Best of RSB - November 1997

Each month a distinguished Committee of one unnamed rsber presents the official "Best of rsb." This monthly highlight is in recognition of those very special posts that simply stand out from the crowd. The guidelines are far too complex to go into, but suffice it to say that originality, content, humor, and - most importantly - the whim of the Committee play a large role in the selections. As always, the Committee's decisions are final, and intentional groveling will be looked upon with much disdain.

On to the awards for November....Well, it was a tie. A tie between two very thoughtful contributions - both proving the value of a good sleepless night every once in a while. And with no clear tie-breaking methodology, the Committee was forced to resort to "special techniques." The result is that Jim Meador wins for his delightful perspective on rsb itself. We've grown fond of you, too, Jim:

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Subject What Is RSB To You From Jim Meador
Date 1997/11/27

We hear a lot of complaints in from those who believe anything that isn't specifically about pool should not be posted. So I am curious. What is RSB to the rest of you:

To me, RSB is a big pool hall. Some people are on the tables shooting pool. Others are watching from the gallery and discussing the play. Still others get into discussions about cuesticks or shooting techniques. Bob Jewett and Ron Shepard are in a corner teaching a kid some of the finer points of the game. Still others are telling the latest joke, or having a conversation about babes (or hunks if you're a girl or not sure) or a recent football game. I can move from group to group, listening to the conversations- and joining if I choose.

What makes RSB so great, is that we are not just reading a dry instructional book about the game. We all have different personalities, and I have grown damned fond of many of you people, although I've never met you. I am not able to keep my interest in this group limited to the game iteslf, anymore than I could spend an evening in a pool hall without sharing stories and jokes with my friends.

So to me RSB is where I meet my pool buddies to discuss whatever we want. We are kindred spirits, and regardless of what is discussed, it is still conversation among pool players and friends. If I want statistics only, there are magazines, web sites, videos, books and many other sources without the human element. Every post has a title. Pick and choose if speed is important.

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The runner-up (after tie-breaker), was the late-night ramblings of a relative newcomer. The Committee extends its belated birthday present to Laura Friedman in the form of runner-up accolades (the penultimate post for November, if you will):

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Subject What is a player? - late night rambling
From Laura Friedman
Date 1997/11/19

This was one of my favorites and can be found here.

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Potential "posts of note" abounded once again in November. Of these, the Committee recognizes Tom Simpson's contribution of a true pearl of wisdom - again proving that the simplest messages can be the most powerful:

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Subject Re: McDermott = Draw???
From (Tom Simpson)
Date 1997/11/21

Tom Simpson says...

I have noticed that the difference between the pro-level players and the thousands of advanced players seems to be a very small step that makes a very big difference....

A guy I played with when for his first couple of years eventually went pro. He was a natural from day one. He had a good teacher. He had the support of all the "old guys" in the room, who helped him learn the game, the gamble, and the tenacity.

When I saw him years later, I asked him what got him over the top, what was the difference between amateur and pro. He said "I started taking every shot seriously."

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And finally, a nice little parody from Lucky Dog. The Committee recommends you all read it again, because we're sure you didn't catch all the rsb-isms the first time through. We didn't:

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Subject: I need help with some accesories!
From: Lucky
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 1997 18:55:05 -0600

I'm unusually stumped, and thought that I might inquire as to what kind of shoes everyone wears when they're playing pool? Do some shoes make you play better. Has anyone ever noticed losing more when playing in a particular pair? What do the pro's wear? Does anyone have a good source for pool shoes? Web page? Catalog? How about mueller?

I've noticed that when I used a slippery wrapped Meucci, with a predator shaft, dark greeen chalk, a lamatip roughed with a porcupine tip dresser, a sir joseph pool glove, and a laser sight with three deno pool glasses, that I shoot better when wearing my new balance running shoes.
But....

If I'm using my richard blake snooker model with no ferule, "brown" chalk, a "french" tip that's been worked over with a wood rasp, with an adjustable balance weight ring on the forearm section, the lori john bridge, no glove, sticky wrappped double gusseted three prong butt section, that I shoot WAY worse in my bruno mali's.

If I'm right, then there must be some carlrelation between the humidity of the cloth, the air temperature, the time, the fullness of the hit, and the shoes. Maybe the added height of the running shoes is making me shoot down at s steeper grady and making my rock squirt. Sometimes I make a mark on the the felt.

I've tried dress shoes, athletic shoes, combat shoes, and I still can't seem to stay in focus. Patent weathers deflect too much. I haven't even started trying to blend in the sock variablaura. But I understand that there is a shaft manufacturer that has an iron willie that they try different shoe/sock combinations on. I can't imagine why they won't make this information available to the general public.

If anyone has had similar experiences, or could shepard up some information, perhaps they could email me a complete set of blueprints for a home made pool table that I can put on the back of my truck as an enhancement to my catering business. It'd sherm make my day. I might even get lots of walkups.

I could even offer to rent shoes to my regular customers. Only if they're non smokers though. If the lights are right, you can't even see it. If jewettness any abnormalities, the smoke is probably the root cause. Gene therapy may be the only solution.

Oh well, I guess it could be worse. Do ya'll think I need to change my stance? Or my stroke?
Please help, as the tornupment is handicapped, and the shoes just might mark a difference.

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See you next month. -- The "Best of RSB" Committee

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