Shark In The Pool - Shane Van Boening

Dana Bufalo

Dana Bufalo

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Article from KELOLAND.COM dated June 21, 2007.

http://www.keloland.com/Sports/NewsDetail7981.cfm?Id=0,58118

Also, check out the KELOLAND.COM Video Player Link of Shane Van Boening.

http://www.keloland.com/videoarchive/index.cfm?VideoFile=062107shanevanboening

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Shark In The Pool
KELOLAND TV - Sioux Falls, SD
6/21/2007

The ability to tune out distractions is a must among professional athletes. And local billiards pro Shane Van Boening, thanks in part to a hearing impairment and a whole lot of talent, has managed to ascend to the top of his sport.

At the age of 23, Shane Van Boening is approaching the pinnacle of billiards. A month ago, Van Boening captured the World 10-Ball championship, and is currently ranked number one by the top authority among billiards publications.

"I'm playing real good right now," Shane Van Boening said, "and I'm just starting to win each tournament. I'm getting to the finals in every major tournament right now."

Chuck Moss, Shane's mentor, manager, and friend added, "The sky's the limit for the potential as far as what he has. There's a lot of eyes on him throughout the nation. It's very fun, very interesting to travel with him and see all the attention he gets."

With success comes distractions. But at the table Shane is able to shut out any unwanted noise, as he's 98-percent hearing impaired, which creates a whole new level of concentration.

Shane said, "When I play pool, if I have a real important match, I just turn off my hearing aid and it keeps me from getting distracted with noises in the background and you know it really helps, it gets you more focused in the game."

Chuck said, "Shane's a perfect example of someone turning a, perception-wise, a negative into a positive. He's able to shut things off when he gets into pressure situations. He can just tune everything out, so I really think he has an advantage with that, it really helps him."

Impairment aside, Shane is rapidly becoming one of the most intimidating players in the world.

Shane said, "The top pool players in the world...they're pretty much afraid of me right now. I'm playing real great right now. I competed in the last three tournaments and got into the finals. They know that I'm going to be one of the best pool players in the world right now."

A native of Rapid City, Shane recently finished second at the EnjoyPool.com Open in Las Vegas. The championship match will air this Sunday on ESPN.
 
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WOW!!
He is very confident huh? That isnt meant in a bad way, he deservers it for sure. I hope that he is able to maintain that level for some time and more. I remember a guy once called himself the PRINCE of POOL, he is still very good, but doesnt seem to be near where he was then...
 
PROG8R said:
WOW!!
He is very confident huh? That isnt meant in a bad way, he deservers it for sure. I hope that he is able to maintain that level for some time and more. I remember a guy once called himself the PRINCE of POOL, he is still very good, but doesnt seem to be near where he was then...
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You're right about Corey, That kid has more talant then any 5 players tied together.... he just doesn't take Pool seriously:(
 
Dana Bufalo said:
Article from Keloland.com dated June 21, 2007.

http://www.keloland.com/Sports/NewsDetail7981.cfm?Id=0,58118

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Shark In The Pool
KELOLAND TV - Sioux Falls, SD
6/21/2007

The ability to tune out distractions is a must among professional athletes. And local billiards pro Shane Van Boening, thanks in part to a hearing impairment and a whole lot of talent, has managed to ascend to the top of his sport.

At the age of 23, Shane Van Boening is approaching the pinnacle of billiards. A month ago, Van Boening captured the World 10-Ball championship, and is currently ranked number one by the top authority among billiards publications.

"I'm playing real good right now," Shane Van Boening said, "and I'm just starting to win each tournament. I'm getting to the finals in every major tournament right now."

Chuck Moss, Shane's mentor, manager, and friend added, "The sky's the limit for the potential as far as what he has. There's a lot of eyes on him throughout the nation. It's very fun, very interesting to travel with him and see all the attention he gets."

With success comes distractions. But at the table Shane is able to shut out any unwanted noise, as he's 98-percent hearing impaired, which creates a whole new level of concentration.

Shane said, "When I play pool, if I have a real important match, I just turn off my hearing aid and it keeps me from getting distracted with noises in the background and you know it really helps, it gets you more focused in the game."

Chuck said, "Shane's a perfect example of someone turning a, perception-wise, a negative into a positive. He's able to shut things off when he gets into pressure situations. He can just tune everything out, so I really think he has an advantage with that, it really helps him."

Impairment aside, Shane is rapidly becoming one of the most intimidating players in the world.

Shane said, "The top pool players in the world...they're pretty much afraid of me right now. I'm playing real great right now. I competed in the last three tournaments and got into the finals. They know that I'm going to be one of the best pool players in the world right now."

A native of Rapid City, Shane recently finished second at the EnjoyPool.com Open in Las Vegas. The championship match will air this Sunday on ESPN.
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That's a great article Dana.

I want to preface everything I am about to say so that NO ONE thinks I am knocking Shane or any other pool player. I like Shane and am happy that he has the ability to turn the noise down.

I have made pool a serious hobby and have learned a great deal from the best pool players and teachers in the world. I have chosen to work in another occupation to provide for my family because of a more basic need to be financially stable. This basic need is rather strong and while I LOVE POOL, even if I had greater talent, more time to spend getting better, it is unlkely that I would prosper.

One of the things I have learned about is distractions. Some players at different times, can tune out the distractions, some can't. Distractions bother everyone even if you or they don't acknowledge it or you just have never played at a high level and don't know what it is like to have your highest level of concentration interrupted. The ability to turn off the audible noise is a very nice thing to be able to do. The other visual "noises" can be muffled as well and there are techniques for doing that as well.

My question is during tournament matches, why can't a player wear a set of ear plugs, listen to music from an IPOD, wear a hat, etc.?

Since we can't control the spectators and other pool players or choose not to, why don't we allow the players to wear SOME DEVICES AND SPECIFY WHAT THOSE ARE. As innovations come to the market place, there will be need to be cautious about what is allowed and not allowed. One item that I would have to be concerned with is the bridge that has the two laser beams built into it. This could be a definite advantage to shot making, but these other items can simply hold down the distractions but for the most part THEY ARE BANNED and I think it is unfortunate.

What say you?
JoeyA
 
distractions

It also depends on what type of distractions are present, some players can tune out everything, and all of a sudden hear some soft sound 3 tables away.
I have always been able to focus well for the most part, but I do think that work conditions as a software developer in large companies in an office environment with many users, and being able to concentrate on and off helped me in Pool to turn it on and off when I need to.

I have had many incidents happen at a room where I am playing, and if I was shooting, I didn't even know something happened until my turn was over, but if someone whispered, "OMG, that girl playing on table 4 doesn't have any panties on", I would definately hear it......... LOL
 
I did not know that he was 98% hearing impared.... Well, I guess if it helps his game that is good. I like Shane, I wish he would have beaten Alex in the last tournament.

THANKS FOR THE VIDEO LINK!!!!
 
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Quite a few years back they asked all the top players, if you tell someone ONE thing that is most important to play pool well what would it be, all the players said very good things, but the one that stuck out most was said by Minnesota Fats, "avoid distractions".
 
Where are they banned?

In what tournaments are earplugs and ipods banned? I have never been to one where either was mentioned or was a problem. BJ Ussery is famous for playing with his ipod.
 
Shane said, "The top pool players in the world...they're pretty much afraid of me right now. I'm playing real great right now. I competed in the last three tournaments and got into the finals. They know that I'm going to be one of the best pool players in the world right now."

lol
 
derekdisco said:
Shane said, "The top pool players in the world...they're pretty much afraid of me right now. I'm playing real great right now. I competed in the last three tournaments and got into the finals. They know that I'm going to be one of the best pool players in the world right now."

lol
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Why is it funny for him to show confidence?

BVal
 
I called Shane last night after I saw the interview. When he answered the first thing I said to him was " So, I guess the top players in the world are pretty much afaid of you, huh ?" :D

He just laughed and said "I'm playing good right now." We laughed about it for a minute and he asked what I was up to. I told him the truth: "I just got done writing an article about you and that interview!" He laughed some more and we shot the breeze for awhile. I wonder if Efren is sleeping Ok? :D


One thing is for sure. The kid has no fear.
 
Well, you don't see people beating down his door to get him in the box...thats for sure...not cockiness IMO its confidence.
 
a great man...

a great man once said"it aint cocky if you can back it up" KID ROCK! lol
 
I like his confidence! That is over 1/2 of the battle in competetive pool. I don't see his attitude as a bad thing at all, just one of the reasons that he plays so well. I am a big fan of SVB.

JMHO, JBK
 
JoeyA said:
That's a great article Dana.

One of the things I have learned about is distractions. Some players at different times, can tune out the distractions, some can't. Distractions bother everyone even if you or they don't acknowledge it or you just have never played at a high level and don't know what it is like to have your highest level of concentration interrupted. The ability to turn off the audible noise is a very nice thing to be able to do. The other visual "noises" can be muffled as well and there are techniques for doing that as well.

JoeyA
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Shane will be the man to beat in a couple more years, I dont think he will get distracted by poker etc., I hope not.


about me for a minute, when I was in my 20's playing pool I could be distracted easily, either by some outside thing or my own mind there was awalys something taking me "out of the shot", i took 12 years off serious pool and am comming back, the best thing thats happened is for a reason I cant explane the distractions are gone, I can block out anything in the pool room and my own mind isnt making any noise or thoughts of "what if". I just shut everything off like Shane says he does and he is Right it helps alot, infact that was one thing that held me back from being a better player then, i would dog balls often, and now its gone i donr miss key shots often, i still miss but not due to distractions, i just miss-its like meditation in a way, no noise in my brain or the pool room is great and to see a champion say that, is cool too, I really like Shane the more I hear about him the more I like him.
 
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