Goodbye Las Vegas - Hello Los Angeles

The days after my out in the US Open 10-Ball I checked out the Las Vegas nightlife again... and I didn't get disappointed! The clubs are just nice and the people celebrate themselves different than back home. The club "XS" at the Wynn was the place to be yesterday - at least for me. Second time visiting this club I could see the real size of it with all the outdoor terrace they have -just stylish and off the hook!

But what else to say about Las Vegas?
I played two tournaments in the same hotel. In fact I failed qualifying for the first, but the difference between
Matchroom Sports and the BCA as a promoter of pro events is significant. The whole TV arena setup was different. The press releases as well as small features were just handeled unlike. Another point that decreased the level of the US Open was the equipment. The Diamond tables are just not ment to be a part of pro events. To quote Raj Hundal: "this was the first time ever that I have seen Efren looking irritated". And that really does mean a lot! The rails are bouncey unlike the Brunswick tables and, more important, don't bounce the same every time. This just took a lot of self-confidence of a lot of players in this tournament and limited the level of the event itself.


Matchroom Sport, in my point of view, did a great job again. The only thing I didn't like was the chosen pool hall for the qualifier. We played on four different kinds of tables with two different sets of balls (even mixed up and not having all the same size sometimes). That is not really the right way to do a qualifier for a championship like the World Pool Masters.
Off the pool halls and tournaments, on the one hand, I liked Vegas. Not only because of the strip, the good food, the clubs, but also because the people I met there. All together just one hell of a trip! On the other hand I was kind of disappointed of "Sin City". Some hotels didn't finish the buildings because the money ran out. This leaves a strange and inglorious touch. Also the old-fashioned lighting doesn't exist anymore. The new hotels are more stylish and keep the colours simple but still have a pompous interior design. It's a very nice place to go but not the Vegas you might remember from the movies.

Today I had to catch my flight to Los Angeles. Everything worked out good. In fact I can call myself lucky this time because I didn't have any trouble with flights, hotels or other arrangements. Also "Enterprise's" car is working fine - for an American car - and I could find Hollywood Billiards straight away! Even the motel "The Hollywood Downtowner" had a room left for me to stay. Good rolls I guess...