Thanks for the confirmation Jay. I believe it now. You came up a lot in our conversations. He thought very highly of you. He was so funny and clever. I'm really saddened to hear this. I used to use the swipe method to apply sidespin, so he nicknamed me 'windshield wiper.' I used to chase him around the pool room for that one, even though it was a pretty good description. He bought me a whole salami once just because I was Italian, so then he nick-named me 'Salami.' And like you, Jay, I was really mad at him for the mess in Reno but I really felt that there was nothing malicious intended, but he just didn't have a solution and he handled it badly. I stood up for him in forums when everyone else pounded on him.My source was from his niece. She said there is video of him getting off a bus at the bridge and video of him actually jumping. It happened the day before yesterday. I also looked for confirmation from SF news sources but was unable to find anything. I don't think police release that information until next of kin have been notified.
Tony was my friend for decades. He was very smart, extremely talented and a world class pool player who was capable of beating anyone at anytime.
Tony came to my last poolroom at Hollywood Park and jumped on the triple tough front table and ran 88 balls. That remained the highest run ever on that table with four inch pickets. It was a One Pocket table.
I did not talk to Tony for nearly ten years after his debacle at the Peppermill Casino in Reno, but we had reconnected in the last few months, when he called me out of the blue. He sounded like his normal upbeat self and I never saw this coming.
Shocked is the only word I can think of to describe my reaction. I hope you have found peace now Tony.
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