blah blah
Shoebat
As stories go, this is a couple of nobody players and some small potato betting. But sometimes that's a LOT of fun.
Weekly B Tourney at the Jointed Cue, quarter finals, 9ball, race to 4 s/e. Bandstands are filled with friends, family, and the regular crowd of A players, billiard players, people knocked out early, and the gamblers who won’t match up for whatever immediate reason. Table 17 in the back room, right in front of the bandstands has been announced: G, a favorite Mexican billiards player, against BB, a favorite female 9ball player. Both are regulars.
Beers aplenty, every seat taken, and standing room all around. The crowd is boisterous. Side bets of just $5 each start with two A players announcing even money on the girl. Mexican billiard players ante up to support their boy. Much betting in the $5 range is made while the right to break is being decided. Then Asian L, a billiard player with a grudge against G, loudly announces 20 on the girl but he’s too late and no one really wants to bet that high.
BB wins the break but it’s dry and G has an easy 2-9 combo. Big happy cheers. Next game has some safeties before G hits the 4 hard with a good billiard stroke and all are amazed when the 9 somehow finds a hole. Loud happy cheers and much laughing. Even his friends ask G why he didn’t call that spectacular fly. G laughs- he’s got BB 2-0 and a little cash of his own on the side. The poolroom owner shouts to L that he’ll take that 20 if it’s still available, and to his credit, L doesn’t hesitate, but his eyes slide to the score while his mouth accepts the bet.
BB plays safe, get bih and runs out. Breaks dry, some safes and misses, but she wins again for a 2-2 score. The billiard players start to split their support- some are in favor of the girl and some still like their buddy. The rest of the match is full of loud cheers and boos, sarcastic and teasing remarks, and various open attempts by the bandstands to shark both players equally. The more obvious the attempt, the more giggles this inspires from the crowd.
At hill- hill I played safe to get bih on the 6 and started running. The crowd went freaking nuts when I got perfect shape on the 9 off an 8 that needed a little inside draw to get back about a diamond. Some money was already being passed around while I made the nine. The entire back room jumped and hollered, everyone hugged each other or shook hands, the last of the bets were quickly paid, and then 75% of the bandstands emptied completely as they all ran for consolation and congratulation beers.
The party relived the match for the benefit of counter staff and other players so loudly that the replays could be well heard all the way through the next match in the back room. L ended up $30 ahead (don’t know who bet the other $10), but he wouldn’t throw me any jelly- even when asked by the room owner on my behalf (I was playing the next match and couldn't go myself). My godson made money on it too, but slipped away before I could demand he ante up a little. Damn poolplayers.
I did go on to win the tourney. (Yay.) But the real thing I wanted to share was the sense of absolute fun and community at the JC…. Just don’t ever expect any jelly. : )
Weekly B Tourney at the Jointed Cue, quarter finals, 9ball, race to 4 s/e. Bandstands are filled with friends, family, and the regular crowd of A players, billiard players, people knocked out early, and the gamblers who won’t match up for whatever immediate reason. Table 17 in the back room, right in front of the bandstands has been announced: G, a favorite Mexican billiards player, against BB, a favorite female 9ball player. Both are regulars.
Beers aplenty, every seat taken, and standing room all around. The crowd is boisterous. Side bets of just $5 each start with two A players announcing even money on the girl. Mexican billiard players ante up to support their boy. Much betting in the $5 range is made while the right to break is being decided. Then Asian L, a billiard player with a grudge against G, loudly announces 20 on the girl but he’s too late and no one really wants to bet that high.
BB wins the break but it’s dry and G has an easy 2-9 combo. Big happy cheers. Next game has some safeties before G hits the 4 hard with a good billiard stroke and all are amazed when the 9 somehow finds a hole. Loud happy cheers and much laughing. Even his friends ask G why he didn’t call that spectacular fly. G laughs- he’s got BB 2-0 and a little cash of his own on the side. The poolroom owner shouts to L that he’ll take that 20 if it’s still available, and to his credit, L doesn’t hesitate, but his eyes slide to the score while his mouth accepts the bet.
BB plays safe, get bih and runs out. Breaks dry, some safes and misses, but she wins again for a 2-2 score. The billiard players start to split their support- some are in favor of the girl and some still like their buddy. The rest of the match is full of loud cheers and boos, sarcastic and teasing remarks, and various open attempts by the bandstands to shark both players equally. The more obvious the attempt, the more giggles this inspires from the crowd.
At hill- hill I played safe to get bih on the 6 and started running. The crowd went freaking nuts when I got perfect shape on the 9 off an 8 that needed a little inside draw to get back about a diamond. Some money was already being passed around while I made the nine. The entire back room jumped and hollered, everyone hugged each other or shook hands, the last of the bets were quickly paid, and then 75% of the bandstands emptied completely as they all ran for consolation and congratulation beers.
The party relived the match for the benefit of counter staff and other players so loudly that the replays could be well heard all the way through the next match in the back room. L ended up $30 ahead (don’t know who bet the other $10), but he wouldn’t throw me any jelly- even when asked by the room owner on my behalf (I was playing the next match and couldn't go myself). My godson made money on it too, but slipped away before I could demand he ante up a little. Damn poolplayers.
I did go on to win the tourney. (Yay.) But the real thing I wanted to share was the sense of absolute fun and community at the JC…. Just don’t ever expect any jelly. : )
Last edited:
