Double Down, Single Hit, Nil

Don't forget this is the last week to turn in team registrations in order to get your two bonus points. Deadline - 4/5/09.
After this Sunday you have 1 week to get 1 point. Deadline - 4/12/09.
After that you just get a smile and a slot to play. :)

Good Hit vs. Bad Hit

How can you tell if a hit is good vs. bad? It can be difficult to determine at times, but here is a great clip from Bob Jewett showing how best to figure it out.
If you are aware of the knowledge in this video, but know someone who isn't, please forward it to them. (Special thanks "Dr. Dave" - David G. Alciatore, PhD, PE with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University for the link!) Let's keep the game on the table instead of arguing about it off it!
Watching the Cue Ball:

Watching Object Balls:

Tony Says...

Tony told me today this Blog is garbage. Apparently when he went to post a reply/comment to a previous post he was unable to. (He couldn't enter in the letter verifications because he saw no letters to verify.)
If this happens to you, email me your response and I'll post it, good/bad/ugly.
If you run into this issue or if this has happened, please email me - dawn@8ballexpress.com and I'll be deservedly ticked off with Blogger. I mean, man, I want to get my money's worth out of this thing...even if it is free!

XX or Just X?

Ever double kiss a cue ball? Would you even know it if you did? Below are links to various clips around double kissing and a high speed video (play in slow motion from the options for the ultimate view) of what a double kiss ACTUALLY is. Also, double kissing the cue ball is a ball-in-hand foul in 8 Ball Express.
Speaking from experience, if you suspect a double hit is going to occur, call a neutral party to watch the hit BEFORE it happens to avoid an argument after the hit.

CLICK FOR VIDEO EXAMPLES:
Multiple Clips/Links: (Thanks Dr. Dave!) http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/fouls.html#double

High Speed Video Showing Mechanics of Double Hit: http://billiards.colostate.edu/threads/fouls.html#double

Double Hits, Frozen Balls and Push Shots:


Double Hit Example (Not the best, but I just like to laugh at how he says"foul"):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEAz588L1Es

Noding And Smiling Yet Again.

Actual conversation between myself and a player on a team last night (Week 11):

8BX Member: What kind of work do you do?
Dawn (ordering Corona): I work for the pool league, 8 Ball Express.
Member: Oh, I didn't realize there was a business side to it.
Dawn (smiling): Well, it'd be hard to imagine trusting volunteers to distribute $10,000 once a session I would think.
Member: $10,000!?!??! What do you mean $10,000?
Dawn: Well, ok, or awarding the team trip. Volunteers may not have the patience to book it.
Member: TEAM TRIP?!
Dawn: Yes, you know, if you win the End of Session tournament. The dates will be on the website soon.
Member: WEBSITE? 8 BALL EXPRESS HAS A WEBSITE!?!?!?!?!
Dawn: Uh-huh....
Member: I didn't realize you could win something for playing each week! I've been telling my wife I just go out and play pool with a bunch of drunks. I think I'm going to try harder now.
Dawn: That may be a good idea.
Member: I won a blue ribbon once in a chili cook-off, but $10,000 would be so much cooler.
Dawn: Can't argue with that...

Then, the rest of the night, whenever he would catch my eye he would just mouth the words "$10,000 dollars" and I would just nod and smile.:)

I "Heart" Widgets and Tweet 8 Ball Express!

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Blah Blah Blah

I'm feeling pretty blah today, so this is all I'm posting.

Your Momma Named You That?!?!

Many moons ago when 8 Ball Express was first being mapped out, the web-based stats program was developed. Part of the development process involved deciding what member information should be collected and stored in order to properly identify players as the numbers grew.
Having been in the South long enough to meet many, many, many people that were named one thing and called another, Kim thought to include a field for "Nickname". This was intended for your "Robert"s being called "Bobby"'s and your "Daniel Jr." being called "Dan".
Somewhere along the line the intent was misread and people started actually writing in nicknames. I'm not talking about the "Beth"s for "Elizabeth"s either. "Tacolicious"...seriously?!?!
Funny thing is, in order to make sure all scores are input correctly, 8 Ball Express asks that you write the nicknames down every time a match is played. This causes teams to call out nicknames during match time to make sure the correct person is written down on the scoresheet.
You tend to recognize 8 Ball Express league play when you hear - "I'm putting Super Pimp Wilson up against Tulip Twanda Poplar Helms." Now how can you not smile and raise an eyebrow at that??
Even funnier is what I've seen at the End of Session Championship Tournament. That's when it really gets good. You see, some divisions/areas are really into it and will throw the craziest nicknames on a scoresheet while some areas are pretty much first names only.
When a team from each meet I usually hear at least one member from the more straight up team say, and I quote, "Your momma named you that?!?!"
Here are some of the more random nicknames I've come across and thought you may get a kick out of:

• ..•:*¨¨*:•..•:*¨¨*:•.. [Unpronounceable ASCII Symbols] (Greg)
• Liverdie (Rob)
• Slick Willie (Dino)
• Valentino (Todd)
• Hip hop (Marci)
• Banana Tree (Kim)
• Lil' Stanky (Brandi)
• Betty-Jo Teeter (Sara)
• Master of Disaster (David)
• Stank Knuckles McRae (Jacob)
• Big Balls McGee (Warren)
• Summabitch (Kenneth)
• Bobby-Sue Tooter (Mitzi)
• Smokin' Grassy Cassie (Cassie)
• The Singing Captain (TC)
• American Honey (Rhonda)
• Poppa Smurf (James)
• Piss 'em In (Shelly)
• Mermaid (Jean)
• Little Peanut (Amanda)
• Dinner Roll (Allen)
• Ninja Slippers (Brad)
• Hobblebox (Courtney)
• Model Citizen (Shane)
• Lamb Chop (Paul)
• Barney Rubble (Kenneth)
• Beth the Rack (Cheryl)
• Jalapeno On a Stick (Mark)

I'm sure there are all kinds of stories behind these nicknames, some of which I'm a little scared to know. Don't mind me if I ask about them, because I do want to know!

Proof of Goofs

Remember my previous post, "Yes Virginia, There Really Are 1's In the League?" http://8ballexpress.blogspot.com/2008/11/yes-virginia-there-really-are-1s-in.html Well, I came across a clip of what I'm talking about and thought I'd post it for your enjoyment!

The beauty of the handicapped billiard league with handicap limits is most people reading this thinking "How can I get that guy on my team?". Anyone outside of league play would most likely be thinking "How can I avoid that guy?" Bonus if you caught the old school exercise bike in the background and noticed the American Flag pool stick he's shooting with.

Awesomely Bad Pool Shots - watch more funny videos

Hooray Hits!

9-Ball Anyone?

Ever have or want to play 8-Ball Express Nine-Ball ? If not, here are some reasons why you may want to give it a try this Summer!

1. Improvement: Nine-ball can help improve your eight-ball game by focusing your cue ball control.
2. Earlier Finishes: Due to the lower amount of balls needed to be pocketed, nine-ball matches tend to finish earlier in the evening than most eight-ball matches.
3. Lower Ranked Players Can Win Too: 8 Ball Express nine-ball is a straight race to 5 games. You only have to pocket the number of balls equal to your handicap then you can shoot on the nine-ball. (Lower ranked players love being able to win games!)
4. Combo Shots: Nine-ball can help to improve your combo shooting, as a legal combo pocketing the nine-ball wins a game and players tend to try them more often.
5. Luck Counts: Since all balls on the table count towards total ball count, as long as you hit the lowest ball on the table 1st, any ball pocketed is good!
6. Strong Breaks Are Great: Balls pocketed on the break count towards balls made total. If your break is strong, you will be off to a great start!
7. Push Shots: 8 Ball Express nine-ball allows push shots and, for players ranked 3 & below, push-shot time outs to decide if and where to push.
8. Independent Handicaps: Eight-ball & nine-ball handicaps in 8BX are independent of each other, and regardless of your current eight-ball handicap, all new players in nine-ball start as 4's.
9. Reading the Table: Nine-ball helps you hone in and learn to read the table better to plan on next shots.
10. Every one's Doing It: In recent years, nine-ball has become the game of choice in championship tournament matches in the United States, and more than likely, what you will see the pool pro's playing on ESPN and such.

In addition to the current Thursday In-house and Travel and Friday in house 9-ball team divisions, the Charlotte area 8BX will be offering a NEW Tuesday Travel division for 9-ball teams. If you are interested, let Kim know - 704.545.3599 or 704-607-3797.

Best of the Best of the Best

Want to see the Best of the Best of the Best amateur 9-ball pool players play, local/live/in person? Or...think you are one?

This weekend (Sat & Sun) there will be a tour stop of the "Great Southern Billiard Tour" at Paradise Billiards (http://pbcue.com/) . The tour is run and sponsored by professional pool players that have played around the world and been featured on ESPN. Here's a chance to meet them in person and maybe see them in action. (Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/greatsouthernbilliardtour). This particular tour stop is for amateur players and anyone who feels up to the challenge can purchase a tour card and pay entry into the tournament.

Most likely I'll be down there sometime Saturday afternoon checking the action out. If you are in the area, I hope you join in to showcase your skills or stop in to see how these players make running racks look effortless and way too easy!

Also, Paradise Billiards is interested in hosting 8 Ball Express teams for the Summer Session, primarily on Thursdays. If you would like to shoot there just let Arthur (owner) know!

Update: 3/9/09 - Went down to check out the tour stop Saturday night. Larger field with a field of 70+ players, but the tournament staff kept it running quickly and smoothly. Seemed well executed and full of many types of players from different areas around the Southeast. There will be a tour in the near future at Breaker's in Rock Hill if you want to check it out.

Jukebox Hero

At "The Creek", my new home on Mondays, I met a very memorable person. Apparently she's been a patron of the location as long as the bar has been around. Just ask her and she'll tell you, almost a 30 year member.If you haven't had the "experience" of meeting Jukebox Mary, you really haven't lived.
She's direct and honest and perhaps the raunchiest person I've ever met. But, in her quieter moments, she's also sweet and sincere, bragging on her husband and the love her of life "Leo" (who she affectionately calls "Daddy") and gushing over the fun times she has as a nanny to the little boy she watches closely over during the day.
She's a character all right and one you won't soon forget! She is as much a part of that bar as the jukebox people play and the bar everyone gathers around each night. Check her out at The Creek sometime and tell her Dawn says hi!

8 Ball Express Is For Everyone!

. - Open publication