Thanks Fran Crimi ! Thanks CJ Wiley !

ENGLISH!

ENGLISH!

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Thanks Fran Crimi ! Thanks CJ Wiley!

Another thread gave me the idea to say thanks to the Two Professional Players & Instructors here on AZB from whom I have learned more than a couple of things.

I stumbled onto AZB when looking to buy a couple of LD shafts to try out.

I stayed on to see if there might be something that I could learn to better my game. After several months I had not found anything really new that I could pick up to benefit my game.

But, during that time, I noticed the player's insight with which Fran Crimi answered other's questions. So...when I joined an in house money league that used the red circle cue ball, that I had not really had any consistent experience with, & was having trouble getting it to follow with any real consistency, I sent Ms. Crimi a PM & relayed my problem to her. She immediately game back with the method that she had found to work better. I tired it & she was certainly correct. I would certainly recommend Ms. Fran Crimi to anyone that truly wants to improve how they play the game.

That is also about the same time that CJ Wiley came out with TOI here on AZB. I'll just say this...if I had met TOI before I had met my wife all those many years ago, I might have gone pro. Like CJ, when I was 13 years old, I chose to not play by trying to hit the center of the cue ball, but I used outside & inside spin to play nearly every shot. TOI is the opposite of that.

Now CJ's methods may seem a bit odd at times to some, but he is a former World Champion & probably the best gambling money player of all time if not just of his generation. Perhaps it is those bit odd methods that made him so very good. I'd certainly recommend CJ Wiley to anyone that wants to take their game to the next level. Just remember Rome was not built in a day. One must stick with what one learns & determines is best in spite of what might seem to be a better way. I think 'internal deception' may have been invented by an evil being.

Best Wishes to All on the Journey, Regardless of Whatever Road One Chooses to take,
Rick
 
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I know just at the other side of adverse conditions there's always some great stuff.

ENGLISH! said:
Thanks Fran Crimi ! Thanks CJ Wiley!

Another thread gave me the idea to say thanks to the Two Professional Players & Instructors here on AZB from whom I have learned more than a couple of things.

I stumbled onto AZB when looking to buy a couple of LD shafts to try out.

I stayed on to see if there might be something that I could learn to better my game. After several months I had not found anything really new that I could pick up to benefit my game.

But, during that time, I noticed the player's insight with which Fran Crimi answered other's questions. So...when I joined an in house money league that used the red circle cue ball, that I had not really had any consistent experience with, & was having trouble getting it to follow with any real consistency, I sent Ms. Crimi a PM & relayed my problem to her. She immediately game back with the method that she had found to work better. I tired it & she was certainly correct. I would certainly recommend Ms. Fran Crimi to anyone that truly wants to improve how they play the game.

That is also about the same time that CJ Wiley came out with TOI here on AZB. I'll just say this...if I had met TOI before I had met my wife all those many years ago, I might have gone pro. Like CJ, when I was 13 years old, I chose to not play by trying to hit the center of the cue ball, but I used outside & inside spin to play nearly every shot. TOI is the opposite of that.

Now CJ's methods may seem a bit odd at times to some, but he is a former World Champion & probably the best gambling money player of all time if not just of his generation. Perhaps it is those bit odd methods that made him so very good. I'd certainly recommend CJ Wiley to anyone that wants to take their game to the next level. Just remember Rome was not built in a day. One must stick with what one learns & determines is best in spite of what might seem to be a better way. I think 'internal deception' may have been invented by an evil being.

Best Wishes to All on the Journey, Regardless of Whatever Road One Chooses to take,
Rick
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Thanks, Rick, I admire your determination on this forum, it's not for the "weak at heart" ;) There are many opinions about how to play "The Game," and my systems/techniques are certainly not for those looking for a "softer, gentler way"....my personal development was far from easy, I was battling on the road for 7 straight years facing dangerous places, unsavory people, and challenging situations. Though thick and thin the game was my teacher, and it led me through an incredible journey.

My goal in joining this forum was to give my opinion on every aspect of pool that I encountered, as honestly and straight forward as possible. In the last year I've corresponded with thousands of people that enjoy pool and answered every question to the best of my ability. It's been an incredible experience and only about a year now.

I've sure we'll get together one of these days and work on your pool game, Rick, I'm sure you'll like my "old school" type training. Since the majority of my lesson experience has been in martial arts I have a tendency to make the lessons/stroke training pretty physical....of course only if this is requested, and if someone really wants to improve it does take some pain, I'm not sure there's a "comfortable" way to truly improve, as they say "you get out what you put in"....and such is life.

I've me Fran, although we've never had a chance to talk at length. She has also persevered through some challenges on this forum and I respect her for that. At one point she advise me to get away from the negativity, but I know just at the other side of adverse conditions there's always some great stuff......and there certainly has been.

Dalton Leong was one of my most influential mentors in my teenage years. He was advanced in martial arts and taught me the "mental side" of pool better than anyone through books like 'Zen in the Art of Archer' and 'The Way of the Samarii' - I will always be grateful to Dalton for taking me on the road and teaching me "The Way".....Dalton was murdered in New York City in an incident totally unrelated to pool....RIP

This is a picture of Dalton taken by guess who??? That's right, Fran Crimi and one thing this verifies to me - "it is indeed a small world".....best regards, Fran, I'm really curious to hear more about the "behind the scenes story" of this picture and your experience. 'The Game {of Life} is the Teacher'

14365_101690023190376_1943609_n.jpg
 
CJ Wiley said:
Thanks, Rick, I admire your determination on this forum, it's not for the "weak at heart" ;) There are many opinions about how to play "The Game," and my systems/techniques are certainly not for those looking for a "softer, gentler way"....my personal development was far from easy, I was battling on the road for 7 straight years facing dangerous places, unsavory people, and challenging situations. Though thick and thin the game was my teacher, and it led me through an incredible journey.

My goal in joining this forum was to give my opinion on every aspect of pool that I encountered, as honestly and straight forward as possible. In the last year I've corresponded with thousands of people that enjoy pool and answered every question to the best of my ability. It's been an incredible experience and only about a year now.

I've sure we'll get together one of these days and work on your pool game, Rick, I'm sure you'll like my "old school" type training. Since the majority of my lesson experience has been in martial arts I have a tendency to make the lessons/stroke training pretty physical....of course only if this is requested, and if someone really wants to improve it does take some pain, I'm not sure there's a "comfortable" way to truly improve, as they say "you get out what you put in"....and such is life.

I've me Fran, although we've never had a chance to talk at length. She has also persevered through some challenges on this forum and I respect her for that. At one point she advise me to get away from the negativity, but I know just at the other side of adverse conditions there's always some great stuff......and there certainly has been.

Dalton Leong was one of my most influential mentors in my teenage years. He was advanced in martial arts and taught me the "mental side" of pool better than anyone through books like 'Zen in the Art of Archer' and 'The Way of the Samarii' - I will always be grateful to Dalton for taking me on the road and teaching me "The Way".....Dalton was murdered in New York City in an incident totally unrelated to pool....RIP

This is a picture of Dalton taken by guess who??? That's right, Fran Crimi and one thing this verifies to me - "it is indeed a small world".....best regards, Fran, I'm really curious to hear more about the "behind the scenes story" of this picture and your experience. 'The Game {of Life} is the Teacher'

14365_101690023190376_1943609_n.jpg
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Several years ago I seen you in Olathe,you didn't play in the tournament you was there just for action,Jimmy Wetch was your victim.After you finished I asked you,CJ is there a secret to playing great pool.You said yes,follow through.The question is, do you still feel that way today.
 
Thanks Rick and C.J. It really is a small world. As Dalton used to say, "There are very few coincidences."

Dalton would go to a nearby park early every morning and perform Tai Chi. That's how he would start his day. One morning I followed him to the park with a camera and snapped some photos of him in action.

I was grateful to have had the 5 years with him that I did. It was under his tutelage that I finished 2nd in the biggest pro tournament of the year that time in Atlantic City.

He often spoke about C.J. to me. He told me how talented and disciplined C.J. was, and how proud he was of all that C.J. had accomplished. He thought of him as a kid brother.
 
hose suggestions have influenced many decisions I've made, both past and present.

FranCrimi said:
Thanks Rick and C.J. It really is a small world. As Dalton used to say, "There are very few coincidences."

Dalton would go to a nearby park early every morning and perform Tai Chi. That's how he would start his day. One morning I followed him to the park with a camera and snapped some photos of him in action.

I was grateful to have had the 5 years with him that I did. It was under his tutelage that I finished 2nd in the biggest pro tournament of the year that time in Atlantic City.

He often spoke about C.J. to me. He told me how talented and disciplined C.J. was, and how proud he was of all that C.J. had accomplished. He thought of him as a kid brother.
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You don't know how good that makes me feel, Fran, Dalton was a very influential part of my life and I still to this day use wisdom that he passed on through me on the road in the VW Van - traveling town to town, pool room to pool room.

I miss him, and wish he could have been alive when my training came to fruition that he, {and others in those early years} taught me.

He said it's important to always be teachable, no matter what you learn, and I've tried my best to honor that suggestion. He didn't say "the game is the teacher," however, I think he would have smiled if he had heard it - he would have understood the deeper meaning immediately.

His other two suggestions were "money must always be a goal, not an incentive," and "readiness is everything (or preparation is all).

Those suggestions have influenced many decisions I've made, both past and present. It's amazing how much we can be influenced by our lives crossing another's.....I'm really fortunate to have made that connection in that small pool room (The OK Corral) in St. Louis Missouri. 'The Game {of Life} is the Teacher'
 
Now the two of you have me practically in tears & jealous that I never knew Dalton.

But...I do have a connection to him through the two of you.

I thank you both again for what I have learned from the two of you & for what both of you have done & are doing for the game.

You both share a connection to Dalton. I think before it is all over, the two of you might also share a BCA Hall of Fame connection as well.

May the Best of Everything Be Bestowed Upon the Two of You,
Rick
 
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ENGLISH! said:
Now the two of you have me practically in tears & jealous that I never knew Dalton.

But...I do have a connection to him through the two of you.

I thank you both again for what I have learned from the two of you & for what both of you have done & are doing for the game.

You both share a connection to Dalton. I think before it is all over, the two of you might also share a BCA Hall of Fame connection as well.

May the Best of Everything Be Bestowed Upon the Two of You,
Rick
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If you ask them both, maybe they will send you a picture of themselves. If you ask real nice, you might even get them to put one of those lipstick kisses on it for you!:D

I'll give you credit for one thing Rick, you take "suck-up" to a whole new level!
 
Neil said:
If you ask them both, maybe they will send you a picture of themselves. If you ask real nice, you might even get them to put one of those lipstick kisses on it for you!:D

I'll give you credit for one thing Rick, you take "suck-up" to a whole new level!
Click to expand...

:ignore:----------------:ignore:
 
Nice post Rick. There is alot of good information floating around on this forum and a "pat on the back" given where deserved is seldom seen here.

Hats off to CJ for letting us all be a part of his "game".
 
We ran a ways up the HWY and watched the Van go up in a blaze of fire

ENGLISH! said:
Now the two of you have me practically in tears & jealous that I never knew Dalton.

But...I do have a connection to him through the two of you.

I thank you both again for what I have learned from the two of you & for what both of you have done & are doing for the game.

You both share a connection to Dalton. I think before it is all over, the two of you might also share a BCA Hall of Fame connection as well.

May the Best of Everything Be Bestowed Upon the Two of You,
Rick
Click to expand...

Dalton was a unique individual, that's' for sure. He was an actor out of San Francisco and had been in a few TV shows, like Iron Sides and a few other small parts. He was an incredible actor though and could impersonate SO MANY different nationalities....at one point he told everyone he was from Alaska and was a real Eskimo.

He could imitate people so well when the hotel clerk from India would call he would use their same voice and get extended time to get ready......everyone that's stayed at the "Patel" motels know how challenging this would be....but not for Dalton.

We won about 20k up in Minnesota touring around in his VW Van and when it was time to leave we were heading out of Minneapolis and smelled smoke. Dalton pulled over and the Van was ON FIRE!!!

We jumped out and grabbed all the stuff we could carry, cue sticks, cloths, valuables, we only had 60 seconds.....LITERALLY!.

We ran a ways up the HWY and watched the Van go up in a blaze of fire, many of Dalton's personal articles, books, writings, diaries, etc lost in the fire. I felt really sad for him because some of that stuff was very sentimental, and could never be replaced.

Someone picked us up and we continued south and I still remember seeing the blaze of the fire in my passenger side mirror....Dalton chose to sit in the back......in silent reflection.

He took the loss very well, like he did everything, although I did see him almost get emotional before he caught himself.....he said "each chapter of our life is like a seed..... and we want to hold on to the seed....... we know that for our future to bloom we must let that seed die........ so the life that's in it can live on and develop into something much bigger and better".

As he told me this metaphor I couldn't help but notice the sadness in his voice as he "real eyesed" that a special part of himself had died in that fire and was lost forever.

He never mentioned it again .....
 
CJ, Dalton was a close friend of mine in LA. He called me brother. We were actors together in Hollywood.I remember when he did that Ironsides. We shared a lot of actors info together and hung out at Ye Billiard Den. I lost track of him when he went to the East Coast but had mutual friends. I shed tears when he passed.
I went on to concentrate on my career. Last year I did Men In Black 3 with Will Smith. Then followed up with Al Pacino and Chris Walken in Stand Up Guy. I had major roles in Deadwood and True Blood. I keep thinking how much fun we had as young actors and always think of him and what could have been.
I wish I couldve shared the good times with him.
Thanks for reminding me of him.
Keone Young
 
yobagua said:
CJ, Dalton was a close friend of mine in LA. He called me brother. We were actors together in Hollywood.I remember when he did that Ironsides. We shared a lot of actors info together and hung out at Ye Billiard Den. I lost track of him when he went to the East Coast but had mutual friends. I shed tears when he passed.
I went on to concentrate on my career. Last year I did Men In Black 3 with Will Smith. Then followed up with Al Pacino and Chris Walken in Stand Up Guy. I had major roles in Deadwood and True Blood. I keep thinking how much fun we had as young actors and always think of him and what could have been.
I wish I couldve shared the good times with him.
Thanks for reminding me of him.
Keone Young
Click to expand...


Forgive me, I'm emarassed I didnt know your a actor. Dont feel bad I met Johnny Depp and didnt recognize him either(we have a mutual friend).

That's such a tough biz, I have lots of respect for people in "the biz" that actually last in the biz. I dont know how long you been a actor, I have one friend who is a actor, I met him on set-my house was the set, LOL David Proval, Gem of a person, and very talented. we talk every few months.

Are you the gentleman with the hardcore players Prewitt? I love that cue, i told my friend in Germany about it-he is a Prewitt collector. If thats your cue i need a pic of it for him, i love cues with patina. Forgive me for not putting a face to your name, i know we been talking here recently and i am trying to recall who you are, I know many faces at HOB but very few names, perhaps Shades, Wayne and Rich are the only guys i know-and Mel.


CJ is a great person, who i just got to know this past year, we dont agree on everything-our disagreements are on details, we fundamentally agree on the big things in biz and philosophical stuff. I really enjoy the time when we talk, i learn lots from him. CJ is very smart. His communication skills on the keyboard are better than mine-most peoples are, however CJ in real life is much more complex-in a good way than the internet allows for. I wish I knew him longer, better late than never. He has been a great asset to AZB. I do my best to answer peoples questions, but he can answer many questions i cant-or not as well as he does.


best
eric:smile::smile:
 
yobagua said:
CJ, Dalton was a close friend of mine in LA. He called me brother. We were actors together in Hollywood.I remember when he did that Ironsides. We shared a lot of actors info together and hung out at Ye Billiard Den. I lost track of him when he went to the East Coast but had mutual friends. I shed tears when he passed.
I went on to concentrate on my career. Last year I did Men In Black 3 with Will Smith. Then followed up with Al Pacino and Chris Walken in Stand Up Guy. I had major roles in Deadwood and True Blood. I keep thinking how much fun we had as young actors and always think of him and what could have been.
I wish I couldve shared the good times with him.
Thanks for reminding me of him.
Keone Young
Click to expand...

I was just thinking. A good buddy of mine Guest Starred in that episode in 1974. We all got VHS copies of our work. My friend might have a copy of that. Im going to ask him. If I can find a way to make a copy of that Ill try to get it to you if you want.

I remember we had a small contingent of Asian American actors. We would all know what was going on. When the word got out that Ironside was going to do a Chinatown gang theme show we all fought our way to get in. I didnt and was pissed. But i was happy for Dalton. The year before I was a bit lucky and did The Streets of San Francisco with Mike Douglas and then in 74 I did Kojak. We were real hustlers in Hollywood and pulled all kinds of tricks to get on the set.
 
Fatboy said:
Forgive me, I'm emarassed I didnt know your a actor. Dont feel bad I met Johnny Depp and didnt recognize him either(we have a mutual friend).

That's such a tough biz, I have lots of respect for people in "the biz" that actually last in the biz. I dont know how long you been a actor, I have one friend who is a actor, I met him on set-my house was the set, LOL David Proval, Gem of a person, and very talented. we talk every few months.

Are you the gentleman with the hardcore players Prewitt? I love that cue, i told my friend in Germany about it-he is a Prewitt collector. If thats your cue i need a pic of it for him, i love cues with patina. Forgive me for not putting a face to your name, i know we been talking here recently and i am trying to recall who you are, I know many faces at HOB but very few names, perhaps Shades, Wayne and Rich are the only guys i know-and Mel.



CJ is a great person, who i just got to know this past year, we dont agree on everything-our disagreements are on details, we fundamentally agree on the big things in biz and philosophical stuff. I really enjoy the time when we talk, i learn lots from him. CJ is very smart. His communication skills on the keyboard are better than mine-most peoples are, however CJ in real life is much more complex-in a good way than the internet allows for. I wish I knew him longer, better late than never. He has been a great asset to AZB. I do my best to answer peoples questions, but he can answer many questions i cant-or not as well as he does.


best
eric:smile::smile:
Click to expand...

I been a pro since '67. Started off with Bill Cosby in his first series as Chet Kincaid the basketball coach. Met Proval once in the 80's. Hes known as an actors actor. Not famous but respected.
I try to keep undercover in public. I just happen to love the game.
Hope your wound gets better.
 
. I'm sure everyone that was close to Dalton misses him

yobagua said:
CJ, Dalton was a close friend of mine in LA. He called me brother. We were actors together in Hollywood.I remember when he did that Ironsides. We shared a lot of actors info together and hung out at Ye Billiard Den. I lost track of him when he went to the East Coast but had mutual friends. I shed tears when he passed.
I went on to concentrate on my career. Last year I did Men In Black 3 with Will Smith. Then followed up with Al Pacino and Chris Walken in Stand Up Guy. I had major roles in Deadwood and True Blood. I keep thinking how much fun we had as young actors and always think of him and what could have been.
I wish I couldve shared the good times with him.
Thanks for reminding me of him.
Keone Young
Click to expand...

It's nice to meet you, Keone, I really appreciate your message, it's a small world indeed. Dalton mentioned some friends he acted with and I'm sure one of them must have been yourself......you have had an impressive acting career, I"m familiar with all the projects you were involved in.

I'll bet working with Al and Chris was a surreal experience. maybe you can elaborate sometime.

I'm sure everyone that was close to Dalton misses him, it appears he touched many people's lives for the better.....I've been reminiscing a lot about the travels with Dalton lately. We went though a lot in the 8 months were knew one another, the Road has a way of bonding people closely, and permanently....'The Road is the Teacher' ...Aloha :thumbup2:
 
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CJ Wiley said:
It's nice to meet you, Keone, I really appreciate your message, it's a small world indeed. Dalton mentioned some friends he acted with and I'm sure one of them must have been yourself......you have had an impressive acting career, I"m familiar with all the projects you were involved in.

I'll bet working with Al and Chris was a surreal experience. maybe you can elaborate sometime.

I'm sure everyone that was close to Dalton misses him, it appears he touched many people's lives for the better.....I've been reminiscing a lot about the travels with Dalton lately. We went though a lot in the 8 months were knew one another, the Road has a way of bonding people closely, and permanently....'The Road is the Teacher' ...Aloha :thumbup2:
Click to expand...

Yes its a small world. I actually spoke to you on the phone once a long time ago. You produced a one pocket tournament in Texas at your room and I asked if you planned to film the event. I wasn't able to make it but I wanted to get any film of it

Dalton was a very special guy. We were like the yin and the yang. Totally opposites. He was kinetic and good looking. Had an athletes body and naturally talented. Me I had to work hard. I had to train. I studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz and ethnic dance, I studied opera and musicianship. Spent hundreds of hours on stage in regional theaters. I did touring shows in schools and in prisons. Dalton was a natural. He could just step up and people were drawn to him. Me I had to work hard.

Maybe that's why we got along so well. I admired him and he appreciated my work ethic. Guys like him were few and far between. None of that Hollywood BS.

As for Al and Chris Walken. It was great. Pacino has always been someone I wanted to work with and he was a true gem. I had just gotten off working with Tommy Lee Jones and he was such a tough guy to work with. He slug me over 20 times in a scene where he was supposed to hit me with a fish in a restaurant. He really hit me hard every time. He didn't seem to care.

Where as Al was sweet and gentle. Even though he had to knock me out. Hes a guy that loves actors and treated me with the utmost respect. Alan Arkin was in the scene as well and he was a gent. Chris though is another planet. You can never tell if he was real or putting you on. The 3 of them together in one place and one time was really surreal but I didn't dog it. I really felt in control of the scene and viewed it as mine. Al came up to me afterwards and said "Hey youre good!". Which kinda jolted me. All I could think of to say was "Thanks Al". Here was the guy who played Michael Corleone so brutally.I was thinking "oh shoot I blew it by calling him by his first name.. He looked back, put his hand on my arm, and said "No, thank you!".

Take care.
Aloha no!
 
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