After 10 weeks of the Monday night Straight Pool league, next week begins the end of league tournament and I think I’m more excited about that than I am for Vegas nationals next month.
Of the 15 players, I finished the season with the highest handicap of 94 (out of a possible 100). Each weak, we all race to 100 (except for the handful of B players that race to 75) and at the end of the season, we get a rating for the end of league tournament.
I won 8 out of my 10 matches and finished with the highest run of the league, 30, and the highest BPI (balls per inning), 2.92. Woohoo!
I guess that means I’ll be spotting everyone during the end of league tourney but I don’t even care. I’m so happy that I finished the league so strong. I had a couple rough weeks but I was pretty consistent otherwise.
The other exciting part is that, as I type, I’m at the airport preparing to fly to San Diego for the weekend where I’ll be playing nothing but straight pool with Fast Mikie at his Fun House. [check back soon for photos and possible videos]
I got the following message from FM:
I think last time we had a challenge with luggage space in the Corvette,
I really tried to accept his challenge, but five days of shorts, tank tops, and bikinis don’t really take up that much room. I checked one back that weighed exactly 50 pounds. I cant’ wait! I’m so excited!
But wait, there’s more!
New Stuff
I stopped into Rack ‘Em last night for, what was supposed to be just a couple hours, of practice when I couldn’t help but notice the glorious newly recovered table 8 as I walked in. I immediately grabbed my balls from the car and ran them through the cleaner.
Six hours later, I had Gene playing some 14.1 with me. I’ve been getting my two hours of one-pocket in each month against Gene. He’s a very knowledgeable one-pocket player.
So, new stuff:
- new cloth (with clean balls and my Delta)
- my personalized new ergonomic backpack (in preparation for Vegas – it perfectly fits the emergency netbook I picked up from Craigslist just before Derby when my Thinkpad crapped out, and everything else a roving reporter/pool player might need)
- my new cherry bedazzled wallet (courtesy of Susan Williams – I love you!)
- a new line I hadn’t heard before (see below)
So, before I started playing with Gene, I was practicing alone like I often do when I was approached with, “Are you playing 9-ball, or what?”
I removed my earphones and racked the 14 balls and responded, “Oh, no. I’m just practicing.” I didn’t dare tell him I was playing straight pool as that might engage him in a dialog where I’d have to explain what straight pool is. Reinsert earphones.
“Come on. Let’s play some.” Removing earphones again to say, “Oh, no thanks. I’d rather practice alone. Thanks.” Earphones back in.
Persistently (and a bit shocked), he responded, “What?!?? Come on. Let’s just play a couple games.” Removing earphones once more, “No, seriously. I would just prefer to practice alone. I’m not trying to be rude. Thank you, though.”
To which he responded,
“Yes you are! A woman with dye in her hair like that!” and stormed off.
Well, I guess I’m glad he went away, but what does that mean? Maybe he’s right. All these years of me not wanting to be disturbed during my practices. Maybe I should’ve just invested in a black wig or a ball cap. Well, that was new.
On one final note, against Gene last night, I went for a break shot which completely whiffed the rack. Now, when Gene and I play one-pocket, he gives me 10-5. Since he doesn’t know straight pool, I agreed that I would play all offense as my handicap. So, I had to go for it.
Guess what? I made it! I’d known about this shot and have only tried it a couple times, but couldn’t believe it actually went! That was the highlight of the night. They’re recovering two more tables next week and I’m looking forward to breaking them all in when I get back.
Boarding now! More from the Fun House later.
Interesting comment about the hair. Hmm… very weird indeedy!
Great to see you having so much fun with 14.1. It’s my favorite game. Would it be possible to get a link to that scoresheet you use? We just report the score, but these stats look useful.
Have a blast at Fast Mikie’s. I’m sure you guys will play a lot of great pool, but hopefully y6ou get to sample some great restaurants and spend some time in the sun getting a tan.
Some guys are pigs, what can I say. But you already knew that.
Nice shot! I tried it out myself and it’s pretty cool that it goes. I need to work on it a little more to get consistent, but may end up breaking it out in my next trick shot tourney.
Very cool shot! I’ll give this a try also. Have fun at the Fun House!
That one works well, there are two others I can show you next time we get together.