Passing of a Colorado player Steve Knight
- Thread starter IRUNRAKS
- Start date
IRUNRAKS said:
Wow, what happened? I knew him pretty well.
I'll share a story.
One time I had moved from Denver and was living in a small town. I went to league night and saw his car in the parking lot. I thought, oh, wonder what he's doing here? I resolved to keep my mouth shut and not ruin his action for anyone. Since just knowing me would probably kill his action there, I was going to pretend I didn't know him for while and then discreetly talk to him at the end of the evening and catch up on things.
So I went in and ignored him and started warming up on the other side of the room. After a little while, I hear him shout across the room "Hey ______ What's going on? " So much for not killing his action. LOL.
So I went over and talked with him and he was happy to see me and we shared stories about Denver players we knew and times we had matched up. I guess he was there by himself and it was a little bit of a rough place, so I think he was glad to be able to show he was 'okay' and have someone on his side.
We laughed and joked for hours while he was gambling with the locals. I never gave him a line on anyone and he never asked. But it didn't really matter, there are about four players there besides me that might have given him a game, but he ultimately would have beaten any of them for the cash.
One thing I like about that night is that he didn't 'hustle' at all. He just played full out and would play anyone for $5 or $10 and they were lining up because we were having so much fun they just wanted in on it. I bet he made a couple hundred or so.
My condolences to his friends and family. He will be sorely missed.
RC
I think he was about 54. He was in San Diego for a while 9-10 years ago. I remember he went on the road with Sam Manaole and Robert Adams back in 1999-2000. Rob asks if anyone has any info regarding service for Steve if you can please post it. Thanks!
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Steve Knight
Steve lived in Tucson for 5-10 years back in the early to mid 70's. He has a brother named Kevin who I believe still lives in Tucson and used to play at Old Pueblo Billiards which was owned and operated by Weldon Rogers. Some of his friends, me included were Sam Bona, Barry Thornton, Weldon Rogers, Julian Smith, Alfie Taylor, all which were players at the time. From Tucson Steve moved around for a while then the last I had heard was in San Diego for 10-15 years and reading this post I gather he had been in Colorado for a while too.
He was very witty, fun and a great player and would not hustle. He would play as hard for $5 or $50 and not back off his game to string someone along. You could be stuck 30 games for $3 a game (actually happened with me) and he was still playing flat out after several hours. When all was said and done, you enjoyed every minute because of the type of person he was. The pool world has lost a great competitor and classy guy, I for one amy sorry to hear of his passing.
My condolences to his family and loved ones.
George
Steve lived in Tucson for 5-10 years back in the early to mid 70's. He has a brother named Kevin who I believe still lives in Tucson and used to play at Old Pueblo Billiards which was owned and operated by Weldon Rogers. Some of his friends, me included were Sam Bona, Barry Thornton, Weldon Rogers, Julian Smith, Alfie Taylor, all which were players at the time. From Tucson Steve moved around for a while then the last I had heard was in San Diego for 10-15 years and reading this post I gather he had been in Colorado for a while too.
He was very witty, fun and a great player and would not hustle. He would play as hard for $5 or $50 and not back off his game to string someone along. You could be stuck 30 games for $3 a game (actually happened with me) and he was still playing flat out after several hours. When all was said and done, you enjoyed every minute because of the type of person he was. The pool world has lost a great competitor and classy guy, I for one amy sorry to hear of his passing.
My condolences to his family and loved ones.
George
I used to run with Steve a bit back in the late 70's when he was living in Phx. He moved away to S.D. and I hadn't seen him in years. Low and behold...I'm taking team photos at the BCA last yr (Vegas) and who do you think walks up for a team photo? Steve....live and in person
We sat down and rehashed some of the old times, talked about old friends, and what's gone down over the last 25 years...It was awfully good seeing him again after all that time.
I'm sure glad I had a few minutes with him....
He will be sorely missed. If anyone has anymore info on the services, please let me know. (I see the services are going to be back in Az.)
Rick S.
We sat down and rehashed some of the old times, talked about old friends, and what's gone down over the last 25 years...It was awfully good seeing him again after all that time.
I'm sure glad I had a few minutes with him....
He will be sorely missed. If anyone has anymore info on the services, please let me know. (I see the services are going to be back in Az.)
Rick S.
I am stunned by the news.
I first met Steve in Orange County (CA) about 20 years ago. He was still living in AZ at the time but was visiting his ex-wife (or girlfriend) in Laguna Beach. He and I hooked up a couple of times to travel to some tournaments in SoCal. I later saw him in San Diego, when I moved out there.
As mentioned before, Steve was not into husling pool. He just wanted to play straight up, the best he could play. He was a real class act. Sorry to hear he's gone.
I first met Steve in Orange County (CA) about 20 years ago. He was still living in AZ at the time but was visiting his ex-wife (or girlfriend) in Laguna Beach. He and I hooked up a couple of times to travel to some tournaments in SoCal. I later saw him in San Diego, when I moved out there.
As mentioned before, Steve was not into husling pool. He just wanted to play straight up, the best he could play. He was a real class act. Sorry to hear he's gone.
Yow! What happened? The obit linked to doesn't say anything.
I hadn't seen Steve in some months - not like I knew him well at all - but he didn't appear to be in bad health at the time. His passing is quite the surprise.
Edit: Just got off the phone with Samm, who knew him much better than I - apparently Steve had a stroke last week, and then there was a blood clot in the brain on top of brain damage. His family from Arizona are taking his remains back there and simply ask people to keep Steve in their thoughts.
I hadn't seen Steve in some months - not like I knew him well at all - but he didn't appear to be in bad health at the time. His passing is quite the surprise.
Edit: Just got off the phone with Samm, who knew him much better than I - apparently Steve had a stroke last week, and then there was a blood clot in the brain on top of brain damage. His family from Arizona are taking his remains back there and simply ask people to keep Steve in their thoughts.
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hi,hilla_hilla said:
I am sorry to hear this.If that is the same player who passed away,he lived in Phoenix before he moved to sandiego.I have one anecdote to reflect what a nice guy he was.It happened in 1988/1989 at golden 8 ball in phoenix, a road player played steve for nearly 25-26 hours ,got beat owed steve 22,000.00$.when the time came to pay the roadie said he did not have money and gave his cue stick & a rollex watch.Steve did not try to physically beat him or try to take his car and simply let him go.
My condolences to his family.
I didn't know Steve but I noticed on the obit link that you could write in his guest book. I think that would be quite a tribute if say a few hundred Azer's wrote a paragraph or two I'm sure his family would really appreciate the gesture. Just a thought. RIP Stevesixpack said:
Steve will be missed!
What a tragic surprise. I learned of this last night as some folks passed through Fort Collins on there way back from a weekend VNEA tournament in Cheyenne. Since some has asked, here's what I was told:
Steve suffered a massive stroke in the middle of the week and was on life support. His parents decided to take him off the support system as the doctors had very little to no hope for his recovery. I think he was declared dead on Saturday.
It sounds like he may not of suffered much which is a blessing.
The first time I saw/met Steve is when he played in an ESPN event in northern California (Santa Rosa?). The format was 32 seeded players and 32 qualifiers. If memory serves, Steve was the only qualifier to win his 1st match & guaranteed money; I think he beat Morro in a very close and exciting match. Steve played awesome. We met again once I moved to CO at a tournament in Colorado Springs. We didn't see each other often, it always seemed as though we were friends. He will be missed.
Dave
What a tragic surprise. I learned of this last night as some folks passed through Fort Collins on there way back from a weekend VNEA tournament in Cheyenne. Since some has asked, here's what I was told:
Steve suffered a massive stroke in the middle of the week and was on life support. His parents decided to take him off the support system as the doctors had very little to no hope for his recovery. I think he was declared dead on Saturday.
It sounds like he may not of suffered much which is a blessing.
The first time I saw/met Steve is when he played in an ESPN event in northern California (Santa Rosa?). The format was 32 seeded players and 32 qualifiers. If memory serves, Steve was the only qualifier to win his 1st match & guaranteed money; I think he beat Morro in a very close and exciting match. Steve played awesome. We met again once I moved to CO at a tournament in Colorado Springs. We didn't see each other often, it always seemed as though we were friends. He will be missed.
Dave
My one and only road trip with Joe Salazar ended in a non-eventful money match with Steve at a bar in Phoenix in about 1991. Steve beat Joe out of about 400, and was very friendly and considerate in doing so.
Steve always seemed like a classy guy.
Danny K
Steve always seemed like a classy guy.
Danny K