Arizona Pool Scene www.azpoolscene.com
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Spotlight!
| Arizona Players "SPOTLIGHT" |
| May 2007 ~ Susan Williams |
Question: Ok, let's get started. How long have you been in Arizona?
This time it’s been 33 years. I was born in Yuma then moved to CA for a little while.
Question: How old are you now and how long have you been playing pool?
In the previous question, I tried to be a little vague to hide my age…oh well, 37 and 19 years
respectively.
Question: Married, single, close, or what?
Married
Question: What do you do for a living?
I’m a registered nurse.
Question: When did you first take an interest in pool?
When I got to ASU at 18, I would go to the MU instead of going to class. The MU had about 10- 9 ft.
tables downstairs.
Question: What is your current rating?
I’m barely an 8 today.
Question: Do you practice?
I do. I would like to practice/play 8 hours a day, but physically that’s not possible for me right now.
Question: How many tournaments do you play in a week?
One a week on average that includes the weekend tournaments. I would definitely play more if
they finished a little earlier. Michael gets up at 4:45am so I can’t keep him out too late.
Question: What's your thoughts on Arizona pool in general?
I think we potentially have world class talent right here in our backyard, which is being held back
by all the sandbagging that goes on. Sandbagging is especially detrimental as newer players are
developing their game. It is propagated by the rating system. The concept of the rating system is
beautiful in a perfect world and/or in the Arizona pool world 10+ years ago. Now, I think the rating
system is antiquated and a logistical nightmare. There are soooo many players; that some can fly
under the radar undetected for a long time stealing silently in the night, others get bumped
unnecessarily and still others have left the game completely due to the inequities. My suggestion
is to use what some facilities are already using, a modified rating system, for example, the ABC
format. I know that I will play harder if I have less leeway for error. Ultimately it will make all of us
better players.
Question: What is the strongest part of your game?
Wanting to win.
Question: What about your most obvious weakness?
Knowing how to lose.
Question: If you could pick anyone in the Valley to play with you in a high dollar scotch doubles
tournament, and the max rating was (18), who would you pick, and why?
I would pick my husband. We work well together and he knows how to win. He knows how to get
out of a sticky situation and I always trust he is trying his best. Most importantly he wouldn’t try to
coach me during our match. He totally gets that I reject instruction and he will offer advice
regarding my pool game only if I ask. Too cool HUH!
Question: What is your favorite pool game?
Snooker, but I rarely play it. A close second and the one I usually play is 9-ball. I have grown more
fond of 8-ball. I wish I had more exposure to one-pocket, straight pool and 3-cushion. I think I
would enjoy those too.
Question: What is your idea of the perfect tournament format?
I have never given it much thought but, off the cuff, I’d say a round robin format. I think it would
give everyone more playing time and the best players an opportunity to move on.
Question: What do you think is the hardest shot in pool?
The safety.
Question: What is the biggest match you have ever been in?
Quite a while ago I was playing in a WPBA match to move into the top 16. I lost and finished 17th-
24th instead. More recently, I played against Jeremy Jones in the 1st round of the Desert Dust Off.
Question: Other than Scott Frost, who are the two best players in Arizona?
James Adame. He has world class talent and when he believes it or when he just has the will to
win he can beat anyone. I don’t watch enough pool to pick any one other player
Question: What is your favorite pool related memory?
Planning my wedding around the 6th Annual US Bar Table Championship in Reno, NV at the Sands
in 1999.
Question: What would be your one piece of advice, in regards to playing pool, to other players.
You need more time on the table so get in a game!
Question: What is your favorite sport, excluding pool of course?
Snow skiing or snowboarding, although I haven’t done either since I got married!
Question: Do you have a message you would like to pass along to the pool world?
Everyone needs a hero, even in billiards. What are you doing to help create one, either in yourself
or someone else? Look at Visual Impressions for instance; they sponsor fantastic tournaments like
the “Desert Dust Off” at Alexander’s. Thank You for supporting billiards in our community.
End........ Thanks Susan
This time it’s been 33 years. I was born in Yuma then moved to CA for a little while.
Question: How old are you now and how long have you been playing pool?
In the previous question, I tried to be a little vague to hide my age…oh well, 37 and 19 years
respectively.
Question: Married, single, close, or what?
Married
Question: What do you do for a living?
I’m a registered nurse.
Question: When did you first take an interest in pool?
When I got to ASU at 18, I would go to the MU instead of going to class. The MU had about 10- 9 ft.
tables downstairs.
Question: What is your current rating?
I’m barely an 8 today.
Question: Do you practice?
I do. I would like to practice/play 8 hours a day, but physically that’s not possible for me right now.
Question: How many tournaments do you play in a week?
One a week on average that includes the weekend tournaments. I would definitely play more if
they finished a little earlier. Michael gets up at 4:45am so I can’t keep him out too late.
Question: What's your thoughts on Arizona pool in general?
I think we potentially have world class talent right here in our backyard, which is being held back
by all the sandbagging that goes on. Sandbagging is especially detrimental as newer players are
developing their game. It is propagated by the rating system. The concept of the rating system is
beautiful in a perfect world and/or in the Arizona pool world 10+ years ago. Now, I think the rating
system is antiquated and a logistical nightmare. There are soooo many players; that some can fly
under the radar undetected for a long time stealing silently in the night, others get bumped
unnecessarily and still others have left the game completely due to the inequities. My suggestion
is to use what some facilities are already using, a modified rating system, for example, the ABC
format. I know that I will play harder if I have less leeway for error. Ultimately it will make all of us
better players.
Question: What is the strongest part of your game?
Wanting to win.
Question: What about your most obvious weakness?
Knowing how to lose.
Question: If you could pick anyone in the Valley to play with you in a high dollar scotch doubles
tournament, and the max rating was (18), who would you pick, and why?
I would pick my husband. We work well together and he knows how to win. He knows how to get
out of a sticky situation and I always trust he is trying his best. Most importantly he wouldn’t try to
coach me during our match. He totally gets that I reject instruction and he will offer advice
regarding my pool game only if I ask. Too cool HUH!
Question: What is your favorite pool game?
Snooker, but I rarely play it. A close second and the one I usually play is 9-ball. I have grown more
fond of 8-ball. I wish I had more exposure to one-pocket, straight pool and 3-cushion. I think I
would enjoy those too.
Question: What is your idea of the perfect tournament format?
I have never given it much thought but, off the cuff, I’d say a round robin format. I think it would
give everyone more playing time and the best players an opportunity to move on.
Question: What do you think is the hardest shot in pool?
The safety.
Question: What is the biggest match you have ever been in?
Quite a while ago I was playing in a WPBA match to move into the top 16. I lost and finished 17th-
24th instead. More recently, I played against Jeremy Jones in the 1st round of the Desert Dust Off.
Question: Other than Scott Frost, who are the two best players in Arizona?
James Adame. He has world class talent and when he believes it or when he just has the will to
win he can beat anyone. I don’t watch enough pool to pick any one other player
Question: What is your favorite pool related memory?
Planning my wedding around the 6th Annual US Bar Table Championship in Reno, NV at the Sands
in 1999.
Question: What would be your one piece of advice, in regards to playing pool, to other players.
You need more time on the table so get in a game!
Question: What is your favorite sport, excluding pool of course?
Snow skiing or snowboarding, although I haven’t done either since I got married!
Question: Do you have a message you would like to pass along to the pool world?
Everyone needs a hero, even in billiards. What are you doing to help create one, either in yourself
or someone else? Look at Visual Impressions for instance; they sponsor fantastic tournaments like
the “Desert Dust Off” at Alexander’s. Thank You for supporting billiards in our community.
End........ Thanks Susan
| Susan Williams, then Susan with husband Mike Williams |