Let's see...what have I been up to? Well, to be honest, not much of anything - which is probably why I haven't updated this in a while.
A work situation has thrown a monkey wrench into my BJJ training and I haven't been able to get in and train as often as I would like. I miss it, it is a lot of fun, but on my list of current priorities it's low on the totem pole.
My pool game has been up and down - but probably more on the down side recently than anything. I was playing well a few months ago where I was able to break and run two racks, not consecutively, in a race to 7 in leagues, a first for me, but after that...the wheels just came off. Now, some days I can't run 3 easy balls to save my life, some days I feel like I can't miss.
Just the other day I was playing/practicing at Skyline Billiards and lost two sets to a guy who's a C+/B player 7-0, 7-0. (I won my first rack on the 15th game - finally!) I'm not saying I should win the set but getting donutted twice...ugh. I should've won a few games at the very least. Two donuts...but there's no one to blame but myself. I kept shooting myself in the foot. I would misplay a position, miss a shot I shouldn't have missed...and gave him too many opportunities to run out.
And, since I'm so up and down, what happens that evening at Amsterdam Billiards? Just messing around/practicing I break and run two racks consecutively - my first two pack ever* - on the tight pocket table there too.
Yeah, it's nuts. I have no idea what's going on either.
(*I once broke in the 9-ball 3 consecutive times but I don't think that counts.)
Luckily the guys at Skyline are really nice and, the next day after getting drilled some more by the C+/B player, I got some advice/coaching/instruction on what the problem(s) is(are) and how to fix it.
One thing that was pointed out to me was that I would sometimes hit the ball hoping it would go in rather than knowing it would go in. It's a subtle difference but it's the difference between making the ball and missing the ball.
It was a good mini-lesson with most of it focused on how I think over how I do. (Yep, most of the problem lies between my ears.) It should help - I'll let you know.
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Leagues: we got knocked out in the first round of the playoffs after finishing first in our division and first for our time slot. (Which would've matter as we could've gotten a bye into more money if we survived for a couple of rounds.) Not a big deal as we were missing two of our better players but getting knocked out the first round meant we didn't cash - which sucks.
Since two people were missing I actually had to play, I NEVER PLAY IN THE PLAYOFFS, and I started off terribly. I spotted the guy one game in a race to 7 and proceeded to: missed an easy 8 with the 9 hanging, scratched on the 9...twice...miss a 9...I think I was down 5-0 at one point. I somehow got my shit together and got it back to 5-5 but a couple of more mistakes and a couple of great shots by my opponent and I ended up losing 7-5. My opponent played well but I wish I didn't dig myself such a big hole to start. Maybe things would've been different. Oh well.
Overall it was a really fun season. My teammates are all nuts. Seriously.
And here are about to do it all over again.
Bad Juju.
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I'm reading a book on irrationality and one of the chapters is devoted to how we have too many options these days and how, having too many options, may in fact be bad for you.
Take pool for instance - you can play 1 pocket, 14.1/straight pool, 9-ball, 8-ball, etc....and you could eventually become good at all of them. BUT, what if, you devoted yourself to just one of these games...wouldn't that improve your chances of becoming great at it?
There's a story in the book about a Chinese General who, with a small army, landed on the shores of the enemy. In the middle of the night the general burned the boats down and destroyed all the cooking supplies. To survive his army had to advance and defeat the enemy as there was no turning back. He had taken that option away from them. They went on to win several battles and was one of the more feared units in that era.
Don't get me wrong - there's a lot of pros out there who are world champions in multiple disciplines. I think the question is: did they master one game first, and then learn the other games, or did they try to learn all the games at the same time?
(Hmm...have to remember to ask a few of them next time I see them.)
At the same time I know of a couple of world class 14.1 players that if they were to play 9-ball against a couple of the Open players in the area, I'm betting against them. 9-ball just isn't their game and things like kicking, jumping, etc. they just aren't as precise.
I think it's an interesting question. I know a lot of people believe in "cross training" and playing the other games to improve your "overall game". I just wonder if that's actually holding them back - making them a jack of all trades but a master of none.
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Okay, that's it for now I guess. I'm off to Chicago for a few days for a very special event. I'll post some pictures from it if I get the chance.
Hopefully it won't be 6 months before I update again.
