Last night I was invited to join WillieBetMore (Don) and Mark Wilson for dinner and a friendly game of pool afterwards. I noticed as soon as I arrived and during dinner that Mark & Don were all too happy to see me. I wondered what they were up to, only to finally figure it out later as I collected my thoughts of the evening on my drive home. After a fine Asian meal, Don graciously picked up the check and we moved over to Cue N Cushion where Mark had a lesson scheduled and Don wanted me and him to 'just bang the balls around' for awhile.
Mark went over to his student and Don got the balls for our friendly, non gambling night of pool. Don asked what game I wanted to play and with not hitting any balls in awhile, I suggested one pocket. During both games of one pocket, Don would casually bring up straight pool until I took the hint and said let's play the game and he could show me the ropes.
Don quickly explained the rules, won the lag but now I realize too - purposely miss hit the safety break shot leaving me an opening to run the first balls. After a few racks, I quickly jumped out to a 29-16 lead. Don tightened things up, showing me some nice safety play and runs of balls and closed the gap to 53-48. The next rack he won 13-1 and there was a new leader.
During our play, I unintenionally moved a ball but Don never called a foul. I also was not getting the rack perfectly tight but Don kept saying that for the 'purpose' of our play it really didn't matter. Again, it hit me on the way home the purpose but more on that later.
The straight pool game continued. Don now had about an 8 ball lead and was about to run out the last 7 balls in the rack when he missed a ball straight into the corner pocket from about 15 inches. At the time, I thought wow that was lucky for me. I cleaned up the rack and was back in the game. Into the final rack, I had a 94-92 ball lead. Don made 4 balls then played a safe. After a safety traded back, Don attempted another safety but somehow left me a shot. I made the ball and ran out the final 5 balls to win the match 100-96. Don couldn't have been happier that I won. In fact, he seemed more happy than I was. He pumped me up saying in no time I would be running 30 balls during every game.
I should also mention that during the entire time we played, Mark Wilson had his attentive eyes on our action. He was giving a lesson to his new star pupil, someone that might just become the next Justin Bergman, but still was noticably distracted by wanting to analyze the play of Don and myself. Mark also was a gracious host of the evening, twice coming over to buy refreshments for Don and myself. Mark also mentioned how much fun straight pool can be and that in no time I would be running 15-30 balls every time I got to the table. I suggested the introduction of the mulligan into the game of straight pool. Don thought that was an interesting suggestion. I was thinking these were two fine friends to have.
We talked some more after our game and Don told me that he had been playing in a straight pool league for 4 years. He made some minor excuses for his play on the evening as not being used to the table and that he always plays bad in front of his mentor, Mark. He then turned the subject to gambling and said that he really appreciated people that gambled with no chicanery and would enjoy a match as such. I didn't take the hint at that time so Don didn't push the issue and the subject turned elsewhere.
Finally, and I should have seen this coming, Don gave me the invite to the Betmore Basement. He suggested that I make a trip to Indianapolis for a few days of pool and relaxation in his home. He said that many a fine pool player had visited his dwelling and that I would be more than welcome. He said that the coveted Betmore Cup was located there and a game could be had for the taking. All pumped up on my initial jump into straight pool and my victory, I was thinking in my head when I could make this happen.
It wasn't until I was driving home that I realized that WillieBetMore had layed down the lemon. Making the game for fun close and enjoyable, what could be a better time for an action junky like myself. Wined and dined me into thinking this is a great time. I now understood what Don meant when he said for the 'purpose' of our game tonight. The chance at the Betmore Cup was dangled like a carrot out in front of me so Don could get me and my bankroll into his basement. I realized why Mark Wilson was peering at our game while he should have been working with his next pro. These two are in cahoots with each other and I now realize that the hustle is on.
Mr. WillieBetMore - I will make a trip to the Betmore basement but the game will not be even. I'll take a mulligan and 20 balls to 100. You are not going to hustle me.
Mark went over to his student and Don got the balls for our friendly, non gambling night of pool. Don asked what game I wanted to play and with not hitting any balls in awhile, I suggested one pocket. During both games of one pocket, Don would casually bring up straight pool until I took the hint and said let's play the game and he could show me the ropes.
Don quickly explained the rules, won the lag but now I realize too - purposely miss hit the safety break shot leaving me an opening to run the first balls. After a few racks, I quickly jumped out to a 29-16 lead. Don tightened things up, showing me some nice safety play and runs of balls and closed the gap to 53-48. The next rack he won 13-1 and there was a new leader.
During our play, I unintenionally moved a ball but Don never called a foul. I also was not getting the rack perfectly tight but Don kept saying that for the 'purpose' of our play it really didn't matter. Again, it hit me on the way home the purpose but more on that later.
The straight pool game continued. Don now had about an 8 ball lead and was about to run out the last 7 balls in the rack when he missed a ball straight into the corner pocket from about 15 inches. At the time, I thought wow that was lucky for me. I cleaned up the rack and was back in the game. Into the final rack, I had a 94-92 ball lead. Don made 4 balls then played a safe. After a safety traded back, Don attempted another safety but somehow left me a shot. I made the ball and ran out the final 5 balls to win the match 100-96. Don couldn't have been happier that I won. In fact, he seemed more happy than I was. He pumped me up saying in no time I would be running 30 balls during every game.
I should also mention that during the entire time we played, Mark Wilson had his attentive eyes on our action. He was giving a lesson to his new star pupil, someone that might just become the next Justin Bergman, but still was noticably distracted by wanting to analyze the play of Don and myself. Mark also was a gracious host of the evening, twice coming over to buy refreshments for Don and myself. Mark also mentioned how much fun straight pool can be and that in no time I would be running 15-30 balls every time I got to the table. I suggested the introduction of the mulligan into the game of straight pool. Don thought that was an interesting suggestion. I was thinking these were two fine friends to have.
We talked some more after our game and Don told me that he had been playing in a straight pool league for 4 years. He made some minor excuses for his play on the evening as not being used to the table and that he always plays bad in front of his mentor, Mark. He then turned the subject to gambling and said that he really appreciated people that gambled with no chicanery and would enjoy a match as such. I didn't take the hint at that time so Don didn't push the issue and the subject turned elsewhere.
Finally, and I should have seen this coming, Don gave me the invite to the Betmore Basement. He suggested that I make a trip to Indianapolis for a few days of pool and relaxation in his home. He said that many a fine pool player had visited his dwelling and that I would be more than welcome. He said that the coveted Betmore Cup was located there and a game could be had for the taking. All pumped up on my initial jump into straight pool and my victory, I was thinking in my head when I could make this happen.
It wasn't until I was driving home that I realized that WillieBetMore had layed down the lemon. Making the game for fun close and enjoyable, what could be a better time for an action junky like myself. Wined and dined me into thinking this is a great time. I now understood what Don meant when he said for the 'purpose' of our game tonight. The chance at the Betmore Cup was dangled like a carrot out in front of me so Don could get me and my bankroll into his basement. I realized why Mark Wilson was peering at our game while he should have been working with his next pro. These two are in cahoots with each other and I now realize that the hustle is on.
Mr. WillieBetMore - I will make a trip to the Betmore basement but the game will not be even. I'll take a mulligan and 20 balls to 100. You are not going to hustle me.
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