After over twelve hours of driving on Sunday and another six hours of flying yesterday, I finally made it home late last night and just in time to get in my car and pick up my pooch. I don’t know which of us was happier to see the other.
It never fails, after the ??? days of solid workin’ my tail off, I always bring home a sore throat after it’s all over. That’s one souvenir I could do without. I guess it’s better than getting sick while I’m out there. I inevitably woke up Sunday morning with it and whined the entire drive back to MN (poor Mike). It was still there yesterday and this morning but I’m determined to fight it!
Just like last year, I’ve made some notes of this year’s Pros and Cons.
Pros:
- The bedrooms were very nice.
- The beds were the most comfortable I’ve ever experienced in a hotel.
- The pillows were super soft, comfy down and quite plentiful.
- The bathrooms were spacious and ideal for our roomming situation.
- The hallways smelled nice (well, for a pool tournament hotel)
- The elevators were very speedy.
- The fitness center was excellent! (and just about the only thing that was free at this place)
- The hotel/casino staff was all very friendly and courteous.
- The Derby “Feel” is no longer the same. Well, Derby as we knew is now just a fading memory. I’m just glad that I had a chance to experience the Executive West (even the website redirects you) before it was moved.
Not-so-Pro:
- HARD WATER – The was was extremely hard. Everyone was dry and scaly after a few days because the water was so hard on your skin.
- All the food was VERY expensive. It was tough to find a reasonable meal for a reasonable price. It particularly sucked when all the restaurants closed due to the storm.
- Flooding also forced several of the vendors to be moved to different locations. They probably ended up with better real estate because of it.
- The Derby “Feel” is no longer the same. Whether this is a good or bad thing will remain to be seen. The reviews were mixed but we’ll see.
At Derby this year, I learned that it’s not as uncool as I was originally told to wear black, velcro shoes. Can you guess who’s feet these are?
I also learned that sometimes when you’re sleepy, you just have to sleep.
I did TWELVE What’s in the Case interviews on this trip: Stevie Moore, Marcus Chamat, Sarah Rousey, Oscar Dominguez, Jonathan Pinegar, Scott Frost, Mark Vidal, Landon Shuffet, Lee Van Corteza, Efren Reyes, Gabe Owen, and Larry Nevel. When I wrap up the interviews, I always like to snap a quick photo of my poor victims as they’re attempting to fit everything back into their cases. I don’t have one of Efren because he was packing up while I was still doing my outro (that’s a first).
I can’t wait until they all get posted!
And speaking of cases, during the banks and one-pocket days, many of the players left their break cues in the room. Here are some of them with their lighter weight “travel” cases:
Lastly, here are the rest of the photos from this year’s DCC:
January 23-31, 2009
Horseshoe Casino & Hotel (Southern Indiana)
60 Photos
I will not forget it. I met some amazing people and got to know some others a little better.
Please be good and put on the site “what’s in the Case” interview with Efren “Bata” Reyes.Thank you very much!