I finally got a chance to go down there last night. Same as always, ACTION! ACTION! ACTION! I walk in and see Shane battling Francisco and other tournament players (already eliminated) playing on other tables. Django beat Shane for 35,000p (under $1,000) 16-12 playing Ten Ball. Then Shane matched up with Ronnie Alcano, same game. I get hustled to bet on the side, so I take Shane for 4,000p (less than $100). He wins this one 16-11. They tell me Shane has been in action here every night. Our most fearless American player! He is playing all the big boys on their home turf.
Manny Paquiao comes in and immediately gets into a chess match with Corey! Yes, you heard me right, Corey and Manny P. playing CHESS! No punches are thrown and Manny wins.:wink: I find out that Manny blew 80,000p to an European player two nights ago, so we try to get Manny to play Dr. Jonni Fulcher for 100,000p but too many railbirds get in Manny's ear and he finally declines the game. Too bad, it's pocket change for Manny but MONEY to us! Manny starts practicing on "his" table that has had a reserved sign on it all night. He hits the balls good and has a nice filipino stroke. Last time I saw him play he was betting $10,000 a set with some mob guy from Japan. They played all night and Manny got the cheese. He could be a good pool player if he didn't spend so much time boxing.
I invited Manny to come to the pool tournament tomorrow and sit in the booth with us. He said he would try, so I have no big hopes. He loves pool but he would be mobbed in public. Even in the poolroom people are constantly asking him for his autograph or to pose for pictures. Super nice guy, always says yes. He has two well armed body guards hovering nearby at all times. Up close Manny is well muscled and a very trim athlete, maybe 5'7" or 8". You can see the ripples in his arms when he gets down to shoot. Not surprisingly, he does have a powerful stroke.
P.S. I also asked him about the recent Manny Paquiao Open held recently at Hard Times. Did he even know about it and he said yes he did. That made me feel a little better about the promoters. Yes, Efren was there as well, holding court and getting involved in all the action, taking a piece. He is right in the middle of things. Alex is a no show this year. I am told he is a full time poker player now, playing in all the big games nightly. He supposedly won 2,500,000p (about $55,000) in the last two weeks. But before that he was nearly broke. A gambler's life, c'est la vie!
Manny Paquiao comes in and immediately gets into a chess match with Corey! Yes, you heard me right, Corey and Manny P. playing CHESS! No punches are thrown and Manny wins.:wink: I find out that Manny blew 80,000p to an European player two nights ago, so we try to get Manny to play Dr. Jonni Fulcher for 100,000p but too many railbirds get in Manny's ear and he finally declines the game. Too bad, it's pocket change for Manny but MONEY to us! Manny starts practicing on "his" table that has had a reserved sign on it all night. He hits the balls good and has a nice filipino stroke. Last time I saw him play he was betting $10,000 a set with some mob guy from Japan. They played all night and Manny got the cheese. He could be a good pool player if he didn't spend so much time boxing.
I invited Manny to come to the pool tournament tomorrow and sit in the booth with us. He said he would try, so I have no big hopes. He loves pool but he would be mobbed in public. Even in the poolroom people are constantly asking him for his autograph or to pose for pictures. Super nice guy, always says yes. He has two well armed body guards hovering nearby at all times. Up close Manny is well muscled and a very trim athlete, maybe 5'7" or 8". You can see the ripples in his arms when he gets down to shoot. Not surprisingly, he does have a powerful stroke.
P.S. I also asked him about the recent Manny Paquiao Open held recently at Hard Times. Did he even know about it and he said yes he did. That made me feel a little better about the promoters. Yes, Efren was there as well, holding court and getting involved in all the action, taking a piece. He is right in the middle of things. Alex is a no show this year. I am told he is a full time poker player now, playing in all the big games nightly. He supposedly won 2,500,000p (about $55,000) in the last two weeks. But before that he was nearly broke. A gambler's life, c'est la vie!
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