Oddities in Travels 1989 to 2002 The Doctor's In...

That’s odd!! Not that the “doctor’s in”…because I’m usually “in”, when each issue of the VNEA News and Views is released. And I’m normally “in” when the VNEA International events are held each year for the amateurs and juniors. This year has been no exception to the wonderful experiences “Ms. Cue” and I have enjoyed…since our journey first began many years ago. It is a sincere pleasure to be “in” with you all…the VNEA players and fans…and the VNEA family of talented individuals that make this entire thing we call “billiards” happen.
Well then, you are probably wondering what is “odd”? I’m glad you asked!! We’ve all seen some very unusual phenomena in the twists, turns, dips, and dives of the spheres, projectiles, and planes of pool. The occasional ball “popping” out of a pocket after a well calculated plan of action is most frustrating, and many of us have embraced this unfortunate “quirk” of ball pocketing, or should I call it “non-pocketing”. Another is when 2 balls go into the pocket together and “jam” or “lock” into a frozen position in the jaws of the pocket. Fortunately, in this scenario, your intended ball is counted, assuming the ball centers are hanging over the edge of the slate cut. (Note: May vary by league ruling – check with Mr. Joe Referee on this one). These 2 “oddities” are indeed unusual, but noted by most players as factual…by personal experience or observation of others who have done them. In addition, you have the errant ball traveling from its intended route to a called pocket…to end up somewhere else. Springing off a pocket point, banking off a few extra cushions, attracting a gentle and unexpected carom, and/or hitting a speck of dirt or chalk on the playfield to derail the calculated path into oblivion. My suggestion for this is to “call somewhere else” before you shoot. This seems to always work for “Dr. Cue”®. That’s probably because he has his own rulebook!!
On the other hand, there are some “odd”, almost fairytale stories of things that happen in the “physics” of pool that create doubt to the listener, and frustration to those telling the story. Where is that video camera when you need it the most!!! I have witnessed several such happenings in my playing career of over 40 plus years. The first occurred twice. “Bouncing” the cue ball off the playfield and making a “perfect” 10-point landing on the rail top. Once the cue ball stopped immediately in the center of the width of the wood next to a diamond, and the second time, the cue ball slowly rolled to a stop after traveling several feet along the rail surface in the groove where the cloth and wood meet.
Distinctly different in the “odd” category is a recent occurrence that happened to Dave “Ginger Wizard” Pearson and me on our world tour stop in Malaysia. Venue: The Pool Pub…Location: Penang, Malaysia…Table: 9 foot Murray with automatic return…Shooter: “Ginger Wizard”…Witness: “Dr. Cue”® and over 50 smiling and happy Malaysian players and fans of pool. Dave was simply having some fun demonstrating the “big stick” or the “Texas Cue” as “Dr. Cue”® calls it. He drove a solo 10 ball on the table at a smashing rate of speed into the side pocket. Boom!! The object ball disappeared and within a split second came flying out of the opposite side pocket next to Dave, nearly clipping him in the process. I have heard about this happening, but I doubted such an occurrence. I then realized the return track system on this table allowed for this “oddity”, as its smooth, level construction internally acted like a skateboarding ramp to the driven ball. After this I had visions of a 10 ball disappearing into one pocket and a 2 ball popping out of the other, as if in a transformation chamber of sorts. If this ever happens, “Dr. Cue”® will officially retire and idly write memoirs of his life’s experiences.
A friend of mine in Oregon would best sum up a final word on all this. He once said that “Dr. Cue”® makes the impossible possible and the possible impossible. I would like to add the “Ginger Wizard” to that list now. Maybe you also have a “reality” or “story” to share with our readers. If so, please email me with them to: dr_cue_and_ms_cue@yahoo.com
I will review each one, and write about them in a future issue when…

The Doctor’s In…

That’s Exactly Right… Tom “Dr. Cue”® Rossman

 

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