Articles

1000 WAYS TO DOG
October 17, 2011 ~ by Jim Carmona

The game of pool can be extremely challenging.  It takes skill and concentration, among other things, to play the game well and reach high skill levels.  There seems to be many more ways to lose than there is to win.  In fact, the only thing easy about the game of pool is making mistakes and losing. 

As if the game wasn't difficult enough, there are outside factors that we have to contend with which can cause us to fail.  What I'm referring to are distractions.  Distractions themselves are an opponent; a different kind of opponent.

There are many types of distractions.  For example; there's the kind that are caused by outside forces such as noise, people walking in front of your shot, opponents trying to "shark" you, etc. 

Then you have the greatest distractions of all; the ones that take place in your own mind while playing.  For example; like when you begin thinking about how good your opponent is and you can't miss, or it's such an important game to win, or you don't want to lose, or who's watching you play, etc. All of this can be very distracting and can certainly affect your game no matter how good of a player you are.   

At one time or another, everyone has "choked" or "dogged" game winning shots (this is when we really feel like dying!).  The reason this happens is because distraction takes place.  We begin playing timid, we fear missing, making mistakes, looking foolish, and before you know it, we've accomplished doing what we didn't want to do.  In other words our focus and thoughts were not on what we wanted. Like the quote says; "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal".  

When you begin thinking negative thoughts, you have lost your focus and you have allowed yourself to be distracted.  Trying to achieve anything with wrong thinking and no focus is like trying to hit a moving target with our eyes closed.
  
Battling one opponent is tough enough already, but when we begin to oppose ourselves by thinking negatively and allowing distraction to take place, there's very little chance for success.  Whether competing or practicing, we should be focused on the game and what we want to accomplish.  The game of pool requires all of your attention if you want to excel.    

It's important to recognize when distraction is taking place so that we can learn to avoid it and overcome it. It's been said that "Bad habits are not broken; they are replaced with good ones".  We can overcome mental distractions by replacing negative thoughts with positive self talk, and positive affirmations.  This is very important especially when we find ourselves playing timid, fearful of missing, losing, and making mistakes.    

Remember, distractions will keep you from reaching your full potential if you allow them to.  By exercising and strengthening your thoughts, focus, and concentration, you'll find yourself climbing to higher levels of play.   

The next time you're distracted, gather your thoughts and regain your focus back on where it should be which is; playing the game the very best you can, and remembering what you goals are.  By doing this we give ourselves the best chance to succeed and we are one step closer to becoming the champions we're all meant to be.    
  
Until next time, keep practicing, play well, and we'll see you in the winners circle!

Jim Carmona

SPORTSMANSHIP
July 21, 2011 ~ by Jim Carmona

So what can we say about sportsmanship?  Well, an awful lot!  When I sat down to write this article I looked up the definition.  Here’s what it said: “Sportsmanship resides in the ability to play fair, and lose without complaint or win without gloating”.  It isn’t difficult to think of players who don’t fit into that definition both at the amateur and professional levels.

Being a poor sport or a sore loser is something that no one wants to be remembered as.  It certainly overshadows all the talent and promise one could hope to have at the pool table.

It’s important to keep in mind that we rarely lose because we played perfectly; we lose because we didn’t play well and we made more mistakes than our opponent, or, we just made mistakes at the wrong time.  It’s pointless to get angry at bad rolls or your opponent.     

In the movie “The Hustler,” Burt Gordon (played by George C. Scott) says to Fast Eddie Felson (played by Paul Newman): “Sure you got drunk; that’s the best excuse in the world for losing.  There’s nothing wrong with losing when you have a good excuse”. Players who lack sportsmanship are always looking for an excuse, or someone to blame.  Complaining, looking at everything and everyone as a reason for losing, getting angry at opponents, throwing the balls or equipment around, are just a few examples of poor sportsmanship.  Quite frankly, it does nothing for your game except make you look foolish and immature.  When you lose, don’t whine, complain, or make excuses for losing; just shut up and play the game at your very best. 

Take responsibility for the loss, and always display good sportsmanship.  Review each session you play; give yourself credit for what you did correctly, and take a closer look at where you could’ve performed better.

Admitting failure and taking responsibility for our losses is the first step to growing and becoming better in pool and in life.  Remember that “Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently” (-Henry Ford). 

It takes real character to admit that you didn’t play well.  Players forget that the only easy thing about the game of pool is making mistakes and failing.  Playing pool well demands perfection and precision if you want to win. 

The losses we experience are there to help make us BETTER, not BITTER.  Losing is like taking bad tasting medicine; we don’t like it, but it helps us get better. 

Remember, “How you win shows some of your character, but how you lose shows all of it”.  Being humble in victory and graceful in defeat can open the door to greatness, and sportsmanship is one key to getting there.

One of the challenges of being a good sport is adaptability.  For example, over the past few years amateur pool has adopted a handicap system that levels the playing field and allows everyone the chance to compete.  Many of us may agree or disagree with the handicap system, but it is here to stay!  If your handicap seems too high, take it as a compliment that people value your game.  On the other hand, if you think it’s too low, make it your goal to prove everyone wrong by practicing and working on your weaknesses.

Before we can expect to make progress as players and people, we must be willing to elevate our thoughts and attitude to a higher level. By realizing and correcting the flaws in our attitude, we gain a reputation for good sportsmanship, and are more successful at the game we all love to play. Remember, sportsmanship is the bridge to the heights of greatness.

Until next time, keep practicing, play well, and we’ll see you in the winners circle!

IT’S A MANS WORLD…OR IS IT?
by Rhonda Murray

S.N.’9’B.T.O.A. has over 100 active women shooting pool this season.  For some, it’s a night out with the girls. Others just love the game of pool like anyone else and strive to make their game better.

Let’s start off with our women’s Daisy division (I must say the name says it all), this division is strictly for women who are out for a fun night with the girls, but don’t let that fool you, they also take the game seriously.  The division leaders currently are The Front Row and Dealer’s Choice, this is a close race and with 8 weeks left, anything can happen.  The top leaders in this division are Christina Kolkhorst, shooting out of Dealer’s Choice with an outstanding 47-13 record for a 758 percent ( you will also see her in the men’s division).  Not far behind is Denise Catherina, shooting out of Torrey Pines Pub, with a record of 44-16 shooting 708 % (you will also see her in the men’s division). And Mary Kimberling shooting out of  Dealer’s Choice, with a record of 44-21 shooting 677%.  At the end of the season we hold a team tournament for the top 4 teams.

Another Division set up for women is the Adam & Eve, Central Division.  Adam & Eve is designed for two men and two women on each team.  All of the women have partners so the top shooter list is set up as partners.  Our team leaders currently are Favorites Bar with a 23-3 and Shooters Bar with a record of 19-7.  Our top females in this division are Lisa Herman who holds the lead with her partner Jim Douglas with a record of 85-45, Crystal Varela and Kurtis Brooks 69-46 and Becca Prime and Craig Moore 75-55 record.  This will be a tough turkey shoot.

The rest of our women players all shoot in the Men’s or the 8-Ball Divisions with over 50 women at last count and this grows each and every season with the women wanting to improve their games and be competitive with the men.  I wish I could name them all but for now I will stick with the top shooters list:  Tonja Hurley, VFW Post 47-23 671 % Dodgers Division, Pat Hicks Rum Runner D.I 40-30 571 % and Sharie Norton Rum Runner D.I. 32-28 533 % Aluminum Division, Christina Kolkhorst Dealer’s Choice 42-18 675% Blue Division, Christy Robertson Putters Eastern 24-16 525% Indians Division, Lisa Ferguson Blue Mule 18-17 439 % Desert Division.  Congratulations and keep up the good work!

Let's Talk 8-Ball
by Rhonda Murray

Southern Nevada '9' Ball's 8-ball divisions on Mondays and Thursdays are running neck in neck.  On Monday night we have Dealer's Choice and
Aces & Ales holding the lead, but don't count Putter's (Eastern) out.  That team is climbing up the ladder slow and steady.  Peter Maanao, shooting out of Dealer's Choice, is leading the division with a 700% record of 30-10.  Thursday night's race is even closer. The top 4 teams are Dealer's Choice, the Front Row,
Pool Sharks and Putter's (Eastern).  George Specht is running this division with an amazing record of 35-9, shooting at 795%.  At the end
of the season the top teams from each division will compete in a tournament to see which 8-ball team will be the overall champions!

SN'9'BTOA's scoring system for 8-ball is different than many other leagues in town.  Based on a point system, one player receives  10 points for a game won while the other player receives 1 point for each ball that is pocketed during the game.  After 5 games have been played (1 by each player from each team), the team with the most points wins the round.  At the completion of 5 rounds, the team with the highest points total, wins the night!

The 8-ball divisions and most of our 9-ball divisions in SN'9'BTOA are sanctioned with the BCAPL to qualify you to play in the TV4U Tournaments at Putter's (Eastern) and BCAPL Nationals in May at the Riviera.  If you are not already BCAPL sanctioned, you may want to consider playing in our next season which will be starting January 2011!  See all division's weekly standings here