As I've mentioned before I occasionally do a search for "barenada" on the various pool message boards and newsgroups, just to see what's out there. Along with general comments and feedback about the site I've noticed that the comments about ME have become more numerous. These more personal comments nearly always fall into one of three distinct genres which can be paraphrased as follows:

Fan: Wow this guy is great! He must be the best banker in the world! Man I wish I could shoot like that!

Detractor: Dave sucks. Any pro/top player/road player would tear him apart.

Females: Wow that guy is hot. And he likes cats. I must have him now.

The truth about my play lies, as it does for the incredible majority of players, somewhere in the middle of the listed extremes - and actually a lot closer to the "sucks" end of the spectrum than to the "great" end.

I've got a records page up, and on it I clearly state that those are my personal bests - not my averages.

I've got a movies page up, and while I don't specifically state it (It really should be obvious) many of those shots and runs took quite a few attempts before I got them taped. I wish I could walk downstairs and bank nine whenever I felt like it, but wishing doesn't make the balls go in.

I got an email this morning from a guy asking me why I don't turn pro. I though I'd answer him here. There are several reasons:

First, I'm not good enough. That's the sad truth. The sadder truth is that I may never be good enough. I've learned to deal with that fact, as have thousands of other players before me.

Second, there's no money in it. I'm just guessing here, but I'd venture that maybe a half-dozen men pros make more than I make at my regular job - and most of what they make is probably from endorsements. Many more make a lot of their money from gambling. Since I don't enjoy gambling, unless I could manage to be one of the six best players in the world (not bloody likely) then I'd be taking a big pay cut and would probably end up living in my sister's garage or something.

Third, all of the traveling would surely get old very quickly.

I've got my records and my movies on the Internet not because I want people to think I should turn pro. I've got them there to show that even a dweeb like me can do some good things every now and then. I couldn't bank a ball to save my life a few years ago. Now I can bank a ball, and sometimes more than one. If I can learn to be a decent banker, as I learned to be a decent 8-Ball and 9-Ball player before that, then anyone can.