MICHIGAN CITY | I guess "hustle" is no longer in vogue when it comes to professional billiards.
At least that's the case with the ladies.
For how could you "hustle" when tagged with such intimidating nicknames as "Duchess of Doom", "Irish Invader", "The Assassin" and "The Black Widow"?
"Minnesota Fats", thanks for playing.
"'Duchess of Doom' ... really, I much rather prefer 'The Queen of Doom,'" 10-time Women's Professional Billiard Association Player of the Year Allison Fisher said on Wednesday.
"It's a name our tour emcee gave me when I first came on tour," Monica "The Assassin" Webb said. "I was knocking off a lot of top players, so the name just stuck."
Fisher, a native of Chestnut, England, and Webb will be among the NCAA-tournament-like field of 64 today through Sunday at the WPBA Great Lakes Nine-Ball Classic at Blue Chip Casino. It will be the third time the WPBA tour has come to Michigan City.
"It seems like it's been here forever," said Fisher, who will be defending her title.
Last year, Fisher was bumped to the loser's bracket after the first round, but managed to fight back for the title -- one of 65 professional crowns during her 12-year career.
"The competition is getting tougher," Fisher said. "There have been recent rule changes, which include alternating breaks. So now you can't run out your opponent.
"It's made the matches more close, and it's better for spectators. But a lot of (table-run) records will now never be broken."
As for Fisher's 65 titles ... that mark seems safe for now. Former two-time Player of Year Karen "Irish Invader" Coor is the closest sitting at 21.
"I started playing snooker," said Coor, a Northern Ireland native who now resides in Newton, Pa. "Snooker is big where I came from ... they televise matches. And we play on 6-by-12 tables with smaller and deeper pockets. You have to be really focused to make shots.
"Growing up playing snooker has definitely helped me in nine-ball."
As for Atlanta resident Webb, it's how well you "kick" that can keep you in the game.
"Kicking is using a rail to get at an object ball," she said. "Some people can do it well ... I'm good at bank shots. But really, you want a clean run of straight shots."
Though Webb has been WPBA-ranked in the Top 3, she's still looking for her first tournament win.
"I'm getting better every year," said Webb, who started shooting in earnest after her father opened up a pool hall. "I feel I'm on the verge of breaking out.
"For this (GLC), I'm going to try to keep them in the chair and keep them in a coma."
Fast Eddie, you've been warned.
