I Give Up

If Venus Williams was serving for the game against Anna Kornikova and Kornikova forfeited the point to her so she could start the next game, how would you feel?

If Tiger Woods needed to make a 2-footer to win the tournament and Davis Love gave it to him, how would you feel?

If Michael Jordan had the ball 3 feet from the net with 4 seconds left, the Bulls down by one point, how would you feel if Indianapolis surrendered to defeat not making him shoot?

Well, why oh why, do players give away the most important shot on the table, the game winning shot, much less the match winning shot? I was in a tournament facing a player that shot exceptional. The race was to 11 and we went hill, hill. I won the match, but in a way that never happened to me before. I never had to shoot a 9-ball. That's right, this player gave me every 9-ball. Wow, just think, if I had missed just one of those "gimmes" I would have probably lost.

I've heard all the reasons and mainly I hear that it's done to speed up the game. Is that done, because table time will cost an extra nickel? Let's see, hm-m-m, it will take an average of 30 seconds to complete the shot and even if its a 99% shot that means that can be missed and can happen at any time. Why are players in such a rush? Last time I was in a tournament or playing on the side there was no time clock unless it was requested for slow play. I like speed and a fast game. My favorite game is 9-ball on a bar box. I'm still not willing to give up a 9-ball. Things happen. Miscue. Table roll. Something happens that breaks the shooters concentration. How about a fly on the table?

Yes, that really did happen to me. It was a summer outdoor 8-ball tournament. I shot the 8-ball perfectly and a fly lands in its path. The 8-ball hits the fly and rolls off-line. The fly then walks around for a few seconds and takes off. Sure, I had a rather large constricting snake on my shoulder for that to happen, but it did. Things happen.

A friend, Dennis, was playing a basement snooker match for a large amount of money. Whoever made the 7 ball would be the winner. His opponent has a 3.5 foot shot straight into the side pocket. He doesn't rush into the shot, gets into stance, does his practice strokes, locks it in and hits the cue ball. He misses. Why? He did everything perfect? His cue tip came off and miscued.

I realize that these are exceptional examples but the point is that they happened. Why be in a rush to give away the money that's being played for? It's just another 30 seconds.

By Jay Wegener