1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

ESPN: 9-year-old qualifies for national pool tournament

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Rockets34Legend, Dec 2, 2005.

Tags:
  1. Rockets34Legend

    Rockets34Legend Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2002
    Messages:
    23,430
    Likes Received:
    21,436
    http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/news/story?id=2244859

    MEDFORD, Ore. -- Nine-year old Jontel Barita qualified for the U.S. Pool Players Association national tournament in Reno, Nev., which started Thursday.

    "He doesn't miss very often," said Wayne Whiting, director of the Southern Oregon chapter of U.S. Pool Players Association. "He has to stretch a lot because he's so short."

    Jontel, a third-grader who stands 4-foot-1, learned how to play pool at age 6 from his grandparents.

    "My grandpa bought me a little pool table, and then I started shooting on my grandma's big table," he said.

    Jontel is the second-youngest competitor in the amateur pool league's history. The youngest was 7-year-old Austin Murphy of Folsom, Calif., now 11, who won this year's championship for boys ages 14 and younger at the Billiard Congress of America Junior Nationals.

    Players qualify by competing at least 14 times in a six-month period. Jontel joined the chapter about seven months ago and has won seven out of 14 tournaments. He beat out 10 of his adult counterparts for a spot at Reno.

    "He is the epitome of good sportsmanship," Whiting says. "He shakes hands and always says, 'good shot,' whereas some of the adults throw down their cues and run out huffing and puffing."
     
    #1 Rockets34Legend, Dec 2, 2005
  2. VooDooPope

    VooDooPope Love > Hate

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 1999
    Messages:
    9,244
    Likes Received:
    4,750
    I'm going to send this article to my wife as proof that we need a pool table for the house... so the kids can play. Yeah right it's for the kids.
     
    #2 VooDooPope, Dec 2, 2005
  3. Mulder

    Mulder Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 1999
    Messages:
    7,118
    Likes Received:
    81
    I think a pool table is like a boat. The happiest days are the day you buy it and then the day you sell it.
     
    #3 Mulder, Dec 2, 2005
  4. Pole

    Pole Houston Rockets--Tilman Fertitta's latest mess.

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 1999
    Messages:
    8,575
    Likes Received:
    2,751
    I'm on my fifth boat, and I have to admit.....it is so true. I've blown so much money on boats it is ridiculous, and when I have one, I'm constantly thinking, "You flipping moron.....why do own this floating money pit that you rarely use?" As soon as I sell it though, I'll be jonesing for a new one. (didn't mean to hijack this thread....carry on with the pool discussion).
     
    #4 Pole, Dec 2, 2005
  5. Mr. Mooch

    Mr. Mooch Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2002
    Messages:
    4,663
    Likes Received:
    3

    So true! I feel the same way about my 3 mansions and 5 indentured servants I've collected through the years.
     
    #5 Mr. Mooch, Dec 2, 2005
  6. VooDooPope

    VooDooPope Love > Hate

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 1999
    Messages:
    9,244
    Likes Received:
    4,750
    I've had pool tables & boats over the years. I've enjoyed them both and always used them when I had them. Unlike a boat once you buy the pool table and accessories the expense is over.

    Don't happen to have a pool table you'd like to unload would you? I'm in the market for one right now. :D
     
    #6 VooDooPope, Dec 3, 2005
  7. vwiggin

    vwiggin Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2002
    Messages:
    1,951
    Likes Received:
    2
    Yeah, I know what you mean. Yesterday, I was talking to the woman who brushes my teeth every morning, and we agreed that having two people wipe my ass is really too much of a luxury. One is really enough.
     
    #7 vwiggin, Dec 3, 2005
  8. TMac640

    TMac640 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2005
    Messages:
    5,484
    Likes Received:
    2
    shouldn't he be chained to a fence somewhere?
     
    #8 TMac640, Dec 3, 2005
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Share This Page