««
Back to issues list
Sep 05, 2004 :: What's Your Excuse
Unacceptable excuses
“I wasn’t ready to play”
Sometimes you are caught up in a tough match that takes longer than usual to finish. The other matches have concluded and your match is holding up the tournament. This happens more often when the players get closer to the semi finals or the final sixteen in a big tournament. When you finish a tough match, don’t let this happen to you. Ask for time to regroup, go the rest room and be selfish about your preparation. Take as much time as you need to release the previous from your mind. There are professional “sweaters” who look to bet against someone who just came off a close match. Take time to prepare so you won’t have that excuse.
“My opponent played to slow.”
Never yield to your opponents’ style of play. Stay with your own game. If your opponent has an awkward style, keep your eyes on something else. I played a female player who chewed gum. It was not a pretty sight. When it was my turn to play, all I could see was the cud going a mile a minute. I should not have watched.
“The table was too fast”.
No comment.
“I was nervous because I was close to the money”.
This is unacceptable
“I was hungry.”
No comment.
“I was full”
Cut it out.
“My opponent got all the rolls.”
Haven’t I signed your book, “May all the rolls go your way?”
“I never could play that guy”. Refer to last weeks’ newsletter.
We need to take the excuses out of our game. We are “I came to win” players so if things don’t go well, we don’t have to explain ourselves. Excuses are for those who cannot deal with reality. If you offer an excuse you do not fully comprehend this game. Rise above it. We win, and we lose. That is the sum total of our experience.
