Rack 'Em Pub & Billiards - Matthews, NC

FYI: Ever tried to get a team into Rack 'Em and you couldn't? Got privy to some info. and wanted to pass it on ASAP.

This upcoming session there are a few openings you may be interested in. If you want to play, please let Bob/Blake, the bartender or us know before week's end.

Space availability is first come/first serve.

Sundays - Inhouse 8-Ball. There is an opening for a team and possibly a few slots for players. Great relaxed division and a great way to start the week!

Mondays - May have some availability for a travel 8-ball team.

Tuesdays - Travel 8-ball and 9-ball. Travel is contained pretty much to a five mile radius and lots of fun.

Wednesdays - Travel 8-ball. Travel is contained in a five mile radius.

Thursdays - Inhouse 8-ball & 9-ball travel. With the addition of 3 more 9-ball teams an inhouse could be created. This Inhouse 8-ball division produced last Winter's $10,000 winning team, so the competition is high but the people are friendly.

Email info@8ballexpress.com for more info.

Playoffs Are Coming!

As both a friend and a league manager, kindly let me offer the following tips to those who will be in the playoffs to ensure a safe and happy holiday post-season:

• Two people will step to the table, one will win and one will not. Accept this and move on. Do not talk bad about their mother or question their moral up bringing if you loose. You just look silly and I may have to laugh at you and include you in a future blog post.


• I don't care how good a player is or what your put up strategy is, if a player is drunk or drinking heavily, play them early or not at all, then call a cab. You can check with the bartender before hand if not sure or make them do a practice lag to judge. If the ball flies off the table, ends up in a pocket or they try to lag with a coaster, just go ahead and bench them. They probably weren't going to win anyways.


• The rules are the same in post season as in regular season. Keep this in mind during the regular season AND the post season. While it's not right, if during weeks 1-13 you've let opposing teams go over the handicap limit, take 20 minute time outs, run late and then weeks 14-playoffs turn around and hold them to every rule in the book, don't be surprised if they don't exactly send you a Christmas card or ask for a group hug when it's all over. How about, for the most part, sticking to the rules through the Session to avoid this sudden change of good will. This will help people learn rules and hopefully avoid unnecessary confrontation. Chances are you will see your opponents again/play against them after all is said and done, so treat them accordingly.


• Week 2 of the Playoffs is not the optimal time to bring up handicap questions. If you see something Playoff Week 2 you've never seen before, like a 2 running racks, ok then, it is the optimal time. But if you've known/suspected for a while that a handicap is not right, let us know as soon as you can. If you know something isn't right the ENTIRE Session or even the 2nd half of it, but only let us know if your team looses AFTER the matches are all done, the situation is a lot messier than it has to be. We can handle the issues much better if we know there may be an issue AHEAD of time. Contact kim@8ballexpress.com right now if you have a handicap complaint or if you think there may be another issue at a match coming up.


• Don't take out your issues/stress/problems on your opposing team or your league manager. Hey, we've all got problems these days. How about you leave yours at home and let everyone have a good time! If you can't don't be surprised if you are removed from the league. One bad grape will not be allowed to spoil a bunch (or a division).


• 8 Ball Express is competitive but above all else it's about coming out each week and having a good time.

Now, good luck and have fun!

New Divisions Forming For Jan 2010 Play!

In case you are interested, there are some new things happening in our area for next session.
New Divisions:
* There will be a Wednesday 8-ball Inhouse out of Sharky's in Mint Hill with a min.
of 6 teams. If you are interested, let Sharky's or me know.
* New Tuesday 8-ball Travel Division forming on the North/West Side of Town. New locations include an awesome new bar that recently opened in the old Derita Station location. It's now "Da Bear's Den" (as in The Chicago Bear's) and they really did a great job with remolding and offer a full kitchen, patio and tons of tvs. Let them know if you want to play Tuesday 8-ball travel.
* Open spot in Tuesday 9-ball travel for 1-3 teams.
* New teams forming out of the recently opened "Bad Fish Billiards" in downtown Matthews. Check with Danny Caldwell for more info. Travel any night S-Th 8-ball or travel Tues/Thurs 9-ball.
* New locations joining and looking for a few members such as Yesteryear's, Five Steps, Sharky's, Da Bear's Den, Bear's Lair, Jillian's, Bad Fish Billiards and a few others. If you are interested, email me at dawn@8ballexpress.com.
There are some more things in the works and we are VERY excited about 2010 and hope you are too!

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.:)

First Post

Ah, the first post!

Basically, my job as the Charlotte Area League Administrator for 8 Ball Express is so full of interesting things that I just had to start a Blog about them all.

As to not offend, I will use initials instead of full names and try to limit any negative things or exclude idle gossip.

Enjoy the ride!