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!

Help! They Neeeeeed Somebody! Help!

Hey there mid-to-high ranks. Yup, I'm talking to you 5-8's. Your attention is requested!

I ran across a team of mostly women tonight, new to the Tuesday night 8-ball travel division. The highest rank on the team was 4, 3, 2, 1 and 1.

Here's a classic scenario I'm guessing happens way too frequently: There was an adorable little brunette that called a time out the last game and no one, I mean NO ONE, on the team could give her one. They just all kinda sat there, shaking their head saying "We don' know what to tell you." so she had to turn around and shoot a random shot. Seriously. And if you guessed nothing went, bingo. (BTW, a nice guy on my team had already coached her through two shots, but I guess my team thinking enough is enough just left it to them for the final game.)

This team needs you! They've got two or three slots open and are VERY willing to accept help. They play out of "The Getaway" and are a fun loving bunch of ladies with a few gents. If you are not to busy bringing sexy back and are interested or know someone that would be a hero for the group, let me know! dawn@8ballexpress.com

FULL DISCLOSURE: At this point in the session, they are in last place, but not by much. There is still time to be a hero if you know of one.

See You Next Tuesday!

Hey guys, got a Tuesday 8-ball travel slot open.
Limited travel at this time in the Matthews/Southeast Charlotte area.
Great fun and good competition.
Let me know!
Dawn@8ballexpress.com

New In-house Division Forming for Fall of 2009 - Bear's Lair

Twisted Tuesdays...

Really Tuesday teams, I mean REALLY? Lol.
Some Tuesday teams have really caught my attention this Session, but I'm not so sure it's in all in good way.
"BIG-TEST-ISCLES" played "B-Low-Us" already this session. Teams are sporting members such as "Bad Touch Uncle" S. along with "Strokin" H. and "Jiggles" F. And what the heck IS A "Moose Knuckle"?
Tuesdays are turning out to be quite the twisted night...

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.

Fun Levels Fall 24%

The "fun level" at my job has fallen an estimated 24% recently, all because one particular member has taken some time off from 8 Ball Express. You see, she was the driving force behind unusual nicknames for players and themes for teams. Since she's been gone this session, when I update member nicknames I find myself only keying in "Dave" for "David" instead of "Dirty Pirate Kroch" for "Brandy". No one on the "Breakin' Wind" team has anything unusual to be called by...that is unless you count "Simply Bob" as unusual.
So I have to report my fun levels are down about 12% on Tuesday and Sunday nights. I hope A.H. returns and brings her crazy team themes with her!

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!