Just too good for some people

Samm wanted to try out some local tournaments, and the only one running last Friday night was all the way on the other side of town, a place called Nice Rack in El Cajon. I had never been there before so I had no idea what we were up against, so it seemed like an interesting adventure.

Samm and I were doing pretty good through the first couple of rounds, when the tournament director comes up to me and starts out with:

"Where are you guys from?"
Del Mar, says I. Samm's from Denver, why?

"Is there some big tournament in town?" he asks.
Not that I know of, says I, why do you ask?

"Well, we don't allow "A" players in this tournament." he declares.

Now, that's one of the nicest birthday presents ever, to be told I'm just so good of a pool shooter that I'm not allowed in their tournament. I've never been so happy to be rejected.

While on the topic of "A" players, here's one description of skill ratings, which I lifted from the Billiards Digest magazine forum:

9-Ball Tournament race to 7 (Dec.1997 "All About Pool" magazine, article
by Bob Cambell)
Handicap rankings

D- Player
will not run a rack
average run is about 3 balls
with ball in hand, will get out from the 7, one out of 3 times
rarely plays a successful safe

C-Player
will probably run one rack, but usually not more than one rack in a typical race to 7
avg. run is 3 to 5 balls
with ball in hand, will get out from the 7, two out of 3 times
mixed results when playing safe
inning ends due to botched position, missed shot or attempting a safe.

B-Player
Able to run 1 to 3 racks
avg. run is 5-7 balls
with ball in hand will get out form the 5, 2 out of 3 times
most of the time a "B" player will play a "safety" which maybe hit easily 2 out of 3 times
a typical inning will end with a missed shot, a fair safety, or a won game

A-Player
will string 2 to 3 racks
avg. ball run, 7-9
with ball in hand, will be out from the 3 ball, 2 out of 3 times
typical inning will end with a well executed safety or a win.

OPEN-Players
average 8+ balls
string racks together more than once in a match
is a threat to run out from every ball, from every position, every inning
typical inning will end in excellent safety or win.

(here's the link to the post at Billiards Digest magazine forum)

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