Peoria: if thats pool, what have i been playing?

ManifestEcstacy

ManifestEcstacy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
After being to peoria and getting to see all the awesome tournament action.. I have met a few good people and learned some things that will really help me start to learn the game better.

The first day of the tournament was the real eye-opener for me. Watching the women play pool, the tables turned into something else to me, it was no longer a pool table.. it was like the field of battle.. for the lack of a better term. It turned into something like a game of Risk and one must control the table at all times to claim victory. That was the day that I really gained respect for the game of pool I believe, and the people that live to pursue its perfection... if that makes sense

Now, I would also say that I met some people that I am very happy to have gained their aquaintance.

Zeeder was the first guy that I met on my trip.. mostly of course because I had seen his face and I recognized him the minute I sat down about 5 feet away from him... I was definitly happen to talk to him because I came alone, and he was extremely pleasant to sit and talk to and hang out with.. he was even kind enough to walk around the casino and get food for us, since one of us isn't quite allowed in there..

Next I met SJM... his abilities and knowledge of the game were amazing.. it was really a pleasure to just sit and listen to all of his comments on how the women were playing and what he thought about certain shots. He even gave me a little assistance on my draw stroke, which is poor, but he was kind enough to help me out, and then kick my ass in straight pool.. which was enjoyable. If only that idiot behind him hadn't opened his mouth during the finals match i could have really gotten some insight as to what the women were doing.

About the same time I also got to meet Williebetmore, which i can also tell has a strong passion for the game of pool, and thoroughly enjoys talking about the game... He was kind enough to take me along for food and pool saturday night which was thoroughly enjoyable, as always.. and the food was great.. so was the pool, thanks!

Wally in Cincy and CheffJeff I did not much meet till the last day, when we all went out to eat... both men were very fun to talk with, the short time that I did and I cannot say that i regret meeting anyone that I did, which I was very worried about at the beginning of the weekend.

And ofcourse, Vagabond was the very last person that introduced me as we walked to the Barge of Burgers... I was very pleased to meet him as well, It seems that his experience and knowledge of pool is only something that i can only hope to gain... thanks for joining us

I didnt' want to leave.. i can't wait for next year.. thank you all for accepting me to the AZ get togethers.. if I didn't have that I would have been a very lonesome fan..... can't wait till next year.. or whichever tournament i'm fortunate to go to next..
 
Oh... I must say that i regretfully did not ever talked to Deanna Michelle, but she did take a picture of me I believe, which is great! and she joined us on the walk to lunch..

oh and of course there is DCP.. i didn't get to talk to him, but i hear he throws things through his wall when he gets mad at them, good luck with that! :-P all in fun
 
This was my first in-person pro tourney, so I have to agree with Manifest on how it has already affected my play and thinking. I like your analogy about the game of Risk...that is dead on.

A few points learned:

For anyone new here on AZ, if sjm speaks, listen.

Sarah Rousey is the best. Why she tolerates us and our craziness, I don't know, but she does. She is now my favorite pro and probably always will be.

I played last night and discovered that I have subconsciously changed my stance and grip. So I analyzed it and discovered that I'm allowing my stroke arm to hang farther away from my body and my grip has moved forward and up to have mostly my thumb and first finger in control and my bridge arm is bent a little more making for a longer bridge. I have more swing room, or something...I've yet to figure it out, but it sure feels good. How and why did my mind do this to (for?) me? Film at eleven.

I have a renewed excitement about playing...this is good.

I discovered that "real" pool players are nice, intelligent people. Playing mostly in leagues and bars, it is easy to get biased into thinking pool players are just drunken jerks and whiners. Thanks to all who showed me otherwise.

The Paradice casino charges $1.75 for stale, flat, crappy beer...and I was playing blackjack (the game, not the poster) at the time! What's up with that? No more casino for me.

I'm going next year...who else is coming?

Jeff Livingston
 
i'll probably be back, but do we know for certain that the WPBA is coming back to Peoria?

plus i would prefer the regular format as opposed to the 7 ESPN matches. i like to mingle with all the players, guests, AZBers, talk to Tipton, etc, etc. i always like the late night saturday matches when the last few are fighting for the TV rounds.

guess one of the highlights was being close to the table where Sarah Ellerby and Dawn Hopkins had a "Disagreement" about something. then shortly thereafter the timer guy tells me that Ellerby requested i dont move, get up, etc, that i was distracting her? since i was seated down by the other table, i dont know why i would have caused her a problem???

oh well.
DCP
 
How About A "AZER'S" area at The Derby City Classic?

I think this has been discussed before or maybe it was over at OnePocket.org.
I don't think it would be that hard to have a table with a banner at the DCC for AZer's to regester and meet.
The Derby City Classic is the BEST there is.

TY & GL
 
ManifestEcstacy said:
....If only that idiot behind him hadn't opened his mouth during the finals match i could have really gotten some insight as to what the women were doing.
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I confronted that guy outside and informed him of sjm's level of play and knowledge. He says "Well I was sitting next to a master instructor and he knows more than that guy".

That was too funny. That guy would not know a master instructor if that master instructor hit him in the face with a wet mackerel.
 
Wally in Cincy said:
I confronted that guy outside and informed him of sjm's level of play and knowledge. He says "Well I was sitting next to a master instructor and he knows more than that guy".

That was too funny. That guy would not know a master instructor if that master instructor hit him in the face with a wet mackerel.
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I was right there with you guys but missed the whole thing...what did the guy behind us say/do, anyway?

Jeff Livingston
 
I went to Hollywood Florida for the woman's event there and loved it. I just went to watch and see everyone. I got to see friends like Kelly Fisher, Val Finney, Tracie Hines, Ellen Van Buren and met a lot of the pros. Also ran into so friends that I was glad to see both old and new ones. Had a blast. Took my mother, youngest daughter and 2 of the older grandchildren. I'll go again and again. Wish I could have made it to Peoria to watch but had business to take care of here. Glad everyone had a grand time. Maybe next year.
Kay
 
he said something along the lines of like "do you guys just like to talk about pool, or do you actually play it too" I didn't quite hear all of it, but from what i saw and heard this weekend, I think SJM might have gotten a few hours at a pool table in his lifetime ( as short as it has been, i think he said he was about 23 when we went to dinner) but that is the quality people that come out for a show in IL.. there will always be a few of them, and I apologize... he wasn't quite as bad as the drunk that came out to watch during the jennifer/ga young match... that was a classic encounter
 
OldHasBeen said:
How About A "AZER'S" area at The Derby City Classic?
I think this has been discussed before or maybe it was over at OnePocket.org.
I don't think it would be that hard to have a table with a banner at the DCC for AZer's to regester and meet.
The Derby City Classic is the BEST there is.
TY & GL
Click to expand...

If there are enough people interested in this idea, I would be willing to let someone set up a small table in my booth for a couple of hours to register AZers for an AZers' Tournament.
 
ManifestEcstacy said:
I think SJM might have gotten a few hours at a pool table in his lifetime ( as short as it has been, i think he said he was about 23 when we went to dinner)
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:eek: :eek: :eek: How old err YOUNG is SJM?????
 
Williebetmore said:
T-ly,
SJM is 4 years younger than me, I thought everyone knew that.
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LOL, I didn't realize he was that young... he's wise beyond his yrs in many aspects. LOL, I guess he really is "the youngest old schooler". :p
 
Timberly said:
LOL, I didn't realize he was that young... he's wise beyond his yrs in many aspects. LOL, I guess he really is "the youngest old schooler". :p
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wow, I had him pegged fo "OLD!".... He speaks so eloquent and is a wealth of information...

Very nice person indeed.

btw - SJM is quite a bit older than 23. :D
 
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chefjeff said:
I was right there with you guys but missed the whole thing...what did the guy behind us say/do, anyway?

Jeff Livingston
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Actually, Willie and I discussed a position at length between racks, not during a rack. The fellow behind me did, in fact, ask me to keep it down, and I complied for the remainder of the match.. I felt I had talked very softly, but I was willing to accept this, admittedly confrontational, fellow's word that I was detracting from his enjoyment of the match. I apologized to him and desisted from further comments on the play for the remaining fifteen minutes or so of the match.

PS For those inquiring, SJM is 47 (but doesn't look a day over 46).
 
sjm said:
Actually, Willie and I discussed a position at length between racks, not during a rack. The fellow behind me did, in fact, ask me to keep it down, and I complied for the remainder of the match.. I felt I had talked very softly, but I was willing to accept this, admittedly confrontational, fellow's word that I was detracting from his enjoyment of the match. I apologized to him and desisted from further comments on the play for the remaining fifteen minutes or so of the match.

PS For those inquiring, SJM is 47 (but doesn't look a day over 46).
Click to expand...

Barb thought you were 35 or so...I won't tell you what my guess was. :eek:

As for that guy being distracted, I was sitting right next to you and wasn't distracted....he must have good ears or bad listening skills....I enjoyed every comment you made and learned a few things by them. For example the safeties in the final match, somewhere around the 5-3 game where Allison made, in your judgment, a safety error, then came back and executed exactly what you said she should have done on the inning before. I want to see that on TV from the overhead camera, though ESPN will probably cut out that "boring" game...lol...actually one of the best games of the tourney.

Jeff Livingston
 
chefjeff said:
As for that guy being distracted, I was sitting right next to you and wasn't distracted....he must have good ears or bad listening skills....I enjoyed every comment you made and learned a few things by them.
Jeff Livingston
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Chef,
SJM tactfully neglected to mention that I was the one asking him for a breakdown of the match - the only reason that I moved there from the more comfortable seating. I think the spectator was well within his rights to ask for a little silence if he found the conversation distracting or annoying. The manner in which he asked, however, left little doubt about his lack of social skills and character - a polite request would have sufficed.

I think many fans (and perhaps even players) are somewhat unaware of the importance of the kicking/safety/pushing game at this level of play (I have certainly been one of them) - and I've specifically asked SJM to help enlighten me; its too bad we chose those partcular seats.
 
Manifest...It was nice to meet you. I think you got some valuable lessons from watching and the spectators. You probably never thought you could learn that much.

Chef Jeff, it was alot of fun giving lessons by using cigarettes and peanuts. I had a great time talking with you.

SJM and Willie...the guy sitting behind you must have had incredible ears. SJM you hardly speak loud enough to hear as is let alone while the matches are going. I guess you guys are just troublemakers. We can't take you out anywhere. :)

Sarah
 
chefjeff said:
....I enjoyed every comment you made and learned a few things by them. For example the safeties in the final match, somewhere around the 5-3 game where Allison made, in your judgment, a safety error, then came back and executed exactly what you said she should have done on the inning before. I want to see that on TV from the overhead camera, though ESPN will probably cut out that "boring" game...lol...actually one of the best games of the tourney.
Click to expand...

No doubt, Jeff, you're referring to the 5 - 3 rack of the semifinal between Webb and Fisher, a fascinating exchange that really sealed the deal for Fisher.
 
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