My first time meeting a pro player was in Tyler, TX. Mike Massey was there doing a trick shot exhibition. He was also doing challenge matches to random people in the audience after the show. I don’t normally like playing in front of an audience, and this time was no different, but I was brought into the game by the events MC, which I am good friend with, to play against Mike Massey when he asked for the best player in the house. I surely don’t think of myself as that caliber of a player, but have always been told by others I am there. I guess I am just not that confident in myself yet. Regardless I was called out to play against Mike Massey in front of a crowd of about 200 plus, with only one table in the house being watched, the one he and I were about to play on. I was asked if I wanted to play 8 ball or 9. Of course my favorite game is 9 so that’s what I chose. It was rack your own and a one game shot to play against a pro. I racked them up and walked around to the head of the table and as I get down to break I can feel my nerves shaking uncontrollably. I go ahead and snap the break and drop two balls on the break.  I am left with the cue ball back at the head of the table about 6 inches off the rail and the 2 ball sitting down table about 5 inches out of the pocket, I shoot and miss it as I am shaking from the rattled nerves. So I go and have a seat since I figure that was it. Mike Massey’s turn. He pockets the ball I missed then unbelievable gets way out of line on his next ball. He tries a bank shot and misses. What? I get to go again? I decided I wasn’t going to miss again and look like a chump after being called out of the crowd. I get up to the table, calm down, and make sure I am perfect on every shot. And perfect I was. I ran out the remaining six balls on the table with perfect shape on each ball. It was very gratifying to get to play against a pro, even though I know it was all just for fun and nothing serious about it (especially Mike’s game) but it’s still awesome to play a pro and win in front of a crowd like that. It is a real confidence booster to say the least. Maybe that’s why we see people win a lot more often than they should playing the pros in these exhibitions. Regardless, win or lose, serious or not, it was a great experience in my life of pool so far. I hope I have many more opportunities in the years to come as I continue playing pool.