This weekend's tournament at White Diamond Billiards in Lafayette, Louisiana was exciting, competitive and fun.
Robley and JoeyA finished up 7th & 8th for the tournament, although it was Robley who sent JoeyA over to the one loss side first.
Due to some coaching and cueing instruction from Stan Shuffett and the new kid on the block, Phil Burford I enjoyed some enhanced playing this weekend.
My high finish was nothing short of a miracle with 128 players in this event. The field was deep with great talent but often they faced each other or the lesser player caught a gear at the right time which was my case most of the time.
But THE REAL STORY was something that I personally witnessed. In all of the years that I have played pool, I was never more impressed by a single incident than what occured this weekend. Stan Shuffett went in the Calcutta for an enormous amount of money and did not buy half of himself because he felt that the bid price was too high. It's not hard to agree with him as the bidders of the Calcuttas at White Diamonds often go through the stratosphere without rhyme or reason. Rumors often send the price of players through the roof. One rumor had Phil Burford beating Mark Cavalier so badly that mark quit during the set. That rumor is so far from the truth I had to laugh because I was there when Phil played Mark. The second set had Mark making a comeback and finishing the set and losing with a score of around 11-8. That's not a blowout and Mark isn't a quitter. Phil lost two matches in the White Diamonds tournament and finished 9-12th one position less than Robley and JoeyA.
Phil went for an astronomical number at a little over 1200 dollars if I recall correctly and we all bought a piece of Phil but Stan bought most of Phil's half. Now with that much money at stake on Phil you would think that everything would be done to assure Phil's journey to the top. With Stan and the JoeyA crew not buying any portion of what was paid for Stan in the Calcutta, we had great hopes for Phil Burford, a young 20 year old hailing from England but not residing in Kentucky since we all had a major investment in the Calcutta for Phil.
As fortune would have it, eventually Stan and Phil had to face each other. Just prior to the match between the two of them, the person who bought Stan in the Calcutta, inquired with Stan about what he could expect. Morty from Florida was just inquiring because he didn't know how hard Stan would be playing to beat Phil afterall Marty put up his hard-earned money and wanted to find out if he had a chance. Stan immediately replied that Marty didn't have to worry and that he would play hard against Phil, even though Stan was an underdog in this match on all cards. Morty, later in a private conversation with me, said that he had faith not only in Stan's integrity but in his talent as well. (It's good for a Calcutta buyer to know his players
) After Morty left, Stan confided in me that he could not and would not lay down in any match against any opponent regardless of the amount of money that he might make on purchasing someone else in the Calcutta. I kind of looked at Stan admiringly because I respect people of good conscience and high character and to myself, I thought that Stan's statement was special. As always, I refer to the the actual test to determine a person's true intent. Words are just words but the deeds are the true test of a person's integrity and I would just wait and see how Stan would try to compete against his future son-in-law and (under 18 UK Junior National Champion).
Not to my surprise, I watched as Stan stood firmly fighting for each and every ball, playing a strong, solid game, demonstrating his prowess at the table. If you've never seen Stan compete, you're missing an inspiration because he is a fierce competitor and a great talent as well as a remarkable teacher and coach. In the short race to 7, Stan managed to squeak out a victory by fighting hard every second of the tournament. His tenacity, grinding style of play and talent inspired me to levels I have never before seen in myself. I guess some of that inspiration took place earlier in the week when Stan and Phil visited Buffalo Billiards for a few days prior to the big tournament. I had asked Stan and Phil to offer any advice that might help my game and they spent quality time with me and I believe I am now a better player for their efforts and insight. Stan took Phil and I out to eat at K-Paul's for Blackened Drum ( a DELICIOUS, fish delicacy made famous by local Chef Paul Prudhomme.) I had treated Stan and Phil to a modest Muffaletta sandwich from Giorlando's Restaurant, which is a must have sandwich that originated here in New Orleans.:grin:
Stan Shuffett inspires me not only as a pool player but he also inspires me to be a better man. I've always tried to do the right thing and don't always succeed but am always working toward that goal. Stan by his own personal standards sets a benchmark for anyone who wishes to be classified as a professional and a man of integrity. I also watched Stan's other matches at a distance (because I didn't want to distract him, which would probably be hard to do, but I didn't want to take any chances) and when his opponent was at the table, Stan was a motionless opponent awaiting his own return to the table.
The event paid out over 40,000 beans to the participators. Even JoeyA and Robley got a taste.
Hopefully, Stan and Phil will pass our way in the future. I know that for me as a player, he and Phil made this tournament, my most memorable tournament event. The icing on the cake was how Stan conducts himself in public and private. Stan is a GREAT instructor, top player and a man of integrity. Thanks for inspiring us all Stan!
Robley and JoeyA finished up 7th & 8th for the tournament, although it was Robley who sent JoeyA over to the one loss side first.
Due to some coaching and cueing instruction from Stan Shuffett and the new kid on the block, Phil Burford I enjoyed some enhanced playing this weekend.
My high finish was nothing short of a miracle with 128 players in this event. The field was deep with great talent but often they faced each other or the lesser player caught a gear at the right time which was my case most of the time.
But THE REAL STORY was something that I personally witnessed. In all of the years that I have played pool, I was never more impressed by a single incident than what occured this weekend. Stan Shuffett went in the Calcutta for an enormous amount of money and did not buy half of himself because he felt that the bid price was too high. It's not hard to agree with him as the bidders of the Calcuttas at White Diamonds often go through the stratosphere without rhyme or reason. Rumors often send the price of players through the roof. One rumor had Phil Burford beating Mark Cavalier so badly that mark quit during the set. That rumor is so far from the truth I had to laugh because I was there when Phil played Mark. The second set had Mark making a comeback and finishing the set and losing with a score of around 11-8. That's not a blowout and Mark isn't a quitter. Phil lost two matches in the White Diamonds tournament and finished 9-12th one position less than Robley and JoeyA.
Phil went for an astronomical number at a little over 1200 dollars if I recall correctly and we all bought a piece of Phil but Stan bought most of Phil's half. Now with that much money at stake on Phil you would think that everything would be done to assure Phil's journey to the top. With Stan and the JoeyA crew not buying any portion of what was paid for Stan in the Calcutta, we had great hopes for Phil Burford, a young 20 year old hailing from England but not residing in Kentucky since we all had a major investment in the Calcutta for Phil.
As fortune would have it, eventually Stan and Phil had to face each other. Just prior to the match between the two of them, the person who bought Stan in the Calcutta, inquired with Stan about what he could expect. Morty from Florida was just inquiring because he didn't know how hard Stan would be playing to beat Phil afterall Marty put up his hard-earned money and wanted to find out if he had a chance. Stan immediately replied that Marty didn't have to worry and that he would play hard against Phil, even though Stan was an underdog in this match on all cards. Morty, later in a private conversation with me, said that he had faith not only in Stan's integrity but in his talent as well. (It's good for a Calcutta buyer to know his players
) After Morty left, Stan confided in me that he could not and would not lay down in any match against any opponent regardless of the amount of money that he might make on purchasing someone else in the Calcutta. I kind of looked at Stan admiringly because I respect people of good conscience and high character and to myself, I thought that Stan's statement was special. As always, I refer to the the actual test to determine a person's true intent. Words are just words but the deeds are the true test of a person's integrity and I would just wait and see how Stan would try to compete against his future son-in-law and (under 18 UK Junior National Champion). Not to my surprise, I watched as Stan stood firmly fighting for each and every ball, playing a strong, solid game, demonstrating his prowess at the table. If you've never seen Stan compete, you're missing an inspiration because he is a fierce competitor and a great talent as well as a remarkable teacher and coach. In the short race to 7, Stan managed to squeak out a victory by fighting hard every second of the tournament. His tenacity, grinding style of play and talent inspired me to levels I have never before seen in myself. I guess some of that inspiration took place earlier in the week when Stan and Phil visited Buffalo Billiards for a few days prior to the big tournament. I had asked Stan and Phil to offer any advice that might help my game and they spent quality time with me and I believe I am now a better player for their efforts and insight. Stan took Phil and I out to eat at K-Paul's for Blackened Drum ( a DELICIOUS, fish delicacy made famous by local Chef Paul Prudhomme.) I had treated Stan and Phil to a modest Muffaletta sandwich from Giorlando's Restaurant, which is a must have sandwich that originated here in New Orleans.:grin:
Stan Shuffett inspires me not only as a pool player but he also inspires me to be a better man. I've always tried to do the right thing and don't always succeed but am always working toward that goal. Stan by his own personal standards sets a benchmark for anyone who wishes to be classified as a professional and a man of integrity. I also watched Stan's other matches at a distance (because I didn't want to distract him, which would probably be hard to do, but I didn't want to take any chances) and when his opponent was at the table, Stan was a motionless opponent awaiting his own return to the table.
The event paid out over 40,000 beans to the participators. Even JoeyA and Robley got a taste.
Hopefully, Stan and Phil will pass our way in the future. I know that for me as a player, he and Phil made this tournament, my most memorable tournament event. The icing on the cake was how Stan conducts himself in public and private. Stan is a GREAT instructor, top player and a man of integrity. Thanks for inspiring us all Stan!
