Looking for some support!

T

thoffen

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Not many of you out there know me. Why should you? I only have a dozen posts :)... But I am here asking for your support.

Last month, I turned my entry fee to the Predator Florida Open to Charlie Williams. I will be in Jacksonville on Thursday competing with the best in the world.

Even though I am an amateur player, there is no doubt in my mind that I have all the talent in me to win this event.

Over the last month, I decided to take training for this event much more seriously then I ever had before. I wrote down all of the thoughts and feelings I had when playing pool, successful and unsuccessful. I studied film, I ate right, I practiced self hypnosis and mental training techniques; I took control of a lot of things in my life that I hadn't in the past.

But the more I realized that I needed that killer instinct in the drive to win, the more I tried to develop it, the further and further apart from it I became.

I realized last night that this just fundamentally isn't who I am. But that loss is going to be my gain. The desire and focus cannot come from myself. I am not that kind of person. I need your support. I need to be playing not for myself but for the crowd and all of the good people who came there wanting to experience a dream of theirs. I want to show up and I want to give the people watching a show. I want them to believe in what I'm doing and I want them to experience it with me. If I win one rack in this tournament, I want it to be your rack. I realized that this is what's holding me back. I don't feel I deserve it, but I know that all of you who have put your hearts into the pool world deserve it. When I am playing on Thursday, I will be playing for you. And if you happen to be in the crowd somewhere and you see my name hanging above a pool table, cheer me on. Introduce yourself to me and tell me to win this match for you. Tell me you want a match. Make me bring my heart out to you guys. And if this message speaks to you otherwise and you aren't going to be in Jacksonville, post a reply. Give me your support.

This whole journey has brought me to a unique place in my life. A little over a year ago, I moved away from my friends and family and those who I love to take a job in Tampa. That job has little value to me. I'm a computer engineer, and I can't stand it anymore. I have all the ability to do the work, but it's just not who I am. This journey helped me figure out what my priorities in life are. I've decided that, after this tournament, I'm going to figure out what it takes to get myself into medical school and move back home to Atlanta ASAP. I need to be in a position in life where I am helping people, and right now I feel that becoming a doctor is the way to do it.

I apologize to everyone for the long and probably boring post. But I needed to get that off my chest. And once again I would appreciate any support anyone can give me for this tournament and I promise to you that I will put that toward my game.

Thanks again!
Todd Hoffenberg

P.S. To quote my favorite movie of all time (Gattaca): "I got the better end if the deal. I only lent you my body, but you lent me your dream."
 
I'm afraid I don't understand how to support you ( other than kind words ).

As far as that "killer instinct", I do understand.

It's hard for me to look at a shot and convince myself that it would be better to play safe and 100% hook my opponent rather than put that same 100% into trying to make a lower percentage shot.

Good luck and Godspeed.


Dave
 
thoffen said:
P.S. To quote my favorite movie of all time (Gattaca): "I got the better end if the deal. I only lent you my body, but you lent me your dream."
Click to expand...

Todd,

I will not be there, but I promise to cheer for you from afar. Any man that can quote from Gattaca (one of the best movies of all time) deserves all the cheering he can get. Break a leg out there! :D Be sure to post your experience/thoughts after the tourney.
 
Similar road...

In 1995 I was in college and majoring in computer/electrical engineering...but was playing pool more than anything else. I even took the time and money to go fly myself to Cleveland, Ohio to play in a wheelchair only tournament. Back then it was called the NWBA. It was even the first time I had ever been on an airplane and I did not know how I would care for myself once I got there as I was traveling alone. I loved pool and wanted to dedicate my life to the game. I wanted to be a pro. I was also drinking quite heavily at the time, sometimes not knowing what day it was til I got to the bar. I would play pool all day hungover, then go to the bar and play all night and drink for free...I was a terror on those 7 footers...until I got too drunk. Anyway, I sobered up and came to the realization that there was no way a disabled guy can make a good living in life playing pool. Just not enough support or sponsorship...and I was not that good of a gambler. I gave up on pool...but in that sobering moment I decided to do what I was there for...finish my degree. I changed majors to computer science and finished up almost two years later.

Now I am 33 years old, married with two step-kids and 8 wonderful pets. I play pool weekly at least...and I still get to make a living at a decent job...so somehow I managed to get everything I wanted really in life afterall...my point being, I hope you can do likewise Todd. Don't sell your cue, just retire from it for a while...it will always be there when you can pick up the game a better time in life.

Shorty
 
thoffen said:
Not many of you out there know me. Why should you? I only have a dozen posts :)... But I am here asking for your support.
...
Thanks again!
Todd Hoffenberg

P.S. To quote my favorite movie of all time (Gattaca): "I got the better end if the deal. I only lent you my body, but you lent me your dream."
Click to expand...

You don't need my support, win for yourself. It isn't about killer instinct, it's about doing your best at everything you do.

BTW, if you have the intelligence and grit to become a doctor you'd be a damn fool not to do it. First of all because you'd live a better live as a doctor (even if they don't make what they used to), but mostly because you'd potentially be doing much more for your fellow man than you ever could as a pool player.

Good luck.
 
thoffen said:
The desire and focus cannot come from myself. I am not that kind of person. I need your support. I need to be playing not for myself but for the crowd and all of the good people who came there wanting to experience a dream of theirs. I want to show up and I want to give the people watching a show.
Click to expand...


Being a showman is good. However, this isn't what you want nor what you want to hear, but in my opinion from working with a few world class athletes and top professionals in business, MOTIVATION AND DESIRE MUST COME FROM WITHIN. It has to be burning inside you like the hot core of the Earth. People can cheer you on or boo you, it still must come from your heart and gut, not anyone elses.

Good luck in whatever you do...and if you become an M.D. in Atlanta and I'm still here, maybe I'll be one of your first patients. Even though I'm currently very healthy, my annual visits alone will result in more income than trying to play pool professionally.
 
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