Spring League

Rack ’em up!

If you are reading this, you may already know the first games of Spring League 2022 played this past Tuesday. If the table for Milano Bar arrived, their teams played there, but as of this column, they haven’t seen it with four nights left until League starts. We are on the way to another season of competition, regardless of table deliveries or re-felting of tables. The excitement level is higher than at the beginning of Fall League. When asked, Dan Casteel opined that this Spring competition might go down to the wire, but with several teams this season. This could be the most competitive season ever, as we have new players who haven’t played in League for years that returned. Dan is likely to be correct in his predictions. If you have time, come to Angelina’s Grill and Bar, Golden West Saloon, Milano’s Bar, Tip Top Lounge, or Welcome Inn and watch different teams play every Tuesday at 7:00 pm. You may even follow a favorite team from venue to venue and watch them play pool and cheer them on. It would be fun.

FOR TUESDAY, 01/24/2022 »

The Captain’s meeting went pretty well, and teams are still getting organized for the new season. We have two new teams representing Milano’s Bar that are still getting together. We haven’t seen a table recovered at any venue, and Milano’s is awaiting delivery of their table. So, some kinks, yes, but things will work out quickly and probably pretty smoothly too as we go along.

In the meantime, thanks to Sean Wristen of Welcome Inn Team #1 for muscling Canadian Quarters out of the back table. Several people tried and failed to fix the table until Sean came in and saved the day. And soon, the gloomy faces were once again smiling and loading quarters into the table. The Foreign quarters came from a person that travels to the City by the Bay. They were aghast and hurried to leave, knowing they were the person to add quarters and break it. We were even sorrier, we had one table with half a light, and now the best table had been sabotaged and with a foreign currency? Well, we didn’t know that until our hero Sean showed up. No person had a clue of what was wrong, foreign or not, other than to gasp, “it’s broken!” The gloomy faces grew first on one, then on to another as it became clear it would stay broken. That is until Big Dog got there. Some have said, “Sean deserves a trophy.” Why? Well, for helping bring back and secure the mental stability of seniors and the others that actually “need” the back table at Welcome Inn to be happy. No, he won’t take one, but still, it was a nice thought. Now, if you speak more in terms of a Statue, not a Trophy, you would understand by his first question, “will it have a pedestal?”

TOURNAMENT WINNER: DAN CASTEEL SEEMS TO BE WINNING EVERY TOURNAMENT

HE ENTERS. OTHERS HAVE

ASKED ME NOT TO GO INTO

ANY OF THE GREAT DETAILS

so here it is, “Dan is winning.” Congratulations!

Visit Angelina’s Grille & Bar, Golden West Saloon, Milano’s Bar, Tip Top Lounge, or Welcome Inn: all maintain a Pool table for playing. You might meet new people, or see old friends.

Tournaments usually take a couple of hours to complete. Watch weekly competitions, and anyone can enter. If visiting Fort Bragg, test your game with the local players! Good company, food, and music, a full bar with Shuffleboard, Dice, and/or Dart games in addition to billiards for entertainment. Angelina’s Grille and Bar also features Karaoke Friday evenings. If you like a venue with an outdoor patio, try Milano’s bar, friendly patrons, a full-service bar, and an outdoor patio to enjoy. Come and have some fun today in Fort Bragg.

CUE TIP » If you are new to having a group of people watching and commenting while playing pool. Don’t Listen! If at all possible, concentrate on the game and tune out the conversations until the game is over. The moment you start to listen to what is being said, you have divided your attention from the table and increased your chance for failure. This happens to everyone, and it can even, at that moment, you are striking the cue ball. When you are playing, it might take a mantra of sorts, but ignoring the inevitable commentary will improve the odds of making the ball. Contact me at mcbohanon@gmail.com.