Met fellow azbilliard player Melissa Herndon today

frankncali

frankncali

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Actually met and played her. She beat me and played rather well in doing so.
She was very nice and in the other matches I watched of hers she played well.

We met on the "1 loss" side unfortunately and she dealt me a 9-12 finish. It was an "almost monthly" event at Shooters in Riverside Ca.
Very nice pool room and they have a $1000 added $20 entry event.
74 players showed including Max Eberle, Ismael "Morro" Paez, Ernesto Dominguez, Francisco Galindo, Lorry DeLeon and about 10-15 that play close to these guys. When I left a buddy of mine had just beaten Morro for the hot seat. Also Ernesto had just beaten Max. Not sure who won.

When Efren and Parica and others are in town they all usually come to Shooters and to Hardtimes Billiards monthly which is the same format.

Good event and I got to meet Melissa to boot. She played well and at first was killing me. On the 1 loss side we race to 4(winners side 5) and she went out to a 3-0 lead playing very well.
I finally got a game and then another but missed an opportunity and lost.
I will say that the ball I missed I thought should have went but it was not meant to be.
Heres a couple shots Melissa made on me. There were others that I thought she hit well but these were very good shots.
Wei Table

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%Ur7G1%VE5U9%WK1D6%Xs0E5%eC1a7
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I had hooked her and thought for sure I was going to get BIH. Almost every angle was blocked but she found the way. She made the 2 and got out.

Another one
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%Wk8I4%XJ5Z1%YH7Y8%ZC0O5%eB4a5
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She made the 4. She did not get out but it was a very nice kick shot.

Nice person and a good player. I think we will see more of her on the TV in the Ladies Events.

frankncali
 
I seen her play on tv and thought she played very well.She did not seem nervous or scared playing on tv.Nice too see a different face playing on tv though.
 
Thank you for the compliments! It was very nice meeting you too!

I did play well in our match....but I think I used all my good shots against you because I played like dog meat in the next match against Alex....oh well :p

It was a good tournament. I believe that it is supposed be every other month instead of monthly...but they might want to reconsider that after the good turnout they had this past weekend.

I don't know who ended up winning, but I know that Ernesto and Alex both lost to Dave Nakano (the guy who knocked me to the loser's side). Dave was knocking off good player's left and right...

Hope to see you at Hard Times next Sunday for the 1st of the month tourney!

Best Regards - Melissa
 
You know, Frank, most women who play well sneak up on you, gradually ensnaring you in their trap. That can't be said of Herndon. Once you see her hit about ten balls, you know you're in for one tough game.

In early 2001, before I had even met Melissa, Monica Webb told me Melissa was a player to watch with a very bright future. Good call Monica.
 
sjm said:
You know, Frank, most women who play well sneak up on you, gradually ensnaring you in their trap. That can't be said of Herndon. Once you see her hit about ten balls, you know you're in for one tough game.

In early 2001, before I had even met Melissa, Monica Webb told me Melissa was a player to watch with a very bright future. Good call Monica.
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Melissa probably did not remember it but I actually met her last year at the BCA. It was brief and through a Fach Garcia who is a friend of hers and mine.
I watched her play there and since then around SoCal and I think she can be a very good player.

I "wei tabled" a couple shots she made that were good but those in all honestly were not her most impressive shots. She made a 5 ball and a 6 ball
in different racks that were hard shots but not trick or kick shots. They were longish and if she missed I feel I would have won those games. Looking from the sidelines people might have thought the two kicks were better but the other shots IMO won the match.
She also ran 9 and out on me in the first game with a difficult layout. I made what I thought was a good shot but the 1 hung on me and she played it out of the jaws nicely and ran out.

Once starting out playing I have always been around good pool and watch alot of ladies play because I knew a player on the Womens tour. I watched and played with her trying to figure out what IMO made the girls not play as good as the guys. There are some female players now that are playing
pretty well and are closing the gap.
Melissa has power in her game that alot of females dont have and she
strokes the ball well.

Her beating me has nothing to do with my opinion of her game.
T
heres still one thing that I dont understand about some female players and
maybe Melissa can explain. Why wear the heels? Why wear clothes that are obviously not "pool comfortable"?
There were two girls in the smae tournament that anytime they shot their
low cut jeans did quite cover their butt.
I have been wondering this for almost 15 years now and have watched alot of girl players look as uncomfortable at the table just because of clothes.
Now Melissa usually wears clothes that look "pool comfortable but I noticed the heels. Maybe its just a guy not knowing but it looks painful.
 
frankncali said:
Why wear the heels? Why wear clothes that are obviously not "pool comfortable"?
There were two girls in the smae tournament that anytime they shot their
low cut jeans did quite cover their butt.
I have been wondering this for almost 15 years now and have watched alot of girl players look as uncomfortable at the table just because of clothes.
Now Melissa usually wears clothes that look "pool comfortable but I noticed the heels. Maybe its just a guy not knowing but it looks painful.
Click to expand...

Actually, it's a good question. I cannot speak for other women, but the reason I wear them is because I like them. WPBA members are required to wear dress shoes in professional events...and I am not a fan of flat dress shoes....I don't think they are feminine enough. So, since I wear a heel when I play professionally...I stick with it when I practice and play local events. They really aren't that high...and I am fairly used to them, so I am pretty comfortable in them.

As far as the low-rise jeans go...I can't explain that one since I don't wear them. But I would guess that those are just their normal jeans and that is what they are used to wearing. If it makes them uneasy to have that much skin showing when they are bent over the table...then they should consider buying different jeans to play in...or longer shirts. But if a women is comfy with what she has...and she doesn't mind people looking....then she can wear whatever she feels comfy in.

Personally, I feel better when I look good...and when I feel better, I play better. So, I don't usually go into the pool room looking like a bum. I dress casually for the most part...but I still try to maintain a certain appearance.

I know it is difficult to figure out why us crazy women do what we do sometimes...but I hope that gives you a little insight...LOL!!

Melissa
 
Melissa Herndon said:
Actually, it's a good question. I cannot speak for other women, but the reason I wear them is because I like them. WPBA members are required to wear dress shoes in professional events...and I am not a fan of flat dress shoes....I don't think they are feminine enough. So, since I wear a heel when I play professionally...I stick with it when I practice and play local events. They really aren't that high...and I am fairly used to them, so I am pretty comfortable in them.

As far as the low-rise jeans go...I can't explain that one since I don't wear them. But I would guess that those are just their normal jeans and that is what they are used to wearing. If it makes them uneasy to have that much skin showing when they are bent over the table...then they should consider buying different jeans to play in...or longer shirts. But if a women is comfy with what she has...and she doesn't mind people looking....then she can wear whatever she feels comfy in.

Personally, I feel better when I look good...and when I feel better, I play better. So, I don't usually go into the pool room looking like a bum. I dress casually for the most part...but I still try to maintain a certain appearance.

I know it is difficult to figure out why us crazy women do what we do sometimes...but I hope that gives you a little insight...LOL!!

Melissa
Click to expand...

Heels might just look very uncomfortable to guys because we dont wear them.
As for the low-rise jeans I dont mind looking if they dont mind putting it out there but most seem uncomfortable about it. And some just dont need to be wearing them period whether they are comfy or not.
The times that I have seen you I did not think you dressed uncomfortable or
in what I would consider "non pool clothes". I can understand the "if you feel
good you play good" part. I think that is true for men and women. Some in each gender dont care but others do.
Being a big guy I try to make sure I am comfortable and am at least covered
up while I am playing. I can not seem to play well in any type of a heeled shoe at all. I find that in most pool rooms I get hotter than others so I always try and never wear things that might add to the heat.
Just curious but what is the dress code for a ladies Pro event? Has it been changed over the years and if so how? Just curious if they made any changes for any of the players style.
 
Funny, I played with a guy once who told me I only beat him because he used to play wearing heeled cowboy boots and that not having that extra bit of height was affecting his aim!

As for the ladies, I have seen some women playing in local tournaments who dress just exactly like they do for a night out socializing. Of course it is anyone's individual choice what to wear, but I get the impression that some of them that they are hoping an attractive outfit will distract their (mostly) male opponents.

Jeanette Lee talks about getting flack from the established WPBA players when she joined the tour for her outfits in her book. I personally think someone who looks really good (Male or Female) and plays really good is more intimidating than, say, Efren Reyes, who always looks like he's slept in his car the night before. However, of course, being lulled into a false sense of security by someone's slovenly appearance is just as dangerous!
 
frankncali said:
Just curious but what is the dress code for a ladies Pro event? Has it been changed over the years and if so how? Just curious if they made any changes for any of the players style.
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The dress code leaves a lot of room for individual style...but there are certain requirements that everyone must abide by. When we are in public at an event (at the hotel, in the arena, in nearby restaurants)...we have a more relaxed dress code...but we are still expected to not to look sloppy. No ripped clothing clothing for example. But in the arena...we have to wear dress slacks, appropriate undergarments, dress shoes, no bare mid-riffs, belts are required with pants that have belt loops, your shirt has to be long enough to not ride up and expose your backside when bent over, no severely low-cut tops, etc. We are supposed to look professional...but there is a lot of leeway for people to dress in the manner they feel best. Some girls try to dress as comfortably or sporty as possible while still staying within guidelines...I prefer to dress up a little more...like I am going to a nice dinner or something. We have definitely moved away from the old vests and bowties that some players used to wear on TV...for the most part the WPBA is trying to present a more stylish front.
 
AuntyDan said:
Jeanette Lee talks about getting flack from the established WPBA players when she joined the tour for her outfits in her book. I personally think someone who looks really good (Male or Female) and plays really good is more intimidating than, say, Efren Reyes, who always looks like he's slept in his car the night before. However, of course, being lulled into a false sense of security by someone's slovenly appearance is just as dangerous!
Click to expand...

Jeanette Lee always looks fabulous. I would have to say that she probably got a little flak because she raised the bar for the other women. Let's be honest, a player who is stylish and well put together is more likely to attract a sponsor's attention than a player who is slovenly or who doesn't take care of their appearance. So, when Jeanette came on the scene and stole the spotlight...other people had to adjust their ways and step up their gameas well. Honestly, in the majority of this world, attractiveness helps sell...and sloppy does not equal sexy. So sure...many pro players would love to play in sweats, a t-shirt and tennies...but they don't because it doesn't make sense from a marketing standpoint.

Melissa
 
Melissa Herndon said:
So sure...many pro players would love to play in sweats, a t-shirt and tennies...but they don't because it doesn't make sense from a marketing standpoint.
Melissa
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Oh whatever!

;)
 
This thread recalls memeories of watching Jeanette Lee beat Allison Fisher in the 2003(?) Tornament of Champions while wearing stilletto-heeled boots on a parquet floor. :cool:
 
Melissa Herndon said:
LOL Jimmy -

I knew we could count on you for a well thought-out and insightful opinion on the matter! You are my hero!

Melissa
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I'm married now. I don't have opinions anymore. My opinion is now "yes honey".
:cool:

Now where did I put that lawnmower?
 
Jimmy M. said:
I'm married now. I don't have opinions anymore. My opinion is now "yes honey".
:cool:

Now where did I put that lawnmower?
Click to expand...

I've met your wife (congrats by the way) and she doesn't strike me as the type that would hold you by the short hairs! But...I am sure the whole "yes honey" thing works for her!!! (And that's how it is supposed to be anyway...LOL) :p

Are you two going to Vegas for the BCA?
 
frankncali said:
Jimmy

Are you coming to Hardtimes monthly this weekend?
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Naa, I'll actually be in Maui on my honeymoon. :) I haven't been playing much pool in the last few weeks leading up to the wedding (this past Saturday), but I'll probably be back in L.A. the next time there's a tournament. Is there anything coming up? I'm sort of out of the loop right now!
 
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