No Just to say pool is dead. Made me actually SAD to see Mike Massey giving an exhibition recently, nobody except me even knew who he was. Went for shuffleboard because don't want the WHACK sound of a break shot disturbing the neighbors. Used to love that sound when Ed Kelly was playing 9 ball in Baltimore, fresh out of the marines, I think. Just Ed Kelly back then, not Champagne Eddie Kelly, may he rest in peace.
Make Pool Great Again!
- Thread starter DecentShot
- Start date
Recently? That's what I would expect. He has been out of the spotlight and away from cameras for awhile now. I'm sorry you have to worry about your neighbors. Wished I could have seen Kelly in his prime.
There is no more American pool, its international pool now, that's what most Americans FAIL to understand!!
Alcohol, screaming, and pool with the best pros I can find willing to put up with it. There is nothing ambiguous, grandiose, or complicated about that. Its not about the game, its not about the players, its about giving people a good time.
Sports betting houses have replaced the tobacco industry in guaranteed prize monies at the snooker world championships.
Not what it was but its far from dead. In the Ok., Ks, Tx area its doing ok. Plenty of tournaments and league. Action got killed pretty much by all the casinos. Still some going on tho.
Last thing I'd want to be around is a bunch of drunks that don't care about the event taking place, or anywhere else for that matter!
I saw a lot of greats, just never really appreciated. In 1958, I was 17 and rack boy for Mosconi in an exhibition. Another kid I shot with was Joe Cataldi. Ed Kelly was just a guy out of the marines in Baltimore, I lost $50 backing Henry Gordon in 3 rail billiards against Ed Kelly. Just plain Ed, Not Champagne Eddie Kelly back then. Mike Sigel was just a guy playing 3 way with Joe Cataldi and Seymour Lessans.
Played some man named Rich Riggie, suspected he could shoot a little when he ran 108 against me. One handed.LOL Used to collect bets for Henry Gordon and collect from Julius the Lord Salisbury, 2 of biggest bookies on East coast. The LORD still my hero. Beat the Feds on a rap when Supreme Court ruled in his favor day he was to go to jail. Years later I ran some checks for him to a drug store that cashed out of state checks.
Feds nailed him, interstate transportation of gambling funds. Awaiting sentencing date, to be announced later, he moved out of house and into apartment. Day Feds came to pick him up, Lord was gone. Even sold furniture and snuck it out too under fed's noses. Searched for him, USA Israel, south america , etc. Never found.
But they were just everyday guys I knew back then. Could care less about my neighbors, just thought Mike deserved better.
Right, and that's cool, professional wrestling isn't for everyone, the Waste Management Open isn't for everyone, the Mosconi Cup isn't for everyone. Part of the pruning I was referring to. But if I have to error, I'm going to go down having a good time.
Now THAT is a response. I hope you stick around and tell some stories.
I'm not sure where Mike Sigel fits in here, since he is about twenty years younger than these other guys. In 1960, he would have been eight years old and going to grade school in Rochester, NY! Mike didn't show up on the pro pool scene until the early to mid 70's. I also saw Ed Kelly play in his prime. First time was in Johnston City 1964. He was one of the most elegant and talented pool players I ever saw. Every motion was pure poetry. He was like an artist the way he moved around the table and the way he stroked his cue. By the mid 60's he was considered the best All Around player in the world (9-Ball, One Pocket and Straight Pool).
We always just called him "Kelly" and everyone knew who you were talking about. The "Champagne" was added for promotional purposes. I never heard anyone call him Champagne Eddie. Okay, maybe in jest, but that's about it. He was always Kelly and that was enough.
I like your story otherwise. Rich Riggie was a well known Straight Pool champion, probably the best in that area for many years. I don't know those bookies, but most bookies liked to bet it up in the poolroom. :yes:
Last time I had a cue in my hand, sometime in 1980's. Mike was running a pool hall in Pikesville Seymour Lessans played 2 or 3 days of 9 ball 14-1 and one-pocket heads up and it was a draw. Seymour also was Maryland State Champion once as was Joe Cataldi. Rich and Rich jr only father and son to both be Maryland State Champions. Sadly Jr dead at 42, drugs.
First time I saw Rich Sr. play , Seymour destroyed him. Actually Henry paid Rich for the exhibition as a favor, because Rich just got out of jail for bookmaking. Ed Kelly was fresh out of marines in late 1950's and played in Baltimore for 5 or 6 years.
Always my hero, he played nights at Kliens on second floor. During the days he worked at Arthur Murray's on first floor as a dance instructor. Had women paying him to dance with them days and he hustled billiards at night. Does it get any better ?? HaHa
First time I saw Rich Sr. play , Seymour destroyed him. Actually Henry paid Rich for the exhibition as a favor, because Rich just got out of jail for bookmaking. Ed Kelly was fresh out of marines in late 1950's and played in Baltimore for 5 or 6 years.
Always my hero, he played nights at Kliens on second floor. During the days he worked at Arthur Murray's on first floor as a dance instructor. Had women paying him to dance with them days and he hustled billiards at night. Does it get any better ?? HaHa
They don’t post up near the £ the tobacco companies did. You know that.
Pool need a major face life, and make over. It would be like sending Rosie O'Donald to camp makeover for two years. After she was release, she would be younger, hotter, straight, less hateful, and have men standing in line to date her.
Is that possible? Not sure, but not trying.
Is that possible? Not sure, but not trying.
I’ll be running, no winning marathons before pool is “on the map”.
Fatboy
you still have that Prewitt you offered me back when we were young
I have a nice Szamboti for about 1/3 of the cost of that beautiful box cue
if you sponsor a pool extravaganza I will come,
but please have something exciting to do while te pros are shooting pool
maybe a game show environment or action matches between you and Harry Platis
Dean
you still have that Prewitt you offered me back when we were young
I have a nice Szamboti for about 1/3 of the cost of that beautiful box cue
if you sponsor a pool extravaganza I will come,
but please have something exciting to do while te pros are shooting pool
maybe a game show environment or action matches between you and Harry Platis
Dean
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2019 World Championships had a purse of $2.8million(based on todays exch. rate) dollars. Season prize money is around $18million. Hardly chicken feed by any stretch.
Maybe the title should be recharged to MAKE POOL GREAT IN THE USA AGAIN, or if Donald Trump had time, he could M.P.G.A.