The News for those few who play real croquet! July 22, 2000
The News for those few who play real croquet! July 22, 2000
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| Aloha Scott!. |
Kristy edges Nathan for major, and Steve is miffed!
By Brandon Lasher
"Quit complaining!" said Nathan to the increased amount of rudeness at the
2nd Scott Balthrop Memorial Tournament. Where players decided to remember Scott
by complaining and forming alliances to take each other out. Kristy won edging
out Nathan who was runner-up in this major by barely missing the end stick for
the win, a second straight year. Steve took a respectable third.
But Nathan was in control for most of the tourney winning the first round.
Steve won the second setting up a three way tie for first just like last year.
After Steve knocked Nathan's croquet ball into a bush, Nathan make a pact with
Kristy to make sure Steve didn't win. Strange considering Steve had been doing
poorly all year and they were two of the best. It was the man keeping Steve down!
Brandon, Ben, and Kyle showed up. And that was about it as they took sixth,
seventh, and eighth respectivly. Alan overcame a bad first round to recover and tie
Mike for a fourth place playoff. Mike finally got some revenge for losing a playoff
last year to Alan. So in a day of revenge and betrayals, it was only fitting.
Somewhere Scott Balthrop is crying.
The Frog Dollars as they now stand:
Rank Player Attended Total Money Average Takings
1 Kristy 7 $ 30,700 $ 4,386
2 Alan 10 $ 23,600 $ 2,360
3 Nathan 8 $ 22,600 $ 2,825
4 Jon 6 $ 18,600 $ 3,100
5 Mike 9 $ 13,700 $ 1,522
6 Brandon 10 $ 10,500 $ 1,050
7 Ben 10 $ 10,080 $ 1,008
8 Steve 7 $ 7,680 $ 1,097
9 Josh 4 $ 2,600 $ 650
10 Kyle 5 $ 1,800 $ 360
11 John 2 $ 900 $ 450
12 Rick 1 $ 300 $ 300
13 Java 1 $ 160 $ 160
14 Tessa 1 $ 100 $ 100
Jon Crawford Memorial Pez Invitational is 12:30 p.m., August 12 , at the Lasher
Course, since Jon vanished. We will remember the man behind the great Pez
Invitational.
The Upcoming!
August 26, Sports Day Festival, at the Cole Course.
September 2nd, Chrono Open, at the Unfred Course.
September 9th, Spam Invitational, at the Manka Course.
October 14, Ironman Croquet Tournament of Champions, the final battle at three
courses.
How Do I Continue My Greatness? (A look into the not so brillant mind of Nathan Cole)
This season of Ironman Croquet I have done very well compared to last season.
If you look at last season I came into the season late. I didn't win any of the
events, I seemed to be in a rutt from coming out of my retirement. I didn't do horrible
in the events but I didn't do exceptionally well like I am this season. The big question
is why is that?
Ever since I can remember I have been superstitious. I am not completely sure why
that is. So I tend to do things the same way every time. I use the green ball every time.
I try and find the exact same mallet every time. (I do not know if I am successful in finding
the same mallet) It is a mind thing. If I think I have the same mallet then it doesn't matter
if I have the same one or not. I started off this season wearing the exact same shirt to the
first three events. For the first three events I believe I placed in the top three. Then in
the fourth event I placed fourth and I ended up wearing a different shirt from there on out.
The shirt thing started off as something that just happened. I didn't realize it until after
I started wearing something else. The shirt thing has nothing to do with me winning and doing
well. What it shows is that I do things over and over the same way. When you do something the
same way long enough, it becomes a habit and it works out in my advantage.
The big key to my success goes to keeping my cool. I have not lost my head in any event.
One time, Steve happened to hit my ball into a bush and made it really hard to find my ball. At
first I was really mad because it seemed pointless doing that. He claimed that my ball was in
his way for going towards the shot. Granted it was, but he easily could have hit both of our
balls in that direction.I fell three or four places behind at that point. I wanted revenge at
that point. But I kept my cool and I flew by everyone. I ended up taking second place because
I kept my cool and I made every shot count. If you can keep your cool while you are playing and
not let your anger and feelings of revenge distract you then you can do well.
Bad Karma. Nobody likes bad karma. It seems like the more that you hit someone else's
ball to kingdom come the more poorly you do. So far this season I have not hit anyone's ball
to kingdom come so I have not had bad karma. Last year, I hit as many balls away as I could it
was fun so I did it. As a result I ended up with bad karma. Plus when you start hitting other
balls you tend to make enemies. When everyone is gunning for you it makes it really hard to
concentrate and make decent shots. I haven't made any enemies yet this year so it has been
easier for me to keep my head and focus.
