Hi there Steve,
I play in these local tournys to get to know the local players. It's nice to know that a teacher can play at a higher level.
The nice thing is I can usually play at a higher level for the whole tourny with these small ones. I have trouble physically playing the second day after playing allot that day.
Plus the small tournys are great practice for a bigger tourny. The only time you can practice playing in a final of a tourny is when your there no matter how big it is.
If a road player counted on winning these small tournys to survive he'd be in big trouble.
I've been on the road about 15 years of my life if you put the road time in one solid stretch. I'm pretty sure i know what is going on.
The hard part is trying to teach another person that is hard headed and thinks they know what's going on but they don't.
Like with a football team it's hard to make any right moves if the players don't want to or don't even try to follow the plays. I know what the right play is and the student won't listen so up until now it has been a train wreck as far as learning and doing things right.
After last night rhea told me she doesn't want any money on her and will only play people I tell her she can play.
But it goes deeper than that. She needs to start eating real food and quit trying to take diet pills and energy drinks to find something that isn't really there. Magic energy is a joke at best.
By trying to match up all the time she's not learning anything either, forgetting what needs to be done to improve her game and just chasing money. And chasing is mostly what she has been doing because she loses to most of the players that she thinks she can beat. Just doesn't know enough to even gauge another player accurately.
I play most of the players that will play on the local level $100 or $200 sets. Most of them don't want to bet thousands or don't have it. i'm not out here to try and break the bank, just trying to keep going and help players everywhere play better and that I am doing.
it's nice to have some fun along the way. And fun i do have.
Rhea has been a real challenge but I think she is finally ready to say UNCLE and admit that she just isn't our best bet at making money or matching up.
Many people don't do anything about something until it is urgent. Whether it be their health or financial situation. Successful people make changes before it becomes urgent.
Our road trip here would have been over very shortly if Rhea wouldn't have had this talk today. I had enough.
She came to me and said she is ready to listen and learn about everything.
That's the only way this will work.
I could just sneak around and play people and make a living on the road if that was the avenue I chose to take but I chose to help people play.
I go to a town and show the players that don't know me my game.
I enjoy all the league players everywhere. they are the best. I get invited to homes for supper and even get offers to stay there sometimes.
We have the best network of people anywhere in our pool world that we live in.
I'm not there to beat these people but try to help them.
I feel good about what i do every single day and can't wait to get to the next pool hall or lesson or match or tournament.
WOW. Sounds like fun !
I got to get a quick shower and go do about 20 mini lessons down to Break Away.
One man a van and the road.........
