Gettin' Started!

[SlapShot]

I just wanted to share a little insight into how I got the bug to play foos. I'm sure in form you've shared the same type of experience.

During my senior year of high school a group of my friends and I would spend countless hours at Plaza Billiards. Evenings after school, weekends, and sometimes during school hours we'd be there playing video games and shootin' pool. To be quite honest we never even thought twice about foosball, never even noticed they had tables or tournaments.

THEN, one day we noticed! We just happened to be there on a Tuesday evening when a weekly DYP was taking place. The yelling & screaming from Chris Medina quickly grabbed our attention like a nude woman walking through the room. It was probably the funniest shit we've ever seen in our lives. But, we couldn't help but be amazed at the ability of all these players. It was amazing!

And just as you'd expect, the next day we where down there feeding quarters into the foosball machines like we'd never run out. It became an every day ritual that we'd play and pretty soon our group grew. Other friends started playing, some got really good really fast, but ultimately it was just FUN for everyone. We had a blast, guys, gals, everyone was down there playing. You couldn't even image but it was like the entire high school played at one point or another.

Eventually Brain Wyllie, Joe Trujillo, and Justin Oliver started entering the tournaments. Getting their asses kicked of course but they were entering nonetheless. Brain calls me one night and basically forces me to play in a DYP. He picks me up & pays my entry just to ensure that I'd play...lol. The experience was unbelievable! Of course I got smashed but I've rarely missed a weekly tournament since.

Basically I would of never even known foosball existed if I wasn't exposed to the loud mouth of Chris Medina playing foosball... The moral of the story is that friends get friends involved. In order to grow their needs to be some exposure to large groups of people who will encourage, support, and drag others down to play foos with them!

Laterz,

SlapShot

[nick]

In a galaxy far far away Darth Vader (Mike Sierra) was playing young Luke Skywalker (Clay Wilcox) Ok Ok enough of that. Actually I watched Mike play Clay goalie wars for 2nd and 3rd. The match got really heated as both were fighting over jars whose possesion it was etc... Clay went on to play Carrie Thornwal. In the finals she just trashed him it was so intense I thought I would give it a try.
Well the next Wednesday I sign up not knowing that it was going to be doubles I draw Mike Sierra. Well when I found it was a doubles knowbody told me it was a draw and I thought Miles pulled a fast one on me. And kept my money. (Miles has always been a crook) .So I go up to the counter to bitch and Mike walks up and introduces himself, I thought wow what a nice guy. Well we played Tony Humphrys and Tony went long every time scoring all but one and that was because he missed. Well Mike is screaming at me and i am getting lit up.
So after that abuse Mike calmed down and showed me a little "d" and how to clear the ball. Well we fought back and actually beat Tony for 2nd and 3rd. We got 2nd and that was it, I was hooked from then on out.
Nick

[SlapShot]

So what really kept you going? It seems at first it was the intenisty, excitement, and competition that got you started. But how important was placing 2nd in your first tournament? And how important was Mike's coaching in keeping you coming back?

SlapShot

[nick]

I love to compete against the upper echelon players. The intensity of playing, competeing and (occasionally) beating you, Mori, Marty and tour players. I really lose to often to players that I shouldn't but it is a motivation thing for me.
But as far as Mike's teaching, it was not a good experience I was so mad at him that goose and clay took me out to the parking lot until I cooled down. I was so mad th at I was in tears.
But 1st is the people and 2nd playing as I posted earlier playing you guys and most of all as the song says I AM HERE FOR THE PARTY AND I AIN"T LEAVING UNTIL THEY THROW ME OUT
Who else remembers there first time (playing foos that is)
Nick