Recent content by jjohnson

Back in '74 or '75 I met a Staff Sergeant in the service who was about 26 years old. His specialty was EOD (explosive ordnance disposal.) He told me he came in 2nd in the New York State pool tournament. He played really good. He hooked me 3 times in a row placing the cue ball right up kissing...

Surely the wisdom of Ulysses. I had never thought of that. At first I immediately thought it must have been some sort of scam, too. But at the time, Cecil had impressed upon me that he was a natural athlete. And also, I just read an interview he gave. Growing up, he was into baseball...

I was talking with Cecil at Hard Times Bellflower. He was telling me how he would bet guys $50 that they could stand on the sidewalk and he could get past them while remaining on the sidewalk himself and they couldn't touch him. I tried to imagine how this would work but couldn't do it. I was...

I've spent at least 10 hours now playing these Dynasphere Bronze. I think they are just fine. And the price is very very good. I've been thinking that technology is getting so good now and available so widely that the competition for pool balls and cue sticks is driving prices down. It is all...

Thanks for your responses. I'll think about it. Hard to believe L.A. is no longer a pool/billiards mecca. The weather is too damn good. And there is so much great entertainment close by. Beaches, sports, skiing, gambling, clubs, etc.

I'm thinking about getting a new cue stick. But I have to see and hold it before I buy. So I need a dealer in Southern California close. I live in Irvine, CA in Orange County. I have a Schon SL-6 I bought in 2001. I would consider just a shaft or two. I am a little skittish because I think...

In the photo of Keith it says it was taken in 1970. I can see that he had definitely matured since when I saw him. I'm sure being very young and on the road can do that to someone. So I would guess that it was 1969 or even possibly 1968 when I saw Cole and Keith at Fremont Family Billiards...

Just got my Dynasphere Bronze billiard ball set. Other than the white seems a little yellow in color they look very nice. I also got some Aramith ball cleaner. Maybe they will whiten up after their first cleaning. Weight in grams: CB 168.9 1 169.1 2 168.4 3 168.8 4 168.3 5...

I am qualified to judge the recommendations of the responders to my post. And my intent is to get a set of billiard balls for practice use on the 9' pool table in the game room at the apartment community I live at. The balls they have are in terrible shape. I wouldn't say that I "don't know...

Very informative. Thanks to all. Looks like my decision is made to get the Dynasphere Bronze set. Went to their website and found a local retailer. $116. They aren't much to look at but your recommendations sound solid enough for practice use.

Went to Dynasphere website and found a local retailer. I'll check them out. Wow. Never heard about metal nails in the pockets. Do you have any suggestions how to prevent any similar damage like this from occurring? Maybe stuff some old socks down in the bottom of the pockets?

I'm thinking of getting my own set of billiard balls. I like to primarily play rotation: 9-ball / 10-ball. I am not super rich. But I want a very good set of billiard balls. I don't want to be disappointed, either. Any recommendations? Best bang for the buck? What do some of these top tier...

I heard this from Calvin, a regular at Hard Times Bellflower, about 7 or so years ago. He was there all over the L.A. pool scene at the time. He'd be pushing 80 years old by now. He told it like he saw it, firsthand. Of course, Richie might have done it, and before Cole. I wouldn't be...

About a year before he moved his cue work shop out of Hard Times Bellflower to Sacramento, "Little Al" Romero told me that Cole had come in. I was very surprised because I would always come in a few times each week. What bad luck, bad timing for me. I told Little Al years earlier that I...

Cole spent a lot of time in L.A. in the late 60's. Photos don't have a soul. It is personality face to face that impresses. And Cole is one person that you'd never forget. Yes, he would talk (perhaps a hustler's affectation) with a sort of Southern drawl. But he'd walk around the table like...