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Sunday, February 10, 2013

WPBA Hall of Fame Induction

I just had the most amazing night of my life. I was inducted into the WPBA Hall of Fame. My very good friend, Dr Donald Wardell gave the speech, had us all in tears! I had a friend record it so as soon as its ready, I'll post it up on my website. It was so emotional because it was the very first time anyone, including myself, had talked in depth about what I've been through to get where I am. My husband, three of my daughters, my cousin and a few good friends traveled a long way just to be there. This award was so very special because it was with the people I have shared my journey with all these years. No one understands like my girls on the WPBA what it's like to want to be the very best and the sacrifice it takes to get there...and stay there. I'm so grateful for them and everyone else that has been part of my life throughout. I really wish you all could've been there. I don't have all that Don said in his intro but here is some of what I said.

I would like to express my appreciation, not just for this award, but for the hard work of everyone in this room and the ones before you who have put me in the position to stand before you today. We are only as good as those around us. I feel lucky to be surrounded by some of the most talented people in our industry. Thank you WPBA.

I want to take this moment to be thankful for my husband George's most difficult accomplishment, putting up with me all these years. Not many people understand how our marriage works, with us being so different, but no one understands me the way you do. Thank you for giving me so much support, letting me shine when I need to and reminding me to park the Black Widow at the door when I get home. I love you!

I've got to get strong again. This means making sure to hit the jacuzzi, getting more rest for my body, eating right, stretching and then getting to my gym to hit some machines.  I really need to do more cardio to keep my endurance up during tournaments but it's a struggle because I've never learned to enjoy it.  I love strength training but cardio is a bore.  I've got to figure out a way to make it more fun for me.

To God, I praise you and Thank you. I know I fall WAAYYY short of what you had in mind as one of your children. Thank you for loving me anyway and having the patience to help me grow every day, to be a better person!

As a mom, I always feel pulled between giving them the attention they need, keeping my business going of marketing myself and doing events, and playing pool at a World Champion level.  It's so hard.

Mom, I know you couldn't be here, but I'm finally learning what it means to be a mom. It's not easy but you always made sure to tell me you love me. You are the woman who has pushed me and guided me to be the best I can be. Thank you for making me so very proud to be your daughter. Dad, thanks for your patience and love and caring for us all these years. I love you both.

My darling children, thank you for brightening my days with your smiles! Thank you little ones for your patience with mommy's busy busy schedule, letting me practice pool even it is with you wrapped around my legs. Thank you for keeping me grounded with your messy faces, lost homework, chauffeur duty, skinned knees and all your little kisses and snuggles at bedtime!

Thanks to my big kids for your understanding and love! I'm so proud of you!

Gene Nagy for teaching me to play for the love of the game, to enjoy the journey, not just the wins. I wish you were here. I love you and I miss you.

Amsterdam Billiards for giving me so much support over the years from an amateur to a world champion, you've been there!

Gabe Vigorito of HBBC for giving me the nickname the Black Widow! I had NO idea it would become something I would love!

My first major sponsor, Imperial International for all those years that you were steady and true! All the sponsors that followed, I'll always be grateful for your support.

Thanks to APA for seeing me through surgeries, babies, APA Black Widow Tour, and teaching me so much about marketing and caring so deeply about the future of our sport! Johnny Morris of Bass Pro Shops, seeing the best in me, giving me the opportunity to become your friend while learning from one of the greatest, wisest, most giving men i know. Thanks for loving me and the game, your continued sponsorship and I look forward a long lasting friendship.

Tom George, my agent for the last fifteen years at Octagon for always having my best interest at heart in a tough tough business! For being a mentor, friend, and teaching me so much about sports marketing! I really don't know what I would have done without you all those years!

Teddy Bloch and Mike Scherer, thank you for being great agents and even better friends. I trust and love you both. I'm just so fortunate that you're in my life!

I learned so much from my coaches and I'm grateful to them all! I can't say enough about how much I've learned but I especially want to thank Jerry Briesath for teaching me the importance of good fundamentals and the perfect swing and his protege, Mark Wilson, my constant reminder to have a winning attitude. Thank you, Bob Carman for teaching me how simplifying my life makes me a better champion and a happier person. I AM a slow learner though! Still working on that one.

Tony Robles, you have always and continue to teach me what it means to be proud to be an ambassador for our sport. Thank you for that and your true friendship.

Dianna, my glue that holds everything together, thanks for always going the extra mile, for your thoughtfulness and caring. I can talk to you about anything and never fear being judged. So I'll thank you this one day for putting up with me the other 364 days a year!

Barbara, I met you before I ever became a pool addict and you've never missed a beat. You've been there through everything. You always took my side even when I was wrong and you wrote me over and over even when I was too busy to write back. You're the one that convinced me I was stronger than I thought and what being brave really means.

Helena Thornfeldt for being my best friend on tour. I'm so grateful for having had you in my life throughout my career. We've had some great times, but you also let me cry on your shoulders and cooked Swedish food for me when there weren't any words left. We all get distant a little when living so far apart, but you never let us get very far because you knew what was important! Thanks for not giving up on us! You really taught me so much and I love you.

Marlene, Marc, thank you for knowing who I am and reminding me when I forget. Thank you for genuinely caring about the outcome of my life. Thanks for giving me such loving support through all the surgeries, miscarriages, babies, all the ups and down of my career, and most of all, being someone I can trust in a world that I have often felt misunderstood. I want to thank my Fans and friends out there that have given me so much encouragement. All fourteen of you have been amazing!! Just kidding! Hehe! I hope we can share many more years together!

Lastly, Don, for taking the time to make this the most special evening ever. Thank you for your kindness, caring, thoughtfulness, generosity, more importantly, for being one of the very very few people that might actually love straight pool as much as I do. Thank you for always being there when I needed you, all those positive affirmations and believing in me when I sometimes was too exhausted to believe in myself! I cherish our very special friendship and I hope I can express just how grateful I am for all you've been for me and my family!

Thankful for my family during the holidays


During this Holiday Season, I have had a little time to reflect on where my life is right now. How blessed I am to have a great family. Thank you GOD for loving me, for watching out for me and all those I love!
My mom is so considerate.  She is caring, generous, loving, hardworking, thoughtful, self-sufficient, helpful to her loved ones and to her community!  She's been there for me through every surgery I've had and most of all, she has shown me unconditional love.  She is everything I hope to be!  My dad has worked hard his whole life and I'm grateful that he has been there for my mom and us.
My husband is such a good man.  He is so loving to his children, he'll help any friend or stranger, he is super hardworking, he is dedicated and loyal, he is handy with anything around the house, he is witty, funny, smart, and so easy to get along with!   I'm so grateful he supports my love of pool!
My daughter Morgan.  She has married a wonderful husband Jason.  He is kind and supportive to her and all of us!  My Morgan has turned into such a lovely young lady. She keeps a beautiful house, works hard at their farm,  is a loving wife and mother and I couldn't ask for a better daughter. She knows how much her letters and photos mean to me with her living so far away!  My little Grandbaby Elliette is going to celebrate her first Christmas with Grandma and our whole family.
Olivia is so smart and fun to be with. She always makes time to visit us.  She stays true to herself and you know she is sincere!  We love how creative and artistic she is. She is super loving to her sisters and we always knows she is there for us whenever we need her, just as we are.
Johnny just showed me his grades for his winter semester in his junior year in college.  I am so proud of him!  He's killin' it!  I know college kids like to party and hang out!  I don't like it, but I also want him to be honest with me and know I'll be there if he ever needs me to drive or pick him up, or anything else!!  But with all the things that happens at college, he manages to stay healthy, work out every day, keep his grades rocking, and most importantly, he makes time to come home and hang out with me and the girls.  Most kids come home and spend every minute with their friends.  He loves hanging with his friends but it means so much to me that he also stay home and hangs out with me because I miss him so much!
Cheyenne is 8 now, in the fourth grade.  She is certain she wants to be an author. She reads books as fast as she gets them!  Very into this Warrior series!   She is very sweet and very easy.  She is healthy and loves to learn about science and history.   She's my first baby and she's so precious!
Chloe is 3 and is so full of energy!  Like....the energy of all of us put together!  Super smart, a bit devious, stubborn, and curious about everything.  On the other hand, she is very very loving, adoring, sweet, funny and a very good big sister to Savannah.  She has such a strong but wonderful personality!
Savannah is my littlest and LAST one!  She is gentle and easy.  She loves to smile and laugh! She loves, puzzles, and games, and loves to do tumbles and flips!  Most of all, she loves music. She loves to dance and is quite good at it!   I'm so glad that she'll stay little for just a little longer!  I love this age!
While they all know they are getting Gifts, I'm proud that they understand the spirit of Christmas and they are not all caught up in the Frenzy that can be quite stressful.  I love my family.  We are all going to enjoy a family vacation this New Year with all my kids and my mom, who they call "Halmuni" , Korean for Grandma!
Lastly, I'm thankful for my closest friends who have always been there for me, whether I need them or not!  I'm thankful for my Fans who keep me going when times are tough, and I'm thankful for this beautiful sport I love!   Have a Happy Holiday and a Great New Year!  Be thankful for all those you love!

What a pain in my neck


About three weeks ago, I started feeling a pain in my neck.  It has spread down into my shoulders, my back and down my arm.  Don't know what to do with it!  I keep thinking it'll go away but it's been three weeks now.  I made an appt to see my ortho doctor, Terry Trammell.  Dianna says I'm avoiding seeing him because I don't wanna hear what he has to say....Aggravating....
Regardless of that, I've had the best week of this decade!  I went on a cruise with my very good friend and PA (personal assistant) Dianna for her 50th birthday!  It was a bit of a surprise for her.  I originally told her she would be working at a convention all week in Orlando.  Instead, we went on a a Caribbean cruise for 7 nights!  It was awesome!  So relaxing!  Just what we both needed.  Normally, I wouldn't take a vacation that didn't include my kids but this was worth it!  Wow!  I appreciate her.  She has so much patience with me and the lifestyle I have.  It is rare to have people on this earth that loves you unconditionally but also, will be there for you, no matter what, and makes sure you know it!  She is that for me.
So what about my pool game?  Well, I've taken this bit of time off, gotta find out what's going on with this arm...I want to set a new routine.  Office, gym, lunch, pool till 3pm when Chey gets out of school so I can help with homework.  Two days a week, I'll have someone else help her and I'll stay in the pool room till 5:30. Then cook dinner and hang out with my kids and then bath and bedtime.  I'll also play two hours a day during the babies' naptime on the weekends....
Would I like to play more?  Absolutely. But I want to make sure I spend time with my kids in the evenings and weekends and I want to be responsible to my job, which is marketing the Black Widow.  Actually, playing pool is a luxury and is still my favorite hobby too!
I called my friend and coach Bob Carman to see if he'll come back to Indy and spend some time with me, training for the next WPBA event in Lincoln City Oregon.  I mostly work on my stroke fundamentals.  Refining my timing and accuracy.   Most people focus on where the cue ball hits the object ball but I also put a lot of focus on where my cuetip hits the cueball.  We often get unwanted English that comes from poor stroke fundamentals or not enough attention to exactly where our cuetip strikes the cueball.   I tend to work on long straight in drills first because they really tell me how accurate I'm being and I can also see if my cueball has any unintended spin.    I'll keep you posted on how it's going.  As I get closer to the tournament, I will set up more challenge matches with the better players in town!  Thanks all!  J