Just Shut up and Take it
“The worse thing you can do when a match is handed to you is hand it back,” said Robert Rodriguez, Master level player and good friend from
It’s a race to seven and I’m playing a very tough competitor. She’s played in numerous pro events and I know she’s a strong player. In fact, I accidentally saw on the board that I was playing her and intentionally didn’t tell anyone because I just didn’t want to hear their reactions when I said her name. Immediately, I could tell that things were going my way. I missed a couple balls early on that didn’t leave her with a shot. A couple breakouts she went for left her snookered. She was clearing her balls and leaving me an open table in most racks. In a race to seven, she won one game.
After the match, I was excited about the win, but had a hard time feeling I like I deserved it. As silly as it may seem, I knew that I was very fortunate to get a chance in many of those seven racks. It was then that Robert pointed out to me that though I had the opportunities that I did, I still needed to get out. Even if someone “hands you a game” you still need to take it. Just shut up and take it. (Those were my words, not his.)
You can’t lose sight of your objective; which is, once you enter that tournament arena and assemble your cue, you’re playing your best and playing to win. If you’re playing to have a drink and some fun or to meet new friends, then don’t bother entering the tournament. This is not the time and place for that. May that reminder keep you focused enough to do what you came here to do. Who cares how you do it, just do it.
Another insightful reminder came from Tom Ross, friend and writer for Billiards Digest (and a million other publications). “That’s okay,” he said, when I told him I felt like she handed me the match. “It’s okay to win a match that way as long as you are realistic about it. Be honest with yourself but accept that you still played well to win.” Robert’s right. The worse thing I could’ve done would be to hand the match back over to her.
So, the next time you feel the table going your way. Accept it. Take what you get; good or bad of course. Its okay to acknowledge you got a lucky roll or two, but make sure you take advantage of it. Instead of feeling sorry for your opponent, punish them for not finishing the rack. Just take that game away from them. Run out those balls. You deserve it.
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