EUE and Corrections

Hey, let's just start this post out with a note of the fact I am human and so are you, our members. That being said, moving on!

8 Ball Express does utilize a complex handicapping formula that takes into account everything on the carefully designed scoresheets completed and turned in each week. Rarely does a mistake happen, but they do. I have found after many years of working around leagues that this is entirely due to, at the end of the day, the process relying on people, both you AND me. You: what is filled out on the scoresheet and Me: keying the data in to the system.

For example, while this happens only OCCASIONALLY, if a scorekeeper mixes up who won a game in a match that went hill/hill, then goes back and crosses the column out (plus draws arrows or pictures to explain what they re-marked etc), well, I might be confused and key in the wrong win or loss.

Usually I can decipher the scrawls and scribbles that come in front of me, but sometimes even the Rosetta Stone couldn't translate what I see. Then, on top of this, sometimes the team Captains don't fill out the win/loss totals at the bottom correctly (or at all) so I think everything is ok. IF this happens, teams can sometimes end up with the wrong point totals for the week.

So, in case you didn't know, in the event some human error occurs in your division and you happen to notice, just give a quick call to the League Office and we'll pull the actual paper score sheets out to reverify the info/compare with data entered and fix it, no problem.

Or, hey, if I'm out until 1:30am waiting on a ridiculously slow match and then key in the scores on minimal sleep, occasionally I make a mistake. Like, say, giving a team double bye points (6) and accidently catapulting them from 5th to 2nd. If you happen to notice something odd like a team winning 6 points the previous week, feel free to call and we will fix the problem. Then, continue to feel free to make fun of me the next week when we happen to play each other. Finally, feel free to sucker me into buying you a beer to make up for it. (Hey, sh*t happens ok?!)

I stand by the 8 Ball Express system, 100%, but it's the people on both ends (myself and my members who drinky-drinky) I'm not always sure about. But, after the hangovers and sleep deprivation are over, we always get it worked out.

So, the moral of the story is, if you see something that doesn't look right, give us a call at 704-545-3599 or 704-654-1522 and everything will corrected.

About Time for My Own Cue

After years of playing with a house stick, I've been convinced I need my own. So, as of now, I am causally looking to buy a pool cue. Not really my 1st, but it's the 1st I'll own in a long time.
Basics of What I Want:

• 19.5oz weight
• Linen Wrap
• Wood with inlays
• Not sure what type of tip I want/need

Suggestions? Know of anyone selling a used one? Email me at dawn@8ballexpress.com or 704-654-1522. Thanks!

Overheard Gems and Jewels

Some Random Overheard Things So Far This Session:

• Player to Captain -P: "Er, what time you got there?" C: (Glances at watch) "Uh, it looks to be right about beer time."


• Player to Player Upon Arriving at League - P1: "Can I slide my stick down right beside you?" P2: "Ok, but my wife might not like that too much..."


• Members Discussing a Very Hot Past Team Mate - "She was, um, well sculpted".


• Player After Missing a Shot - "Not enough English, too much French."


• Discussing a Shot Where the Cue Ball Flew Up in the Air and Landed back on the Table After Making Legal Contact With Object Ball - P to himself quietly while shrugging: "I don't know what the hell kinda shot that was..." C to his own player while laughing: "It was a good hit, that's what it was!"


• Random Bar Patron Remarking To Himself After He Was Brushed Off By a Woman - "Well damn, every one's single after 6 beers ain't they?!?!"


• Player Calls Time Out, Contents of Time Out Discussion - Coach: "I can tell by the way you are hitting that you need a beer. Whatcha drinking?" Player: "What the hell kinda time out is this?" But then player wins game and time out coach yells out "See, beer, it does a body good!"

Wow...gross.

Remember that scene in The Color of Money where Paul Newman tells Tom Cruise to stop picking his nose in the pool hall? Neither do I. But don’t tell that to Keith O’Dell Jr., the two year old pool ace who didn’t hesitate to mine for a few nose goblins on BOTH Good Morning America and the Today Show. It’s an intimidating move by Keith.
No matter how good you are at billiards, no one is going to want to move the cue ball after he’s done with it. This kid is a natural born nostril hustler. Watch the whole thing for ultimate ickiness and listen for his dad's horribly placed "Yummy!" followed by something about his shirt...ew.
I'm just sad this is what he may be remembered for instead of his shooting ability!
(Saw this clip on "The Soup" on E!)

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7th Week Notice Reminder

REMINDER - Next week is the 7th week of play! Halfway point AND the time were you can't change your roster. Read more here - http://staging.8ballexpress.com/national/modules/news/article.php?storyid=123

I Was Hustled!

Wow, last night I was hustled. I mean, really hustled, and out of Mike C.'s money no less! Here's how it went down.

After my team's 9-ball match ended earlier than usual I headed to one of my stops. After walking in and realizing a match was still going on and I would be waiting, I approached some 8BE members that were hanging out. After pleasantries and "how do you do's" someone threw out a suggestion, "Let's play 3 ball."

This is where I may have gone wrong - "What's 3-ball?" I responded. "Oh you should play!" they over-happily responded. (The following shoulda made me back out gracefully, but being overly tired, I think I missed my exit.) "Do you have some money?" they asked. "Um, I think so I." "If not we'll loan it to you." "Ok, I'm in. Now how do you play 3-ball."

After a brief overview I ponied my money up and we did a simultaneous, 5 person, one armed lag (I don't know, it made sense at the time) to see who would go first. I, of course, lost. All I can say is it went quickly down hill from there.

Then poor Mike C. started loaning me money as I made empty promises of splitting the pot with him until I finally realized I was never coming back. (I forgot to mention I am 2 and was playing an 8, 7/6, 6/5 and 4. )

Oh well, you live and you learn, especially how to avoid being hustled! Now all I have to do is avoid Mike C. until payday... ;)

Internet Take Over

I just realized that in my previous blog post I blogged about tweeting and posted that status to my Facebook page. Wow...I think the Internet is officially taking over my life.