playing my little 'effing heart out
When I think back to Saturday's 8 ball pool tournament that's the thought that pops into my mind. I played my little heart out. In the end I gave it everything I had - didn't hold anything back and I went for broke.
The last match I played (yes - the one i lost and the one that put me out of the tournament) lands itself as being one of the top 5 best matches I've ever played.
I know it sounds silly - I mean how can a match be good if you didn't win it?
But that last match I played - I forgot:
Last Match - Massive.
The last match I played started around 10pm and my opponent's nickname was "Massive Mike". He's a big slab of a guy (6'3" ~250lbs) that rides a harley and has a long beard and he is a sweetheart to boot. I'm sure we were quite the sight...a big, burly Harely rider and little bitty 'ole me in my red patent leather boots and black frame nerd glasses.
Massive had been playing great - I had been watching him play and basically his opponents would get one turn at the table - if they missed he would execute the most amazing outs. I knew I couldn't second guess myself or be timid.
We battled back and forth and we both had some amazing runs. A couple of shots I made - I just couldn't believe it - I would think to myself 'are you 'effing kidding me??' as the ball would drop into the pocket.
In my minds eye I see this amazing run I had where he broke and left the balls tightly clustered. With surgical precision I picked off and drilled in all the striped balls one turn. In my peripheral hearing I could hear the murmur of appreciation as I made the most amazing run. I was able to ignore it and focus at the task as hand.
Time flew by as we played and before I knew it - it was hill-hill (pool lingo for whoever wins the next game is the winner). My last turn at the table reminds me a my most favorite match I ever played in 1999 in Tampa, FL. It was similar as I had the option to play a defensive shot or go for a bank (that was risky but possible) and the run out. Of course I went for the run out (yes - in one 10 years ago and in this match too) - I barely missed the bank (as I did 10 years ago) and left Massive a tough, long shot on the 8. Massive drilled in the 8ball and I was relegated to 4th place.
I finished 4th out of 47 players and had the designation of "Last Lady" which counts for an extra $40 of winnings. :)
7 matches total
I'm not going into detail for every match I played. I started off shaky but was able to settle in and get in a groove. My 3rd match I fell far behind and I thought I was done for but I was able to hang tough and come from behind to win. My 4th match I thought I wouldn't stand a chance - I had watched my opponent playing earlier and I thought to myself 'oh man - no way can I win against that person' but I did win the match.
Bad Mojo
I did run into something in this tournament that I hadn't experienced since I started playing again. A couple of opponents verbally wishing me 'bad mojo' or to 'play poorly'.
In one instance when I was getting ready to shoot the 8ball for the win - my opponent said 'i'm wishing you bad mojo and hope you miss'. I stood up from the shot and looked at the person with puzzlement. But i didn't let it effect me in the least and settled back into the shot and made the 8 ball for the win.
The next instance was at the start of the match I wished my opponent luck and said 'play well'. The opponent said 'well i hope you play poorly'. Again I was puzzled that the person said that but shrugged that off too. Also during this match my opponent tried to claim they had won a game when they didn't. So I recounted the games we played and asked the person if that was correct. I was very firm and said - "I just want to be clear on that". The person agreed. (I won that match too)
As I have mentioned before - once upon a time I would silently wish bad mojo on my opponents. I don't recall ever saying it out loud to an opponent tho... I would get angry when the 'rolls went their way'. I was 'that person' in wishing my opponent would play poorly so I could 'win'. It's embarrassing to admit but that was me at one point in my life.
I guess the good thing is - when these incidents happened it didn't upset me, I didn't judge the person(I *was* that person once upon a time), it impacted me in the same way as if someone had said 'it's sunny outside'. It's a relief to be able to honestly not be angry or feel indignant, or even feel I am above that type of behavior (because I am not) and just to keep on trucking and going about my business.
I was hesitant to even mention this in a public forum but these things happened and I am not trying to bad mouth my opponents - it's just the way it is...
The last match I played (yes - the one i lost and the one that put me out of the tournament) lands itself as being one of the top 5 best matches I've ever played.
I know it sounds silly - I mean how can a match be good if you didn't win it?
But that last match I played - I forgot:
- i forgot about the fact I had been at the pool hall for over 12 hours
- i forgot about being bummed I didn't get to see my friends that night
- i forgot I had already played about ~45 games of 8 ball
- i forgot that i was hungry
- i forgot I was mentally exhausted
Last Match - Massive.
The last match I played started around 10pm and my opponent's nickname was "Massive Mike". He's a big slab of a guy (6'3" ~250lbs) that rides a harley and has a long beard and he is a sweetheart to boot. I'm sure we were quite the sight...a big, burly Harely rider and little bitty 'ole me in my red patent leather boots and black frame nerd glasses.
Massive had been playing great - I had been watching him play and basically his opponents would get one turn at the table - if they missed he would execute the most amazing outs. I knew I couldn't second guess myself or be timid.
We battled back and forth and we both had some amazing runs. A couple of shots I made - I just couldn't believe it - I would think to myself 'are you 'effing kidding me??' as the ball would drop into the pocket.
In my minds eye I see this amazing run I had where he broke and left the balls tightly clustered. With surgical precision I picked off and drilled in all the striped balls one turn. In my peripheral hearing I could hear the murmur of appreciation as I made the most amazing run. I was able to ignore it and focus at the task as hand.
Time flew by as we played and before I knew it - it was hill-hill (pool lingo for whoever wins the next game is the winner). My last turn at the table reminds me a my most favorite match I ever played in 1999 in Tampa, FL. It was similar as I had the option to play a defensive shot or go for a bank (that was risky but possible) and the run out. Of course I went for the run out (yes - in one 10 years ago and in this match too) - I barely missed the bank (as I did 10 years ago) and left Massive a tough, long shot on the 8. Massive drilled in the 8ball and I was relegated to 4th place.
I finished 4th out of 47 players and had the designation of "Last Lady" which counts for an extra $40 of winnings. :)
7 matches total
I'm not going into detail for every match I played. I started off shaky but was able to settle in and get in a groove. My 3rd match I fell far behind and I thought I was done for but I was able to hang tough and come from behind to win. My 4th match I thought I wouldn't stand a chance - I had watched my opponent playing earlier and I thought to myself 'oh man - no way can I win against that person' but I did win the match.
Bad Mojo
I did run into something in this tournament that I hadn't experienced since I started playing again. A couple of opponents verbally wishing me 'bad mojo' or to 'play poorly'.
In one instance when I was getting ready to shoot the 8ball for the win - my opponent said 'i'm wishing you bad mojo and hope you miss'. I stood up from the shot and looked at the person with puzzlement. But i didn't let it effect me in the least and settled back into the shot and made the 8 ball for the win.
The next instance was at the start of the match I wished my opponent luck and said 'play well'. The opponent said 'well i hope you play poorly'. Again I was puzzled that the person said that but shrugged that off too. Also during this match my opponent tried to claim they had won a game when they didn't. So I recounted the games we played and asked the person if that was correct. I was very firm and said - "I just want to be clear on that". The person agreed. (I won that match too)
As I have mentioned before - once upon a time I would silently wish bad mojo on my opponents. I don't recall ever saying it out loud to an opponent tho... I would get angry when the 'rolls went their way'. I was 'that person' in wishing my opponent would play poorly so I could 'win'. It's embarrassing to admit but that was me at one point in my life.
I guess the good thing is - when these incidents happened it didn't upset me, I didn't judge the person(I *was* that person once upon a time), it impacted me in the same way as if someone had said 'it's sunny outside'. It's a relief to be able to honestly not be angry or feel indignant, or even feel I am above that type of behavior (because I am not) and just to keep on trucking and going about my business.
I was hesitant to even mention this in a public forum but these things happened and I am not trying to bad mouth my opponents - it's just the way it is...
Comments