Figured I'd share an interesting little story with y'all.
Some of you might remember a few weeks back to a thread called "It's been 4 damn weeks now" For some reason my entire game just fell apart.
Now let me give you a little background here on myself.. I've been playing pool seriously since I was about 16 years old. By the time I was 17 - 18 I became about as solid B player as there is by San Diego Standards. I moved to Ontario California and quickly discovered I wasn't "shiat" so to speak.. LOL I'm not sure if it was a blow to my ego, or just nerves, but I never played well the entire time I lived up there.
When I was living in San Diego if I played a set with somebody I had the attitude "Whatever we're playing for, is just $$ in my pocket." I never was affected by "nerves" or anything of that sort. Point in fact (back then) while my shape playing abillity was that of an average B player and my shot making abillity of that of a stronger B player I used to be able to pick on alot of the lower level A players. Not just compete with, but usually win cheaper sets against them just becuase of the lack of nerves. (More on that later in another post) I've never done well in tournaments.. Can't figure out why, just never have..
So as I mentioned I moved to Ontario/Upland area and not knowing anybody out there I went down to some of the local pool halls. Well I rented a house up there with some friends I met at the pool hall and we got a GC1.. I was arguably the worst player in the house (as a strong B player).. The roomates were strong. I played quite a bit, but just kinda hit a platuae as far as improvement was concerned. Like I said, never did play well the entire time I lived up there. One night I got mopped up pretty good by a strong resident player up there, and was already a little sour about the game.. The next night all of us are in Bakers Billiards bang'n them around, looking for a lil action, with little luck. In walks this kid with a freakin mouth on him. I was pretty drunk at the time so I decided to place the bet, but let my roomate play in my stead.. Kid gave a low A player the 7 ball sight unseen..
What a moron. (right?)
So I placed my rent money on it, placed a cue I had custom made for my old man on it that I was going to give him as a present and some other shit. I can't remeber the details (nor do I want too).. Kid turns out to be John Schmidt soooo there's not much point in finishing that story Other then to say the final score sounded like some verse outta the bible John 16 : 4. That's a whole different post in itself that someday I'll throw up here.
Needless to say I was turned off on Pool. Losing the bet sucked, point in fact it really sucked, but as I look back on it I'm not sure that losing the money is what I was so pissed about. As I sat there watching this kid work his magic, I remember thinking.. "I don't give a shit if somebody gave me a million dollars and the rest of my life, I don't think I'll ever be as good as this kid is.." Just kind of a disheartening feeling. For the most part I quit playing pool becuase of it.. When people would ask I'd always say "I got cleaned out" and just leave it at that.
I went for years perfectly content with my life, not playing a game of pool.. I'd sometimes watch people in bars, but judging by the other threads in here I'm not the only guy that thinks watching bangers only goes so far. About like watching paint dry after a minute or two. So we fast forward a few years, and now I'm dating this chick that is a bartender. The bar she worked at had 4 bar boxes that they kept in pretty good condition, and there was actually some "C" players there, but nothing to fret at... and then there's this guy.
You guys know this guy.. He's in every bar flapping his trap like it's going outta style. He's so good he doesn't bother with these guys.. blah blah. I've watched him bang a ball around once and in the 5 seconds I saw him shoot (previous weeks) it was pretty obvious that he's not a player. He might make a ball or two, but that's about it. He used to make a habbit out of hitting on my (now ex) chick, I think more to just irritate me then anything, and on this particular night he was really working my nerves. So as the conversation rolls on, he starts in with the pool playing talk again. "Western regional champion" or some B.S. to that nature. I'm dieing... literally dieing to play this guy some for whatever the hell he wants, but I have a cast from my wrist to my shoulder on my right arm.. (I'm left handed so It's my bridge hand, not stroke arm)
So he keeps on, and I finally tell him that when I get my cast off I'm going to come in and flat rob his ass, and he had best step up and play after all the shit he's been talking literally for 2 months.. He keeps on with it to the point of....
"F it... Lets do this right now and I'll play one handed."
So now our "champion" takes the standard route of "I don't play for anything less then 50 a game." To which the response is "No problem, sounds like a fun lil game" (Bankroll the opponent routine just went out the window)
Well I didn't run any racks, but through some ball knowledge, a little safety play, and a hellaciously lucky (I say luck, not becuase it wasn't what I was aiming for, but becuase I don't think I could make the particular shot again for the $$ one handed) 8 ball shot I win.. Close game though.
So now our champ raises the bet to 100... "Absolutely!" (Strike 2 at the bankroll the opponent maneuver) I say now getting kinda excited about it, to which he starts back peddling and eventually we go down 20 a game.. I'll make an already long story shorter by just saving you the suspense. I killed him, point in fact I broke him which is even better. He counts up the cash, and goes to hand it to me and I responded with "Just put it in her tip jar."
(Broken into 2 posts becuase of length)
DJ
Some of you might remember a few weeks back to a thread called "It's been 4 damn weeks now" For some reason my entire game just fell apart.
Now let me give you a little background here on myself.. I've been playing pool seriously since I was about 16 years old. By the time I was 17 - 18 I became about as solid B player as there is by San Diego Standards. I moved to Ontario California and quickly discovered I wasn't "shiat" so to speak.. LOL I'm not sure if it was a blow to my ego, or just nerves, but I never played well the entire time I lived up there.
When I was living in San Diego if I played a set with somebody I had the attitude "Whatever we're playing for, is just $$ in my pocket." I never was affected by "nerves" or anything of that sort. Point in fact (back then) while my shape playing abillity was that of an average B player and my shot making abillity of that of a stronger B player I used to be able to pick on alot of the lower level A players. Not just compete with, but usually win cheaper sets against them just becuase of the lack of nerves. (More on that later in another post) I've never done well in tournaments.. Can't figure out why, just never have..
So as I mentioned I moved to Ontario/Upland area and not knowing anybody out there I went down to some of the local pool halls. Well I rented a house up there with some friends I met at the pool hall and we got a GC1.. I was arguably the worst player in the house (as a strong B player).. The roomates were strong. I played quite a bit, but just kinda hit a platuae as far as improvement was concerned. Like I said, never did play well the entire time I lived up there. One night I got mopped up pretty good by a strong resident player up there, and was already a little sour about the game.. The next night all of us are in Bakers Billiards bang'n them around, looking for a lil action, with little luck. In walks this kid with a freakin mouth on him. I was pretty drunk at the time so I decided to place the bet, but let my roomate play in my stead.. Kid gave a low A player the 7 ball sight unseen..
What a moron. (right?)
So I placed my rent money on it, placed a cue I had custom made for my old man on it that I was going to give him as a present and some other shit. I can't remeber the details (nor do I want too).. Kid turns out to be John Schmidt soooo there's not much point in finishing that story Other then to say the final score sounded like some verse outta the bible John 16 : 4. That's a whole different post in itself that someday I'll throw up here.
Needless to say I was turned off on Pool. Losing the bet sucked, point in fact it really sucked, but as I look back on it I'm not sure that losing the money is what I was so pissed about. As I sat there watching this kid work his magic, I remember thinking.. "I don't give a shit if somebody gave me a million dollars and the rest of my life, I don't think I'll ever be as good as this kid is.." Just kind of a disheartening feeling. For the most part I quit playing pool becuase of it.. When people would ask I'd always say "I got cleaned out" and just leave it at that.
I went for years perfectly content with my life, not playing a game of pool.. I'd sometimes watch people in bars, but judging by the other threads in here I'm not the only guy that thinks watching bangers only goes so far. About like watching paint dry after a minute or two. So we fast forward a few years, and now I'm dating this chick that is a bartender. The bar she worked at had 4 bar boxes that they kept in pretty good condition, and there was actually some "C" players there, but nothing to fret at... and then there's this guy.
You guys know this guy.. He's in every bar flapping his trap like it's going outta style. He's so good he doesn't bother with these guys.. blah blah. I've watched him bang a ball around once and in the 5 seconds I saw him shoot (previous weeks) it was pretty obvious that he's not a player. He might make a ball or two, but that's about it. He used to make a habbit out of hitting on my (now ex) chick, I think more to just irritate me then anything, and on this particular night he was really working my nerves. So as the conversation rolls on, he starts in with the pool playing talk again. "Western regional champion" or some B.S. to that nature. I'm dieing... literally dieing to play this guy some for whatever the hell he wants, but I have a cast from my wrist to my shoulder on my right arm.. (I'm left handed so It's my bridge hand, not stroke arm)
So he keeps on, and I finally tell him that when I get my cast off I'm going to come in and flat rob his ass, and he had best step up and play after all the shit he's been talking literally for 2 months.. He keeps on with it to the point of....
"F it... Lets do this right now and I'll play one handed."
So now our "champion" takes the standard route of "I don't play for anything less then 50 a game." To which the response is "No problem, sounds like a fun lil game" (Bankroll the opponent routine just went out the window)
Well I didn't run any racks, but through some ball knowledge, a little safety play, and a hellaciously lucky (I say luck, not becuase it wasn't what I was aiming for, but becuase I don't think I could make the particular shot again for the $$ one handed) 8 ball shot I win.. Close game though.
So now our champ raises the bet to 100... "Absolutely!" (Strike 2 at the bankroll the opponent maneuver) I say now getting kinda excited about it, to which he starts back peddling and eventually we go down 20 a game.. I'll make an already long story shorter by just saving you the suspense. I killed him, point in fact I broke him which is even better. He counts up the cash, and goes to hand it to me and I responded with "Just put it in her tip jar."
(Broken into 2 posts becuase of length)
DJ
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This continued for awhile until the point where my roomate and I were having conversations that entailed.. "I don't even think I can call myself a banger, becuase bangers atleast make balls?" 
