mlalum
Banned
I was one of Chris' backers for this matchup. I traveled to Pool Sharks for the match. Here are my top ten observations:
1a) This could very well be the last time you see Bartram on a stream playing for the cash. He understands the equation. He's not good enough to win money on a pro tour. He can't hustle anymore. To make a living he would constantly have to chase the nuts and win most of those matches. Not happening. I think he's going to give poker a serious try. Perhaps his good friend Viffer will team up with him.
1b) Chris would like to play Scott Frost banks in Columbus. Fast Lenny has talked about making this match so it could happen. Chris says he has a backer so it could happen. But then it's on to poker to see what happens.
2) When I first starting talking to Chris about this match i didn't like it. I didn't like it because Chris hadn't been playing period. No tough matches. Nothing but a few tourneys. Chris didn't think it would be a problem - he had done it before. After the match he admitted that he played horrible the first day because he wasn't match tough. Chris could of led on Day 1 but he just kept making bad mistakes. The only good thing was Chris' break kept getting better and Appleton doesn't have a championship caliber break.
3) People had been speculating on just how big a spot the 8 ball was. Chris clearly doesn't win if he doesn't have the 8. The nine wouldn't have been enough. It came in to play rack after rack.
4a) When I left after the match about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday morning Dippy Dave was still going off like a rocket. He was paying off Gabe and EVERYONE on the rail. And was starting another set with Gabe. The Rail was doubling up. The only person who wouldn't bet on himself against Dippy was Shane VB. Shane was the last person in the state of Nevada who thought Dippy was laying down. Other people were willing to stake him but he didn't want the game. I guess he hates Dippy's money.
4b) Here's who was in the house at Pool Sharks at 4 a.m. Wednesday morning:Shane, Gabe, Corey Duel, Scott Frost, Chamalt, the southern young gun road hustler team (Danny Smith, "Hair'' Comptom, Tedder, Joel Gray and others) other lesser known pros, some poker players. Oh and Cris and Darren. Do you think all those guys were there for the TAR match? Uh, no. they all wanted a piece of Viffer. this was an historic rocket launch.
4C) I asked somebody why all the young southern hustlers were in town.
The guy said, "Well, it's not like they have to be anywhere.''
5) Dippy did win some money on Chris his old hustling buddy.
6) Even with Chris' big comeback Darren could have easily won the match. But he seemed to get down on himself and fought that battle all day long.
7) DerekDisco was right about one thing: Pool Sharks has great prices on soft drinks and gatorade. The poker machines also helped kill some time. But the smoke. Damn. I've lived in the Cali and Florida the last decade where there's no smoking inside. A couple of us thought we were going to come down with lung cancer by the end of the match. It's no joke.
8a) It's a relief to back a player like Chris. He doesn't embarrass you with bad behavior. Except for a moment starting the second day he was the perfect gentlemen. Shows a lot of respect for the game and his opponent and doesn't whine like a little girl. So refreshing and very unusual for a pro pool player.
8B) By the way -Chris from what I saw- doesn't act anything like his AZ persona.
9) Legendary pool hustler Ronnie Allen hangs out at Pool Sharks some afternoons. He's about 72. I saw him win $70 from a guy and then give half to his backer. He's not in good shape. But it's not a pretty sight for other reasons, too. Momma don't let your boys grow up to be hustlers.
Some people want to make these guys out be giants - way above the rest of us. But it's mostly a myth and in some cases a bad joke. Did I mention that Pretty Boy Floyd was also in the house talking about his own legendary status.
10) Talking with Chris after the match i encouraged him to start thinking about using some of his money to buy a small cash generating company. Something to build on. Corey Duel piped in saying he wanted to start a tanning salon so he could see all those pretty girls all day long. He probably thought I was joking. I hope Chris takes my advice. Being a former legend doesn't pay much.
1a) This could very well be the last time you see Bartram on a stream playing for the cash. He understands the equation. He's not good enough to win money on a pro tour. He can't hustle anymore. To make a living he would constantly have to chase the nuts and win most of those matches. Not happening. I think he's going to give poker a serious try. Perhaps his good friend Viffer will team up with him.
1b) Chris would like to play Scott Frost banks in Columbus. Fast Lenny has talked about making this match so it could happen. Chris says he has a backer so it could happen. But then it's on to poker to see what happens.
2) When I first starting talking to Chris about this match i didn't like it. I didn't like it because Chris hadn't been playing period. No tough matches. Nothing but a few tourneys. Chris didn't think it would be a problem - he had done it before. After the match he admitted that he played horrible the first day because he wasn't match tough. Chris could of led on Day 1 but he just kept making bad mistakes. The only good thing was Chris' break kept getting better and Appleton doesn't have a championship caliber break.
3) People had been speculating on just how big a spot the 8 ball was. Chris clearly doesn't win if he doesn't have the 8. The nine wouldn't have been enough. It came in to play rack after rack.
4a) When I left after the match about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday morning Dippy Dave was still going off like a rocket. He was paying off Gabe and EVERYONE on the rail. And was starting another set with Gabe. The Rail was doubling up. The only person who wouldn't bet on himself against Dippy was Shane VB. Shane was the last person in the state of Nevada who thought Dippy was laying down. Other people were willing to stake him but he didn't want the game. I guess he hates Dippy's money.
4b) Here's who was in the house at Pool Sharks at 4 a.m. Wednesday morning:Shane, Gabe, Corey Duel, Scott Frost, Chamalt, the southern young gun road hustler team (Danny Smith, "Hair'' Comptom, Tedder, Joel Gray and others) other lesser known pros, some poker players. Oh and Cris and Darren. Do you think all those guys were there for the TAR match? Uh, no. they all wanted a piece of Viffer. this was an historic rocket launch.
4C) I asked somebody why all the young southern hustlers were in town.
The guy said, "Well, it's not like they have to be anywhere.''
5) Dippy did win some money on Chris his old hustling buddy.
6) Even with Chris' big comeback Darren could have easily won the match. But he seemed to get down on himself and fought that battle all day long.
7) DerekDisco was right about one thing: Pool Sharks has great prices on soft drinks and gatorade. The poker machines also helped kill some time. But the smoke. Damn. I've lived in the Cali and Florida the last decade where there's no smoking inside. A couple of us thought we were going to come down with lung cancer by the end of the match. It's no joke.
8a) It's a relief to back a player like Chris. He doesn't embarrass you with bad behavior. Except for a moment starting the second day he was the perfect gentlemen. Shows a lot of respect for the game and his opponent and doesn't whine like a little girl. So refreshing and very unusual for a pro pool player.
8B) By the way -Chris from what I saw- doesn't act anything like his AZ persona.
9) Legendary pool hustler Ronnie Allen hangs out at Pool Sharks some afternoons. He's about 72. I saw him win $70 from a guy and then give half to his backer. He's not in good shape. But it's not a pretty sight for other reasons, too. Momma don't let your boys grow up to be hustlers.
Some people want to make these guys out be giants - way above the rest of us. But it's mostly a myth and in some cases a bad joke. Did I mention that Pretty Boy Floyd was also in the house talking about his own legendary status.
10) Talking with Chris after the match i encouraged him to start thinking about using some of his money to buy a small cash generating company. Something to build on. Corey Duel piped in saying he wanted to start a tanning salon so he could see all those pretty girls all day long. He probably thought I was joking. I hope Chris takes my advice. Being a former legend doesn't pay much.
