Bavafongoul Here...Did Someone Call My Name?????
Okay....Here's the 411.....
Diamond Billiards (6460 N. Blackstone Ave) 559-435-1130...Tournament on Sun. nites @ 7:30 PM......great tables.......play on the Diamond Table up front....See Jim (Mgr), or Josh (Ass't Mgr) or Sam, Keith, or Travis.....tell them Matt said they'd take great care of you......be careful....some sleepers there.....Tread cautiously.
The Break Room ( 411 W. Swift Ave) 559-276-9000.....New Owner (Mike Tucci)......see Mike (Owner), Phil C. (Mgr) or Stella....same thing....tell 'em I sent you in there for a great time.......maybe try to book some table time with Mike on his private table up front......It's invitation play only.......and indeed, Mike is one of the young studs......shoots a steady stick and has one of the best strokes I've seen.... Tournaments on Thurs nite 7-7:30 PM. Sometimes on Sat afternoons depending....typically around 2 PM.
The Rack (4678 N. Blackstone Ave) 559-222-1222 See Daniel Campos......Owner/Mgr....Daniel is also a very strong stick....and his pals there are even a wee bit better......proceed with caution.....Tournaments every Tues nite....7:30PM.
Classic Billiards (711 W. Shaw, Clovis, CA) 559-297-4246 Tournaments Mon. nite 7:30 PM and the 1st sat of every month (bigger crowd).
Babylon Biiliards (1064 N. Fulton) 559-495-0852.......down in the Tower district.....haven't played there in a few years....used to have lots of different beers on tap and decent tables......don't know it as a players hangout or roadies. maybe you should just skip it.......the better players hang out the Big 3 in Fresno.
Now you can go to any of these joints and just get in some recreational time with one of the local players. Everything doesn't have to have action attached but if you just want to make it interesting, that's not an issue.You can always find something light or grab some major action.........plenty of that too. If you're interested in some really outstanding one pocket competition....we have some real best in CA, there seems to be more one pocket action played at Diamonds and the Rack than at The Break Room. Nonetheless, if you want some heavier action, it's easily available. The Break Room used to be Diamonds South owned by Dan Dadian who just passed away. Mike Tucci bought the pool room from Dan in Spring 2011 and has done some great things with the room. Mike is also one of the best sticks in the state and should never be taken for granted......in order words, don't go pettin a rattle snake unless you don't mind being bitten.
SUMMARY
That pretty much is my run down on where to go.......the best spots are:
The Break Room.....brand new Simonis cloth on all the tables (16 -9' tables and 7- 7' tables). See Mike Or Phil C.
Diamond Billiards......excellent tables.....Simonis cloth well maintained daily....... (19 -9' tables & 2-7' tables) Diamond Dan Remembrance tournament is there this weekend.....send me a PM if you want more details. See Jim (Mgr) or Josh (Ass't Mgr) or Sam, Keith, or Travis.
The Rack.......14- 9' tables and 1- 10' table that gets exchanged back and forth (billiard table or snooker table)......Oh yeah, proceed with caution...strong players there too. See Daniel Campos.
Classic Billiards......is in the City of Clovis, not Fresno. Here's how that works.....Clovis is on the east side of town and Shaw Ave is the main street that runs right through town from Hignway 99 which is located in Fresno which is the west side of town. So as you travel on Shaw Ave eastbound direction from Hwy 99........you first travel thru Fresno and miles down the road on Shaw Ave....Voila!....It becomes Clovis on the very same road......See Brandon Lawlor.
CONCLUSION
Well folks.....that's my short column on pool in the center of the Central Valley....and by the way, that guy named Dan Dadian was instrumental in promoting amateur pool play and helping maintain local interest in competitive play through the several pool halls he owned and operated. I hope you enjoy and get to use some of this information.
Oh yeah, this weekend in Fresno the local APA is holding its City Wide Qualifier for Las Vegas....that means the pool halls at the Break Room & Classic will be jammed Fri nite thru Sunday evening..........the APA play is all on 7' tables but when you have that many teams, even the 9' tables get grabbed fro practice by these teams......parking lots at both places will be jammed.
If you need to ever refer to me, just mention "The guy with the Custom Mottey & Scruggs Cues with ivory joints."....Pretty much most of the better sticks in town Fresno know my cues.....two absolutely spectacular cues.......and there's also my one of a kind, custom ordered Schon Runde....I'm probably the reason Bob Runde stopped taking customer designed cue orders while he was at Schon. At Runde cues, all of Bob's cues are his design, one of a kinds. I was a real jerk back in the early 80's when he made my cue....he has to be one of the most generous, kind hearted persons imaginable.....you might have read one of my prior posts about my Runde Schon.
Anyway, I hope to bump into you, or any other Azers sometime, perhaps at the Diamond Dan Tournament. I can always give you my skinny on any of the competitors if you're curious. Due to the potential for likely interference (overfow) with the APA tournament this weekend, there'll also be another Diamond Dan Tournament this upcoming November..............Stay tuned for more details folks.......I mean can you believe that Dan decided to just up and pass away after the local APA chapter had already made its schedule for 2012....How rude and inconsiderate of Dan to do that....that ole SOB.......it's kinda just like him 'cuz he really wasn't fond of playing on 7' tables anyway.....he would sometimes refer to it as being akin to playing in the sandbox.
Anywho.....contact me if you ever have any questions......where you'll be staying is really close to Diamonds, The Rack and The Break Room.
Matt B.