Opinion Corner: Shooting some stick

Talk about it

Congratulations to the Dally Up of Montpelier for taking home the Jamestown Men’s Pool League title for a second straight year. Now good luck in the tournament.

I shoot in the league (quite poorly I might add) and those guys from down south can shoot some stick.

You know you’re in trouble when you only get on the table once per game — as was the case earlier this year when my team played them.

That’s probably why the rural team won every game this year, again.

Jamestown Men’s Pool is a beast in its own right, however.

You haven’t truly lived until you’re in some smoky country bar while half the town comes in to watch their home team compete.

Due to my vocational duties I wasn’t able to make all of the road trips this year, but the one to Windsor was enough for me.

It’s pressure enough just shooting in the league, but when there’s at least 15 other people watching your every move, you kind of feel like a bratwurst that’s ready to explode.

It takes some serious skill and thick skin to do well at this sport.

I don’t know how many of the more than 150 guys in league can throw a spiral, hit a breaking ball, or knock down three pointers. But I’m sure traditional athletes might have a hard time making a cross table bank shot with a pool shark waiting in the wings ready to clean the table after your mistake.

But that’s pool. It’s not the team you play against because you are your only limitation.

In a doubles league, chemistry is key and some of the top teams have members that have shot together for years.

My team didn’t have that automatic chemistry, but considering we didn’t know each other at the start of the season I believe we did well enough considering.

I know everyone now, how they shoot and their tendencies on the table — just in time for the season to end and the tournament to begin.

But like all sports the only way you’re going to get better is to roll up those sleeves and keep at it.

It can be discouraging for some, and not everyone is meant to shoot pool, but sticking with it for a second straight year has its benefits.

You get to meet a lot of people, have some fun, and improve by playing against great players.

On the plus side we stayed out of last place, if you’re a standings kind of person.

Congratulations to all shooters in the men’s and mixed league and good luck in the end of the year tournament.

Rodgers is a news writer at the Jamestown Sun

Tags: sports, pool, billiards