new installment on "Eveything I Really Need to Know"

OK, I'm not really going to write a book any time soon, but I'm sticking with my opinion that Everything I Really Need To Know I Learned In A Pool Hall. A verbose, yet new installment...

You're standing over a pool table, the balls are broken up, there's no obstructions to clear, it's just you and these 8 balls. Contemplating the shot and the subsequent shots, building in your mind the path that runs the table. There's risky ways to run out, and there's safe ways to run out. The thing is, the risky way might also be the easy way too. If you just shoot this, then that, quick easy stop shots, it's no problem and victory is easy - except that this choice of runout means you have to leave the cue ball out in the table in a position that's also useful to your opponent. If you miss and leave it out in the open, they have an easy run too.

OR, do you try to half-run? Putting together a run from the break to the victory in one turn at the table doesn't happen just will-nilly, and there's the possibility that you might miss. So do you construct the run with a pause at the middle? Sink 4 balls and then play a safe shot, to come after the next 4 in the next inning when your opponent misses getting out of the safety? Or take that to the extreme in deliberation - 1 ball, then play safe. opponent kicks out of safety. 1 ball, then safety... until it's an easy 2-3 ball out. A tedious "defense only" option.

The right answer is: You must play offensively and defensively at the same time. Risks need to be taken to make any balls at all (duh), but choose a strategy that doesn't expose yourself unless you absolutely have to, and in those cases, be Extra Sure To Get It Right.

I say this because of something Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, General Peter Pace said in testimony :

Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified, “You're asking a Marine who's focused on winning whether he has a plan in case he doesn't win.”

Heck, Mr. General, sir... surely they teach things like a defendable offense in Marine Corps war college, don't they? If they don't, just come on down for a couple games of 8-ball or one-pocket and I'll show you what I mean. Sometimes having something to demonstrate with really helps you work out a problem in your head... I'll even pay for the table time.