You are a Strong Six in the TAP League.
Your opponent is only a Three -
And needs only Two Games to Win the Match.
You Win the Toss!
You Break - a High ball Falls -
But - still your Choice.
You carefully eye the table Over -
And See a Run-Out.
One-by-one you methodically -
Sink each high ball - slowly and carefully -
Getting Perfect Position on each Shot.
Your final Seventh ball is a tough Side-Cut!
But - you make It! Authoritatively!
High Left English carries the Cue
The Length of the Table -
Where it Caroms off the Cushion.
The English grabs Perfectly -
Spins left, and returns three-fourths the Distance -
Coming to rest within an Inch of the Eight-Ball -
Wow! What a Shot! Your Team-Mates Scream!
But - ALAS - his lowly One-Ball is in the Way!
Close - but No Cigar!
You can’t ‘See’ the Eight -
Your Coach calls a Time-Out!
After weighing Options -
You Choose to - Go for It!
Cue to the side-rail with Low Right -
Back to the Eight - which Drops Perfectly!
Directly into the Side Pocket,
Right where you Marked It!
What a Beautiful Hit!
What a Beautiful Shot!
But - ALAS - Again!
The Cue ‘Kisses’ off one of his Balls -
And SCRATCHES in the corner Pocket!
He Wins! Score - Zero to One!
He Breaks! Slamming the Cue Powerfully -
Bing! Bam! Thank-You Ma’am!
Eight on the Break!
He Wins The Match! You LOSE!
Let us now Re-Cap.
The opponent only had One Shot!
The Break!
And - he Won the Match!
Sure - your shot on the Eight was Difficult.
Sure - you were Capable and Confident.
Sure - you Did Make It.
But - You Lost the Match!
What if you had Heeded your Coach?
Simply picked up the Cue-ball -
And Handed it to the Opponent -
Ball-In-Hand!
Could he have Run All Eight Balls?
Maybe! Maybe Not! But -
You Would have had Eight Chances -
For him/her to Screw-Up or Scratch!
Sure - he might sink a couple of Balls -
Then - Safe You!
Maybe even Another - Ball-In-Hand?
But - you Would have had Another Chance!
From HERO to HEEL - In One Lousy Shot!
“Isn’t That Special?”
Just What makes us Make such Choices?
Is it the Competitive Spirit?
Is the Desire to Win - at All Costs -
More Powerful than mere Common Sense?
Is it because we simply Hate - ‘Plan B?’
Or - is it Really - Foolish Pride?
From Champion to Chump -
In One Easy Lesson!
But - What if the Stakes were Higher?
What if - This was the Play-Offs?
What if - you were the Final Match?
And - it was the Chance for your Team -
To Win - and Go to Vegas?
Would you Still Risk that Last ‘Fab’ Shot?
I get Chills - just Thinking about It!
Can you Drown the Loss in your Beer?
I Don’t Think So!
Did you Learn Anything?
What Will you Do - the Next Time?
Would it be Wise to Curb that Competitive Spirit -
And Opt for the Side of Reason?
PLAY DEFENSE? PLAY IT SAFE?
Perhaps we should play Every Game -
As if - It Was for - The Championship?
Not just - another routine Match?
‘RACK ‘EM!
RACK 'EM!... IS RIGHT, TOM! NOW, I DON'T PLAY POOL, BUT YOUR IMAGERY IS DYNAMIC...I 'FELT' THE TENSION IN THE AIR. I KNOW BY NOW YOU ARE FEELING MUCH BETTER...WE ALL TAKE CHANCES...SOMETIMES WE WIN AND SOMETIMES WE LOSE....SO, FACT, FATE OR FICTION ALL COMES UNDER ONE 'ROOF' CALLED...A GAME...RACK 'EM! BLESSINGS AND THANKS FOR SHARING. JOYCE * HIS INSPIRATIONS
As one of those that kick balls since the age of twelve,,,before a championship play I would have asked the Eight Ball a thing or two before breaking!!! Only schmucks hits the cue ball with the wrong side of the pool stick like it was golf time!
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Be always safe,
Karen
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
EDvard, Ole Cuz