The Sweet Spot in Time

Hey Lou -

Nice story - good to see you posting those great memories.

Glad to see you polishing up your skills - you might want to visit Las Vegas again in mid-May.

US Open One Pocket is May 13-15 (based on 32) or last 6 might have to play on Monday if over 32 (Not to exceed 48).

More info coming and might want to revisit the 10-Ball experience from last year.

You write pretty good - but then you know that, write???

Talk to you later,

Mark Griffin


Hey, Mark, thanks. Sometimes I write good and sometimes I dan't.

I was thinking about about The 1Pocket Open. I just have to see how a number of things shake out.

Lou Figueroa
 
When an A just won't do it.

The "real Lou" ?!

umm, OK, thanks, Randy.

Lou Figueroa
will have to notify my doppelganger
that we've been busted :-)

Evil is everywhere in the world, my son.
It must be countered, contained and ultimately dealt with.

You know what must be done. ;-)

Brother Joey
 
Evil is everywhere in the world, my son.
It must be countered, contained and ultimately dealt with.

You know what must be done. ;-)

Brother Joey


I am not your son. I is your brudder.

Now knock it off before I go tell mom.

Lou Figueroa
 
You realize that as your brudder I cannot offer you absolution.


You know, of course, that Lavin and I are Monsignors. We can (and have on numerous occasions) absolved ourselves. I seem to recall at one service, at The Good Church of the Mermaid, outside of Kalamazoo, John and I might even have had to administer some absolution to thee, Brudder Joey ;-)

Lou Figueroa
 
You know, of course, that Lavin and I are Monsignors. We can (and have on numerous occasions) absolved ourselves. I seem to recall at one service, at The Good Church of the Mermaid, outside of Kalamazoo, John and I might even have had to administer some absolution to thee, Brudder Joey ;-)

Lou Figueroa

JoeyA goes silent...........................................
 
Hey Lou -

...You write pretty good - but then you know that, write???

Mark Griffin

Lou's writing has a way making you feel you are right there next to him in the middle of the action when he describes something. Lou, did you ever go much to Palace Billiards when you were in S.F.?
 
Lou's writing has a way making you feel you are right there next to him in the middle of the action when he describes something. Lou, did you ever go much to Palace Billiards when you were in S.F.?


Thanks, demonrho. Sure, I'd often go down to The Palace, usually at around midnight. Tiny street entrance, long flight of stairs to the top where you were buzzed it. It was a huge room. Long stainless steel bus station-like diner counter to the left. Mirrors and big huge oil paintings of a pride of lions and like a bare-chested guy hovering over a damsel. A couple of 6x12 snooker tables right in the middle of the room, several 3C tables in the back off to the left towards the bathrooms, and then some 5X10s, 4 1/2x9s and maybe even a 8 footer.

I'd go after working the swing shift at Wells Fargo headquarters down Market Street. I had a regular game -- a guy named Mike, who would leap out of his seat whenever he saw me walk in the door. I was his fish, though I didn't know it at the time :-) Our game was 75 points of straight pool for $25, and he always, just barely won. I'm sure I almost gave him a heart attack one day though. I'd been practicing up at the USF Student Union in anticipation for the West Coast ACUI 14.1 championships and was hitting them pretty good. I walked in and we lagged for our usual and my first inning I put a 57 on him. Somehow, he still won, by tying me up shot after shot and running a few 20s. But I think I saw his bridge hand shaking a bit. I doubt in all the times we played he ever had the $25 in his pocket and I was too stupid and idealistic to make him post. That' as close as I ever came to scoring at The Palace.

Lou Figueroa
 
Thanks, demonrho. Sure, I'd often go down to The Palace, usually at around midnight. Tiny street entrance, long flight of stairs to the top where you were buzzed it. It was a huge room. Long stainless steel bus station-like diner counter to the left. Mirrors and big huge oil paintings of a pride of lions and like a bare-chested guy hovering over a damsel. A couple of 6x12 snooker tables right in the middle of the room, several 3C tables in the back off to the left towards the bathrooms, and then some 5X10s, 4 1/2x9s and maybe even a 8 footer.

I'd go after working the swing shift at Wells Fargo headquarters down Market Street. I had a regular game -- a guy named Mike, who would leap out of his seat whenever he saw me walk in the door. I was his fish, though I didn't know it at the time :-) Our game was 75 points of straight pool for $25, and he always, just barely won. I'm sure I almost gave him a heart attack one day though. I'd been practicing up at the USF Student Union in anticipation for the West Coast ACUI 14.1 championships and was hitting them pretty good. I walked in and we lagged for our usual and my first inning I put a 57 on him. Somehow, he still won, by tying me up shot after shot and running a few 20s. But I think I saw his bridge hand shaking a bit. I doubt in all the times we played he ever had the $25 in his pocket and I was too stupid and idealistic to make him post. That' as close as I ever came to scoring at The Palace.

Lou Figueroa

They don't make them like that anymore, do they Lou? The real poolrooms back then were big open expanses with fields of green everywhere and action all around you. You hardly knew where to look first or what game to watch. If you wanted to play, there was always a decision about what table to go to, what part of the room you wanted to be in. You didn't want to be too close to the Payball game or any other big game going on at the time.

You didn't need to go out somewhere to find food, they had just about anything you wanted to eat right there. A full menu, and it wasn't bad fare either. Plus, it never closed! You could come for a visit and just move in! :thumbup:
I think on my first trip to Frisco and the Palace I stayed for a couple of days before looking for a room. Yes I stayed downtown in one of those dumps nearby. ;)
I was on a budget, all my dough was for gambling. :smile:
 
They don't make them like that anymore, do they Lou? The real poolrooms back then were big open expanses with fields of green everywhere and action all around you. You hardly knew where to look first or what game to watch. If you wanted to play, there was always a decision about what table to go to, what part of the room you wanted to be in. You didn't want to be too close to the Payball game or any other big game going on at the time.

You didn't need to go out somewhere to find food, they had just about anything you wanted to eat right there. A full menu, and it wasn't bad fare either. Plus, it never closed! You could come for a visit and just move in! :thumbup:
I think on my first trip to Frisco and the Palace I stayed for a couple of days before looking for a room. Yes I stayed downtown in one of those dumps nearby. ;)
I was on a budget, all my dough was for gambling. :smile:


No they sure don't make them like The Palace anymore. And I can't believe you roomed in the Tenderloin District and lived to tell the tale.

Lou Figueroa
 
No they sure don't make them like The Palace anymore. And I can't believe you roomed in the Tenderloin District and lived to tell the tale.

Lou Figueroa

Don't worry, I had my equalizer in my back pocket and was ready, willing and able back then. I think the outlaws around there could feel my vibe. I was probably the wrong guy to try to rob, and they knew it. Carrying a cue got their attention too. My experience has been that even bad guys have some sort of respect for pool players (but not always!).
The mob guys in Vegas used to love to hang out (and bet on) the pool players during the Stardust tourney.
 
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Don't worry, I had my equalizer in my back pocket and was ready, willing and able back then. I think the outlaws around there could feel my vibe. I was probably the wrong guy to try to rob, and they knew it. Carrying a cue got their attention too. My experience has been that even bad guys have some sort of respect for pool players (but not always!).
The mob guys in Vegas used to love to hang out (and bet on) the pool players during the Stardust tourney.


It's funny you should mention the bad guys showing some respect for pool players. Occasionally I play in rooms that are sometimes populated with a few guys that I would not like to meet on a dark street. Some of them are truly some very, very tough hombres. But, they know who I is and I'm consider a "player" and I get nods when I walk by, greetings from those that know me, and some kind of respect. It's a funny thing.

Lou Figueroa
never expected
to have
street cred
 
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