indentSince Freddy the Beard, Grady and San Jose Dick among others have shared many great stories from the past, and these are my favorite posts. I will add a few of my own from the past. My memory has faded some but one that sticks out in my mind was mentioned in McCumber's playing off the rail. The place was Stracher's billiards which was a long low ceilinged building that housed around 24 gold crown 2's. The tables are two wide running from the front to the back of the building. When you walked into Strachers in the 1980's-early 90's you knew that it was there for players. It had an ample parking lot that was sometimes patrolled by a security guard who was just as liable to steal your stereo as some of the local thugs. The room was a 24 hour 365 day a year room and drew people from all walks of life. When you step in the counterman was there to eye up prospective marks. His discerning eye was the basis of your table assignment.
indent The timeframe of this tournament was the big winter tournament around 1994. I was fresh off a huge run at cards and pumped up. Cracker Jack Hynes had been playing what I think was his best pool after re-dedicating himself to hitting about a thousand balls a day for months. Jack liked to stay undercover and was not big on playing tournaments, but we figured we would use the tournament as a way to get some action. I believe there were around a 100-120 players in the field which was large. Parica, Tony Ellin, Double J, Tommy Kennedy, Dave Bollman, Greg Fix, Gary Spaeth, Steve McAnnich, Tony Annigoni, Bobby Legg, Mark Maryo, and a slew of other top notch players were in the field. During the tournament one of the two rows of tables are removed to make room for bleachers. It left about 16 tables for the warriors to do battle. Matches were run from about 10am until night time consisting of races to eleven.
indent Jack wanted to play some big dollar sets of nine rocket with just about anybody. A day before the tourney started Jack got into some action with an older gentleman from Iowa named Don who wanted to play onepocket, but I would never let Jack play 1pocket. It was 9ball or no action. After hemming and hawing for about an hour Don asked Jack if he wanted to play short rack banks for a few hundred a game Jack told me he didn't need to duck anyone at banks, and to get the guy to play for at least 500 a game. Well Jack and I had a rule my money I make the game. I confered with Gary Spaeth and he told me Jack's firepower and knowledge could get him there with almost anyone at banks except guys like Bugs, Rusty, Cornbread, etc. I wanted them to play even for a dime a game but Don was only interested in playing for 300 a game. We finally settled on a race to five for 1500. Jack came storming out of the gate running 3, 4, 5's every game all fired at warp speed and playing shape sometimes multiple rails. Jack was up 4 to zip and leading three balls to two when he rattled a ball and left an easy cross side. What he did next made me think I was in for a Jack Hynes meltdown he racked in the balls huh? Even Don couldn't believe it he just shrugged and the next game Don got to three balls and was down on a long rail straight back and Jack tossed his book of matches on the table conceding that game too. Ok 4 to 2 and it's conferance time with Jack I pulled him aside and asked WTF? He said this guy shoots straight and he woulda been out. I told him Jack just win the damn set. next game Jack gets to the table and banks five and out.
indent After the players meeting rumblings begun to coarse through the poolroom that the guy from Cali (Tony Annigonni) was backed by a rich writer and looking for action, we tried in vain to get into a game with him but had zero luck. We even offered money odds. The only people there who wanted to play Jack 9ball was Parica with no backer (umm no thanks) and I believe the other person was Buddy Hall, but I can't remember. Neither game was a winning proposition although at that time IMO Jack had the offensive gear to win playing races in 9ball against about anyone but Parica. If he wins though under the radar is a thing of the past.
indent Since matching up was not happening Jack decided to focus on the tournament and the 5k first prize. He was mowing through his opponents one after another. Everyone he beat said the same thing "how could I lose to that guy, he never plays safe and turns the cueball loose every shot while shooting 100 miles an hour". Jack was sitting pretty making the money when we finally got an offer to play a strong player from Canada who bets his own and was considered one of the best players from up North. I cannot remember his name but he was bald with black hair and a moustache and played all games well. The game was made for 8 ahead for two dimes after the final tourney matches wound down. I was able to get another 1200 in side action down from about 8 diffrent people who knew the player from up north, but didn't know Jack very well. They flip for break and Jack losses the flip. The first rack the Canadian breaks and makes the nine. Next rack he breaks and runs out. Ditto for the third rack. Fourth rack he makes a 2-9 hanger and just like that we are 4 down in an 8 ahead set. Jack wins the next couple racks I believe, somehow it gets to Jack plus two and the Canadian plays one of the best safes I seen he shots a table length safe and freezes Jack to a ball and has the one, two, and three rail kicking lanes blocked. Jack eyes it up for at least 5 minutes walking all around the table until finally Jack gets up on his tippy toe with his other knee on the table bridges over the ball shoots it back into the rail jumps over the safety ball goes two rails and kicks in the object ball (1 ball) the proceeds to run out. After that rack he runs four and snaps in the set ball to get the cheese................. To be continued if anyone is interested.
indent The timeframe of this tournament was the big winter tournament around 1994. I was fresh off a huge run at cards and pumped up. Cracker Jack Hynes had been playing what I think was his best pool after re-dedicating himself to hitting about a thousand balls a day for months. Jack liked to stay undercover and was not big on playing tournaments, but we figured we would use the tournament as a way to get some action. I believe there were around a 100-120 players in the field which was large. Parica, Tony Ellin, Double J, Tommy Kennedy, Dave Bollman, Greg Fix, Gary Spaeth, Steve McAnnich, Tony Annigoni, Bobby Legg, Mark Maryo, and a slew of other top notch players were in the field. During the tournament one of the two rows of tables are removed to make room for bleachers. It left about 16 tables for the warriors to do battle. Matches were run from about 10am until night time consisting of races to eleven.
indent Jack wanted to play some big dollar sets of nine rocket with just about anybody. A day before the tourney started Jack got into some action with an older gentleman from Iowa named Don who wanted to play onepocket, but I would never let Jack play 1pocket. It was 9ball or no action. After hemming and hawing for about an hour Don asked Jack if he wanted to play short rack banks for a few hundred a game Jack told me he didn't need to duck anyone at banks, and to get the guy to play for at least 500 a game. Well Jack and I had a rule my money I make the game. I confered with Gary Spaeth and he told me Jack's firepower and knowledge could get him there with almost anyone at banks except guys like Bugs, Rusty, Cornbread, etc. I wanted them to play even for a dime a game but Don was only interested in playing for 300 a game. We finally settled on a race to five for 1500. Jack came storming out of the gate running 3, 4, 5's every game all fired at warp speed and playing shape sometimes multiple rails. Jack was up 4 to zip and leading three balls to two when he rattled a ball and left an easy cross side. What he did next made me think I was in for a Jack Hynes meltdown he racked in the balls huh? Even Don couldn't believe it he just shrugged and the next game Don got to three balls and was down on a long rail straight back and Jack tossed his book of matches on the table conceding that game too. Ok 4 to 2 and it's conferance time with Jack I pulled him aside and asked WTF? He said this guy shoots straight and he woulda been out. I told him Jack just win the damn set. next game Jack gets to the table and banks five and out.
indent After the players meeting rumblings begun to coarse through the poolroom that the guy from Cali (Tony Annigonni) was backed by a rich writer and looking for action, we tried in vain to get into a game with him but had zero luck. We even offered money odds. The only people there who wanted to play Jack 9ball was Parica with no backer (umm no thanks) and I believe the other person was Buddy Hall, but I can't remember. Neither game was a winning proposition although at that time IMO Jack had the offensive gear to win playing races in 9ball against about anyone but Parica. If he wins though under the radar is a thing of the past.
indent Since matching up was not happening Jack decided to focus on the tournament and the 5k first prize. He was mowing through his opponents one after another. Everyone he beat said the same thing "how could I lose to that guy, he never plays safe and turns the cueball loose every shot while shooting 100 miles an hour". Jack was sitting pretty making the money when we finally got an offer to play a strong player from Canada who bets his own and was considered one of the best players from up North. I cannot remember his name but he was bald with black hair and a moustache and played all games well. The game was made for 8 ahead for two dimes after the final tourney matches wound down. I was able to get another 1200 in side action down from about 8 diffrent people who knew the player from up north, but didn't know Jack very well. They flip for break and Jack losses the flip. The first rack the Canadian breaks and makes the nine. Next rack he breaks and runs out. Ditto for the third rack. Fourth rack he makes a 2-9 hanger and just like that we are 4 down in an 8 ahead set. Jack wins the next couple racks I believe, somehow it gets to Jack plus two and the Canadian plays one of the best safes I seen he shots a table length safe and freezes Jack to a ball and has the one, two, and three rail kicking lanes blocked. Jack eyes it up for at least 5 minutes walking all around the table until finally Jack gets up on his tippy toe with his other knee on the table bridges over the ball shoots it back into the rail jumps over the safety ball goes two rails and kicks in the object ball (1 ball) the proceeds to run out. After that rack he runs four and snaps in the set ball to get the cheese................. To be continued if anyone is interested.
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