Oh you mean the physical carry home Trophy. I thought you meant the emoji ones we achieve here. I got like love and haha in that order. One sad.......must be the Russian judge.
CJ Wiley
- Thread starter Quesports
- Start date
dquarasr
Registered
That’s some good stuff right there.
I went through that way a dozen times. Can't believe I never stopped at SIU. Had no idea there was a poolroom there. Did play in an old place downtown in Carbondale. Seats along the rail and old Anniversaries I think. Like six or eight in a row.
Do you have any views on why you remember ,all the places you played over the years? It's very unusual. I remember them like it was yesterday also, I have a theory of why , which I will be happy to share, I just want to see if they are similar.
I don't remember all the places I went into. I'm guessing I visited over 300 pool halls during my time as a player, and that's probably a low number. I don't even remember all the guys I played. Years later I've had guys walk up to me and tell me about when we played many years before. They would even tell me about things that went on during our game, none of which I remembered. I do know that I was totally focused on the game when I was playing and didn't pay attention to what else was going on in the poolroom. Fights, arguments, shouting, that was simply a distraction to me. I was there to get the money and get out, plain and simple! My 100% focus was on what took place on that 4 1/2 x 9 table!
I do remember the guys who beat me! And I remember some rooms better than others. I guess I have a selective memory, although sometimes things come back to me when I'm prompted by something I read on here. I would call it fragmented memories. Even now I go back and read some old posts of mine, or my own book and wonder how I remembered all that. Of course I do remember all the great players I watched play, and often became friendly with. After all that's how I learned by watching how they did things. No one ever took the time to teach me anything, other than a couple of gaff shots you could make money on. A few guys did give me advice though or tell me about good places to play. I guess I got steered a lot come to think of it. A lot of times after I played somewhere, somebody would come up to me and tell me someplace I could get a game and make money. I usually went with them, taking them in my car. The way it worked, if I was successful in getting a game and making money, they were in for 10%. If they put in money with me, they could get a higher percentage. I would usually offer them that opportunity.
For instance I haven't thought about how I met Steve Gumphrey for over thirty years. But when I started thinking about LeCue in Houston that's where we became friends, and that thought entered my mind. Sorry if I can't be more helpful.
As an aside, I can't begin to remember all the bars I played in, most of them topless joints. That's where the best games were, with guys trying to show off for the girls. It was mostly easy pickings for me, even at a $1 a game!
I'd like to hear your theory though because I don't have one.
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I don't remember all the places I went into. I'm guessing I visited over 300 pool halls during my time as a player, and that's probably a low number. I don't even remember all the guys I played. Years later I've had guys walk up to me and tell me about when we played many years before. They would even tell me about things that went on during our game, none of which I remembered. I do know that I was totally focused on the game when I was playing and didn't pay attention to what else was going on in the poolroom. Fights, arguments, shouting, that was simply a distraction to me. I was there to get the money and get out, plain and simple! My 100% focus was on what took place on that 4 1/2 x 9 table!
I do remember the guys who beat me! And I remember some rooms better than others. I guess I have a selective memory, although sometimes things come back to me when I'm prompted by something I read on here. I would call it fragmented memories. Even now I go back and read some old posts of mine, or my own book and wonder how I remembered all that. Of course I do remember all the great players I watched play, and often became friendly with. After all that's how I learned by watching how they did things. No one ever took the time to teach me anything, other than a couple of gaff shots you could make money on. A few guys did give me advice though or tell me about good places to play. I guess I got steered a lot come to think of it. A lot of times after I played somewhere, somebody would come up to me and tell me someplace I could get a game and make money. I usually went with them, taking them in my car. The way it worked, if I was successful in getting a game and making money, they were in for 10%. If they put in money with me, they could get a higher percentage. I would usually offer them that opportunity.
For instance I haven't thought about how I met Steve Gumphrey for over thirty years. But when I started thinking about LeCue in Houston that's where we became friends, and that thought entered my mind. Sorry if I can't be more helpful.
As an aside, I can't begin to remember all the bars I played in, most of them topless joints. That's where the best games were, with guys trying to show off for the girls. It was mostly easy pickings for me, even at a $1 a game!
I'd like to hear your theory though because I don't have one.
A lot like you in many ways. I don't remember many of the places I played, or if I remember bits and pieces I often don't remember the name of the place or exactly where it was at. Some I can drive straight to today but can't remember which little town they are in. I remember some things very well but most nights were just taking care of business. When people want to hear a lot of stories I have to ask them if they can tell me stories from on the job twenty or thirty years ago. I do remember about as many stories about my day jobs as my pool days and maybe most of all racing stories.
When I was a teen and in my early twenties I had a certain weakness for naked dancing lady joints. One was very close to a place I worked, literally around the corner. I was an honored regular there by the time I turned sixteen! It was some of the ladies that first caught my eye. I knew maybe three or four total over the years that would put a Vargas cartoon to shame!
What I really liked were the gigolos living off the girls. Most fancied they could play pool, certainly better than me. I can't remember how many times a girl came storming up to the pool table in work clothes complaining I was taking all of her hard earned money!
Most of the action was soft back then with the occasional "A" player but I would say most were considerably lower. I did meet mike massey in one of the lowest dives in Baton Rouge. Supposedly he was tuning for the US barbox open but he seemed to be paying a lot of attention to a blond working there. Might meet others plying their trade like me, I met Scotty Townsend in a nothing bar.
Almost everybody that could run three balls thought they needed a fake name so I didn't pay attention to names. I did have a lot of fun with that. Somebody would come in a place and give their name. Having a certain fondness for stirring the poop I would say, "That wasn't your name when I played you three weeks ago! Most of these guys had went through a half-dozen names in three weeks so were in no position to argue the point! I figured my memory was as bad as anybody's so I just used my own name. Only used a first name, worked for me.
Hu
You think anything someone says is going to keep CJ from posting anywhere? He will spew to anyone who is willing to listen.
. I love hearing these stories. You used your first name: Hu. Who?
Who did you play? Yes.
Who did you lose to? Yes. Hu.
Who is a good player? True.
Funny stuff.
Melvin Sharpe in Denver used to frequent the strip club right down town. I think it was called the Diamond Cabaret?? Not sure. Anyway, Melvin took so much cash off those punters that they took all the pool tables out of there. I'm sure the girls were complaining.
tomatoshooter
Well-known member
Tell her she should start dating a better pool player.
Wow, been awhile since I heard anyone talk about my old friend Gump. He truly was an amazing talent that passed far too young.
I ran into Gumphs a few times, and gambled with em once in Beanie/DeValle's E. Coast room early seventies.
Mostly saw Steve at the big table Midwest events, if he like the game he'd match up with anyone.....
There was one thing''quirk'' about this man, that stood above all, his head noD/Drop as the object ball entered the pocket. Made me giggle.
Mostly saw Steve at the big table Midwest events, if he like the game he'd match up with anyone.....
There was one thing''quirk'' about this man, that stood above all, his head noD/Drop as the object ball entered the pocket. Made me giggle.
You used your first name: Hu. Who?
Who did you play? Yes.
Who did you lose to? Yes. Hu.
Who is a good player? True.
Funny stuff.
Melvin Sharpe in Denver used to frequent the strip club right down town. I think it was called the Diamond Cabaret?? Not sure. Anyway, Melvin took so much cash off those punters that they took all the pool tables out of there. I'm sure the girls were complaining.
Those places were handy to pump up if you were a little low on funds. Fine places to drink all evening on somebody else's dime too.
I did a few times! Depended on what she looked like and where I was at the moment. I did have somebody want to play for a woman twice over the years. They couldn't understand why I would turn the offer down. Once it was supposed to be husband and wife and when I said no they both got mad! I am highly allergic to penicillin, that has influenced my choices sometimes.
I do know of somebody playing for a girlfriend. She didn't look bad and wasn't quite as slutty as she sounds. She was fed up with her partner and of course considerable alcohol was involved if nothing else. The new couple lasted a few months that I know of.
Hu
Archie came thru my dad's pool hall right before his big run in Vegas. His story is well documented, I remember the local news in LA even cutting away from programming one day to show this guy playing craps at Binions. It was said at one time he held every $1000 chip that Binions had. Anyway, Archie was not a good pool player, he got a lot alot of huge spots from guys trying to make a big score.
That was at pool right?
Yeah, he played mostly 1 pocket. My dad gave him the 4-out in 9 ball for $100 a rack and Archie quit about $1500 down. He made money playing 1 pocket with a few guys who got tight playing him because they had never bet so high.
Good to know. I love these old stories.
Good to see you btw. It's been a minute since you've been on here.
He had all their $5,000 chips, ten million worth!
Yes, it has. Surprised to see people still here from those days. The new people here would never believe that Joe Rogan used to post here, lol.
First of all their treatment went well beyond merely questioning their understanding of the mechanics of the game. Maybe a poll should be put out there giving the casual poster a choice. Choice A would be for the forum to be a place where pros and champions can post without being harassed. Choice B would be open season for the peanut gallery to savage anyone at will when the casual poster has no idea what their credentials are.