Dave Daya

Patso44

Patso44

Underdog
Silver Member
Anyone have some interesting pool stories on Dave Daya. I have seen him play a few times and heard a few stories and wondering if there are anymore stories out there! He placed 5th in the 70th 14.1 world tournament last year.

Any more information would be appreciated.

Patrick
 
I've seen Dave Daya play many times. One of the most memorable, to me anyway, was when he and Mike Zuglan went at it hammer and tongs for $100 a rack 9 ball on table 9 upstairs at The Pocket Billiard Lounge in Bingamton, NY. They had both been knocked out the the New York State 9 ball Championship tournament. Late Saturday afternoon, they started at $50 a rack and soon bumped it to $100. IIRC, Dave won about $1100 but Mike came back on Sunday and won most of it back.
Dave Daya has as much gamble as anyone I've ever seen, personally. Before he got cancer he would play all day and all night for as much as you wanted to bet. He usually bet his own money, too.
On top of that, he's a helluva nice guy!
I can't remember when this took place but it was long before Mike began running the Joss Tour.
 
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Dave Daya in the 1980's

Pic's from almost 30 years ago!
 

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I know Dave and played some 14.1 with him a couple weeks before the World's last year. He hit me with a 150-and-out that day.

His high run is 323 balls.
 
A few years ago I drew him in a Joss Turning Stone tournament. I think it was in the second round. I saw the name and thought well this couldn't be so bad, never heard of him. The man played some of the strongest safties against me that I've ever been subjected to. Then he just ranout from everywhere once the table was to his liking. He whipped me 9-2 as I recall. He is a very skilled and knowledgable player and a true gentleman.
 
JimmyD said:
Is that Billy Incardona in the bottom pic of Daya???
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Who, the guy above Dave's bridging forearm, that looks like someone uppercutted him in the chin with a 2x4? Nah, I don't think even Billy's chops are that diminutive. :p

(J/K, Billy, if you're reading this.)

-Sean
 
sfleinen said:
Who, the guy above Dave's bridging forearm, that looks like someone uppercutted him in the chin with a 2x4? Nah, I don't think even Billy's chops are that diminutive. :p

(J/K, Billy, if you're reading this.)

-Sean
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Hey, we all were thinner and had more hair back then{well, most of us}:D
 
Though I didn't see it, there used to be like a warm-up Friday night tournament in Scranton, PA the night before the NYS 9 Ball Championship. Dave knocked heads with Alex Pagulayan and didn't like it as I remember. That weekend was the first time I ever saw Alex.
I did see Dave going at it with Pete Fusco at The Arena in Scranton a few years later. We left before finding out who won.
I spoke with Dave briefly at the US Open in 2001 but haven't seen him since.
 
SpiderWebComm said:
Dave plays sooo well. As others have said, he's a super gentleman and a great story teller.
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That's right! Dave D.'s the "Tony Drago" of 14.1 -- he sees the patterns so fast, gets down, and shoots 'em away -- no deliberation whatsoever. A real pleasure to watch!
 
sfleinen said:
That's right! Dave D.'s the "Tony Drago" of 14.1 -- he sees the patterns so fast, gets down, and shoots 'em away -- no deliberation whatsoever. A real pleasure to watch!
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This is true. He plays at a very quick pace. I watched him run 173 in about 45 minutes or so.

EDIT: And that includes the time it took me to rack the balls.
 
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Pushout said:
Though I didn't see it, there used to be like a warm-up Friday night tournament in Scranton, PA the night before the NYS 9 Ball Championship. Dave knocked heads with Alex Pagulayan and didn't like it as I remember. That weekend was the first time I ever saw Alex.
I did see Dave going at it with Pete Fusco at The Arena in Scranton a few years later. We left before finding out who won.
I spoke with Dave briefly at the US Open in 2001 but haven't seen him since.
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I also heard the story about Dave playing Alex. The way I heard it was that he was taking a beating, but battled back to just about break even.

A few months back, I watched him play 14.1 on a triple-shimmed table for $500 a game.
 
I was at the Bushwacker's place years ago and David G. was there trying to get something going. Daya and a guy named Pat (good 1p player- I always want to call him Pat Fleming, but he isn't the Accu-Stats guy) were the only 2 trying to get something going...a guy was there that was interested in being the $man for Daya and he put a messa cash on the table, like 6 stacks of bills on the table that were taller than the rails, and told David to bet what he was comfortable with playing some 14.1.

IIRC, David's comfort zone was $500 to 200 balls...he did not like it, nor did he like the 1p against Pat.
 
Black-Balled said:
I was at the Bushwacker's place years ago and David G. was there trying to get something going. Daya and a guy named Pat (good 1p player- I always want to call him Pat Fleming, but he isn't the Accu-Stats guy) were the only 2 trying to get something going...a guy was there that was interested in being the $man for Daya and he put a messa cash on the table, like 6 stacks of bills on the table that were taller than the rails, and told David to bet what he was comfortable with playing some 14.1.

IIRC, David's comfort zone was $500 to 200 balls...he did not like it, nor did he like the 1p against Pat.
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The Pat that's a good 1p player you're talking about is probably Pat NcNally.
 
Pushout said:
WOW! There's a name I haven't heard in a long time. Dave would've known McNally, though.
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Ha! I just came up w/ McNally- on my own- a moment ago...swear it!

Pat and Dave were both trying to match up w/ David, and did, not each othre. I know what I am talking about, why doesn't everybody else?!
 
You asked for Dave Daya stories. Here's one. I've known Dave very well for about 30 years. He works at Mt Carmel Auto Supply and is part owner. Being in the auto trade I got to know Dave pretty well. Until 2 years ago I didn't even know he played!!!!!! Now I'm playing and Iv'e seen him play only once, at this year's SBE. He tore apart a past winner of the tournament in 9 ball. He played safety's like I've never seen, and then ran rack after rack. I was amazed at how well he plays.

And yes he really is that nice a guy. Dealing parts, if you have a problem he moves heaven and earth to get you fixed up. He pulled me out of a few jams. I've helped him a time or two also. Good man that Dave. I'm glad I know him.

Mark Shuman
 
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