Good memories

D

dspaboss

Member
jay helfert said:
I just felt the need to post this now. Someone asked me a few days ago what was my best memory from my years in pool and I stumbled around trying to answer them. Now that I've had a few days to think about it I have the answer. Here are my absolute best memories and they may surprise you.

First and foremost, when you own a poolroom you are providing recreation for people and I never forgot that. I remember all those nights when my place was packed, the music was playing, all the tables were going, people were eating, drinking, laughing and playing pool. For a moment I would stop what I was doing and take a long look around and feel good inside. Everybody there was having fun, enjoying themselves, and it was my doing. I had brought this venue there for them to enjoy. And it worked just the way I hoped it would. This was my good deed to the world, recreation for the body and the soul. I was happy and very satisfied that my life had some meaning, beyond just being able to make balls. Those moments where I could fully take it all in and see all the happy faces are my very best memories from this lifetime in pool!

Second and almost just as satisfying was a similar feeling at tournaments I produced and directed. The Bicycle Club events, the L.A. Opens, Hard Times, U.S. Bar Table, U.S. Open, Sands Regency, Caesars casinos and many more. Our venue's were packed as well, often with standing room only, everybody wanting to see all the great players assembled there. I would sit up on the podium and look around at all the people, excited about the matches they were seeing, watching intently. I knew they were enjoying the great pool playing just as much as I was. I was sharing my thrill with them. That made me very happy inside. They liked what they were seeing and I brought the show there and put it on. Probably the same feeling a producer of other forms of entertainment, like plays, movies, other sports, feels when the arenas are packed with an admiring audience.

Yes, in hindsight these are my best memories of my life in pool. Not winning some match or any amount of money. It was just simply putting a smile on people's faces and making their life a little more enjoyable, even if it was just for a moment in time. My life was not a waste. Thank you
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Bravo!👏
 
Black-Balled

Black-Balled

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
ChrisinNC said:
Jay, well stated! As a fellow pool room owner / manager, when I’m feeling burned out (after 27 years), as a lover of the game, it will help me to remember your words here, realize I have created something good here and I’ll get back to work!
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You have a fine FINE pool room.
 
jay helfert

jay helfert

Shoot Pool, not people
Gold Member
Silver Member
Guy Manges said:
If someone were to ask me that question and I put in some thought, I would have to say in all my years of the pool games it would be my ability to play games with the young slow or retarded. To be able to see the enjoyment on their faces when they run 1,2,or 3 ball in a row. In a center a few years back I got tears in eyes from watching a young man make 3 balls and how excited he got and tell me how good he was... To have that young man tell me he could be a pool player, God knows.... This made me realize that the young are pool, It took me over seventy years to realize what trying to hard means.... Guy
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I like this! How true. I liked to show novice players how to draw the cue ball. It’s one of those shots that has a wow factor for new players and can be easily taught. The look of sheer joy on their faces the first time they make the cue ball back up is priceless!

A big thank you to all who have responded on here and those who “like” what I had to say. I’ve been in the Philippines since Jan. 8 and this is my time back on AZ. We’ve been busy working on our “new” house we bought three years ago on our last trip here. It feels good to return to my second home and my adopted family. Life is good!
 
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Guy Manges

Registered
jay helfert said:
I like this! How true. I liked to show novice players how to draw the cue ball. It’s one of those shots that has a wow factor for new players and can be easily taught. The look of sheer joy on their faces the first time they make the cue ball back up is priceless!

A big thank you to all who have responded on here and those who “like” what I had to say. I’ve been in the Philippines since Jan. 8 and this is my time back on AZ. We’ve been busy working on our “new” house we bought three years ago on our last trip here. It feels good to return to my second home and my adopted family. Life is good!
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Jay i read in one of post that you were in Bakersfield, Bakersfield was a place we had to go through to get to the lake... Guy
 
gregcantrall

gregcantrall

Center Ball
Silver Member
Guy Manges said:
If someone were to ask me that question and I put in some thought, I would have to say in all my years of the pool games it would be my ability to play games with the young slow or retarded. To be able to see the enjoyment on their faces when they run 1,2,or 3 ball in a row. In a center a few years back I got tears in eyes from watching a young man make 3 balls and how excited he got and tell me how good he was... To have that young man tell me he could be a pool player, God knows.... This made me realize that the young are pool, It took me over seventy years to realize what trying to hard means.... Guy
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An Ambassador to the game, Bravo. Reminds me of an experience I had. In a weekly tournament I was playing a novice player. I didn't play well and he won. Even though I was a little miffed at myself, I kept a stiff upper lip going to the handshake. He slipped inside my extended hand and gave me a hug!!! It turned my frown upside down. Put it all in perspective.
 
grindz

grindz

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Jay, you as well as a couple of handfuls of others are what bring enjoyment for many here on AZB as well.

A life well lived, kindness to others, sharing knowledge .... that's a journey to be happy about, and you should be.

td
 
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