Rack em'!
Sunday, 9. March 2008, 07:27:32
I have never considered myself as being competative. Oh, I love to dance and as far back as I can remember, I have entered dance contests...and won perhaps more than my share of them (starting at age 11) but still, I never considered that could be construed as competitive. The very word "competition" conjured up sports events to me, none of which inspired me in any way.
And then...my ex-husband brought home a pool table. A regulation, slate topped, coin-operated table that had been used in a bar. It was some deal he found during an inspection of someone's home to restore their furniture. They came to some agreement and suddenly, we owned this behemoth that took six healthy men to move and set up.
We "jimmied" the coin-op thing and we could use it at will. But in truth, we never knew exactly what we were doing, besides hitting the balls around and occasionally putting a few down. Not even close to shooting "real" pool. When we divorced, I became the proud owner of this table...and little else.
So, after a while I asked a friend to teach me to shoot...really shoot, and not just knock the balls around. We were both discouraged at first. He had me shooting the cue ball to the far end of the table (over and over) at just the right speed and with just the right momentum so that it should come back and tap my cue stick, gently and accurately. Just as we both were about to give up nd give in...Eureka! I somehow made it happen. After that, we got on with my lessons and in three short months I was ready to shoot in public. Huzzah!
My first public outing was humiliating, to say the least. I was shooting and actually, running the table but when I realized this, I completely choked! I lost of course, but I learned.
After that, I knew the game, I knew the rules and I never choked again. And I found that I AM indeed, competative...at least when it comes to pool shooting.
It's interesting that 95% of all pool shooters are men and that they do not take well to a woman with a pool cue in her hand. I am always polite, always ready to shake hands and say *Good Game* at the end and never lord it over anyone, if I win. But in truth, these guys do not want to shake the hand of any woman who has beaten them. I'm Okay with that too.
I dress the part by not wearing Levi's or other *comfortable* attire but I dress, think, act and behave like a lady in these situations. No need to make it worse, right, Ladies?
The last time I shot in public I owned that table for 13 games. I was then asked if I would choose a partner so that we could play *doubles*. I looked around, saw no one I wanted to partner with and declined the offer. Instead, I offered to give up the table, no matter the outcome of the game I was playing...won...and gave them the table. I then went off to watch my son bowl.
To be accurate, pool is the only game I have ever loved so much that I would go out of my way to play, study the rules, never break them and abide by them in all cicumstances.
To this day it is the most competative thing I know. I also think it is a great way to know your partner or even your first date OR your blind date. If they cheat (shark) in any way...dump them. If they have a problem with you winning, dump them. If they think you shoot like a *girl*...RUN, do not walk to your nearest Exit! THIS is your biggest problem. RUN from it!
And then...my ex-husband brought home a pool table. A regulation, slate topped, coin-operated table that had been used in a bar. It was some deal he found during an inspection of someone's home to restore their furniture. They came to some agreement and suddenly, we owned this behemoth that took six healthy men to move and set up.
We "jimmied" the coin-op thing and we could use it at will. But in truth, we never knew exactly what we were doing, besides hitting the balls around and occasionally putting a few down. Not even close to shooting "real" pool. When we divorced, I became the proud owner of this table...and little else.
So, after a while I asked a friend to teach me to shoot...really shoot, and not just knock the balls around. We were both discouraged at first. He had me shooting the cue ball to the far end of the table (over and over) at just the right speed and with just the right momentum so that it should come back and tap my cue stick, gently and accurately. Just as we both were about to give up nd give in...Eureka! I somehow made it happen. After that, we got on with my lessons and in three short months I was ready to shoot in public. Huzzah!
My first public outing was humiliating, to say the least. I was shooting and actually, running the table but when I realized this, I completely choked! I lost of course, but I learned.
After that, I knew the game, I knew the rules and I never choked again. And I found that I AM indeed, competative...at least when it comes to pool shooting.
It's interesting that 95% of all pool shooters are men and that they do not take well to a woman with a pool cue in her hand. I am always polite, always ready to shake hands and say *Good Game* at the end and never lord it over anyone, if I win. But in truth, these guys do not want to shake the hand of any woman who has beaten them. I'm Okay with that too.
I dress the part by not wearing Levi's or other *comfortable* attire but I dress, think, act and behave like a lady in these situations. No need to make it worse, right, Ladies?
The last time I shot in public I owned that table for 13 games. I was then asked if I would choose a partner so that we could play *doubles*. I looked around, saw no one I wanted to partner with and declined the offer. Instead, I offered to give up the table, no matter the outcome of the game I was playing...won...and gave them the table. I then went off to watch my son bowl.
To be accurate, pool is the only game I have ever loved so much that I would go out of my way to play, study the rules, never break them and abide by them in all cicumstances.
To this day it is the most competative thing I know. I also think it is a great way to know your partner or even your first date OR your blind date. If they cheat (shark) in any way...dump them. If they have a problem with you winning, dump them. If they think you shoot like a *girl*...RUN, do not walk to your nearest Exit! THIS is your biggest problem. RUN from it!
