Foosball Radio | Patreon Profile | Judy Schober

[00:00:00] .

[00:00:02] The following is a presentation of Foosball Radio.

[00:00:06] Since establishing the Foosball Patreon page, you have shown your kind generosity,

[00:00:12] helping Foosball Radio to continue.

[00:00:14] Now we present to you the Foosball Radio Patreon profile.

[00:00:19] Time to find out more about you.

[00:00:23] Hey there, it's Tom Robinson.

[00:00:24] Welcome to a fantastic day.

[00:00:26] It's beautiful upstate New York weather.

[00:00:28] We have sunshine in about 35 degrees, typical for the month of February.

[00:00:33] At any rate, we're together today because we're going to be introducing a brand new feature.

[00:00:39] It's called Foosball Radio Patreon profile.

[00:00:43] Now this is exclusively for the people who are part of the Patreon community for Foosball Radio.

[00:00:50] If you're not familiar with that, of course if you're a Patreon, you're watching this video,

[00:00:55] but you already know that Patreon is a way of GoFundMe.

[00:00:59] It's kind of like the same thing for Foosball Radio,

[00:01:03] being able to support us in a financial way, but also in an emotional way too,

[00:01:09] to say that you enjoy the product of Foosball Radio and to put your best foot forward

[00:01:14] and really help us out.

[00:01:16] So we decided, you know what?

[00:01:17] Here's a great opportunity to bring our Patreons into the limelight.

[00:01:22] And this is the first of which we again called the Foosball Radio Patreon profile.

[00:01:28] And we're featuring one of our favorite Patreons, Judy Schelber.

[00:01:33] Judy, welcome to the Foosball Radio Patreon profile.

[00:01:38] Thank you, Tom. Glad to be here.

[00:01:40] Yeah. So this is something that, first of all, you and I saw each other at the TKO,

[00:01:46] the 2024 TKO in Kentucky.

[00:01:50] You had a great weekend. Give us a quick overview.

[00:01:53] What happened that weekend for you?

[00:01:56] Well, I had set some goals of concentrating on women's singles or my singles play in general.

[00:02:07] So that's probably what was highest on my list.

[00:02:16] So we started off with Thursday with the USTSO.

[00:02:22] Okay.

[00:02:23] And I had qualified. I had joined a year ago.

[00:02:29] My membership paid my membership due.

[00:02:31] Okay.

[00:02:32] So all during the year for my singles play in all of the tour events,

[00:02:39] I accumulated points.

[00:02:42] But with my points and being my rank, I am ranked in women's as an expert.

[00:02:48] Okay.

[00:02:49] I qualified in there's two women's categories D1 and D2.

[00:02:55] And I qualified in D2.

[00:02:58] And now what was different for us lower ranked players is this was a three out of five.

[00:03:09] Three out of five play.

[00:03:10] Okay.

[00:03:11] Three out of five.

[00:03:12] Right.

[00:03:13] Match.

[00:03:14] And I ended up playing Maya Valkos, who is the reigning tornado championship expert women's singles.

[00:03:23] Yes.

[00:03:24] You know, so and Maya is a great player.

[00:03:29] And like I said, my, I really want to concentrate on singles.

[00:03:33] I've never won expert women's singles.

[00:03:37] So this was something that I went into the tournament looking for to improve my play.

[00:03:43] So, yeah, it was great.

[00:03:45] We Maya and I were in the finals.

[00:03:48] And you know, it was a good matter.

[00:03:54] I had to go back and watch the video because I knew that I dropped down two games.

[00:04:01] She was up two games.

[00:04:03] I did not realize I was up down in the third game for three.

[00:04:06] Wow.

[00:04:07] So, yeah.

[00:04:08] So I came back one that game and then I won the match on match ball.

[00:04:12] Nice.

[00:04:13] So that was, that was really exciting.

[00:04:16] That was just a big trophy.

[00:04:19] Nice, nice payout for that.

[00:04:22] Yeah.

[00:04:23] And I saw Maya all weekend we played in expert women's singles final.

[00:04:30] And I also won that which was.

[00:04:32] Wow.

[00:04:33] Kind of a shock.

[00:04:34] Yeah.

[00:04:35] So why is that?

[00:04:37] Wait a second.

[00:04:38] Why is that a shock because I mean, you've been working hard.

[00:04:41] Isn't it more because yeah, it was, it was just a well, because a lot of times.

[00:04:48] I think that you know, you beat them once and then it's hard to follow that up in the same tournament to play again.

[00:04:56] And you often don't play them again in an event.

[00:05:00] You know, it's just happens that we had two separate events that we were able to play in.

[00:05:05] Right.

[00:05:06] So.

[00:05:08] And but she got the best of us in expert women's doubles.

[00:05:14] Women's.

[00:05:15] Rani Schrupp won I okay.

[00:05:17] We teamed up and we played Maya Bacchus and.

[00:05:23] Amanda Kruger in the finals and they beat us.

[00:05:27] So.

[00:05:28] Tough team.

[00:05:29] You got me on that one.

[00:05:30] Yeah.

[00:05:31] Well, there's there's there's plenty of time right so the next time you come around.

[00:05:35] And I want to talk about your philosophy for the next time you meet up on the table especially when it comes to doubles but let's do this.

[00:05:42] I mean you've got a great record recently done a lot of winning.

[00:05:46] How did where did this all start for you when it comes to foosball?

[00:05:49] Where did when did you begin your career?

[00:05:52] Tom Robinson's favorite question.

[00:05:56] When was the first time you saw a foosball table and what kind was it?

[00:06:00] Yes, there you go.

[00:06:03] Well, Tom, I started as.

[00:06:07] And he did.

[00:06:09] But tournament soccer tournament soccer probably.

[00:06:12] Yeah, tournament soccer 1976 I want to say maybe 77.

[00:06:18] Judy, what were you like like two years old at the time? I mean.

[00:06:21] Yeah, I wish Tom I was 1617 years old.

[00:06:26] So yeah, I'm I'm I'm probably the oldest.

[00:06:33] Women's expert singles champion at the TKO.

[00:06:40] But, you know, as a kid, you know, obviously we played outside.

[00:06:45] We, you know, there was no video games and everything so we were fortunate in the summer that I grew up in.

[00:06:52] We had in our high school, we had a couple foosball tables in the student center.

[00:06:58] And maybe that was the first time I saw one.

[00:07:02] And then we had a local arcade.

[00:07:06] And so just started playing foosball back then and.

[00:07:13] Did travel a little bit, certainly went to Minneapolis for Super doubles went to the 77.

[00:07:23] St. Louis tournament, Chicago.

[00:07:26] Okay, last tournament was at Syracuse 50 grander at Syracuse in New York 70.

[00:07:35] Yeah, Syracuse in New York 1979.

[00:07:38] And that was the last term just curious what what was your hometown where did you grow up by the way?

[00:07:45] I'm from Columbus, Ohio Columbus. Okay, we knew that I mean you and I knew that but I just want to make sure that everybody else know you're you're Columbus Ohio native.

[00:07:55] That's correct.

[00:07:56] Yes, I went to high school with.

[00:08:02] Junior high school I met my partner that I played in women's doubles with back in TS Lisa pride. Everybody knows Lisa. Yes.

[00:08:10] I went to high school with Mark Vanetti.

[00:08:14] TS days.

[00:08:16] Certainly.

[00:08:50] And then we had a lot of fun with foosball. Now TS or tournament soccer was what you're playing on.

[00:08:57] Now, we all know about the crash of TS and what 81.

[00:09:01] What happened to you right around that time what what was going on.

[00:09:05] Well, actually, I quit foosball in 79.

[00:09:11] Oh, you did.

[00:09:12] So I did not know.

[00:09:14] And what for me.

[00:09:17] Gotcha. And that was at the time a six day a week job.

[00:09:24] And so it was one of those things that was like, okay, you know, I just don't have time for this and your work in 6070 hours a week and the next thing you know your paradigms change and that's really what happened so

[00:09:42] I did not touch a foosball table for 40 years.

[00:09:48] 40, 40 years really.

[00:09:51] Wow.

[00:09:52] From 1979 until 2019.

[00:09:57] So I and I, I would get calls at least would call me Mark would call me I'd see I'd see my friends you know around Columbus because we had mutual funds.

[00:10:07] Friends and say, Hey, come on, we're going to this bar. We're going here. We're going there.

[00:10:12] I'm like, no, no, you know, I just didn't have that interest.

[00:10:17] And then I basically, I'd say I'm semi retired. I'm retired.

[00:10:23] I do some work but and I Lisa called me and said, Hey, we're going here. I'm like, okay, I'll go.

[00:10:33] And next thing you know, I'm right back in it. You're back in and you got addicted again.

[00:10:39] I did. Yeah.

[00:10:41] And so when it came to 2019 was the first time you would back in how when was the first time you went back on the tour.

[00:10:50] I went my first tournament was TKO 2020 2020 just before COVID of course.

[00:10:58] Right.

[00:10:59] Yeah. Yeah, I was unfortunate.

[00:11:07] And so in between 2020 TKO I mean you step back in how'd you do that that first time back.

[00:11:16] Oh, you know, I think terrible.

[00:11:20] I mean, it was, you know, I didn't know how to put I mean literally again, you know, when you do have no skills starting in 2019.

[00:11:32] I had, I had downsized sold my house. I'm in a new condo. Yes, I took, I didn't go to the tornado championship because I went to California for a month.

[00:11:42] I mean, I've got so many other things going on. Right.

[00:11:45] Trying to transition from being a homeowner and all time working to being a condo owner and really trying not to work.

[00:11:58] You know, so and I'm stubborn as in TS. I was up forward. So I know people new people getting back. No, I'm not getting them back. I'm a forward.

[00:12:10] Yeah.

[00:12:11] So, you know, doing, doing that and not really, you know, the partners because back back in TS. I mean, there'd be five or six girls we pile on a car and drive to St. Louis.

[00:12:25] That sounds interesting. That must have been fun.

[00:12:28] Of course it was because you had that many people playing. Yes.

[00:12:33] Now I'm the only touring female from Columbus, Ohio.

[00:12:39] The only one dusty. Right. The only one dusties up in Akron area. Yes.

[00:12:47] Cincinnati, Donna Carols down there.

[00:12:51] Brainy's down there. There's some other women who, you know, but yeah, when it comes to Columbus.

[00:13:00] That's so yeah, so I went to TKO didn't have partners. I was fortunate and and dusty took me under a wing and Lisa Tolly and said, Yeah, you can room with us and

[00:13:14] I didn't know computers didn't know anything about that. So it was a it was fun. It was I opening and just the whole whole scene. Yes, so

[00:13:31] then fast forward obviously COVID and then my next tournament was tornado championship of 2021 2021. Okay.

[00:13:43] Right. Right. I think that might have been the time that you and I met for the first time if I'm not mistaken.

[00:13:50] Could have. Yeah, I think so because you you introduce yourself to me and I still remember because you seem like such a nice person and

[00:13:58] thought, Wow, you know, it was very nice of you just to just to walk up and say hi.

[00:14:04] And from that point on, we've we've certainly met not a few tournaments which which I've always enjoyed.

[00:14:12] Yeah, I think that I mean it's funny because I can honestly say everything about foosball is related in some way. Yes, either to T s

[00:14:27] my philosophy on what I learned there to tornado to I'm sure I just walked up because I can remember Mark Torres on foosball radio saying

[00:14:40] say hi introduce yourself. Okay, so I was just that's what I did. That's what you did which was you know it's one of the other things I've

[00:14:50] recognized about you, Judy to not only a great player now, but also you seem to be really active in promoting the sport. Tell us a little bit more about your

[00:15:00] your commitment to promoting foosball.

[00:15:03] Well, I think that through my 40 years in management, I've learned either light, you know, either, you know, if you want change be the change be the example and bring whatever inner personal

[00:15:26] skills you have, bring them out. I mean, because you look at a lot of the there's a lot going on and foosball all over the country and there's a lot of people who are bringing what they

[00:15:40] have whether it's their entrepreneurial skills with foos gear with my fight, you know, with his engineering skills with Michael Stahl and his love and and respect for the history.

[00:15:55] Yes, foosball.

[00:15:57] Whether it's, you know, I mean, I could go on and on. I don't want to slide anybody but there's, you know, so that's what it that's what I do. I mean, I'm kind of another thing about my personality is I'm

[00:16:10] kind of all in or all out. I was all out for 40 years. So now I feel like I'm all in.

[00:16:16] It's, well, this is to me, it's my way of thinking when it comes to looking at the sport overall. Yes, there are certain things that we have to cope with that are, you know, less than stellar some negative things but we don't

[00:16:28] want to dwell on that. And that's one of the things I really admire about your personality and of course the way you look at life. You're always looking for for the next positive thing to say and it's and it's it's really refreshing.

[00:16:42] And we need that, you know, we need we need boosters people to say hey come on. This this can happen we can do this together. And I got to take my head off to you for doing that.

[00:16:53] Thank you. I appreciate that. Yeah, absolutely. Well, you know, the future of foosball depends upon the people that are that are most passionate about it. And now we see, you know, the younger

[00:17:06] generation coming up and you mentioned Maya Balcos. I mean, what do you think about the Balcos family in general? What a what an amazing force.

[00:17:15] Yeah, I think it's wonderful. I mean, I know that when I was at the tornado championships in 21 and I'm looking at the events and you had more you had more entries in senior women singles

[00:17:34] than you did in amateur or juniors or whatever. And that was like, hey, you know, and I know that John O'Brien is passing and he's left a huge hole.

[00:17:50] Yes, Michael stall is got his fact shoes on and he's he's up and running.

[00:17:55] Yep. So I think that, you know, second gen is is imperative. Yeah.

[00:18:05] The sport and at some point it will be third gen. Right. Well, I mean, how time flies right? Yeah, totally.

[00:18:13] Especially when you're having fun. So this this the future of foosball. What would you like? Let's let's just take a for instance, pie in the sky five years from now.

[00:18:25] What what would you like to see at at say the average tour stop in foosball?

[00:18:32] Hmm. Well, I think in five years, I think I'd like to see some of the ideas that have been bantered around come to fruition.

[00:18:50] Hmm. Okay. In the Federation, if that's something that isn't that something that Jim has really advocated for?

[00:18:59] Oh, yeah. Yeah. Jim Stevens has been mentioning the Federation. It has to be a strong Federation that that governs, you know, play across the country and it has to be unified obviously.

[00:19:09] So I mean, I think USTSO is doing some great work there. They're they're certainly moving forward. And you just mentioned before that you were part of that that competition at the TKO, which sounds like was a lot of fun.

[00:19:24] Oh, absolutely. Yeah.

[00:19:26] Yeah. I think that so if if a Federation can happen, I think that I mean really, I don't see I don't see a new table being something that I look forward to.

[00:19:42] Okay. I mean, I think a lot of people that's invested in this table.

[00:19:48] I like the table. I think that's not it. I think Mary is rejuvenating from the pandemic. She's looking at sponsorship as championship format. I know a lot of people who probably didn't even play in it.

[00:20:07] Yes.

[00:20:08] And I think that had their opinions that the work probably they were fact based. Yeah, because if you talk to a lot of people who played in it.

[00:20:19] They liked it. Yes. It was that was an interesting experiment and you have to do that right you have to in order to innovate you have to try things.

[00:20:28] And I guess the people that I spoke to when it came to this this idea, it was a common question. But there was some real positive responses and then there were a few that weren't.

[00:20:40] This is bound to be the case though right you know when you try something new, you got to kind of kind of balance it out.

[00:20:49] Does the majority prefer this? Is it something we want to continue to do or do we want to use it on a more limited basis I mean what's what do you think the quote the status quo will be on that.

[00:21:01] Well, I, I like it.

[00:21:03] I as as to be honest with you. That was something that going into TKO.

[00:21:11] I'm a I'm a lower ranked person player in women's open singles.

[00:21:17] My goal was to put one of the masters in the losers bracket.

[00:21:22] Oh, there you go.

[00:21:24] I mean, you have to what are you shooting for? Yeah. I mean that's the whole and it was it was something that you know I wanted I played really well I played Hannah and Hannah all Hannah all meant to you that she was lucky to beat me.

[00:21:42] Because we went to we went to games 5454, which was the best I ever played against her and she the first game she slapped in three.

[00:21:53] Okay. And so it was and that was the pressure for her.

[00:21:58] Yes.

[00:21:59] And so yes, it all worked out in championship women's singles.

[00:22:05] Hannah was the number one seed she played the number two seed in the finals.

[00:22:11] And so, you know, the there was there was the pressure of all the masters, all the high seeds.

[00:22:19] You know, to win. And I talked to Hannah about it.

[00:22:25] And I talked to now I took fourth and open women's singles. So, which is great for me. Yeah, I'd be two masters, which was the first time I had beat each of those ladies.

[00:22:37] And I talked to Isabel and I played Isabel for third and you know, it's like I wasn't even there. She's good. She's very good. Yes. Yeah, she's very good. And I didn't give her much of a match.

[00:22:52] But and she said, you know, I mean, I think

[00:22:59] I'm sure that

[00:23:03] in the future, the women's open singles will probably be three out of five. Okay, two out of three. Okay. And I know that from listening on through stock radio, through his ball radio, that a lot of the masters and women say, you know what, you can get

[00:23:20] slapped out in a two out of three. Yes, you can. You know, yes, you can. And so we did play three out of five in the winner's bracket in doubles. Good. So again, Mary is she's testing it. She's listening.

[00:23:35] And, you know, I think that there was originally it was good. I could be wrong. I think originally it was going to be two out of three because it normally is but maybe maybe I could be wrong on that but so bottom line.

[00:23:50] I think that from a lower ranked person. Yeah, I love it. You know, okay, because it just gives me an extra incentive to play my best.

[00:24:03] And that's kind of like my finals, you know, in the winners bracket. I'm not going to make it to the finals, but but I can put, you know, a higher rank I can I can ruin their day.

[00:24:14] Yeah, that's always a really interesting thing in the sense that, you know, once you're you're in the losers bracket, the best you can do is third place. That's it. You know,

[00:24:23] but you know, there's still, you know, still money and there's still, you know, the pride of doing the best you possibly can. There's still that. And in the finals, it's just the people who haven't lost a match that end up in the finals.

[00:24:37] That's it. The two best teams. So yeah, it's it's it's sudden death. Yeah, it really is. And that makes sense.

[00:24:47] And I talked to a couple of the masters for open singles and open doubles, and they're like, Yeah, now I'm done. You know, I can I can I don't have to wait and so I mean,

[00:25:00] there's there's it all depends on where you've been, you know, it's the old, you know, kind of political thing where you sit is where you stand, you know, so if you're someone who has come back from the losers bracket and double dipped people.

[00:25:16] We know, like, Oh no, I like that. We know those people that that take pride in doing that and seem to have a maybe an extra motivation when they can double dip but you know what, I don't know man you lost one so the best you

[00:25:31] can possibly do now with championship format is third place.

[00:25:35] Yeah, and the fact I mean you were there you saw that from what I could be wrong about this but the fact that there was a fire there was a news crew there and then they were like what's going on here.

[00:25:49] So they learned out of they learned about the singles final being that day at five o'clock. Yes. And they came back. Yeah. So, Mary would have never been able to say, Oh yeah, come back at this time because we're going to have the finals.

[00:26:04] I've never been able to say that. Yes, it was time it out. Fortuitous in a way that there was this this incident that that allowed that to take place and what an amazing final, you know, between Ryan Moore and of course Tommy your Wow, it was just astounding

[00:26:20] and everybody was focused on that one match.

[00:26:24] Yeah, you're you're adopted son there Tommy your from the great north, what Northeast. Yeah.

[00:26:31] I don't know if it's I thought it was or we adopted him. I think it's a little more of we adopted him but he's he's great to he's great to have around and he's he's a great guy just a really good person.

[00:26:44] But what a player my goodness.

[00:26:47] And I was cheering for you know I kind of look at Ryan is like, Okay, that's Mount Olympus there man you got to climb that mountain this guy is tough and especially had a he had his his two row working so well.

[00:27:00] He was just killing it. He took out Sammy Dijon on the final ball and the final you know game of the match with that to row and did the same thing to Tommy. So yeah what are you going to do.

[00:27:14] Yeah, I don't think now I can remember back in the TS days the huge crowds I was there in the pits, but the fact that she stopped it. People were there.

[00:27:25] And I don't know that I've ever sat through an open singles final because I'm always playing. Nobody else was playing. She stopped all the matches paused them or however I don't know the logistics of how they got that to work.

[00:27:39] And everybody was there. And if you weren't in the stands, then there was 100 people probably sitting at the tables and on the floor watching the video screen so yeah it was fantastic and I think that

[00:27:55] it was good to roll that out at a regional rather than a major. Yeah, now if that would have been rolled out at a major at least now they know. Yeah, oh yeah. So come Vegas. Yeah. Now you're going to Vegas by the way.

[00:28:14] I am. This will be my first time to go to Vegas. Nice. Excellent. I wish I could be there. I'll be there in spirit but that's a big work weekend for me sadly. But hey, you know knock him dead.

[00:28:27] Yeah, looking forward to that I am.

[00:28:31] I'm trying to do five is a good number for me to events. So you know 2022 I did five last year I did five. Okay, I've got my set ones, you know be in my regionals definitely.

[00:28:49] But so go I'm sorry. No, no, you're fine. Let's go back to my to what we see in five years so yeah.

[00:28:56] I think in five years, you know that Federation if that's to come. I think I see that. I think I'd like to see which I've seen more of camaraderie between local state promoters and tour promoters and when I say tour promoters.

[00:29:22] I'm basically looking at modern foosball and I F.P. Yes. And I think that there's there's been there's going to be some collaboration with them. Yes. So Adam and because you know there's there's so much that each of them can can help the each other with.

[00:29:43] Oh, no doubt. I mean Mary can help David and David can help Mary with with his sense of skills. Yes, I love that.

[00:29:51] I love that. Yeah, it's up that is a long time coming and it's you know the funny thing is Rome wasn't built in a day and it wasn't just one carpenter.

[00:30:05] It's it's got to be a group of people that helped to to build this thing this thing that the potential that's there for foosball and because of the talent that exists now.

[00:30:16] The people that are involved, not the least of what yourself is all about you know coming together and agreeing that hey for the benefit of the sport. These are the things that need to happen. Excuse me.

[00:30:28] Yeah, I think that that's important. So I mean that's that's what I see you know kind of on the let's call that the national field and then locally I'd like to we do not have state tournament.

[00:30:43] Yeah, I'd like to see you know maybe maybe we can get you know how many more state tournaments can we have. I know it's without without flooding the field and diluting the other ones that that have a nice history.

[00:31:02] Yeah, like Wisconsin and like Illinois and like Texas Florida I mean I know I hear and I see different results. Maryland had a Maryland state at some time at some time you know Ohio had a state tournament.

[00:31:22] Yes.

[00:31:23] But they haven't had one since that I know of so.

[00:31:28] So if we calculate that out you know mathematically right so let's say you know ideal for ideal purposes there are 48 of the lower states you know excluding Alaska and Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

[00:31:43] And there's only 52 weekends in a year.

[00:31:47] How do you do that?

[00:31:50] You know if everybody had a tournament.

[00:31:52] Yeah, well I think that you anchor them around your majors. You know being and then you know people in the Midwest are not going to go to the West Coast.

[00:32:08] Correct.

[00:32:09] They're not going to California. They're not going to Washington. I mean you still see you know like this weekend right now South Dakota state.

[00:32:19] So who's there? There's a contingency. I followed the charts a little bit. There's a contingency from Michigan with Mike and Ron Olson definitely Wisconsin you know they're amping up for their state tournament.

[00:32:33] You've got Colorado people with Shelly's there, Iowa. I mean you've got the kind of upper Midwest Minnesota the Balkos are there of course.

[00:32:47] Right.

[00:32:48] There's a lot of Minnesota players. So yeah and I think that geographically yeah you can't conflict and that's one thing that when it comes to the scheduling for the Ohio State one.

[00:33:05] Yeah, because Illinois has one Wisconsin Michigan we don't want to step on those Kentucky state so there's some people behind it.

[00:33:17] There's some people behind the scenes that are that are looking. So we'll see if they can they can get something.

[00:33:25] Well, we certainly you know I think there there is a lot of people talking and a lot of people a lot of people having plans and ideas and and of course ideas conform into actual events.

[00:33:37] So hopefully the ideal laboratory continues to operate the way it is and more people get involved and we make this make this thing happen.

[00:33:48] Yeah, I think that that's the other thing that I'm realizing there are people that there are talkers and their doors.

[00:33:56] And there's a lot of people that talk about things and there's then there's other people that just they do things.

[00:34:03] Yeah.

[00:34:04] I'm and so, you know, when it comes to me personally some of the other things that I look at is something that that I remember my TS days, I was probably 17 maybe 18.

[00:34:21] And being we had pro and novice and I was a novice player.

[00:34:25] Okay.

[00:34:26] And I can remember a lady pro asking me to play.

[00:34:30] We played and we took fourth in and her name was Bonnie slonker.

[00:34:36] And I'll never forget and I don't know why because back then I mean, you had your partner, you had your team shirts because of pros you had to have your collared monogram shirt blah blah blah.

[00:34:48] But I don't know where her partner was but she asked me to play. And I never forgot that.

[00:34:55] And I don't know when Minnesota announced that they were going to have a state tournament. Well, I have two relatives in the Minneapolis area.

[00:35:09] I just called Eric or maybe I saw Maya and said Maya, I want to play with you.

[00:35:15] Okay.

[00:35:16] And I'm older than her. You know, and not saying I'm better than her, but I'm older than her. There's no different, you know, that's, that's obvious.

[00:35:25] But it's I feel like, yeah, come on Maya, let's go.

[00:35:29] So, I think that, you know, many, Minneapolis, I'm looking forward to that tournament so that's been added. Nice.

[00:35:38] This year.

[00:35:41] Just a quick aside, when it comes to tournaments right now we have what's called the Fuse Talk Live tournament beat which we air every week at the end of the show.

[00:35:49] It's just growing. I mean, it used to be two or three minutes worth of tournaments being mentioned but now it's upwards of five minutes, five, six minutes and it's just more and more and more.

[00:36:00] So there's an indication right there that just, you know, in each week I realize, oh, I missed one. Oh, there's another one I missed.

[00:36:07] And so it's really exciting to see this many tournaments now for 2024.

[00:36:14] Great segue into this coming weekend at the Arnold Classic.

[00:36:18] That's right. The Arnold, you're going to be there?

[00:36:21] I'm going to be there. I am looking forward to that. It's the Arnold Sports Festival and it was started by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

[00:36:34] Yes. He will be there and it's something that he came to Columbus back in the late 70s as a contestant competed in bodybuilding, Mr. World, Mr. Universe,

[00:36:50] and he told the promoter back in the 70s, you know, after I tour for four or five years of my competing, I want to come back and start a festival.

[00:37:02] And by golly, he did it. So it's grown each year. They get more and more different events, sporting events.

[00:37:12] And the chairmen of Tim Littoral, Steve Beine and Dustin Bajas have gotten foosball into it.

[00:37:21] So this is their fifth year. I don't think they had one year because of COVID. It was closed to only participants.

[00:37:33] This is a huge, this is 20, 200,000 visitors will be in the city for this. It's a four day event.

[00:37:42] Wow. I think there's about 10,000 different competitors in different events from everything that you can think of.

[00:37:51] I mean, it's really big. So we're looking forward to it this year. It's just Friday we have a monster, only wars.

[00:38:03] Okay. And then Saturday is open singles, open doubles. Sunday is amateur singles, amateur doubles.

[00:38:10] It's a five grander. It's a nice little tournament and you can walk around and enjoy the other competitions also.

[00:38:23] Yeah, right. I mean, there's all kinds of sports being represented there, especially when it comes to bodybuilding, that kind of thing. That's exciting stuff.

[00:38:31] Yeah. So this last year, Tony came and but we've got some pro masters that will be there.

[00:38:41] Cool.

[00:38:42] We've adopted a new player just like you did with Tommy Yor. We adopted Cody Byrie in Columbus, Ohio.

[00:38:53] Oh, excellent. Okay. He just recently moved to the area.

[00:38:58] Yeah. Just a, I think a couple of weeks ago, I saw him last night we had our little, we had a bring your partner warm up for the Arnold. So he was there.

[00:39:10] Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah, having that guy in a local scene anywhere. I mean, I can't imagine not wanting Cody Byrie.

[00:39:19] At your local, you know, that's awesome. Wow. Well, before we wrap this up and again, Judy, you know my sincere thanks to not only to your, your support of foosball what you do on a daily basis and how you're really promoting the sport so well.

[00:39:38] Also, we want to thank you for being a part of the foosball radio Patreon community. This this community, it's a small one, but it is nonetheless so essential for us to continue to do what we do as far as broadcasting.

[00:39:54] Just tell us what what really drew you into becoming a Patreon.

[00:40:02] Well, Tom.

[00:40:05] When the pandemic hit.

[00:40:08] I as joined in with my fellow foosball players who were shot in.

[00:40:16] No place to go.

[00:40:18] And I turned to your podcast.

[00:40:21] So I started listening. I would say probably not in March of 2020, but in probably April. Yes. And by that time you were probably 3035 episodes in.

[00:40:36] It's about right because we had just conceived of the idea of doing the foos talk live thing on Sunday or started on Friday nights but then then went to Sundays.

[00:40:46] But it's because of the COVID the pandemic thing. Jim Stevens and of course, Mark Taurus and those guys had nothing you know to do with foosball because well there was no foosball.

[00:40:58] Right. So I started, you know just listening as I walked, you know to my daily walk or, you know, just put in my earbuds. And then I just looked forward to Sundays if I was able to listen if not, you know, and then I think it was probably

[00:41:20] in 2022. Did you start your Patreon campaign? It was yeah I believe 20 later 2022 maybe in August or July or August or September or something like that.

[00:41:32] Yeah, yeah, because I remember it was you and Jim and Adam, maybe Clay was tripling in every once in a while.

[00:41:41] But Adam, I don't know something something he had to be in his bonnet and he was on his on his soapbox and he just kept saying do something. Yes.

[00:41:53] I recall that and do something he was he was adamant. I mean, Adam, Adam is is Adam but he has this when he gets up gets his teeth into something he doesn't let go.

[00:42:07] Right. So he kept saying that and I'm like, okay. And then you were talking about this Patreon and like, okay first I had to figure out what was a Patreon and how to spell that and how to find it so and then I went on and I'm like sure, you know, because like anything else from the pandemic,

[00:42:28] I became a podcast listener. Okay, okay. And you never think oh well so when you're listening to whatever that you listen to whether it's cooking or crime or you know whoever comedian. Oh yeah.

[00:42:43] They've got commercials. They that's how they that that's how they're on, you know, or they're part of you know, they're somehow I'm like, oh, you mean this isn't free to Tom.

[00:42:55] I mean, these guys they got a they have to pay for this. It's like oh how novel how silly of me so yes of course.

[00:43:07] So that's you know, that's kind of how it started. It's like I wish I could do more. Oh no, no, you're you're you're a I would say one of the stellar supporters because of the fact that you're so so stalwart.

[00:43:20] And whenever we get a chance to talk in person, you have great great feedback. Love your feedback love the idea that you're you're listening so intently and you really want to, you know, help make this a better product too.

[00:43:32] We thank you so much for that. Me personally I you know if it wasn't for people like you I probably would have kind of hung up my hat a while ago or should I say my headphones a while ago.

[00:43:43] Well, I love I love it. I think that I I try to it's hard, you know because there's so much going on and yes I have the time but you know so many of the players they have careers they have family.

[00:44:01] They have parents that they're you know, helping through their their autumn of their lives. I mean there's just so much people have going on right.

[00:44:14] And if I can. I do I try to get people to listen like twitch I try to get people to join, you know use your free Amazon membership to tribute to on Twitch so yeah no it's there's

[00:44:33] there the technology has evolved at least for for us anyway. And you know we started out with something called pod bean, which was okay. The audio wasn't great but then we moved on to bus sprout and now of course twitch TV is really made the difference for us because

[00:44:49] the quality of the audio and the video is much much better. So but yeah and you guys make it possible because it does cost money, you know to use twitch TV actually not not to use twitch TV itself but there's the the actual cost of the podcast through

[00:45:06] bus sprout is it's not a significant amount but it's enough to say hmm we could really use some help with that and we have you know we have pretty much enough people to help pay for that every single month.

[00:45:18] That's great. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, ultimately it'd be great if you know you were able to support yourself going on the road and being able to go to more tournaments and spread the word.

[00:45:30] Judy from your lips to God's ears. Yes, you know that would be great. It would be nice. That would be awesome. It's just getting in and among the community and being with people and playing with them and just having that opportunity to talk to people directly.

[00:45:47] That's a huge part of what we do and what makes a product like this one better because we have we hear as much input as possible. It's a lot of information coming out as by the way, and there's a lot more people out there we want to talk to.

[00:46:01] Here's a parting question if you will. Who do you most want to hear on foosball radio or foos talk live next? What who would you choose?

[00:46:12] Oh boy.

[00:46:16] Well, you really put me on the spot because I've listened to all the episodes.

[00:46:22] I really, I mean, who haven't you had on?

[00:46:30] Well, there's been a couple. I mean, we did have like like Toddie Maserati or Todd Lofredo was in an early episode of foosball radio. Although he's, I mean, he's been on you've done Ryan, you've done Liz.

[00:46:44] Christine has been on with Liz. I mean, I don't know that I don't know that I've heard Tracy Brubaker, Shelly Langley. I learned so much about Shelly Langley when Shelly was on with Dusty and Stacy.

[00:47:00] Stacy. Yeah, those three on at the time. Yep, they were. You know, you've had the up and comers with with Maya and yeah, I mean, Jacob you've had on. I mean, I don't know that's okay. That's the whole thing and

[00:47:20] Well, we'll continue to try and surprise you on the spot. Yeah. No, that's fine. I mean, who do you have scheduled? Who's coming up?

[00:47:28] We've got Charles McIntosh is in the is in the works we're going to be getting him on. Now, I can't confirm one way or the other. But this is just for the Patreon audience anyway. There's a possibility of Billy Pappas possibility.

[00:47:44] That would be nice. Right.

[00:47:46] That would be nice. I met him for the very first time at the TKO. It was late on Sunday after everything was kind of winding down and we had a brief chat. I introduced myself to him and he was super, super nice. You know, and did say, you know, he's not a big fan of doing that kind of thing, you know, being being on a show that kind of thing.

[00:48:07] But he knows Randy so well because they basically grew up together. So yeah, it's a good we're working on it. Let's put it that way. So Billy, that's nice. And I think that now that okay so now that I've thought about this because when you brought up Billy Pappas and like, okay, that's, that's an error that I haven't, you know, I think here's something I would say maybe Mary and Molly because

[00:48:33] Yes. She's now or Tony after a year in Europe. Let's get Tony's take on what he's experienced over there. Oh yeah, I think that would be interesting. Mary and Bean and she's just smart as a whip.

[00:48:53] Oh yeah. She's so active with Inside Fuse and a lot of the tournaments over there understands she's a she's a breath. I mean, she would be a really good. You could do a couple part with her.

[00:49:08] Oh yeah, we had. Yeah, we actually had her on let's see 28 no 2019 she was on right into the very first part of January for foosball radio and we're still just recording the podcast. And at the time she was probably the most traveled foosball player I had ever met.

[00:49:29] You know, just just you know everywhere she was all over Europe and you know hitting Asia and places like this and just just playing everywhere she went. So and she was based out in New York. Yes, at the time. Yep, New York City. And now she's in London. Correct.

[00:49:46] So it's yeah, in fact, Miriam and I had a chance to play together at one of our regional smashdown tournaments and one amateur doubles together but we were up that was that was a while ago but she's fierce fierce forward. She's just a great player.

[00:50:02] Yeah, and she is she is a positive positive light in foosball community. Yes. Yep. Absolutely. Super sweet person too. So yeah.

[00:50:12] Well, I'll I'll think about that I'll stew on that if I have somebody but yeah I think that you know I think you do a great what I like is this the where you would have the promoters on before their tournament.

[00:50:29] And then maybe a little recap. I think that's really good because I think that that there's going to be a you know, like I said Minnesota is a new tournament. I don't know who runs South Dakota. I'm sure I could learn something from them.

[00:50:43] Sure. Yeah, that's it. I'm really I think that standing back and looking there's is so many positive ideas that are being put into motion right now. Right. I think the pandemic everybody was was really fed up negative.

[00:51:10] It was a grind and I think that there's a lot of really, really good energy out there so it's exciting. Yeah, well, Junie thank you for being one of those those individuals that's promoting this this positivity. We really need you and thank you so much for doing what you do.

[00:51:29] Tom thank you for everything that you do and much success. Thanks and stay well. Yeah, you do the same. And again, you know this is the very first edition of the foosball radio Patreon profile with Judy Schober and I can't think of a better person to begin this this this profile.

[00:51:49] So you're too kind. Thank you Tom. All right, well Judy thanks for joining us and once again the foosball radio Patreon profile with Judy Schober. This is posted on the Patreon page although eventually it will become public access but for now for the patrons this is where we're going.

[00:52:06] Thank you. Your story could be next on a foosball radio Patreon profile. Thanks again for being a foosball radio Patreon pillar.

[00:52:18] This has been a presentation of foosball radio.