Please pray for Danny medina

Danny is an old road buddy of mine. We had one especially good trip through the Midwest back in the 80's. Danny didn't book any losers either! We both went home with stuffed pockets. I had visions of taking Danny to England way back when to challenge the snooker champs to some golf on a snooker table. I don't think any of them would have liked it much. Danny was that good. No one shot any straighter than him.

Danny came to visit me out here in the late 80's a couple of times, first winning the Disneyland tournament, beating David Howard in a thrilling final match for 15K! Second time was for a big tourney in Riverside. Danny didn't win, in fact he may have finished 5-6th for only $750. But then he took on Morro Paez, the best golf player around. He went through Morro like a hot knife through butter, winning over 3K in a few hours.

Our next meeting was at the U.S. Bar Table Championships in Reno. I sponsored Danny several times and we always made money. One year he even won the Eight Ball division for 5K, our best score. So Danny and I have been a good team down through the years and always gotten along great.

No one ever broke the balls any harder than Danny or had more heart either. Danny was a lot like Shane is today. When I put him in the box for a tough game and asked him how he felt, he would always respond, "Don't worry, I can beat him." And he did!

I hope I get to see you again soon buddy.

All I have to say is wonderful of you to post these stories about Danny, Jay!!!! Love it. I pray that Danny will see you again and soon.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Green Room, Resorts International. Atlantic City, 1980's

He was still undefeated in the tournament. I was in the Green Room watching the action flow and a little disappointed that no name players were playing. In comes Danny.

His first action is a race to 9 9-ball and he had to play opposite handed, left-handed. He ran through the guy and that was the end of it. I think they were playing for $500. Not sure though.

Next up was was a New York one handed specialist who was doing a hard hustle on Danny. No, Danny didn't hit him. He played a race, I don't remember how long or for how much, think it was to 11 for $2000. Danny ran through him and the action was done. BTW, he did an almost full table draw stroke one handed in the air (poke pool). Incredible shot.

Danny had two great comments after those matches. After the first one he says, paraphrased, " Wow, I'm hitting so good left-handed, I don't know which was to shoot in the tournament tomorrow."

After the poke pool match, I asked him why he would practice getting that good at poke pool. He responded that it was the first time he ever played that way for money and he won. Looks at me and says, "Is that a good reason?"

Danny thanks for the memories and I am praying for more to come.
 
Lewis, I may have told this story on here before, I don't remember, but it has Danny Medina in it, I'll tell the short version.

Me, Calvin & Jerold Jackson ( Top Water ) had been playing pool over at Cainey City,TX back in 1981 for about six or eight months, Calvin had the action built up in that little town like crazy, players from all over the country were coming around to get a shot at the money that was floating around.

George Hail was backing Calvin against anyone at the time and they were making some good scores, and it was tons of small action for players like myself, and Top Water.

Well on a Wednesday Me ,Calvin,& Top Water decided to go to Odessa,TX. and see Calvin's X-wife and son and play alittle pool too along the way, we got there on a Friday night.

Meanwhile back in Cainey City on that Friday night the Texas Rangers raided the bar that George Hail owned, they took over 30 players to jail for gambling , some were jailed for Inter-State Gambling.

George payed everones bail and he got a big fine and the Rangers confiscated any money that wasn't in a persons bill fold, if it was in your pockets , it was taken!, that was about all that ever came of it, but the Texas Rangers said that the main ones they were after got away!, ...lol..that was me ,Calvin and Top Water!:D

This top player had been busted for drug dealing over in Dallas, but he was from Okla. City and in exchange to have Georges place busted for gambling he got off his drug charges, I won't divulge his name tho, you can ask Top Water his name, he remembers it!

Meanwhile back in Odessa,TX. that night Calvin matched up with Danny Medina on the bar box some 9-Ball sets for $300 a set, Calvin won two sets and Danny quit and said he would play some more the next night.

Calvin left with a "lady of the night" and me and Top Water stayed in the joint and played pool all night, this guy named Jamie came in and laid his black leather coat on a chair, the coat fell off it and a damn gun went off!, it was a 357, the bullet hit the wall about two feet from my head!

I just looked around and went back to playing pool, this Jamie charactor was bad news, he had just got out of the joint only days before, so no one said anything to him.

The next night Calvin and Danny played again, I'm not giving to big of an excuse for Calvin, but after being out all night himself he was worn out , if you know what I mean......lol

Danny won back the $600 in short fashion, and another $2,500.00

Danny was in top form that Saturday night, he didn't make many mistake at all, he played some of the best 9-Ball I ever seen. Danny sure was a quite guy, he hardly said a word the whole time they played.

It took me,Calvin, & Top Water about two weeks playing $2.00 pool around Odessa to pump back up!, none the less it is a good memory!:thumbup:

Danny is a great guy, I'll put him my prayers!


David Harcrow

I had something similar happen to me I OKC years ago. The gun went off and my pants got about 5 punds heavier quickly. i took off running for a door that waas locked and darn near knocked my self out.
odessa was quite a place in those days.
Danny needed every gear he could find against Calvin.
Good story!
 
Thanks to all of you for the kind words and the concern. I will callhim tomorrow morning and read all of them to him. I can only imagine how much it will mean to him. i am more grateful than I can ever express!
 
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Thanks for your post, Ironman. There were many of us in CO that were aware of Danny's condition but kept it under wraps until Danny said it was OK to go public. I think Melissa Little had posted it first on her facebook page after getting Danny's permission. He's been in our thoughts & prayers since we've learned about his condition.

I love that he said he could give the Big C the 7/8. :thumbup:.

Continue fighting, Danny.

Dave Gross
 
Thanks for your post, Ironman. There were many of us in CO that were aware of Danny's condition but kept it under wraps until Danny said it was OK to go public. I think Melissa Little had posted it first on her facebook page after getting Danny's permission. He's been in our thoughts & prayers since we've learned about his condition.

I love that he said he could give the Big C the 7/8. :thumbup:.

Continue fighting, Danny.

Dave Gross

I only learned this morning. We have been close friends for nearly 40 years, but my living in Texas having moved from Denver about 12 years ago, we had not talked for a while.
As soon as I heard I called. Igot a voice mail and my heart nearly stopped. He called backwithin 10 minutes and we talked about an hour.
i was not surprised at how upbeat and positive he is. Danny had many ups and downs in his life buthas dealt with them, head on.
He was insistent he could vure himself and beat this. i could only listen in awe of his attitude. I have no right to be surprised by it.
His only request are prayers and I have done little else today but pray.
He was fearless as a player and a very proud one too. He exhibits the same attitude now.
Thanks to all for the warm remarks and continued prayers. I will call and read these to him tomorrow and I know it will war is heart.
 
All the best to Danny. I watched him play a buddy of mine who was a great player in his own right, just some $5 nineball as practice in Olathe once. My buddy lost 20 games to Danny in about 2 hours and to this day says it was the greatest display of 9 ball he has ever seen. I might have to agree.

A good positive mental attitude like Danny has is a great weapon against cancer.
 
Rooting for him!

Danny and I played in the Rac-it-Bac back in the eighties, a little bar a few miles north of the main airport in Baton Rouge. The bet started small and stayed small, nobody made a score that night. He left a number and an offer to take a ride with him, always kinda wished I had but I had too many local obligations at the time. That night still remains the most fun I ever had playing pool.

Danny I'll be rooting for you from down here in the swamp!

Hu
 
Having lived in CO for almost 15 years in the 70's & early 80's I saw Danny play several times. Very impressive player, and as was mentioned, I never saw him book a loser. Few players can claim that (and not lie). Best wishes Danny, and I hope for your recovery!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Thanks for your posts, Ironman. I first interviewed Danny back at the old Colfax Billiards in the mid-80s, when he was recognized as the best player in the Rockies. He was very shy about being interviewed, but cooperated anyway. Turns out, I didn't do a story.

Last saw Danny at Melissa's pool hall downtown. He looked good, was dressed sharp and playing well, if not great. That was last summer.

Best wishes, Danny.
 
Dino

Danny, if anyone can beat it, you can. You've never feared anything in life and rightfully so it's in your DNA. Many of us in life worry and diminish ourselves as we age, you, your like water, always the same. I always remember seeing him in Vegas yrs ago, when he had his Porsche, before he went to the 9 footers, quite amazing, someone who cut his teeth and learned in the trenches of the bars, to transition to the 9 footers and dominate so many Big table players. He and I bucked heads Many times over the years, and in many McDermott Tour events but theres is one shot I remember, better than Ronnie Allen running 8 and out one handed in the air.
Finals, the original Table Steaks on the front triple shimmed Gold Crown. I rolled out, cue ball about 6'' off the head rail. The object ball was two diamonds up from the lower left hand corner, he had to shoot thru a small window and stop the ball dead, but that was the easy part, on this triple shimmed GC. His shape for his next shot was another window shot to the right side pocket. The cloth is well worn, the cue ball is hopping on its way, Dannys slightly jacked up, and any player would of given it back, not Danny. He made it of course, all I could do was shake my head, not that he made it, but that he took the shot, and won because of it. Danny was very adepet at bouncing balls around. In his heyday, if you were racking and usually at the beginning of the match, he would punch the cue ball off the foot rail, back to himself and catch it in his hand while waiting. I always heard about him jump banking the 8 ball cross side on an bar table over another obj. ball for the win, he had a feel for ball movement and collisions, different than others of his skill level.
Dino, PM me, I'll stop by and see ya soon.

For those of you wondering why I ''named him Dino'' it's a combination of Danny and the last half of his name, Me......dina, and Dino was always a happy go lucky character/dinosaur on the cartoons growing up.
BiL
 
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Danny

Danny was at Felt in South Denver last night and I watched him play a few racks and I was thinking to myself how much he has changed. I remember just being a young kid watching him in Aurora just playing around on the table and how impressive that was I could only imagine being his opponent in a big money game.

People here in Denver really had mixed feelings about the guy but I believe that comes with the territory. I never heard anyone question his ability on the table.

Like him love him or hate him he will always be one of the greatest 9-ball players ever in my opinion.

My prayers are with you Danny.
 
Lewis, I may have told this story on here before, I don't remember, but it has Danny Medina in it, I'll tell the short version.

Me, Calvin & Jerold Jackson ( Top Water ) had been playing pool over at Cainey City,TX back in 1981 for about six or eight months, Calvin had the action built up in that little town like crazy, players from all over the country were coming around to get a shot at the money that was floating around.

George Hail was backing Calvin against anyone at the time and they were making some good scores, and it was tons of small action for players like myself, and Top Water.

Well on a Wednesday Me ,Calvin,& Top Water decided to go to Odessa,TX. and see Calvin's X-wife and son and play alittle pool too along the way, we got there on a Friday night.

Meanwhile back in Cainey City on that Friday night the Texas Rangers raided the bar that George Hail owned, they took over 30 players to jail for gambling , some were jailed for Inter-State Gambling.

George payed everones bail and he got a big fine and the Rangers confiscated any money that wasn't in a persons bill fold, if it was in your pockets , it was taken!, that was about all that ever came of it, but the Texas Rangers said that the main ones they were after got away!, ...lol..that was me ,Calvin and Top Water!:D

This top player had been busted for drug dealing over in Dallas, but he was from Okla. City and in exchange to have Georges place busted for gambling he got off his drug charges, I won't divulge his name tho, you can ask Top Water his name, he remembers it!

Meanwhile back in Odessa,TX. that night Calvin matched up with Danny Medina on the bar box some 9-Ball sets for $300 a set, Calvin won two sets and Danny quit and said he would play some more the next night.

Calvin left with a "lady of the night" and me and Top Water stayed in the joint and played pool all night, this guy named Jamie came in and laid his black leather coat on a chair, the coat fell off it and a damn gun went off!, it was a 357, the bullet hit the wall about two feet from my head!

I just looked around and went back to playing pool, this Jamie charactor was bad news, he had just got out of the joint only days before, so no one said anything to him.

The next night Calvin and Danny played again, I'm not giving to big of an excuse for Calvin, but after being out all night himself he was worn out , if you know what I mean......lol

Danny won back the $600 in short fashion, and another $2,500.00

Danny was in top form that Saturday night, he didn't make many mistake at all, he played some of the best 9-Ball I ever seen. Danny sure was a quite guy, he hardly said a word the whole time they played.

It took me,Calvin, & Top Water about two weeks playing $2.00 pool around Odessa to pump back up!, none the less it is a good memory!:thumbup:

Danny is a great guy, I'll put him my prayers!


David Harcrow

Catman,
I like this story about you and Danny. Road player! Danny came back to play and he did. I hope he can come back from this big C, that has him down a little! I already put Danny in my prayers. Thanks Catman.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Danny ran 9 racks against Bill Incardona in front of the Accu-Stats cameras. It was the best 9 ball package I ever watched. Billy took it gracefully and when his inning fanally came, he shot with the butt end of the cue first. Danny has magik talent.

God heal him and ease his pain
 
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