Rafael Martinez.....??

As an afterthought Raphael was the 2nd person I ever saw break and then take ball in hand and run 3 racks. The 1st was Efren. The 3rd was Dennis Orcullo when he 1st came over for a IPT qualifier at Hard Times. I had never seen him before and when I asked his name he barely understood me as at that time he spoke virtually no English. While we were standing there Ron Wiseman started barking at him to match up all Dennis could say was that his friend wasn't there and that was said with difficulty. I have never wished so hard in my entire life that I spoke Tagalo!! I wanted to back him in the worst way and tried to tell him so!! Wiseman with his nasty mouth dodged a bullet that day.

Dennis beat Oliver Ortmann in the finals with one of the finest displays of 8 ball I had ever seen to earn his card. Wiseman was never a factor.

.
 
jay helfert said:
[...] haven't seen or heard from him since.
Click to expand...

Nice story Jay.

Last we have is summer 2015 --and you can see he was feeling pretty chipper
 

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Drew him at the 2011 US One Pocket Open in Vegas.

It went about how you’d expect.

#####
The next morning I play Rafael Martinez. We speak Spanish during the match and it does not go well for me. Rafael brings the Mexican National Circus to town and does everything but have elephants walk through the tournament room, shooting off-angle banks; masse kick carom combos; impossible cuts; and on and on. Lou loses 0-4. I have always hated the circus.
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Lou Figueroa
 
lfigueroa said:
Drew him at the 2011 US One Pocket Open in Vegas.

It went about how you’d expect.

#####
The next morning I play Rafael Martinez. We speak Spanish during the match and it does not go well for me. Rafael brings the Mexican National Circus to town and does everything but have elephants walk through the tournament room, shooting off-angle banks; masse kick carom combos; impossible cuts; and on and on. Lou loses 0-4. I have always hated the circus.
#####

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

He never sees a shot he doesnt like,and that includes shots no one else sees!
 
lfigueroa said:
Drew him at the 2011 US One Pocket Open in Vegas.

It went about how you’d expect.

#####
The next morning I play Rafael Martinez. We speak Spanish during the match and it does not go well for me. Rafael brings the Mexican National Circus to town and does everything but have elephants walk through the tournament room, shooting off-angle banks; masse kick carom combos; impossible cuts; and on and on. Lou loses 0-4. I have always hated the circus.
#####

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

I love this.

I remember an accu-stats one pocket match between a prime time Shannon Daulton (who was winning every one pocket event in site, and some 9 ball events) and Rafael Martinez. After Shannon eeks out a victory he's asked by Cardone, "What do you think of this Rafael Martinez". In his thick, deep, southern twang, Daulton responds, "Very dangerous." LMAO!
 
I saw a video of him playing Ike on a Bar table at the BCA I think, they were exchanging turns A LOT.
 
GaryB said:
As an afterthought Raphael was the 2nd person I ever saw break and then take ball in hand and run 3 racks. The 1st was Efren. The 3rd was Dennis Orcullo when he 1st came over for a IPT qualifier at Hard Times. I had never seen him before and when I asked his name he barely understood me as at that time he spoke virtually no English. While we were standing there Ron Wiseman started barking at him to match up all Dennis could say was that his friend wasn't there and that was said with difficulty. I have never wished so hard in my entire life that I spoke Tagalo!! I wanted to back him in the worst way and tried to tell him so!! Wiseman with his nasty mouth dodged a bullet that day.

Dennis beat Oliver Ortmann in the finals with one of the finest displays of 8 ball I had ever seen to earn his card. Wiseman was never a factor.

.
Click to expand...

Just noticed that I forgot to mention that they all ran the racks in rotation 1-15.
 
I remember years ago (2013?) he was playing Justin Hall in a one pocket tournament. Justin left him an I dare you type shot where he would sell out the game if he missed. Of course Rafael drills it and runs the remaining balls needed for the game. Justin looks over and said "Who the F is this guy? I guess I have to play tighter." Justin ended up winning the match but I will never forget that exchange.
 
My fave moment was the way he treated Hennessee at The Rack in Memphis one year.

He tried to shark and talk shit to Rafael,but it didn't work,and Henny was told in no uncertain terms,keep that shit up,and you won't like it.

It wasn't before long before Rafael's case got knocked over,and when Rafael tried to do something about it,Henny stepped towards him in what looked like a threatening manner.

Rafael stuck him dead in center mass with the bumper of his playing cue hard enough it had to have left a bruise,and told him "I warned you,now back off or I start swinging".

Needless to say,the finals didn't take long. Tommy D.
 
Tommy-D said:
My fave moment was the way he treated Hennessee at The Rack in Memphis one year.

He tried to shark and talk shit to Rafael,but it didn't work,and Henny was told in no uncertain terms,keep that shit up,and you won't like it.

It wasn't before long before Rafael's case got knocked over,and when Rafael tried to do something about it,Henny stepped towards him in what looked like a threatening manner.

Rafael stuck him dead in center mass with the bumper of his playing cue hard enough it had to have left a bruise,and told him "I warned you,now back off or I start swinging".

Needless to say,the finals didn't take long. Tommy D.
Click to expand...
That's awesome. Sparky Farrell kinda did the same to Henny one year. Henny made comments about Sparky's girlfriend/wife a couple times. Sparky warned him once and then knock'd him shitless the second time. Henny can flat play but might just be the biggest asswipe i've ever been around.
 
I recall watching an Accu-Stats DVD, from probably the late 90's, in which RM uses something like a 14mm shaft.

It looked like a telephone pole, lol.

Lou Figueroa
he still
shot
the lights out
 
One of the best Accu-stats 9 ball matches is a finals of the Sands Regency Open. Rafael Martinez vs Buddy Hall. It goes to the hill....and there is just PURE firepower in this fantastic match.
 
garczar said:
Amar is a really good player but for the cash-ola Rafael would shoot his balls off.
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sure, I don't doubt it
just admiring amar while we're watching a vid of both
you see the shot at just over an hour in?
really creative..kinda thing reminds me of bata~
 
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