I know I am going to forget everyone's names I met, but just know that it really was a pleasure meeting you all. I thought I would just reel off some of the things that I can remember now while it is still semi-fresh.
Mike and I stayed with my good buddies that moved there, Felisa and Chad. We went to the AZB room and re-met Holly, Mike H., Eydie and Bob Romano, as well as Chuckles, and several others. Over the course of the week in the AZB room, I also met The One, Jimmy Leggs, I Need Da 8?, and so many more that I can't think of right now. The Queen did hold the table most of the evening, inspiring Mike H. to ask why I wasn't on the pro tour.
Play the rest of the week on the bar boxes confirmed why not. 
Chad bought a Predator with the new shafts for $370, I believe. He also bought Felisa an Instroke case for $350 and then when I told them that Jack Justis cases were great, they bought one for Chad for $595, and then one for Felisa for $825 with her name on it. They also sprung for a Dale Teague cue with ebony butterfly splices for $1500. And they also bought about $300 worth of shirts at the RT9 booth. So I would like to think I helped infuse $$ into the BCA vendors. Not to mention all the pounds of chocolate turtles we got at the candy store.
Let's see, talked to Mike Hurst, Ewa Mataya, Jon Kucharo, Grace Nakamura, Stephanie Boch, Santos, Dennis Orcullo, Shane Van Boening, Julie Kelly, Robin and Roy Dodson, the Ashton twins, Cathy Metzinger, all the NW players, Charlie Williams, Ike Runnels, Stan Tourangeau, Mike Vidas, Andrea and Larry Wilson, Maryann McConnell, Tyler Edey, Edwin Montal, Max Eberle (who sweated pro matches with us), Vagabond, Nikki Hollingsworth, and Mitch Laurance, (I hope I didn't introduce Ewa as Ewa Mataya, but I think I did...in front of Mitch!) and more. Felisa commented one time that we had gone the record of 26 feet without finding someone I knew, lol.
Went to the 3-cushion tournament/exhibition with our own Eric Yow against Semih Sayginer. Between ESPN setups, Jeanette would introduce notables in the crowd and when she introduced me as a pro, I turned red. Sitting with me were Max Eberle and Dan Louie, so of course they deserved to be recognized. Also among the crowd, Helena Thornfeldt, Monica Webb, Robert Byrne, Lou Butera, and judging were Jeanette, Bob Jewett, and Ivan Lee.
Mike Massey was the next challenger. The unbelievable shots that Semih pulled out were just crazy and he defeated both challengers, but I have to say, for only practicing this discipline for 2 weeks, Mike Massey and Eric both rose to the challenge with aplomb. I got autographs on my flyer from all 3 champions, plus Mazin Shooni who had a challenge match with Semih which was very close. What awesome shooting from both champions and it certainly raised the interest level in 3 cushion in the US.
Williebetmore treated us to breakfast, which was a very sweet thing to do, considering I brought Chad and Felisa along with me. SJM was there and both were very entertaining!!! Later, WBM's lovely wife, and Jeanette Lee and Cheyenne joined us. It was fun keeping Cheyenne entertained.
As far as competition, everyone failed to get in the money from the NW, except Pat Schumacher who probably shouldn't have even been in the Open and UWPoolGod1, who certainly won't be in the Open next year!
Oh, and the NW Women's Masters team made it into the money too.
My matches were terrible - couldn't get started and no focus. Mike had the chance to beat Jason Kirkwood, the eventual winner of the Grand Masters, but blew a severe 8 ball cut and hooked himself on a ball. Then he lost to Tyler Edey.
Dan Louie didn't do well either.
Team was no better. They lost to Jason's team 12-13 and Dee Adkins' team 10-13, where they had the opportunity to pull ahead and each team member made critical mistakes on dead outs. If they had won one of those matches, they would have moved on to the final bracket.
I watched Kristi Carter take down Julia Gabriel - another fine player. Also watched several rounds in the pros.
Networked with all the vendors and handed out flyers for my travel incentives business. I think I got a few solid leads. Pool Tees gave me a cute pink shirt. I didn't see OMGWTF, even though she gave me a shirt too and I wore it just for her.
Tried out for the Artistic Pool tournament with Felisa. I paid for 2 chances, she paid for one. My first try, I got a 26, and she got a 7, out of a possible 53. The highest score posted was 50. I moved into second overall with a score of 49 and 3 others ended up tying it by week's end. Also, 2 other women beat Felisa's score and replaced her in the Finals (they took 3 total.)
Tom and Marty Rossman are doing an excellent job of promoting Artistic Pool. It was a lot of fun. I practiced the morning of the Finals on Chad and Felisa's 9 foot table and made everything I tried. I also practiced on the bar boxes for an hour once we got there. I was fairly confident on every shot. However, I chumped every shot except the jump shot.
Even the hanger masse' and one of the bank shots, which were bread and butter. I got another lowly 26 points and finished 9th which earned me $50.
Jennifer Baretta and Melissa Herndon showed up in the AZB room. So did Shawn Putnam who was my SD partner. Shawn, I KNOW you can shoot better! He missed 3 makeable balls. I got to play with baby Max while Jennifer played. He made some really cute faces and sounds. It was such a treat to hold a baby again.
Vagabond challenged me to some one pocket at the Cue Club, so we went. David Reljic, Niels Feijen and his girlfriend were also there shooting. Vagabond came out of the gate strong...you can tell he knows how to move. However, he got distracted and 'let' me win the next 4 1/2 games before we quit. I have to say I was complimented when he said he was postponing going to a party with Allison, Gerda, etc., to keep playing with me.
Chad, Felisa and I finished the week off with a nice steak and shrimp dinner at the Red Rock Casino before going home to pack. Mike spent his entire week at the Sports Book section. He broke even, so that is a win there!
We didn't go to any other casinos, except for Slots of Fun for their shrimp cocktails and foot long hot dogs. We didn't see any shows, didn't even gamble. I had another friend that offered to get us show tickets, but we didn't take him up on it. All in all, it was still a wonderful time.
Next year, I think I am moving to the Open, and the year after that the Novice, and the year after that, the Trophy tournament! Yippeee!
Pics to follow. As usual, no flash, zoomed and blurry!
Mike and I stayed with my good buddies that moved there, Felisa and Chad. We went to the AZB room and re-met Holly, Mike H., Eydie and Bob Romano, as well as Chuckles, and several others. Over the course of the week in the AZB room, I also met The One, Jimmy Leggs, I Need Da 8?, and so many more that I can't think of right now. The Queen did hold the table most of the evening, inspiring Mike H. to ask why I wasn't on the pro tour.
Play the rest of the week on the bar boxes confirmed why not. Chad bought a Predator with the new shafts for $370, I believe. He also bought Felisa an Instroke case for $350 and then when I told them that Jack Justis cases were great, they bought one for Chad for $595, and then one for Felisa for $825 with her name on it. They also sprung for a Dale Teague cue with ebony butterfly splices for $1500. And they also bought about $300 worth of shirts at the RT9 booth. So I would like to think I helped infuse $$ into the BCA vendors.
Not to mention all the pounds of chocolate turtles we got at the candy store.Let's see, talked to Mike Hurst, Ewa Mataya, Jon Kucharo, Grace Nakamura, Stephanie Boch, Santos, Dennis Orcullo, Shane Van Boening, Julie Kelly, Robin and Roy Dodson, the Ashton twins, Cathy Metzinger, all the NW players, Charlie Williams, Ike Runnels, Stan Tourangeau, Mike Vidas, Andrea and Larry Wilson, Maryann McConnell, Tyler Edey, Edwin Montal, Max Eberle (who sweated pro matches with us), Vagabond, Nikki Hollingsworth, and Mitch Laurance, (I hope I didn't introduce Ewa as Ewa Mataya, but I think I did...in front of Mitch!) and more. Felisa commented one time that we had gone the record of 26 feet without finding someone I knew, lol.
Went to the 3-cushion tournament/exhibition with our own Eric Yow against Semih Sayginer. Between ESPN setups, Jeanette would introduce notables in the crowd and when she introduced me as a pro, I turned red.
Sitting with me were Max Eberle and Dan Louie, so of course they deserved to be recognized. Also among the crowd, Helena Thornfeldt, Monica Webb, Robert Byrne, Lou Butera, and judging were Jeanette, Bob Jewett, and Ivan Lee.Mike Massey was the next challenger. The unbelievable shots that Semih pulled out were just crazy and he defeated both challengers, but I have to say, for only practicing this discipline for 2 weeks, Mike Massey and Eric both rose to the challenge with aplomb. I got autographs on my flyer from all 3 champions, plus Mazin Shooni who had a challenge match with Semih which was very close. What awesome shooting from both champions and it certainly raised the interest level in 3 cushion in the US.
Williebetmore treated us to breakfast, which was a very sweet thing to do, considering I brought Chad and Felisa along with me. SJM was there and both were very entertaining!!! Later, WBM's lovely wife, and Jeanette Lee and Cheyenne joined us. It was fun keeping Cheyenne entertained.
As far as competition, everyone failed to get in the money from the NW, except Pat Schumacher who probably shouldn't have even been in the Open and UWPoolGod1, who certainly won't be in the Open next year!
Oh, and the NW Women's Masters team made it into the money too.My matches were terrible - couldn't get started and no focus. Mike had the chance to beat Jason Kirkwood, the eventual winner of the Grand Masters, but blew a severe 8 ball cut and hooked himself on a ball. Then he lost to Tyler Edey.
Dan Louie didn't do well either. Team was no better. They lost to Jason's team 12-13 and Dee Adkins' team 10-13, where they had the opportunity to pull ahead and each team member made critical mistakes on dead outs. If they had won one of those matches, they would have moved on to the final bracket.
I watched Kristi Carter take down Julia Gabriel - another fine player. Also watched several rounds in the pros.
Networked with all the vendors and handed out flyers for my travel incentives business. I think I got a few solid leads. Pool Tees gave me a cute pink shirt. I didn't see OMGWTF, even though she gave me a shirt too and I wore it just for her.
Tried out for the Artistic Pool tournament with Felisa. I paid for 2 chances, she paid for one. My first try, I got a 26, and she got a 7, out of a possible 53. The highest score posted was 50. I moved into second overall with a score of 49 and 3 others ended up tying it by week's end. Also, 2 other women beat Felisa's score and replaced her in the Finals (they took 3 total.)
Tom and Marty Rossman are doing an excellent job of promoting Artistic Pool. It was a lot of fun. I practiced the morning of the Finals on Chad and Felisa's 9 foot table and made everything I tried. I also practiced on the bar boxes for an hour once we got there. I was fairly confident on every shot. However, I chumped every shot except the jump shot.
Even the hanger masse' and one of the bank shots, which were bread and butter. I got another lowly 26 points and finished 9th which earned me $50.Jennifer Baretta and Melissa Herndon showed up in the AZB room. So did Shawn Putnam who was my SD partner. Shawn, I KNOW you can shoot better! He missed 3 makeable balls.
I got to play with baby Max while Jennifer played. He made some really cute faces and sounds. It was such a treat to hold a baby again.Vagabond challenged me to some one pocket at the Cue Club, so we went. David Reljic, Niels Feijen and his girlfriend were also there shooting. Vagabond came out of the gate strong...you can tell he knows how to move. However, he got distracted and 'let' me win the next 4 1/2 games before we quit. I have to say I was complimented when he said he was postponing going to a party with Allison, Gerda, etc., to keep playing with me.
Chad, Felisa and I finished the week off with a nice steak and shrimp dinner at the Red Rock Casino before going home to pack. Mike spent his entire week at the Sports Book section. He broke even, so that is a win there!
We didn't go to any other casinos, except for Slots of Fun for their shrimp cocktails and foot long hot dogs. We didn't see any shows, didn't even gamble. I had another friend that offered to get us show tickets, but we didn't take him up on it. All in all, it was still a wonderful time.
Next year, I think I am moving to the Open, and the year after that the Novice, and the year after that, the Trophy tournament! Yippeee!
Pics to follow. As usual, no flash, zoomed and blurry!
