2007 Jay Swanson Memorial

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RED LITE

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
The eleventh annual Jay Swanson Memorial Tournament has been scheduled for January 27-28 at Hollywood Billiards, in Hollywood, CA.

Info and entry forms were sent out to last year's entrants this week. For information, contact Mark Griffin at 866-USA POOL, or at leagues@playbca.com

The Swanee is one of California's biggest tournaments, and a tribute to The Gentle Giant of pool, Jay Swanson.
 
Also expect all 16 or so tables downstairs to be recovered before the event. Can't wait for that one, I love eating there too, best food at any pool room I have ever been to.
 
Public answer to PM. Yes I will be there, overworked and underpaid again. LOL
As long as I think about Swanee, I don't mind. Someday we should all talk about him.
 
Hey Toupee man, was it you or Dick Megiveron (or both?) who promoted those Keith versus Swanee exhibitions? Swanee was as easy going as you can be, liked by everyone. I never saw him try to hustle or bad mouth anyone during the years I played at College in early 80's. He used to have a standing game with the old guy with a cane and fat roll of 100's, Victor K. It was something like the 6-out wild and the breaks. I think they played short races for a few hundred. Jay played all games and played everything well. He played a mean game of pinball too! A real shame he passed on so young (along with Coyt, Billy Graves, et. al).

Martin


jay helfert said:
Public answer to PM. Yes I will be there, overworked and underpaid again. LOL
As long as I think about Swanee, I don't mind. Someday we should all talk about him.
Click to expand...
 
Why Hollywood?

Why not have the tournament in SD where Swanny was from? I spent a lot of time at College Billiards from 89-92. Swanny had the smoothest game I had ever seen. I don't understand how someone with a lazy-eye could shoot so well. I miss those days. There were a lot of characters and good players and the King burger was awesome! It was also a great place to watch the Raiders and Chargers play as lots of fans from both teams would show up and get really loud. Good times, good times.:)
 
Flyer

Can we get a flyer anywhere on this event, it sounds interesting?

Ray
 
Big C said:
Why not have the tournament in SD where Swanny was from? I spent a lot of time at College Billiards from 89-92. Swanny had the smoothest game I had ever seen. I don't understand how someone with a lazy-eye could shoot so well. I miss those days. There were a lot of characters and good players and the King burger was awesome! It was also a great place to watch the Raiders and Chargers play as lots of fans from both teams would show up and get really loud. Good times, good times.:)
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I don't think to many people frequent College Billiards anymore. It's a little rough to say the least. I'm not sure how pool oriented the new owners are either. Now-a-days, most people shoot over at On Cue Billiards in La Mesa.

Hollywood Billiards is a bit of a drive, but, it is a beautiful room! The Swannee is one of the best events, especially for a 2 day tournament. Does anyone know of any clean, decent hotels near there???
 
Can anyone play in this tournament... or do you have to be an active league player? I'd appreciate any information.

Thank you!
 
Manders said:
Can anyone play in this tournament... or do you have to be an active league player? I'd appreciate any information.

Thank you!
Click to expand...


YES, this is an Open tournament. If you can draw your ball, you can play.
 
jazznpool said:
Hey Toupee man, was it you or Dick Megiveron (or both?) who promoted those Keith versus Swanee exhibitions? Swanee was as easy going as you can be, liked by everyone. I never saw him try to hustle or bad mouth anyone during the years I played at College in early 80's. He used to have a standing game with the old guy with a cane and fat roll of 100's, Victor K. It was something like the 6-out wild and the breaks. I think they played short races for a few hundred. Jay played all games and played everything well. He played a mean game of pinball too! A real shame he passed on so young (along with Coyt, Billy Graves, et. al).

Martin
Click to expand...

Thanks Jazz. It was Dick and I. I was into staging these type of shows back then. They both had a money guarantee for playing, with the winner getting more. I also did some in L.A. with Earl vs. Buddy, Earl vs. Kim and Buddy vs. Kim. These were at the old South Bay Billiards. And we had Cecil play Efren One Pocket and I think we got Grady vs. Cecil once too. All these were at Hard Times.

Swanee was a SUPER guy. And one helluva player. For BIG money 9-Ball, he was one of the best. He used to get flown back East to play someone for one or two thousand! a game. He made several big scores for 50 to 100K, got half the money and would come home and party for a few months.

Swanee had the second most powerful stroke I ever saw. Almost as strong as Mizerak's. I liked Coyt a lot too. Never more than a shortstop, he was always ready to get up and play anyone. Never complained or whined, just shot pool, and loved it too I might add. Billy Graves had a tremendous game but succumbed to every vice known to man. When he was right, he could put heat on anyone. Unfortunately those days became few and far between.

See you around buddy. Sorry about going off to T-Rex back then. I had a good game, but forgot to shoot. lol
 
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jay helfert said:
Public answer to PM. Yes I will be there, overworked and underpaid again. LOL
As long as I think about Swanee, I don't mind. Someday we should all talk about him.
Click to expand...

Jay, maybe you can give us all a Swanee story at the players meeting.
 
hilla_hilla said:
I don't think to many people frequent College Billiards anymore. It's a little rough to say the least. I'm not sure how pool oriented the new owners are either. Now-a-days, most people shoot over at On Cue Billiards in La Mesa.

Hollywood Billiards is a bit of a drive, but, it is a beautiful room! The Swannee is one of the best events, especially for a 2 day tournament. Does anyone know of any clean, decent hotels near there???
Click to expand...

Clean & decent is not really a problem, though affordable is another story. Stay in North Hollywood, Burbank or Glendale (15 minute drive to Hollywood Billiards).
 
PoolBum said:
Jay, maybe you can give us all a Swanee story at the players meeting.
Click to expand...


I'd love to. Have you ever heard the one about the time Swanee beat a martial arts expert, at who can touch his toe higher on the wall? Ask me to tell that story?
 
jay helfert said:
I'd love to. Have you ever heard the one about the time Swanee beat a martial arts expert, at who can touch his toe higher on the wall? Ask me to tell that story?
Click to expand...

I've heard stories about Swannee at the Chico Club kicking his leg over his head. Does the story have any relation? :)
 
Jay Swanson and Chuck Absher were top players at College Billiards in the early '80s, but they never played pool against each other (outside of tournaments). Instead they would step outside the poolroom and bet big bucks on how high they could kick on the side of the building.

Those were crazy old days but you had to love the idea of players willing to take up a challenge.
 
Draw your ball.

jay helfert said:
YES, this is an Open tournament. If you can draw your ball, you can play.
Click to expand...

Jay,
If I need to draw my ball to enter, how many chances do I get?

P.S. How did you do at the WSOP this year?
 
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