An After Derby Update

Well its been over a month since my last blog. I forgot how much I enjoy writing on here but I have been super busy. Things have been going fairly well besides my pool game at the moment which is kind of in a slump.

Power One Pocket has been doing well and I deem it a success. We sold out the 125 copies we brought to the Derby City Classic. We promoted it well with posters all over the place and it being announced on the TV table by Ken Shuman. The next big venue for the DVD will be the Super Billiards Expo in Valley Forge which I have not been to in many years, it was about 5 or more years ago since I went there with my friend who passed, Joe Sabia. I have about 100 DVDs in the hands of some vendors who will be there as I am not sure if I will make it in person but if I do then I will bring another 100 because this is the place where people are buying. The Derby is good but there was not a good deal of vendors, around 20 maybe, SBE has hundreds.

So my pool game and gambling have not been doing so hot, been in a bit of slump and have been losing some games I should win or have a shot at. I also have not been doing too hot on my side betting, already losing about the same amount I since the beginning of the year as I have in the whole year of 2010! The past 2 years I have been about 80%+ winner gambling which is great, I am okay with being even but right now I am couple hundred short of being even gambling so that is not good but the plus side is the year is early so we shall see.

I plan on practicing hard and coming back stronger which I usually do after a slump. I have been making breakthroughs and playing fairly well. At the Derby I finished higher then any Arizona player besides Scott Frost obviously, I made it to the 4th round but had a chance to make it to the 5th but I was leaving the next morning and I was just not into it knowing I was leaving even if I won but then I heard 5th round was money so I felt a little stupid.

I found a great cue to play with, nothing wrong with my Crown but its wrapless and I prefer a leather wrap. I got a cue from Joel Dadivas and its a bad mofo, anyone who has hit with it thinks its one of the best they have hit with and are amazed by it. I had to ship it back though as Joel is replacing the shafts due to some issues and I cannot wait for it to get back. I am playing with my Crown as of now and booked a good winner the other night with it playing some one pocket and did well in a 9 ball tournament so I will be just fine.

We did release another DVD recently, Scott Frost vs Cliff Joyner, it is 15 of the best racks from there match in Mobile Alabama last year. It really is some good one pocket and people have been enjoying it.

I plan on getting into shape also, been putting it off for a while, healthy body and mind will improve anyone's game, just a free tip. I might get back into the boxing gym because its great for conditioning and stamina. I am going to check out one tonight that is not too far from me.

Well time to get off of here and do some work, thanks for all the support fans of OTR, by the way the newsletter is back up so sign up for it if you have not at , its in the top right corner. Enjoy this pic of my Joel Dadivas JD cue.

It Has Been Awhile

Well let me ramble for a bit as I cant sleep and much has been going on. Power One Pocket is done and my big shipment will be here in a few days. We did a pre-order sale with a free tee shirt for the first 50 people and it filled up in less than 2 days! I am heading to Derby with a 100 of them and look for them to sell out. I really hope it all goes well and we sell them out and then I will consider it successful, the goal is to sell 300 in the next couple of months and I think we will.

This is my first year at the Derby City Classic so it should be a fun experience especially with Scott Frost playing Efren Reyes for $10,000 racing to 11 over 2 days. I am really excited about it and have got some bets in also so I am sweating it which is always fun. I look forward to seeing my buddy George from Mobile who is a heck of a nice guy. My friend Jimmy is coming along, he is the one who beat Grady Mathews, not sure if they will play again but it should be interesting to see how they are around one another.

I am not sure if I am bringing my cue or not since I will be sweating and betting and doubt I will play anyone but it might not hurt. I am already going to be loaded with my clothes, DVD's and shirts to sell for POP. I am also going to bring a camera with me so I can record some stuff and do a little documentary of sorts for me going to Derby.

I finished off 2010 with over $10,000 in pool related wins and about $1,400 in losses which was nice. I am unsure if I will top it or not this year but it all depends on how it starts, I am a couple hundred up and hope to make a couple thousand at Derby. Well time to get off here and get some rest. Happy New Year everyone!

Doing Well in Tournament Play

Well as of late I have been playing okay and doing well in tournaments, getting to the finals in 5 out the last 7 tournaments I have played in. I really feel like my game is become a bit more consistent and solid but I still have a way to go to get where I would like to be but regardless the progress is showing which is why I think most of diehards play pool. I think I would not enjoy the game as much if I were not making progress, I know in pool learning never stops either.

I still am working on Power One Pocket so hopefully that will be done soon like before the year is over. I just want it to be done well and for the one pocket players out there to get the most for there money. I am excited because I know there is just so much knowledge in it for people to learn from.

Update on My Return

Well it has been interesting to get back in the game with a fresh outlook on it all. I am streaming again and its pretty enjoyable even though the following is not what it was primarily because people might not know I am back and streaming but still getting a few hundred viewers is cool. I do have some plans to make improvements on the stream if I can find the funding, perhaps an HD camera would help a bit but mainly the connection for the net at Kolbys needs to be improved, it is terrible.

As for playing pool it has been going okay, some wins and losses, as of late I am a slight winner including my last 3 tournaments getting into the finals besides one yesterday where I stunk it up playing terribly. I have realized I need to get physically in better shape and raise my stamina. With my infant daughter it is tough to be rested because I am up early and also in the middle of the night so good sleep is tough to come by and your mind and body needs that. I am looking to see how I come together with some rest and getting fit, I think my game will go up and I can avenge my losses because Lenny the Lock does not like to lose.

One thing that I really need to get going is Power One Pocket. We have hit some hurdles in trying to get it finished unfortunately. We did all the shooting which was half the battle and the other half of it is to have it edited. I had an editor but he had some issues and had to leave the country, the editing was unfinished, I do not have the time line I gave him which is used for the editing so the editor knows what to use and where everything goes. I have to do the time line which is time consuming but I should have it done soon and hopefully the new editor can put it together and get it out to the masses who are looking forward to it. Well gotta run. Watch, play and support pool my friends.

I'm Back!

Well it was a short break but it was much needed. I took some time with my family and to get caught back up with things. I still am a bit unsure of what my plans are and if I will be streaming on Tuesday nights but I will be playing when I want and streaming the one pocket the last Saturday of the month also. I do have plans on streaming the $6000 added BCAPL Sept.1st-5th that is taken place at Ft. McDowell Hotel and Casino here in AZ. I do hope many players come out for this also.

I got my cue back from Richard Hsu and he did a great job on the engraving in the butt of my Jerry Rauenzahn and it sparked me to want to play some more too. Here are some pics of it, enjoy and see you on the stream this Saturday.

Taking a Hiatus

Well after months of thinking about it I have done it, I am taking a break from pool for a bit, perhaps a couple of weeks or who knows. I have realized I am burnt out and need to get my mind and body in better shape along with spending more time with my family. I have lost the desire and stamina mentally and physically to win and am just kind of tapping balls around which is no good. I recently have been on a bit of a losing streak also as I said with no real desire to win and no focus but I hate to lose also, the games are tougher with tougher players too. I am doing good money wise this year playing pool because I keep tabs on it, I am up more then last year too which I did not think would happen.

My plans are to mountain bike, swim, and try to get in shape along with some meditation. I plan on spending quality time with my family and getting things in order that have kind of gotten out of order with my time being taken up so much by pool and streaming. I was becoming a bit overwhelmed really with it all. I would like to continue streaming perhaps a bit less and also would like to upgrade to HD but right now the camera is not in the budget. Perhaps when Power One Pocket is released and makes some money I can put it into OTR and make some upgrades.

Well just wanted to sign off for now but I will be back my friends, later.

Lots of Action to Report

Well guys I have been in and around action, the blog post below was from when I went to Alabama and Vegas, well I went back to Vegas again. I played Jude though before I left giving 9-7 playing one pocket for $2,000 in the middle.

Me and Jude did our usual barking, we decided to play couple weeks back for $1000 each with me giving 9-7 in a 5 ahead one pocket battle. He won the first 2 games and when I got settled in I won 7 in a row to take it down. After that I went to Vegas to watch Scott playing Dippy Dave aka Viffer aka David Peat who is a pro poker player some high dollar 9 ball. I also wanted to bet a bit on the side.

I went to Vegas with my mentor as I call him, Jimmy Langston who owns Kolby's Corner Pocket in Tempe AZ. He has taught me a good deal about one pocket and I enjoy his company and life stories. We went on the road to Vegas and got up there with Scott and Dippy already in the pit at Pool Sharks ready to get it on. The first set I believe was for $30,000, Scott giving up the 5 ball, the breaks and ball in hand after the break, 15 ahead, Dippy also got 2 games on the wire.

Scott wins that set and then it goes to about $50,000 a set which Scott wins, then I think $55,000 is in the middle for the 3rd set. Scott gets there again but with some drama that only a writer for a Hollywood movie could have composed, it was unreal and one of the craziest things I have ever seen. I got to get together and have dinner after being trapped up in the poolroom for about 18 hours or so for the 3 sets. It was a memorable dinner with me, Jimmy, Scott, Billy Incadona, Ed Kelly, Ronnie Wiseman, Jack Cooney and a few others at the table breaking bread, I will never forget it. It was me and these legends chopping up some cash and having a good time.

I got back and got more action with a guy from Ohio, he offers 9-8 for $40 a game with Jimmy betting $20 a game on the side, I end up playing even eventually at a $100 a game and win about $600 and Jimmy wins $200. The guy was not the nicest guy, perhaps it was the alcohol but I did not care for it and refused to play him again even though we were going to play the next night for $5000. He stalled on me as I waited to play so I just said to hell with it and did not bother, I am not waiting 3 hours to play anyone when they say 1 hour. I am sure we will play again down the road as long as he is a gentleman.

I am almost done with Power One Pocket, got delayed with all the action and being out of town along with recently moving. Life is funny like that but I will be relieved when its done, lots of people have been asking me when it will be done. I would say late in July just to be safe. Well gotta run and get some rest. Hope you guys enjoy this.