Recent content by billb

It is certainly a different environment but the idea that people are just handing money to pool players these days is a bit off base in my opinion. Most of the time, the argument (both now and in the past) is that there is no money in pool yet your view is that its just "given" doesnt seem...

Agreed. Fedor is the best at branding himself now days. Along with nice chunk in prize money, he has sponsorships, clothing line, social media following, etc. Maybe appearance fees too. All of that adds up. I suspect that in 20 years, he may be set for a very, very comfortable level of...

I know Punky. Barry and Punky are two different people. Barry, to the best of my knowledge, was nowhere near the player that Punky is/was. But Barry was a character. Always in high gear. Always making people laugh with off the wall comments or quotes. I didnt have alot of interaction...

I see the scenario today as much more of a business model as opposed to pool players looking for the next quick score. I agree with your SVB comments too. To sustain things at such a high level for so long is incredible. He is a pool playing businessman who seems to have it figured out. I am...

I always love reading your stories and input. Being a Marylander and knowing many of the characters that you reference from years past, your stories make for even better reading than many of the posts I see about road life. Geese was.....well.....Geese. The one and only. Him and Keith...

Agreed. I am also a huge baseball fan and I like umpires. Change doesnt always mean better in my opinion. I guess as a baseball purist, I like live umpires with the caveat of helping very important calls be correct....i.e. instant replay. But balls and strikes are balls and strikes called by...

Great post. It is what it is. For whatever my opinion is worth and if it were my tournament, I think that racks in major events should be set by a neutral ref using a hand rack and players should not be able to inspect them or ask for a rerack. The rack is what it is. Remove any...

I am going to be in the Frederick and Ellicott City, Maryland area for work on August 24, 25 and 26. I am looking for a nightly event on one of those three nights in this general area. I am willing to drive for the right scenario. I have used Google but I figured it better to ask because not...

Absolutely its fun. Sure it gets a little frustrating at times when you cant find your top gear. And that frustration is only because I care if I play well and I care if I win. But it is fun in every other way. Honestly, why would a person do it if it wasnt enjoyable unless it was their job...

Mike Painter in 1999….there’s a blast from the past. Great player.

I missed that one. ☹️

Agreed. My thoughts were that once I made my decision, it was then his decision to move the cue ball or not. I left it where it was because I thought it was more advantageous than putting it back. I played my hand and he played his. No malice either way. I agree with the moral of the...

Well, first off , I don’t need a lecture as to when and what I should do. I simply asked a question because I wasn’t sure. TRUST ME, I have zero issue being bold. Hence my decision to tell you that your not so subtle jab is a total douche bag comment. I did nothing to provoke or deserve that...

Interesting scenario at TAP league the other night and I wanted some input. The situation was this: 1) incoming player has ball in hand and places the cueball (he is bridging over a pack of balls) 2) he accidentally bumps one of those balls after he has placed the cueball and is preparing to...

Agreed. Things are just different now. The gear that Keith had back in the day was unreal. A friend and I have both watched his US Open videos recently and have discussed just how flawless his game was during those videos. And, based on what I read on here, it sounds like he was well below...