good week in pool

Had a good night as a player last week. I won two outta my three games that I played Tuesday night. the team as a whole didin't do so well. two of the players on the team were winless against the team Willies 3.  Wish it could have been better but next week is a well deserved buy week. A buy week is a week the team has off from playing.

PoolLeague

Had a better night playing last week, ended up winning 2 outta 3 games. As a team we didn't do so well as we lost. wish it would have turned out better but didn't happen. One player on our team has continued a losing streak going 2 for 15. 

Rough Night

Tuesday night started off a as good night. One of our regulars was out so we called in our sub. I rolled a four with the dice so i had the fourth game. I t was a guy i played last year. I did alright against him last time and he played alot of defense. I started out the game playing a little defense myself. This was a bad idea because he didn't. He beat me pretty quickly so i decided to play differently my second game. Well same conclusion i lost again. The third game was going well but instead of playing a bad move i did like i was supposed to do and lost. In my second game one of my balls was blocking a corner pocket. My opponent hit his ball into mine to clear the pocket. This is usually a bad gesture shot. I let it go and should have played like he did and maybe would have won a game.      

Tuesday at Boondocks

We all headed down the hill to Modoc, to play the team of Boondock's. As it happened i drew first to play which is never what i want. Well the first game i played great, no problems winning my game. The second game didn't go so well. The way I was playing looked like i had forgot half of what I knew. I ended up losing the second game and feeling pretty rough about it. The third game I was holding my own and set myself up for the win. I hit the ball way harder than i should have and ended up scratching on the eight and losing the game. A new player we picked up because we lost one made me feel a little better by losing all three of his games. I hope he picks up his game for Tuesday though because he is 0 for 9 right now.  

way better n ight

Tuesday night we played Freeda's 2 team in Renault. I had a rough start of the evening by locking myself out of the house and having to get a teammate to pick me up. then I didn't have my checkbook so i had to bum some money from the same teammate. I rolled a five so I was last and it must have made a difference somehow because i made easy work of my first game. I was left with the eight ball by the end of my first round. I shot two more times because of bad leaves on the eight. The third time shooting i put the eight in for the win. Same story for the second game with three times shooting. The third game my opponent was left with a three ball cluster in the corner pocket. He ended up knocking in the eight ball on accident leaving me with three wins for the night. The wins made me feel better about last week when i lost all three. The team for sporto's played very well and we defeated Freeda's two. It was a bad day that had a silver lining.
 

bad night

Tuesday night the sporto's team played the team from Modoc, Illinois.  this team is made up of younger guys and a girl and you could tell they practice alot. We lost one of our full-time players and now a sub became permanent for us. The new player and i both lost all 3 games. I don't know what happened except for that I lost. It was a bad week for me and now i have won 3 out of 9 . The last 2 years i've had the highest percentage of wins on the team. The year is just starting and i have time to catch up but i better get to it.  

Another Tuesday Night

We played Willie's Tavern last night at Willie's. This week i must have found my mojo because i won 2 outta 3 games with ease. The first game started good with a nice lead and the tables turned a shot before the end. I had the 4 balls and my opponent just had the 8 to shoot in. I shot through the balls well until i Had the 6 and the 8. I had an easy 2 shots for the win but missed the first shot being worried about my leave on the 8. When shooting league you want to make your ball but also put the cue ball in a good place for your next shot. Sporto's team ended up winning 8 to 7 which is good for the team. Some of the players haven't come into the swing of things yet but we always get better as the season goes by. Willie's table at his tavern is in my opinion the best table out of all the bars that are involved.
       

Well Tuesday night started off the first night of Sporto's Pool League. Sporto's team that i captain lost 9-6 to the V. As we rolled the dice I got a three. I played a friend from high school named Eric. In the first game my shots were not falling and I ended up losing the game. In the team's first round of games we were 2-5. My second game I messed up on a shot leaving Eric with a tricky eight ball shot. He had to hit the eight ball down the table,reflect of the rail and hit the pocket on the other side. He made a great shot and won the game. By the second round we were 4-6. Being frustrated, i went to the back table and practiced for awhile. Must have worked because in my third game I was shooting the eight ball on my second go round. I won my game and our team finished 6-9. The players shoot for a team but also themselves. The player with the highest percentage wins at the end of the year gets a prize. The highest winning team gets a money reward.   

Sporto's and Pool League

For the past few years Willie Maes has been the top shooter of the year in the Sporto's Pool League. Willie Maes is also the owner of Willie's Tavern in  Red Bud. I talked to him saturday afternoon about being ready for league and as he was winning every game he said he would be ready. As most bars in town there's a pool table, dart machine, jukebox, and a bar. In this bar, the mood is more relaxed and laid back. The bar that I captain for is a little different, with the tv's always on a sport. That makes Sporto's an appropriate name for the bar. With a horseshoe style bar, patrons are always talking across the way to friends. Sporto's has one of the oldest hand operated bowling alleys in the state. Instead of tearing it out a floor was put over it and pool tables and dart machines were put in. There is also a racing game set up in the back. Sporto's also host a washer throwing league that uses the area by the pool tables. The owner, Donna Thies has a sports background so the name fits. Donna has a boyfriend named Mike that has a love for sports also. the two of them have collected various signed sports memorabilia that hangs on most every wall in the bar. Sporto's also has good bar food like wings, toasted ravioli, pepper fries, and good pizza. When I frequent the bar I always know half of the people in the establishment. It gives a relaxed feeling to know half the crowd when you visit a bar.

Here is a copy of our schedule. My team is # 4  and the last number in the vs. is the home team                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                        

Week 1 - Oct 12	2 vs 6	10 vs 3	5 vs 11	8 vs 4	9 vs 7	1
Week 2 - Oct 19	10 vs 9	6 vs 1	4 vs 2	7 vs 8	3 vs 11	5
Week 3 - Oct 26	9 vs 4	1 vs 7	2 vs 10	11 vs 6	5 vs 3	8
Week 4 - Nov 2	8 vs 9	4 vs 1	6 vs 5	10 vs 11	7 vs 2	3
Week 5 - Nov 9	5 vs 8	1 vs 10	4 vs 6	2 vs 3	11 vs 7	9
Week 6 - Nov 16	3 vs 1	6 vs 9	7 vs 5	8 vs 10	4 vs 11	2
Week 7 - Nov 23	5 vs 4	1 vs 8	9 vs 2	7 vs 3	6 vs 10	11
Week 8 - Nov 30	1 vs 11	6 vs 7	8 vs 2	3 vs 4	5 vs 9	10
Week 9 - Dec 7	2 vs 1	11 vs 9	7 vs 4	3 vs 8	10 vs 5	6
Week 10 - Dec 14	1 vs 5	11 vs 2	10 vs 7	9 vs 3	8 vs 6	4
Week 11 - Dec 21	11 vs 8	4 vs 10	2 vs 5	3 vs 6	9 vs 1	7
Week 12 - Dec 28	6 vs 2	3 vs 10	11 vs 5	4 vs 8	7 vs 9	1
Week 13 – Jan 4	9 vs 10	1 vs 6	2 vs 4	8 vs 7	11 vs 3	5
Week 14 – Jan 11	4 vs 9	7 vs 1	10 vs 2	6 vs 11	3 vs 5	8
Week 15 – Jan 18	9 vs 8	1 vs 4	5 vs 6	11 vs 10	2 vs 7	3
Week 16 – Jan 25	8 vs 5	10 vs 1	6 vs 4	3 vs 2	1 vs 11	9
Week 17 – Feb 1	1 vs 3	9 vs 6	5 vs 7	10 vs 8	11 vs 4	2
Week 18 – Feb 8	4 vs 5	8 vs 1	2 vs 9	3 vs 7	10 vs 6	11
Week 19 – Feb 15	11 vs 1	7 vs 6	2 vs 8	4 vs 3	9 vs 5	10
Week 20 – Feb 22	1 vs 2	9 vs 11	4 vs 7	8 vs  3	5 vs 10	6
Week 21 – Mar 1	5 vs 1	2 vs 11	7 vs 10	3 vs 9	6 vs 8	4
Week 22 – Mar 8	8 vs 11	10 vs 4	5 vs 2	6 vs 3	1 vs 9	7

                                                                                                                                   

           

my crazy life

Just got the pool league schedules for my team for Sporto's Pool League done when i finally got some free time. I ts nice to have a new printer that actually works . My old one got sent to the field for a shotgun death. Anyway got the schedules done gotta hand them out. My house is getting more and more closer to completion  with alot to do yet. never thought I could pour concrete,paint,demolition,build,side,trim,caulk, and cleanup up all in one day. With Illinois bow season coming in tomorrow I need to get things done so I have time to spend in the woods. With pool League starting the 12th I'm running out of free Tuesday nights and that will save me from working on the house so much. It is nice to see the progress on the house and will be worth it when it's done. Hoping the weekend stays nice cause I'm not wanting to put the top back on the Jeep. Gonna break out "Black Magic",  that's what my team nicknamed my black Cuetec pool cue. Hopefully I can get in some practice before league starts.

pool league getting close

Well October 12th is right around the corner and pool league will be starting soon. With 12 teams and 22 weeks to play it should be an interesting year. With Red Bud getting a new team and Waterloo bringing in 2 there will be new places to play. The V in red bud has joined, along with main street in Waterloo and the bar in Burksville . I am looking forward to meeting the new players and places. It will also be nice this year to have some substitutes playing for my team. Last year was tough with players missing and only having 1 sub. Stay tuned for more as we get closer and start playing. 

The house

Well the house is finally getting it's makeover. For 2 years the house has been down to the first layer of siding and now new vinyl is going on. Along with the siding is new porches new decks and some landscaping. With alot of the siding done and more to go the neighbors are already stopping in the road and telling me its looking good. Before most just drove by fast to miss the eyesore of a house. Although it hasn't been cheap and there still is alot to buy yet it is coming along beautifully. My classes all seem to be fitting together also which is helping out on the free time I have been craving. Pool League starts the 12th of Oct. a day after my 34th b-day on the 11th. With league starting more free time is gone but it will greatly help out with my paper. I'm hoping to get alot done soon because archery deer season starts the 1st of Oct. and I've been craving tenderloin and deer sausage  

Permission Letter

Dennis Murray

September 9 2010

English Permission Letter

Bradford P. Nadziejko


             Dear Mr. Nadziejko and classmates I am requesting permission to write about the Pool League  subculture that is in our area. The Pool League is the groups that play billiards in a bar league and also train in their spare time. This story will be about the history of billiards, the rules of the game and the equipment used in this sport. I will also be doing some research on the subculture of people that enjoy the game. I have been the team Captain of Sporto's bar and grill team for two years now and playing for the third so i will be joining in on this group and giving a personal inside as well. I will be discussing the things I like and enjoy about this subculture, but also talking to fellow players and other teams and getting their views on the subject also. If any blog followers have anything to add, your comments will be appreciated. I am also planning on talking to Donna Thies who has overseen this league for years now and asking her when the league started and how many people were involved in it's creation. I will put out some blogs as well as the schedule and how my team is doing along with my experiences traveling to other places for games. I and my team will be traveling around Red Bud, Modoc, Renault, Waterloo, and Burksville to play in this league. I have enjoyed this game since I was younger and have gotten better as I have grown older and had more practice. Billiards proves to be a challenging sport with geometry knowledge helping out on tricky bank shots where the ball has to be reflected across the table to make shots. This game proves to be harder than it looks and I will talk to some of the better players for tips and possibly some of their secrets. This year there are twelve teams and twenty-two weeks to play which grew from last years nine teams and sixteen weeks of play. I hope everyone who reads my papers enjoys it and gets a different aspect the next time they see a billiards table and hopefully picks up a cue and tries this sport. This may help everyone better understand this game and the subculture that loves to play and compete against others for personal gratification.


                                                                                                                              Sincerely,
                                 
                                                                                                                              Dennis Murray

permission letter

 Permission Letter


Dennis Murray

September 9 2010

English Permission Letter

Bradford P. Nadziejko


             Dear Mr. Nadziejko and classmates I am requesting permission to write about the Jeeping subculture that is in our area and is getting stronger in Red Bud, Illinois. This story will be about the use of Jeep Wranglers for recreation and the people that love them. I will also be doing some research on the history of the Jeep and it's origin. I am a Wrangler owner myself and enjoy poker runs for various charities and fundraisers. I also like getting a group together and taking a ride for fun. I will be discussing the things I like and enjoy about this subculture, but also talking to fellow Jeepers and getting their views on the subject. With the Jeep population in Red Bud being so high i will talk to many of the people I have met and many of my close friends that go on these rides. If any followers have anything to add, your comments will be appreciated. I am also planning on talking to someone from S.I.J.A (Southern Illinois Jeep Association), my father,uncle and I used to own the property they ride on now in Willisville,Illinois. I am hoping to find some decent chat rooms on the Jeep subculture also. If by chance a poker run happens and I am able to partake in it I will put out some blogs as well as add to my paper about the experience. It took me a long time as a jeep Wrangler owner to figure out why i was getting waves from so many other Jeeps. I did not know but it just shows the greetings for each other in this subculture even when the other person is a complete stranger but is in the same group. I have owned more than one Jeep Wrangler in my life with a period between ownerships. In between that time there wasn't a nice day that went by that I didn't miss having another one. I look forward to learning more about this great vehicle and the loving owners along with some history. I hope everyone who reads my papers enjoys it and gets a different aspect the next time they see some Jeeps go by.


                                                                                                                              Sincerely,
                                  
                                                                                                                              Dennis Murray

                         

new computer

Just got a new hp and im hopin my worries are over. I have been trying to get school work done with a busted computer and it hasn't been the best weeks. Had a great weekend as i hope everyone else did. Got to spend a day on the Mississippi river sandbars and it was a blast only shoulda wore sunscreen

welcome to Denz's blog

Hello everyone my name is Dennis Murray and this is my new blog. I have lived in Red Bud, Illinois for the last 9 years but I am originally from Waterloo, Illinois. I spent the last 15 years working at Chrysler until they closed down the St.Louis, Mo plants and offered moves to Kokomo, Indiana or Belvidere, Illinois. I chose to stay here in southern Illinois and get an education taking classes at SWIC in search of a degree in Administration of Justice. I have an intelligent 7 year old son named John and beautiful girlfriend named Kristen who keep me on my toes. I have been an avid hunter and fisherman since young with a love of atvs and the outdoors keeping me busy. Having a Jeep Wrangler has made the weather even better with the jeep runs and taking the late night cruises with good friends. I have been bowfishing this summer and I am ready for fall archery deer season. I am hoping to get in a couple more good Jeep and poker runs before the weather starts cooling off and it is time to put the hard top on for winter. It will be nice to hang out at bonfires and eat some good chili and not sweat everyday but summer will be missed.