Ross Lantzy and Jim Sherman
Oct 31, 2011 by Scott Rodriguez and Joe Trujillo
Ever since their first Major title in Vegas, Ross Lantzy and Jim Sherman have proven that they aren't one hit wonders. Hitting virtually every tour stop in 2011, Ross is knocking on the door to pro, with Jim having his back with solid defense. They took some time out of their Amatuer reign and off-the-table hijinks to answer a few questions from CO Foos:
You two have seemed so composed during big matches, even in our finals match in Vegas. I was a mental wreck, and you guys played it like a couple of old pros! How did/do you maintain your nerves, under that kind of pressure? By the way, I want you two to know that you became "the enemy on the table" to me after that match, haha!!
I think we always assume that we are the best team on the table. No matter what happens during the match, we feel like we are in control. It allows myself, as the foreword, to just focus on just one pass and one shot at a time.
A lot of athletes go through a regimen of "superstitions" before a big game/match (ie same pregame meal, same socks, same shirts). Have you done anything like that, or is there a "pregame" ritual you two go through, before a big match?
The only pre-game ritual we go through is talking about how much better we are then the people we are playing against. DIGG IT!!!
Paul Smith/Joe Coffman, CJ/Dean, and Jorge/Angelo all made pretty strong runs, but couldn't finish. Were there any teams out there, that made you nervous, or were relieved not to face?
Absolutely not. Paul Smith and Joe Coffman. Never heard of em. The only one I am scared of is Angelo, because he is so damn nice, I always feel bad smashing him.
Before Worlds, everyone was talking about how Paul Smith dominated some regional, winning AM's and Expert events. Did you even know who he was? Did you scout him out? Or did you just roll him like every other AM?
The only person I am scared of in the amateur division is Jim Thornton, because no body knows where his shots are going. Not even him. Every other AM is the same to us.
Your games have definitely improved over the last year. Is there anything in particular that you two work on at home, that you'd want to share for those getting into the game, as a forward/goalie? Do you guys work on passing a lot? Do you use signals? Oh wait…I forget I'm talking to AM's here...
 After every tournament that we play together, we both talk about what needs work in each other’s games. We set goals for things to work on by the time the next event rolls around. Example being Jim telling me that my 5 bar is terrible after HOF, and me telling Jim that his whole game sucks and I’m sick of carrying him.
As far as the passing, we both seem to see the same holes. But usually I just let Jim bomb away from the pitts, because EVERYBODY leaves him the slider.
How did you two get started? Did you both start at the same time?
We both got started just messing around on the table when we were 17-18 years old. We never knew there was any kind of tournament scene until we were around 22 or so. We would show up the boulder tournaments on Tuesdays, and get our ass smashed for about a year or so. We would draw some cool people who would teach us what they know (Brian Shrunk), and some sourpuss’ (Kid, EA, Michaels) who would consider drawing us a bummer. But that is part of it. NOW WE OWN ALL OF YOU. Only the AM’s. haha.
What have you noticed since you've started, that hooked you into touring regularly this year (going from virtual nobodys at the locals, to World Champions)?
The one thing that I noticed, is how much better I was getting every time that I played. I knew that if I could put the table time in, I could start picking up everything on the table. It also helps to have a good foos scene to pick some very high level players brain.
How do you think Colorado will fare, as the next generation of foosers enter the scene? What advice do you have for those newbies going to their first major?
I think the next generation of foos in CO is going to be good. We have some good young people in Boulder learning from Davin. But the main piece of advice I would give to new foosers, is don’t get discouraged. It is easy to show up to these tournaments and get smashed three weeks in a row and give up. Getting beat is a key part to getting better.
What does foosball need to improve its player base, on a local scale, a National scale?
MORE MONEY IN THE AMATEUR DIVISION. Just kidding. Kinda. It also needs 50 more people like Davin, and a bunch of hot college girls.
If you could make any changes to the tour, to make it better for the player, what would it be and why?
Maybe cheaper packages. I know it can be a real hit on the wallet to get to one of these events on tour, and I think it turns a lot of people off to the idea of touring. That being said, I think Mary Moore runs a great set up for foosball, with some tweaks, I think we could double the entrants.
Finally, have you put any thought into knowing there is a "target" on your backs, being the team to beat on tour, haha?
Good thing is, we only have a target in the amateur division, all the experts don’t even know who we are, which is how we like it. But we are taking the expert brackets next year just as seriously as we took the amateur bracket this year. Should be fun. Hopefully we can win four or five expert titles this time.
What's it like knowing you can dominate and win world titles on tour, but when you come to Eck's, you're still dead money? Lol
I guess it shows how good the Colorado foos scene is, I have much more trouble at Eck’s then I do at a major tour event. It also may have to do with the fact that I know I can always come back next week if I lose. You don’t have that luxury on tour.
What's the better tournament for Denver players seriously wanting to compete - the Boulder draw, or the Eck's Bring?
The Boulder draw, for sure. At the draw, you get to play with many different players at different skill levels, there is something to learn every Tuesday because you can see all angles of the game with many different players and styles of play. You also get a chance to play foreword and pitts, and learn how some top level players smash up on people.
Jim, how come Ross is already at 1900+ points and dominating, and you're still chillin' in AM? What is he doing different than you? Is it only because he plays front, so he has more time to develop his overall game and get more experience?
For one thing Ross started the year with a few hundred points more than I did and he went to 3 more tour events this year. And yes, because he played forward all year and had the best am goalie in the world keep him in matches long enough to get comfortable and develop his forward game, every match he continued to get better. This helped him battle deeper into singles brackets and earn more points.
Ross, this past year you've been a beast at the AM level…do you think you'll be able to carry that through to Expert and eventually Pro?
Absolutely, that has been my plan since the beginning of the year. I have been trying to take every amateur tournament as seriously as I can and learn from every other tournament I play in. Next year, I will take expert as seriously as I can, and the year after that, take pro that seriously. My plan is to become a master in three years.
Jim, who are you going to backpack on in AM now that Ross has moved up? I see that Cody has been doing well lately...
I think I played against Cody once or twice on tour, I don’t remember who he played with but I remember thinking that he would be a competitor if his goalie helped out even just a little bit. Also, im sure you will win more if you understand that you win as a team and you lose as a team. I am not looking for anyone to backpack on!!! If I am allowed and chose to play am next year, I will first have to decide if I want to play forward or goalie and go from there.
Ross, now that you're competing with higher ranked players and moving up fast, are you going to find stronger goalies to play your pits? Is this dynamic duo already over and we just don't know it yet? It's okay to tell Jim you've been seeing other goalies behind his back in this interview. Jer-ry! Jer-ry!
HA! I will admit, I am pretty sick of carrying Jim, but winning tour events has more to do with teamwork then it does with skill. Jerry and I were able to gel pretty well after just one weekend of playing together, but he still doesn’t know what is going on with me mentally. The reason Jim and I play so well together is because he knows how to calm me down when I need it, and also how to fire me up when I need it.
Jim, in order to get respect in this game, you have to play front and win. You have a decent front game, but still would have to basically start over as a forward to get all that tourney experience in. Is that something you want to do, or are you going to walk in EA and City's footsteps and be a backpack for life?
I'm not sure if playing front is the only way to gain respect in this game. But as far as me playing forward in the future, if I am allowed to play amateur next year I think I will develop my forward and singles game a lot in 2012. if not, im not sure what will happen, I will continue to focus on finding areas in game to improve so that I can give my team the best opportunity to win weather the game plan is to play forward or goalie I practice and play to win. This approach has worked so far.
Which players on tour and locally do you guys go up to and pick their brains? Colorado definitely has a lot of elite players filled with information.
We like to pick the brains of everybody we can. The way I look at it, everybody has a great shot, and a great passing series. It is all about shot selection and mentally beating the opponent. That is the part of the game that I am really interested in learning. Roger Aamodt would be one that has taught me a lot this year. I want to mold my game after his (Only faster…Ha). Another one would be Brian Shrunk. Even though he is a crazy bastard, he has a nasty game. He seems to pick people apart on the table as good as anybody I have seen. I also want to learn how to slop people out like Jim T.
I really like both your games. You both take your time, read the holes and play smart. That's a recipie for success in this game. What else do you think you need to improve on in order to compete at the higher levels?
Most of the improvement in our games needs to be mentally. I have trouble stepping up to the table and sticking with my game plan sometimes. I know Jim can be a momentum player also, when he gets scored on once or twice, he starts to doubt his blocking ability. That can be a very quick end to a match sometimes.
Ross, in my experience, one of the biggest downfalls of every fast rising star…is that they have so much success…they get bored and start to experiment on the table. They start getting flashy, try different series and shots, and play a little wrecklessly because they are used to winning so easily. Eventually, their fundamentals break down and they plateau. Do you see yourself ever becoming different player on the table?
That is a great question actually, because I noticed myself doing that in Louisiana. I am trying to stay balanced, and stay smart. If I can take my time on every possession that I have, it will set up something quick and flashy later in a match. In my opinion, that is the most deadly recipe for success. The only downfall, is trying not to fall in love with the flashy stuff. That is the exact reason why Roger is such a good player. Not very flashy, but smart.
You both told me a year ago or so that your goal was to tour like crazy and go pro in a year. Is that still your goal? Will you stilll be touring when you can't win for a bit to cover your expenses? It's all fun and games when you get to beat up on weak AM's, but when you have to actually play against Ex's and pros…and be content not making your money back…it's a whole different story.
Well, we won a full year of free tour packages next year, so expenses at tour stops should be realistic. That has never crossed my mind though, I am cocky enough to think I am going to win every tournament that I play in. Digg that. And going into tourneys accepting that you aren’t going to win is never going to pay off.
Thanks for your time guys, great playing, and hope to see you two on a table in the future :)
Comments
Big Ross
said
10/31/2011 1:19:00 PM
Wow, this sounds much more cocky than I intended. Sorry if anyone takes that the wrong way...
hack_attack
said
10/31/2011 4:12:00 PM
haha!!! oh its on sucka...i'm gonna shoot your face clear off your face!!
Jim.
said
10/31/2011 6:20:00 PM
I'll tell you where the ball goes when I play you and Jim. Back of the goal suckas!! Great job boys!
boogiejuice
said
10/31/2011 9:10:00 PM
X- you should have asked them who they are terrified of on the table, so I could have had my name mentioned.
sam
said
11/4/2011 12:12:00 PM
I took a moment to adjust my spectacles and top hat when I read this. I shall set my cup of tea down, and give Sir Big Ross an assbeating
sam
said
11/4/2011 12:12:00 PM
of the century this Tuesday. Cheers ;-0
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