5th Annual Predator Florida Open....Neil

[DEATHTRON]

Neil, I was browsing through the names listed on the predator website, and yours was not there (though Im sure there are many there not listed). Are you there? If so and if you catch this...take some pictures please. Maybe some video? If youre playing, tell us how you do!

Thanks,
Zach

[Neil Fujiwara]

I will be playing this week, I don't know why my name didn't show up on the list. My camera is in someone else's posession (sp?) right now, but will try to get her to take some pictures while there.

[DEATHTRON]

Do well!

[DZ314]

Good luck, Neil! Look forward to any pics if you're able to snap some! 8)

[Neil Fujiwara]

I won my match last night against Jeff Abernathy 10-5, I play Luc Salvas today at 2:30pm.

Anyone know how to download pictures from a Motorola RAZR to the computer? It has the same plug that my camera and PDA use, but I think I need a driver for it. Any help is appreciated.

The event is going very well for the room and the promoters, lot's of happy fans!!

[DEATHTRON]

Neil...who won the little first 4 wins competition? That was at bankshots last night?

Zach

[spartan]

go Neil and Steve Lillis!

[DEATHTRON]

Looking at the bracket, I noticed something weird, half the guys all got buy's to the next round...what gives? Why didnt they just have them play the other guys that had buy's? Doesnt seem fair either...lots of the big names had buy's.

[Neil Fujiwara]

Neil...who won the little first 4 wins competition? That was at bankshots last night?

Zach

I don't understand the question. Rob Saez won the challenge thing if that's what you mean, it was on Wed..

[DEATHTRON]

Ya, thats what I meant, I appreciate it.

Zach

[DEATHTRON]

Neil, how do you feel that you did overall?

[Neil Fujiwara]

Match 1: Broke well, played well, got a couple of decent rolls and won.

Match 2: Broke very well, played very well, missed an 8 ball at 7-7 and that was pretty much it, lost 10-7.

Match 3: Broke decently, played okay, won 10-4.

Match 4: Broke badly, played even worse, missed multiple balls and scratched in the side repeatedly, lost 10-7.

Observations: Between matches I think it would be best if I stayed out of the pool hall till my next match. I got stopped repeatedly to answer the same questions over and over again and started getting irritated. My last match was at 10:30pm, I had about 5 hours between matches and I was going to go home to rest but didn't, bad decision. By the time I played my last match my eyes were tired and I really didn't feel like being there.

My 1st 3 matches there were people from our company watching, which was a slightly different pressure than usual, and of course playing in your home room adds a little pressure also. I felt bad for Jeff Abernathy when he scratched on a 7 ball, leaving only the 9 ball for me to make with ball in hand. After I pocketed the ball someone "genius" in the stands yelled out "NICE SHOT NEIL!!!". I wanted to crawl into a hole.

Overall it was a great event, the only thing that was questionable was the fact that some matches had to be played outside the main arena. There were 4 tables used in the public area, so there was lot's of traffic from people who didn't know pool courtesy. It wasn't anyone's fault, they had to use the tables to finish the tournament on time.

It went very well for the room, they sold out all the VIP seats for the weekend and the crowd was very decent. There were quite a few people that came out of retirement or that don't normally play big events that played, so that was pretty cool. One bad thing was that there were lot's of Jacksonville people that got matched up in the early rounds, probably 8-10 matches were like that in the first 2 rounds alone. I understand that it's the luck of the draw and that there were lot's of them to begin with, but it seemed a larger than proportional amount.

They only got 78 our of the 107 entries that they had listed, which surprised me but explains all of the "bye's". I look forward to next year's tournament and to hear everyone else's review on the rest of this weekend.

[spartan]

youre still the man neil. it must of been hard when alot of people you know are there watching. adds a little more pressure. but im sure you played great.

[DEATHTRON]

It looks like you played well, and I know what youre talking about when you talk about different pressure. When I was serious about hockey there were games when scouts would come to watch just you.....talk about an abnormal pressure. Not the same as yours, but I understand. I appreciate you taking time out of your day to post your findings. BTW, which cue did you play with on the weekend?

Zach

[Neil Fujiwara]

Thanks for the encouragement and understanding guys, I really didn't realize how much different it is when you have SO many people rooting for you.

I played with my trusty black P2, it hits the best.

[audiopro]

I played with my trusty black P2, it hits the best.

But ya used your new Sledgehammer to break with, right?? ;)

j/k...

[DEATHTRON]

Was it your black p2 thats black from a far, and blue upclose? The advantages of working at a cue company.

[spartan]

i heard the bca is outlawing the phonelic tips and ferrules. i just bought an andy gilbert j/b used for $150 off a friend and it works awesome.

[Neil Fujiwara]

That's the one, I just say black to avoid confusion.

I have not heard about that and the BCA, I wonder what their basis is.

[spartan]

it might be because its so easy to break and jump. a few people here have been selling their stingers and sledgehammers. i dont know for sure so please dont take my word on it. ive just been hearing rumors.

[LWW]

Well I just bought one.

LWW

[DEATHTRON]

Thorsten is advancing up....hes still in the thang'. Since my #1 choice is out (Neil) I shall hope Thorsten wins it out.

Zach

[DZ314]

If they did ban phenolic then I would change to water buffalo on a hard ferrule like ivory, or ivor-x.

[spartan]

If they did ban phenolic then I would change to water buffalo on a hard ferrule like ivory, or ivor-x.

i dont think ivory would be good on a break cue. its not that strong. i have a water buffalo tip on my gilbert that im gona change to a bunjee jump tip.

[DZ314]

May not be very strong, but it is hard. Aegis and ivor-x, not to mention steel, would be decent alternatives for phenolic.

[spartan]

true. i have seen ivory joints with fractures. imagine the stress of a break would put on an ivory ferrule. aegis 2 would work fine. ivor-x is junk. hits or looks nothing like ivory.

[DZ314]

Do you only call it junk because it is not like ivory in your opinion? It is true that it is a hard ferrule which would serve well for the purposes of breaking.

[spartan]

i shouldnt of said ivor-x was junk. IMo it just is nothing like ivory like advertised. im sure it would work fine for breaking. im sticking with ivory for playing shafts.

[DZ314]

In what ways is it unlike Ivory as advertised? What other ferrule material would be closer to ivory?

[spartan]

it dosent hit as soft as ivory. its firmer. IMO nothing is quite like ivory. not that the others are bad, just different. some like that different i am not one of them. melamine would probably be closest to ivory. please dont take my word for it, i am not an expert just sharing my experiences.