Day Two -- Dispatch from the US One Pocket Open

Banks said:
I'm not so big on responses such as that. To use it in such a manner is, in so many ways, virtually the same as Schmidt's remark. They're both trying to pull a measuring contest. Schmidt may have been asking for it by taking the fight to The Figster, though.

Other than that, an excellent read as always for the pre-game and post-game write-ups. Thanks, Lou.

We've got a good handful of AZB'ers down there. I'm hoping they keep up the good work.
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After a day to reflect I believe his little verbal assault was an attempt to provoke me and maybe take a swing. He doesn't realize that I've been "assaulted" by the likes of Sam Donaldson, Mike Wallace, and Bryant Gumble (Katie Curic too).

Lou Figueroa
 
krelldog said:
and we wonder why pool is in the toilet.....

JA going Earl on Mark Griffin...

JJ coming apart at the seems back to back days....right after his meltdown with Earl..

John Schmidt going Mega/Earl on Lou....with a borderline racist crack to boot....

Charlie Williams doing his best Charlie Williams imitation on the field......


I think professional pool is more F%&*ed than we can even imagine.......
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Probably the vaguely racist nature of what he said took me aback more than anything else. Someone calling you a dick is no biggie.

Lou Figueroa
 
Okie said:
Come on....pool is ok. I had Lee Trevino light my ass up during the 1988 PGA Championship at Oaktree but we all know he is a good ol boy. He just got his nose open and I happened to be the first tournament official he saw. Water off a duck's back.

People acting like people....nothing to see here! Move along!

Ken
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Ken, I think you're right. Just pool players being pool players. Sad but true.

Lou Figueroa
 
lfigueroa said:
After a day to reflect I believe his little verbal assault was an attempt to provoke me and maybe take a swing. He doesn't realize that I've been "assaulted" by the likes of Sam Donaldson, Mike Wallace, and Bryant Gumble (Katie Curic too).

Lou Figueroa
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Lol! Professionals at that!

Sorry that you couldn't get a couple more wins. You're still no slouch. I've been playing a little more 1p lately, so I'll be seeing you in these some day. :) My new teacher will get me there soon enough.
 
CreeDo said:
These things are great to read lou, you had a pretty rough draw.
To even take a few games from the champions, you must be able to play a little.

The forum drama stuff is funny but a little sad too. JS struck me as basically a decent guy with a prіckly ego.
I can understand him approaching you and being pissy, because when you questioned the integrity of his runs,
he clearly thought you were questioning his personal integrity, and for a lot of people them's fightin' words.

But calling you a fat mexican and wanting to get into a fistfight is very low class and stupid.
It's tough thinking of anyone as decent when they make racist comments and want to physically hurt people.
John keeps saying you're a nobody... he must be pretty insecure to let comments from a nobody rile him up like that.

JJ... he quits supposedly over unfair treatment, and acts like people are trying to get some cheap advantage over him.
But multiple times he's tried to claim foul off a fair hit that was watched by a ref.
Sounds like he's the one fishing for an advantage.
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Thanks, CreeDo. John certainly appears to have issues. I would have expected a little class, or professionalism, or something. What happened really surprised me, particularly the racial profiling thing.

Lou Figueroa
 
Eric. said:
Not taking sides cuz I have no issues with either guy, but...

Seems like another case of the intersection of real life meeting the Interwebs. Been there myself...


Eric >puh pow
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oh yeah. Some guys forget the Internet is not real life.

Lou Figueroa
 
SpiderWebComm said:
This story sounds like it was told through Figueroa-tinted glasses. I have a hunch that John Schmidt wasn't such a dick and that Lou wasn't such a saint.
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Lou is actually pretty soft spoken, and a gentleman if you ever get to know him. Sure he has opinions, but we all do. It's funny, I know someone on here who might make a few quips, but is always very polished, educated, and well spoken. Get him in person and that man can swear like a sailor. The differences in people between online and off is interesting.

Doug, Smorgassbored to those who didn't know him, said I was the same on the internet, and in person and to this day I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad one. I always enjoyed hanging out with Doug, Lou, Bob Jewett, Becky, Ed, and many others. I'm blessed to have met them. I'm quite sure John Barton would be a blast to have a pint with too. I'd even ref him and Lou having a sit down.

What's my point? The last perfect person I'm aware of got nailed to a Cross.
 
Island Drive said:
Over my fifty years I've seen this same type situation happen to many other players. For some reason, one player lashes out at another, usually for good reason. Other times, the ''I'm better than you''....syndrome surfaces during lashing out....:scratchhead: It can also, be used Sneakily :happydance: or as part of the hustle, go figure :D
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Thanks, Island Drive.

Lou Figueroa
 
bdorman said:
Nice write-up Lou. Many thanks for letting us live a few minutes in your shoes.

But to those who are upset about some professional's behavior: Gimme a break! Have you ever been around other professional athletes when they don't have on their "public face?" The range is from insane-crazy to downright scary. That's what the pressure of top-performing does to a human.

But pool is one sport where amateurs and pros compete and mingle on a regular basis -- so we see more of it. Personally, I like that about the sport/game even if it means I can't have a Mr. Clean image of every pro player.
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Banks, bdorman. I think you're right about the pro/amateur relationship in pool. You get to see the good up close, but also the ugly.

Lou Figueroa
more prosecco please
 
bmccaslin said:
Great write-up Lou! Sorry to hear you're out of the One Pocket - you playing in any other events? As much as I like watching the pro's I always like to pull for us working stiffs...:grin:

It seems tensions are running high with a lot of the pro's lately; I guess with all of the recent troubles with BB and the US Open & ABP it's all understandable. I just hope it doesn't ruin the atmosphere of the whole event though, as I've been looking forward to my trip there for a while!

-Brian
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Thanks, Brian. No other events, I am "wheels up" tomorrow morning.

Lou Figueroa
 
JB Cases said:
100% agree. Lou's stories, while nicely written, have the aura of a polished spin-meister too them.

It's funny that the biggest keyboard bullies have the "sensational' stories making themselves out to be victims, when they meet their victims in the real world. If John really said said Mr. Laptop then it's a perfect comeback.
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John waxes eloquent on the subject of "keyboard bullies" lol. That's rich.

Lou Figueroa
still chuckling
 
hang-the-9 said:
Is this on Simonis cloth or that Chinese stuff the China open was played that players said was like playing on glass?
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It's blue Simonis, but with the very fresh from the factory Cyclop balls and Diamond rails it is very quick conditions.

Lou Figueroa
 
Banks said:
Lol! Professionals at that!

Sorry that you couldn't get a couple more wins. You're still no slouch. I've been playing a little more 1p lately, so I'll be seeing you in these some day. :) My new teacher will get me there soon enough.
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I always learn stuff at these events -- I make a point of studying the mechanics of the players whose games I like. I'll be taking some good stuff home this time :-)

Lou Figueroa
 
lfigueroa said:
John waxes eloquent on the subject of "keyboard bullies" lol. That's rich.

Lou Figueroa
still chuckling
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With that guy? Par for the course, I would say.

A thought comes to mind...


Eric
 

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Ghosst said:
Lou is actually pretty soft spoken, and a gentleman if you ever get to know him. Sure he has opinions, but we all do. It's funny, I know someone on here who might make a few quips, but is always very polished, educated, and well spoken. Get him in person and that man can swear like a sailor. The differences in people between online and off is interesting.

Doug, Smorgassbored to those who didn't know him, said I was the same on the internet, and in person and to this day I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad one. I always enjoyed hanging out with Doug, Lou, Bob Jewett, Becky, Ed, and many others. I'm blessed to have met them. I'm quite sure John Barton would be a blast to have a pint with too. I'd even ref him and Lou having a sit down.

What's my point? The last perfect person I'm aware of got nailed to a Cross.
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Wise words from Ghosst.

Lou Figueroa
except the part
about drinking with JB ;-)
 
Lou, Onda... Stayed at Mirage in end of July last year, and in May last year (furniture biz). Never went to Onda. I love Italian women, oops - Italian food! It's voted per Google search just now (you peaked my interest), as best Italian in Vegas. It's seemingly not "Chef branded" - like all the Wolfgangscmuck and Chef Ramsey places in Vegas (Ramsey's place at Paris this May was amazing - best MF'g oysters from a selection of the seas ever!)

Onda is to the right of the Brazilian steakhouse at Mirage (loved the Brazilian meaty food there!).

KK9 <-- putting Onda on the list - the power of your reference, TY Lou. You might want to try the gnocchi at the Strat 1st floor, Felinis, albeit a $10 cab drive from Mirage, new home of the Mosconi Cup.

BTW, it's 106 degrees in Vegas ATM. It's 71 in my 840,000 sq ft house, lol.
 
lfigueroa said:
I is here, but this is pretty standard drivel from John, one of my biggest fans.

Lou Figueroa
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Not really. The point is that you don't always tell the story the way it actually went down. So I think that Dave has it right.
 
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