Black Peg Johnny

Well after my recent loss of interest and obviously form :( just when you think it couldn't get any worse it did ;D ;D

How on earth did I win that game, Steve I am soo sorry ;)

Great night, I enjoyed it. Noticably different atmosphere without *cough, thanks for the good night out.

I think Chris was lucky though :-X that fluke 400 shot won you the game ;) :)

Lol with this kind of form, I bet the pub dog would hussle me ;D

Roll on Six Mile Bottom and their nice food, yum :)

[Julian Dale]

Jan 19, 2009 23:53:06 GMT @sithlord said:

Roll on Six Mile Bottom and their nice food, yum :)

Out of interest, what happened between posting this and the next day when you posted your announcement to take time off from Bar Billiards in the league?

Tuesday night. ::)

I was playing in the doubles, I felt like snapping my cue outside at frustration of the table. It is obviously my fault for getting wound up thats why I need a break. I am not enjoying playing here in Cambs, apart from the above post.

Think its just to calm down as I am still stressed over recent cambs decisions nationally and within the league.
I'll play but only if I'm going to love playing.

My grudge match with the swan was something I wanted to do in October but now, I almost can't be bothered.
Hard to explain, I just have a lot of pain and bad memories playing here in Cambs.

Stress is a horrible thing.

I was suffering from it before Christmas (job related, was subjected to a form of 'bullying') and felt it difficult to concentrate on my game and as a consequence cut down my bar billiards activity by 50%.
There is another well-known player in our league who was signed off work for two months with similar.

You're right that there seems no point in playing while you're not enjoying it and not able to give of your best. Probably a good idea to take some time out, too. But it only takes one good score to renew your enthusiasm and put you back in the swing. ;)

[BB Warrior]

Jan 29, 2009 9:08:38 GMT @sithlord said:

I was playing in the doubles, I felt like snapping my cue outside at frustration of the table. It is obviously my fault for getting wound up thats why I need a break. I am not enjoying playing here in Cambs, apart from the above post.

Think its just to calm down as I am still stressed over recent cambs decisions nationally and within the league.
I'll play but only if I'm going to love playing.

My grudge match with the swan was something I wanted to do in October but now, I almost can't be bothered.
Hard to explain, I just have a lot of pain and bad memories playing here in Cambs.

Forgive me for playing "elder statesman" and preaching here for a moment Johnny...... especially as we haven't met - yet. ;)

As you grow older, you will find that life is full of ups and downs..... and things rarely go as you would want, or expect, them to.

However, it is how you meet these problems that will decide what course your life will take....... you can either choose to stand up and battle against them, or you can run away and hide.

Personally, I have always chosen the first of those routes...... and although I will be the first to admit that I have not always succeeded as a result, I have never regretted that decision.

My advice to you would be don't give up, face the challenges and overcome them..... in life as well as bar billiards!

I have recently spent quite a lot of time with a very good young player, who is having a very good season in 2 of the Leagues that he is playing in but has struggled on occasions in another league where the standard of players is much higher.

Last weekend, he played in a team tournament with me and, for the first few games, he found the tables very tough although some other players there were hitting good scores on them. At the time he told me that he "couldn't do this" but he battled on and finished the day with a good 10k score in the last game.

On monday, he struggled for a low-scoring win in an off-the-spot match, again saying how unforgiving the table was but last night he played for his other team and hit a personal best, which I think has broken the League Record high away score. 8-)

If he continues to win these battles (with himself), he will become a far better player as a result of that over a period of time.

As I said earlier, we haven't met..... but from what I have heard and read you obviously have ability. However, so much of this game is in the mind, and if you go out with the wrong attitude then you won't be successful.

Accept that things will not always go right..... accept that the tables you play on will not be "perfect"...... and just enjoy playing the game. ;D

Some excellent advice there from the Warrior belying his tender (!) years. ;D

I do have a certain amount of sympathy for Johnny, though, in view of his location on the perimeter of the bar billiards world.

It's alright for us - we have a choice of about ten leagues all within about 30 miles to play in - whereas Johnny is stuck with Cambridge - or a much longer journey to Northants where teams are a bit static in their set-up. :-/

There are also a myriad of competitions in which we can take part, so there's always something going on to report about - whereas Johnny has his League's domestic competitions, plus Opens - and that's about it !

[Colemanator]

Jan 29, 2009 16:11:02 GMT tommo III said:

Northants where teams are a bit static in their set-up. :-/

:-/What's that supposed to mean :-/

I have got a lot of respect for what everyone is saying. Yes I am drawn the short straw in Cambs.
I am also very scared that all my hard work in playing is now diminishing because I am playing in division 2. I have noticed that myself.
Lost the next step/Challenge that I really loved. Mainly due to the level of ability here.
Example:
Division 2 Average score is 1,590
Division 1 is 2,534

Mine is a crap - 4,715 (off form due to interest).

So you can see that I am not getting that challenge or next level.

Plus I would pay to see someone score well on a table here!

[H]

I'm sure KT would take you up on that!

8-) Apart from the most succesful BB player then :D ;)

[Colemanator]

Why don't you offer to be the leagues table guru, you could go round all the tables and set them up for them, that way the Camb league would have the best tables in the country and you would be a happy bunny playing every week ;)

[Chris_Sav]

Jan 29, 2009 20:25:27 GMT Colemanator said:

Why don't you offer to be the leagues table guru, you could go round all the tables and set them up for them, that way the Camb league would have the best tables in the country and you would be a happy bunny playing every week ;)

Second best!! ;D ;D 8-)

Wish it was that simple, i'm not making excuses.

certain un-named teams have actually purposefully made their tables bad, so it's not a case of going there and strightening it up for them, anyways I don't think the away side would like that idea ::) :D ;)

Nope would be 1st Sav 8-) I just don't like coming 2nd ;D :)

[Julian Dale]

Jan 29, 2009 22:01:41 GMT @sithlord said:

certain un-named teams have actually purposefully made their tables bad

Why don't you name those teams Johnny, then you might get some support in trying to resolve these issues. Doing nothing but having a sulky whinge serves no purpose.

[Julian Dale]

Jan 29, 2009 18:22:19 GMT @sithlord said:

I am also very scared that all my hard work in playing is now diminishing because I am playing in division 2.

You'd play several decent division one teams if you weren't having 'time out'.

Jan 29, 2009 18:22:19 GMT @sithlord said:

Plus I would pay to see someone score well on a table here!

This season's highest scores per table by home player / away player:

Six Mile Bottom: 9790 (by home player) / 7440 (by away player)
White Swan: 11900 / 10660
Nelsons Head: 6500 / 6430
Longbow: 4520 / 4480
Carpenters Arms: 3770 / 5730

White Horse: 2450 / 3530
Bottisham RBL: 6700 / 2350
Waggon & Horses: 2900 / 4240
Floods: 13640 / 7690
Empress: 2460 / 2970

I'm not sure these results show much. Bear in mind that we don't have many players who will rack up a high score for the sake of it; they tend to score enough and give the opponent some table time out of courtesy. There also hasn't been many division one teams that have played away at a division two venue so far, hence why some of those away player stats are low.

thanks for your Stats Julian, one or two faults:

Floods away score (4,240) by Myself
Plus the Home (13,640) score was myself.
You can't really count me in this tbh.

If I am having a "whinge" then tell me how can this league do something.

We can't even pull 7 players to a national event out of 70.

We don't have a proper league system. This current system gives certain teams an advantage in the draw for the second half, giving them more chance of promotion.

General League table conditions.

Yes their is an AGM and no I haven't put forward proposals on this purpose: I am not going to be a part of this league next Winter. So therefore I don't need to meddle in future issues which are becoming more and more apparent.

I am not the person with all knowledge however someone must sort this league out.
I don't think i've got the knowledge on how to aproach it in a "sensible" fashion but hopefully someone does?

[Colemanator]

i have to say Johnny, your name must be mud in that league by now, you can't spout off like you do without any repercussions, nobody will want to play against you, let alone with you. What a state to get in.

[keithmacdonald]

Well I have resisted so far but there is only so much rubbish you can take before you have to say something!! What is the phrase Colemenator give somone enough rope.............

What really upsets me is people talking about Cambridgeshire Bar-Billiards without actually knowing what they are talking about - comments like "stuck with Cambridgeshire..." do not help!!

I'm sorry Johnny is not enjoying his game but life in this part of the country is not as easy as some. For years we have been trying to keep the game going in the hope that things might change. We have recently had to do a bit of a ballancing act between encouraging new talent like Johnny and making sure we keep people/teams in order to ensure the leagues survival.

I can echo Johnny's concerns over some of the tables (having played on his last week I can say it played really well) and it does seem that some people are prepared to play on a table that shall we say is a little interesting!! However, if you try to push people too hard then they will just walk away and where would we be then. I am living in hopes that this situation turns around but hey ............

Another one of Johnny's concerns is scoring highly- well we have evidence that peole are turning away from the agme because they do not enjoy watching someone's backside for twenty minutes!!

Some of the scores Julian quotes are not too bad and would stack up against some from down south. Having been one of those people from this part of the world who has played at the highest level, finding myself having to tap up after 5,000 in order to give my opponent a go can be very frustrating but we have to try and keep the game alive.

His comments about the league structure are a little unfair as we have tried many different formations to try and keep everyone engaged and the latest one has yet to be completed, I think its called experimentation.

Its nice to see everyone caring about Johnny but please make sure all the facts are known before making comments and even more importantly make sure you have pledged your donation to the table funds before trying to dictate what goea on in someone else's county!!

Keith

Jan 30, 2009 19:13:35 GMT Colemanator said:

i have to say Johnny, your name must be mud in that league by now, you can't spout off like you do without any repercussions, nobody will want to play against you, let alone with you. What a state to get in.

My name has been mud in this league for years, it is just i've actually decided to say some truths. Is it mud because I tell the truth or lies?

I am not currently in a state either, in fact I am enjoying time off from this league, however I can't switch off as you can make out here ::)

Keith -

I can see it's frustrating, I wouldn't want to be you right now.
I'm glad you liked the Floods table, we haven't ironed it for a few weeks as we haven't been playing at home.

Look it isn't me to make it "hard" for you, I just feel that these issues are not being raised or dealt with.

Hopefully you will enjoy the league when i'm gone hey ;)

But I'll say this, I am 100% grateful to play for the Swan team, you tought me lessons in life and on the table, I know I might not of followed everything but I did take note and listen!

I was glad to play and be a part of this league. It is a good league in other aspects, I think I have been focusing a bit too much on the negatives.
Their are positives to playing in Cambs, most nights are very enjoyable and you do get challenged sometimes when you don't play on a "good" table.

I don't think this thread is productive, might be but I can't see it.

Look I don't want to look like I am having a whinge or moaning. I was just pointing out things.

Lets just see what happens with Cambridge Bar Billiards, I am actually wanting good things to happen and make Cambs a league to install fear to other counties ;D on the table of course, not negative.

I will resume playing in the Cambridge League from Monday until the finish. I have also got a Summer League team ready for Summer then thats it.

I look forward to meeting players and hopefully I will not get a barrage of abuse if I score loads. I realise tables will either not be adjusted to "Good Condition" however I am going to have to adapt to them.

Oxford Open is my priority right now, getting good results their should see myself become more confident and a more experianced player.

Hopefully the Floods will continue and prosper (hopefully in Division 1 next season) :)

I am now just going to continue on playing Bar Billiards and not get involved in the politics of it. As this runs in the family to do politics (Former WPBSA chairman Mark Wildman).

The idea of a "perfect" system is impossible and concentration on becoming a better player isn't. I'd rather be a better player from my PoV.

I will hopefully do Cambs proud at this years Oxford Open.

[Julian Dale]

I'm glad to hear you're back Johnny, even if it is for a limited time. Are you going to play in the Northants league next Winter?

As for your situation within the league, I think you've reached the turning point - people are ready for you to show them your new found maturity. I see it as being similar to one that I once found myself in at my previous employer:
I wasn't happy with how the online part of the marketing department was being ignored in favour of printed brochures. In many respects I was right, but the department was happily running with what they knew worked (i.e. if it ain't broke, don't fix it). By making loud noises to get things sorted out, I rocked the boat for the department as a whole, which didn't make me too popular! However, by realising that I couldn't rebuild Rome in a day, I dealt with problems one small step at a time and by being more positive, tactful and encouraging with those who I was dealing with, I improved the situation for everyone and left the company with a far healthier marketing department than when I'd first joined.

I hope you understand the message in that story. I've said it before and I'll say it again... There's not one person that doesn't want you to play a big part in the league, it's just they'd rather you played a happy, positive role than that of the pantomime villain!