| My 9-ball Team - Fall 2004 |
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| Since English speakers usually do not understand or remember my name, I started calling myself "J" instead of Jur. However, most people I meet frequently, both at college and in the pool hall, know and call me by my actual name by now. Because all teams have players of different levels, a handicap system is used. For instance, an A+ player has to give 7 racks in a race to 11 to a D player. Another handicap system in which one has to 'spot' or give one's opponent a certain ball instead of a number of racks, is used in certain individual tournaments in New York (e.g. the open 9-ball tournament at Master Billiards in Queens each Wednesday and Thursday night). For instance, a level 8 player has to pot either the 7 ball or the 9 ball when playing a level +1 player. I have to say it was quite confusing if one has have never played a match when using that system. |
| The Smashing C's - Team Members: Romeo Singh (also coach) Jur "J" Kous Jeff Bell Tom Bettridge Hugh Husbands |
| During my first semester, I have played in the Team 9-ball League at Amsterdam Billiards; the biggest team league in New York City. I play every Thursday night, just like I did back home in Amsterdam, and at least once a week. The league started Thursday, September 23, 2004 and will run until late December 2004. Playoffs will take place in January 2005. When I started they rated me as a B+ player. However, after the first night of play, the league director upgraded me to A level, and a week later to A+ level. The team was very pleased with me joining, and considered me quite a valuable player. During the fall 2004 season, I have lost a few matches, of which the most memorable 8-9 to professional pool player George "Ginky" SanSouci. The matches I have lost were all but one annoyingly close: either 8-9 or 7-8, and one 4-7. However, I am quite satisfied with my league results overall. |
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