I think the guy labeled Varner, needs a lil more hair to be the Varner we all know.
Thats Nick for sure.
I think the guy labeled Varner, needs a lil more hair to be the Varner we all know.
Well you guys got a few right and several wrong. The first guy closest to the camera is Danny Jones. Next to him is Kazuo Fujima, the grand daddy of Japanese pool. Next to him is Takashi Okumura, a great Japanese player. Yes it is Varner up there in the second row, but the guy in the ball cap is none other than Hawaiian Brian. Much further down that row is Lou Butera and his wife Carrie. The guy someone labeled as Mike Sigel is actually Billy Stroud. Next to him is Roy Futternick and two further down is Jeff Carter. Further down in the second row with long black hair and a mustache is Benny Conway. I haven't found Keith yet.
Well, Keith McCready claims to have played in it. He said he played in all of his tournaments,
so he's there on the left side, way in the back. He said he won one of them in 1979.
I think I can recognize Keith, though Keith himself said it might be Dave Peoni [ph].
In the picture, it looks like Roy Fuddernick [ph], Danny Jones on the right end with the
plaid suit, some guy from Hawaii with the baseball cap sitting in the bleachers
(Hawaiian Jay's friend), blond dude in the back Dick McDermott [ph], Dave Peoni [ph] or Keith McCready,
bald-headed dude in the bleachers looks like Lou Butera, Fujiara [ph] something sitting
next to Danny Jones, and maybe Danny Medina sitting behind Danny Jones.
If you get me the month and year of this tournament, I can provide an EXACT
player roster list.
JAM;
Some guy from Hawaii, that makes me smile. As Jay noted thats (Hawaiian) Brian Hashimoto.
The blond dude you mentioned is none other than Arizona's Terry Osborn, sitting next to Danny D'Imperio.
Keith was there, I have several pix of him. Actually I have the rooster and brackets already.:smile: Roy has been helping me go through and identify everyone.
Mike
Pretty good Jay, you did miss Luther next to Roy, and I'm sure you will recognize Richie with his legs crossed in the front row next to a local long haired Jimmy Heavener. There is still a couple more.
This is the best I could do. I think they're right though.
MULLY
There is nowhere else to find this data other than NBN. It is sad that don't exist anymore.
LOL! Of course, those descriptions I posted were secondhand information.
Anyway, I think I remember posting about this tournament when doing research for another pool-related project. Here is a reprint from the National Billiards Newsletter. If this is the same tournament, it was in 1979, June 1979, an article entitled "It's Mcreaty [sic] For The California Cheese." Their spelling and punctuation wasn't as good as it could be back then, but I ain't complaining. There is nowhere else to find this data other than NBN. It is sad that don't exist anymore.
I love the descriptions of the players in this article. Here's a few tidbits:
The beautiful antique $5,000 teakwood pool tables used in the tournament were furnished by Rebco. It was posh and class all the way.
Minnesota Fats performed prior to the day and evening sessions. Mike Massey and George Middleditch were the new attraction this year.
The 64-man field for this tournament included champions Dan Louie, Larry Hubbart, Louie Roberts, Paul Brienza, Rodney Thompson, Dallas West, Ronnie Allen, and Tony Annagoni...Other top players were cuemaker/player Bill Stroud, Tacoma Whitey, Roy Futternick, Lee Boyer, and a great player rarely seen in tournament play, Jay (Swanee) Swanson...Tacoma Whitey, who had gone undefeated, suffered a heart attack. The news cast a pall over the tournament...Jack Madden, a "johnny-come-lately" from Arizona, ignited the crowds with his great all-around playing ability. Ronnie Allen was a more subdued and conscientious player this year. The "gray fox" came to play and play he did. The years seemed to fall away with every shot as the crowds sat mesmerized watching the greatness of Ronnie Allen. He may have come in sixth, but he walked away from this tournament with the homage accorded a winner.
Here's the beginning of a great ending to the story:
As Doug Klish announced the players, all eyes were on Keith. It was common knowledge he had been in a game till early morn, and he looked tired and drawn. Hubbart on the other hand sat in a complete repose, confidence personified. Despite this, the sweaters had Keith up for the win, and you had to admire their optimism.
The match got underway, and Hubbart played as he had throughouth the tournament, cold and in dead stroke. Keith played as if sleepwalking. The outcome was inevitable. Hubbart took it, 11-6.
Now comes the good part of the double-elimination event:
The crowd grumbled at Keith's poor showing, and the sweaters shifted to a lower gear that bordered on masochism.
In the final and crucial match, Hubbart again took the lead 6-2, as the crowd sat in stunned disbelief. Now it was Keith's turn at the table. It must have seemed 20-feet long with pockets the size of walnuts, but tired as he looked, Keith seemed to be more in command.
Playing with heart and sheer determination, he ran out. The crowd came to life, hollering encouragement as the sweaters shifted gears back to optimism, their feet hovering over the clutch.
Keith had gotten his first wind and was playing great safeties and running out racks back to back. The score was now 6-5 with Hubbart in the lead by one game, but he wasn't fazed by Keith's comeback -- ever the Ice Man. But Keith was ready. He hadn't come this far to go down to an ignoble end. Hubbart never won another game, as Keith took it down, 11-6.
The crowd gave the players a rousing ovation as the sweaters sat quietly adjusting their money clips or stretching that rubber band a bit more.
This NBN article from June 1979 might put a few more names to the faces in the picture. :grin:
BTW, Keith was 22 years old at the time. :wub:
Can any body tell me the year???
In the early 1970's several of us from Alaska went to California for the Terry Stonier father's Day Tournament.
It use to be held in his pool room - but at least one year (I think two years) it was held at the El Rancho Hotel (or Motel).
i remember a restuarant in the building (we al had breakfast ther most mornings). Bleachers and Rebco Tables. Minnesots Fats was there as many of the other names associated with pool back then.
Also my first sighting of BuckTooth and Ronnie Allen. Also Kieth, Mataya, Billy Ray Sudan, Annigoni, Al the Plumber, and many more. Cole Dickson snapped a shaft - regrouped and never missed. Filipino Gene was there.
Mark Griffin,
CEO
CSI - USAPL - BCAPL
Keith was on fire. Ended up giving Billy Ray the oragne crush and I think they also ended up him playing opposite hand??
Jay Helfert was there too, but you wouldn't have noticed me! I was the dog playing on one of the outer tables. I did beat Gene Stary and Ted Ito and got into the bottom of the money, something like $60.![]()