To all who may or may not subscribe to the TSA Newsletter / Magazine: Mandy and I made a little write up about Mike Taylor . For one reason or another the last bit of the article got cut. Here is how the piece was intended:

Position To Win

Just days before weary travelers sit down to catch up with family and eat a ceremonial bird, shufflers are sharpening their skills at The Post Tavern in Cedar Park, TX. They’re preparing for next week’s “Thanksgiving Cornucopia,” the November homecoming for shuffleboard family in South Texas.
This day, however, is another type of holiday you won’t find on any calendars or tournament flyers [aside from " Austin Shuffleboard News ” Facebook Page]. It’s “Mike Taylor Day,” a Saturday night jubilee for one of the game’s top rated and most successful players. Everyone wears brightly colored knee-high socks- a tribute to Mike’s lauded “dress-code.” The Post TV plays a picture slide show of he and his family, his closest friends {RIP Tony Appell }, and happy memories he’s made throughout his life. The celebration is for his 1st Place Singles win at shuffleboard’s premier event, North American Shuffleboard Championships 2017.
Amid play in the $20 AB draw soon following the celebration, the man for which the day was named took time to talk about the biggest win of the year and quite possibly of a storied career.
“I’ve never really put myself in a position to win,” Taylor explained. 2017 has been a transformation for the shuffleboard pro, which began with a tremendous loss for him- a loss of more than 70 lbs. “I was in poor health and out of shape, but that changed- a complete lifestyle change.” Mike quit drinking, started exercising, and eating right. As his health improved, his game took somewhat of a hit. It’s because his body was changing. “My hands are half as big as they used to be, so I’m not holding the weight the same way. I have a lot more space between me and the board, so all that took some adjusting to.” The training paid off for Mike. “People talk about how much of a grind [NASC] is, but I never got fatigued. There is something to be said about the conditioning.” high low asymmetrical wears
It wasn’t just diet and exercise paying dividends for the pro. Two strategies kept him competitive throughout the tournament- practice, and making the switch to Federation 16’s- a move he attributes to lifelong friend and business partner, Craig White : “A long time ago, he told me ‘it’s a lot easier to push a weight harder than it is take speed off.’” Because the pucks are slower, the decision to switch helped him gain an edge on tables that tend to “release” on the end.
His game plan worked. The Singles plaque win was his first in Reno, after over a decade of shots at it. It’s the crown jewel in a long list of accomplishments for Taylor, but onlookers of the final match might not have seen him overly exuberant after the big win. “I believe it’s important to not take the lows too low, or the highs too high- just try and stay even keel. I think it’s real important to keep your emotions in check because you can’t win championships being nervous.” Mike admittedly broke down crying following the victory. “My journey over the last year and a half was the accomplishment,” he said. “The singles victory was a product of my hard work and desire to ‘do it right!’"