Billy Thorpe, Griffs, and my son Jin

TEAM SLO

TEAM SLO

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just wanted to share, I really debated posting this but just had to.. My apologies if this turns into a novel.

Billy was here in Vegas with a couple of non pool related friends on vacation. Messaged my son Jin (just turned 11) asking if he could make it down to Griffs. The answer was obvious. Jin has met him a couple of times and spent some time playing Billy up in Wyoming, Jin has also received gifts/packages from Billy and his parents in the past. Billy isn't just an elite player in Jins eyes, he is more like a superhero haha.

Billy met us down at Griffs, came straight over and they started with bank pool, and then took a quick break for a burger. Those of you that don't know Jin are missing out on Jins addiction to the Griffs cheeseburger, when Billy said he would eat a burger with Jin, I really wish I would have caught that huge smile on Jins face, was the absolute biggest smile you could fit on that tiny head.

After lunch, came scotch doubles 10 ball, then singles, and then followed up by some training. Through the 4 hours, there was so much laughter, we were all laughing so hard at times my cheeks were hurting. This wasn't Billy at Griffs in between action or a match playing Jin a quick rack, this was Billy taking a pause on his vacation to come spend some time with a junior that idolizes him. Once they were done, Billy left Griffs to get back to his vacation with his two close childhood friends.

Billy wasn't a superhero elite player today, he was an uncle to Jin. Ok, maybe a superhero elite uncle :)
 

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TEAM SLO said:
Just wanted to share, I really debated posting this but just had to.. My apologies if this turns into a novel.

Billy was here in Vegas with a couple of non pool related friends on vacation. Messaged my son Jin (just turned 11) asking if he could make it down to Griffs. The answer was obvious. Jin has met him a couple of times and spent some time playing Billy up in Wyoming, Jin has also received gifts/packages from Billy and his parents in the past. Billy isn't just an elite player in Jins eyes, he is more like a superhero haha.

Billy met us down at Griffs, came straight over and they started with bank pool, and then took a quick break for a burger. Those of you that don't know Jin are missing out on Jins addiction to the Griffs cheeseburger, when Billy said he would eat a burger with Jin, I really wish I would have caught that huge smile on Jins face, was the absolute biggest smile you could fit on that tiny head.

After lunch, came scotch doubles 10 ball, then singles, and then followed up by some training. Through the 4 hours, there was so much laughter, we were all laughing so hard at times my cheeks were hurting. This wasn't Billy at Griffs in between action or a match playing Jin a quick rack, this was Billy taking a pause on his vacation to come spend some time with a junior that idolizes him. Once they were done, Billy left Griffs to get back to his vacation with his two close childhood friends.

Billy wasn't a superhero elite player today, he was an uncle to Jin. Ok, maybe a superhero elite uncle :)
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Very cool. A memory of a lifetime. Thanks for sharing!
 
Nice story. Thanks for sharing. Well done, Billy. Good luck to Jin in his development.
 
sjm said:
Nice story. Thanks for sharing. Well done, Billy. Good luck to Jin in his development.
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Hi Stu, we have another bucket list trip out that way someday again. If Jin see's you, he will have a ton of questions for you as well, pretty sure you can't run faster than him so you'll be caught just like many others :giggle: have been.
 
TEAM SLO said:
Hi Stu, we have another bucket list trip out that way someday again. If Jin see's you, he will have a ton of questions for you as well, pretty sure you can't run faster than him so you'll be caught just like many others :giggle: have been.
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That's something to look forward to for sure!
 
some people are wonderful and change when they use alcohol or find themselves in a difficult unpleasant situation.

its all how you see them or when you see them that you make your judgements. if you need to make judgements. i do.
 
TEAM SLO said:
Just wanted to share, I really debated posting this but just had to.. My apologies if this turns into a novel.

Billy was here in Vegas with a couple of non pool related friends on vacation. Messaged my son Jin (just turned 11) asking if he could make it down to Griffs. The answer was obvious. Jin has met him a couple of times and spent some time playing Billy up in Wyoming, Jin has also received gifts/packages from Billy and his parents in the past. Billy isn't just an elite player in Jins eyes, he is more like a superhero haha.

Billy met us down at Griffs, came straight over and they started with bank pool, and then took a quick break for a burger. Those of you that don't know Jin are missing out on Jins addiction to the Griffs cheeseburger, when Billy said he would eat a burger with Jin, I really wish I would have caught that huge smile on Jins face, was the absolute biggest smile you could fit on that tiny head.

After lunch, came scotch doubles 10 ball, then singles, and then followed up by some training. Through the 4 hours, there was so much laughter, we were all laughing so hard at times my cheeks were hurting. This wasn't Billy at Griffs in between action or a match playing Jin a quick rack, this was Billy taking a pause on his vacation to come spend some time with a junior that idolizes him. Once they were done, Billy left Griffs to get back to his vacation with his two close childhood friends.

Billy wasn't a superhero elite player today, he was an uncle to Jin. Ok, maybe a superhero elite uncle :)
Click to expand...

That is wonderful. Billy seems like a really good hearted guy, who likes kids, and really cares to help them with the same passion that he has for Pool.

I am assuming that you did not pay him an appearance fee though. That would be different.
 
9ballscorpion said:
That is wonderful. Billy seems like a really good hearted guy, who likes kids, and really cares to help them with the same passion that he has for Pool.

I am assuming that you did not pay him an appearance fee though. That would be different.
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No, he messaged us, it cost me a burger. I had to force the payment for the burger and bottled water.

It's Griffs, plenty of action as well he could have taken. I told him a couple times we understand if he had business to tend to but he kept refusing. After they were done, we said our good byes and he left Griffs.
 
TEAM SLO said:
No, he messaged us, it cost me a burger. I had to force the payment for the burger and bottled water.

It's Griffs, plenty of action as well he could have taken. I told him a couple times we understand if he had business to tend to but he kept refusing. After they were done, we said our good byes and he left Griffs.
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Oh, that is really cool.
 
:) had to be big time for the youngster, a given for Billy for sure.

I'm curious, about Griffs, Vegas and the how do youngsters get the rub, the allure of the game when age restrictions are in play.
was this an exception or maybe daytime hours rules or "this is Vegas baby!"?
 
Dan_B said:
:) had to be big time for the youngster, a given for Billy for sure.

I'm curious, about Griffs, Vegas and the how do youngsters get the rub, the allure of the game when age restrictions are in play.
was this an exception or maybe daytime hours rules or "this is Vegas baby!"?
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Most places can't allow Jin but cue club and Griffs does. Just depends on how they are licensed.

At Griffs he just needs to stay away from the bar area
 
For those of you that dont know Jin can play pretty good and he is only 11.
The really smart thing he does is he plays position sometimes a little farther away from the object ball then say I would just so he doesn't have to use the bridge.
I've played him and watched him play.
He broke playing 9 ball and ran out on me!
This kid is no joke.
 
TEAM SLO said:
Most places can't allow Jin but cue club and Griffs does. Just depends on how they are licensed.

At Griffs he just needs to stay away from the bar area
Click to expand...

I did not start out (playing pool) nearly as young as Jin (I was around 13, when I really fell in love with the game, and just wanted to play litterally all of the time), but I never had a father, or even any close friends or family who really supported me, and my love for Pool, so I think that Jin is really very lucky to have a father who really supports his love for the game.

Did you relocate out to Vegas, or are you just there on a Pool vacation? You are from Denver, right? I would love to relocate to Vegas, because I think I would love the pool scene out there. I believe that John Morra may have moved out to Vegas, because he has been posting these little videos , for a long time now, with whatever he is up to at different Vegas locations (mostly restaurants). I hear about all of these Pros who live and compete out there, and it just makes me really want to relocate out there.
 
9ballscorpion said:
I did not start out (playing pool) nearly as young as Jin (I was around 13, when I really fell in love with the game, and just wanted to play litterally all of the time), but I never had a father, or even any close friends or family who really supported me, and my love for Pool, so I think that Jin is really very lucky to have a father who really supports his love for the game.

Did you relocate out to Vegas, or are you just there on a Pool vacation? You are from Denver, right? I would love to relocate to Vegas, because I think I would love the pool scene out there. I believe that John Morra may have moved out to Vegas, because he has been posting these little videos , for a long time now, with whatever he is up to at different Vegas locations (mostly restaurants). I hear about all of these Pros who live and compete out there, and it just makes me really want to relocate out there.
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Thank you, and yes we relocated here last year August.

John does play out of Griffs as well. Its great to see the pro's cycle through here randomly and also for events. It's been a great experience for him, the people and staff at Griffs have been great with Jin.
 
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