Where to play in LA

After a busy day with family, I drove over to Manila Billiards in Carson about 45 minutes ago to just hit some balls, only to find the whole strip mall is dead. How is a pool room not even open at just past 10pm on a Thursday night?

I wish I saw this thread earlier about the action in SM...I would've headed straight there. I'll head that way tomorrow night for some drinks and practice.

Rod
 
Note. The place is HOB House of Billiards not HOF which is Hall Of Fame. If you've been there over 21+ times you might want to know that.
 
rod in atl said:
After a busy day with family, I drove over to Manila Billiards in Carson about 45 minutes ago to just hit some balls, only to find the whole strip mall is dead. How is a pool room not even open at just past 10pm on a Thursday night?

I wish I saw this thread earlier about the action in SM...I would've headed straight there. I'll head that way tomorrow night for some drinks and practice.

Rod
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Rod Ill be up there in the late afternoon maybe after 4:30PM. Its Friday so the weekend guys will be coming in. Please intro yourself to me. Ask the houseman for me and he will know. I am leaving by about 7:30 since I have dinner with the family. There should be some good one pocket games on the front tables.
If youre coming up from Carson try to get on the freeway by 3PM or its murder at 4.till 8PM
Keone
Note the price on a weekday is $6 an hour till 8PM after that it goes up to $10 an hour. Thats why I suggest the late afternoon.
 
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yobagua said:
Hey Eric. Im a neophyte when it comes to full rack but love to play it.
Keone
Dang my dance card is getting filled.
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I don't get to post much on here but I would like it if you would be willing to negotiate a game that should please Lou and Fatboy. I am willing to play Lou a race to 5, 6 or 7 for $2,000 to $5,000. Fatboy can go in with him if he wants. That way Fatboy has some action and Lou gets to make up for all of his non action. I am willing to give Lou a spot but just how much would need to be negotiated. It doesn't have to be HOB it can be Hardtimes. Whatever cueball they want is fine. I will try to arrange my schedule to meet their requirements. Win Win for everyone. Wayne
 
yobagua said:
Rod Ill be up there in the late afternoon maybe after 4:30PM. Its Friday so the weekend guys will be coming in. Please intro yourself to me. Ask the houseman for me and he will know. I am leaving by about 7:30 since I have dinner with the family. There should be some good one pocket games on the front tables.
If youre coming up from Carson try to get on the freeway by 3PM or its murder at 4.till 8PM
Keone
Note the price on a weekday is $6 an hour till 8PM after that it goes up to $10 an hour. Thats why I suggest the late afternoon.
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Thanks for the heads up. I've never played at HOB, but I've heard of it many times. If there are good games to get into, or something good to watch, HOB is the place for me this week.

I don't know when I'll get over that way. I've got a busy day with family/funeral activities. I may not get there until later in the night, possibly 8 or 9pm.

Rod
 
Forked tongue?????

Almost 2 years ago.

08-10-2011, 08:54 PM

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One thing I don't understand about all this kerfuffle (OK, maybe there are a couple more): I know enough people in the pool world that if I'm going to be somewhere, *anywhere* in this country, I can make a couple of calls and have action waiting for me, at whatever rate I'm willing to go-off, er, play for. I am going to assume that FB knows at least as many people, if not more.

So why the beef about local action? If you drop in out of the blue, we all know you may come up dry, especially at the higher elevations :-)

I was in LA a few months back, didn't tell anyone, and didn't get any action. Of course I don't bet at the rates FB likes, but, just because I didn't get matched up, isn't reason enough to gripe about how bad the action is -- times are tough for a whole lot of reasons we all know about. But if I had made any effort at all I could have had guys waiting in line to steal, er, gamble with me.

So, I don't get this particular part -- why not call someone and set something up?

Lou Figueroa
 
Fatboy said:
HOB is tough action for anyone who aint used to the equipment in there, its about a 2 maybe a 3 ball advantage for guys that are used to it. I am now, it took a long time for me to get used to it. And I still have to be playing there regularly to play well. The humidity changes in there more than any room I ever played in, even in florida I never seen anything like that room. Its a trap. I was in action there last week a few days then the game dried up,
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It's really rough when they start cooking bacon there. The whole place smells like a giant BLT :-)

Lou Figueroa
 
demonrho said:
Don't forget to tell them you are going to SM to duck Wayne and the front tables, and conveniently leave whenever Rich shows up. :D
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So sorry. I haven't ducked anyone and dinner with Mom takes priority over playing pool with Richie.

And I guess I'm a little confused: were you there when I saw Richie? Were you there when Wayne was there playing another guy? Because if you were there, and knew who I was, why didn't you come over to offer and play me some? Or are you just a professional viewer too?

Tell you what (since everyone in LA is suddenly woofin' away), I'll offer you the same deal as yobagua -- I have no idea what your speed is but it's obvious you are heavily invested in 1pocket in SM and I'm willing to take my chances. Would you like to play some next time I'm in town?

Lou Figueroa
 
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demonrho said:
Yeah, poor Fatboy could only get $300/game action. That's way too low for a big shot gambler like Lou. ;)
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$300 would be out of my comfort zone on those tables. I'm just a $10 to $40 a game kinda of a guy when traveling.

Lou Figueroa
 
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wayne said:
I don't get to post much on here but I would like it if you would be willing to negotiate a game that should please Lou and Fatboy. I am willing to play Lou a race to 5, 6 or 7 for $2,000 to $5,000. Fatboy can go in with him if he wants. That way Fatboy has some action and Lou gets to make up for all of his non action. I am willing to give Lou a spot but just how much would need to be negotiated. It doesn't have to be HOB it can be Hardtimes. Whatever cueball they want is fine. I will try to arrange my schedule to meet their requirements. Win Win for everyone. Wayne
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Wayne. I don't need anyone to negotiate for me.

I'm a recreational player who likes to play for $10-$40, so the larger amount is not going to happen. What will happen the next time I go out to visit family and I bring a pool cue is that, when/if I get a chance, I'm going to drive over to SM and offer to play whomever is around. If they want to call you, or anyone else, and you can get there before my window of opportunity closes, we can negotiate a game and play for a couple of hours before I have to get back.

Besides all that, you'll have to wait your turn. My dance card seems to be filling up now :-) I got yobagua and Raul (and maybe even Jay) next time. But I'll be sure to put you on the list.

And, if no one in the room wants to play (again), I can always play some 3C with the billiard players.

Lou Figueroa
 
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yobagua said:
Almost 2 years ago.

08-10-2011, 08:54 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One thing I don't understand about all this kerfuffle (OK, maybe there are a couple more): I know enough people in the pool world that if I'm going to be somewhere, *anywhere* in this country, I can make a couple of calls and have action waiting for me, at whatever rate I'm willing to go-off, er, play for. I am going to assume that FB knows at least as many people, if not more.

So why the beef about local action? If you drop in out of the blue, we all know you may come up dry, especially at the higher elevations :-)

I was in LA a few months back, didn't tell anyone, and didn't get any action. Of course I don't bet at the rates FB likes, but, just because I didn't get matched up, isn't reason enough to gripe about how bad the action is -- times are tough for a whole lot of reasons we all know about. But if I had made any effort at all I could have had guys waiting in line to steal, er, gamble with me.

So, I don't get this particular part -- why not call someone and set something up?

Lou Figueroa
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And your point is?

When visiting family, I don't know when I'm going to get the chance to break away and play. So I go when I can, don't broadcast it, nor make appointments. Last trip I wasn't even going to take a pool cue but called Jay in advance to ask if we might be able to get together one day.

Doesn't mean it's not weird that no one will play some cheap 1pocket in 20 visits with someone walking in the door.

So, now you've got Jim and Eric saying everyone there is "scared." Me? I'm not saying anyone is "scared" and I'm not kevetching about it either -- I'm simply relating that no one has played me there in 20 visits. Now, i've got a couple of guys acting like ten-year olds protecting the rep of their playground. It's like being in a bad remake of "The Bad News Bears."

lol, it's also funny that all this is coming from yobagua -- a professional viewer who just likes to squawk from the rail.

Lou Figueroa
 
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S.M Billiards

Are you guys talking about the Santa Monica House of Billiards? That's what came up when I googled Santa Monica Billiards...

I'll be in town next week, so I'm debating whether to bring my golf clubs or my cues :)
 
youngstownkid said:
Are you guys talking about the Santa Monica House of Billiards? That's what came up when I googled Santa Monica Billiards...

I'll be in town next week, so I'm debating whether to bring my golf clubs or my cues :)
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Based upon my experience: unless you are willing to play one of the top three guys in South Cal (or some 3C), take the golf clubs.

Lou Figueroa
 
foothill ranch

are there any places closer to foothill ranch?, i'm just getting a lot of sports bars when searching on google...
 
youngstownkid said:
are there any places closer to foothill ranch?, i'm just getting a lot of sports bars when searching on google...
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I'm not from there, but my recollection is that you'd only be a half hour (depending on traffic) from Hard Times. That'd be worth a visit.

Lou Figueroa
 
Lou - since you have trouble in some spots getting action I'll tell you a Big Jake story that might help you.

LIl Ricky and Big Jake went down to Augusta to watch the Masters. In the car ride from the airport to the hotel, Big Jake gets on his cell phone and calls every pool room in the area. Each time he says to the guy answering the phone "Is there a guy named Big Jake in there?". When the answer is no, Jake says "Well I heard he was in town from St Louis and is a big time sucker. I'll call back later to see if he has shown up yet."

Within 30 minutes, the news had spread from pool room to pool room, from local player to local player.

Then Jake goes down to the pool room about an hour later, walks in and announces "I'm Big Jake from St Louis, anyone want to match up a game". Vroom - they were all on him and he got his action.
 
watchez said:
Lou - since you have trouble in some spots getting action I'll tell you a Big Jake story that might help you.

LIl Ricky and Big Jake went down to Augusta to watch the Masters. In the car ride from the airport to the hotel, Big Jake gets on his cell phone and calls every pool room in the area. Each time he says to the guy answering the phone "Is there a guy named Big Jake in there?". When the answer is no, Jake says "Well I heard he was in town from St Louis and is a big time sucker. I'll call back later to see if he has shown up yet."

Within 30 minutes, the news had spread from pool room to pool room, from local player to local player.

Then Jake goes down to the pool room about an hour later, walks in and announces "I'm Big Jake from St Louis, anyone want to match up a game". Vroom - they were all on him and he got his action.
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LMAO. Thanks, watchez. I'd never heard that one and it is a classic.

For those of you who don't know, Big Jake is a local St. Louis player/character. I've played him many times and you always have to fade something or other. Usually it's him swinging his cue after a miss like a samuri sword, or his little rat terrier running around the table between your feet when you're trying to shoot, or, on occasion, him coming into the pool room with a drop dead gorgeous girl on his arm who sits ringside while you're playing.

And about having trouble getting a game in some spots: it's only SM. Never had a problem anywhere else getting a pick up game walking through the door. A lot times I don't even make it to a table with a set of balls before someone asks to play. But from the looks of things, unless I book an appointment with one of the top guys in the LA area, I'm out of luck in SM. No pick up games in 20 visits... must have been solar flare activity each time, or sumthin'.

Lou Figueroa
not sayin'
anyone is scared
 
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