so the story goes.....

This past Sunday, a league here in town held an "open" 8ball tournament which held 3 different handicapped brackets. "Open" meant that even if you didn't play in that particular league, you could pay the same entry and play in one of the brackets so long you had an updated score or handicapped sheet to say where you ranked. Since this tournament brought out a lot of different skilled players who had to merge in to the particular "league rules" and handicaps, races were shortened. Overall it made for a nice day of Sunday of pool.

My bracket was one of the smaller filled ones, which I didn't mind so much. I didn't play as well as I know I could have (or maybe my game is less than what I think it is). Here's the quick run down, I have a race to 2:

match 1
I won 2-0

match 2
I won 2-0

match 3
I came across someone who I had seen play before.....a new player in the league but he's a good shot. I missed an easy safe and gave up my first game of the day. (0-1) So now he's on the hill. UGH! He gets a good break, and drops two balls. As he's bearing down to win....I'm thinking I'm going to the one-loss side. I got a lucky break when he rattled a ball in the side. With only two clear shots for position I end up playing safe to leave him bad instead of going for it. And it worked. I got ball in hand and ran the table. Hill - hill and I take it.
2-1

match 4
I take game one. In a really bad second rack I get up to shoot after he misses and realize I'm lined up for a 2 ball and the 8. As I walk to the table, I notice the score sheet says I have to to go to 3 games, my opponent to 2. Um, I'm sorry?!?!?! WHAT???? So I ask before I shoot and sure as hell, this guy is one skill lower. The race is 3-2. I'm gonna have to play another rack. I'm not sure if I let this get to me or if I just played really poor. I let him get this game and I'm pissed. Score is 2-1 and hill-hill. I decide to not let it bother me. I play fierce and capitalized on each mistake he made. I think this frustrated him because he started missing - bad. Really bad. I'not sure if he was nervous or what, but his game changed, not for the better.
I won 3-1

Now, I still haven't looked at the board all day, but I'm figuring I've gotten pretty far. As they announce the next match for my bracket, I hear them call my last opponent to play for 2nd and 3rd....and I know I've made it to the hot seat!!!

match 5
In true double elimination, my opponent must beat me twice....race to 2 each match. He breaks and begins to run out the table. Hhhhmmmm - not fun. As I watch him shoot, I get the impression he's not "focused to win", but has the attitude of "Oh, I got this"........... He's shooting quickly, not paying attention to the layout of the table, and pretty much firing away. With two balls left and the 8, he calls a kick shot to move the 14 ball 3 rails. Wow! Okay! Now I'm not your smartest player, or the most talented, but this ball does NOT go. Maybe he knows something I don't.....but with all my balls near the 14 I can't imagine what he's gonna do. He fires away - It doesn't go.

I immediately look at all of my balls. No real good shot, I've got most of them up near the top rail, so I take the open shot and play safe. He has to kick and misses. I play safe. H goes for a cut and misses. I play safe. He's no longer firing away (what a concept!). Through out all this I slowly clear my balls since I've gotten them in front of pockets with all my safes. I have the 1 and 8 left. I have a pretty steep cut down the rail and the 8 is hanging. I f'n hang the one. HANG the one!!!!!!!!! I could've sneezed and it would've fell. UGH. He wins 1-0

He breaks and scratches. I continue my play, in not such a slow play, but focused, concentrated, and smart. As a group of his friends near the table to watch, he gets into conversation. Annoyed at the laughing hyenas, I stay focused. I'm down to 2 balls and the 8 and say SAFE, this gets his attention and he realizes if he doesn't make his next ball, I'm out. He cannot play safe and he stares at me. Hmph!. I end up winning and we're 1-1.

I'm on the hill...he needs this to stay in. I break, two balls fall, and I begin to layout my path. He has now moved away from his friends, and is watching closely. We go back and forth and he's on the 8. He has to cut and misses. I have two balls near the top rail, one I can cut, but one on the rail. I'm gonna have to slow roll the hell outta the cue ball because I can't hold it at that angle. He smirks, mumbles to his friends, and my horn come out. It's ON!!!!! I execute perfectly and I'm out! 2-1 and a few dollars richer!!! ;)

miSsoN complete!


Just for laughs.........3 days later.........

My bf had league so I tag along. We're get there a little early so we're practicing on our own tables. The other team starts to trickle in. I start to over here two guys talking:

Guy A: "How was that tournament?"

Guy B: "Oh, good! I took 2nd. I should've had the last one too, but some chick beat me. She got so lucky. I played so good and she was just firing away make balls fall. I felt bad for her, she really didn't know what she was doing so I'm okay that I let her win"

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??????????????????????????????

I seriously wanted to laugh out loud.....but didn't. I did however have a HUGE smile on my face. Just as he was about to break, he looked over at my table. I smiled bigger than I think I ever have. He looked at me with such a blank stare, you would've thought he'd seen a ghost.

Guy A: "What's up man? Break already"

Guy B: "That's her. And, uh, she plays a good game........mumble, studder, muble......

Not only did I have no clue who my bf's team played that night, I was more than happy I came. Overhearing that, was probably sweeter than my victory as I got to sit quiet, smile, and know that I KICKED HIS ASS!!!!