Olathe, Kansas

This past weekend I went to Olathe, KS for a Midwest 9-ball Tour event. I haven't been to Shooters in ten years (yes, I'm showing my age)! I know I've said it before about pool rooms, but this is a true pool room that caters to pool players. Everyone there eats, sleeps and breathes pool! Just looking around the room pretty much everyone had on either a Shooters t-shirt or TAR t-shirt on. It was truly amazing!

There were three tournaments over the weekend, one pocket, women's bar table 9-ball and men's bar table 9-ball. Since the one pocket event started Thursday I didn't play. I got there Friday night just in time for the players auction to start. Thanks to my Garmin GPS...I just about missed it. Be careful typing in Shooters, you just might end up at a gun range instead of a pool hall!

The tournament began Friday night when the auction was done. The event was alternate break, bar table 9-ball. My first round match was against Brittany Colbert from Tulsa. I'd never met her or seen her play and she surprised me. She played really well and I got lucky to escape winning 7-6. Luckily, there was only one match..I was dead tired. No action for me Friday night, just sleep and quite a bit of it!

Saturday I only had to play one match. I also had an idea in my head about some lunch. My new friends Chris Jeffers and Kyle Odell were nice enough to take myself and Jason out to lunch for some famous Kansas City Barbeque. Needless to say, I was starving so I was eager to get my match done. I won 7-0 and bolted out the door. I know you are all thinking, geez, this girl must love her food...true, I do! We went to a place called Arthur Bryants. I must say, right now Kansas City is winning the bbq race with me. I swear, this stuff was awesome!

This is just the first serving of food we all had! I think I ate two pounds of bbq that day...no lie!

This is the bbq eating group, myself, Chris, Kyle and Jason. Thanks again guys!!







So now that I was absolutely stuffed, I was lucky to not have to play yet again that day. I wandered around and chatted with people I haven't seen in years. I got to hear quite a few great stories about old time pool rooms and pool players. I sat and talked to Joe Salazar and a couple of other guys. They shared stories with me about Louis Roberts and other great players from the area. I heard about the great pool rooms of the past. I have to say I wish I could find a time machine and go back to those days just to see what it was like! After I could finally move from my chair I went to challenge my new friends Chris and Kyle. I'm not sure how long we played but I know it felt like a long time since I haven't been playing much! Thanks guys for getting me to play pool. I had a great time! While I was having my fun there was talk of action...of course I had to find out what it was and what I could get myself into.

Now I would be lying to everyone if I said I didn't gamble. It is a touchy subject I know but it is part of life. That night I decided to play for the first time in awhile. I played another girl that was in the tournament. She went first in the calcutta and plays really well on the bar table. We played a 10 ahead set for a decent amount. I was giving the last two. I found myself in a world of trouble right away. She played really well and I was down six games. I wasn't sure that I was even going to get to shoot! Finally I got to the table and worked my way back around. Finally after about four hours I was in full control and feeling more confident in myself. At 5 a.m or so, I won. That meant not much sleep for that noon match!

At noon I played Kassie Hernandez from Chicago. I have to say she is really improving more and more each time I see her. She really has a bright future. I got a couple good rolls that put me ahead and I won the match 7-4. Next up...Rhonda Pierce, the woman I played the night before and the favorite in the tournament. I didn't play too well and she did...I lost 7-4. Guess I wanted to get my moneys worth and play an extra match! So here she was again, Kassie. This time was much tougher. I got ahead and just couldn't seal the deal. She came firing back, running out on her break, I was in a world of hurt. Now it was hill-hill and I didn't make a ball on the break...of all times to do that! She fired and left me a shot. I took my time and ran out but she definitely had me shaking a bit! Now on to the finals.

Rhonda and I meet again, for the third time this weekend. I had to win two races to seven if I was going to win the tournament. I won the flip and things started out alright. Again, I got ahead and just had a little trouble finishing. Now, it was hill-hill and nothing was easy. We both kicked about three times. I got the worst of it and she looked to be running out. Then, a hiccup on the six...I had life! The table wasn't easy but I just tried to stay calm and finish it. I made a tough shot on the nine to win and start another set. I was feeling way more confident in the second set. I know the feeling of being the one that just lost the first set and know how that can affect you. I got a pretty big lead and more and more confident. I ended up winning 7-3.

Now, I know this was a small tournament but I was really thrilled to win. When I was younger this was the one tournament that I wanted to win in my life. I came in second and third quite a few times but could never win. It was one of those tournaments that just felt like you finally made it in the pool world if you could win it (give me a break, I was only 13-16 years old!). I ran up to my old friends and tournament directors Evelyn and Danny Dysart and told them how happy I was. They kind of laughed but knew what I meant! I'm keeping that first place envelope as a trophy!!

Thanks again to Dan Tull, the owner of Shooters. He truly loves pool and will do anything to help promote the game. Thanks to Evelyn and Danny Dysart for keeping their tour alive in the midwest. And most of all, thanks to Chris and Kyle for showing us a good time while we were there!