The nickname

Hi all! OK, I promised to let you all in on how I became known as 'The First Lady of Trick Shots'. I was at my first tournament for trick shots, the 2007 Artistic Pool US Open. I was at the players meeting the night before the tournament began when I was asked to stand up and tell everyone a little about myself. OK, there I was standing before all of these unbelievably great shooters, and I can't think of anything to say, me, mouth of the century - with nothing to say! When I was done babbling... someone spoke up and yelled out "What's your nickname?" Nickname??? NICKNAME?? I knew this was going to come up. I even asked everyone I shot with for ideas on a nickname from my home hall (Diamond 8 Billiards, Latham, NY) - but they just blew me off and gave either ideas I can't write here, or just said I didn't need one. But I KNEW I'd need one, every trick shot artist has a nickname!

So, I said "My nickname is..." (now I think I thought I'd be inspired and come up with one right at that moment... but... no.... the 'ole brain failed!) so I finished the sentence with: "I don't have a nickname." DEAD SILENCE. I think everyone thought I was serious!!!! So I said "No, really I just don't have a nickname." The place just erupted with talk... the wives of the players started saying "oh, pick a name quick, or they are going to give you one!" Players were giving out ideas, it was chaos. Finally, all tall, southern cool of him, Mike Massey stands up and announces "I've got it." Everyone quiets down and listens.. "She's the first woman to shoot in a ranked tournament with us, so she'll be The First Lady of Trick Shots." I smile, relief just waves over me, and Mike is my hero.

I said "Yeah, that's fine. I like it. Thank you." I don't just like it... I LOVE it!!! How cool is it to be the first lady of anything???!!! And then... I signed my first autograph. Try fitting 'Stacy Mendrick "The First Lady of Trick Shots"' on a cue shaft with 23 other signatures!! LOL... I'm dreading that first cue ball autograph... I don't think it'll fit!! But I still love the nickname and Mike is still my hero!