CJ - Ever gamble in Memphis?
- Thread starter Ken_4fun
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I still admire his character, he's got that "old school charm"
Yes, when I was a teenager. I've written several stories about my Memphis experiences on the forum. I've had some "good" ones and some "bad" ones around that city. One of my all time favorite players is Jerry Brock, I met him and played him a few times there, I still admire his character, he's got that "old school charm". :thumbup:
Yes, when I was a teenager. I've written several stories about my Memphis experiences on the forum. I've had some "good" ones and some "bad" ones around that city. One of my all time favorite players is Jerry Brock, I met him and played him a few times there, I still admire his character, he's got that "old school charm". :thumbup:
The guy I played last night is named Kenard. Pretty old guy and shoots awful straight.
I was talking the owner of the place and he said you and Kenard played.
Ken
Kinard's a really good player, very consistent
Yes, Kinard beat me in his pool room there in 1984....I told that story in another thread. Not too much to it really, I went through there again a few years later, but I was already knocked for that game again. Kinard's a really good player, very consistent, just not quite world class, he was the 8 Ball under Jerry Brock I would think.
Yes, Kinard beat me in his pool room there in 1984....I told that story in another thread. Not too much to it really, I went through there again a few years later, but I was already knocked for that game again. Kinard's a really good player, very consistent, just not quite world class, he was the 8 Ball under Jerry Brock I would think.
I seem to remember CJ and Fargo matching up one time at the Rack, but that may have been McCready, that was another hot action time back in the day. That place used to be crawling with action.... Fargo, Danny Cook, James Christopher, Whitelow, Dave Favor, etc. The good old days...
LOL, now I have find out about Jerry Brock. I have never seen him play. Back to youtube and others...
I know it isnt amazing to you, but there are just a ton of great players, I mean really great players. Most of us (me included) know players in a region but guys like you know them all over the country.
Hard to believe isnt it?
Next question do you think there are more shortstop and over players now or when you was a youngster?
Second question. IMO, it seems that the old guys were master of the cueball, and current players are better shot makers. Do you agree or do I sniff too much glue?
Ken
my main advantage {against Louie} was the break, and maybe my banking ability.
No I never saw Louie in Memphis, although I did play him twice in St. Louis and once in Dallas. He was a very strong shot maker, and we had similar styles - our highest gears were both "atomic", my main advantage {against Louie} was the break, and maybe my banking ability.
No I never saw Louie in Memphis, although I did play him twice in St. Louis and once in Dallas. He was a very strong shot maker, and we had similar styles - our highest gears were both "atomic", my main advantage {against Louie} was the break, and maybe my banking ability.
I can't recall ever seeing Louie in Memphis, but not saying he didn't if he did though I don't remember it. I used to be friends with a good friend of Louies from the St Louis area, always told me Louie was a heck of a nice guy and would do anything for his buds
Here is a pic of a pic from a PBT tourney in Memphis in... I think it was 1992 or 1993? I took a bunch then, this is CJ with Sal Butera in the background at the other table. In the bleachers you can see Sammy Jones I think it is and Lou Butera. The blond headed kid was a local B player in Memphis if I remember right, but can't remember his name.
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It was a fun tournament with some unusual rules.
Wow, I've never seen that picture before, it's funny to see me with a cigarette in my mouth. I used to play like that gambling once in a while to mess with the really good players. Running out using TOI with a cigarette smoking must have been a funny combination.
I'm glad I gave up that addition, it's been a long time since I smoked.....or did anything else for that matter. Times change, and sometimes it's for the best, thank Goodness.
I ended up getting 5th place in that tournament, Roger Griffis won it I believe. It was a fun tournament with some unusual rules.
I can't recall ever seeing Louie in Memphis, but not saying he didn't if he did though I don't remember it. I used to be friends with a good friend of Louies from the St Louis area, always told me Louie was a heck of a nice guy and would do anything for his buds
Here is a pic of a pic from a PBT tourney in Memphis in... I think it was 1992 or 1993? I took a bunch then, this is CJ with Sal Butera in the background at the other table. In the bleachers you can see Sammy Jones I think it is and Lou Butera. The blond headed kid was a local B player in Memphis if I remember right, but can't remember his name.
Wow, I've never seen that picture before, it's funny to see me with a cigarette in my mouth. I used to play like that gambling once in a while to mess with the really good players. Running out using TOI with a cigarette smoking must have been a funny combination.
I'm glad I gave up that addition, it's been a long time since I smoked.....or did anything else for that matter. Times change, and sometimes it's for the best, thank Goodness.
I ended up getting 5th place in that tournament, Roger Griffis won it I believe. It was a fun tournament with some unusual rules.
Wow, I've never seen that picture before, it's funny to see me with a cigarette in my mouth. I used to play like that gambling once in a while to mess with the really good players. Running out using TOI with a cigarette smoking must have been a funny combination.
I'm glad I gave up that addition, it's been a long time since I smoked.....or did anything else for that matter. Times change, and sometimes it's for the best, thank Goodness.
I ended up getting 5th place in that tournament, Roger Griffis won it I believe. It was a fun tournament with some unusual rules.
That picture made me laugh!! You always had the nice "pimp" wear! :thumbup:
it just hasn't been Pocket Billiards time lately, and that can change very rapidly.
The level of play 20-25 years ago was better for a variety of reasons. The biggest one was there were far more tournaments and money in the game. Being a professional pool player then was respected much more and we played in the Penthouses of the Casinos on ESPN. We were even getting to the point of doing LIVE ESPN matches (I played a couple, one had over 3.7 Million viewers).
I'm not taking anything away from current players and Shane is an exception and with his work ethic he would been near the top in any era. However, when you look at Sigel, Hopkins, Reyes, Bustemante, Archer, Strickland, Hall, Rempe, Lebron, Varner, West, Martin, Reid, etc. it was just a much tougher ball game. The rack and break weren't so much the factor so the playing was at a super high level. And these players were intimidating, I'm sure Corey, is as good a player, but not as intimidating as the players I just mentioned in their prime.
I know people will argue this, but I take the word of players like Archer, Francisco, Stickland because they played against both players and I now how they feel about the 80s and 90s era of play. It was tremendously competitive, and I couldn't walk through an airport or mall without being recognized. This is from BIG MEDIA, and it is the difference that has made the game plummet in the last few years.
This should never have been allowed to happen, however, the Pro Players have not had a voice in 14 years. The same thing would have happened to Golf and other sports/games if the players weren't involved. Everything has it's own time, and it just hasn't been Pocket Billiards time lately, and that can change very rapidly.
thegameistheteacher@gmail.com
LOL, now I have find out about Jerry Brock. I have never seen him play. Back to youtube and others...
I know it isnt amazing to you, but there are just a ton of great players, I mean really great players. Most of us (me included) know players in a region but guys like you know them all over the country.
Hard to believe isnt it?
Next question do you think there are more shortstop and over players now or when you was a youngster?
Second question. IMO, it seems that the old guys were master of the cueball, and current players are better shot makers. Do you agree or do I sniff too much glue?
Ken
The level of play 20-25 years ago was better for a variety of reasons. The biggest one was there were far more tournaments and money in the game. Being a professional pool player then was respected much more and we played in the Penthouses of the Casinos on ESPN. We were even getting to the point of doing LIVE ESPN matches (I played a couple, one had over 3.7 Million viewers).
I'm not taking anything away from current players and Shane is an exception and with his work ethic he would been near the top in any era. However, when you look at Sigel, Hopkins, Reyes, Bustemante, Archer, Strickland, Hall, Rempe, Lebron, Varner, West, Martin, Reid, etc. it was just a much tougher ball game. The rack and break weren't so much the factor so the playing was at a super high level. And these players were intimidating, I'm sure Corey, is as good a player, but not as intimidating as the players I just mentioned in their prime.
I know people will argue this, but I take the word of players like Archer, Francisco, Stickland because they played against both players and I now how they feel about the 80s and 90s era of play. It was tremendously competitive, and I couldn't walk through an airport or mall without being recognized. This is from BIG MEDIA, and it is the difference that has made the game plummet in the last few years.
This should never have been allowed to happen, however, the Pro Players have not had a voice in 14 years. The same thing would have happened to Golf and other sports/games if the players weren't involved. Everything has it's own time, and it just hasn't been Pocket Billiards time lately, and that can change very rapidly.
thegameistheteacher@gmail.com
CJ, you say they had some funny rules.....was that the one with the shot clock. Seemed to remember it gave players some trouble.
Remember seeing you coming through Florida in mid 80s. Florida was a snake pit full of champions then. You were steered very well, as I remember it. You played Tommy Brown in my homeroom (Peg's Pocket) in Miami. You two pretty much broke even. Big Arm John was with you. I do recall you made some good money on that trip!
Remember seeing you coming through Florida in mid 80s. Florida was a snake pit full of champions then. You were steered very well, as I remember it. You played Tommy Brown in my homeroom (Peg's Pocket) in Miami. You two pretty much broke even. Big Arm John was with you. I do recall you made some good money on that trip!
CJ will remember better than me I'm sure, but yes there was shot clock. But the odd thing was they were trying some new format, I believe that the incoming player had the option to pass on a shot if they chose to do so or something similar. So essentially there were no safeties allowed, or something along those lines. I think Mike Massey won, but it may have been Griffis... I can't remember...
Thanks
I only wish I could take better pics back then, this was pre-digital era, using a cheap 35 mm SLR sitting way up top in the bleachers. I think I had a 300 mm zoom lens and had to use a very fast film, like ISO 2000 or something so I didn't need a flash. These are scans from little 3x5 prints that I found in the bottom of my toolbox a few years ago.