Draw your partner popular in foosball at State Games
A pile of names got tossed into a hat at about 9 a.m. Saturday.
The draw-your-partner event at the Cornhusker State Games foosball competition was about to get started, and for Jon Knapp of North Platte, that’s when the emotions got rolling.
“When you draw, it’s exciting, nerve-racking, fun, stressful,” Knapp said. “Fun, most of all. That’s why we do it.
“I love draw for partners, they’re my favorite. Just the fact that everybody is on the same level, and you never know who you’re going to get.”
To foosball outsiders, the thought of drawing for your partner is one of the more unique concepts among States Games events. You show up at State Fair Park not knowing if your teammate for the next three hours will be a 15-year-old veteran or a 60-year-old rookie.
But for foosball players, draw your partner is as much a part of their game as the goalkeeper. Many tournaments begin with a partner draw, then hold such divisions as doubles, mixed doubles, singles, goalie wars and shootout. At some major foosball events, a pro-amateur partner draw is popular.
In Lincoln, a group of foosball players meet Wednesdays at Woody’s Pub and Fridays at The Garage (48th Street and Nebraska 2). Most nights, the group draws partners, because it’s easy to include as many players as there are in attendance.
At the State Games, draw your partner is a good way to get warmed up, meet new people and work on your game before the “game faces” really come out.
“You never know what you’re going to get,” Knapp said. “We have all skill levels here, from beginners to semi-pros. Maybe you’ve never played with them before, and maybe you draw your doubles teammate. I’ve done that in the past.”
Sixteen players entered the draw-your-partner event. Over the two-day foosball competition, about 30 players will compete in the various events. Action started at 9 a.m. Saturday and wasn’t expected to end until 11 p.m.
Ben Stone of Lincoln says draw your partner is one of the more popular events among regulars.
“A beginner can draw an experienced player and win, and everybody likes to win,” he said. “A more experienced player maybe gets a chance to work on different parts of his game. The way I look at it, no mater who I draw, I’m guaranteed to play twice.”
Stone was paired with Justin West, a player he’d played with previously. They won the gold medal, while Craig Hibbs and Ben James took second.
Many of the players know each other from competing in various events, while others only see each other at the State Games.
“You get a broad range of people,” Knapp said. “They may have never played sports in their life, but they can whup you on a foosball table. Then you get the athletic guys who don’t know what to do on a foosball table.”
These aren’t your average bar players, either. Knapp has a table in his basement. Some players had towels to wipe the sweat from their face and hands. Strategy was discussed.
“It may look like a silly game to some people,” Knapp said, “but we take it really seriously.”
Reach Brent C. Wagner at 473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com.
The draw-your-partner event at the Cornhusker State Games foosball competition was about to get started, and for Jon Knapp of North Platte, that’s when the emotions got rolling.
“When you draw, it’s exciting, nerve-racking, fun, stressful,” Knapp said. “Fun, most of all. That’s why we do it.
“I love draw for partners, they’re my favorite. Just the fact that everybody is on the same level, and you never know who you’re going to get.”
To foosball outsiders, the thought of drawing for your partner is one of the more unique concepts among States Games events. You show up at State Fair Park not knowing if your teammate for the next three hours will be a 15-year-old veteran or a 60-year-old rookie.
But for foosball players, draw your partner is as much a part of their game as the goalkeeper. Many tournaments begin with a partner draw, then hold such divisions as doubles, mixed doubles, singles, goalie wars and shootout. At some major foosball events, a pro-amateur partner draw is popular.
In Lincoln, a group of foosball players meet Wednesdays at Woody’s Pub and Fridays at The Garage (48th Street and Nebraska 2). Most nights, the group draws partners, because it’s easy to include as many players as there are in attendance.
At the State Games, draw your partner is a good way to get warmed up, meet new people and work on your game before the “game faces” really come out.
“You never know what you’re going to get,” Knapp said. “We have all skill levels here, from beginners to semi-pros. Maybe you’ve never played with them before, and maybe you draw your doubles teammate. I’ve done that in the past.”
Sixteen players entered the draw-your-partner event. Over the two-day foosball competition, about 30 players will compete in the various events. Action started at 9 a.m. Saturday and wasn’t expected to end until 11 p.m.
Ben Stone of Lincoln says draw your partner is one of the more popular events among regulars.
“A beginner can draw an experienced player and win, and everybody likes to win,” he said. “A more experienced player maybe gets a chance to work on different parts of his game. The way I look at it, no mater who I draw, I’m guaranteed to play twice.”
Stone was paired with Justin West, a player he’d played with previously. They won the gold medal, while Craig Hibbs and Ben James took second.
Many of the players know each other from competing in various events, while others only see each other at the State Games.
“You get a broad range of people,” Knapp said. “They may have never played sports in their life, but they can whup you on a foosball table. Then you get the athletic guys who don’t know what to do on a foosball table.”
These aren’t your average bar players, either. Knapp has a table in his basement. Some players had towels to wipe the sweat from their face and hands. Strategy was discussed.
“It may look like a silly game to some people,” Knapp said, “but we take it really seriously.”
Reach Brent C. Wagner at 473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com.
Copyright © 2002-2008 Lincoln Journal Star. All rights reserved.