Rhea the new Chapter, without Gene

Rhea

Rhea

Retired Road Player
Silver Member
Before I met Gene

I began playing pool at the age of 19 at a place called Ride the Rail in St Louis, MO in 1995. The first couple years I just shot 8 ball on a valley cougar maybe once a month for an hour or so. In 1997 I finally decided I wanted to try the 9 foot table. That is when I learned that many of the players there actually gamble at pool and it intrigued me even more. Most people offered me enormous spots to get me to play with them. By 1998 I was fired from my job and began playing pool every day.

One day I was at a place called Afton Billiards and was playing a guy named Jim the Painter, He made a bet with me that he would put up $200 if I could beat him in a race to 9 while spotting me the wild 7 vs if I lost I had to sign up for the U.S. Army. He had a recruiter there watching the match. I lost and I signed up as I promised. I only stuck it out for 3 years but when I got out I came back to St Louis and began playing pool again regularly.

My first job outside of the service in 2002 was at a call center selling AT&T Wireless, I was rather good at sales and was the top earner for several months with giant commission checks that I used to fuel my passion for gambling at pool. I started playing 9-ball and stopped playing 8-ball as often. I would play anyone who walked in the door. An A- player back then could spot me the last 5 and I still had no chance as running 3 balls in order was unlikely for me.

Then the real danger began, in 2003 when I found a new game called 1 pocket where even more people gambled. I played Ryan Huelsman from Cahokia IL that game and he gave me the silliest spot of 40-3 and I had no chance. His friend JP that was with him gave me the same spot with the same results. I was terrible, but I kept trying I played everyone at any pool game offered.

One day I played Jarod at Ride the Rail. We played 8-8 1 pocket but he was giving me 4 games on the wire going to 5. I just needed to win 1 even game. Jarod posted $500 with Ron who worked there. I put up the title to my van along with the keys. On the 5th rack everything seemed to be going my way I only needed 1 ball with a ball sitting deep in my hole and Jarod still needed all 8. Jarod pulled off a really odd shot where the ball came up onto the rail and dropped back down on top of the ball in my hole shooting it straight for his hole and the cb bounced back onto the table and rolled toward the spot. Needless to say Jarod ran 8 and out after that and I gave him my Van.

He started doing donuts in the parking lot with the van. After that I quit pool for a few years. In 2004 I began my own buisiness which I ran successfully for 3 years. Eventually when the market was saturated in 2007 I began going to the poolroom again. There was a whole new batch of patrons at the poolroom I was used to going to. I met Coty who was the only B- player at the poolroom in 2007 everyone else except for Ron who worked there was a C or C+.

I began playing 9 ball again gambling once a week on the weekends with anyone who would play for money. Some of the weaker players played me even and anyone who was a C+ or better gave me a spot. In 2008 I got a job at Ride the Rail billiards and on my days off I was able to play. By now I was playing almost every single day and starting to get better, I was now a solid C player there and even capable of winning an 8 ball tournament for C players occasionally. Before 2008 was over I was let go.

So I began to seek new employment and I got hired at a temp agency as a computer technician for $17/hr. I was a subcontractor for IBM and had to install all the double screens at Meryl Lynch downtown. After that I got a job for AIG selling life & accidental insurance. I only stuck with that job for a couple months but I was able to get a real nice brand new car with a GPS.

When I left that job I decided I was gonna try to go on the road with the money I saved up. This old guy at the poolroom named Jimmy needed a ride to Knoxville TN. I agreed to drop him off there and start my journey in Knoxville.

I ended up staying in TN for 6 months. During that time I also went as far as Alabama, Georgia, and even the Derby City Classic. I never competed in any of the big events but I always took someone with me and funded them in the tournaments for a split of what they made. I did however play 8 ball at every bar I could along the way for $5 here and there. I also cashed in 1 out of every 3 8-ball bar box tournament I got in and I was chasing a tournament every single day of the week to keep money in my pocket.

When I left TN and came back to St Louis I played a guy named Fish. He used to be able to spot me quite a bit of weight before I went to TN but after I came back I was probably a C+. I got him to spot me the wild 7 and beat him out of $400 on the first night I came back to STL.

I stayed in St Louis for about 6 more months before I went dead broke. Then I got a job at a bar as a cook. The bar had pool tables in it and an APA league. I joined the league and played as a 5. I didnt really like the league it costed $7 to play a match plus you had to put quarters in the table it was all a big money sink in my opinion. I ended up having to quit that job after a couple months because the repo people would have figured out where I park my car. So I took a job at another bar in Herculaneum MO where I worked for a year and a half. That bar closed down but I did play pool once a week in their local tournament and got 1st place in the tournament on numerous weeks during that year and a half.

I ended up going to U-City and quit pool for another year after that. Then I got a job at Taco Bell for 1 month. My mom called me one day from New Mexico and told me there was a call center hiring down the street from where she lived named Victoria Secret Direct. She sent me a bus ticket and told me to just quit Taco Bell.

So then I moved in with her in Oct 2011. I got the job at Victoria Secret on Halloween day. I worked there a year and then a big bank bought the call center and converted the employees to a new role if they elected to stay. I chose to become a bill collector. and worked there for 9 months. In January 2013 my friend convinced me to compete at Rustys in Arlington TX, it was my first WBPA Qualifier I had ever competed in. I ended up getting 13th place, and then the next day I played in the 2nd chance tournament and got 1st place. In March 2013 I drove to Phoenix AZ to play in the AWBT and ended up getting 9th place. and then the next day I played in the 2nd chance tournament and got 1st place. Then in May I drove 14 hours to Katy TX. I made it through the first day undefeated. The 2nd day I won my first match and made it to the match for the hot seat with Si Ming Chen. She beat me 7-0. Then I lost my next match 7-4. So I ended up taking 3rd place out of 46 women.

Then I got a promotion at work my last day in NM was scheduled for the end of June. I packed up my stuff and drove to a tournament at Jamaica Joes in Oklahoma. There I drew Nicole Keeney as my first match and I lost 7-1. My next match I lost 7-6. and so I headed to Da Bar where I won 1st place in their local tournament. Then I left OK and headed to MO stopped in Barnhardt and matched up with Shelby Locatti, she was coming back from Tunica MS. We ended up breaking even. Then I visited my old boss in St Louis MO and he gave me a ring from his coin shop.

Then I drove the rest of the way to Columbus Ohio my new job was in Westerville Ohio and I began work on July 3rd. I worked a split shift so every day in between shifts I would drive to Whitehall and play on Chris Bartram's table until I met Gene.
Gene Albrecht - I met a young lady in Columbus, Ohio.

She eats, thinks and plays pool with every spare moment she has in her life.

She's a self rated B- player and she just loves the game.

She's been gambling around the Columbus area for about the last month or 2 and has lost allot of money.

I worked with her a little and the willingness to learn is extremely high. She is willing to do whatever it takes to get to her top level which will be pretty high. She has allot of raw talent and more desire than I've ever seen in another human being and I've seen allot.

We are going to start on a journey. During my travels I will be teaching her to be a champion. She should be playing at a really high level within a couple of months for sure.

To be able to compete at that high level will take a while longer. She needs to learn how manage herself on the road. Eating, exercise and sleep are so important. It can be so hard to keep your focus and health on the road.

This will be the total package for sure. One step at a time.

This is going to be one hell of a ride and one that will be fun to watch and hopefully fun to hear about.

I will be documenting most days on the forum.

Our first stop is going to be Indy. If there is any AZer out there that has a 9 foot table and can put us up for a week or 2 you won't regret it. I will give you a few of the most amazing pool lessons you could ever get in exchange for your hospitality.

Just give me a call. 715-563-8712 Thanks ahead of time...........

One man a van and the road....Building a Champion.

Rhea Brooks - One day I met a guy named Gene Albrecht who is a professional traveling pool instructor of Perfect Aim. He was in town to play Chris Bartram on a BigTruck live stream money match.
He took the time to show me Perfect Aim and I was pretty impressed, before he left town I told him I wanted to go on the road with him and just learn to play better. He gave it alot of thought then eventually agreed. We went through Indiana and got lots of action. But it started off pretty slow
Eventually after a few weeks at Brickyard I was playing $100 sets with people and one night I won $900

But there were also times when I lost a big chunk such as a time when Gene and I bet $2000 on the match between Justin Bergman and Chris Bartram, being from St Louis I thought Bergman was the favorite at least remembering how he used to play. But he lost and so did we on that one.
Then I convinced Gene to try his luck at the U.S. Open so we headed toward NC where I played a guy named Ace at a place called Gate City Billiards and won $100. We then headed to Raleigh to a place called Brass Tap. Gene played that tournament and placed 5th for about $600 after I got half of him in the calcutta
I played a girl there named Asia Cy, we played 5 sets of 9 ball and she won 3 of the 5 sets so I was down 1 set and she quit. She is the best girl in her town.
Then we headed to the U.S. Open but Gene only won his first 2 matches. When he got to Jason Klatt he lost.
We spent some time after the U.S. Open at Q Masters I ended up playing a local there one night and lost $200 playing $50 a rack. A couple nights later I had a rematch scheduled but he put his friend in the box to play me instead who is actually slightly better. We started at $50 a rack eventually he jacked it to $100 then to $200 a rack. By the time I had him stuck $600 he quit.

Then we headed to Newport News where we are right now but not for very long, the reason we are here is so that Gene can play in a qualifier at Pockets tomorrow.

Update- Gene won the qualifier and so now we will be going to Midlothian, VA Dec 7th.

Headed down to Charlotte NC. We will both be playing at Bulldogs in Albermarle this Saturday.

Wednesday Nov 13th - Tonight was great, Gene played as a 13 in the Charlotte Wednesday night tournament and got to the final match for 1st and 2nd with Larry Nevel, Larry played excellent and so did Gene, Gene got to the hill first but Larry caught up and won the final rack.

Gene got to the motel and checked his blood sugar, it was 177. He said thats not good so I told him to get on his exercise bike for a half hour before bed.

Gene seemed rather upset that he didnt win 1st tonight never seen him so unhappy. But I still think he played well at least thats my opinion even tho we got half of what we would have won, he said that 1 rack cost us over $150 in the difference between the payout. I chalk it up to "Oh Well" we will keep grinding it out no need to get that upset.

Jeff Abernathy wants to play some sets with Gene on Wednesday, and we have the Albermarle tournament to focus on this weekend. Tomorrow Gene has a lesson booked at 6pm at Smokin' Cue. I'm going to be there looking for some 9-ball action.
Tonight Gene played tremendously well, the exercise and pure discipline in monitoring his blood sugar, and eating healthy is paying off.
 
I got to witness pure genius as Gene played flawless as the highest rating in the GSBT tournament in a field of approx 25 players with a couple other 11s besides Gene. Gene was the winner of the hotseat even playing races to 11 with people who only had to go to 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 9. He ended up winning 1st place tonight for $500 and we got half of him in the calcutta as well for even more.

To top off the night I ended up getting 5th place and got to meet Shannon the Cannon. Shannon even shared his hot wings with me.

I drew Gene my first match and I lost hill-hill and got 5th fighting my way through the losers bracket only to lose to the 4th place winner Cheryl Pritchard who travelled from Chesapeake to play the event.

I believe 2014 will be Gene's best year in his entire pool career. I have plans on encouraging him to enter every single sanctioned tournament along our path that would bring us the maximum potential income without interfering with his normal routines. We will still try to avoid smoking pool rooms. He will still be giving lessons. But in 2014 Gene is going to finish off the year with the highest tournament payouts he has ever achieved in any other year.

And action, Gene will be in plenty of action. He will be playing many people now that his game is on the rise again after finding out what was causing him to lose sleep for the last couple decades. Gene is now able to play better than he was back in his prime and with the help of his own Perfect Aim system, encouragement from me, and his solid discipline with keeping an eye on his health issues people are going to be in for a big surprise.
Our last day in Charlotte was a Monday, we practiced a little bit at the Smokin' Cue, we could not find any action, Gene was a bit under the weather and the full impact of his loss of his mom hadn't taken effect yet. I think he was still in shock.

The next day we packed up and began our journey northwest, we stopped in Knoxville Tennessee at the KBC, I saw some familiar faces there including Johnny Changas who was playing 1 pocket as usual and Mathew Braden sitting on the barstool in front of the counter. We only stopped there to use the restroom, wasn't much going on and we didn't have a lot of time so we headed back on the road.

By the end of the night we made our way to Indianapolis Indiana and stopped in the Brickyard hoping to get some quick action. There was no one there for me to play 9-ball with. Bobby SR was playing 1 hole $50 a rack with another regular. Tommy was playing $1000.00 sets with a golf buddy of his and was already up 2 sets and they began a 3rd set. Tommy tried to get his buddy to bet more per set but he wouldn't bet more than $1k a set.

Well eventually we headed out and drove to Lebanon Indiana and stayed the night.
The next day we began our northbound journey through all the tollways. As we approached the 2nd Chicago toll by the McDonald's the vehicle began to sputter. The engine light was on and Gene began to panic. We just rolled into the McDonald's parking lot. Gene definitely needed an oil change but when we stopped at a few places
he was offended by prices of nearly $40. He told me he refuses to pay over $19 for an oil change and that a lot of places in the U.S. run specials for oil changes between $15.95 to $19 you just have to pay attention.

Anyway he put a quart of oil into the engine, it didn't do the trick the van would not start. Then we sat there for about a minute and he grabbed his bike off the back of the van and gave me the keys to the van said he would be back. He began riding the bike on the narrow shoulder along the tollway toward a suburb of Chicago. When he got to the underpass he lifted the bike over the cement barrier and there was only one place where the grass was real steep about 40 feet down to the residential street. He worked his way down the steep embankment and then rode his bike with low air in his back tire quickly under the long bridge. After riding a half mile he finally reached a gas station off of 92nd street. This area was pretty tough. Gene was inside buying a gas can and a guy pulled up and put a dollar in the air hose to act like he was filling up his tires. Then along came another guy who tried to take Gene's bike, luckily the guy filling his tires tried to stop the other guy from taking the bike. Gene saw all of this going on so he ran outside without paying for the gas can to stop either person from taking his bike. Then he filled up the gas can, filled up his tire with air. And at the point the guy working at the gas station runs out and tells Gene he has to pay for the gas can. Gene gives the guy $10 and heads back.

When Gene gets back to the van he looks all sweaty. He rode against traffic on the tollway to get back. He puts the gas in the van and then says to me "Here is the moment of truth." At this point I am really hoping the van starts because otherwise we would have had to buy another vehicle. After a few tries Gene gets the van to start. We continue to the $4 toll and take the exit back to the same gas station. Gene wears his hood up with the strings tight. As hes filling the tank he tells me when you are in the hood always wear your hood up and they will not bother you cause they can't tell your age.

So then we get the oil changed and air the tires in the van. Even got a plug on one of the tires because it needed to be patched. We then head northbound through the jam packed rush hour traffic slowly approaching Wisconsin.

We eventually arrive in Eau Claire. Gene decided to drive by his Mom's house to show me where she lived. I could see his eyes tearing up a little bit. He really tried to hide it though.

We found a really nice room for only $204.30 for this week here in town. Had to go to bed last night without internet. After loading everything from the van into the room it was about 45 mins that had passed and Gene didn't want me to call the front desk to wake the lady up to get the password for the internet wi-fi.

Well, we both went, neither of us got in the money tonight, he still isnt feeling chipper yet. But before the tournament he played a race to 7 for $50 and won, then a couple sets for $20 a set! Gene is playing $20 sets now with people He won both of those sets too. So up $90 then booked a lesson with the guy he beat the first set. But we spent about $35 at that bar in entry fee, green fee, and break pot etc.

He learned about a tournament tomorrow in Wausaw about an hour and a half away. He says the field is gonna be too tough for me but he might play in that one as long as he gets decent sleep tonight.

I went to the Hallow today, played a guy a 9-ball race to 7 for $20. Ran out from everywhere beat him 7-2. He went to take a 10 min break, and I didn't feel like waiting so I accepted an offer to play a race to 5 for $20 in 8 ball with another guy.

This guy beat me the first set 5-0. I flipped the coin and turned around and beat him 5-0. Then I beat him again 5-2. Then He suggested we play a race to 4 for $100 and I agreed. I beat him 4-1. Then he wanted to do a race to 5 for $100, I beat him 5-4. Then he wanted to do another set for $100 race to 4 again. I beat him 4-3.

This time he was only able to pay me $40, and aired me for the other $60 because his ATM card would not allow him to withdraw any more money. He promises to pay me tomorrow, we will see.

So although I won $340 that night I was only paid $280. The next day which was yesterday I played Jeff Kay at the Hallow, he wanted to play 8-ball. races to 3 for $20 a set, I won the first set, but then lost 3 sets in a row, then he suggested we play a race to 7 in 9 ball, he beat me 7-2. I was playing horrible. Then I played a guy named Dean we played 9 ball races to 5 for $10 a set the rest of the night, at least 4 hours, he ended up for the night 2 sets ahead of me.

I really hope I play better today because I lost $80 last night.

Thanks, I really played terrible last night couldn't think straight. Tried to evaluate what I did wrong last night, changed how I ate today, spaced out smaller meals every 2 1/2 hours and it really kept me playing and thinking better.

Anyway today I got really lucky, played a pretty strong player a race to 8 in 9 ball for $30 dollars. The first set went hill hill so I asked if he wanted to back it and jack it to $50 a set. He responded yes, and we commenced play. This set I won 8-5, then the next set 8-4. Then he wanted to try race to 5 in 8 ball for $50. I agreed and won 5-3.
 
So today I made $150 but I had to shoot my best game and he really did play superb I was just lucky on some of my shots.

Tonight was our last night in Eau Claire, we woke up and went to get the van, it is all fixed now, then spent some time at Gene's family's residence.

Then we stopped in to the Hallow, I ended up playing a friend a race to 5 for $20 in 9-ball and won 5-4. Then we played a race to 4 in 8 ball for $20 and I won 4-1.

Then we left the Hallow and went back to the motel to try and find a place to stay for tomorrow's tournament at the Black Bear Casino. After calling just about every motel in a 40 mile radius we were able to get a room with only 1 bed. So I am gonna sleep on the floor and try to still compete in 9-ball and in 8-ball.

Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving. We will be leaving the motel in less than 2 hours, then going 3 hours north to our motel to unpack. I hope Gene feels ready for this. I am so excited to have the privilege to play as an athlete in the best sport on the planet competitively!!

Finished 33rd out of 71 participants in the B Player 9 ball division the first night.
Finished 33rd out of 123 participants in the B Player 8 ball division, 1 out of the money. That being said looks like I might be flying solo here shortly. Gene and I might have gone as far as we can together, I have a list of tournaments I will probably do rather well in by myself lined up in the near future but they take me in a different direction altogether, I will prob have to buy a cheap vehicle.

My potential schedule:

Bogies Billiards, Houston, TX Dec 8th 2013
Magoos Billiards, Tulsa, OK Dec 14-15th 2013
Jamaica Joes, Midwest City, OK Dec 21-22nd 2013
J.O.B.s Nashville, TN Jan 17-19th 2014
Rusty's Billiards, Arlington, TX Feb 1-2nd 2014
Grand Sierra Casino, Reno, NV Feb 24-Mar 2nd 2014
Slick Willies, Katy, TX Mar 15-16th 2014
4 Bears Casino, New Town, ND April 11-13th 2014
OBCues TX or OK, May 3-4th 2014
Legends, League City, TX June 21-22nd 2014
Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV July 16-26th 2014
OBCues TX or OK, Aug 9-10th 2014
OBCues TX or OK, Sept 13-14th 2014
Jamaica Joes, Midwest City, OK Oct 18-19th 2014
Rusty's Billiards, Arlington, TX Dec 6-7th 2014

I have been employed since I was 16, at 22 I went into the military full time, after the military I went to college for computer programming. I then went into sales for about a year. Then I opened my own successful business for 3 years. Eventually I decided to work at a pool room for a year. Then I became a computer technician for a week. Then I passed the Missouri state licence for Life accidental and Health Insurance and sold Insurance for a couple months. Then I went on the road for 6 months. Eventually I got a job working at a call center for Victoria Secret for a year. Then a fortune 500 bank bought the building I worked in and retained the employees and I chose to learn entry level debt collections. I excelled at debt collection and became the #1 entry level debt collector at the company averaging $48,000.00/year. That is how I got the promotion to move to Ohio from New Mexico. Even in Ohio at Mid level collections I was in the top of the charts and on my way to making $77,000.00/year in what I averaged for the 2 months I worked in Ohio right before I resigned to go on the road with Gene.

I am pretty sure I could do whatever I want to do with my life. If I had decided to stick with the path I was on right before I met Gene in about a year to 2 years I would have been making 6 figures every single year. I was only 2 seats away from our Recovery department and the top performers in that department all made between $100k-$200k annually. But guess what? I'd rather play pool and you know what? The job I had came naturally to me it wasn't even difficult.

I lost $7,000.00 gambling in Columbus Ohio before Gene met me.

The first 5 weeks I lived in a motel. Then I stayed somewhere else for 2 weeks with a friend that I met at the poolhall in Whitehall before I moved into the apartment I had. I moved out of the apartment less than 3 weeks after moving in. The reason there wasn't electric is because I decided not to even put electric in my name when I knew I was about to leave the place and travel with Gene.

My car broke down for a totally different reason. I just never gave it an oil change the entire time I had it. The engine just quit working it wasnt an old car I still owed $6200.00 on it.

Gene is currently at the Hallow giving a pool lesson, when he is finished he will pick me up and drop me off at the Hallow to grind out whatever cash I can today. I plan to play sets for $25 a piece but its hit and miss there with very little going on.

Monday I ordered some books from Amazon with Gene's permission. I ordered 3 books on the mental game and 1 on safeties, and 1 on 1 pocket. I am pretty excited to get to read them.

Today I overcame a new hurdle for me. I decided to play a local player who is well known as an A ranked player without a spot. We played only 1 set but I beat him playing even. I just ran out and kept him in his seat the majority of the set. When I didn't have a clear shot I played safe or left him rough.

Going to a scotch doubles tournament in WI Rapids tomorrow with a local player from Eau Claire.
Also have a match for $50 a set with Kelly Birmingham from WI Rapids area a strong player and should be a good match this Tuesday. Then headed to the Bus stop on Wednesday afternoon.
Arrive in Tulsa Thursday morning 8:45 AM via Greyhound looking for a place to stay for a few days for the Magoos tournament then headed to Jamaica Joes afterwards.

So we departed from Eau Claire at 8:15 AM and didn't arrive in WI Rapids until 10:35 AM. On our way there Jeff called the bar and told them we were on the way there to play in the tournament. The person at the bar who answered the phone said no problem and that the tourney didn't start until 11am.

We got there and the Tournament Director had already begun the tournament at 10 AM sharp as was the info on the flyer. We explained that we had called the bar and he acted like the bar gave us false info and said he will remove the bars number from the flyer for his future tournaments.

Anyway we were stuck there already spending travel time and gasoline so we decided to make the best of it. We went to McDonald's and ordered a few items from their dollar menu, went back to the bar and there was Kelly. Kelly is a Master player by Wisconsin standards, that equates to a high A or low AA player in comparison to the men. Her team ended up losing their 2nd match but stuck it out and played until they reached the same team that put them in the losers bracket at the end. And Kelly's team double dipped them for the 1st prize.

I ended up playing Kelly some 8 ball at the bar. I didn't play very well at first and ended up losing $25.

Jeff & I both signed up for the singles tournament they had only 12 players for that tournament 8 ball best 2 out of 3 double elimination Valley rules.

I ended up winning 3rd, Jeff won 2nd, and a master player ended up taking 1st.

After the tournament Jeff & I headed to Johnny's bar where they had 2 nice diamond 7ft tables in excellent condition, we got the establishment to open the tables.

I played Kelly on one of them and Jeff played her husband on the other one.

Kelly is by far the best female I have gambled with so far to date. She quickly beat me the first 2 races to 7 for $25 each in 9 ball. Later that night the tables turned I was in pure stroke running racks. I ended up winning the next 3 sets just before the bar closed to call it a night.


This is not a temporary road trip at least that is not our intention. This is a journey where I am charged to learn all that I can from Gene until Gene is unable to play pool or give lessons anymore due to health reasons. Gene is preparing me for survival on my own.

This isn't like some old road stories where when a person got out of their town won a bunch of money then returned to their town a year or so later. This is a more permanent trip. Gene has been on the road living in motels for over 4 1/2 years only returning to Wisconsin for Christmas visits for a very brief time but not to stay more than a few days.

This adventure is already a success as Gene is able to earn more on the road than the expense of 2 people. Anything negative I do sets us back. Any positive contribution I make allows us to go forward. In fact if I do nothing at all we will continue to prosper but I feel I owe it to both of us to make some positive contributions any time the situation arrives.

When I was finished Kelly said to me that there is no way I am still a B player, that I would be considered a Master player by Wisconsin and Minnesota standards among the women and a strong A player among the men.

Today I played Chief. Races to 8 for $50 a set 9 ball on a 7ft pro-cut diamond. I lost the first set, won the 2nd and 3rd set hill-hill, lost the 4th set, and won the 5th set hill-hill. Ended up $50 winner for today but it was a fun day playing pool with a great player from Altoona.

Gene is still mourning the loss of his mother. Don't know when or if he will play pool again. In 2 days I get on a Grayhound bus heading to Tulsa, OK to be on the road alone.

It is scary for me, I am no where near ready but it is what it is.. I plan to live in Midwest City OK for a month in a motel, grinding it out at all the local bars and pool rooms. Then by Feb 1st I plan to arrive in Arlington TX to play in the OB Cues Tour.

Fortunately for me they have a 24/7 pool room, I plan to purchase 1 week at an extended stay motel and try to grind out at least food cost and weekly motel cost per week and just keep doing it indefinitely.

I have a match today with Kelly Birmingham Nickl a Master player from Wisconsin. She & I will be playing even at 4PM at Lefty's. I believe the tables are valley barbox. I am trying to convince her to play a headset rather than playing races to 7. I believe since the fuel cost will be $40 and the table time is going to be high that we should freeze up at least $200 to make it worthwhile.

I believe she is going to try to get the match live-streamed.

I suggested to her that we play a 10 ahead headset for $200 and if for some reason neither of us get to 10 ahead before the close of the bar that we can just pro-rate the racks @ $20 per rack.

Anyway I just bought a Go Phone so I will have some form of communication when I go on the road by myself.
 
Tonight I played Kelly, she is one tough cookie.

Every set we played was for $50. The first set was a race to 9 it went hill-hill and she won. I won the 2nd set 9-3. She won the 3rd set 9-5. She won the 4th set 9-7. She won the 5th set 7-5. I won the 6th set 6-4. She won the 7th set 6-5. She won the final set 5-3.

So tonight I lost $200 not a good way to start off.
 
Good luck out there, it is a tough gig. If you get out to Phoenix it is a bit warmer here and plenty of action to be had, just tell whomever ask you that I give you the 7,8 and the breaks. ;)
 
This kind of a life is so foreign to me, I can't even comment except to say I would be scared out of my wits to even consider it.

What were the final circumstances of your split with Gene? Is Gene still planning on going on the road again?
 
TATE said:
This kind of a life is so foreign to me, I can't even comment except to say I would be scared out of my wits to even consider it.

What were the final circumstances of your split with Gene? Is Gene still planning on going on the road again?
Click to expand...

I've gotta say, I'm with Chris on this one. I cannot even imagine living day to day wondering who I can beat out of a few dollars just to put gas in the tank or other living expenses. That in no way sounds fun to me what so ever.

I just love stability a whole lot more! To each his/her own. I would not trade lifestyles and the comforts of family and home for a guaranteed successful life on the road. Not ever!

YMMV
 
Reading this the only thing I could think is "Why would anyone do this"

I could see if there was some possible big payoff at the end but there isn't. At all. Ever.

But I respect that no fvcks are given in this journey of futility. Can't say I haven't done it myself.
 
I find it very odd that C players would be going around playing for $50 and $100 a set. Maybe it's my area, but I hardly even see B players play for more than $20 unless they have good jobs and can afford it.
 
JCIN said:
Reading this the only thing I could think is "Why would anyone do this"

I could see if there was some possible big payoff at the end but there isn't. At all. Ever.

But I respect that no fvcks are given in this journey of futility. Can't say I haven't done it myself.
Click to expand...

It's life. Live it. Go your own way and do whatever you want as long as you don't hurt others.

Maybe the payoff is the immediate experience and not vacations in Miami when you're 70.

Some people just like to be in action, any kind of action. Even playing races to 20 for $50 is a drug that lets some people escape the word. Nothing else matters at that moment, not yesterday and not tomorrow. Just the moment.
 
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MOJOE said:
I've gotta say, I'm with Chris on this one. I cannot even imagine living day to day wondering who I can beat out of a few dollars just to put gas in the tank or other living expenses. That in no way sounds fun to me what so ever.

I just love stability a whole lot more! To each his/her own. I would not trade lifestyles and the comforts of family and home for a guaranteed successful life on the road. Not ever!

YMMV
Click to expand...

Add another to the list who does not want to be homeless and jobless!!!
 
JB Cases said:
It's life. Live it. Go your own way and do whatever you want as long as you don't hurt others.

Maybe the payoff is the immediate experience and not vacations in Miami when you're 70.

Some people just like to be in action, any kind of action. Even playing races to 20 for $50 is a drug that let's some people escape the word. Nothing else matters at that moment, not yesterday and not tomorrow. Just the moment.
Click to expand...

Well said...

Action pool is definitely a drug for many. There are lots of top named players strung out on it. It's usually a life sentence once you catch the buzz. I'm thinking of several now as I type.
 
Pretty hard way to make a living

Pretty hard way to make a living playing players that are better than you or that play even with you.... Most B or A- players trying to win at least watch a player before setting up a match with them to see if they have a chance...You can't make a living playing 50 dollar sets if you don't have the nuts every time so you can work the room a little. And its a hard living hustling drunks from town to town.
 
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