Reflections on a life of Pool
- Thread starter jay helfert
- Start date
Toupee?................:thumbup:
Love your story MR., Who ever beats SVB at anything pool related, well its not bragging, it shows that you CAN play good enough to beat anyone at any time!
I played pool for over 30 years and most of it was in 1 pool room, Running out billiards in Baltimore, we had tons of action through the years.
I would play anybody that walked trough those doors, now lots of time I needed weight and I wasn't afraid to ask for it either.
I played in 1 big tournament, DCC in 2010, I played only in the 1pocket and I did finish in the money, tied for 48th.
I beat 2 good players in that tournament (Shannon Murphy, Tommy tokoph) and it took a great player to knock me out of that tournament, Rodney Morris.
Now our pool room has been closed for about a year and the action is all dried up around Baltimore today!
I enjoyed all my time around pool and pool players, they truly are a special breed!
I would play anybody that walked trough those doors, now lots of time I needed weight and I wasn't afraid to ask for it either.
I played in 1 big tournament, DCC in 2010, I played only in the 1pocket and I did finish in the money, tied for 48th.
I beat 2 good players in that tournament (Shannon Murphy, Tommy tokoph) and it took a great player to knock me out of that tournament, Rodney Morris.
Now our pool room has been closed for about a year and the action is all dried up around Baltimore today!
I enjoyed all my time around pool and pool players, they truly are a special breed!
Not to sound to trite
Jay, but truly its not at all about the destination but it is all about the journey.
Your journey has provided (and continues to provide you) you and others countless new and refreshing views of the world (not just pool) and the people that inhabit it.
As with my life, I am sure that there are things that you would never do again but wouldn't trade the experience for any amount of money.
Jay, but truly its not at all about the destination but it is all about the journey.
Your journey has provided (and continues to provide you) you and others countless new and refreshing views of the world (not just pool) and the people that inhabit it.
As with my life, I am sure that there are things that you would never do again but wouldn't trade the experience for any amount of money.
Admiration from Dad
Lou, thanks for inspiring me to tell my story.
Dad (RIP) took me to see Willie Mosconi in Fox Lake, Il as I was a huge fan from Wide World of Sports. We bought a table that day and I took the tips I got from Willie very seriously as an 8 year old.
Played rotation with my dad whenever he was available, and I played much more with passion and continued to improve. Loser put a dime in the bottle bank. Thanks to dad for nurturing my gambling pressures, as it helped me greatly a few years later.
When my parents moved when I was 17, my dad gave me the dimes as he knew I won the majority of the games and declared me winner. It was around $800 in there, which means we played around 8000 games over the 10 years together! Great memories!
He knew I gambled to supplement minor income over the next few years and knew I was doing well. I did eventually mature and realize I needed a full time job with income/insurance. Even then, he still dreamed of winning the lotto and just traveling with me to any and all tournaments. Win or lose, he just wanted to live that life vicariously through me.
Fast forward 20 years after marriage, divorce, child, etc where I had given up pool and then taken it back up again. Dad accompanied me and my teams to Wisconsin championships and the VNEA tourney in Vegas. Looking back after he had passed, me and the team tried to figure out if we had EVER lost a match while he was in attendance and were hard pressed to think of one. We won 2 Wisconsin State championships in his attendance. He attended VNEA for 8 of the 10 days we were there. We didn't lose a match until he had to get on a plane and we ended up 7th.
He jokingly blamed himself for us not winning it all that year!
Love you and miss you dad. Thanks for putting me on my path of life with pool!
Lou, thanks for inspiring me to tell my story.
Dad (RIP) took me to see Willie Mosconi in Fox Lake, Il as I was a huge fan from Wide World of Sports. We bought a table that day and I took the tips I got from Willie very seriously as an 8 year old.
Played rotation with my dad whenever he was available, and I played much more with passion and continued to improve. Loser put a dime in the bottle bank. Thanks to dad for nurturing my gambling pressures, as it helped me greatly a few years later.
When my parents moved when I was 17, my dad gave me the dimes as he knew I won the majority of the games and declared me winner. It was around $800 in there, which means we played around 8000 games over the 10 years together! Great memories!
He knew I gambled to supplement minor income over the next few years and knew I was doing well. I did eventually mature and realize I needed a full time job with income/insurance. Even then, he still dreamed of winning the lotto and just traveling with me to any and all tournaments. Win or lose, he just wanted to live that life vicariously through me.
Fast forward 20 years after marriage, divorce, child, etc where I had given up pool and then taken it back up again. Dad accompanied me and my teams to Wisconsin championships and the VNEA tourney in Vegas. Looking back after he had passed, me and the team tried to figure out if we had EVER lost a match while he was in attendance and were hard pressed to think of one. We won 2 Wisconsin State championships in his attendance. He attended VNEA for 8 of the 10 days we were there. We didn't lose a match until he had to get on a plane and we ended up 7th.
He jokingly blamed himself for us not winning it all that year!
Love you and miss you dad. Thanks for putting me on my path of life with pool!
Thank you for sharing this.
Jay, but truly its not at all about the destination but it is all about the journey.
Your journey has provided (and continues to provide you) you and others countless new and refreshing views of the world (not just pool) and the people that inhabit it.
As with my life, I am sure that there are things that you would never do again but wouldn't trade the experience for any amount of money.
You got that right. I look back and can't believe some of the spots I put myself in. :wink:
You play good sir!
I started playing pool in 1988 when I was 16 - my parents got divorced and I lived with my Dad. We had very little in common or to talk about, but pool changed all that, we practically lived in our local bar (3 valley bar tables) for the next 2 years and our time together revolved around us playing and him teaching me. I remember eating the Christmas buffet in the bar one year while playing 3 ball with all his friends - strange, but wonderful times.
At the time, you had to be 21 to play in the APA. My Dad told the LO I was 21 and filled out my registration form for me so we could play on the same team.
The highlight of my pool playing career was my Dad watching me play Johnny Archer when he was in town in June of 1995. Johnny gave a demo and then challenged people in the audience to a single game - you got the breaks.
I stepped up with my Dad in the audience, broke and ran out on Johnny. I never saw my Dad so proud and never did again - he passed away one month later at the age of 45.
I don't play much anymore and never considered myself to play well, but the game has never left my thoughts or my blood - it's as much a part of me now as it was then.
My Dad bought me my first cue in 1993 - I still have it today. I can't wait for the day when I break it out to play my first game with my son - He's 8 months old today and I know that the game will be as important to he and I as it was to my Dad and I.
At the time, you had to be 21 to play in the APA. My Dad told the LO I was 21 and filled out my registration form for me so we could play on the same team.
The highlight of my pool playing career was my Dad watching me play Johnny Archer when he was in town in June of 1995. Johnny gave a demo and then challenged people in the audience to a single game - you got the breaks.
I stepped up with my Dad in the audience, broke and ran out on Johnny. I never saw my Dad so proud and never did again - he passed away one month later at the age of 45.
I don't play much anymore and never considered myself to play well, but the game has never left my thoughts or my blood - it's as much a part of me now as it was then.
My Dad bought me my first cue in 1993 - I still have it today. I can't wait for the day when I break it out to play my first game with my son - He's 8 months old today and I know that the game will be as important to he and I as it was to my Dad and I.
Boy I got a big head now!
Thanks to Brother Jay!
Now I will go to the pool room and get snapped off!
That my friend is a great story and so sad also, I don't know you, but i would bet my last dollar, that pool stick that your DAD gave you will never leave your family!
It's just the velvet foghorn is all
Oh no what you say? lol......
Thanks for the stories.
My dad took me to see Willie when I was maybe seven or eight.
He ran some balls and then set up a few dead trickshots. He would have someone from the audience shoot the shot. the balls went in.
"Don't ever tell a kid they can't do something"
Thanksgivings our family always went to uncle tonys house.
He had a Brunswick billiards table that was converted to pool, and perfect in every way, carved oak and weight a ton. I tried but couldn't budge it.
One particular day I asked if I could play too.
They said I might rip the felt.
So I didn't get to play.
That was it for me.
About ten or twelve yrs ago, maybe longer ago, at a bar with an old nine foot table, I am loving this table. I notice the name plate. the cigarette burns on the rail. I look at the carvings, legs etc. uncle tony's table but the owner has red cloth on it. The red cloth is just wrong.
"I would like to buy your pool table sir"
"Don't even talk to me if you don't have 18 thousand dollars"
My wife said get it back anyway but we really couldn't do it.
When I was sixteen and driving I was the only person to use the table.
I replaced the leather pockets once when they were so torn.
steven
My dad took me to see Willie when I was maybe seven or eight.
He ran some balls and then set up a few dead trickshots. He would have someone from the audience shoot the shot. the balls went in.
"Don't ever tell a kid they can't do something"
Thanksgivings our family always went to uncle tonys house.
He had a Brunswick billiards table that was converted to pool, and perfect in every way, carved oak and weight a ton. I tried but couldn't budge it.
One particular day I asked if I could play too.
They said I might rip the felt.
So I didn't get to play.
That was it for me.
About ten or twelve yrs ago, maybe longer ago, at a bar with an old nine foot table, I am loving this table. I notice the name plate. the cigarette burns on the rail. I look at the carvings, legs etc. uncle tony's table but the owner has red cloth on it. The red cloth is just wrong.
"I would like to buy your pool table sir"
"Don't even talk to me if you don't have 18 thousand dollars"
My wife said get it back anyway but we really couldn't do it.
When I was sixteen and driving I was the only person to use the table.
I replaced the leather pockets once when they were so torn.
steven
Awesome story. Are you still located in Houston? Have we ever played before?
Great thread. I rated it 5 stars. :thumbup: