when it's not as watered down talent wise.
RJ

has to be considered though. When people look at the tour, and some of the
weaker half, it may feed their aspirations of trying to qualify in a qualfier that might never step forward otherwise. Or what happens when people watch a player with a big reputation play, and say to themselves, 'Hey, I could have won that match'. There are a lot of good players out there, but they have laid back lives, and only devote themselves to Pool on a parttime basis, which if they concentrated their efforts could possibly qualify for the tour.

I would like to make another point, sometimes, you get to thinking that some pros are just so far above you, but then in watching them play, yes , they do play good, and yes, they may not be that much better, but they are consistently just a little bit better on a regular basis, except for Efren, of course. He is the standard, for which, all players can be measured against.

 

[gopi-1]

There are a lot of good players out there, but they have laid back lives, and only devote themselves to Pool on a parttime basis, which if they concentrated their efforts could possibly qualify for the tour.

They should seriously consider playing full time now. There's loads of money
to be won, specially if KT decides to pay up!

 

[pooltchr]

,the first tournament,in vegas i was just testing the waters, getting my feet wet,i played well, but did nothing as far as progress into the tournament.

the second tournament reno, the conditions bit me in the ass, and thus although i played great,hardly missed a shot,my scores sucked,

Bernie,
You have just explained to all of us why you haven't done as well on the tour as you may have hoped.

Your first comment "I was just testing the waters" tells me you either went into the tournament with the wrong mental attitude, or you are trying to excuse poor play by saying you weren't really trying.

Your second comment is a miserable excuse. Blaming playing conditions for poor play gains you nothing. The playing conditions weren't missing shots....YOU were! Everyone had to deal with the same conditions. Those who dealt properly with them did well...those who didn't adjust did poorly.

You seem to be an excuse maker. Until you accept the fact that EVERYTHING that happens on the table is a direct result of YOUR actions, you will never be a world class player. After all, if it's playing conditions, then you are a victim and have no control. When you understand that it is you, then you are taking control, and have the option to do something about it. I have never lost a game due to playing conditions. I have lost games due to my own errors. Until you can admit to yourself that it is your errors causing problems, you will never be able to do anything to correct the errors. It seems to be your ego that is holding you back, not playing conditions.

I'm sorry if this is harsh, but it is a reality that everyone must come to terms with before there can be any significant improvement.
Steve

 

[8-ball bernie]

good stuff from all of you,i agree with it all. especially with the guy with the al paciano machine gun,this is a tough tour and only a handfull will survive by 2008.

 

[macguy]

good stuff from all of you,i agree with it all. especially with the guy with the al paciano machine gun,this is a tough tour and only a handfull will survive by 2008.

Aren't you now living in the Carolinas? Was that move any way related to your playing pool?

 

[8-ball bernie]

yes i'm living in the carolina's and no not pool related, just a better life than new york. anyhow,this week when i get the 5 grand,i'll book chicago, and that will be my last horah,which is fine,i am glad i had the experience.