It Happened on the Way to Vegas

byjetrbby80316

5K followers

Updated 7 years ago

Ladies and Gents, here's the finale you've been waiting for "Take a Risk on a Dare" Part 2”.

However, I changed this back to my original title “It Happened on the Way to Vegas,” as it seems that for such an edge-of-your-seat compelling story, a relative few only came here to read Part 1 compared to greater numbers from some of my other posts.

At the end of this article, there will be a video link of the entire final rack. Make sure to please click on the link and watch this EPIC match, and please "like" and make comments on my video channel, as they will be appreciated.

So let’s see what happens. In case you missed "Take a Risk on a Dare, Part 1”, click on the link here and go back to read the article for some edge-of-your-seat jaw-dropping FUN and excitement! https://my.wealthyaffiliate.co...

So where did we leave off? Here is the recap....

We are now in Las Vegas at the Westgate Resort and Casino, and its utterly amazing I'm here playing this match since my opponent wasn't even supposed to be here this year but only showed up on a whim, although I made quite a foolish blind bet that not only would he be here, but that I would beat a living legend in order to impress and gain the warm graces of a major baseball agent I only met for the first time seated across from me on the flight over from NYC.

The agent was returning home from a baseball memorabilia show in Atlantic City, NJ and also happened to change his seat for business class for unknown reasons.

By the way, my opponent is merely 18-time World Pool and Trick Shot Champion living legend Mike Massey a.k.a. "Tennessee Tarzan" who I am now tied with 2-2 in a race to 3.

In Game 4, I just made a miraculous shot on the 8 Ball and tied the match, when it looked with all but certainty the match would be over in Tennessee Tarzan's favor. Now we head into the 5th and final decisive rack and I have the break. Whoever wins this rack wins the coveted match!

Oh, the excitement is building! So here we go!

The Play-By-Play

For good fortune, I just couldn’t resist putting on my lucky black "Kaju Tsunami" T-shirt over the blue shirt I was wearing. To add more nerves and excitement to this rubber match, USA Open 9-Ball Champion Corey Duel is in the background wearing the green shirt watching this match.

Now going into my usual pre-shot routine, and will be breaking from the right side of the long rail along the head string. I carefully place the cue ball down, do several warm strokes, and I'm ready to break.

Within a few split seconds, I "blast the break” like a shotgun reigning from the heavens from the right 2nd diamond, the rack explodes....YES the 1- ball is down in the far right corner on the break! I will get another shot at the table!

The cue ball now has floated gently off the rack along the right long rail, and my next shot I can see is the 12 Ball which is resting near the side pocket Meanwhile I walk over to the concession table to switch to my shooting cue.

For my first shot after the break, I roll the 12 Ball into the top corner pocket along the long rail with soft top follow. Now I have good position for a cut shot on the 14- Ball.

However, I need to solve a problem: I see the 9 Ball and 8 Ball are clustered together down table and both not makeable. I will have to do something about that!

And I did.

Next I feather a soft cut shot to make the 14-Ball, which I directed the cue ball with inside English to come off the short rail to travel ¾ length of the table, nudging out the 9-Ball away from the 8 Ball, and making it possible to later pocket the 9-Ball. Successful shot!

After chalking up, I next measure a shot on the 15-ball in the bottom corner pocket, and stretch out over the table to make a short finesse cut shot on the 15-Ball in the left corner pocket, while also moving the 10-Ball near the opposite corner pocket.

Then reaching over to align the 10-Ball, I realize I will need my cue extender. When I arrived back at the table I added my extender to the back of my cue, reaching over the table to shoot the 10-Bal with inside English, thus holding the cue ball up as I directed it back off the rail in an almost identical line.

Next I had a very difficult cut shot on the 9-Ball, that was caught in traffic, and after making it I needed to somehow avoid the congestion and get out into the open table. Wow, I not only made the difficult 9-Ball, but successfully caromed the cue ball slightly off the 3-Ball to get just enough clearance to make the 6-Ball by a sliver of an opening!

Whew!!

But now I had an even BIGGER problem. I had an 11-Ball cut shot in the side; however my following shot - the 8-Ball which I needed to make to win the game – was shrouded by two other balls!

The only way I could run this table out and win the game after making the 11-Ball was to break up the 8-Ball, 4 Ball, and the 7 Ball cluster after rebounding off the rail - an extremely difficult and risky task! If I should miss this cluster. Tennessee Tarzan will likely come back to the table and run me out.

This means I will need to stroke that 11-Ball in the side pocket hard with inside English to change the rebound angle off the long rail, so the kick off the long rail is redirected into the 8-Ball / 4 Ball/ 7-Ball cluster. Then even if I can pull this difficult shot off, I need to hope I have “luck’ that the rebounding cue ball breaks the cluster out in the “right way”.

So I align my tip with the cue ball, and stroke it firmly – and the 11-Ball is made and the cue ball carom miraculously breaks out the 8-Ball cluster thanks to some of my flamboyant body English!

Finally the cue ball drifts long, and now I can see the 8-Ball, but I have an extremely difficult full-table length reverse cut shot into the far right corner pocket – this would be an absolutely insane shot!

But this exact game situation is staring me right in the face now! So suck it up, take a deep breath, and just do it!

So I carefully measure the shot, and I bear down to view the ball from all different angles.

I aim once more, keeping my body and cue still while focusing on my target, then proceed to drill the 8-Ball with an insane backward cut shot into the far right corner pocket!

The cue ball caroms off the opposite long rail with spin and avoids the scratch by ricocheting slightly past the side pocket.

Kaju wins! Kaju wins!

Kaju Wins on a Break and Run and defeats the "Tennessee Tarzan" living billiards legend Mike Massey by a final score of 3-2!!

OMG! This is definitely one for the all-time books! Mike never got out of his chair!

That’s the only way you beat a World International Pool Champion!

Post-Game Pandemonium!

Totally ecstatic, I walk over to shake hands with Mike Massey.

I said, “Thank you for the match Mike, now can I get that autographed cue ball for my sports agent friend you promised me?”

Mike was like a huge Teddy Bear. He could crush your body like a beer can with one hand, but this gargantuan lovable man was a gentle giant. And one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.

Mike answered,” You beat me fair and square. Sure, what would you like me to write on his?”

I replied, “To (Agent), From the Tennessee Tarzan”, Mike Massey (Date)

We later became instant karaoke buddies, and went out together later that week for a sing-a-long with a large group of pool players. I also later found out he was a musician like myself, owned a billiards hall in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was a “self-professed sinner” but in recent years had rediscovered God and devout beliefs in his faith.

Anyway I digress.

Jumping back to the autograph ball signing I said to him, “And can you also please do me a favor and sign a cue ball for me?”

Mike replied,” Sure, anything for you Kaju, what would you like on yours?

I said, “Dear Kaju, Keep stroking!” Mike Massey (Date).

“Other than this anything you like Mike!” So Mike also wrote, “Jesus loves you!” on my cue ball.

However, I had to make one final very small request after he signed the cue ball.

I replied, “Mike, can I ask you a favor for one more thing?”

Mike answered, “Sure Kaju, what can I do for you?”

I said, “Write above your signature, “He Beat Me!”

And being the great gentleman he is, Mike obliged, for that is exactly what he did.

But the best part of it all is still to come.

The Presentation

Now back to the sports agent I met on the flight….

The next morning around 10:30 am after breakfast, I couldn’t wait to text my new sports agent friend and wrote,” Mission accomplished! Got ‘Cher autographed cue ball. Come get your souvenir! What’s your mailing address, where should I send it to?”

The agent immediately texted me back, “No really, c’mon!! This cannot be possible!”

I said, “OH, wait ‘till you see this beauty!”

He then wrote,”Kaju, you are amazing, you made MY YEAR buddy! There is no way I can Thank you enough!” How about I come meet you at the Westgate in 2 hours!”

My new agent friend and his girlfriend would make the drive from his home at the outskirts of Vegas through the desert to the Westgate to meet me and get his “one-of-a-kind” autographed cue ball from Tennessee Tarzan.

A precious heirloom gem-to-be that he will no doubt hold in great stead for a very long time if not forever until time immemorial!

Two hours and fifteen minutes later, we would meet in the lobby of the hotel near the concierge station.

When he saw me he looked like someone who just won the $650 million dollar lottery!”

While walking over to him, I immediately pulled the contents out from a non-descript white plastic bag I was holding, revealing the special autographed cue ball which I had laminated over only yesterday to protect any possible rubbing off of the “Tennessee Tarzan” signature.

When our eyes met he was beaming, and he gave me a big hug.

He said, “Buddy I could never thank you enough. I don’t know how you pulled off this cue ball signing thing. I really have no words. You are totally awesome!”

I said, “And (Agent’s name) as promised I wasn’t going to let you down. In every way I wasn’t. Check this out!”

On cue, I then pulled my smartphone from my pocket, and played the video replay of the deciding 5th rack game for the agent to see.

Upon viewing the match, my new friend was at a loss for words, and I could clearly see he was beginning to well up and be overcome with emotion.

After holding back the tears, he placed a celadon green duffle bag in between us on the banquette where we were now both sitting, unzipped the bag, and pulled out unidentifiable contents of his own.

Oh, what can this be?

Immediately I could see it was a brown mottled baseball cap with a large red embroidered “C” in the center.

He said, “I have a special gift for you that I’d like you to have. Only 24 have ever been made of this special Collector’s Edition.

“This is an authentic Pete Rose cap from his days with the Big Red Machine, The Cincinnati Reds. As you know, Pete lives here in the Vegas area, and when you told me you had the Massey cue ball yesterday, coincidentally I was already going to meet with Pete later that evening, and told him the story. He was thrilled to sign this special cap for you.

As I said, only 24 have ever been made, and the market value is $550.”

“Consider this as a special Thank You gift that WE want you to have!”

Everything you have just read is a true story.

There is one further part to this amazing story, which weaves a tale of even greater uncanniness and complexity, which I will save this for a later revisit to “It Happened on the Way to Vegas.”

One thing everyone agrees upon, is that I certainly was supremely blessed at every turn during that auspicious week in August.

The moral of this story is to never say something is impossible, have total belief in yourself and during your journey you can move mountains!

The same way we may feel learning how to become successful internet marketers is a daunting task, with enough self-belief and motivation to “take a risk on a dare” anything in this world can be achieved!

Yes, I sincerely hope and have total belief that you supremely enjoyed and were utterly inspired by this unlikely yet irrefutable true story.

Thank you very much for reading, and feel free to ask any questions or to make comments.

Cheers,

Kaju

P.S. Here is the video link of the 5th and decisive rack.

Kaju vs. Mike Massey Final 5th Rack

Please comment on the video and “like” this if you were entertained by the match. Enjoy!