Here I Am!

I met someone last night for the, I'd say, 3rd or 4th time. While I remembered him, he couldn't seem to place me with working for 8 Ball Express.

Since I've had the same job/route for the past few years and work all the tournaments and Charlotte meetings, I know I've met many members but realize it hasn't been every member and maybe I've met you only once.

I guess I don't have a memorable face or maybe I just take for granted that people would recognize me out in public, so in hindsight, I'm posting my photo here and reintroducing myself. That way, if you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to approach me if I don't approach you!

Dawn Reid, 8 Ball Express Charlotte Area Administrator w/Kate

I know I am terrible with names, so forgive me if I don't recall yours off the top of my head, but I can for the most part remember faces and which team and location you play with.

Stuck Like Glue

Don't forget, this week was (is still for Friday/Sunday teams) the last week you can change your team roster. After this, you're team is pretty much a family...for the next 7 weeks that is! Hope you picked nice "relatives" or you can at least get through the session better than my family gets through Thanksgiving!
http://staging.8ballexpress.com/national/uploads/7th%20week%20notice%20winter%202009.pdf

Help Me Help You!

I recently ran into two handicap complaints (not counting the over ranked guy from previous post) and would like to remind everyone that, when it comes to "laying down" or "sandbagging", 9 times out of 10 people can only do that if you let them. So, let's focus on how you may be duped, so we can put a stop to it and make you none the wiser.

Example #1 (True story)

Team Captain: "So and so is just banging balls around and laying down. He is really a 6 but is ranked a 4. He had two break and runs and is a much better player. We play against him in an in-house division and I know his skill set."
Me: "How many non-performance/defensive shots did you mark on that last game that went on for a while?"
Team Captain: "Um...two?!?"
Me: "Um, well, yeah...I'm gonna have to say it was at least three, more like five. "Help me help you!

Example #2 (True Story)
Team #1 never pays attention when it comes to keeping score, always asks the other team how many innings they got and what balls were left on the table and, "Hey, I gotta go to the bathroom/bar/jukebox so can you keep score for me?" Team #2 gladly agrees. Now I'm not saying teams will take advantage of this situation, and for the most part teams will be honest, but if Team #1 sounds amazingly like your team and people you play against all of a sudden seem very underanked, well...um..." Help me help you!

If your team's scoresheets don't tell the complete picture of what actually happened during a match, the score system can never work properly. As much as I would really like to, I wish I did just know everyone's true playing ability. But until time travel is possible, I simply can't be at every match watching every player, hence the need for scoresheets and those pesky columns and boxes to be filled out.

Just don't forget the whole system is based on your team's input, which (hopefully) your team captain/last player left/D.D. signs off on as correct at the end of the night.

And I'm trying not speaking from a soapbox here, anyone who plays my team knows I am not always a model scorekeeper myself (all of my Thursday CLT Travel 9-Ball division will vouch for it). If you do keep score properly and still feel something is amiss, the next step is to fill out a complaint form and the issue will be addressed within 24-48 hours. (Find one here: http://www.8ballexpress.com/national/uploads/ComplaintForm.pdf ) I honestly do value your feedback and concerns about handicaps and really do listen, but geniunely feel most of them could be alleviated with proper scorekeeping.

The system is there and ready, people just have to use it!

Didn't See That One Coming

Tonight someone complained about a handicap, no big deal right?

Except they were complaining about their opponent being OVER ranked. That's right, this guy actually said about his opposition..."He's no 6! That guy I played really should be a 4".

Now, I'm not naive and will acknowledge there is a possibility a player may try to downplay their own performance by diluting his opponent's game, but I don't think that was the case this particular time. (And no, I don't believe they are friends or relatives.)

I simply think he was genuinely surprised by the rankings and made a non-formal complaint to help the guy out. Good sportsmanship or not, hearing it just made me laugh and want to mention it in my blog.

Best Worst Case Scenario

Thursday night I was in one of 8 Ball Express' host locations when a player with a handicap of 8 was demonstrating a theory he has.
The theory did not have a name, but I'll refer to it as "The Best Worst Case Scenario" theory. Basically, you should plan each shot as if you acknowledge there is no "perfect leave." He was saying that after you make a ball, plan to leave the cueball on the side of your next object ball that leaves you with the most options, i.e. "Best Worst Case Scenario". Try to pocket your ball into the pocket that will leave the cueball with the most possibilities for the next shot and not ever count on the ball going exactly where you want it to. Doing so will cause you to send the cueball to the area of the table with the most shots/options, not just trying for the one easiest or one best shot. This way, if and when you mess up, you still have options.
It's hard to explain in a post, but fascinating to watch. If you are ever at EB's, check out J.B.'s theories of pool. (Ask him about triangles...)

Politicalo

I try to keep my job and my politics as separate as oil and vinegar, but just like a good bottle of Italian dressing, sometimes you can shake up the mix just right!

Check out this random widget I found online. It's a play on the famous President Obama "Hope" poster. Regardless of your candidate of choice in the 2008 election, it's still a huge part of the recent pop culture and just seemed to be everywhere. (You know you want to make your own now, don't you?!) You can do it here: http://obamiconme.pastemagazine.com/

Out With the Old, In With the New!

I've made a few small changes to the 8ballexpress.com website. Check them out and give them a whirl.

There was some confusion with the Black "Admin Login" (webmaster) area at the top right of the page with the Green "Member Login" (access to the league scoring system) so I tried to fix that by enlarging the "Member Login" link and kicking it to the top of the main menu on the left side of the screen.

Also, added a section regarding rule questions & answers called, well um funny thing, "Top Rule Questions & Answers". This may or may not stay, depending on how user friendly it is. Please check it out and let me know what you think. Feedback is a good thing right? ;) http://staging.8ballexpress.com/national/modules/smartfaq/

(Fill a) "Supper" Bowl Sunday

If you aren't doing anything for the Super Bowl and are hungry, I got invitied to Getaway's "Chili Cook-off" today. I think Chili's have to be there by 6pm for judging. Come and help pick the best!

25 Random Things

There is a note circulating through Facebook called "25 Random Things About Me". People post things they consider interesting and then other people do the same. Here are 25 Random Things About 8 Ball Express you may or may not know:

1. 8 Ball Express was started in 2002, 8 years ago.


2. The 1st session there were 42 teams and 7 divisions.


3. Player numbers start with # 1 (Kim Paul) and as of today excceed # 5690.


4. There has always been at least the prize option of an all expense paid team trip given, even with 7 teams in the tournament.


5. The first team that won the End of Session Championship was out of Rack Em.


6. They chose to go on a 7 day Western Caribbean Cruise.


7. Mark Fox was the team Captain.


8. Teams have traveled to Jamacia, the Bahamas, Dominican Rupublic, Aruba, Cabo San Lucas, St. Thomas, Barbados and Antigua.


9. At least one member took their first plane ride ever during a trip they won playing 8 Ball Express.


10. There will never be more than 10 teams in a division playing.
11. Divisions equaling 12 teams or more are always split into two divisions.


12. Smaller divisions do not generate more income, but provide more opportunity for teams playing to make it to the End of Session Championship.


13. If the amount of 8-ball divisions playing reaches a certain amount, there will be two tournament brackets and two winners.


14. Same goes for 9-Ball.


15. In addition to the Trip, the cash prize of $10,000 has been offered for 6 sessions now.


16. The cash prize is now offered due to complexities with passports, teams having a hard time getting time off from work and differences over deciding where everyone wants to go.


17. At least one team currently playing has said they will take the trip option if they ever win.


18. They want to all go on a cruise together.


19. Since the cash prize has been offered, only one team has chosen to take "the Trip".


20. While a few members play 5 nights a week (S-Th), no one member has played six nights a week as of yet. (We do offer League on Fridays in Rock Hill, SC but nowhere do we play on Saturdays).


21. We have almost an equal number of handicapped 1's that play weekly as we do 8's.
22. While both 8-ball and 9-ball formats are offered, 8 Ball Express is the League's official name.
23. In 8 Ball Express 9-ball, push shots are allowed.
24. At least 25 t-shirts/free memberships are given away each session at the various Start of Session and End of Session meetings. (All members are invited, not just the team captains).
25. Kim gives away at least 4 free 8 Ball Express zippo lighters at these meetings too!

Woohooo!

It's over, it's finally over! The tournament is won, the teams have finished playing and my celebratory glass of wine has been drunk. Some more things I want to jot down:

• Paul Son from Raleigh is everyone's favorite pool player.
• Cornbread from Charlotte was a 1st place team that did not make it through the playoffs and was drawn to fill a bye in the tournament.
• Good Morning Sean!
• $10,000 is enough to make a grown man cry (both over winning and loosing).
• Evey Hodge was not nervous playing her hill match, but just got stuck with a cue ball on the rail shot she is not good at making. (Only person in the Finals I've ever heard say they were NOT nervous and I believed it.)
• I had to explain to Kim, Tina and Freddy what a "Jimmy Hat" was. (Talk about awkward...)
• Freddy is not allowed to walk by himself any more.
• Doc Chappell from Rock Hill helping Rhonda Hull's sick dog, a personal miracle for her.
• A Winston-Salem team made it to the semi-finals this tournament, the farthest they've ever made it! (Keep practicing, you are due soon!)
• Most diverse semi's I can remember. Teams from Dallas/Gastonia, Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem all played in the semi-final rounds.
• The closer you get to 1st, the harder it is to loose. (Shouldn't 1st round outs be the most upset, not 2nd place?!?!?!)
• Teams can loose and still be good sports.

All right Winter 2009 session teams, good luck, play smart and have fun so I can see you at the next tournament!