We've all had them....a phenomenal match, a huge choke, or even won a game you probably should have lost. Let's hear some of these positive and even stories on a loss keeping in mind we are on the honor system as nobody EVER fibs on AZ Billiards! Even if you have a non pool one that's fine.
I have several to share.
Story #1 is when it was my senior year in high school at Urbandale High in Iowa. My doubles partner was a sophomore in tennis and we had to play the #1 seed from Iowa City in the very first round. We won that in 3 sets and then ended up winning the state tournament winning 7-5 in a 3rd set tiebreaker....basically won state by 2 points lol. Pic #1 is hard to see but that might be good as woo the hair was a bit wacko back then (top row 3rd from left). We were the first ever team in our school's history to win state (15 years ago). To this day I don't think anyone else has won the doubles from our school.
Story #2 is both a good and bad pool one. I had an awesome time at the VNEA in Mankato, MN in the late 90s where both Dave Pearson and Tom Rossman were there doing exhibitions and speed pool contests. I ended up making the finals having never attempted speed pool before. The guy went first and had a very marginal time to which Dave Pearson came to me before I started and said "Matt, take your time and you got this" in his Canadian accent. Well, I had a crummy break and panicked choking to get 2nd. I was down on myself pretty hard after that and will know to this day if I only listened to Dave I would have shipped it sigh. That's ok, 2nd was not too shabby for never attempting the game before.
Story #3 is my best "rack run under pressure imo." We had just got done winning BCA team state in 2002 and were looking to double dip and win Valley state. We were playing in the semifinals and it was down to the last 2 matches but we were down pretty big (ball count). My teammate and myself were going to play at about the same time with me breaking first. They told me I needed to win 10-0 or 10-1 for us to have a chance to win the match. I ended up breaking and running against a solid player and did a fist pump. We ended up still losing the match to get 4th after we lost the last rack, but purely for the situation/pressure I think it was my best run being told I had to break and run (to have a chance for the team). No pic for that story.
Story #4 was my best tournament back in 2003 (last two pics). This was before I was dating my now wife and back when I was playing at the top of my game (basically shooting/gambling 4-5 times a week)...NO FEAR against anyone here in Des Moines. I wasn't the best of course, but didn't fear playing anyone win/lose...basically in dead stroke pretty much. I shipped this tournament for about a little under $2k. I kept the bracket since it was a big memory and payday as there were a bunch of good Des Moines players in it. I won't list them as it isn't meant for a sht talking story, but more of a proud knowing I CAN occasionally play a lil.
Let's hear some AZ stories even if they aren't the good ones....might help others learn from the mistakes that were made.
Matt
I have several to share.
Story #1 is when it was my senior year in high school at Urbandale High in Iowa. My doubles partner was a sophomore in tennis and we had to play the #1 seed from Iowa City in the very first round. We won that in 3 sets and then ended up winning the state tournament winning 7-5 in a 3rd set tiebreaker....basically won state by 2 points lol. Pic #1 is hard to see but that might be good as woo the hair was a bit wacko back then (top row 3rd from left). We were the first ever team in our school's history to win state (15 years ago). To this day I don't think anyone else has won the doubles from our school.
Story #2 is both a good and bad pool one. I had an awesome time at the VNEA in Mankato, MN in the late 90s where both Dave Pearson and Tom Rossman were there doing exhibitions and speed pool contests. I ended up making the finals having never attempted speed pool before. The guy went first and had a very marginal time to which Dave Pearson came to me before I started and said "Matt, take your time and you got this" in his Canadian accent. Well, I had a crummy break and panicked choking to get 2nd. I was down on myself pretty hard after that and will know to this day if I only listened to Dave I would have shipped it sigh. That's ok, 2nd was not too shabby for never attempting the game before.
Story #3 is my best "rack run under pressure imo." We had just got done winning BCA team state in 2002 and were looking to double dip and win Valley state. We were playing in the semifinals and it was down to the last 2 matches but we were down pretty big (ball count). My teammate and myself were going to play at about the same time with me breaking first. They told me I needed to win 10-0 or 10-1 for us to have a chance to win the match. I ended up breaking and running against a solid player and did a fist pump. We ended up still losing the match to get 4th after we lost the last rack, but purely for the situation/pressure I think it was my best run being told I had to break and run (to have a chance for the team). No pic for that story.
Story #4 was my best tournament back in 2003 (last two pics). This was before I was dating my now wife and back when I was playing at the top of my game (basically shooting/gambling 4-5 times a week)...NO FEAR against anyone here in Des Moines. I wasn't the best of course, but didn't fear playing anyone win/lose...basically in dead stroke pretty much. I shipped this tournament for about a little under $2k. I kept the bracket since it was a big memory and payday as there were a bunch of good Des Moines players in it. I won't list them as it isn't meant for a sht talking story, but more of a proud knowing I CAN occasionally play a lil.
Let's hear some AZ stories even if they aren't the good ones....might help others learn from the mistakes that were made.
Matt
