The Best Pool Shot Ever.... imo

!Smorgass Bored

Hump ? What HUMP ?
Gold Member
I saw a thread buried in the NPR Forum by JAM and thought I'd post this here, in hopes that she might move her post (or a link) here.

I wrote this post almost 6 years ago in a land far away and some may have seen it then, but most have not.
<insert flashback music Here>

http://groups.google.com/group/rec....t+shot,+kenny+miller+group:rec.sport.billiard

Doug

Newsgroups: rec.sport.billiard
From: SmorgassBo...@webtv.net (Smorgass Bored)
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 02:03:03 -0500 (EST)

I'm sorry that I can't access & use the online table and balls (the
Wei table) to display this shot, but I'll try to 'describe' it.

I don't play very well, but I've seen plenty of players shoot some
great shots over the past 40 plus years. As all my friends and many here
know, I love to travel to watch great players and great matches. I've
seen some amazing shots made under trying circumstances and conditions.
With that said, I'd like to try to explain the greatest shot that I've
ever witnessed first hand.


My friend and Planet 9-Ball owner Ken Miller is a quadriplegic in a
wheelchair and a damned fine poolplayer. He wasn't a one-pocket player,
because there are many shots on the table that he simply can't reach.
Because of my new found love for one-pocket, Ken has taken to practicing
with me on a fairly regular schedule. We play on a fairly fast and tight
Ebony Robertson table that was Buddy Hall's 'special table' while he was
house Pro at P-9-Ball. We call it 'The Buddy Table' and action on this
table usually draws a crowd of onlookers (including a least a half dozen
or more 'prejuidiced' locals that always pull for my opponent and won't
let me get away with ANYTHING). They've been known to scream at the end
of my inning, "HE OWES A BALL", "HE'S TAKING THE OWED BALL OUT OF
**YOUR** POCKET" and my all time favorite " NOTHING HIT A RAIL." I
mean, don't they have JOBS or something ? Someplace else they just
HAVE to be ? Anyway, I digress....

Kenny and I were playing one-pocket and while I never 'intentionally'
leave the cueball in a spot where he can't reach it, it sometime
happens. As you face the rack of balls, Ken has the right corner pocket
and I have the left. Most of the balls are still in the rack area and I
left the cueball 'just to right' of where the head ball would be and a
few inches uptable from the rack spot. The four ball is about four
inches off the end rail and about fifteen inches from the side rail by
his pocket (almost by the center spot on the footrail) . I'm right
handed and if it were MY shot, I'd have to lean out over the table and
attempt to THINLY cut this ball into my pocket. I figure to make it
about 2-3 times out of ten.

Kenny has a small portable 'bridge' (you may have seen him use it on
one of his appearances on ESPN) that has a small round brass base and
what looks like a brass letter C protruding upward from the base. This
allows him to use the base of the letter C as his bridge and then lift
the whole thing up off the table by using the top of the letter C.

Ken is right handed and it was immediately evident that from the end
rail, he would be almost a foot short of being able to use his bridge
and actually HIT the cueball. Kenny used an extra amount of time (for
him) to place the tip of his cue on his portable bridge and aim the tip
at EXACTLY where he'd need to hit the cueball in order to cut the four
ball across to his pocket. I don't know what was taking so damned long
for him to aim a shot that he couldn't possible reach. I finally
hollored, " c'mon Kenny, SHOOTEMUP."

I'm sorry that I doubted him. Kenny proceeded to wheel his chair
around the table, while leaving his cue lying on the table with the
forward part of his shaft resting firmly in his portable bridge. He
rolled snuggly up to my side of table, by the side pocket, BUT, facing
the wrong way. He's right handed, but he picked up his cue with his LEFT
hand. Remember, the tip of the cue, the bridge, the cueball and the four
ball are all BEHIND HIM. He kept moving the butt of his cue back and
forth, while looking at the inside of the corner pocket that he was
facing. This would be the corner that is cater-corner from his pocket,
nine feet away. I finally and impatiently asked him what he DOING...
(he just LOVES to toy with me)

He said that he was 'finding his spot' in the corner pocket and aimimg
at it with the butt of his cue. With one quick glance over his shoulder,
he stroked a couple of times and then SHOT, backwards,left handed, in
the opposite direction, without looking and hit the cueball perfectly
sending it towards the end rail BEHIND HIM, where it made contact with
the four and thinly cut it into the corner. My face turned red, my ears
started to tingle & burn, I felt feverish and I managed to croak,
"ggggood shot". I sat paralyzed, while Ken "The Rolling Shark" Miller
went on to beat me 8-0.
I mean, come ON. Where do these people come up with shots (to beat ME)
?
Why does it always happen to ME ? Why do they play their career best
against ME ? What have I done to anger the pool gods, that I deserve
THIS ? I mean, oy-vey. No, really, OY- friggin-VEY ! What's next, Ray
Charles running out a nineball rack for my total bankroll ?

My hat's off to Ken Miller. That was a Great shot. The best I've
seen. It reinforces my love of the game and the people that play it so
well.
I aspire to oneday become half the player that you are. I'm glad that
you're my friend.


Doug
~>*(((>< Big fish eat Little fish ><)))*<~


.
 
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!Smorgass Bored

Hump ? What HUMP ?
Gold Member
Bob Has A Dry Wit And A Deadpan Presentation

Jason Robichaud said:
Was that an inside joke by Bob J or is he that ignorant?


Bob Jewett's comment in post #5 was a joke. Not an inside joke, but a knee slapping guffaw (if you know Bob Jewett and his infamous breifcase).
http://groups.google.com/group/rec....t+shot,+kenny+miller+group:rec.sport.billiard

Btw, I showed up at the 1st RSB member's tournament at Racks in Titsville,FL. with a scotch-taped joint on my Meucci, two rubberbands as a 'case', wearing an eye patch, an arm sling and walking VERY SLOWLY with a folding aluminum walker. I signed up as Bob Jewett and when I ordered a beer, I paid for it with a pocket full of pennies (I came in 4th or 5th out of 28 and the real Bob Jewett did better)

I loaned Bob a playing cue at our next get together in New Orleans and he cashed there as well and I came in 3rd or 4th.

Bob is cool.... imo

Doug
 

Jason Robichaud

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Smorgass Bored said:
Bob Jewett's comment in post #5 was a joke. Not an inside joke, but a knee slapping guffaw (if you know Bob Jewett and his infamous breifcase).
http://groups.google.com/group/rec....t+shot,+kenny+miller+group:rec.sport.billiard

Btw, I showed up at the 1st RSB member's tournament at Racks in Titsville,FL. with a scotch-taped joint on my Meucci, two rubberbands as a 'case', wearing an eye patch, an arm sling and walking VERY SLOWLY with a folding aluminum walker. I signed up as Bob Jewett and when I ordered a beer, I paid for it with a pocket full of pennies (I came in 4th or 5th out of 28 and the real Bob Jewett did better)

I loaned Bob a playing cue at our next get together in New Orleans and he cashed there as well and I came in 3rd or 4th.

Bob is cool.... imo

Doug

I thought you two must have history together while reading the post. I have seen many of his post here on AZ and this looked to be a step off his usual path. Are you able to use a wei table now? I know they don't have a wheel chair option, but it would be nice to get a picture of the table and cue position.

I have to add: He might have finished higher, however, in joke delivery, I think you could give him the 5.
 
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rhncue

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Smorgass Bored said:
Bob Jewett's comment in post #5 was a joke. Not an inside joke, but a knee slapping guffaw (if you know Bob Jewett and his infamous breifcase).
http://groups.google.com/group/rec....t+shot,+kenny+miller+group:rec.sport.billiard

Btw, I showed up at the 1st RSB member's tournament at Racks in Titsville,FL. with a scotch-taped joint on my Meucci, two rubberbands as a 'case', wearing an eye patch, an arm sling and walking VERY SLOWLY with a folding aluminum walker. I signed up as Bob Jewett and when I ordered a beer, I paid for it with a pocket full of pennies (I came in 4th or 5th out of 28 and the real Bob Jewett did better)

I loaned Bob a playing cue at our next get together in New Orleans and he cashed there as well and I came in 3rd or 4th.

Bob is cool.... imo

Doug

I, also was at that tournament and remember you coming in. I thought I remembered you being in a wheel chair with a girl pushing you in. Fond memories.

Dick
 

!Smorgass Bored

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Gold Member
Those ARE Fond Memories

rhncue said:
I, also was at that tournament and remember you coming in. I thought I remembered you being in a wheel chair with a girl pushing you in.
Fond memories.

Dick


That was my original idea, but I couldn't find a girl. :)
Doug

*I was parked way on the end at the strip mall and as I made way along, with the eye patch, armsling, cue under one arm and moving the walker with my other arm, AZBer Arnot Wadsworth III saw me coming and held the door open. When I saw him standing there being so polite, I'd pick up the walker with my one good hand and slam it back on the ground about 3" from where it had been. I moved that 100 yards three inches at a time to make him stand there for forever (I just KNOW that he was cursing his decision to be 'so helpful'....) :)


.
 
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!Smorgass Bored

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Gold Member
I Busted "Short Bus" Russ

JAM said:
Great story, Smorgie! "The Buddy Table." LOL! :rotflmao:


I played on the "Buddy Table" everday and when Lou Figueroa came to town with his 3 piece Sheldon Lebow traveling cue and Chas Clements custom envelope case, that's the table we played on. Lou was giving me some weight and the score was tied at 3 games apiece, when he threw up his hands and said, "I can't play on this table."

We switched to a nice tight Diamond table and Lou proceeded to win every game by scores such as 10 to 0, 10 to -2, 10 to -3 THREE TIMES, etc.

I swore to never play pool again and I haven't played even one game since then and it will be 4 years this coming February.

I also lost to Gulfport Doc, Paul Mon, Mike Page, John Collins Barton Huang, Murray Tucker III and another 25-50 AZBers.

Doug
(I think I beat Bill O.) :)
 

JAM

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Smorgass Bored said:
I played on the "Buddy Table" everday and when Lou Figueroa came to town with his 3 piece...

A 3-piece. LOL! :killingme: :killingme: :killingme:


Smorgie said:
I also lost to Gulfport Doc, Paul Mon, Mike Page, John Collins Barton Huang, Murray Tucker III and another 25-50 AZBers.

You're laying down the lemon pretty good, Smorgie, for future prey! :wink:
 

!Smorgass Bored

Hump ? What HUMP ?
Gold Member
Hie Clements Envelope Case Is A Collectors Item Worth BIG Bucks $$$$$

I played on the "Buddy Table" everday and when Lou Figueroa came to town with his 3 piece Sheldon Lebow traveling cue and Chas Clements custom envelope case, that's the table we played on.

JAM said:
A 3-piece. LOL! :killingme: :killingme: :killingme:

Lou's 3 piece Lebow cue fits nicely in his suitcase for traveling and plays great. I highly recommend a cue like this for those that have to fly around and get in the grease for the CHEEEEEEEEEESE. :)

Doug
 

!Smorgass Bored

Hump ? What HUMP ?
Gold Member
You Don't Want To Eat A Good Poster Like Me All At Once, Just 1 Limb At A Time

mjantti said:
I can't describe how happy I am that Smorgie is back... LOL ! :thumbup:


Today is my wife's day off and I'm putting on a good front for her benefit. I'll be dying again tomorrow.... imo

Doug
( same time, same station....... dammit ! )
 

ibuycues

I Love Box Cues
Silver Member
Smorgie,

I`ve been around pool since the very early 60`s, and have witnessed a lot of pool.

I gotta admit, though, this shot takes the cake. However, I don`t know which trumps which. Does the shot take all or is your description and the telling of the shot that wins?

Both are bigtime, and very much appreciated. Friendly congratulations to both Ken AND you!

Will
 

ShootingArts

Smorg is giving St Peter the 7!
Gold Member
Silver Member
just bumping a great old thread to the top

An old thread about an older thread. Still makes me laugh out loud. I had to find one of Smorg's posts deep in the thread to rep, seems I have already repped most of his thread starters. Wish there was some way to flag the ones we have already repped but what the heck, reading over a bunch of Doug's old posts is a great way to spend a little time.

Hu
 

scottyr44

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
just noticed a typo which threw off my reading of the story you said he was a quadrapalagic sorry for spelling i believe you mean parapalgic quad means you are paralyzed from the neck down not being able to use any of your limbs. Great story btw
 

Ironman317

Cash Me In....
Silver Member
just noticed a typo which threw off my reading of the story you said he was a quadrapalagic sorry for spelling i believe you mean parapalgic quad means you are paralyzed from the neck down not being able to use any of your limbs. Great story btw

i'm sure Smorgie is looking down and saying, "you got me...". as long as we keep the memory of him alive, he will live on as well.
 
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