Well, right along the lines of Marcus Norwood's thread (http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=279551) I got to have a visit with Mike this past week.
I have a customer in Dallas that I had to visit this week, so I reached out to Mike about my visit to see if he might have any time to get together. Not only did he have time, but he offered to pick me up at my hotel, go play some pool and drop me off again!
Mike picked me up and we had a chance to go and have lunch at a great Italian place that he knows (and knows well), and we had a great chance to get to know each other, and talk about all things pool, especially 14.1 related. After a great lunch, we headed off to Mike's place.
My gracious host:
If you guys have not had a chance to see Mike's album check it out (http://forums.azbilliards.com/album.php?albumid=776) he has a PERFECT place for shooting pool, and we got to play on the table that this man played on as a boy (http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=140832). The whole room is set up with pool and sports memorabilia from his father-in-law, Davey Williams who played for the NY Giants.
Anyhow, to the pool games. We played three 14.1 games to 50 and then a race to 5 in 8-Ball. Needless to say, I got my butt kicked! BUT, it was a great time, and I loved watching how effortless the game is for Mike. He truly knows his patterns, and just did a fantastic job working through the racks.
The very FIRST game went like this
Mike safe breaks
Brian hits 2, plays safe
Mike hits 12, then safes the break ball.
Brian safes, and Mike runs FIFTY-SIX!
I didn't even make a serious mistake, he just didn't miss!
This is what it looks like playing Mike, you get a lot of time to sit and watch! LOL!
Anyhow, following games I didn't get whipped quite so bad, and I had some very clean patterns. I felt comfortable playing at Mike's place, as if we had been friends for years.
Second game Mike was up 46-21, and then Mike ended with a 34 ball run!
Third game I was up 24-10, and then Mike ended up winning 50-33.
This man is a CLEAN player, and a heck of a nice guy. He just ran 81 in a league match last week, and is a hundred ball runner.
We ended with a race to 5 in 8-Ball which he handily crushed me 5-2.
I tell you what, if I had a chance to play with people like Mike more often, it would make a heck of a difference in the way that I play.
SO... Mike, I humbly thank you for your time and patience and hospitality. I hope to be in Dallas often, and if that works out, I would love to rack for you as often as you'd let me!
Here are some shots of a couple of nice pieces Mike has had made.
Thanks again Mike! I look forward to you making some more videos!!
I have a customer in Dallas that I had to visit this week, so I reached out to Mike about my visit to see if he might have any time to get together. Not only did he have time, but he offered to pick me up at my hotel, go play some pool and drop me off again!
Mike picked me up and we had a chance to go and have lunch at a great Italian place that he knows (and knows well), and we had a great chance to get to know each other, and talk about all things pool, especially 14.1 related. After a great lunch, we headed off to Mike's place.
My gracious host:
If you guys have not had a chance to see Mike's album check it out (http://forums.azbilliards.com/album.php?albumid=776) he has a PERFECT place for shooting pool, and we got to play on the table that this man played on as a boy (http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=140832). The whole room is set up with pool and sports memorabilia from his father-in-law, Davey Williams who played for the NY Giants.
Anyhow, to the pool games. We played three 14.1 games to 50 and then a race to 5 in 8-Ball. Needless to say, I got my butt kicked! BUT, it was a great time, and I loved watching how effortless the game is for Mike. He truly knows his patterns, and just did a fantastic job working through the racks.
The very FIRST game went like this
Mike safe breaks
Brian hits 2, plays safe
Mike hits 12, then safes the break ball.
Brian safes, and Mike runs FIFTY-SIX!
I didn't even make a serious mistake, he just didn't miss!
This is what it looks like playing Mike, you get a lot of time to sit and watch! LOL!
Anyhow, following games I didn't get whipped quite so bad, and I had some very clean patterns. I felt comfortable playing at Mike's place, as if we had been friends for years.
Second game Mike was up 46-21, and then Mike ended with a 34 ball run!
Third game I was up 24-10, and then Mike ended up winning 50-33.
This man is a CLEAN player, and a heck of a nice guy. He just ran 81 in a league match last week, and is a hundred ball runner.
We ended with a race to 5 in 8-Ball which he handily crushed me 5-2.
I tell you what, if I had a chance to play with people like Mike more often, it would make a heck of a difference in the way that I play.
SO... Mike, I humbly thank you for your time and patience and hospitality. I hope to be in Dallas often, and if that works out, I would love to rack for you as often as you'd let me!
Here are some shots of a couple of nice pieces Mike has had made.
Thanks again Mike! I look forward to you making some more videos!!