Getting to the Heart of the Matter
David Sapolis

As we strive to better ourselves and our abilities, we tend to run into several stumbling blocks during our development. Developing is not an easy process. Remember back to when you were a teenager. Adapting to your ever changing attitudes and growing body was difficult at times. Some of our bodies grow quicker than we can get used to them. I can remembering being tall and lanky, and trying to "grow in" to my new adult body. I was clumsy and quite uncoordinated. Development is a process that never ends. When we hit stumbling blocks, we need to meet them "head on" as to avoid "stunting our growth". Once we work on the stumbling block, and we achieve our goals, we tend to hit a "growth spurt". This is caused by a raise in our level of confidence. We have proven to ourselves that we have the ability to overcome obstacles. That's the clean end of the stick, now let's look at the flip side.

Back in 1985 I hit the worst slump I had ever experienced. I was missing easy shots, I was reacting to missed shots in outbursts of anger, and I was not enjoying the game of pool at all. I was irritable, and the more things did not go my way, the more miserable I became. I tried desperately to improve. I changed pool halls. Perhaps it was the atmosphere I was playing in, I thought. Perhaps if my surroundings were different I would see better results. The geographical cure didn't work. Perhaps it was my cue! Yes, that's it! I'll buy that new cue and my game will be rejuvenated and my problems will be solved! I spent a ton of money on a new cue and ran down to the new pool hall. No change. I ran back to the old pool hall. Same thing. I changed chalks. I tried shooting exclusively with an open bridge. I started wearing different clothes. I bought a new case for the new cue. I tried a third pool hall. I changed tips. I got the wrap re-done. I got a new girlfriend. Still, I couldn't win a game to save my life.

One night during this time period, I was playing a match in a local tournament against player I should have beaten easily. My piss poor attitude and my irritable temper got the best of me once more. I remember the score being tied 6-6 in a race to 7. I broke the last game and sank a few balls. I shot in the first couple of balls and got straight in on the four. I didn't have any angle, nevermind the proper angle, so I decided to "create" an angle. I rifled the four into the right corner pocket. The ball went in and then popped back out. My opponent ran out the rack, and I was again a loser. I shook his hand, congratulated him, and in a fit of rage, smashed my brand new McDermott D-20 across the end rail of the table. The shaft exploded all over the room, with the splinters scattering across the cloth of the table. There, I showed them! I stormed out of there leaving my case and the butt of my cue for whoever wanted it.

Three days passed. Then a knock on the door. It was my friend Dex Roberts. Dex was an older gentlemen. He was in his sixties at the time. He wasn't much of a pool player so to speak, but he was a former Olympic swimmer, no medals, but a proud competitor. He walked into my apartment with my case in his hand. We talked. Dex knew alot about winning and a lot about losing, but his knowledge in the area of dealing with life's problems head on was his strong suit. I explained to him how I changed pool halls, cues, chalks, cases, girlfriends, etc. He laughed at me and shook his head. He smiled and said, "If your car won't start, would getting a paint job solve your problem?"

Finally I started to realize what I was doing. Dex eplained that my problems were internal, not external. In turn, I was shifting the blame to everything else around me, cleverly avoiding the main problem : ME.

I had to get to the heart of the matter. Many of us tend to avoid the obvious. We tend to deal with problem solving in silly ways. If you have a two foot hole in your front yard and you have fallen into the hole twelve times and broken your leg each time, the hole is the problem!!!! Many of us walk around the hole. Some of us hop over it. We do this until our ineffective method cathces up with us and we break our leg for the thirteenth time. The somebody taps us on the shoulder and says, "Fill in the hole, dummy!" In doing so, we deal with the problem head on. Once the hole is filled, it is no longer a problem. It all depends on what we fill in the hole with. Obviously we should fill it in with something solid. Filling the hole with water doesn't solve the problem. Yes, you have filled the hole, but you can still fall into it. This solution is not permanant, nor is it very effective. I had to fill in some holes. That meant doing some inside work.

I look at this part of development as "self surgery". I needed to look in the mirror and see my own faults. For some of us, admitting that there is something wrong with us, or our methods is the toughest part of the battle. With the assistance of Dex, (who would go on to be my coach), we dissected my game and did a personal inventory. I laid all the cards out on the table and took stock in my abilities. In the end I saw that there were salvagable parts of my game that I could keep. With a little refinishing work, these attributes would aid me in my development. I also found several defects in my game and my attitude that needed to be replaced. I had to get rid of the negative and replace it with a positive. This part is not easy. It does not happen over night. If you are painstaking about achieving a higher standard of play, you can and will succeed. I can promise you that without a doubt.

Mainly, I was lacking guidance at that point in my life. I needed a mentor who was willing to work with me, put in some time with me, and point me in the right direction. Good direction and guidance is essential if any success is to be achieved. I also had to learn that I was not in charge of the Universe, nor did the Universe revolve around me and my pool game. Smashing cues solves nothing. In fact it makes you look like an idiot. I try to deal with my problems in a positive way. I try to change my behavior instead of my surroundings. When I concentrate on repairing my own deficiencies, the rest of the world seems like a better place.

I don't solve my problems with my game by buying new cues, tips, cases or chalk. I have a mirror. I have mirror therapy. If I run into more than two idiots in one day, I look in the mirror and introduce myself to the third. Above the mirror is a very powerful statement. It keeps me grounded in my faith, and reminds me how much control I really have over the things that happen around me. It reads :

Dear Dave,
I won't be needing your help today.
Love always,
God.

David Sapolis
El Paso, TX

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