Second Place - I’m Still Learning…
After a couple detours through Stanley, back to Rugby, and Alexandria (to pick Vegas up) we’re finally back in Minneapolis.
Okay, so I dogged it in the finals yesterday.
I ended up losing 4-2 and 4-2. Oops… 
After my exciting 4-0 win on Saturday night, my performance on Sunday way not nearly up to par. I was disappointed with the results for sure, but I’m not feeling discouraged.
When it came down to it, I feel like my mechanics broke down a little bit under the gun and I know that my recently fixed, straight up/down stroke was not so consistently up/down throughout my match.
How was I able to deliver such an outstanding performance the night before, making only one mistake in the entire match??? I’m still learning that myself and if I could just figure it out I’d always play perfectly, right?
Oddly enough, I’m feeling very excited. Next weekend is another bar table 8 ball tournament (but on Diamond Smart Tables this time - yay!) and instead of dwelling on feeling super bummed that I didn’t win this weekend, I’m focusing on the things I did right, and I’m super excited to fine tune my new stroke and test it out again next weekend.
I almost feel like a kid with a new toy. I can’t wait to play with it!
Anyway, the entire weekend overall was fantastic! I met so many nice “folks” (as they’re called in this neck-o-the-woods) and got to spend some more time with some of the ones that I already knew, particularly the Stadums.
Mike’s good friends Jim & Laurie Stadum, of Samsara Cues, were gracious enough to harbour us for the weekend. Our host family included two of the sweetest boys I have EVER seen in my life. They just don’t make kids like this anymore! When we arrived the first night, the 16-yr-old was just returning home from work. He put his food down and ran out, along with his 12-yr-old brother (who was in the midst of a computer came online) and grabbed our bags for us from the truck and carried them all downstairs with us. That’s amazing!
Mike prepared me for the Five Star accommodations. I didn’t doubt him but you always have to see it for yourself. I couldn’t believe my eyes when we walked downstairs. The first thing you see is the gorgeous 9 foot diamond table in the middle of the room. It was surrounded by a dry bar, fireplace, flat screen tv and couch, beautiful decor (like the kind you would find in a Vegas suite), and two guest bedrooms. Rarely do I sleep as well away from home but the comfortable mattress, down pillows and comforter gave me no excuse. There was even a vanity in the bedroom for me to get ready. The bathroom was just like a professional spa equipped with just about every skin care product in just about every scent I could possibly imagine.
I definitely took advantage of the table and hit lots and lots of balls over the weekend. Along with hitting balls, I also played my first game of Guitar Hero with my new 12-yr-old friend.
Laurie had meals and snacks prepared before and after matches, and even on the go.
Overall, it was an amazing, memorable weekend and I look forward to doing it again next year!
p.s. As always, I’d like to thank everyone for all your support! I genuinely appreciate each and every bit of it! Thank you!!!
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Comments
You are hot on the trail for a big win, Samm. Hang in there, and keep on strokin’ sweetly and keep that perfect, intimidating pre-shot routine and you will RULE!!
Next time you see Jim Stadum at Samsara, say hi for me. He made my cue (#1676).
Nicely done Samm. I must agree with Michael, you are on the trail for a big win. Just keep going. Kaizen.
[...] I opted to forgo my OB Cues qualifier in League City to come freeze my tail off in a bar table 8-ball tournament in Rugby, North Dakota all in the name of L-O-V-E. It’s the 10th Annual Northern Lights 8-Ball Shootout. I finished second last year. [...]
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