Dear Gentle Readers,
Terrific one-pocket continues.
Headline # 1: Efren!
Billy, “Efren has better cue ball control than anyone on the planet.”
Billy, “Efren leaves his opponents on the rail, on top of a ball, at a distance.”
Billy, “That was a very un-Efren-like shot.”
Billy, “The schedule here helps Efren. He knows when he’s playing, when he can rest, when he can sleep.”
Billy, “Efren is a feared player. His presence alone affects some of his opponents.”
Headline # 2: Danny 3 and 0.
Billy, “Danny is so creative.”
Billy, “Danny’s biggest weakness is decision-making. He’s too aggressive.”
Scott (on Danny), “He’s cutting this ball.” Billy, “That ball can’t be cut.” (Danny made it.)
Billy, “When Danny breaks, the cue ball ends up high, near the side pocket.”
Billy, (after Danny pocketed a super-difficult shot and didn’t have a follow-up shot), “That’s an injustice.”
Commentator comments …
Billy, “Making a bank at speed is a real confidence booster.”
Billy, “Hitting a bank with speed shortens it up.”
Danny, “He doesn’t have my permission to shoot this shot.”
Billy, “Years ago professional pool was more hustling, staying up all night. Today it’s more professional.”
Billy, “That’s a survival shot. Just to buy time.”
Billy (on one-pocket safeties), “Try to envision … if you could pick up the cue ball and put it anywhere.” (Personal aside … that’s exactly what I figured out watching my first one-pocket match - - Efren winning Galveston.)
Billy, “It’s a management shot.”
Billy, “Hitting it down the rail with real speed makes the pocket smaller.”
Scott, “Alex has zero give-up.”
Scott, “I really, really like that shot. And, I didn’t see that shot.”
Scott, “In a situation like this, your object, your only object is to move balls up-table.”
Scott, “Terrible, terrible decision. I don’t know what goes through a man’s mind.”
Scott (to Billy), “You’re right, I didn’t see that shot.”
Some musings …
It’s interesting, and a good idea, that the on-screen score graphics place each player’s name on the same side as his pocket. If they switch pockets, the name placements reverse. Very helpful for when I forget who has which pocket.
I like the 60-second shot clock.
It’s mean, but fascinating, when the camera stays on the player who just scratched.
Speaking of scratches, they really hurt Scott. Some self-inflicted, some just bad luck.
Efren seemed to play with more confidence today. But who can tell for sure? He has such a serene countenance. Someone said ‘reyes’ means kings in Spanish.
Scott, no matter how he’s playing, is a terrific commentator. Teamed with Billy, they provide creative give-and-take. Billy is more nuanced, Scott tends to lobby in favor of more aggressive shots.
Scott is a good-natured commentator which belies the scowl he shows when playing.
If memory serves, no one made a ball on his break. I wonder if they changed their break shots, since that calls for a re-rack?
Interesting tie-breakers: matches won, then games won, followed by balls made. I believe head-to-head results are included if necessary.
Who is that pretty girl filming at ringside?
Speaking of pretty … it was refreshing to see a mature, elegant woman watching the matches. Simple black dress, sleeveless. Red lip gloss, silver necklace. Could have been my mom in an uptown mode. Plus there was another lady in Jackie O sunglasses. Not your father’s poolroom.
The attending audience seemed engaged in the matches. Leaning over to see when a player blocked the view. Applauding for a good safety every bit as much as for pocketing a difficult shot.
Pop psychology is my life,
Sunny
Terrific one-pocket continues.
Headline # 1: Efren!
Billy, “Efren has better cue ball control than anyone on the planet.”
Billy, “Efren leaves his opponents on the rail, on top of a ball, at a distance.”
Billy, “That was a very un-Efren-like shot.”
Billy, “The schedule here helps Efren. He knows when he’s playing, when he can rest, when he can sleep.”
Billy, “Efren is a feared player. His presence alone affects some of his opponents.”
Headline # 2: Danny 3 and 0.
Billy, “Danny is so creative.”
Billy, “Danny’s biggest weakness is decision-making. He’s too aggressive.”
Scott (on Danny), “He’s cutting this ball.” Billy, “That ball can’t be cut.” (Danny made it.)
Billy, “When Danny breaks, the cue ball ends up high, near the side pocket.”
Billy, (after Danny pocketed a super-difficult shot and didn’t have a follow-up shot), “That’s an injustice.”
Commentator comments …
Billy, “Making a bank at speed is a real confidence booster.”
Billy, “Hitting a bank with speed shortens it up.”
Danny, “He doesn’t have my permission to shoot this shot.”
Billy, “Years ago professional pool was more hustling, staying up all night. Today it’s more professional.”
Billy, “That’s a survival shot. Just to buy time.”
Billy (on one-pocket safeties), “Try to envision … if you could pick up the cue ball and put it anywhere.” (Personal aside … that’s exactly what I figured out watching my first one-pocket match - - Efren winning Galveston.)
Billy, “It’s a management shot.”
Billy, “Hitting it down the rail with real speed makes the pocket smaller.”
Scott, “Alex has zero give-up.”
Scott, “I really, really like that shot. And, I didn’t see that shot.”
Scott, “In a situation like this, your object, your only object is to move balls up-table.”
Scott, “Terrible, terrible decision. I don’t know what goes through a man’s mind.”
Scott (to Billy), “You’re right, I didn’t see that shot.”
Some musings …
It’s interesting, and a good idea, that the on-screen score graphics place each player’s name on the same side as his pocket. If they switch pockets, the name placements reverse. Very helpful for when I forget who has which pocket.
I like the 60-second shot clock.
It’s mean, but fascinating, when the camera stays on the player who just scratched.
Speaking of scratches, they really hurt Scott. Some self-inflicted, some just bad luck.
Efren seemed to play with more confidence today. But who can tell for sure? He has such a serene countenance. Someone said ‘reyes’ means kings in Spanish.
Scott, no matter how he’s playing, is a terrific commentator. Teamed with Billy, they provide creative give-and-take. Billy is more nuanced, Scott tends to lobby in favor of more aggressive shots.
Scott is a good-natured commentator which belies the scowl he shows when playing.
If memory serves, no one made a ball on his break. I wonder if they changed their break shots, since that calls for a re-rack?
Interesting tie-breakers: matches won, then games won, followed by balls made. I believe head-to-head results are included if necessary.
Who is that pretty girl filming at ringside?
Speaking of pretty … it was refreshing to see a mature, elegant woman watching the matches. Simple black dress, sleeveless. Red lip gloss, silver necklace. Could have been my mom in an uptown mode. Plus there was another lady in Jackie O sunglasses. Not your father’s poolroom.
The attending audience seemed engaged in the matches. Leaning over to see when a player blocked the view. Applauding for a good safety every bit as much as for pocketing a difficult shot.
Pop psychology is my life,
Sunny
