Where is Sarah??

Don't worry everyone, I'm still alive! Things have just been really crazy!! I've been in NYC and then to the Super Billiard Expo and back to NYC. I have hardly had a chance to breathe! I will have the pictures and full recap up soon.

If anyone that reads this lives in or around Omaha, Nebraska...you have a chance to come see a handful of the WPBA players. There is a small tournament being held at the Omaha Home Show. I will have the details up tomorrow!

Updates

My apologies for the lack of updates on my trip to NYC. I will try to get one done tomorrow afternoon. All I can say is that I have had a chance to do a lot of new things and a huge opportunity to practice! I've been playing until all hours of the night so that kind of explains the lack of updates.

If you are in the NYC area and can make it to Brooklyn, stop by Skyline Billiards. There is a 9-ball tournament starting at 8:30. Some of the top guy pros are also in town. Tomorrow you can see Marcus Chamat, Darren Appleton and Mika Immonen along with all of the regulars! If you can't make it to Skyline be sure to check out their live streaming of the tournament and any action that might follow.

My NYC Pool Plans

Since of course I am going to play pool while I'm in NYC and I have had some questions about where I am going to be...here you go!

The times that I definitely know I will be at the pool room will be Sunday and Tuesday. Sunday all of my buddies have pool league at Amsterdam. I'm going to be the team cheerleader. Tuesday I am going to play the weekly tournament at Skyline in Brooklyn. All of the times in between, I have no idea. I know there are weekly tournaments on Friday and Monday that I am going to try to make. I just can't say for sure. Other than that, I'm probably going to be practicing at Skyline, hopefully everyday.

If you read this earlier, I forgot to say what I have liked so far. When I was driving here on I-80 it was about the most beautiful thing I've seen in a long time. Right at the PA/NJ border, the Delaware Water gap...it was beautiful. Of course, I didn't have my camera ready so I don't have a picture but if you have traveled this way before, you know what I'm talking about!

I'm open to suggestions as to what you think I need to experience in NYC, pool related or not...let me know!

Otherwise, look for me in the laundromat or on the subway!!

Big Apple...Here I Come!!!

I just wanted to give a warning to everyone in New York City..I am on my way! I have to say I am like a little kid with this trip. I've always wanted to visit the city but I've never really had a chance other than a couple of days. Thanks to my friends Caroline, Monkey and Buddha for taking me in for a few days prior to Valley Forge. I can't wait! Now you might think it is odd but I have some strange things I'd like to do.

First, I have to go eat a Peanut Butter sandwich from the place I saw on the Food Network. Second, I can't wait to ride the subway. I've done it before but it was really quick to get my picture taken. I have no clue why I am so fascinated by riding the subway! Third, I have these strange things that I think you need to experience in every area of the country. When I was down south I had to visit a true beauty shop along with one of my southern friends. So my New York City thing is to visit a laundromat! I know, it's very strange. I think I watch too much television. And of course, I can't leave it out, I can't wait to experience the pool scene. I've heard so many great things about it!

If you live in New York City and are going to be heading to any of the pool rooms be sure to let me know. I'd like to meet some readers! I will be there Thursday-Wednesday.

Thanks again guys for making me take this trip!

A word from our sponsors....

I was sitting here and I realized that I never did a formal post about my new product sponsorship. I would like to say thanks to Caroline Pao and Mika Immonen for adding me to the MezzUSA team!


I was a little late in posting this but I changed to a Mezz Hybrid Pro II shaft and the Power Break II. I have to say that I have been playing really well and have a new confidence in my game! I especially have to recommend the break cue. It is a bit shorter than a standard cue but you really don't notice once you start to use it. I definitely think people that struggle with their break should try this out. It makes it possible to have a great break without so much power. If you have a good break, it will also improve your break. I like it especially for playing 10-ball and 8-ball. With the shaft, I feel that I can do more with the cueball than I could before. I trust myself more when it comes to using spin. Watch out everyone...here I come with a new confidence in my game!!

Be sure to check out all of the products that Mezz has to offer!




Me, sporting my new patch at Turning Stone!





One last thing, if you are planning to attend the Super Billiards Expo, please stop by the MezzUSA/Billiard Life booth. I look forward to meeting some new people and seeing old friends!

Now Introducing....

The Heartbackers!! Everyone that has given a donation is now officially a Heartbacker. For those of you that don't know, one of the many nicknames that has been given to me over the years is The Heartbreaker...it is just a kind of play on words. This is the patch that is being made as we speak. Everyone that has donated will be getting one in the mail soon! I will wear this patch whenever I play in a big tournament. It is my way of saying thank you and giving everyone the recognition that they deserve for their kindness!

Thank you again for helping me make my dream come true!!

Amway Cup World 9-ball Open!!

Well, I was just invited to the Amway Cup in Tapei, Taiwan. It will be held April 29-May 3. I am really excited since this will be my first time playing in this event and my first time to leave North America! I have been invited in years past and I turned it down because I felt like I wasn't ready for that task. Finally, I think it is my time!

The only catch with all of this is the struggling economy. Because of this the BCA cannot give the players any type of stipend to get to the event. Therefore, I am looking for a little help. If you would like to make a donation you can do so here, over to the right on the Save A Pro section. That link goes directly to may Paypal address. I offer signed pictures and cueballs in return. I am also going to have a patch that each person that donates or has donated will receive. I will wear the same patch to give recognition to everyone while I play. Soon I will also have T-shirts, hats and other merchandise. If you make a donation and specify what you might be interested in I will send it to you when they are available. I am guessing the trip will cost around $2500. I'm not asking for that full amount from one person (though it would be very generous). This is a group effort. Any little bit helps!

Thank you all in advance...even if you just say congrats!

I look forward to sharing this whole experience with everyone!

What's in my case?

Thanks to my buddy Oscar Dominguez for directing my attention to the what's in the case video. Thanks to Inside Pool and Samm Diep for letting me do this! You can check out other cool videos on the Inside Pool channel on YouTube.

Hope this holds you over for a little bit until I prepare my next post!! Enjoy.



I'm so sad to say that just a week after this video was filmed my Jack Justis case had an unfortunate accident. Apparently, stuffing that much stuff into that small pocket can wreak havoc on a zipper!

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!