A few months ago, there was a Joss 9 Ball stop in Syracuse, NY. Only an hour away. I'll give it a shot. Won a tournament there a month or so ago. Lets see what happens. Walk in the front door and there is Dennis Hatch. Oh no, not him. Hey, he is only human. Wow, draw him first round. A couple of nine balls on the break. A couple of rack runs from the break. Yeh, I got him 4 - 0! Hey, I broke dry. Why is the score now 5 - 4 his favor? Think I made him mad! Not a good sign. 9 - 6. Had my chances. Memo to self. Don't make him mad.
Fast forward a month or two. My home room in Rochester. There he is again. Dennis? First round. Again? Got him 7 - 6. Damn those dry breaks! Aha. I'm breaking on the hill. Make a ball. No shot. Push out to where he can't pass the shot. Yes, he takes it and "accidentally" makes a ball. Got him! He's got a tough kick. Nines nearly hanging. How the hell did the nine go in? Oh well, next time. Several rounds later, I look at the board. I got to play him again. This time for 5 / 6. How did he get on the one loss side? Know he's mad now. Remember winning the flip and breaking the first rack. After that, it was just a blur. 7 - 0! Second memo to self. Don't make him mad! He just plays better.
Another month goes by. Back in Rochester. Another event. There's Dennis again. This time I have to play him for the "Hot Seat". Why is he still mad at me? 9 - 2. This is rediculous!
Off to Amsterdam, NY. Main Street Billiards. One of my favorite rooms. Gotta play Dennis and for the "hot seat" again. Got him 7 - 6. Another dry break? 9 - 7 him. Boy am I getting tired of this. Get to the finals. Had a great idea:idea:. Dennis, my two friends, Guido and Vito want to talk to you. His reaction? Only two? Better make it five or six! Think I made him mad again:thud:. This time 9 - 6. I'm really getting tired of losing to this guy.
Anyone got an idea of what I should do now? OK, it was just a rhetorical question anyway. Dennis, my hat is off to you (wait, I don't wear one). Seriously, watching Dennis at the table is poetry in motion. I've dreamt of controlling my cue ball like him. His shot making is incredible. What confidence! Wish I could just consider these losses as cheap lessons. I've got to do somthing. Just don't know what! Any suggestions?
Lyn
Fast forward a month or two. My home room in Rochester. There he is again. Dennis? First round. Again? Got him 7 - 6. Damn those dry breaks! Aha. I'm breaking on the hill. Make a ball. No shot. Push out to where he can't pass the shot. Yes, he takes it and "accidentally" makes a ball. Got him! He's got a tough kick. Nines nearly hanging. How the hell did the nine go in? Oh well, next time. Several rounds later, I look at the board. I got to play him again. This time for 5 / 6. How did he get on the one loss side? Know he's mad now. Remember winning the flip and breaking the first rack. After that, it was just a blur. 7 - 0! Second memo to self. Don't make him mad! He just plays better.
Another month goes by. Back in Rochester. Another event. There's Dennis again. This time I have to play him for the "Hot Seat". Why is he still mad at me? 9 - 2. This is rediculous!
Off to Amsterdam, NY. Main Street Billiards. One of my favorite rooms. Gotta play Dennis and for the "hot seat" again. Got him 7 - 6. Another dry break? 9 - 7 him. Boy am I getting tired of this. Get to the finals. Had a great idea:idea:. Dennis, my two friends, Guido and Vito want to talk to you. His reaction? Only two? Better make it five or six! Think I made him mad again:thud:. This time 9 - 6. I'm really getting tired of losing to this guy.
Anyone got an idea of what I should do now? OK, it was just a rhetorical question anyway. Dennis, my hat is off to you (wait, I don't wear one). Seriously, watching Dennis at the table is poetry in motion. I've dreamt of controlling my cue ball like him. His shot making is incredible. What confidence! Wish I could just consider these losses as cheap lessons. I've got to do somthing. Just don't know what! Any suggestions?
Lyn
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