Knock ’em down a notch
Rack ‘em up!
Being on a Top Player list brings a unique type of pressure. If you are on a list, you are facing pressure from other players to remove you from that list. In fact, anyone playing against them is trying even harder to win and knock them down a notch. The Top Player list is what everyone wants to be on. That is why, for some, that is the first list they look at. Then there is the Top of Team List, that list is another closely scrutinized list. The competition between top team players is very intense. Hugh Miller turned to Josh House to be Captain of Angelina’s Grill and Bar Team # 1. Hugh said, “maybe now I can be a top team player again.”
If you are on the Top Ten list, you will also likely be either tied for or be a top player on your team. You will have a teammate that is trying to knock you off and be your replacement. Top Ten players are also being hunted by the entirety of players. “I won against a Top Ten player,” is what everyone in the league wants to say.
We love competition, but oh, the pressure that it brings can cause you to either flub an easy play, or spur you on to play better than ever. The cliche that you are playing the table, not the player, comes up often. It is not really the complete picture though. You must play different players according to their game. It might be that some players will talk to you while you are playing your ball. If you know ahead of time, you can either steel yourself and tune them out, or let them into your head and suffer. It really is up to you and you alone.
FOR TUESDAY, 4/12/2022 »
TEAM POSITIONS: ANGELIA’S GRILL AND BAR TEAM # 1» 6 wins; Angelina’s Grill and Bar Team # 2: 5 wins; Golden West Saloon Team # 1: 6 wins; Golden West Saloon Team # 2: 1 win; Milano Hotel and Bar Team
# 1: 10 wins; Milano Hotel and Bar Team # 2: 2 wins; Tip Top Lounge Team # 1: 11 wins; Tip Top Lounge Team # 2: 5 wins; Welcome Inn Team # 1: 8 wins; Welcome Inn Team # 2: 1 win. TOP PLAYERS OF THEIR TEAMS: ANGELINA’S GRILLE & BAR TEAM # 1 » Hugh Miller; Angelina’s Grille &
Bar Team # 2: Rosendo Padilla; Golden West Saloon Team # 1: Luke Pedersen; Golden West Team # 2: Mikael Haye; Milano Hotel and Bar Team # 1: Gabe Medina; Milano Hotel and Bar Team # 2: Mark Wright; Tip Top Lounge Team # 1: Dan Casteel; Tip Top Lounge team # 2: Randy Gibson, Jason Hawk are tied; Welcome Inn Team # 1: Ian Rubesch; Welcome Inn Team # 2: Schelagh Fredson.
TOP PLAYERS OF LEAGUE » Dan Casteel leads the league with 19 wins and 3 losses. Luke Pedersen, 18 wins; Victor Munoz, Ian Rubesch, 16 wins; Sam Banker, Randy Gibson, Jason Hawk, and Hugh Miller 15 wins; Gabe Medina and Steve Neal 14 wins.
Visit the following Fort Bragg Pool League sponsors: Angelina’s Grille & Bar, Golden West Saloon,
Milano Hotel and Bar, Tip Top Lounge, or Welcome Inn: all maintain a schedule of Fort Bragg Pool League players and teams. Look to the list for someone you know and find where they are playing. You might join a team, make new friends, or just watch 8-ball games as they unfold. The League plays Tuesday at 7 pm ending before 10 pm. Tournaments, if held, are after League play, or as likely on a different night. Tournament schedules are usually posted on bulletin boards near pool tables and anyone can enter to play.
If you are visiting Fort Bragg, you can test your game against local players! Enjoy the good company, food, music, and fullservice bars. With shuffleboard, dice, dart, or corn-hole in addition to billiards for your entertainment. Angelina’s Grill and Bar features Karaoke Friday evenings. If you like being outside, try Milano Hotel and Bar, with a patio and tables for enjoying the fresh air. Come, and spend time in Fort Bragg.
CUE TIP » When playing pool, don’t listen to your opponent, or anyone else. Learn to rely on yourself to have control over what you think, don’t let an opponent into your head. Ignore them until after you are finished playing your game. Remember everyone sees a pool game differently and we each have our own way of playing a game. Having said that, if you choose to listen to opinions, keep them in context. What works well for them in a pool game may, or may not, work well for you. Contact me at mcbohanon@ gmail.com.