Chase Pennell and Eddie Mubarak both enjoy the Knoxville, Tennessee foosball scene. They are excited about Nashville being the location for the upcoming 2025 Nationals in July. We talk about all things foosball, especially in their corner of the universe.
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[00:01:51] Visit www.original-leonhardt-usa.com and use promo code FOOSTALK to save 10% off your purchase price. Here we are, back together again on Foos Talk Live, working things out technically tonight. Hey there, it's Tom Robinson, episode number 243 of Foos Talk Live. Tonight, Randy Raposo is somewhere in the mountains on vacation. How dare he do that?
[00:02:21] So, we're going to talk about foosball regardless. And of course, if you're going to talk about foosball, it's always a good thing when you've got somebody who wants to talk about foosball a lot. And in fact, it's even better when you've got somebody who not only likes to talk about foosball, but also likes to teach foosball. And that would be none other than Chase Pennell. Chase joins us tonight from the great state of Tennessee. Hello, Chase. Hey, Tom. How are you, man? What's happening, man? Oh, just loving life down here in the mountains.
[00:02:51] It's great. Yeah. Love Knoxville, man. Yeah, yeah. You guys are enjoying, I'm sure, much better weather than we are here in upstate New York. Just a hunch. Well, overall, we had a rough week. The week was kind of cold. Today was much better. Okay. My wife was able to cut the kids' hair outside today, which was nice. But the weather's shifting. We should be back in the 50s and 60s over the next week or so. Got it. So nothing to complain about about that. No, I hear you.
[00:03:19] No, it's interesting because we had the deep freeze for probably the better part of three weeks, plus some snow in between. And the building where I work, it was literally locked in a block of ice. We had ice that was at least six inches thick from snow that had fallen and then melted and then frozen solid in a space of all, like half a day. And so it took forever just to get that ice cleared up and to get, you know, back into the swing of things.
[00:03:49] But man, what a drag. And today, for the first time in, I got to say three weeks, it actually broke 32 degrees. First time. So we're out there in sandals. I moved away from Chicago. That's why I left, man. Right? Oh, it's brutal. But, you know, we're a hardy bunch and we still play foosball. So, well, playing foosball in your local, of course, and Chase, you've been there, what, four years in Knoxville? Yes, sir.
[00:04:19] Yeah, four years. And so you've gotten to know a lot of the people that are there, a lot of great players, not the least of which would be the guy who's sitting right next to you tonight in your studio. I want to welcome to Foos Talk Live for the very first time, Eddie Mubarak. Hello, Eddie. Hello, Tom. How are you? I'm doing well, man. How are you doing? Doing great. I'm glad you could make it tonight. Are you practicing now for your next event? What's your next tournament, by the way? No, not really.
[00:04:48] I mean, you know, my next tournament's going to be nationals, probably. Nationals. Gotcha. Yeah. So usually, like, before a big tournament, I'll put a lot of time in, like, especially, like, worlds or something like that. Gotcha. I mean, I'll be a month, like, straight. Cool. Two, three hours a day, you know. Yeah, no. Right now, I'm in the low, you know, the low key of it. Like, you know, if I'm going to, like, a local or something, I'll put, like, 20, 30 minutes in before I go down there or something. Okay. I gotcha. Yeah. Don't you? And you're currently rated a pro?
[00:05:19] I am, yes. Got it. Got it. Very cool. So, Chase, when was the first time you met Eddie, and what was that like? It would have been tour kickoff 2006? Mm-hmm. Well, I started, well, I started in 2005. Was you playing in 2005? So maybe it was tour kickoff 2005? Yeah. Because my first one was 2004. So, yeah, tour kickoff 2005. We met. We met, and that would have been before either of us had kids. Okay.
[00:05:49] And we would have both been playing, I believe, rookie singles. Uh-huh. In fact, I'm a beginner. Wow. But I was a rookie then, so you would have been playing. Yeah. I played in like 24 events when I was a beginner. Okay. That's how passionate I was about playing. Yeah. I had the energy to play that many events. Look, I mean, you name it, I was in it. Even like, I started from beginner singles, beginner doubles, all the way up to open. I wasn't scared to play open like a lot of, you know, people like beginners that are scared.
[00:06:18] And you can. Open mix, open mix, you name it. Handicap doubles, forward shootout, goalie wars, you name it. I played it all. So you were, if you pardon the expression, the conflict kid, basically? I was. I started, I think, I went on a Wednesday and then came home to Monday. So yeah. Yeah. So it was, I was dedicated to it. Well, you know, it's something that I've always enjoyed, you know. Sure. You know.
[00:06:44] Well, it is, it is tradition when you appear on Foos Talk Live for the very first time, we have to ask you the standard questions, right? So question is, when was the first time you saw a foosball table? How old were you and what kind of table was it? Um, I don't recall the table because I was only six years old. Oh, six. But I do remember something about glass being on top of it, which I don't, I never really researched that. Like a, like a surface of plexiglass or something on the top? Yeah. Something like that.
[00:07:14] I was going, uh, um, I w I went to the boys club back in the days. Um, so they had like, um, bumper tables and pool tables and foosball table. Right. And they had a, they had this long bench up inside the foosball table because there's a lot of people lined up for it and they had, you know, other recreations at this boys club. But I've always sat down at the table where you, um, well, you know, you're next after that person loses, you know, you sat down.
[00:07:44] So I was, I was always at the end of the line. Oh, no kidding. Always, always waiting. So I just, and I never stopped. So I kept losing. I kept going back to the light, kept going back. So I played that. I did that for like, I don't know, maybe off and on for like a year. I was there, maybe there for just a year. Okay. And I, and that, and you know, like that was the end of it. So when I turned, I guess old enough to go to a bar, which was some, a place called Cotton Eye Joe's here in Knoxville. Nice. Okay.
[00:08:13] And it's out West Knoxville. And, um, I walked in, didn't think nothing about foosball, you know, since then, you know, I turned like, so we're talking about 10, 10 years later, whenever I was old enough. Yeah. Yeah. Uh, maybe, maybe, um, 12. 12 years later. Cause I think you had to be 18 to get in there. Okay. So I walked in there and it was really kind of big. Uh, like I walked over there and said, I remember this when I was a kid. I said, and what is this? Um, like, what are they doing here?
[00:08:43] Like, they're so intense. And then, you know, six years old, I don't know how to play foosball. And, uh, so I was watching them and they were just spanking me. I got on the table and they spanked me. It's like so bad. I didn't know what a rollover was or anything, but actually they didn't shoot a rollover until somebody came from, um, it was actually Jamie Hughes maybe, or one of them guys from Johnson city came and shot a rollover. And I'm like, wow, what is that? Yep. And you know, everybody shot a pull shot and just hacking and stuff like that, which I was the biggest hacker of them all.
[00:09:12] You can ask him, uh, I mean, I was, I was a, I was a beginner. So, I mean, uh, you know, the only thing, you know, like I didn't know how to do a five bar. So, you know, when you don't know how to do that, you just go with your other options, but right. And then, um, you know, just work my way up there. I went to Kentucky when in 2005 and what it was is I think, um, John Newman and Jay
[00:09:38] and they were going, they went in 2004 and I was playing in the local scenes back in before that, actually like little local scenes and stuff. And so they said, you already go to this foosball, um, tournament. I'm like, no, I can't do that. Cause I think that they're, I never even heard of that, but like, they're probably way better. And I'm used to playing these little locals here and I was just, I had no, I had no skills.
[00:10:03] Like, so, um, they taught me in the going and believe it was Kentucky state. And when I walked in that room and seen like 60 tables, I had butterflies in my belly. Yeah. And I didn't know what, I didn't know what to think. I've never seen anything like it in my life. And, uh, so I started out with beginners and, uh, believe it or not, I took like second or third and beginner, beginners events at a state tournament.
[00:10:27] So I'm like, you know what, I got potential, uh, for me to, for me to like place that high for our first tournament against players that, you know, that know how to play. So, so I'm like, you know what, it's kind of like a little addiction here. So I got a little hooked on it cause I got my, I got two trophies that tournament. So I'm like, that's all, that's all it took, you know, uh, for singles and doubles. So that's all it took. And from there on I was hooked. So just kept going. Yeah.
[00:10:56] I just kept going. I haven't missed a Kentucky tournament since I started in 2005. I went to every single one of them. Nice. Oh, very cool. I mean, it's only two, two, two and a half hours away or something. Yeah. It's nothing. It's in the neighborhood. It's a drive from here. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It was, it was in a neighborhood. I think it's being changed now. So. Right. Well, we'll see how, how that goes for next year when it comes to TKO, whether or not they're going to be doing that, uh, that same, I don't think the same location will be at, uh, the way, uh, Ryan has been in the same place.
[00:11:25] It sounds like it might be, might even be in the Northeast or someplace, you know, along the East coast, but we'll see, you know, what, what, uh, what, what, uh, takes place. But, um, meanwhile, so, uh, so Chase, you guys met back in 2005 and you're both in the same rank. Um, what did you notice about Eddie's game back in the day? All right. I'm going to divulge a secret. I hated it. I hated it.
[00:11:50] Like you wouldn't like the passion of hatred I had for this guy was insane. I see. Um, I like to know why, but, but okay. And if you're on tour, people can say whatever they want to say. Mm-hmm. And it took me a while, but I actually, I didn't know who Eddie was. Okay. And, and over the years I've learned who this guy really is. And he is one of the kindest, nicest people I've ever met in my life. Okay.
[00:12:17] Um, when I moved here and I tell this story to everybody, uh, I don't care who you are. Cause I actually really liked this guy. Um, now, um, but when I moved into my house, this dude shows up unannounced with a big old cake, a huge plate of his wife's baklava. Wow. Hey man, welcome, welcome to Knoxville. And first of all, his wife's baklava is like the greatest thing since sliced bread. It is so good. It's insane. Yeah.
[00:12:48] Like it's insane. I I'm addicted to it. I ate a full plate of it when they got it for me and I got, gave myself like super sick, but truly like you can think whatever you want. He's truly like one of the nicest people at heart. Um, he's a competitor on the table. We all are, you know, that's part of foosball. You know, you get into it. He likes to hack more than most. It's, which is why people, you know, whatever. It's a thing. Not as bad anymore.
[00:13:15] He used to be really bad about it, but, um, no, uh, it's, it's one of those things that like, I've really started to like him. We don't play well together, but I do like the guy. Right. Right. So what, uh, give me an idea here. I, I'm, I'm interested, uh, Eddie, what, uh, who gave you the most instruction and who gave you the hardest time about being a beginner back in the day? You mean like, as in, like there was probably, well, there might've been two different people that one person who said, Hey man, I can help you.
[00:13:45] I'll, I'll, I'll show you some stuff, you know, as you're coming up and give you your instruction. Um, or, and then there might be somebody else who didn't want to play with you at all ever. Right. Uh, well, I never really had that problem. Okay. All right. But I started, when I started playing, um, there was a local player here. You probably never heard of it, but his name is Brian Jackson. And, uh, we, um, I used to, he used to, you know, ask me to come over his house all the time and he lived down the road from me.
[00:14:12] And, uh, so, you know, I, I was wanting to get better. So I kept going over his house and he was, he just kept destroying me. Like, like I didn't know how to really block a rollover. And, uh, and, uh, so like he, he, he, I guess he was enjoying it. So he just kept inviting me over and I kept getting beatings all the time. And I just, I finally, I finally got a table and I was like, I can't, I don't want this, you know, I got to stop this, you know, this madness. So I got a table and started putting some time in, you know, you know, it takes dedication
[00:14:41] and time to even get started. And then things started changing. And when I started putting some table time in and everything, then I started getting with some competition. And then when I was to start getting better, I was starting to get ahead, you know, then and it just kept moving up from there. And, uh, you know, he, um, we played a lot back then because we had a lot of time on our hands, I guess. And we got a lot of, um, you know, he showed me some things and stuff and went from there. And he taught me a lot of stuff too.
[00:15:07] I mean, when he moved here and he taught me some offenses and, uh, you know, his, uh, we give each other a hard time on the game. He gives me a hard time emotionally that way, but no, his, uh, he's got a great game. He's an awesome player. I mean, he, um, his five, I still can't figure it out half of the time. He's got, he's got an awesome five. Like, uh, sometimes one of the best I've seen besides Tony and Ryan and everybody, you know, like, it's like, I've stopped a lot of people's five.
[00:15:34] My five is one of my best, best things like as defense wise, I can block a lot of great players, but I have, I have a hard time with Chase. I don't know why I, I even asked other top masters, like I got this local here. Oh, who is it? Uh, Chase. And he's using his brush series and he's killing me on it. And what's the, you know, what's the, what do I do to slow this down, slow this, uh, lying down here. So, um, you know, they gave me pointers and everything, but didn't work out too well.
[00:16:02] So, you know, but I'm trying, you know, uh, you know, we kind of like, we go back and forth with like games and stuff and, you know, uh, and I'm constantly changing my game, like to keep up with him because he's, um, constantly changing and I'm changed. It's got chess almost or just adjusting, adjusting to back and forth with different things. Like I'm, I'm learning the brush series a little bit now. The, I've always been stick series. So I've been trying to learn to brush a little bit.
[00:16:32] Okay. Trying to change it up a little bit. And cause I'm usually high lane, you know, all lane, just off the wall, brush down, brush up, brush up, but like, yeah. But yeah, I'm just trying to mix it up a little bit more, but keep it real simple. I'm slowing my game down a lot more than I used to. Okay. Instead of going really fast, it's trying to be more finesse than power. And my shot is the same way. I'm trying to slow it down and not trying to kill it and more like finesse it.
[00:16:58] And I've been talking, like me and Trevor Park talked for a little while. Trevor Park. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And he was telling me some things. We had a really good match, uh, and open singles at worlds. Uh, I lost up Trevor eight, six and a fifth, um, at worlds. And before he goes on to win the whole thing, then he goes before he goes on to win. Then he goes on and wins the whole thing. But he told me, like you get, he told me that it was a game changer.
[00:17:25] Like he said, you, you, you are giving me a really hard time. And, uh, I took him deep and I actually thought I had him in a, in singles there. Uh, I mean, I'm glad it worked out the way it worked out. And he won. I mean, he's a, he's a great guy and he deserves it. He's been really trying to get that for a long time. It's been, it's been, we've been talking so close. Yeah. We've so many times. Yeah. We've been talking and he gave me some pointers about how to like pick hoes and how to like
[00:17:52] finesse, uh, finesse the ball instead of, you know, everybody knows me as pounding as hard as I can, as fast as I can, but it's not about how hard it is about what hole you pick and how smooth you do it. Exactly. I'm kind of trying to listen to these high, um, trying to build your tool bag, not just being a hammer. Yeah. So yeah, I'm learning, I'm still learning. I mean, to this day, I'm learning things. So. I think, uh, Thomas, uh, Thomas Dyke is, is chiming in saying, uh, uh, Eddie saying he doesn't kill the shot.
[00:18:21] Pretty sure I'll need hearing aids one day because of his rollover. So that's Thomas Dyke, by the way, who's, I was chiming. Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He threatened, he was going to be lingering in the, uh, in the, uh, lurking, lurking, lurking, lingering in the, uh, the chat. So, but, uh, to, to be so to talk about Knoxville foosball for just a second. That's the guy. Yeah. Okay.
[00:18:48] That is the guy that is the glue that holds Knoxville foosball together. Yeah. He, uh, I started tournaments in Knoxville, um, a long time ago. Now we had, I don't know, five, six teams a week and it was Tuesday as well. And then, um, you know, it was going on for a long time, but, uh, since he came and he kind of drug, you know, drummed it up a way, way more than I could. Like, uh, you know, he got the, all these new players and, and, and then, um, you know,
[00:19:16] around the same time, chase is here and he's teaching all these new players and all these new players just didn't run. They, they kind of like, uh, you know, hung out when they learned and they, these new players are really good. I mean, I'm like, they're like beginners and rookies, but they, they can hang with the pros. Watch out. We got a, we got a few that just when they, they've got the pieces, when they start getting those pieces all together, they're going to be, I mean, formidable, they're going to be good. They're going to be dangerous. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
[00:19:46] Very cool. There's some, for example, like when we had one of our locals there and I think it was, it was at Thomas and Greg that beat me and Lane. Yeah. I think it was Thomas and Greg that beat me and Lane. The damn pros that they were rookies. Yep. So anything can happen. And I mean, they're learning, they're, they're progressing really fast and, and they're like me hungry. When I was, when I was a rookie, I was hungry. I wasn't going to be pros day and night. Like I wanted to practice, you know, I used to practice eight hours a day. Eight hours.
[00:20:12] When I was, when I was, uh, when I was, yeah, when I was like beginner rookie, I started putting heavy, heavy time in. Like I didn't, I worked, um, I worked like day shift. So I had the whole night. So my whole night was like say six o'clock till two o'clock in the morning every day. And that's all I did was practice five hour and practice, uh, uh, everything. And I've always been to the five series and singles. So, so I started out to the five when I was a long time ago, cause I, I wanted to, uh, I want to be like Tony actually.
[00:20:40] So I wanted to get his series and, uh, I haven't, um, I haven't, like I've always been to the five and singles. So. Right. Gotcha. Gotcha. So, but yeah. Yeah. No, it's, uh, as they say, and then chasing, maybe you can back me up on this. But it takes 10,000 hours on the table to really get to a certain proficiency, uh, to really succeed at this game. Uh, Chase, do you, do you find that still to be true? Yeah.
[00:21:10] The, so there's a, I don't want to call it a joke, but there's kind of a joke. Um, when I was up and coming up and coming, I was like a rookie amateur or something like that. I went to Todd and I'm like, Hey Todd, what do I have to do to have a pull shot like yours? His answer to me was, well, you need to shoot 10,000 longs in like three months. 10,000 long. So, so I took him literally. Mm-hmm.
[00:21:38] I, I've got a box down there with like a hundred and something balls in it. And I would make a mark every time I did the box and I did it until basically I broke my arm in half. Wow. Um, years, we're talking years later, I am talking to Dave Gummison and Tracy McVillain about it. And they're laughing hysterically as I'm telling them this. I'm like, what is so funny about this story? They're like, we're pretty sure Todd was messing with you. Like he was just going out of one of those old books of like, you have to do something
[00:22:06] 10,000 times for it to be really good. And I'm like, I took it as like gospel, but it worked. Yeah. I mean, it did work. Yeah. So, I mean, and that was, I was talking to Tom spirit tour kickoff and I said, Hey man, I like to teach people how to play foosball. Like what is the biggest tip that you can give someone? We've talked about this before. What is the biggest tip that you can give somebody that's new, that's trying to get better at foosball? And his very simple answer was practice. Yep.
[00:22:33] And on the surface, it sounds like a really simple, you know, kind of, you know, brush off to the side answer. But when you think about it, that is the most logical answer. Right. The more you practice, the better you're going to get, the better you get, the better you can be, the more you'll want to practice. So. Yeah. No, it's what it is. I think there, and everybody's got a slightly different focus sometimes because, well, like, like, uh, Eddie was just saying, you know, he was trying to emulate Tony and
[00:22:59] some of us emulate Terry Rue or, or, uh, Terry Moore or, you know, somebody who is really, uh, really at the top. And we take the time to really just, uh, watch what they do and, and, and try and, you know, at least pick up some of their, their, their, uh, their maneuvers. But, um, I mean, there's what, how do we, as, as, uh, let's say people who are not there
[00:23:23] yet, um, what's the right way to practice and what's the wrong way to practice? Or is there such a thing? No, there's definitely such a thing because I've done the wrong way a lot of times. Okay. Um, if I had to break it down real simple, I would say when it comes to your passing, be super disciplined, the more time you can spend on the five bar being disciplined about your passing and not just, I'm going to go wall, I'm going to go lane and just being on autopilot.
[00:23:53] You want to try and keep yourself out of autopilot. Um, one of the biggest things I try and talk to like a lot of the rookies and stuff, and even some experts that I I've, I've really gotten to talk to is I'm like, man, when I'm playing you, I feel like you're just doing this stuff. There's no rhyme. There's no reason. You're not really looking. You're just kind of going through the motions because that's how you practice. You just practice going through the motions instead of like, okay, right. I'm going to, in my head, I'm going to say every time he bumps wall, I'm going to go up.
[00:24:21] So in your head, you go, okay, moving the ball around, moving the ball around. There it is. And like, and you just keep trying to do those little things and you'd be very disciplined on your practice. Same thing with your shooting. Same thing with everything across the board. If you're willing to be very, very disciplined about your practice and, and the, and the way you think about how you practice, that's going to really, really help out. Okay. Okay. So that and volume, you have to do the volume as well.
[00:24:48] So you have to find a little bit of balance at times between, you know, the 10,000 pull shots, you know, whatever that is. Okay. And also having the discipline on them. So you want to make sure you have the mechanics and the discipline. So Eddie, when you were developing and you're going through these stages that, that, uh, Chase is describing, what was the hardest thing you had to learn? What was the hardest thing? What was the thing that really made you happiest that you learned?
[00:25:15] Um, I mean, I don't know if anything was the hardest. I just practiced everything. Everything. And, uh, and I did it like I'm in a match. Like, I mean, I was like, I'm really serious about baseball. So a lot of people like, why are you so serious? But you know, like I'm, I gotta be serious because if I, when I come up against these high rated players, I gotta be serious. I can't just goof off with them. So a lot of players tell me I take the game way too serious, but I think those are the
[00:25:42] players that are not really thinking they're going to face like the top players. And there's going to be times where I'm going to be facing, you know, these Terry Rue, Ryan Moore, Blake. I mean, and, uh, you know, I've, I've been on the doorsteps and the fifth games with them all. So, I mean, if I wasn't having that fatality of, of being serious and playing my game, like I want to, I want, I want to be on that level at all. Sure. Sure. You know, so, um, I practiced, you know, this, my two to five that I go get up there and
[00:26:11] a five to three, then I try to, you know, I put the man where I think I can shoot it at, or, you know, where I do different holes, you know, inside, outside corners. So I'll just look at, I set my man, my goalie man up different positions so I can go inside, uh, push them dead man at full side or something like that. You know, I just mix it up. Now the, of course the, the road to pro series is something that Chase has been working on for many, many years.
[00:26:40] And, uh, uh, Eddie, have you sat down and, uh, and gone through those, those, uh, those chapters? Uh, just a few of them. I mean, there's some things I was struggling at one time. Like I've had a, uh, a lot of problems with stance. My biggest thing is stance. Oh, okay. Just trying to get the right stance for my shot. Like even today, like I'm just making sure, like when I stand like Ryan Moore stands or anything, it throws me off. Okay. I have to stand different than a lot of people for some reason.
[00:27:09] Like I have to stand with right foot, right foot towards the, um, go. I mean, in front of me instead of left foot. Okay. And, uh, I just tried it. I just tried it different ways that people tell me they do, but it doesn't work out for me. Like, I don't know if there's a right or wrong way, but. Well, is it about getting the best leverage on? Yeah. I mean, I'm, I'm six, four and I got some new, I got these new shoes that makes me like six, six. So I got to adjust to those shoes too.
[00:27:36] So they're like really cause for cushion, they're orthopedic shoes kind of like, so I have to, uh, adjust to that two inch height. Oh, wow. Uh, yeah. So, I mean, I can see at the table really well though. Yeah, I guess it's, uh, but, uh, just a stance, uh, my stance itself. I think, I'm, I think I'm good where I'm at, but I can't do like what people tell me to do, like stand left foot there. Cause it just, it's awkward for me, I guess, cause of my height. I don't know.
[00:28:02] I just got to do what's comfortable for me and not really worry about what they think I should do. Um, and I, and I listen to everybody, but I tried, I tried different, different ways of doing it. And, uh, it just doesn't work out for me. Well, it seems like they're wherever they're able to go push. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It seems like wherever, um, see, see, see. If I stand a certain way. Yeah. Wherever there's a, there's a, a, a will, you know, something that you really, really want to do well with. There's a way to do it.
[00:28:31] Um, I think about, uh, people like Stan Palowski, uh, from the Northeast, who's just a, just an amazing player. And yet he's been in a wheelchair now for, for quite a long time. Um, he's in, in top physical condition, of course, but his, uh, his push shot is just phenomenal, but yet he sees the table from a different angle than someone like you. Yourself. So there's a way to adjust and to, to, to make it happen regardless, I guess, of, uh, of how high or how low you stand.
[00:29:03] Right. Yeah. I mean, um, it just stands. I got now, um, it say when I stand to the left, like when I stand a certain way, like the way certain players tell me I should stand, uh, it limits, it limits my shot. Right. But when I stand the way I am, I can go deep both sides or I can pick, I can walk it. I can do different things with it. So, um, it's just pretty much, it's just like a shot shooting a pull shot. Like everybody tells, you know, says you got to shoot it this way, but some people put their hand lower.
[00:29:32] Some people put their hand higher. Some people, you know, it's just how you feel comfortable. I think is the best way of shooting it. Yeah. There is a right and wrong way, but I mean, you know, it's, it's how the player is. Everybody's different. You know, you've got to be comfortable. Tony, Tony puts his hands like this and I, you know, most, a lot of players can't do that. So all of that is because when Tony was a kid, he couldn't see the near wall. So he tic-tac for a wall. Oh, that's it. Okay. And he wasn't super tall back then. He was a little bit shorter.
[00:30:01] So he had to wrap his arm underneath to get the leverage to hit the shot. Right. So there, there's actually a really good argument to kind of finding your own way to make it work. As long as you still understand, like, these are the things I have to accomplish. As long as you can accomplish those, you know, like if it's a rollover, you gotta be able to go pull, push, middle. And if you're going to do any kind of five bar, you have to have, you know, a wall lane
[00:30:29] and some kind of option off of it at minimum to get your like kind of reset. So got it. Yeah. As long as you can execute those things, it's all about decision-making. Yeah. How often have you been able to, uh, to, to look at a player? Uh, let's say somebody has asked you a question and they're standing at the table in their, in their playing position. Uh, how often is it just the way they're holding the rod or how often is it just the way they're standing? Uh, like 80%. 80%. 80%. Yeah.
[00:30:58] It's, it's, it's a lot. So I, I'm come from like an athlete background. Like as a kid, I played every sport known to man. Um, you know, as I got older, I played almost like paintball at a semi pro pro level. I played hockey all through high school. Like I love playing sports. I shot archery for a long time. Um, so stance in all of these things is really, really important. Huge. And, and knowing how your body can move is really, really important. Right.
[00:31:29] Um, so, you know, knowing what's capable from a certain position or from a certain stance, or if you're, you're too turned, right. You can't, your arm can't come out. So you, you can't like flex the rod. There's, there's all these little things that add to it a little bit. Um, so yeah, I think that, you know, and the biggest response I get after I say, Hey, it's because if you need to stand like this, your arm can do that. Well, my arm can't do that. Yes, it can.
[00:31:59] You just haven't done it 30 times. Like you haven't even tried it. Like you've got to, you've got to understand that there's motion and physics involved in this game that have to apply to the ball so that you can do these things. So, well, I mean, there's, there's a lot of that. You see, you know, young kids, uh, some of the younger kids coming up that started out when they're eight or nine years of age with, you know, small hands able to get a lot of
[00:32:25] power out of a shot that, uh, adults couldn't even match. And you kind of wonder, Hmm, what is it? What is the technique? What are they doing? Well, how's that work? Um, so we, uh, I obviously, those of us who need to, to learn these things, uh, got to really focus and pay attention to that. Oh yeah. Yeah. A hundred percent. Yeah. It's mostly technique. It's not about like trying to absolutely crush it. There's a lot, a lot of technique. That's what I'm learning. Yeah. And the harder you try, the worse it gets, it seems right.
[00:32:56] Quicksand. Yeah. No doubt. No doubt. Yeah. Well, I, I really want to talk about Knoxville because that's, it seems to be right there in, you know, of course in Tennessee, it seems to be one of the biggest foosball areas. Um, how long has the Knoxville scene been around? First of all, Eddie? Uh, before 2005, cause that's where I was, I was playing, um, you know, like our downtown little, little, um, we were playing actually across the street from, uh, what's that?
[00:33:24] Um, well, Barley, we played at a place called Barley's and then we played, um, you know, at Sunscreen's and we played it across straight there, but we've had like little tournaments for a while, a long time. Right. And, uh, you know, we, we've had, um, I think Greg was, Greg used to come out there, Greg Sherrod and, um, and Brian Jackson and Jay Newman, John Newman, all them guys, they came down and played with us a lot.
[00:33:50] And, uh, like, like I said, uh, I've never played in any kind of term or anything like a major term or anything. So I was kind of really hesitant for going, but I just really enjoyed playing the, um, local scene and that's all I knew local scene. And I did really well with it. I mean, just local, but when I came up against the, uh, you know, big scene and seeing, I was amazed when I, you know, open double stuff, I was like, wow. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So it was really impressive, you know, me and Brian Jackson, we did really well.
[00:34:18] And as a beginner, we took, I think 13th place in pro doubles as a beginner. Wow. And, uh, so I said, we got some potential here, you know? Uh, so. Got great teachers. Nice. Yeah. That's key. So, um, yeah, he, yeah, he was the forward and I was a gully and, uh, we, we took 13th and I remember Mary Morris saying, she called me to the, um, the office, uh, or, you know, her desk up there. And she said, she called my name and said, Hey, come up here. I need to talk to you. And she said, you had, and she said, are you, are you truly a beginner?
[00:34:48] I said, yeah. I mean, yeah. She said, you have no business, you have no business taking 13th and open and pro doubles as a beginner. No business at all. And I'm like, what's that supposed to mean? I guess that was kind of like a compliment, but then I moved off really quick. I went, I went from beginner to pro in four years, like in 2009, I was pro. Wow. So yeah. Yeah. I turned pro. I was a beginner, beginner in 2005 and I turned pro in 2009. No kidding. And, uh, that's impressive. So yeah, that's really impressive.
[00:35:17] And I did, you know, my, my games just goes up and down depends on how much I practice and stuff, but it's, uh, I've been trying to keep it consistent lately. Well, your hard work is paying off. There's that's, that's a proof positive right there that you've done the right thing to, to move out that quickly. That's a, that's pretty impressive. I mean, how many of us there's, there's gotta be hundreds if not thousands of us who have, who have, uh, started out, you know, beginner, rookie, whatever the case.
[00:35:41] And 10, 20 years later, kind of lingering there in amateur or a rookie and that's it. Yeah. I've seen that. I've seen that all the time. Oh yeah. Right. So just saying you did it in four years, man. That's amazing. That's terrific. Thank you. Yeah. So, so Chase, what, uh, what's, uh, what is it like for you stepping into the Knoxville scene? Cause you're from Chicago. How long did it take to, to, to find these guys and what was it like when you first stepped through the door?
[00:36:08] Um, so you, it, when I moved down here, it was just kind of like the end of COVID. Yeah. So in Chicago, you know, they have a really good scene in Chicago too. They play very, very often. They play like four nights of three or four nights a week. Um, but everything's a draw like a DYP. We, nobody was doing monsters back then. Not really. Um, and for me, it was like an hour to go play. So I didn't get out that much.
[00:36:34] I'd get out maybe once every few months if I'm lucky. Um, and just having kids and all that stuff. So I really didn't play a ton in Chicago. Uh, but moving down here, I mean, I was 15 minutes from, on a bad day from downtown and where these guys played. Um, but at first nobody was playing for the first like year and a half that I moved here, nobody was really playing except we would go over to Eddie's place and I didn't have my table yet. Cause I didn't move into this house. I was living with my dad.
[00:37:02] Um, my whole family was living in his place. We're only 10 minutes away from each other. Yeah. Now we're only 10 minutes from each other. Oh, that's just down the street. Yeah. Uh, but I'd go over to his place and we'd play singles for hours and nobody else wanted to get around anybody. Cause it was COVID time. Right. Sure. I mean, you're like, screw it. Let's get sick. Who cares? Yeah. Whatever. It's worth it. It's worth it. And you need to see people. I think, you know, a lot of, a lot of that was going on. I know here in upstate, uh, we were going to people's houses.
[00:37:29] Um, and we had a couple of quote unquote covert tournaments, uh, at, uh, Sean Burke's house. Uh, he had, he had like four or five tables and he'd get, you know, as many as 15, 16 people show up on a Saturday and we were just jones into play, man. You know, we can't go out for our regular. So we're definitely ready. We're down for it, dude. You know, whatever we're, we're going to take chances here. And, and, uh, and you know, people wouldn't be happy to know that we're doing it, but whatever, you know, yeah. Got to play.
[00:37:59] So finally they decided, Hey, we're going to start doing this again. Um, and they've got four tables in a awesome bar downtown called Sutry's, uh, right on gay street. It's my favorite bar. Check out Kyle, my dude, my guys, my bartender. I love that guy. But, um, yep. Um, so they do something different. They don't do that traditional DYP monster draw. They do what I can best describe as enhanced pickup games. Oh, okay.
[00:38:28] So everybody's trying, right? We've got four tables in there. Everybody's really, truly trying or working on something at, you know, every night, but grab a partner play. And whoever wins is holding the table. Nice. Um, table one is the table. It's going to have the camera on it. You play two out of threes on that table. Um, every other table is play how you want, do your own thing. And to me, that is way more enjoyable than going to a draw. Yeah.
[00:38:55] And, and I can't then do what I like, which is teach. Yeah. Um, I like to help players out and something like this, I can grab a beginner and go, let's play together for the next three matches. I can show you some stuff or let's go over on table four where I can show you what I'm doing wrong from the match before. Like, and before you can't do that because one, you're trying to win. Like you want to win. You don't want to give people tips while you're trying to win an event and win a couple of bucks. Right. Um, you know what I mean?
[00:39:24] Like, and this is more of like that camaraderie and fun and go down and talk about and enjoy foosball. Sure. You know, and, and how many times have you been in a bar? And I, this is my biggest selling point for just doing what we do here. Um, all of a sudden you've got your bar group, you're playing your draw three new beginners walk in the door and they're like, Oh, can we play in the draw? Oh, sorry. It already started. See ya. You just lost three brand new players.
[00:39:54] Right. Gone. They're never coming back. Right. Right. That doesn't happen with us. Good. Right. That it, cause it can't, you know, it's like, all right, let's get you on a table. Let's get you hooked up with somebody that's not playing right now. Like, and we make sure they have a good time. Amis, who is phenomenal at this stuff. Again, the glue that holds Knoxville foosball together. He always has like stickers and cool stuff to give all these new players. Nice. Tells them and reminds them about the events. Like, Hey, every Tuesday we're here, come on down. Like let's play.
[00:40:23] And we get, you know, that traditional, like from the college players come out every now and then and have a good time. They'll disappear for a little bit. They'll come back. And you know, every now and then we get one that starts coming all the time. There you go. We have the majority of our players are beginners, rookies, like dig it. That's yeah, that's awesome. Yeah. You know, and they're all listening and learning and trying to get better. And when you do that, you get better.
[00:40:52] And to me, Knoxville foosball scheme, when I got here, like their play wise was, it was okay, but it's gone. It's gone up drastically. Yeah. Because, you know, they're all listening. They're all learning. Like everybody wants to get better. They're playing each other, like in secret back alleys or something, trying to get better. Like, so it's good for all of us. Yeah. I mean, it's making it harder on all of us and it makes us play better as well. Oh, sure. You know? Oh, yeah.
[00:41:19] It ain't the same, you know, it ain't the same Thomas I played when, you know, when he moved here and now he's, he's lighting everybody up, you know, but yeah. Okay. Same way. And we got, we also have, what's his name? Rob Trout that came from Colorado. He moved here from Colorado. He knows the name. He's an expert player. Real good expert. Killer pull shot. Yep. Yeah. You know, and we've, we've just got a ton of like solid little players that are just inching their way up the ladder. Sometimes we have the Johnson city players come down.
[00:41:49] It's about hour and 45 minutes away. And that's where I was actually in Bristol up there. Not just yesterday, but was it yesterday? Yeah. Yesterday. But yeah, we get them players to come down to Knoxville and I go up there and support them as well. And they have a really good scene and they're having a, I think they were having a big tournament coming up in July. Yep. A warmup. I'm not sure what the dates are on it, but it's going to be an actual warmups. Okay.
[00:42:15] They're going to be having, and at Bristol, it's a, it's a, they have, they're going to have a pretty good tournament over there. It's a really nice scene. Is that a, is that a single day tournament basically? Yep. Okay. It's going to be a single day tournament. And yeah, it's, it's really good. Like you said, they have a good scene over there. They've got a fair amount of good players. You know, there's nothing. And they come over here. We go over there. It's, it's, it's a nice thing. And they're only like an hour and a half. Right. That's a, that's easy. That's really. Yeah. Wow. Yeah.
[00:42:43] And we've got some guys that come down from Kentucky. We've got people that'll come. I mean, we get visitors a lot. We get the Georgia players as well. Like, uh, again, sometimes Randy Raposa will come to our tournament. Randy and Chris. Yeah. He talks about that. Yeah. He really did. Yeah. Love me. Really. Really. The other great players from down there, they come up and, um, play with us. And when we're having our big tournaments, we haven't had one in a little while, but I think in the next month or two, we're going to have, we'll have another one. Cool. We can actually have a lot of teams.
[00:43:12] We can actually have 25 to 30 teams. But the problem is, is we, we can't have that because we're limited on time. Okay. Uh, when I used to run them at Peyton's place, I've had like 27, 29 teams. I had, um, I had Terry Moore come. I had Tommy Atkinson come. I had, uh, uh, what's the guy's name from, um, Louisiana. Uh, um, I forgot his name, but anyways, he's one of the top masters in Louisiana besides Terry. What's his name? Liam. Liam. Limley. He's been here.
[00:43:42] Oh yeah. So I had some really good turnouts and I think I had six tables there, but at just, at the bar we're had, we got four, but we're kind of limited on time. So we limited our, we limited our, um, teams to 16 teams. Okay. And it works out great. Cause usually we're done. We're done before 11. Yeah. That's saying something right there. Yeah. Yeah. That's great. We do Swiss system. Uh, and then it's like the top, so 16 teams, top eight, make it into the final bracket. That's single elimination. Yep. I mean, it's, it's really, really nice.
[00:44:11] We're in a good area for like, you know, you got the Johnson city players, you got the Atlanta players, you got the North Carolina players. Asheville. And we're just, we're in the middle of this hub. Yeah. And they've just come from all over and it's really good scene for, for the Knoxville area. Yeah. It sounds like, uh, there is a, a major waiting to happen someplace in that region of the country. Who knows? I've been begging. I've been begging. Who knows? Yeah. Right. Uh, you got this, you got the base. Please let me play on my home turf. Right.
[00:44:39] 75 and 40, you know, 75 and 40 crosses into Knoxville. So it's, it's a good from anywhere. And we've got the university of Tennessee. Like. Oh, there you go. Come on. Well, of course. Come on. Like, you'd get some kids. So I have to ask you the question. Uh, Nashville is, is the nationals this year, uh, for the world foosball tour. I think about that. Hey, yeah. I can imagine you'd be happy. Um, are you guys going to be, uh, are obviously going to have, uh, players you're playing with? Can you reveal who those people might be?
[00:45:09] Eddie, would you like to, to reveal? I'm playing with, um, a guy named Razza. He probably knows his last name. Razza from Chicago. Okay. Uh, I'm playing with him in open and pro. Mm-hmm. Um, so I got that hooked up. Um, so. Okay. Um, as far as, as far as team, I mean, players, I got the only thing I probably need is an open mix partner, but, um, right now I'm hooked up for. You're ready to go. And open. Yeah, I'm ready to go. Yeah. And I've been learning this, um, series.
[00:45:37] So I'm playing goalie and Chase knows what I'm talking about, but I've been really working on the, uh, three to the five series and it worked really well in Kentucky. I mean, we ended up taking 13th and open doubles, but, uh, I, uh, I play, but, um, his name's Scott Ramsey. Scott Ramsey. I know Scott Ramsey. I think he's from New York city, but yeah. He's actually from Rochester, Rochester, New York. Uh, so yeah, we did the three to the five series. I did the three to the five series and it worked really well with them.
[00:46:07] And, uh, I just, uh, I was, I was practicing it pretty heavy and it worked out really well. So, so me and Razzle, when we play, that's the series and we won't be using them with him. Cool. And, uh, so it's, it's a series that, you know, it's, um, it's gonna, it's, it's, if you, if you're really like practicing pretty heavy and they don't know what to look for, it's, it's hard to stop. I mean, at times. Uh, so, uh, now, you know, of course, if I, if I'm running in a lot of trouble and I just keep getting blocked, blocked, blocked, blocked, blocked, and I keep stealing the
[00:46:35] ball, I'm going to just go ahead and start shooting. And I got a pretty good shot out of the back. So I have my options to, in case if it fails, I go back to my regular options, but, um, I'm a pretty smart player. I feel like I am anyways. I mean, I feel like I can adjust to different things and stuff. So, uh, you know, it'd be fun. I'm sure about Chase here, if he's got his partners lined up or not. Chase, what about you? What, uh, what do you have lined up? Uh, I am not a hundred percent sure that I'm going to be able to go. The game plan is to go. So close. Um, I know, I know.
[00:47:05] I can only get to, I've got three kids. I work a lot. That, you know, things going on, a wife that, you know, the violins are playing. Yeah. It's a very large one for me. It's not the little one. It's the thing's massive. Um, but long story short is, is if I do go, I do have a partner lined up. Um, you know, it's my, my secret, my secret partner that I keep in my back pocket when the time's ready. Um, but we've been working a lot together. Good.
[00:47:34] So I'm, and I've kind of am like building my, my kind of perfect goalie, so to speak is my game plan. Gotcha. And it's going to take some time, but, uh, that's, that's what we're working on. So there's going to be looking at me. He's like, I know who that is. Um, don't give it away. But, uh, yeah, don't, don't treat, you know, don't let everybody know yet, but, um, I'm, I'm, it's a work in progress, but it's something I'm, I'm committed to working with.
[00:48:00] So, um, but, uh, that worlds in Ohio state are probably my events. Uh, Ohio state, I'll probably play with Kevin stickle again. Nice. Yeah. I've been playing with the dude for 20 years. I love him to death. He's one of my favorite people in the world. And that's the guy. Yeah. That's why I like to play foosballs. I like to play with my friends. I like the people I like, um, and you know, probably holds me back sometimes from, you know, winning certain events, but, uh, I'd rather have fun at this game and, and be me. Yep.
[00:48:29] Then, you know, be the guy that I just want to play with top players. So, right. Right. Somebody's don't get me wrong. I'd do it, but I don't have, but Drifter radio saying to you, uh, chase needs to get a fake idea and team up with, uh, with Eddie. Uh, we've tried Eddie and I've tried, uh, a few times. I, I've said it this way to him a couple of times. Like we're both great players. We just don't play great together. I gotcha. Um, chemistry thing. It's just a chemistry thing. Like sure.
[00:48:58] We were not on the same page on passes and things that we're looking at. And, and we've tried it. We've tried it with me up front. We've tried it with him up front. Like it just, just the chemistry isn't there. And for me, it's a big deal. Oh yeah. I have to play with somebody that I have a lot of chemistry with. Um, because there's times that I need bailed out bat. Yeah. So I need somebody like, okay, I need that ball. Let's wait for it. Like they know I need it. I know I need it. No kidding.
[00:49:26] Um, so we have, um, from JC Foos, we have a dual monster draw July 5th. Uh, who's therapy lounge in Jonesboro. Yeah. It's July 5th. So that's the big warmup. Yeah. That's the one in, that's the one out with the, the Johnson city boys. Gotcha. Gotcha. Gotcha. I believe that's going to be at the Bristol tournament. Um, it's, are they changing it to Bristol? But if I'm not mistaken, it's JC Foos. It's going to be at the, uh, borderline billiards.
[00:49:55] If I'm not mistaken, I could be wrong. Okay. Okay. Uh, that's JC Foos is saying it though. Okay. So it's probably at Foos therapy. You think so? Well, JC Foos is Johnson city Foos. I'll let them call. I don't know. I haven't really looked at the flyer. Okay. Well, it's a Jeff's. Yeah. Is that Jeff's? Yeah. He just said it's that Jeff's. I'm not even a hundred percent sure. I don't know if it's going to be a Jeff's or not, but yeah, that sounds great. Sounds like a plan. I mean, he, uh, he's, uh, he does a lot of things for us.
[00:50:24] I mean, he, he cooks, uh, like big barbecue. He brings the cooker out there and he does, and he does, he does beans and you name it. He doesn't. We're in the South. Yeah. Yeah. Well, there you go. We're in the South, man. When in Rome. And he's really good promote. You know, he's really good at like taking care of the guests and stuff like that. Cool. I go up there for the food mainly, but yeah. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Well, there's, there is that. I mean, you think about how often you've gone to, let's say a major tour stop and the food
[00:50:52] is okay. And yeah. And maybe there's a, uh, maybe a fast food place, you know, nearby, but it just isn't really well thought out that way sometimes. And I'm not, you know, I'm not saying this about any particular place, but sometimes I've noticed that happen. It's kind of like, it's all right. You know, and maybe, um, if you get someone who has a car, cause most people fly in somebody who has a car, you can get to a, maybe a really good restaurant.
[00:51:21] That's a few miles away, but it's tough man to find good food. That's for sure. I, I always pack my own cooler. Always. Yeah. I always have a cooler full of food so I can go back to the room, grab something simple. It's not going to make me sick. Right. Um, yeah. And I'm not going to hurt myself on later because I know what I'm eating and stuff. And it's just a, it's a plus it's a lot cheaper, right? Oh, it's yeah. And I'm a cheapskate.
[00:51:46] So like I'm always trying to keep, I buy the cheap giant thing of water bottles, throw those in the refrigerator, you know, grab the real cheap meat, some cheese, a little bread and call it a day. Like also helps you guys can drive there. You can, you can get there without having to fly, which is, which is awesome. But even when I do fly to an event, I, I find some place to go stock up real quick. Like one of those cheap coolers, take it back. And just because I know it's going to be so much cheaper. Okay. Okay.
[00:52:15] Um, what, what's going down says, um, Wisconsin has great state food or they're great. Wisconsin state has great food, I should say. Uh, so that that's a, that's a good endorsement right there. Sounds like a plug to me. Yeah. Sounds like they're trying to just, Oh, Wisconsin state here. Come on, visit us. Come to the tournament, find out. One of these days we'll have to do that. We'll have to get together and actually compile a list of the best food on tour. Right. So what, right.
[00:52:45] Wouldn't that be cool to have like a guide? That'd be kind of cool. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, hopefully you don't offend anybody, but, but, uh, We will. Yeah. Regardless, it'll happen. Somebody will be offended. Um, but I think it would be a kind of a handy guide, you know, for someone who really wants to get out and tour and, uh, because of the food. We got to have Randy with us on that one. Yeah. Yeah. By the way. Randy's really good at finding food. Yes, he is. He's really good at it. We're, uh, I promised him because he wasn't going to be here tonight that we were going
[00:53:15] to trash talk him. So, so Randy Raposo, you're getting. I can't trash talk. You can't? Why not? Come on. Oh. He would. No, because I love him. He is a good, he is good people. Um, I, even though he's from New Bedford. Uh, Matt, Massachusetts. Um, he, uh. Locked the car. I just, uh, I have to say, cause we didn't know each other before he joined the show. We really hadn't, uh, played in the same room or anything.
[00:53:43] We knew all the same people though, which is the weirdest thing because he was. Oh, that's funny. He was with, uh, you know, the early, the earlier players, um, that I know now who've stuck around, uh, from this area. And he knew all those guys, uh, including Billy Pappas back in the day. And so. That's his guy. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Exactly. That's his guy. Yeah. Billy is, is, is, uh, is, uh, somebody who's been with for all these years, but, um, yeah, it's Randy is, um, he's deserving of a little trash talking. Don't you think?
[00:54:13] I mean, there's not much I can, I can say bad about Randy. I wish I could. Right. I wish I'd be like, Oh, you're the job you did at tour kickoff was horrible. He did amazing. The dude killed it. Yes. Like he did fantastic up there. The way he was calling even timeouts was fantastic. Yep. He's such a nice guy. He's such a goofball. He has a great comment about everything. Like he's got to even knows where the really good barbecue is like 15 minutes away from
[00:54:44] TKO. Like, how do you not love this guy? Yeah. I mean, I got top 10 with him at the world championships. I'm there. There you go. There you go. And you have a chemistry. I can't, I can't even. Yeah. And we, we played pretty good together and honestly it was our first time playing together. Jeez. Um, so yeah, there was, yeah. So hopefully sometime we can do that again, but I can't say anything bad, man. He's awesome. We've got to put more effort into it. That's all there is to it. You know, we got to find something, something, anything, but, uh, I mean, he's moved to the South. Yeah.
[00:55:14] What do you do? Man, what do you do? I love to have him down here. Yeah. I like having him down here. He's beat my butt way too much, too often lately. It's driving me nuts. Last time I beat him was like 2010. When, uh, when he was in the pro, pro, uh, the pro doubles, uh, finals, uh, at TKO, you know, he's playing, he's playing against Sam Dijon, who's my personal friend's son. You know, I mean, and I'm rooting for Sam cause I mean, I, he's 16 years of age and
[00:55:44] he's, he's, you know, knocking on the door to pro master and it's like, man, come on, let's do this. And yet I, Randy's on the other side of the table. I'm like, what do I do? How do I, how do I cheer for somebody here? How do I, how do I go friends? I hope all my friends do well. Nobody mess up friends. Yeah. Everybody. That was the joke I was making the whole time that match was going on. Right. And same with the open doubles final. Yep. Like I want to yell and scream for a team in the open doubles final, but I'm like all
[00:56:13] of these people I talk to on a regular basis. I love these people. What am I supposed to do here? Like, how am I supposed to root against someone? Right. Like it's a, it's a, it's a complex thing. And yes, we want to get the energy level up. We want people to be in, you know, involved when they're watching a match, especially if the finals, you know, the finals of, of whatever, whatever event people have to be involved. And, and yes, we want to make it media friendly, of course. Yep. But what do you do then?
[00:56:41] It's like, well, we don't want to, we don't want to root against our buddies. Just cheer for everything. Yeah. Everything. That's what you do. You just have to cheer for it all. Somebody scored. Yay. Who was it? I don't know. That's what you do. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm, I'm curious, Eddie, when it comes to this sport, sport of foosball, what's missing that, that we haven't already addressed. What do you think we should be doing more of to make this more attractive to other people that don't play?
[00:57:12] I mean, well, Ryan's kind of making it more interesting the way, you know, he's getting there, he's changing some things and that here is going to be a lot better with all the new TVs and stuff. He's going to be putting in front of all the open doubles events and everything for the finals and stuff. So, uh, I mean, you know, you know, um, bars like anything missing, uh, it's kind of hard to say. I really don't know about if there's anything really hard missing.
[00:57:41] We, I mean, I know that we've like, we're doing our part, like any beginners comes and we know, we teach them and show them things and just, we don't want to, you know, just ignore them and stuff. We show them the way and tell them, come on, let's play down here. We play every Tuesday, you know, we advertise it and stuff. And, you know, I won the, well, I've got that trophy for that promoter of the year. I think, was it last year or the year before? Oh, nice. Year before last. Okay. At worlds. And, uh, so yeah, I just, I, I, I try to promote as much as I can is all, you know, the best I can do.
[00:58:09] And I feel like every time there's usually a tournament, I usually advertise it on the internet. Um, um, any, like any kind of state tournament, I always put it out there. So, you know, I try to promote things as I can. Do you get a lot of, uh, university kids showing up? Do you have a lot of college students who show up? No. Okay. No, not really. Uh, a few here and there. Yeah. Once in a while. We used to have, when I used to play at Cool Beans and we were able to smack down at UT
[00:58:36] and we got a little bit there, but you know, um, they actually had a table in there. They did. They used to anyway. Okay. Um, so, but you know, just either you like it or you don't like it, you know, you, if someone comes in, we just get them to play, you know? So here's a, here's a scenario. Let's say, um, in the next five, six months, uh, Ryan announces a new club system.
[00:59:05] Um, what are you guys going to call yourselves in Knoxville? What's, uh, what's, what's going to be your team name? I'm going to leave that to Thomas. I don't get involved in that stuff. He'll bounce some ideas off me. I'm like, I don't care. Whatever. Do your thing. I just want to help you. Um, I, I really hope he does. I hope there's something like that that comes about. Yeah. Um, I do think that that is one thing that will really help foosball.
[00:59:32] Um, the other thing I, I, I go back and forth on telling people this because it's super controversial in my opinion, when it comes to the world of foosball, but if you want foosball to be enjoyable for television, we have to make some pretty drastic changes to the game of foosball. Yeah. Um, it has to be more one enjoyable for people to watch. And the only way to do that is to make the game faster. Okay. Okay.
[01:00:02] Right. So you would have to basically turn the game into like rollerball where you never stop the ball. Everything has to be moving. Um, and I think that would transform foosball again. Again, people are going to hate this, right? Like it would divide foosball to the core in my opinion, the concept. Yeah. But if, if you really wanted that, right. Like it needs to be like, not two ball rollerball style, but like actual rollerball rules.
[01:00:32] Like everything's like, can't take more than like five seconds on a rod. Okay. That kind of stuff. Like it's gotta be quick. Um, I think that would allow for people to enjoy it. I think you would see a lot more funsy, not funsy shots, but you'd see slingshots more. You'd see more entertaining and pull kicks or entertaining. Right. Because you run out of time, you got to do something. Sure. So I think that would drastically change the game. Mm-hmm.
[01:01:01] And yeah, I, and you know, I even think some people need to be able to be more energetic in the game, like talking, not necessarily talking, talking, but some talking more assertive. Um, yeah, more assertive. Yeah, exactly. More assertive. Yeah. Um, but I think, and I'm, I don't think that that is classic foosball. Like maybe there needs to be a separate classic foosball type event. Okay. You know, but I think if you want foosball to be on television, it has to change. Right.
[01:01:31] Um, and that's just my opinion. I love foosball. I'll play on anything. Um, I mean that there is from El Jimidor. I've got a frown over there from when I was playing on that, um, crappy Verona light table that they had many years ago down. There's a Renee Pierre. I mean, I don't care what table you play on. Like it's a me foosball is fun. It's still foosball. It's still foosball. It's fun. Fireball and all the tables.
[01:02:00] They, uh, they've all gone to had their place in the history and the annals of, of playing foosball. Uh, you know, warrior may they rest in peace. Um, you know, fireball, of course. Uh, nice. Um, there's been a couple of other tables. I mean, I'm, I'm a Bonzini guy just because that's what I was raised on. Um, but last week we had, uh, Biggie from, uh, from, from, uh, uh, Montreal and, uh, he's, he's, uh, they're putting together this big tournament, which is multi-table.
[01:02:30] It's the first Northeast multi-table championship coming up. Uh, I think that's going to be phenomenal. I can't wait to see what the turnout is like. Obviously it's in Canada, but, um, you know, if you've got a passport or you've got a modified license, go, you know, it's going to be, it's going to be a huge deal. Um, but I think that's the, that's the future, right? That's, that's in order to unify what foosball means, not just in America, but also in Europe.
[01:02:55] It's kind of like the way, and we're so in love with the tornado because it is a great table. There's no doubt about it, but. No doubt about it. You know, but the, the lean hard. I don't care. I really don't care. Yeah. I really don't. Yeah, exactly. I do think that there's a, there needs to be a, um, like something added at worlds, like, um, like maybe take something away and add something. That's going to be a lot better. I really think, uh, and I always, and I always wanted it to happen, but I don't know why it
[01:03:23] hasn't happened, but I think at worlds there should be a tournament where each state has their own teams. Oh yeah. Like an event state state versus state and whoever, you know, whoever is the best state at the end of the championship, but they get the money. Yeah. Uh, like maybe take out, um, you know, something like forward shootout or something and put this state tournament in, um, for the guys worlds is about like, first of all, who's the best player and who's the best state.
[01:03:52] So like, who's got the higher concentration of talent, you know, say that we're say that for example, Tennessee, we're in the final. So that meant as looks good for the whole, you know, the whole state of Tennessee. Like, you know, if we have something like that, it happens and I, I would like to see that happen. And at worlds to take out, take out one of the events that we can make time for like a state, um, you know, who's top dog in the States.
[01:04:19] This is, uh, all, all the result of, of having a really strong club system where you can say, you know, we've got four or five clubs with, let's say within the state of Tennessee, they all play each other during the year and they get their best possible team out of that four or five clubs. I agree. Right. And then they send them out to, uh, Chase here, coach for us. He can be our head coach there. There you go. He can, he can tell us like who we need a team with or who I need to play singles with against or who, uh, who needs a team with who.
[01:04:49] And I think it'd be awesome. I think it would really improve worlds. I think the worlds would be a lot, I mean, it works as exciting as it is, but it'll be a lot better if they did something like that. Now you've got something to cheer about, right? So now you're, you're cheering for your state, you're cheering for your, your, your club next year. That would be awesome. If they would do that. Oh yeah. I mean, who wouldn't, who wouldn't try for their state and try to find the best players and win for their state? I would, you know. There you go. There you go. I mean, we used to do it in New York state.
[01:05:16] We called the New York state cup during the New York state championships. And it would be different cities that would pity, pity, pity each other. Uh, and, and there was a big cup that had a big silly looking cup that, uh, that we'd pass around. It's stayed in Albany mostly, but we, we lost it once or twice. Um, but yeah, so it was, it was, uh, it was fun because in that phase of the tournament that weekend, that's when everybody was in the stands just going crazy, you know, cheering for, for their, their, their city.
[01:05:42] Um, and I thought, Hey, this, this is what makes a foosball really compelling. Um, so who knows? You know, I think it needs to do something like that. Yeah. There was a time Mary did a thing like that. That was pretty fun. All the States would compete, put in a team and. Yeah. I thought it was enjoyable. I, I did it for Illinois, um, back in the day and that was super fun. That was, you know, I think it was been. Whisper to Ron to bring it back. Yeah. It would have been like 2009, 2010, maybe. Something like that. That makes sense. Yeah.
[01:06:12] Uh, we did it, I think, um, for, for New York state, it was what, I think 2014 was the last time it happened. But, um, you know, these kinds of things can come back easily enough. Yeah. And it makes, uh, it makes a whole lot of sense. If we, if it makes it more fun, makes it more exciting, all of the things that are positive about foosball. If it makes it more of all those things and why not? Why not? Absolutely. So, um, but anyway, it's, uh, I got to say, uh, before we go, before we finish up, um,
[01:06:41] first of all, Eddie, I, I, I want you to give a shout out to your scene. Uh, just recommend if somebody comes to Knoxville, uh, where should they go? Who should they talk to? And they want to play some foosball. Oh, come down to our, uh, local, et cetera. He's on Gay Street and, uh, they can come talk to me, Chase, uh, Greg or, um, Thomas, you know? Okay. Um, they usually Thomas and, uh, Greg usually run the tournaments locally, but, uh, you know,
[01:07:10] we are, we're all great people down there. We all like, you know, um, well, I'll, um, encourage players to come down and play and, uh, show them a good time. And we actually play with a lot, you know, if they come down, Chase plays with the beginners and I'll play with the beginners just to give, you know, give them a chance. I actually, I think we got a player coming down this Tuesday. He messaged me and said, uh, I think he was a beginner and he wants to come down and play. So, uh, I'm not sure where he's from, but he, uh, he asked me if we're playing this Tuesday and I said, yeah, so, uh, we're getting, uh, I think we got a lot of people
[01:07:39] coming this Tuesday. Yeah, we, yeah, we actually, uh, I mean, I think the guys from Kentucky are coming, the guys from Johnson city are coming. I think we, uh, we actually had a player at one time. We had players coming down every week from different city, different States. Okay. They're passing through, uh, just because we're like, we're right through the interstate. They stop and play and stuff. So, uh, market, market, city garage, come to, come to Suttrees, come hang out. We're in the back left corner. Okay. Get the bartender. Done deal.
[01:08:09] Right. Um, so, and, and also before we wrap things up too, we have to mention that today or this weekend was South Dakota state, uh, and a big time tournament there, you know, it was a, it's a state tournament. Um, Chase, what, uh, what, what were the results? What, uh, what happened there? Uh, so I know that Munoz won singles doubles was not completed before, but it looks like it just completed. Okay. Uh, let's take a quick glance here. So Jacob Balcos and Joe Rhodes won.
[01:08:40] Whoa. Uh, they beat Ryan and Mike Ryrowski in the final. Really? And then, uh, yeah. And it looks like, uh, Scott O'Hare with Eric Balcos got third. Nice. So, uh, that's incredible. Jacobs came a long way. That's a long way. Good for him. And then Munoz and Jordan. Hartshorn got fourth. So, I mean, that's, that's pretty good. That's a deep field right there. That's a deep field. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. I mean, one Jacob and Joe Rhodes are solid period.
[01:09:10] I mean, there's no question there. Mike Ryrowski is a great player. Another guy I used to kind of hate. Now I love him. Um, cause I apparently have the worst ability at reading people ever. Um, and Scott O'Hare, I mean, you can't talk about, you know, Mr. Pro Doubles himself. That dude's amazing. Right. Um, so yeah, that's a great field right there. Yeah. South Dakota. It's, it's great to see, again, there's so few gaps now when it comes to the schedule, uh, you know, of good tournaments that are happening all across the country.
[01:09:40] If you're not, you know, looking at looking a couple of months in advance, you're going to miss something. You know, you really got to pay attention. I think my future tournaments myself, um, I'm going to be going to nationals, Ohio state, North Carolina state and worlds. So I got probably four major, nice. I say major, but big, very cool. I go to, I probably hit five a year, maybe. Oh, good. Yeah. Yeah. And they're all within drop, pretty good driving distance. Like, um, I think the Ohio was about five, maybe five and a half.
[01:10:10] Okay. And it's probably in Columbus. Yeah. It'll be in Columbus. I went there. I went there last year. Did really well there actually. Okay. Well there. And, uh, um, so I'll go to Columbus and I'll go, and that's a Ohio state and I'm going to be going to nationals and then, uh, North Carolina state and then the world of the world before that, of course. Uh, yeah. So yeah, I got about four tournaments ahead of me. Big shout out to Jason binder, who has King seat of pro pro doubles at North South Dakota state with Nathan Olson. Holy cow, man. There you go.
[01:10:41] Jason. I've heard his name quite a few times. Oh yeah. Yeah. He's, he's definitely a fierce player. Um, yeah, I was just going to say, uh, Eddie, I think that, um, uh, we certainly should, should look ahead here and see if there's a time when we can all get together at a tournament and, uh, hang out, maybe play some foosball, maybe some pickup games, something like that. Sounds great. Um, if you could love to, yeah. If you're on, if you're at the same tournament with us, uh, of course, chase will be there. I'll be there and Randy will be there. You can always come over and hang out, man.
[01:11:08] And we can, uh, we can do, do this again. Um, sounds great. Of course we'll trash talk about Randy to his face. How's that sound? That's way better. I can't do it behind his back and I can't do it. Just like him too much. Yeah. He loves me. He loves me. He always tells me that. This guy, you're awesome. You, I can talk crap about Randy. But it's, uh, I gotta say you guys, uh, really, uh, you just make it so easy when it comes to
[01:11:35] just hanging out and talking foosball, you know, you really appreciate the taking the time to do this and chase you and I'll be back together again soon. I'm sure. Um, we're, um, one of the things I'd like to see sometimes is, uh, maybe every once in a while you come on and give us another tip as to how to make pro. Sure. Anytime, man. Always happy to help. Yeah. Cool. A lot of little things that I had to learn the hard way and people had to beat me over the head with. So it's, uh, I'm 66 and a half years old.
[01:12:06] I'm thinking to myself, well, gee, you know, if I can live to be 70, maybe I might make amateur. Who knows? You can do it. You're still true. You can do it. You got this. With your help. You got your help. Of course. Have you watched the YouTube videos? If you haven't watched the YouTube videos. I have. Yes. I have. I've seen some really great ones. I do use that, uh, that push shot from the two row that you showed on the, uh, on the video. I use that and it works, you know, but, but only in certain moments because, you know, if I
[01:12:35] overuse it, then I get, I get blocked bad. But, but yeah, that's a great one. I really always, always liked that one. But, uh, yeah, guys, uh, thank you so much for doing this tonight. It's been a blast. Always a pleasure. Yeah. It's been a pleasure. Yeah. Thank you for having us. Appreciate you. Absolutely. But, um, in the future, of course, we'll, we'll see on the road, uh, of course, uh, next weekend. Wow. Oh, what was, there's something happening next weekend. It's, it's the Arnold at, uh, Columbus, which has become. I've been wanting to go to that one, but I can't. Yeah.
[01:13:04] It's, uh, in Columbus, it's a $5,000 tournament, but it's in the middle of the, the convention center where, where the Arnold has what, like 20,000 people show up for, uh, for working out. That's something crazy. Yeah. That's insane. I've heard rumors that that's the last one. I hope not. Really? Because it seems like a full event. Yeah. Okay. Well, geez, we'll see. We'll see what happens, but hopefully they can maintain that. I know, uh, the guys that, that, that run that place and, and I know, uh, Judy Schober is certainly involved there too.
[01:13:33] But, uh, wow. Um, I hope that's not the last time. Well, guys, let's talk again soon. And, uh, thanks again for being here on Foos Talk Live. Uh, had a blast. And, and of course it's always educational, Chase, always educational. So. Trying. Just trying to help out a little bit. Uh, stick around because, uh, tonight, of course we have our usual Foos Talk Live tournament beat coming up next. Guys, we'll catch you next time. All right. Have a good one. Thanks for having us. You bet. Thank you.
[01:14:02] Foosball tournaments are everywhere. Foos Talk Live proudly presents a weekly update of events near you with the Foos Talk Live tournament beat. Here's what's up. Back for 2025, it's the Arnold $5,000 Foosball Championships. February 28th through March 2nd at the Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio.
[01:14:26] Take your vacation with the 2025 Costa Rica Summer Beach Tournament, March 13th through the 16th at the Amapola Resort and Hotel, Jocko, Costa Rica. House of Tournaments presents Moneyball Northwest, March 13th through the 16th at the Crown Plaza in Portland, Oregon. The 2025 Wisconsin Foosball State Championship, March 20th through the 23rd, Mad Apple Billiards in Appleton, Wisconsin.
[01:14:54] Tavern Players Magazine presents the Hayloft Foosball Tournament, March 22nd at the Hayloft Hobbs Tavern Brewery and Restaurant, Ossipi, New Hampshire. The first annual North American Multi-Table Foosball Championship featuring Tornado, Bonzini and Leonhardt, March 27th through March 30th at Three Rivers, Quebec, Canada.
[01:15:17] The Norfolk Foosball Club presents the $4,500 Bonzini East Coast Classic, March 28th through the 30th at Sanctuary at the Rail Yard, Norfolk, Virginia. The 2025 Hall of Fame Classic, April 9th through the 13th at Westgate Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. RK Foosball presents the 2025 Florida State Championships, May 1st through the 4th, holiday in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Florida.
[01:15:48] The 2025 Minnesota State Foosball Championships, May 2nd through the 5th, Wyndham Garden, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The ITSF presents the 2025 Tornado World Series and ITSF Gold Series Finals, May 23rd through May 26th at the Westin-Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, Dallas, Texas. It's the 2025 Illinois State Championship, June 5th through the 8th. More details coming soon.
[01:16:18] The World Foosball Tour presents the 2025 National Championships, July 10th through the 13th in Nashville, Tennessee. Stay tuned for more details. Each week, we do our best to give you the most up-to-date listing of foosball tournaments near you. If you have an event you'd like to add, send us all the details at foosballradio at gmail.com. Tune in every week for the Foos Talk Live Tournament Beat.
[01:16:46] Foos Talk Live is a product of Foosball Radio. With gratitude, we recognize our Foosball Radio Patreons. Our Foos Talk Live sponsor, original-leonhart-usa.com. And thanks to InsideFoos.com for use of their audio during the show. Tune in again next week for another episode of Foos Talk Live. In the meantime, we'll see you at Foosin'.