Today I go play a little nine ball at the 49th Annual Reunion Tournament in memory of Terry Stonier at the Jointed Cue in Sacramento. Terry was the greatest supporter and promoter of pool in Northern California we ever had. When Terry was alive, this tournament was a who’s/who of top players and you never knew who might show up among the 100+ players who came every year.
I would drive up from Southern Ca to play and in the early 80’s my first match was with Mike Sigel. He beat me and put me on the one loss side, which means you play your matches out front, not on the Gold Crowns back in the tournament room. The thing about playing out front is each of the ten or twelve tables plays a little different, and with the number of players and sweators milling around it is quite a challenge.
I must have won 9 or ten matches out there, made it to the 2nd day and drew Mike again playing for 3rd place. It is a race to six on both sides and in a close match, I won. I turned around to shake his hand and he was not there. My old friend Frank The Barber said, John, he headed for the door when the nine dropped and probably has the car started by now. Mike did not like to lose.
Today I will see dozens of old friends, make some new ones, and eat a few of their famous cheeseburgers.
Sometimes we forget, but this is why we play pool. RIP Terry, we will never forget you.
I would drive up from Southern Ca to play and in the early 80’s my first match was with Mike Sigel. He beat me and put me on the one loss side, which means you play your matches out front, not on the Gold Crowns back in the tournament room. The thing about playing out front is each of the ten or twelve tables plays a little different, and with the number of players and sweators milling around it is quite a challenge.
I must have won 9 or ten matches out there, made it to the 2nd day and drew Mike again playing for 3rd place. It is a race to six on both sides and in a close match, I won. I turned around to shake his hand and he was not there. My old friend Frank The Barber said, John, he headed for the door when the nine dropped and probably has the car started by now. Mike did not like to lose.
Today I will see dozens of old friends, make some new ones, and eat a few of their famous cheeseburgers.
Sometimes we forget, but this is why we play pool. RIP Terry, we will never forget you.
