Logging in this weekend’s 7-8th place finish in my 2008 Tournament P&L statement just reminded me of what a slump it feels like I’ve been in since the beginning of this year. 2008 kicked off strong with a big New Year’s Scotch Doubles tournament and the BCA Ohio Valley Regional Championships. I’ve won a couple little weekly tournaments here and there, sprinkled with some top four finishes in some medium-sized stuff, so my definition of “slump” may not be the same as others.
I guess I was just a little alarmed when I noticed my “L” has beginning to catch up with my “P” for the first time this year and I really feel it’s been a long time since I’ve won or even played in the finals of a big, serious tournament. Perhaps I’ve just been competing in tournaments with much tougher competition (which is true). Perhaps I’ve made so many mechanical evolutions recently that I have still yet to completely adapt to any one of them. Perhaps I’ve been spreading myself too thin between competing, teaching, writing, working, traveling, etc…
Whatever the case may be, I can’t take it anymore!!!
What a streaky weekend. I went from playing near flawlessly in my first match, to making all kinds of dumb mistakes and bad decisions to lose my second match, back to playing two strong back-to-back matches, and then another dumb match again to get knocked out.
This Midwest 9-Ball Tour is probably the only bar table tournament (outside of Vegas Nationals) that I would consider traveling to these days. Even though they’re played on Valleys, they at least use red circle cue balls and keep their billiard balls clean.
The stops at Shooters include a one-pocket event that begins on Thursday and they bring in bleachers for all the spectators.
My only complaint (outside of my poor pool playing): THE SMOKING….
I’m okay. I’m giving myself a break since I only planned to attend the tournament with a week’s notice and prior to the one bar table 9-ball tournament three days before leaving town, I hadn’t hit a ball on a bar table in months. Not to mention, all the personal b.s. in my head. If I wanted to find an excuse, I don’t have to look too far.
It was what it was, an impulsive trip with friends where there happened to be a pool tournament.
I watched some wicked pool, and it was nice to see old friends and pick up some new ones. The sweetest couple Toni and Nate bought me for $50 in the Calcutta and sweated all of my matches. I told them before the tournament that I would do my best and they said, “That’s all we can ask for.” How nice.
Next stop: US Open in five days.
Game in a slump simply means you lack sufficient knowledge and I don’t care what your level of play may be. I consider this fact among the simplest of truths.
If you had sufficient knowledge you would know what’s wrong with your game.
If you had sufficient knowledge you would know how to remedy the problem.
Eddie Robin