2009 DCC Trip Report, Part 2

lfigueroa

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The next day constituted one massive wait. I'm not sure, but I think this was the day that the computers for the draw melted, code was being written "as we speak," and they might have even called Bill Gates. At one point, it became a running joke among the players, whenever the desk would announce a time for the draw.

DESK: "We expect to do the draw for the next round of the 1pocket at 1pm."

PLAYER A UPSTAIRS: "I wanna bet 215."

PLAYER B UPSTAIRS: "No way. 3pm, at the earliest."

PLAYER C UPSTAIRS: "I wanna a proposition bet: how many times will he say "We expect to do the draw in the next 5-10 minutes. I want to bet he says it at least five times."

PLAYER A UPSTAIRS: "Billy Icardona has already set the line for that bet. You can get 7-1."

General laughter all around. And so it went.

My second round draw was against former road agent, Chris Szuter. He played great. I never got an ounce of air. Every thing rolled his way. Lou loses 3-0.

I decide to exercise my buy back option and to drown my sorrow in Mexican beer and try the buffet. I suppose it wasn't too bad. Perhaps on par with what you'd expect at a shopping mall. But definitely not casino quality food.

Joey A, sjm, and I sweated Souqet and Bustamonte playing 10-ball in front of us; Dan Louie playing Ike Runnels 1pocket to one side of us; and Gabe Owens giving Ronnie Wiseman 9-7 behind us. I would shortly need a chiropractor. At some point, for reasons completely unknown to me, Jose Parica hung out with us, for like two hours, telling us war stories, about his game, his history, the Philippines, Cialis (not kidding), how to tell who the best player in a sessions is, and it was really pretty cool.

Some 24 hours later, I play my third round match. I'll leave this guy's name out. I didn't know him, but he played well, but really, really goofed by not moving the balls up table when he had me absolutely dead to rights. And so, Lou, who can run a couple of balls on a good day, especially if they're all down table, gets back into games he should not be in and wins 3-0. The guy is really down on himself and here's the thing: I have been there. We all have been there. And all he said, when I asked him if he was still in the tournament was, "Yeah. But all I want to do is get out of here and go home." I felt bad for him and like I said, we've all been there.

I check with the tournament desk around 2am and ask, "Who do I play tomorrow for round four?" and they say, "11am. Martin Rimlinger." And I say to meself, "Cool." Martin can play, but I have a shot. I won't check out of my room" (which was my plan, should I draw a world beater).

Tuesday morning, 11am, they call the fourth round and say, "Table #34, upstairs, Lou Figueroa and Ronnie Wiseman."

Now, what's with THAT?!

And frankly, this is what I don't like about this "black box" super-duper, algorithm based, totally random, computer generated, who knows what's inside, expensive, software assisted draw. Now, there is probably a very valid reason for why I went from a Martin Rimlinger to a Ronnie Wiseman in the space of 12 hours. But, I think it's bullsheeat, nonetheless. As a side note, it is my opinion (as well as that of numerous other players I spoke to), that this was the worst run DCC, draw-wise and waiting-wise, in recent memory. The cracks ran like, "Yeah, this is the first pool tournament ever run in the history of man." Or, "They've only had a year, since the last draw, to work things out. It's like they're still inventing the wheel."

Soo, I'm waiting around and no Wiseman. They start putting people on the clock, so I call the desk and say, "I got no Wiseman on 34." They say, "He just walked by the desk, he should be there any minute." Twenty minutes later, I got no Wiseman. So I call the desk again. They say give him another five minutes -- if he doesn't show, come down to the desk. Five minutes later, I got no Wiseman. Lou wins. It's too early for a Corona, so I go sweat some 14.1 challenge.

By now of course, the ice storm outside is really getting going. During the walk to the hotel, through the windows you could see the snow and ice piling up. 75,000 people without power; trees and power lines down everywhere in the area; cell phone service spotty. By Wednesday, I believe several hundred Horseshoe employees couldn't get into work and, I am told, they started running out of Bud Light. By Wednesday night, they only had the buffet open and reduced the price to $10 from their normal $16, because they had limited food available. But I must say that the Horseshoe employees that did show up (or stayed overnight in the hotel) were uniformedly bright, chipper, friendly and happy to do anything they could. It was really an impressive display of hospitality.

Of course the other thing folks were beeching about was the walk to the hotel. It really was a haul, not unlike having to go through an airport terminal. But, I decided to time it one day and from my eighth floor room to the tournament area, it was only five minutes. It just felt like 15.

I want to mention that I felt sorry for the vendors at this event. They had plenty of room, but instead of being in the thick of it, where they would get a lot of foot traffic, they were off in an area, where basically, you had to go to them with intent. They looked pretty forlorn, and at least two vendors told me foot traffic and sales were pretty bleak.

So now, I'm there for round five. This is a money round, so I'm feeling pretty good, until the draw, and find out I have to play Glen Rodgers, otherwise known as Piggy Banks. Glen's a great guy and player. But actually, I beat him the one time we played before, a few years ago, up in a 1pocket tournament in Chicago. So I'm feeling like, maybe I can pull this off. We play in the main tournament room, fifty-yard line, and there are many Piggy supporters in the stands. Maybe two or three Lou supporters. But, Lou banks good and get off to a 2-0 lead. Piggy scratches and claws his way back to 2-2. And then, Lou breaks for the final game and eventually pulls off the win :) Time for a Corona. (Actually, more than one.) I spring for the steak house again and thought the lobster bisque was OK, but heavy on the sherry. And the Atlantic salmon was really pretty good. I get to bed for the first time all week before 3am. I am beat to death.

Wednesday evening, after more computer woes and delays, and the arrival of a bazillion 9ball players, my draw for round six is Francisco Bustamonte. We lag and I win the lag and I break and look around the room and it's like Scott Frost on the left table, Jose Parica straight ahead on another, Shannon Daulton the table to the right, Efren just over there on the next row, and, well, me. And I fought really hard and played well, (except for one really goofed back cut to my pocket) and we played for almost two hours and I lose 3-0, but I feel pretty good about the way I played. Lou is out of the tournament and collects $275 for his finish, which, I think might cover my beer tab at $4.50 a Corona.

Anywhos, I call it an early night, say some goodbyes and, as we use to say in the Air Force, I was "wheels up" Thursday morning.

Amongst all the regular suspects the last few days, I saw Jack Cooney walking around. Ronnie Allen holding court every day at the same table, drink in hand, in front of the tournament room. George C. Scott's brother was there with an amazing looking blonde -- your legs and my legs put together would not be as long as her legs. (I would not bet on combined chest measurements either.) There was also a fellow that, I swear, looked exactly like the guy from Goodfellas, Paul Sorvino walking around, cue case on shoulder. I'd also like to offer a heart felt thank you to John Schmidt's female companion, who, Thursday morning, walked into the tournament room in a low cut thingie and black hot pants, and black high heel boots. The room was freezing all week, but I swear the temp went up at least 5 degrees when she walked in in that outfit.

Also, my personal, "Big Balls Award" goes to writer friend JD Dolan, who, after playing Efren (and Jeanette Lee) in the 1pocket tournament told Mike Lebron he wanted to play Efren $20 a game and didn't care how. I think they ended up playing 10-6 for quite awhile, but JD just wanted the experience. Good on ya, JD.

Certainly Greg & Co. deserve a huge standing O for putting this all together. It must be a huge, monstrous logistical nightmare. And the DCC is still the Greatest Show in Pool. But for amateurs like me, at venues like the Horseshoe, it gets to be a very expensive proposition to attend, with many players saying their expenses approached $1000. That's pretty high for a pool playing hobbyist...

So who knows. I am beat, but had fun.

Maybe, in a year, I'll want to do this to myself again :)

Lou Figueroa
 
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usblues

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lucky man

lucky man

Thanks for the story Lou,very interesting.I see nothing has changed since 83 when Louie and I were on the road......glad you got home safe and sound.At 4.50$ a Corona thats not always easy,cheers,Bob
 

demonrho

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Thanks, Lou, for a little taste of what is was like for those of us who couldn't make it this time.
 
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lfigueroa

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usblues said:
Thanks for the story Lou,very interesting.I see nothing has changed since 83 when Louie and I were on the road......glad you got home safe and sound.At 4.50$ a Corona thats not always easy,cheers,Bob


You're welcome, Bob.

On the road with Louie?! That's got to be worth a story or three...

Lou Figueroa
 

lfigueroa

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demonrho said:
Thanks, Lou, for a little taste of what is was like for those of us who couldn't make it this time.


You're welcome, demonrho. I know I always enjoy the stories.

Lou Figueroa
 

NH Steve

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Thanks for the recap, Lou. I sure am curious about your Parica conversations, though, well except for the Cialis :)
 
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