Ernie told me the story over a pizza pie one day when i visited him at his new shop in
North Hollywood right before he went back into cue building
Ernie had quite a few stories of his own,not just bout Ronnie.
The story I was seeking more light on myself about the gaff shaft
ernie explained he made Ronnie a shaft to use that would allow him to
play with only the shaft. If memory serves me,Ernie made the shaft to weigh
and balance like a normal cue thus enabling Ronnie to perform his magic.
I once owned Ronnie's Balabushka and sold it to my good friend Mark Griffin,
strangely as we were talking about the cue and its provenance Ronnie came in and over and
stepped into the conversation identifying his old cue
A funny thing happened,,Mark as many of you guys know,is a very good businessman
and so he wanted to pay less than I was asking for the cue. First he questioned if it was Ronnies cue,
but Ronnie showed up to help me there.
Ronnie moved on to talk with Mary the owner of the pool room there in Vegas.Cuetopia at Swanson and Twain.
Well, now Mark points out that the shafts are not full 13, this is usually excellent ammunition for bargaining so Mark points out"these shafts can't possibly be over 12 and a half mm,Dean"
Here is the funny part,Ronnie hears him and shouts over about 2 tables,"of course they aren't,how else can you expect to play with them?"
I held out my empty hand while Mark counted out the mallards with a very long face.
Ronnie left so Mark says"Dean tell me the truth what did you pay Ronnie for that performance?"
I was naturally offended
Paul Mottey suggested that we play some captain one pocket to ease the pressure and of course win a few bucks since he was the only one who could actually play
just another day at the pool room,but who would have ever thought those days would end? It seems like only yesterday and now Ronnie is gone forever,seems like only yesterday I was buying half a dozen Mottey cues a t a time,I could always get a new one with a simple call,and now the one Mottey that I have only has one shaft.
How does it happen so fast,we were young and fun,laughing and kidding each other in action at the drop of a hat never thinking it would end.
Last time I saw Ronnie I threw in with him to play Bumper Man some one hole with the wing or one handed,when I walked out the door I didn't even say good bye,but it was,and it was forever