Get Lucky with Suzanne Smith

Incorporating Health and Fitness into Your Pool Goals

2012-02-16T20:24:00.000-08:00

For many people, myself included, it is difficult to find the balance between getting by and achieving all that you are capable of. It is really easy to get into getting by mode, especially when you are like me, working hard, taking care of home and family, and trying to figure out what your purpose on this planet is. What we tend to forget is that when we take better care of ourselves, we are in a better position to take care of the rest.

In 2012, it is one of my goals to focus on getting back to a place where my health (both mentally and physically) is a priority. In doing so, I also hope to achieve my highest level of performance on the pool table. It might sound somewhat dramatic, I know, but think about it. Who are the best pool players in the world and how are they incorporating health and fitness into their goals? Is there a common approach in training programs that links the most successful athletes in the world? Well, I think there is... Just to name a few: Mika Immonen, Shane Van Boening, Darren Appleton, Allison Fisher, and Ga Young Kim.

Another player who does is Jasmin Ouschan, she is what I call the cream of the proverbial crop when it comes to elite physicality. Not only is she one of the best players in the world, but she is also extremely fit. Go to her web page and she has an entire section that describes her philosophy on health and why it is a critical element in her training regiment. Words like power, flexibility, and endurance are some of the fundamental ideals that connect her fitness level with her performance goals. Concepts like consistency, mental acuity, and achieving a balance between the body and mind are essential to her success. By striving to emulate these ideals in my own life, I hope to increase my level of performance and be able to compete with the pros.

Power
In pool, when I think of the word power an image of the break shot comes to mind. A coiling body in the back swing and then unleashing a controlled bolt of energy as your core torques and drives your arm, shoulder, and then hip through the cue ball. Many players lift up at the end of their break to complete the transfer of momentum. All core exercises will increase your power during the break shot. I'm not just talking abs, but also lower back and hip flexors. Your entire midsection is connected and by working them all out together, your power will improve significantly.

Flexibility
In pool, all players have a dominant side or hand. Even if they are capable of bridging and stroking the ball with their off hand, they generally prefer to shoot with their right or their left. Because of this, most people have muscles that are more developed on their dominant side. By adding stretching to your workouts, you can improve the flexibility within your entire body and hopefully offset some of the imbalance caused by repetitive motion on your dominant side. Tight muscles and ligaments can hamper your performance on the pool table, especially if they result in injury that stops you from playing all together. Areas that I tend to focus on during my stretching are shoulders, hips, and hamstrings. Increasing flexibility in these areas will allow you to stretch further so you reduce the necessity of the bridge and improve your balance so you can maneuver the table more efficiently.

Endurance
In pool, I think that endurance is probably one of the most important elements to achieving success because it incorporates all aspects of your physical and mental well being. If you are going to win a pool tournament, you need to perform at a high level over a long period of time. Even though pool is not a high impact sport, constantly bending over the table shooting and racking can definitely take a toll. Matches also require a level of concentration that can be physically draining as well. Cardiovascular aka "Cardio"exercise will improve your endurance both on and off the table. This is any activity that raises your heart rate for an extended period of time. Target heart rates are variable depending on your present fitness level. Regular cardio, not only improves your stamina so you have more energy, but it can also help you sleep better at night, which can result in decreased mental fatigue. Both elements can contribute to improved performance on the pool table and who doesn't want that?

For me, being healthy is not just this or that, it is everything and in order to achieve a sense of well being in this chaotic world that we are all apart of, I plan on incorporating these fitness elements into my approach. It is my hope that as I come closer to finding balance within my body, mind, and soul that I take one step towards achieving my own maximum potential, both on and off the pool table. Figure out how you can achieve your very best too and we can take on the world together :).

Due Diligence to My Blog

2012-02-02T11:06:00.000-08:00

I would like to take a moment to remind everyone that I am alive and well, even if I haven't posted in a while. As you may or may not know about me, I have a hard time with small talk. I am a very direct person with a somewhat sarcastic nature. That being said I would hate to lessen the quality of my posts to ensure that mindless drivel was available for consumption. That just isn't my style. I will also have you know that new posts are in the works and I am very excited about my topics. I have yet to resume my interview with Dan Louie, but I will prioritize getting that completed in the next month or so... The other piece I am working on will be available in the next couple weeks. It just came to me and I am excited to do some research over the next few days. And, since I love that you come and join me here, I won't spoil it by divulging any details :). Thanks again for checking back and I hope the New Year is going well for you.

PoolSynergy 2011- Rest, Relax, and Refocus: How I Recharge My Batteries

2011-12-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

When I saw the topic of this month's PoolSynergy I absolutely knew I wanted to contribute. Not only am I in the process of doing so, but also it was another opportunity to share a little piece of insight into what makes me work. Please check out how some of our other contributors do the same at http://angleofreflection.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/poolsynergy-december-2011/. I would like to give a shout out to Miss Cherry Bomb herself, Mrs. Samm Diep Vidal, for thinking of me and asking if I would be interested in writing for this, my second PoolSynergy contribution. We have started discussing the possibility of my hosting an edition, so please check back and find out what the word is. For now, let’s get back on track. At the end of sections, I have highlighted what I think are the take away messages. I hope you enjoy.

Life in general, not just pool, can be very hectic... With work and family obligations it has always been a priority for me to find a healthy balance that would allow me to play the best that I can, while still feeling like I am being a good wife, mother, sister, daughter, employee, etc. Finding a way to recharge my batteries has been a key element to the success that I have found. Looking back over the years a certain theme has definitely emerged and what better place to reflect than my blog :).

Winter Break.

As a child, winter break was always an exciting time that I looked forward to. Not only were we out of school for two whole weeks, but we also always found time for family and friends that we didn't get to spend as much with during our "regular" schedule. Now that I am an adult, my pool schedule, because of the tournaments that I tend to gravitate towards, has a similar downtime. The ladies tour that I play on runs from March through November and when the season ends, it affords each of the players an opportunity to reflect on themselves and do what they need to do to prepare for the next year. As I've gotten older and matured, I am able to use this time to recharge my batteries and make plans for the future that align with my goals. Here are a couple things that I will be doing during the lull in my tournament schedule this holiday season.

Family Time

Thanksgiving has come and gone, but I was very grateful to have the opportunity to travel to Spokane with my sister and our daughters (Chloe and Sierra). There was about twenty of us for family dinner and with a potluck style, everyone contributed. Fortunately, the only crisis was when I clogged up the sink with potato peelings (apparently everyone on the planet besides me knew that those should not go in the disposal). All three of the men in attendance joined forces to fix the sink before Aunt Debby got home from work. Phew! We got the chance to visit with the newest members of our clan- 6 month old Amelia and 10 month old Adora, and of course feast on a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Grandma Clare made the pies like always and it was wonderful to catch up with all of our extended family. Laughs and hugs were plentiful as we took strength from the love that we share.

Christmas is right around the corner, nothing major this year. Christmas Eve with my family at my sisters and then Christmas Day with my husbands' parents. Who knows, we might even take the kids up to the snow :) And then New Year's... Not sure yet what we will be doing to celebrate the birth of the new year. Family time can be great because you can let go of all the pressure that you put on yourself while competing. If you never take a break you can get worn out and mediocre performances tend to follow.

Evaluate

Something I always find myself doing in my pool game is evaluating my own progress. Of course, how often you are winning can be used as an indicator for progress, but there is so much more to the sport than that. I have had a mixed bag of results this year and if I based my progress solely on tournaments that I won, I finished at about 17 1/2 % (3 wins/17 tournaments), I would say that I didn't progress very well. And this just isn't the truth. My goal for this year was to work on my mental game, not to win every tournament, and by evaluating how I handled myself during competition throughout the year, I started to understand my own performance, where my strengths and weaknesses are, and how I can move forward. Once you have identified critical weaknesses in your game you can tackle them individually, which is a great transition to the next thing I'll be doing during my holiday season.

Take Lessons

Even the best players in the world have a coach that guides them on their mental preparation and points out bits of wisdom to keep them in line with their goals. Why not us amateurs?!? In my opinion, we have the most to gain from these mentors, so why not take full advantage of the immense amount of knowledge available to us? That is exactly what I plan to do...

Over the break, I plan on taking lessons on two topics: 2 rail kicking systems and counter safety strategies. I struggled with both of these throughout 2011 and want to improve my understanding of the table. Of course, my instructor may identify other areas for improvement, but for me personally I think it is best to have a sense of what I would like to be working on when I set out to take lessons. This way, I can maximize the value of my lessons (which aren't always cheap) and my instructor knows that I take my time with him/her seriously. Taking lessons can help you understand your strengths and weaknesses during competition, so find someone who can help you take your game to the next level.

Watch Live Streaming

With the live stream revolution, there is great action to view from the comfort of your home nearly every weekend. I discovered live streaming when I went on maternity leave for my daughter Sierra. It was summer time and she slept 14-18 hours a day, so I had lots of free time. Not to go here or there, but books and internet browsing were high on the list, until I discovered live streams. Watching live streams will increase your understanding of strategy. Even if you are already doing everything right (which isn't most of us), it broadens your perspective when you start to understand why the choices you make are right. My favorite games to watch via live stream are rotation, either 9 or 10 ball. While watching, it is much easier to predict what a player is going to do because they are playing position on the next ball in sequence.

Plan My Tournament Schedule

Decisions, decisions... One of the great things about playing pool in the Northwest is that there are so many great tournaments. Fortunately with my performance recently, there are a couple of events that have already been cemented in my 2012 schedule. Once other tournament dates are finalized I will be able to determine the course of my year, on paper at least. I personally love traveling tournaments where you go out of town, playing in a different city, in a new pool room and against new opponents. As Einstein said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results." If you never go outside of your comfort zone your progression will be slower. If you really want to improve then make it happen, it's all in your hands :)

Well, that's what I'll be doing over the next few weeks, I hope you enjoyed getting a little insight into my life. I hope you have a wonderful holiday. I'll be enjoying such much needed time off and then preparing for 2012. It's right around the corner and there is lots of excitement in store. Take care and get lucky!

Reflections on 2011

2011-11-27T10:38:00.000-08:00

With the Year End NWPA Event wrapping up last Sunday, I have no more tournaments on my 2011 tournament schedule. What better time to reflect on the year that I have had and what my goals are for 2012? Overall, I picked up speed throughout the year breaking my 2 year dry spell with a bang, winning three singles tournaments in a row. I have also met many great people and players along the way and am looking forward to an exciting 2012.

My 2011 Highlights

Finished tied 9-12th at the 2011 WPBA Regional Tour Championships. Unfortunately, for me, only the top 8 ladies earned their tour cards. I played great and got lucky, so felt pretty good about the event. I took lots of great pictures, made many new friends, and reconnected with some old friends. Match scores: 9-3, 9-8, 4-9, 7-3, 7-5, 2-7

Defeated Erica Park 7-5 at the Ozone Billiards US Amateur Open ProAm 9 Ball event at Emerald Billiards in New Iberia, LA. After being down 5-1 no less (Erica had recently took 3rd at the US Open in her first WPBA event), I rallied back through each of the next racks to tie it at 5, then take the lead, and then win the match. PHENOMENAL. Although she came back through the B side and defeated me 5-3, it felt great to lay it all on the line and not give up with such a huge deficit against a great player.

Finished 2nd Place at NWPA Tour Stop #5 at The Parlor (lost to 2011 NWPA Tour Champion Liz Cole.) Liz is somewhat of a nemesis for me. After this event, I started taking lessons on zone safeties and one rail kicking systems. I went back and analyzed the final later and immediately recognized the value of the lessons I had taken. Once I am able to execute these skills at a proficient level, I have a feeling I will be able to bridge the gap.

Went undefeated to win US Amateur Championship Preliminary at The Cue Ball in Salem, OR. This was the first time in my short pool career that I was considered the favorite. Not only did I learn about myself, I figured out how to stay out of my own head (Check out previous blog entry- Mental Warfare...) Match scores: Bye, 5-3, 5-1, 5-3, 9-2

Went undefeated to win the Western BCA Regionals Women's Master Singles title at Chinook Winds in Lincoln City, OR. With the creation of the Grand Master Division at Regionals, that opened up the Master's division for a new champion. Only one former champion in 37 ladies is pretty good odds that a new champion would be crowned. Luckily for me, I happened to be shooting well, and had a new confidence that carried me through the event. Match scores: 7-5, 7-5, 7-0(F), 7-2, 7-3, 7-6, 7-4

Went undefeated to win the ladies' division of the US Amateur Championships at Strokers in Tampa, FL. This was probably my fondest pool memory to date. Not only did I go through a field of extremely tough competition to win the event, I learned so much about myself and continued to work on my mental toughness. It's hard not to care about how others think you play and start second guessing yourself, but if you can figure out how to let all of that go so you can focus on what you are doing Success will be Yours. If you can dream it, you can achieve it. Set goals and plan a course of action that will get you there :) Match scores: 5-1, 5-1, 5-3, 5-2, 5-3, 9-5

Finished 3rd Place at NWPA Tour Stop #7. Yet again, I was defeated by Liz Cole (I have yet to defeat her for the hot seat...) and then was unable to earn a rematch when Kimberly Kirk came through the B side. She was shooting fantastic and I played kind of flat. Not a good combination. I solidified my position at 8th in the overall standings of the NWPA, which will hopefully be good enough to earn me a bid to the 2012 WPBA Regional Tour Championships. With Liz's earning her WPBA Exemption status and the return to a qualifier system, our top two players already have spots for the WPBA next year. Essentially, that leaves the next six (including me) as invitees to the RTC event. We will see :) Match scores: 7-3, 7-3, 7-2, 7-2, 4-7, 4-7

After a year like that it will be interesting to see how my experiences could improve, but it isn't all about winning. I have many goals and very few of them actually involve winning; however, by learning how to make the right choices and improve my skills winning will inevitably follow suit. Here are some of my 2012 goals and events:

Learn how to play 3 Cushion (and eventually Straight Pool and 1 Pocket)

NWPA Tour Stops #1-7, perhaps even winning one :)

Potential Traveling Tournaments: Essentially timing is everything, once dates have been confirmed I will finalize my schedule...) WPBA Regional Tour Championships, US Bar Table Championships, Super Billiards Expo, One Regional Tour Event not including the NWPA

WPBA US Open- June 6-10, 2012

Defend US Amateur Championship Title- 1st weekend in November 2012

Well, that's it for now. I would like to thank each and every one of my supporters, without them I would be just another pool player ;) I am excited to enjoy the holiday season and then resume the hard work that has paid off immensely this year. Happy Holidays to all of you, Cheers!

Round 5 Profile

2011-10-09T11:18:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that my 5th player profile has been confirmed. Yes, I know. Round 4 has never been posted, but I am hoping that Sarah will be able to contribute once she gets a little bit more free time. I will be writing my next profile on Mr. Dan Louie, former world champion and currently the House Pro at The Parlor in Bellevue, WA.

Check back soon :)

Mental Warfare- How to Get Out of Your Head

2011-09-26T05:40:00.000-07:00

I got the idea for this topic while preparing for my last tournament. I signed up for a Preliminary Round of the US Amateur Championships in June. I hadn't played in the event since 2007, before I had actually started taking lessons and learning how to play on the big tables. In my own right, I did win that Preliminary and it was the beginning of the end for my relationship with the barboxes...

When I received the player list, I immediately saw myself as the favorite, even if it was only in my own mind. This was a first for me, as I play in a women's regional tour that has the likes of Liz Cole and Jana Montour dominating most, if not all, events since I began playing on the NWPA in 2008. Without a win since 2009, I started strategizing on my approach and how I would need to prepare myself mentally for the task that lay before me. Only one woman would represent the Northwest at the Final Rounds hosted in Tampa, Florida in November, and I really wanted that person to be me.

I started talking with a couple good friends of mine that have way more competition experience than I do, and asked them how they handled the pressure of being the favorite. Each one gave similar advice and I would like to share it with you, along with the story of my experience handling the situation.

"Play the table, not your opponent" is probably one of the most simple ways to handle any competitive situation. That doesn't necessarily make it any easier to do; however, if you can remember this straight forward piece of advice you will find much less anxiety during tournaments and high pressure league matches. I am reminded of my first experience on the WPBA. I won the NWPA's year end event in 2008, which was a qualifier for the San Diego Classic in 2009. During my first match, I was so awe struck playing in the arena next to the likes of Allison Fisher, Ga Young Kim, Jasmin Ouschan, etc. that my hands didn't stop shaking until I was down 5-0 to Miss Sarah Rousey. Once I started breathing again I won the next three racks. Granted, at that point Sarah turned it up a notch and won the next four games to hand me my first loss, I found something within myself that was worth holding onto. My next match was against Melissa Little, she was ranked 20th on tour at that point, so I knew that my chances were slim to none, but what the hell. I tried to remember how I got to be where I was and I found an inner confidence that carried me to a 6-0 lead. I was playing the table, stroking the ball, and running out racks. Then reality hit me again, the words "I am up 6-0 on Melissa Little" crept into my head and that was it... I started second guessing my shot selection and position play, didn't win another game, lost 9-6 and was eliminated from the tournament. Moral of the story: If I would have continued to focus on playing the table and not my opponent, I would've had a much better opportunity to win.

Back to the US Amateur Championships 2011. I registered for Preliminary Round play at The Cue Ball in Salem, OR. Only 15 ladies signed up for the competition, so I knew that unless I got a bye I would need to win four matches to earn a shot at the Final Round. My first match was scheduled against Dianna Trent. I had played on a team with Dianna several years prior, so I knew that she could play some, but I felt good so wasn't too worried at this point. After registration and the player's meeting I went to look at the board again, and her name had been crossed out and I advanced by default to the next round. Huh, one step closer, I thought. My next match was against Clodagh Lancaster. I keep track of whats going on with much of the country in pool so when I didn't know this lady, I kind of figured she must not play much. To my detriment, I took her for granted and played somewhat loose in the first couple games and ended up down 2-0. "Holy $@*! what am I doing, tighten up girl" raced through my mind. I got a knot in my belly and started thinking about coming through the B side. I know, I know, not a good approach, but I am human and this is what I was thinking about. I won the next rack of 8-ball to make the score 2-1 and then we switched over to 9-ball. Much to my chagrin I lost the first game. Now down by 2 again, I realized I was full of it and I would have to let go of everything if I was going to get through this match. I remembered a piece of advice a different good friend of mine had given.

"Focus on what you're doing, not how you're doing." If you can control your mind, this advice is probably one of the most valuable pieces of information that I have yet to receive. When I am struggling with my position play or start to second guess myself, I try to remember this and revert back to the most simple of things. "Make the ball." I even take it further sometimes if I am losing focus, while as I sit in my chair I chant the words in my mind "I am sitting in my chair, I am waiting for my turn." Recovering my focus on what I was doing allowed me to battle back during my first match, first tying it up at 3, and then taking the lead by a game, until finally I defeated Clodagh 5-3 to advance. My next match was against Theresa Twedt, another player unknown to me. I knew that I didn't want to have the same experience in my second match and was able to maintain crystal clear focus throughout. I won that match 5-1, the only game I lost was when I broke and ran down to the 9, but missed a long shot off the rail.

My next scheduled match was for the hotseat and it would be the winner of Talya Makus and Michelle Nelson. I knew both of these ladies from the NWPA, so knew that I couldn't take either of them for granted. Talya ended up defeating Michelle and we waited for a couple hours to play our match. I knew that Talya wanted to win as much as I did, so it was easier for me to keep my focus on what I was doing. I built an early 3-0 lead, before I let up. It wasn't intentional, but overconfidence and a couple poorly executed shots gave Talya opportunities back at the table that she capitalized on. We exchanged racks for the next three games, putting me on the hill at 4-2. Talya won the next game as well, to bring it within 1, but an early 8 ball in game 8 gave me the set. I felt sick, I didn't want to win that way. Especially against her. One of the hardest things to do is play someone that is your friend; however, by following the two pieces of advice presented earlier you will increase your opportunities for success 10 fold.

The wait on the final was not nearly so long as the one for the hotseat match and it would be a rematch with me and Talya. With an extended race to 9, I definitely felt like I had an edge. This was not my first final in a big event, so I had experience on my side. With my regained composure and intensity, I played my best match of the tournament. I did miss some shots, but overall I played with such focus that I ended up winning by a score of 9-2. I left it all on the table and I feel great about winning an opportunity to compete with some of the best amateur players in the US.

Moral of the story, be the player that you can be by focusing on the right things during competition. We all love the game, so play it the way it should be played. Cheers :) and see ya'll in Tampa!

August PoolSynergy: 10 Things Pool- 10 Ways to Prepare for a Tournament

2011-08-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

When Samm asked me if I would be interested in contributing to August's PoolSynergy- topic 10 Things Pool (http://www.pooltipjar.com/2011/08/10-things-ps-host/), I immediately said yes. Not only do I love writing stories, but this would be a great opportunity to contribute back to the sport that I love. I decided to let my readers and FB friends determine my topic. I posted 10 pool related subjects that I would be interested in writing about and then solicited their votes either by direct contact or through friends of friends :) I got some great feedback and met my target of 100+ votes for the story.

Every person is different and it is my hope that all my readers can gain insight into themselves, if not by following the advice that I have given, than through understanding their own approach to preparation. Enjoy.

10 Ways To Prepare For a Tournament

1) Pay your Entry Fees
Not all tournaments are created equal and the most critical step in preparing for any tournament is getting your entry fee in while they are still being taken. For some events the number of players is capped, while others are open enrollment. Either way, by getting your entry fee in early, you are ensured a spot on that board without incurring potential late fees and you can start preparing for participation.

2) Make Travel Arrangements
Depending on how close the tournament is to you, this may or may not be too much of an issue. When the event is local, it is essential that you know of any potential complications that may arise, e.g. road construction, parking restrictions, and general timing of traffic. I always make a mental note of anything that needs to be considered, including, but not limited to fueling my vehicle the night before (one less thing to do in the morning), making sure that my directions and route are clear, and planning my departure time accordingly. When the tournament is not local, there are many more factors to consider with travel arrangements. I love to travel for events, especially to places I have never been; however, this adds a layer of complexity that isn’t always as easy to plan for. If you know someone that lives near the room where the event will be held, make sure that you contact them to find out any issues that you might encounter with travel to and from where you are staying. I am a firm believer in booking airfare and hotel as far in advance as possible, to get the best fares and rates. When picking a hotel, make sure that it has the accomodations that you absolutely can’t do without, otherwise you will have one more thing to pack and worry about, and no one wants that, especially when you are trying to focus on what you need to do to win this thing. As far as airfare goes, it is always a good idea to locate the airport that is closest to the venue. It might cost a little bit more, but the benefit often outweighs the alternative (especially additional travel time and distance that can complicate your plans.) And these days, I would absolutely recommend getting GPS for your rental car unless you are totally familiar with the area or are staying with someone who is.

3) Dress for Success
Depending on the tournament, dress codes may or may not be enforced for the event. Planning to meet any and all dress code requirements is one thing that you can completely manage with relatively little effort. If you have questions, ask early and always err on the conservative side. If there is a formal dress code in place, don’t try and get away with things that may or may not be in code. Just eliminate the hassle of thinking about it, there are too many other things to think about during a tournament. On the same note, one absolutely critical piece of planning is shoes. And no, I am not just being a girl on this one. When playing in larger tournaments especially, you will be on your feet for many hours and if you aren’t wearing comfortable shoes you are going to suffer. Don’t try out new shoes for an event, break them in prior, because the last thing you want is a blister or other types of foot pain to distract you from your mission. For me finding comfortable shoes that met all dress code requirements ended up costing me more in the short term, but the benefits in the long run are immeasurable.

4) Play Sets of the Format
Most tournament advertisements include information regarding the format of play that will be used for the event. In general, a couple good things to know are: what rules will be played, if the tournament is double or single elimination, the lengths of the races, and whether it is a winner breaks or alternating breaks format. Once you know this information, you can prepare accordingly. Often times, if you are used to achieving a certain number of games, how you prepare mentally can be the key to your success. If the sets are a Race to 7 and you normally only play Races to 4, you might lose focus or have weaker stamina near the end of the set when you need it most. I like to hook up with a player that is stronger than me and have them bring the heat in the format that we will be playing.

5) Sleep
Being successful at tournaments requires not only skill, but also both physical and mental endurance. Depending on the number of entrants, winning a tournament generally requires you to defeat multiple opponents that as the tournament progresses generally get better and better. Often times as you move through the brackets, the players that are shooting well advance through the rounds bottlenecking at the hotseat match (winner of the winner’s bracket, or winner of the event in single elimination formats.) If you aren’t well rested in the days leading up to the event, it can definitely effect your performance. It is a great rule of thumb to not plan on sleeping more or less than you normally would to maintain your peak physical and mental acuity. Some events will allow for cat naps throughout the day, but if you are anything like me, down time during tournaments is filled with other activities so I rely heavily on getting a good nights' sleep. As a tournament nears its finale, both mental and physical exhaustion can hamper your efforts to play your best pool so make sure to get some sleep so you can bring your best game.

6) Eat
How you eat before and throughout an event absolutely plays a role in your ability to compete at tournaments. Food is fuel for both the body and mind, so if the tank is empty your ability to concentrate and perform at your highest level can be extremely difficult. I personally opt for ¼ to ½ tank status, primarily because a touch of hunger brings out my best competition. Eating foods heavy in starches and sugars throughout the day can weigh you down and make you lethargic, so opt for snacks high in protein to ensure optimum performance. I generally eat several smaller snacks throughout the day instead of big meals, but that is really a matter of personal preference. As I discussed previously, tournaments are test of both physical and mental endurance, so by eating the right balance of foods for your body you can make it through your matches with more energy in reserve.

7) Show up Early to Play on the Tables
Some people can just show up at a tournament and it doesn’t matter what size or shape of table they will be playing on, but for me I like to show up when the doors open and shoot a few racks to assess what conditions I am going to be playing in. How tight the pockets are, whether or not the tables allow for slow rolls, and how the tables break are just a couple of things I like to know before the tournament starts. The better prepared you are for knowing where and when you will need to make adjustments, the more likely you will be to have success. Knowing the tables can eliminate the compulsion for making excuses. Everyone is playing on the same tables so get in there and figure them out…

8) Know the Rules
Depending on the game you are going to play, there are subtle variations that are determined by the Tournament Directors. Even if most of the rules are similar, it is critical to understand what rules will be applied to your games and matches. It can make the difference between a good shot or a foul, a win or loss of game, and eventually a win or loss of a match.

9) Getting to Know the Venue
When playing in a pool room for the first time, there are several things to figure out that will help you be mentally prepared for a tournament at the location. Knowing the conditions in advance can prevent unnecessary dilemmas during the event when your concentration needs to be focused on play. 1) Some rooms have no windows and extremely dark lighting, which is ideal for serious pool players, but not necessarily so for casual players or customers coming in for other activities that the establishment might provide. There's not much you can do about the situation, but awareness can be helpful. 2) Location and number of bathrooms are fundamental bits of information for any person, but especially for a pool player during a tournament. If you are only allowed one 5-minute break during your match, you probably won't want to have to figure out the bathroom situation with that time. 3) Some pool rooms don’t offer a full food menu, but just light snacks. Knowing restaurants in the area can be helpful if you end up needing to leave the room for more substantial fair. 4) Table etiquette for the room, aka “House Rules” generally are adhered to for most venues. Some “House Rules” that have come up at tournaments that I have participated in: no phenolic tips, no jumping or masse allowed, break cloth, scratch pot, and no drinks at the table. In general, higher level tournaments will make exceptions for tournament play, but it is always good to know the venue’s table etiquette requirements prior to start of the event. 5) Will there be billiards supplies/cue repair onsite. Not all rooms have this amenity, so will definitely effect your preparation for a tournament. I personally have two shafts for my shooting cue for this reason. If something were to happen, I know that I have a backup plan. It is always a good idea to know where you can go if supplies and/or cue repair are not available onsite

10) Plan for a Long Day
Don’t schedule other activities for the same day as the tournament. This "just in case I am out" mentality will be your downfall. Although there are many factors that contribute to success at tournaments, a player’s full commitment to winning the event is absolutely essential in doing so. Take the pressure off yourself and be in this moment. You will have plenty of opportunities to do whatever else you might need to do on a different day, so on tournament days or weekends dedicate that time to the event. For traveling tournaments, make your travel arrangements for the day after play is concluded. Even if you don’t end up winning the tournament, it is extremely valuable to watch championship matches and show your support to other pool players.

Preparation for tournaments can improve your chances for success and I hope that one, if not all, of my suggestions on how to do so are helpful in your endeavors. From the amateur to professional ranks, players can find tournaments both near and far from home. Good luck, shoot well, and you may just put yourself in the position to Get Lucky ;).

Ozones, Dragons, and Emeralds

2011-08-06T11:13:00.000-07:00

For those of you that know me, it is no surprise why the name of my blog is what it is. But for the rest of you out there, I just want to say thank you for taking a moment out of the whirlwind we call life to listen to me vent. Yet again, the lack of support sometimes after a good match can really be disheartening. I carry it with me, fuel for my ambition and a running joke for me to appreciate. I will elaborate further after some much needed background and build-up.

I played at the Ozone Billiards US Amateur Open last weekend, down at Emerald Billiards in New Iberia, LA. Not only was this the first event that I had played in Louisiana, there were several other firsts including 1) my first Charlie Williams/Dragon Promotions Event, 2) my first open ProAm Event, 3) getting to the see SVB, Charlie Williams, Johnny Archer, Shawn Putnam, and so many other great pros compete at the DP Pro Classic (in person), and 4) play with a mixed doubles partner that I didn't know.

There are several stories that I just want to tell, not only because I can, but I feel compelled to do so. I suppose that is obvious by even having a blog, but anyways let me get back to it. I numbered the stories, not only for clarity as a reader, but to prevent myself from digressing.

1) Charlie Williams/Dragon Promotions
When I first saw the flyer for the Ozone Billiards US Amateur Open and DP Pro Classic, I was like "Yes, yes, yes", why wouldn't I want to travel to a new city and expand my story as a person, as a pool player, and as an aspiring photo journalist. I have played in events all over the country and I have to say that Dragon Promotions did run a great event. There were multiple divisions for the amateurs, ProAms where you could test your skills against some of the best players in the world, and the Pro events where amateurs could sign up as well (but had no real chance at coming through).

I played in the Ladies Amateur 8 Ball, Ladies ProAm 9 Ball, and the ProAm Mixed Doubles 8 Ball. All three events were held on the barboxes and I shot pretty sporty overall, cashing in 2 out of 3 events and having one of the biggest wins of my short pool history. My only complaint would have to be that the amateur events weren't really treated with the same importance as the ProAm or Pro Events, but I understand why. Spectators are paying to see the Pros and amateurs are well, just amateurs. I didn't take it personally; however, I know that there were several match conflicts because of opponents playing in multiple events which resulted in 6 to 12 hour delays. Dragon Promotions did a great job getting through all of the events and I look forward to playing in DP events in the future.

2) My first ProAm 9 Ball Event
I thought it was strange that the ProAm 9 ball event only drew 8 players, especially being hosted in the south where there are so many great players within a relatively short distance. My first round draw was against Ms. Erica Park, Dragon Promotions' newest protege (Charlie's Angels as some of the players were calling them) from Korea. Immediately, I knew I would have to play my best (why I would think it might be some other way, I don't know) and ultimately I set the goal of not dogging it, just playing the table and trying to take advantage of what opportunities I was given. In a winner breaks format, race to 7, on barboxes I figured a seven pack was not only possible, but probable by the lady that just finished 3rd at the WPBA's US Open.

I think my nerves got the best of me early on as Erica only had one break and run in the games building up to her 5-1 lead. Being down that much, it is really easy to fold and just let them have it, but what fun would that be? From the moment I realized I was just playing barbox 9 ball my mental edge sharpened significantly. It no longer mattered who I was playing, how I was doing, and definitely not how my opponent was doing. I was waiting for my turn, I was making the ball, I was running out... After I tied things up at 5, I broke dry and Erica attempted a 1-9 carom where she ended up leaving the 9 in the jaws. Of course I immediately went for the 1-9 bank and made it to reach the hill first. We both had misses during the final rack, but victory was to be mine as I ran out from the 3 to win the match 7-5. After the match, Erica was very gracious as she congratulated me on my performance and wished me good luck in my next match. Someone else, who I will leave nameless for my own purposes, decided that now would be a good time to let me know exactly how lucky I got (hence the legacy...) Not only did Erica not get any rolls while I did, but she is a world class player and champion while I am not, and to top it off there is no way that I should ever even have had a chance... 3 minutes of this type of conversation can feel like an eternity, but Oh well, such is life of 9 ball on the barboxes. I felt great about the heart that I showed and the skill that I used to my advantage. Even if I am never a champion, I can always say I beat one ;)

I ended up losing my next match to Belinda Lee 7-6 (after being down 6-3), man I had some great run outs to stay in that match, and then defeating Stephanie Goens 5-4 to earn a rematch against Erica which she won 5-3. Erica went on to defeat Belinda Lee and then double dip her Dragon counterpart Kaori Ebe from Japan to earn her Championship in the ProAm 9 Ball. What a fun event :)

3) Getting to see the Pros- DP Pro Classic
Dragon Promotions and Emerald Billiards really went out of their way to show their support for the Pro Players that ventured down to New Iberia for the DP Pro Classic. The Pro Arena was curtained off and both 9 and 10 ball tournaments were played on eight 9 foot Brunswick Tournament Edition tables. Arena seating was available throughout the event and Ray "Big Truck" Hansen provided live streaming for the entire weekend.

For me personally, this was a huge opportunity considering I had never had the experience of watching these players, especially in such an intimate setting. Seriously, I got some amazing photos and watched some of the best pool I have ever seen played in person. Not only were most of the pros totally friendly and open to chatting, photographs, and signing my book (of course), but some even watched me play and gave me some pointers (you know who you are ;).) I really am a lucky girl!

4) Playing Mixed Doubles with Someone I Didn't Know
When I paid my entry fees, I was under the impression that the ProAm 9 Ball and Mixed Doubles 8 Ball events overlapped which meant I had to choose. Considering how far we were from home and any male counterpart that I knew could handle a stick, I opted to play it safe and play the ProAm 9 ball. Singles, I can do.

On our first night (we arrived Thursday), I met the guy who would end up being my Scotch Doubles partner on Sunday. He basically walked up to the table we were shooting at and said I want you to be my partner. Me being who I am, I basically said well, I'll need to see you shoot first. LOL. Ron Canterbury originally grew up playing with the likes of Chris Bartram and Corey Deuel in the Ohio area, but gave up pool for several years to raise a family. We had great chemistry from the get go and we ended up with a mixed bag of results. I think we both tried our hardest, but in the long run made too many mistakes. We ended up with a 3rd place performance, when 1st was in our sites.

I would definitely recommend going out of town and playing Mixed Doubles with someone you don't know, you really realize your own strengths and weaknesses as both a player and a teammate.

Overall, I had a great time traveling to Louisiana for this event. I know in my heart that pool is alive and well in the Bayou. I look forward to traveling to different events in the future and hope that if you ever have the opportunity to put yourself out there that you take full advantage of it. I would like to thank Criegh Dumo for sponsoring myself and Stacy with some Hustlin' USA apparel. I think we would have made you proud.

That's it for now. Come back soon!

Reflections for the day...

2011-06-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

I met Rodney "The Rocket" Morris last night and I couldn't help but feel like a little school girl asking for his autograph. How could I not, he is probably one of the best American pool players right now and the fact that he was in the pool room that I was playing league at was truly exciting.

Honestly, it made me think back to my first autograph. I am a relative nobody, but when I went to Miramar with some ladies from the WPBA (Liz Cole, Denise Belanger, and Cristina Delagarza), those soldiers were probably just as excited to have us sign their books. It's amazing how this game can touch so many lives. It is probably the thing I like most about this sport. You can go anywhere around the world and find pool rooms a plenty with students of the game.

Hope everyone has a great day. And as Rachel Abbink would put it, "May your slate roll straight." Cheers :)

Status Update

2011-06-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay on my next player profile. I touched base with Sarah and she has been super busy. More to come for sure.

I have a very busy schedule of tournaments coming up, so I am hoping to line up my next boy profile very soon. I am thinking I might pick someone that I meet in Louisiana when I head down for the Ozone US Amateur Open.

Thanks for checking in and I will be back soon :)

Player Profile #3: Ford

2011-01-02T16:05:00.001-08:00

Ford was born in Greensboro, North Carolina March 4, 1943. His father was also from North Carolina and his mother was from Washington DC. Ford was the oldest of five children and when I asked Ford what his fondest childhood memory was, he didn’t have just one. He remarked on how wonderful a childhood he had, many good times, lots of memories with family and friends. When I asked him to pick one he recalled getting his drivers license when he was 16. His dad wouldn't let him drive the car at first, but when all of the teachers from Ford’s high school would let him drive theirs, his dad finally gave in. Ford remembers his dad saying things like "Don't be having boys in my car" and "Don't spin them tires" looking back on that time.

After graduating from high school, Ford found himself joining the Navy. He says he was tricked by a couple of buddies, who he had given a ride to the testing facility, into taking the test as well. They both failed and much to his chagrin, Ford passed. Much later (around 2000) he learned that they had both gotten scared and failed on purpose. Ford served 7 years for our country, including two tours to Vietnam, and honestly if it weren't for that service he would not be the man that he is today. He served on the USS Coral Sea and the USS Constellation; they were always at sea bombing the enemy. Ford lost a couple friends who were pilots and during his time overseas he learned how serious war really is and how short life can be. I would like to take a moment to thank Ford so much for his service; it truly is one of the most generous of things a person can give...

Fortunately for us, there were more lessons for Ford to learn. While stationed on Midway Island in the South Pacific, a white kid from Chicago gave Ford a real hard time for not knowing his way around a pool table, so much so that when Ford was transferred to Whidbey Island he started practicing 8 hours a day, every day. He really didn't know where he wanted to go with it, but knew that he was definitely interested in becoming the best that he could. He was always competitive and played sports growing up (basketball, football, and baseball.)

Ford loves the game of 8 Ball, it is definitely his favorite, and then straight pool. As a player Ford won so many trophies that one day he decided to put them all on his pool table, take a picture, and then donated them to Goodwill. It was the game that mattered the most and they really just took up space. Another fond memory for Ford was the first time he played Dan Louie. They were at an 8-ball tournament in Everett and Ford beat Dan. After the match Dan said to Ford "I had no idea you could play this game." Ford laughed. Dan eventually came through the B side and ended up beating Ford the second time around, and then going on to win the event, but Ford recalls his win with candor.

When I asked Ford which pool players he looked up to, he told me he looked up to a lot of different players, but most of all was Jean Balukas. She was a fierce competitor and played with such an amazing confidence, "If I can see it, I can make it." A couple other players he admired were Lemke and Mosconi; however, Ford did tell me that Efren Reyes is the best player that he has ever seen play.

Most anyone who was heavy in the pool scene starting in the 80s and 90s knew Ford as the Head Official and CoDirector for The Pro Tournament at The Sands in Reno, which 12 years later became a Pro/Am event. But even further back, Ford got his start in "the other side of the sport" as an MC for tournaments in 1979. Harry Platis would fly the pros in and players would shoot in Ocean Shores and Port Angeles. He then got involved with Pat Fleming and AccuStats when Gene Starry was the head of the USPPA. He helped out with tracking results, scorekeeping, and statistics and that is what took him to Reno. As the Head Official, he refereed all of the Finals and most semiFinal matches; you might recognize his voice as the ref on all of those early AccuStat tapes.

Ford never aspired to "go pro", he had a job and knew what it took to take to compete at that level. He wanted to be able to compete with the pros and know their games so well that he could identify the key elements that made them so good. He spent most of his time developing a rapport and earning the reputation of being fair and honest in a sport where those qualities aren't necessarily the first traits that you would think of. His respect for the players and trustworthiness have distinguished him from other pool players. One of his fondest memories of the sport was during a money game between Parica and Hopkins, he was asked to hold $10,000 while they played. Ford has earned the respect that he gets from players and is honored that players trust him both as an official and as a person.

These days, Ford has stayed busy as the CoFounder of the Players Club Limited (BCA League), a CoTournament Director for the Northwest Women's Pool Association (NWPA), and the house pro at Shotze’s in Everett, WA. You need someone to watch a shot or hold a couple grand for ya, Ford is your man. Thanks Ford for all that you do, we love and respect you so very much.

UPDATE: Player Profile #3: Ford

2010-12-12T09:32:00.000-08:00

When I first asked Ford if I could write a player profile on him, I figured it was going to be an easy task to take on. He's been around the game for so long and knows so many people from around the world. He has a reputation for being fair and honest as a tournament director and he is loved and respected by most all of the players that I know... Then why have I come up against the wall and not been able to complete the profile when the interview was completed in August?

I have been thinking about that very question and understandably come to two conclusions: 1. I don't need to reinvent the wheel on this. Ford has been around so long and his profile has been done before. I wanted to put a new spin on things and wanted to make sure that my reflection of him was sincere and honest. He is who he is and I write how I write, so... 2. I am going to have his profile posted by January 1, 2011.

I will be back in the very short while with some good people fodder. Hope you all have a Happy Holiday season, I know I will.

On the Spot with Samm Diep

2010-09-27T17:54:00.000-07:00

On the Spot Question: As your involvement in the sport has expanded, how have your expectations as a player evolved?

Samm Diep Answer: Thought provoking question... Let's see... As I've become more and more involved in the non-competing aspect of the sport, truthfully, the expectations of myself as a player have decreased significantly. The more I had been building my business as an instructor, and actively marketing myself as a "billiard personality" and doing more and more media coverage at events, the lower and lower my expectations became to perform well in tournaments.

Initially, it was quite frustrating and very difficult to manage. This was a huge learning experience for me. Often times, I would be competing at an event and also trying to cover it because I needed the financial help with my expenses. It's VERY difficult for me to not give 100% at whatever I'm doing so I think that was the toughest part. Ultimately, my game suffered and I'm sure my tournament reports could've been better too.

Nowadays, I just try not to take on as much and I've learned to balance things and manage my time a lot better. Fortunately for me, I'm not a drinker or a partier. I'm really quite boring, actually. I just go to the tournament, pull out my notebook between matches and do some writing, and go to dinner and back to my room at the end of the day. So, there are very few minutes wasted in a day.

I think I also learned to channel that "low expectation" feeling into "low pressure" for myself at tournaments. Instead of feeling overwhelmed about all the stuff I need to do, I just try to be as prepared as possible before I leave town and once I'm there, I can just enjoy every moment and remind myself that I'm a player first.

I also have a strict policy that I do not cover a tournament that I win. In the past, that has caused some inner-conflict, but these days I use it more as an incentive.

I'm also much faster now at throwing together tournament reports and having great support from my friends also helps.

A wise mentor of mine once told me that there would come a time when I would have to choose if I wanted to be Samm, the player, or Samm, the reporter (or whatever else I was working on). I feel pretty fortunate right now that I'm kind of skating by without having to make any big serious decisions like that yet, but I know I'm at that fork and just circling the roundabout. We'll just have to see what happens in the next couple years.

You can see Samm play on the Arizona Women's Billiard Tour (AWBT) where she has won two out of the last three events, or reporting at events all around the country, perhaps at the US Open in October. I would like to wish Samm all of the best in her very busy life, and to thank her for contributing to the sport so graciously.

Round 4

2010-08-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

My fourth player profile has been confirmed, I will be interviewing Miss Sarah Rousey... Yay, should be fun, now I need to get my third profile written.

Sarah is a WPBA touring professional pool player and has competed around the world. I am excited to get this opportunity, please check back.

What's Your Excuse

2010-08-12T07:46:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning thinking about the last tournament and how I was going to improve my performance at this weekend's event. Looking back at my records, I had my worst finish in a couple of years and logically speaking there were lots of reasons I could come up with why I didn't play well. I had a 5 week old at home and this was my longest day away from her, I hadn't slept more than 3 hours straight in over a month, my body was expecting to nurse and I had to pump between matches, I hadn't been practicing as much and everyone else had, and so on and so forth... but when it comes down to it, there are generally very few reasons why I lose a match. Ultimately, as painful as it might sound, I didn't execute. While I was busy concentrating on everything that was preventing me from finishing (I lost two matches where I was up 5-2, 7-5) the other ladies were focusing on doing what they needed to do to advance.

Pool players are notorious for making excuses for less than perfect performances: why they miss a shot, how they lose a game, and often how they lose a match to someone that in their mind they should always beat. Well that's the problem, thinking about what should've, could've, or would've been if you had done something differently can be as self defeating as shooting without a tip or even with your eyes closed. For my next event, I will be recording common excuses that players have heard or used themselves for why something didn't stay the desired course, on the pool table naturally. A survey of sorts that will give me just the right reason for touching base with all the ladies on the tour. Sounds like a plan, I will report back with my findings.

While you are here, what is the best excuse you have heard or even used yourself for missing a shot?

On the Spot with Jana Montour

2010-07-23T18:37:00.000-07:00

On the Spot Question: How do you prepare yourself for big tournaments?

Jana Montour Answer: By working on my focus and shooting drills. I work on my focus by clearing my mind as I am shooting. In matches or practice, when I start to lose my focus, I will attempt to count backwards from 100. Only one time have I reached 1. In fact that match I had such little focus that I was able to count back from 100 twice. I do shooting drills by selecting different shots to set up and shooting them over and over: spin shots, finesse, trouble shots, long shots, etc.

Jana Montour is from Hobbema, Alberta and will be representing the Northwest Women's Pool Association (NWPA) at the 2010 Women's US Open in Norman, Oklahoma. Jana qualified for the event by winning the Washington State Championships in March of 2010. She is currently the NWPA's point leader and she finished tied for 7th this year in the Women's Master Singles event at the BCA National 8 Ball Championships in Las Vegas. Your next opportunities to see her play will be at the Riverwind Casino for the WPBA's US Open on July 28-August 1.

Round 3

2010-07-11T21:52:00.000-07:00

My third player profile has been confirmed... I will be interviewing Ford for my next profile segment. Ford has been a pool enthusiast for over 40 years as a player, a fan, and in recent years as a tournament director for the Northwest Women's Pool Association (NWPA) and Player's Club Limited. I am excited to share his story with his friends and fans.

I will be completing the primary interview this weekend and his profile should be available for your reading pleasure some time in August.

Player Profile #2: Amanda Lampert

2010-06-20T14:57:00.000-07:00

Amanda Lampert, aka "The Natural", was born in 1975 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. As the daughter to a military mom, she has lived in Florida, Texas, Arizona, Turkey, California, Spain, and Georgia (and then back in Texas.) Her mother remarried when she was very young to the man that she is honored to call Dad, who also served in the Air Force. Shifting cultural views and perpetual relocation obviously influenced the way that she communicates and relates to others. She is extremely outgoing and has a great sense of humor. Also, Amanda is one of six children, which has played a huge role in the way that she perceives the world.

According to Amanda, her parents have had the biggest influence on the person that she is today for very different reasons. When she was younger, her mother always pushed her to be more than she saw herself as, which can seem confusing as a young person trying to find her way. It takes a certain level of maturity to appreciate criticism from someone so close to your heart, but Amanda has taken it in stride and grown into an amazing woman, and now recognizes the ways that her mother has contributed to that. Her stepfather, who is her Dad, was an even larger influence. He has inspired Amanda through example. Not only does he give of himself to all those who surround him, he also taught her how to rise above your situation and be a good person no matter how difficult it may be. It seems that both father and daughter have come through some hard times to shine in the world that they live in. Amanda hopes to use her life lessons both on and off the pool table to teach aspiring competitors how to find success.

Amanda has been playing pool since the mid-nineties and won her first singles title in 2000 at the BCA National 8-ball Championships. She learned to play 8-ball in the week leading up to the event from a good friend, June Hager Walter. She has also won team titles at BCA Nationals in 2001, 2005, and just recently at the 2010 event. Aside from BCA participation, Amanda has also been a player on the Fast Eddies 9-ball Tour from 2003-2006 and the Hunter Classics Tour (now known as OB Cues Tour) from 2000-Present.

Amanda's performance on the Fast Eddie's Tour in 2004 resulted in what Amanda considers her first press accolade. InsidePool magazine nominated Amanda as the Inaugural Player of the Month. That year she won 5 out of 9 events, with her worst finish being a tie for 5th. Amanda would go on to claim the Houston Open title later that year, a title which she won twice in 2005 and then defended again in 2007. Amanda is also proud of winning singles titles at the Texas Open in 2006, 2008, and 2009. She has also performed at an exceedingly high level on the Hunter Classics/OB Cues Tour, winning multiple events in as many years.

In 2006, Amanda's performance on the Hunter Classics Tour resulted in her second invitation to the WPBA Regional Tour Championship in early 2007. Amanda went on to win that event and make her presence known on the pro tour, playing in 5 WPBA Classic Tour events and the BCA Generationpool.com event. Amanda's best finish on the pro tour was at the BCA event in a tie for 13-16th place; however, she did not end up with an overall ranking high enough to earn her tour card for 2008. A fond memory of her performance includes 3 fouling Vivian Villarreal to win the match.

According to Amanda, her inconsistent performance at the professional level stemmed from lack of confidence and experience. Like so many young players, she felt overwhelmed by the difference between the WPBA arena and that which she was used to, both on and off the table. She admits that playing in that world was intimidating and she had difficulty not focusing on who and where she was playing.

Over the last few years, Amanda's perspective on the sport and life in general has evolved. She has worked on improving her self-image and confidence, and has continued to develop a more positive approach to living her life, nurturing herself and her relationships with family and friends. Her main goal in life is to "Be Happy, with the life she is creating for herself, and to make others around her happy as well." If you are ever in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and you happen to run into a smiling and energetic pool sensation, be careful, her enthusiasm for the sport and for life might just rub off on you... right after she is done running out on you

Your next opportunity to see Amanda compete is on the OB Cues Tour, July 24-25th in Tulsa, Oklahoma at Magoo's Billiards. Check out Live Action either at the pool room or on the Live Streaming available on the OB Cues Tour website (http://www.obcuestour.com/)

For this profile, I posed a question to several of the pool players that know Amanda best: "In one word only, how would you describe Amanda?" and these were some of the responses- Exuberant, Passionate, Trustworthy, Whiplash, Sweetheart, Unselfish, Heart, Fun, Tenacious, Dedicated, and Energetic.

I would like to wish Amanda all of the best in her endeavors and thank her for taking the time to share her story with me and the rest of the world.

Blog Content and Comments

2010-04-07T10:40:00.001-07:00

I would like to take a moment to express my thanks to all people who have taken the time out of their busy lives to read my blog. That being said, I would like to make it clear that any person who would attempt to use this blog to make personal attacks on another is out of line. I am aware that people have their own issues with others, but this is not the avenue through which those should be addressed.

Thanks again for visiting...

Round 2

2010-03-09T07:12:00.001-08:00

My second player profile has been confirmed... I will be interviewing Amanda Lampert from Texas for my next profile segment. She has played on the WPBA off and on for the last several years, and is one of the dominant forces on the OB Cues Tour (formerly known as Hunter Classics Tour).

You can expect this profile to post in early April, so please come back and check it out =)

On the Spot with Kimberly Kirk

2010-03-06T07:50:00.000-08:00

On the Spot Question: What is your most memorable experience in either a pool room or at a tournament?

Kimberly Kirk Answer: 1995, somewhere in Texas at my second WPBA Amateur Nationals. I made it to the final and was playing that race to 11 against June Walters. I was down 8-2, and it wasn't the first time that I had to bear down, but I vividly remember thinking to myself, "No matter what I do, I'm not going to quit." I ended up winning that match 11-9 for my 2nd WPBA Amateur National Title.

Kimberly would go on to win a 3rd WPBA Amateur National Title in 1997. (2 other titles were won in 1993 and 1995.) Kimberly will be joining the Northwest Women's Pool Association (NWPA) this year, so look out for more stellar performances from this lady in the near future.

Player Profile #1: Eddie Mataya

2010-03-06T05:31:00.000-08:00

Eddie Mataya, often referred to as Little Eddie, was born in 1977 and was raised in western Washington. Growing up in Auburn, Eddie's mother passed away at an early age. His biggest influence was his father "My Hero" and some of his fondest childhood memories include climbing mountains with his dad.

By the time Eddie was 18 he had started playing pool at The Java Shop in Auburn, WA. His first cue was a McDermott and was a birthday gift from his dad. Eddie's first exposure to billiards was playing 9-ball, however; according to him, he really didn't learn to play until he was 22. By that time, he had switched to playing at Harvey's in Renton, WA. He started playing leagues and local tournaments and has grown over the last 10 years into a formidable player.

In 2009, Eddie not only captured the Western Region BCA Men's Masters 9-ball Title, but he also started to learn the game of One Pocket. One Pocket is Eddie's favorite game (although he says 9-ball on the big tables is his strongest) because there are so many more things to think about. The learning curve is steep because you have to know the speed of both the cue and the object ball, which ultimately translates to all other pool games. Typically, Eddie likes to gamble 2-3 times a week in higher stake games, and occasionally has travelers come through to test their skills (and their pocket book depths.) Eddie often plays in local tournaments including both 8 and 9-ball events at Malarkey's Pool & Brew in Tacoma, WA or PJ Pockets in Federal Way, WA.

In the next year, Eddie really wants to "go for it." He plans on traveling to several of the larger open events including Galveston Open, Allen Hopkins Memorial, and Derby City Classic (early 2011.) He will continue to participate in the BCA League and will be included in the Grandmaster Feature Event at Western BCA Regionals in Lincoln City, OR next week (look for Live Streaming link on UStream or Western BCA websites.) He will also be playing in the Mixed Master Scotch Doubles and Men's Master Team events to complement his schedule. His scotch doubles partner is his partner in life, Miss Cindy Sliva.

Eddie told me that Cindy has been a huge part of his success, that she has not only introduced him to many great players, but also that her discipline, pace, and mind set in this sport have definitely influenced his performance. In addition to her unwavering support, she also takes a proactive role in managing Eddie's tournament scheduling, including traveling and accomodations, and really just making sure that Eddie is doing what needs to be done to ensure his success. He loves and admires her and is confident that with her in his corner that there are no limits for his possibilities.

I wish the best of luck to Eddie in all his endeavors and I look forward to watching him capture many more titles in the future. Thank you for taking the time to share a little bit of your story.

Reflections on 2010 WPBA Regional Tour Championships: How to Not Suffocate Yourself

2010-02-25T03:25:00.000-08:00

I have been home for a couple of days now from the 2010 WPBA Regional Tour Championships, settled back into my routine, and have had the opportunity to synthesize my experience at the event and it is not pretty. I need to get the darkness out or I won't be able to get back to sleep tonight.

It's amazing how when I started planning for the event I was so pumped about getting the invitation. I took my first lesson in 2008, started shooting drills, and have continued to improve my fundamentals ever since. With that improvement has come increased expectations... and that is where the story has taken a turn.

When I saw my Group for the first time, I thought "Okay, I am fighting for the fourth spot." There were three players in my mind that had already advanced, and it was the other ladies that I would need to contend with to get through to Stage 2. This was my first mistake. It never should have mattered who was in my group, I never should have even made those role assignments, but I did and it would be my downfall in the long run.

My first match was against Tina Larsen, she had finished T5-6 at the 2009 RTC, and had played on the WPBA multiple times over the last decade. I knew I would need to play my best, and I was confident throughout the match. I ended up winning 6-2. I couldn't believe it, honestly, but it was a great start and I looked forward to my next match.

My next match was against Lara Rassignol, a player I had no expectations against. I didn't know who she was, but I was comfortable with my previous performace so didn't feel anxious about the match. Up 2-0, and shooting with great confidence, I made the 9 and scratched, and then scratched on the 9 in two consecutive games. I went on TILT, and was unable to recover. I ended up losing 6-2.

Veronique Menard was my next opponent, and extremely intimidated was the only was to describe my feelings. She was the 2009 WPBA Rookie of the Year, had an invite to the Amway Cup, and just seemed to be very comfortable with herself. I knew that I would need to play well to even have a shot at winnning some games. I was on shaky ground in my own mind, but fought through every rack, and ended up losing 6-5. This was something I could build on, or so I thought.

Lisa Marr was my fourth match of the event, and all I can say about it was "Brutal..." Lisa was shooting extremely well and made very few mistakes. I was unable to capitalize on the opportunities that I had and ended up losing 6-0 in heartbreaking fashion. With that score, I knew that my opportunities for advancing to Stage 2 were slimming exponentially. I had to turn things around or all my efforts would be for naught.

Ashea Erdahl was my last opponent of the evening, and she had not won a match yet, so I knew if I wanted a shot at Stage 2, I would absolutely have to win. I battled the darkness back, tried to stay relaxed (if that is possible with so much pressure put on yourself), and ended up winning 6-5. I felt okay about the win, but knew that I would be hard pressed with my scores to advance. I went home for the night, and tried not to think about the tournament or my play, or what I needed to do to get through to the next round... It didn't last very long.

I didn't sleep well that night, and dreamt about the performance required to carry me through. I had two matches to go and would need to win 12-6 to hit the 50% mark in my match win %. (Sometimes, I wish I had no background in statistics, and that I had no intuition for math.) It was a long night...

Julie Stephensen was my first match on Saturday morning, and I knew that she could play, but had never played her before. I knew what I needed to do and that is where the unraveling began. Down for the entire match, I found myself talking to myself, berating my performance, and questioning my skill before the score was even 4-2 my opponent. I couldn't concentrate on what I was doing and I was so worried about missing that I couldn't make a 2 ball out with ball in hand. I was destroyed mentally and was on the verge of an emotional break down. Not just because I was losing, but because I know better. In all of my preparation, I knew that positive self talk was the key to my success and here I was, cutting myself down so harshly that I couldn't make a straight in shot. The final score was 6-2, and with that went any aspiration of advancing. I had completely suffocated myself out of the opportunity, and I was devastated.

It was so disappointing to fight so hard for a year to not represent my tour or myself in a positive way. I really felt embarrassed and ashamed of myself. Fortunately, I would have some reprieve.

My last match was against Emily Duddy. I knew I had no chance of advancing, she knew she was already in, so really what did I have to lose? I tried to forget about all of the mistakes I had made and just play each ball as if it were the only shot that I needed to make. I was up 5-2 before I knew what happened. A little bit of luck and a lot better focus had gotten me to a better place mentally, and I started to feel good. Emily tyed up the match 5-5 before I would end up going for a 5-9 carom that slopped in the wrong pocket. Overall, I felt a little bit better about myself, and I was able to carry my head a little bit higher. Although I had gone through a myriad of emotions, highs and lows in my performance ability, I came out of it all with a renewed perspective and an eagerness to support those who would be advancing. My opportunity had passed and I was unable to perform when I needed to, I would need to get over it if I wanted to enjoy myself for the rest of the event, which I did... I got to watch some amazing matches, visit with some old and new friends, and come to terms with myself as a player and a person.

My Lesson Learned: I can't hold on too tight without suffocating myself. Figuring out a way to stay relaxed and focused throughout the event is essential to my success at this and any level. Once I can do that, everything will come together in the long run. After all, there is always next year =)

On the Spot with Mary Rakin

2010-02-23T14:56:00.000-08:00

On the Spot Question: What do you do to mentally prepare for a big event?

Mary Rakin Answer: "I listen to music and relax before every event I attend to. Nothing better than a clear mind with your favorite music!"

(Post 2010 WPBA RTC event at Hardtimes Billiards in Bellflower, CA where Mary finished 2nd in a field of 63 women, earning her Q card to play on the WPBA's Classic Tour for 2010.)

Round 1

2010-01-05T10:16:00.000-08:00

I will be posting my first player profile on Eddie Mataya. He is a local player in the Great Northwest and has already agreed to the interview. Please come back and check it out.

More to come...