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Yeah I'm post-happy tonight. I just thought I'd look back at what I've seen in interleagues now that MLP is off and running on its 5th season, and see why MLP has lasted so long with, in the interleague world what could be considered very little controversy.

Now, there are many many reasons why MLP is so successful. The biggest? Admins. The admins in MLP really work together as a team, everyone knows their responsibility, and their work ethic really is spot on. They also don't power-trip, so many times you'll see an admin just have a bad day and all of a sudden their punishment is a lot worse than what someone else got. Which leads into my next point, consistency. For the most part, again compared to other interleagues, MLP is very consistent with their rulings. They're also fairly lenient. They're not hard-nosed to first offenders, and usually you'll get a few chances. With that, they also give second chances when they're deserved. While I didn't agree with unbanning Ivey at all, or unbanning bongsmoka, I can understand it certainly. Sometimes people just deserve another shot, when they show they're really sorry for what they did and realize how stupid and useless it was. The rules this interleague has also makes it nice, there aren't any limitations to how you can play. If you don't feel confident in your break, unless other interleagues, you can just tap the rack and play your style of game. The new rule on asking for reracks is also something I'm personally happy about. People dont have to feel as guilty now or like an asshole for not giving a rerack. The loser of the game has to realize that they were careless and they need to be penalized for the mistake. The penalty: A loss, simple.

But above all else, 2 things. Organization, and the fact that each Admin has the respect of the players. Why is PLC in the crapper? The admins didn't have anyone's respect, and things were so unorganized it was like running a zoo, a circus, and babysitting 3 pets and 3 children, by using a palm pilot from hundreds of miles away. But how many people are talking about MLP admins in a bad way behind their back? Sean's 1. Not too many others, if anyone. When the players in an interleague respect you as an admin, and you're always helpful, fair, and honest with them, you won't have leagues leaving because of you. If they do they just can't take losing or they can't field a team anymore. Like winning and losing you can probably come up with a dozen different things to add to all of this, but I just thought I'd make a post off the top of my head in between chapters of this great Sherlock Holmes book. Mind all of you that I've just missed Garfield and House of Mouse on Toon Disney to do all of this. -_-

OK, after a couple weeks and a dozen and a half excuses for losing, most of them involving yahoo and luck, I figured it's high time to point something out. Why people really do lose. A lot of the times it's just mental. Not Yahoo as much as they may want you to believe. First though, let's talk about as a team.

Let's take a team like Pool Outlaws. Their active roster contains 11 people. That means if 5 people can't show up they need a reserve. My point? Depth is a huge reason teams lose. They don't have subs ready before the match or the ones they have, aren't all that good. It's always better of course to have more players, and make sure they understand the game and situation. Often you'll see a team say "we lost because so and so didn't show up." But really, if you had a deep enough team, and plenty of people ready, that's more the other team has to worry about, home or away. So that's not really a good reason, you lost because your team didn't have depth. That's your fault as a team. Obviously, the biggest factor is how your captain handles the order of play. Let's look at Break and Run (Sorry Dave I gotta let the cat outta the bag lol). What makes them such a special team? They put one of their best players first, badalnighter. He almost always gets a win, and that puts the middle players up with a 1-0 lead. It's fact that people play more comfortably with the lead, and with a league like BNR that just wants to have fun, that's bigger than ever. I would think it'd be interesting to see redhot play game 2 however, right after Vince. Then put capwhanda or kellyhero next. That way, while you're gonna be hurt badly in a game 6 or 7 situation, if you start 2-0, and with your 2 best shooters who really can shoot well, that's pretty likely, the 3-4-5 players feel a little more comfortable. But with the system they have, they're still deadly if you get a little cocky against them.

Now as a player, there are many things that make a loss. First, if you don't focus. To avoid it, just ignore the chat, play in silence or with music whatever gets you into a comofrt zone, and also try not to pay attention to the chat period. Ump will obviously invite you if you're called, so you shouldn't really worry. But there are some big factors that I've been after people about all season so far. Shot selection, recognition, and shot execution. Sounds like basketball right? It is.

First selection, really you gotta take a good long look at the table. Look at the shot you have, then look at what you wanna do next. A lot of times people get into this run and gun stuff. You get against someone like Dan or Mick, and try that...if you don't run it you may as well Quit and Forfeit, then go report. What makes them so brilliant on the tables is they know exactly what they're doing. It's not just them but they are probably the 2 best as far as long games go. Also, be wary of leaving railrunner shots that cross over a pocket, it's asking for trouble and unless its your first shot, there's really noone to blame but yourself for taking the risk. That ties into...

Recognition. Recognizing whether or not you have a shot, or a chance to run. Recognizing when to safety, stuff like that. A lot of Yahoos could be avoided if people really took their time when they played. This is where CrazyGeek really messed up badly in his game against Austin. Had he known there was no possible way to make that shot on Yahoo without banking, we may be talking about how the Quez were able to knock off PO.

Then of course there's shot execution. Making shots, using the right english. Some people cry "luck" when they lose a game. Unless you got ran by some guy who's playing his first ever game of Yahoo Pool or you got glitched so badly it's unbelievable unless you saw it, and don't exaggerate crybabies you know who you all are, you lost on your own mistakes. Let's take the most recent, Full_Blast. Claimed he lost because of luck. Looking back at the tape of his game, he had a very easy shot really for someone of his talent. He didn't get the read right, and he lost. Dazed of course could consider himself lucky, but Full shouldn't be blaming anyone. It was his mental mistake that cost him a game he easily should've won. It happens in leagues, interleagues, it happens in WPC, friendly matches, it just happens. But what people have to understand is any shot is makeable. Even if you don't have the talent to hit a shot, it's makeable. If there's a shot you can't make, work on it. No liners for example. They're easy if you can visualize them. It's very difficult to do but if you practice them enough, I'm sure you'll notice how easy they'll get. There are more things that make up a win and loss obviously, but those are the big ones. I just thought I'd throw an opinion or 50 out there for everyone since I'm bored. Thursday's results are below by the way.

A full night of 4-3 matches, our Did You Know? for the week has to do with not just a night of them, but how about over a period of a whole week? Then of course there are the matches that were played. How a game 7 loss nearly got a player ousted from their league in MLP, a 45-minute game, and more on captains...This time shutting their big mouths. Ah I love giving lectures to students of the Blog.

It all started with Quez @ PoolOutlaws or should I just say Outlaws @ Outlaws Lite? Only 2 returning players from last season on the PO team this time around.

Game 1: QZ_xlx_snake_eyes_xlx vs. PO_mj_tha_king - Pick up the action with MJ, who's always very lucky huh? Note sarcasm, he's stuck with no line in the top middle. He'd miss and snake would just simply make his team happier than Dick Vitale in a triple Overtime thriller. 8 shots, 8 balls, 8 for 8, that's 8-8, 8/8, 88, Dale Jarrett, nice run. 1-0 Quez.

Game 2: QZ_xlx_dangle_xlx vs. PO_Full_Blast - Dazed, or dangle take your pick, playing his first match in his new home. After Blast messes up what I'm sure he'd consider a relatively easy run, well the Quez just love the Canadian newcomer! Dazed finishes off 3 stripes in as many shots, and can he nail the 8......Draino. Of course you'd get a little dramatics from the kiddies, whaddya expect? 2-0 Quez by the way. Blast reported with the comment "Luck" but hey, you missed there big guy, not him. Sorta ignorant if you ask me.

Game 3: QZ_kyle69_ vs. PO_rob-bie - Roob van nistelrooy has arrived at Millenium St...Wait, at Rebel's Loft. This, primarily a battle to see who could play the best safeties. Robbie won, I didn't see how it all played out that because I accidentally paused and left the computer, DQ me and box me. Either way, it's 2-1.

Game 4: QZ_sicc_illusion vs. PO__Poth - Now...Why is King James here playing game 4? Obviously he's your best shooter, and certainly better than someone who barely even played last season, who ende dup playing game 7. Unless James had to leave early this was just a stupid call. Jamie late in the match going for broke on the run...Misses the cakewalk shot and he wasn't too close. James on his possession, has a little bit more difficult shot on the 6, middle of the table going for the bottom left, same pocket Jamie missed, drain....No. Caught the rail in front of the pocket and no help from above, Jamie again. I don't know but I've been told, Quez have just gone really cold. Jamie don't miss any bread and butter shots again, and the Outlaws have tied it, Quez blow the 2-0 lead.

Game 5: QZ_CrazyGeek vs. PO_XxXxAustinxXxX - 2-2, pretty impressive comeback from the middle of the PO lineup, could they continue? Little late game safety antics, though only briefly, Austin saw an opening and attacked. makes the simple combo after a couple shots, though it's not as easy as it is in game 1. But then Austin going cross table much of the same angle James had and missed, which...is kinda funny I wonder if Full considers that luck. Anyways, Austin missed that one, and the Geek went to work. 1 ball left as I just fast forward, and Crazy's english...Well I've seen the guy at the 7-11 speak better English. It seems like Crazy was just too paranoid about scratching because instead of side english he used backspin and side. Had he just gone full left spin he was clean above the 8, easy shot. Instead he's just a milimeter or less to the left of the ball. And he's touching the 8 on top of that. Still an easy shot though just aim top rail, hit the arrow key once right, and shoot. He tries the impossible cut shot, just poor recognition and it cost him. Austin goes on to win and the Outlaws are just rolling. 3-2 PO from a 2-0 defecit.
Game 6: QZ_The_pool_apprentice vs. PO_xlx_mvp_xlx - The latter almost timed out actually it took a few minutes for him to show. The former of course a member of PO a while back. Yes that's americanpoolking Kenny good guess. He's a Yankee fan on top of that. Gah. And that is some break oh baby. Safety break. That's what I like about MLP by the way they don't limit the players, which is one of the smaller reasons I think it's more successful. Speaking of safeties we'd see some, often. Now there was this one shot...which looked...glitchy and it certainly looks so on cam. It appears the cue went through a stripe, not connected to the cue like you see on training tables doing trick shots, made the 1 fall bottom middle, while the 7 went bonkers, cueball stuck in the bottom middle pocket. If ray was going for a shot, he understandably missed by a bunch. No line. Safety a little bit more, then Kenny gets a clear chance to tie it at triples. Nails down all but 1 stripe, and here's the picture. Cueball around the left rail, almost halfway between the top and bottom rails, about an inch above halfway, 12ball level with it middle of the table. In a game 6 down 3-2 this is a damn tough shot. But Kenny about as reliable as Mr. October. Ugh I need a shower now. nails the long bomb it's 3-3 after the 8 goes down easily.

Game 7: QZ__soapbox_ vs. PO_revolutionizingthegame - And thus the beauty of having a team full of superstars, after all that you still have Dan for game 7. Quez...that Soapbox guy is Stud he hasn't played except in season 3 and that was very little. Stud (soap) sees he has a chance to run it for all the glory...no. Stuck with 1 ball left and no shot. Ballgame. Dan just does what he does, safeties him to death, picking his shots carefully, Stud would bang around a little knowing that's the only way he can get anything. No good. Dan finally gets to running and when he's on...he's just on. It's the all-Dan channel, Outlaws win it 4-3. Quez release soapbox. Which...is kinda stupid because Quez really handled their player-calling very poorly after game 3. I would've rather had CrazyGeek playing somewhere around game 3 or 4, and saving your best player for last. Instead they put someone who was rather unproven in for game 7. Stud should've been in around game 3 or 4, whichever Geek didn't play, Kyle in game 5, Kenny still in 6, and then James for 7, or maybe even james game 5 or 6 if he hasn't played in a while himself, and Kyle or Kenny game 7. Maybe Kevin wanted to bring out a PO hotshot by calling James early, but you gotta realize top to bottom they're the best in MLP. Really unfortunate that Stud had to get bounced out that way when really his fault in all of it was minimal compared his now former captain. Edit: Everything has been cleared up since then, just a small spur of the moment deal. So just consider all that above a little...theoretical business, as far as Stud being released. Apparently the call was made by Paul, or so I understand. Either way, I'm too lazy to take it out. But had Stud been released, it would've been a bonehead move :)

Regul8ors visiting PoolMasters, we'll pick this one up in game 4, with regs up 2-1 thanks to jerfighter and pool_warrior.

Game 4: REG_Master_Asia vs. PM_ehkohz - Late in the game is about where I came in. Pita got ball in hand after a good safety, and that was ballgame for ehkohz. The oriental master finished out easily, giving the Regs a huge 3-1 lead on the road.

Game 5: REG_xlx_propooler_xlx vs. PM_LuckyDog71 - Now, remember Luckydog has been deep in that cam tourney twice. JJ...Well he doesn't need the cam tourney to prove himself he's just good. Luckydog getting a run started, but at what would be the midway point, misses the relatively easy shot, going for the 7 top middle. JJ on his next shot...Doesn't give the 13 ball enough BBQ Sauce on the way to the same pocket, and actually makes one of Lucky's solids. The 7, heh. From there it's off to the doghouse with JJ, Luckydog cleans up easily, PM down now 3-2, and also selling banner saying "Beware of Dog."

Game 6: REG_Cobain_17 vs. PM_CRAZY_QUE - PM needs another one to survive and set up game 7 for p0wer. Middle of the game the crazy one decides to try and tie it up. Gets a pretty good break out shot on the 3-ball combo. But on the next shot just got a little power happy and got safetied. From there Cobain is just money, money, more money, cold hard cash, bundles of money, and he'll be seeing a lot more playing time. Cobain clinches the win, 4-2 Regs. In game 7 it was Trace against i_havethep0wer, p0wer won that, while I was watching a match that had some...delays.

SuperbPool @ StraightShots Now, SS captain JudgeRules gave me a shortened summary of the match before I got there, so I'll just use that for the first few games and fill in a few blanks.

"well for starters - b4 the match we lost 2 of the team -- _JL_ (James) and KILLERBLADE99 both of whom said they would definitely be here and that was like 15 minutes b4 the match, then lost vegas during game 3. Game 1, we had a new guy, ddrstools [he won against TheRealFantasy from SP.] I played game 2 - took - 45 minutes, cos I was being bombed with a zillion IMs. Got disconneced 3 times. Man i was not a happy camper. First two were safety games and went right down tothe wire, i played... Aka_Pure_talent. OK - game 3 down to the wire again - we played Scotty xlx_southside_pool_genius_xlx - WINS - SS up 2/1 and not looking too bad. Game 4 I had bill up - _NWO_ he got pissed cos Jai from BP came in and said he wasnt gonna watch gay bill play and gave him a gobful and left table - so bill has this shit in his mind for the rest of the game - gets beaten of course. Game 5 - back n forth back n forth Stick has a chance to win not quite hard enuf forces him to try and bank 9 - misses - game over. Game 6 - reliable funky comes thru. Game 7 well i was doing it tuff for a 7th by this time and looked like having to play fear. Not liking this one bit i finally got [Generaly_Cool] back [and he lost playing a miserable rushed game] - match over SS 3 SP 4 - thx for coming." So there's a report, sorta, on SS-SP. SuperbPool a huge win for their team, if you ask me I'd say SS would need to work on getting a little more talent from their non-starters, because they were needed in a big way tonight and they just didn't come to play.

As for this whole incident with Jai, I'm just assuming Judge told me everything I needed to know because I trust him and know he's got no reason to lie. I understand Jai had a right to be there at the match and you know, maybe wanted to see how his player was doing, oldlady_with_attitude was thr ump. But, just unprovoke dor anything going off at a player, is just ignorant. If that was Jai's only real reason to be there, and he wasn't a part of the match and runs his mouth, maybe BP needs a new captain. Maybe, just maybe, redhot reported that to the other admins to maybe have them put mind_da_pool on a short leash, since red was the admin if I remember right. That doesn't go exclusively for captains though it goes for anyone. Its been a big issue so far early in MLP. People that aren't involved in the match, even that have no legitimate reason to show up, running their mouths and trying to add into the drama. If you're there trying to help an ump/admin keep order, fine maybe, depending on how the ump wants to handle it, but don't start taking unwarranted shots at people let the players play and stop ruining really good matches. What I saw of the SuperbPoo-StraightShots match occured after this alleged incident with BritPool's captain. Like I said, I do believe and trust JudgeRules to be very honest, and based on Jai's attitude which frankly isn't what could warrant the word "cheery" I believe something along those lines happened. So, time for a cubby personal message to a captain: Shut your mouth, don't start stupid ignorant drama where you have no business even being, and worry about your own team. That actually goes to everyone. Again let the players play, the captains captain, and if you've got beef with someone take care of it after the match. But there's just no reason for anything like what happened there to happen.

As for this whole Did You Know stuff. It focuses on 4-3 matches. Not necessarily game 7 deciders, just 4-3s. This week there were 12 4-3 matches, and the rest were all 5-2. Did you know that that is the most ever total of 4-3 matches for a week of MLP? That replacing the old number set in season 4, of just 7, set in weeks 2 and 12.