action stamina --time separates all players

mikepage

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
ACTION stamina --time separates all players

Time heals all wounds
Time is on my side
Time and tide wait for no man
a Time for every purpose under heaven
Time spent with a cat is never wasted

....

Time separates all players....

I usually only go out one night a week--Tuesday. This week my wife was out of town yesterday, so I went out Wednesday night as well.

So Tuesday I arrived at the pool hall 4:30 pm, and I played five cheap 9-ball races to 7 on a big table against ND3/4 (third or fourth best player in ND). He was giving me 2 games on the wire. I finished up one set by the 7:30 pm start of 8-ball league. After league, about 10:00 pm, ND3/4 wanted to give me 6 games to 16 bar box 8-ball for a c-note. We played two sets, and I won them both.

Meanwhile ND1/2 was playing ND1/2 (two top players in ND) some $40 9-ball races to 5.

At 1:30 am I went home. Then I slept for a while. Then I went to a 8:00 am dentist appt. Then I went to work. Then I got home at 6:00 pm and cooked dinner for my mother-in-law. Then at 8:30 pm I went back to the poolhall.

There I saw ND1/2 playing ND3/4. ND3/4 was getting one game on the wire to 9. ND3/4 was stuck 800 jujubees, and they were playing for 200. I soon learned they had been playing since I left 17 hours earlier. In fact both had been playing for 27 or 28 hours at that point.

ND3/4 looked absolutely awful. He was struggling, staggering, slouched. ND1/2 was focused and playing strong. I thought I was in a scene from that 1961 pool movie--what's it called again?

ND3/4 quit after that set and was helped out of the poolroom.

Then ND1/2 turned to me and said,

"you next? I'll give you the last three."

I thought he was joking.

"you have to play 8 sets," I replied with a smile

"8 races to 7 for 200 each," he said with no smile.

Now this guy has given me the last 4 in the past. Sure the last 3 is less weight, but he's been playing for 28 hours for cryin out loud! It's 9:00 pm. Eight sets is gonna take us till 3:00 am at least... He's gotta crash at some point ???

I agreed to 8 sets for 100 instead of 200. I said, making sure it was clear, "you gotta play all 8." He assured me that if he collapsed on the floor, I won the remainder of the sets.

I won the first three sets. He was actually playing quite strong, but I was playing great. I felt like I was getting out from everywhere. Still the sets were close because...well...he's that good, and ...well... I ain't that good. Then he won the fourth set. Then the fifth set went hill-hill, and he won it.

During the sixth set, I was getting pretty tired. I normally don't stay up that late, and I got a little less sleep than usual the night before. I looked up. He was focused, running out again. It seemed whenever I would hook him, he'd kick two rails and stick me....

I almost made a comment about being tired, and then I slapped myself, remembering what my mother used to say about the man whining about having no shoes in front of a man who has no feet.

The sixth set went to the hill. I broke dry with the 9 settling in the jaws. He caromed it in.

So now we were even with two sets to go.

He seemed perfectly fine, except his eyes got irritated and started watering. His contacts were really bothering him. His eyes were red, and he could barely see. I got up three to one in that set, and I realized I'd won the last two games because he couldn't see. He went to the bathroom to try to fix things (he had contacts). He came back and shot. He really couldn't see.

It was clear to me I wasn't going to feel right if I continued. It was 2:00 am. He'd been playing for 33 hours. If it wasn't for his eyes, it seemed he could have played for another 33 hours.

I said, "we're even. let's quit."

"Thank you," he said.

So let's hear some other stamina stories...
 
Last edited:
Fargo

Mike, I know the players from Fargo and you are holding names out on me. I think you should PM the names to me. I have a feeling I know who it was but just verifying. How are things up there? Have you been playing much on the Gabriels?
 
33 Hours!!! :eek: I'm 63 years old. Lemme tell ya, what I used to do all night now takes all night to do. No way I could play that long. 3-4 hours is about it for me these days. I love my sleep like I love a good prime rib dinner.
 
mikepage said:
[...]

I usually only go out one night a week--Tuesday. This week my wife was out of town yesterday, so I went out Wednesday night as well.

So Tuesday I arrived at the pool hall 4:30 pm, and [...]...

now that I reread this, it definitely has the flavor of a pool version of a penthouse letter...xcept this isn't made up ;-)
 
I played 17 hours once with the flu.

After the match, I went to my car, started it up, put it in reverse, passed out and the car ran into a concrete barrier at the other end of the parking lot, waking me up.

Drove home and then to emergency room where I was diagnosed with pneumonia.

Before it was over, I'd spent pretty much everything I won on hospital bills.

Stupidity and youth, what a great combination.

Stones
 
I wish I had a story to tell, but I don't. I'm just curious--and maybe you won't tell since you don't want to name his name--but how old is this guy? 33 hours is a long time! I'm a young guy who hates to sleep and I can't imagine playing that long.

On the other hand, my step dad is an old guy (relative to me), and he can go for as long as he wants without sleeping.
 
arsenius said:
I wish I had a story to tell, but I don't. I'm just curious--and maybe you won't tell since you don't want to name his name--but how old is this guy? 33 hours is a long time! I'm a young guy who hates to sleep and I can't imagine playing that long.

On the other hand, my step dad is an old guy (relative to me), and he can go for as long as he wants without sleeping.


He's I think mid to upper 30's.
 
im 27 now but when i was roughly 20 (almost 21) i played for roughly 48 hours straight... the owner of the poolroom left me a key friday night and told me to lock up when we left... when he came in saturday afternoon to open the place we were still there playing and when he left saturday night we were still playing... ended up quiting sunday night and i went home and crashed HARD!!! the bad thing is we were only playing for 20 a game but i ended up close too 1000 winner... of course the guy didnt have all the cash with him... thats why he wouldnt quit but when he finally gave up and paid me what he had he told me he wanted no part of me anymore... he was trying to wear me down and it backfired... lol... i got the rest of the money a couple days later (when i finally made it back to the poolroom).
 
mikepage said:
Time heals all wounds
Time is on my side
Time and tide wait for no man
a Time for every purpose under heaven
Time spent with a cat is never wasted

....

Time separates all players....

..................................................
...............................................
It was clear to me I wasn't going to feel right if I continued. It was 2:00 am. He'd been playing for 33 hours. If it wasn't for his eyes, it seemed he could have played for another 33 hours.

I said, "we're even. let's quit."

"Thank you," he said.

So let's hear some other stamina stories...
------------------------------------------------------------------
Kudos on the fair dinkum expression of good sportsmanship, Mike.

My story of stamina began many years ago in Camp Hansen located in central Okinawa, somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. It was after being forced into abstinence of female companionship for a long period of time. It was a long weekend and I had saved all of my paycheck for that weekend and was well rested after several hours of sleep the night before and had nothing to do for 48 hours straight. We had made plans to meet some friendly local women that weekend and headed out to Naha City where money was the only limitation to having a really good time. Wait, oh I'm sorry, you wanted a story about stamina playing pool- sorry. :p
JoeyA
 
i've seen players go for 2 days sometimes 3 days playing, different guys at Great American Billiards back in the 80's(not using drugs) just getting better and better as time went on, they might take a hour cat nap between games but they would play grom friday til monday with out leaving the poolroom, I dont count the guys on coke(losers in my book).

I wish I had that kind of stanima, after 4-5 hours i cant make a ball. i'm easy to wear down. I have broke out even after being out in front for alot of $$$$, i fold up fast and I just hope the other guy goes bust or cant see me fall apart, its like a good chin in boxing you have it or you dont, i dont, i come out fast but after 5 races to 11 playing nine ball i'm in trouble.
 
JoeyA said:
------------------------------------------------------------------
Kudos on the fair dinkum expression of good sportsmanship, Mike.

My story of stamina began many years ago in Camp Hansen located in central Okinawa, somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. It was after being forced into abstinence of female companionship for a long period of time. It was a long weekend and I had saved all of my paycheck for that weekend and was well rested after several hours of sleep the night before and had nothing to do for 48 hours straight. We had made plans to meet some friendly local women that weekend and headed out to Naha City where money was the only limitation to having a really good time. Wait, oh I'm sorry, you wanted a story about stamina playing pool- sorry. :p
JoeyA

Sigh...

Joey, were looking for stories about thirty HOURS of action, not your surefire recipe for thirty SECONDS of action....
 
Mike P! Cool story. Glad to hear you are hitting 'em well, and still moving well. :)

I once played Archie at Hollywood & Western in the early 80's for 3 days straight. I wasn't pulling the stamina move, it's just that you can't quit Archie. Period. His pool action was the best back in the day.
 
The "Powder Room" is tough to out run. The longest I have ever played was 32 straight hours (On the natch). My opponent however didnt fight fair, he was into chemical warfare.

I was up 2 bags of sand (in my hand btw) at one point, back to even in a 32 hour stretch. This guy would go to the powder room and come back out all amped up ready to go.

This ordeal got to the point where it wasn't about pool. I made a promise to myself to never get in that predicament ever again.

This was in a 24/7 room where if you quit winner you can kiss your action bye bye. This ordeal did teach me about setting limits for matches.
 
There is a player around this area who is known to last longer than anyone else. He's not a great shooter but plays okay.
We've played a few times, he'll ALWAYS outlast me.

We played 1P for 17hours, I got $500 ahead. Then we played for 20hours I got $1,000 ahead. We played for 13 hours, I got $300 ahead. We've played more, but I can't remember the details. Keep in mind all these games start late at night after I've been up for 15 or so hours.
We generally play $10/$20 a game 1P, or race to 5 for $10/$20 9-ball. He's a good guy, and I enjoy playing him, so I don't mind playing cheap with him.

This is the ONLY guy I have ever quit winner, and I've quit him ALL but one occasion that I can remember. He doesn't get mad, because he knows it'd be insane for me to continue - I'm usually falling asleep in between innings. I felt like a super hero when I got him to quit. lol

I've seen a few people play 24 hours at a time, more than once... I'd say I'm good to play for a solid 20 or so hours, but after 30 I'm barely able to walk - and I'm young!.... THIS GUY IS IN HIS LATE 40's!.. and doesn't do a single drug. He told me he's played for 30/40 hours on more than a few occasions.
 
Everlasting stamina is not some unheard-of mythical super power. The secret is simple. Crystal meth, coke, crank, and various other amphetamines/stimulants will give you this almighty ability with little effort on your part.

For instructions, pricing and availability, please contact your local shortstop for more information.

"Success is only one pill away."



- Mitch
 
SixSence said:
Everlasting stamina is not some unheard-of mythical super power. The secret is simple. Crystal meth, coke, crank, and various other amphetamines/stimulants will give you this almighty ability with little effort on your part.

For instructions, pricing and availability, please contact your local shortstop for more information.

"Success is only one pill away."



- Mitch

EASY NOW BUDDY... not everyone needs drug induced stamina... i have played SEVERAL long sessions and never touched any of that stuff you have listed above (or anything at all) before in my life... before you group everyone like you have here you need to know what your talking about.
 
:eek:

Actionhound said:
EASY NOW BUDDY... not everyone needs drug induced stamina... i have played SEVERAL long sessions and never touched any of that stuff you have listed above (or anything at all) before in my life... before you group everyone like you have here you need to know what your talking about.

Sorry for my lack of humor-inducing smilees. :D My attempt at a semi-exaggerated satire of several top players (not all) was apparently a complete and utter failure. Nonetheless, I would like to congratulate you on harnessing your unheard-of mystical super power. :) Best of luck to everyone in their venture for the fountain of youth. ;)
 
Well...

its not super powers... its called being in shape and taking care of your body... and having the will and determination to not give up no matter how tired you are or how bad you feel... i believe some poeple call it heart...
 
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