Bad Action in NYC
- Thread starter jtompilot
- Start date
Well if you looking for fair games Skyline is the place in NYC. We dont nit it up and go for locksmith games. We just love the action here and any level of player can match up from playing split time to $1000 sets any day of the week really. The players here have jobs and arent grinding it out for the rent money. Masters has action but its tough to match up fair. Amsterdam is tough to find a money game. I tried a couple times and the only time I gambled in there was when some pro from Japan on his way to the US Open was there. Nice room tho but not a action spot.
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Eric. said:
Well, I think you're trying to define NYC pool from a certain perspective and coming up with this conclusion. NYC simply does not have a gambling environment anymore. The "totum pole" is defined in league play on the whole. What's more, the competitiveness is short-lived. A lot of players enjoy the community aspect of pool in NYC. It's not that they're nits. Most aren't even gamblers. You have no idea how often there are conversations on how to properly handle yourself when gambling because many of the newer players don't know the correct protocol.
I had a guy quit me ahead because he said he had to leave and then he IMMEDIATELY jumped on a table with a weaker player. Ten years ago at Chelsea Billiards, such a move could have gotten people in serious trouble. Now, you just chalk it up to ignorance and move on.
REVISED: In respect to what Junior718 had to say, much of what I refer to has to do with Manhattan pool which is predominantly Amsterdam Billiards. Once you go to Brooklyn & Queens, proper gambling etiquette still presides.
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Eric. said:
Well, in essence, we're both saying the same thing, we just have a different way of defining it. We can go on all day on the reasons why but I think the predominant reason to be found has to do with WHERE the new players are coming from. In NYC, the league systems are producing a significant share of the better players.
My first realization of this was when I was managing Amsterdam Billiards back in 2004. We had a guy from out of town come in asking for $50/set action. Normally I would jump at this since 95% of the guys that walked off the street looking for action were C players at best (I played B speed at that time). I was working the desk and couldn't get away so I told him I'd get him a game. There were no takers. I had to make a phone call which is ridiculous for such paltry action given the level of talent that was in the room that day.
Fact is, I KNEW 95% of the people that walk in off the street are yoyos but the majority of players who don't gamble don't realize this. A B player sees himself as a mid-field player in their league and fails to realize that to the rest of the world, they're an expert.
Jude Rosenstock said:
WHAT!!! In the words of the immortal Hank Jr. (well, sort of), "if Heaven ain't a lot like that place, I don't want to go."
Aaron (from a faraway place where almost nobody walks in off the street looking for action, but when they do they're usually stone-faced killers)
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Aaron_S said:WHAT!!! In the words of the immortal Hank Jr. (well, sort of), "if Heaven ain't a lot like that place, I don't want to go."
Aaron
Well, you have to understand, I was the manager there. I'm talking about action that may never reach the back of the room. A guy walks in asking for a game, he usually is not terribly strong. You do get the occasional A player or stronger but it's so rare, it's worth it to gamble and find out.
Jude Rosenstock said:
I understand what you're saying; my post was a bit tongue-in-cheek to say the least. In all seriousness, though, each time I play in a large city, I find myself envying the local players who have such a broad-spectrum pool scene at their disposal. To be able to go to the poolhall day or night and match up with players of widely varying skill levels is a luxury most of us out here in flyover country cannot comprehend. I'd imagine that you see more cool stuff in the pool hall in a week than I see in a year, and most of the young players in my area have never even had the experience of seeing a pro play in their local room. It's an environment that breeds few serious players, and it seems to be getting worse instead of better.
Next time I'm in NYC I will have to get around to some of these rooms, it sounds like you have several nice ones to choose from.
Take care,
Aaron
Action??
Action?? Whats that? Jackson, Tn doesn't know, thats for sure....
We have a local that will play all nite, but if you win the first 3 games and he wins the next 3 he will quit you. So I asked him to pay every game. He's 20 down and I tell him Im 20 down and win the next game. Thats how rough it is here....
Action?? Whats that? Jackson, Tn doesn't know, thats for sure....
We have a local that will play all nite, but if you win the first 3 games and he wins the next 3 he will quit you. So I asked him to pay every game. He's 20 down and I tell him Im 20 down and win the next game. Thats how rough it is here....
We'd all mourn the loss of B'way Billiards if it went under. That said, it's kind of grim place to go if you're looking for some cheap sets. Most places, say at Skyline or Master's, you'd run into mostly decent, ordinary folks who just want to play, along with a small minority of predators. But at B'way, the ratio seems to be the opposite. And the bathrooms? Aw, Jude, don't tell me you've never gone drinking on Avenue B ...
One joint I've not seen any discussion of ... East Side Billiards up on 86th, over near the old Amsterdam East. Seems to be a real room now. Saw some actual players there in my visit last month.
One joint I've not seen any discussion of ... East Side Billiards up on 86th, over near the old Amsterdam East. Seems to be a real room now. Saw some actual players there in my visit last month.
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I've been to Masters 3 times during the day and never had anyone to play. So I havent been back.
I played Al today at Comet billiards till I had to leave for my flight. He said to check out the room in Lodi. Its much close to Teterboro. I've never heard about that pool hall.
I played Al today at Comet billiards till I had to leave for my flight. He said to check out the room in Lodi. Its much close to Teterboro. I've never heard about that pool hall.
BrooklynJay said:
If someone at Broadway Billiards approaches you for a game, and they are missing more than four teeth, do not play them. You will not win any money. I think that accounts for 45-55% of the Broadway Billiards crowd. I can think of some great gothic/emo/grunge music videos that can be filmed there.
Poolmouse
BAD action?
I dont know if i would call Tim BAD action, locksmith yes.. nit maybe, but isnt bad action reserved for ppl that don?t pay up ect.. ?
Either way Broadway billiards is a dirty place. Looking at the other posts in this thread I wouldnt call Masters a comfortable place, not trying to knock them but its JUST as dirty as Broadway. Bathrooms are comparable, Masters is just bigger. Looks like they serve some decent food, but the place is dirty.
I call both of those rooms the gnat and mosquito rooms. anytime of year, either or can fly in your mouth while your taking a piss or bearing down on the nine ball.
Amsterdam is a really nice room, I don?t frequent it much because it?s a lot of people in there, skyline billiards is another nice room. Equipments always kept up, four tight pocket tables for you to play on and lots of space inbetween tables.
jtompilot said:
I dont know if i would call Tim BAD action, locksmith yes.. nit maybe, but isnt bad action reserved for ppl that don?t pay up ect.. ?
Either way Broadway billiards is a dirty place. Looking at the other posts in this thread I wouldnt call Masters a comfortable place, not trying to knock them but its JUST as dirty as Broadway. Bathrooms are comparable, Masters is just bigger. Looks like they serve some decent food, but the place is dirty.
I call both of those rooms the gnat and mosquito rooms. anytime of year, either or can fly in your mouth while your taking a piss or bearing down on the nine ball.
Amsterdam is a really nice room, I don?t frequent it much because it?s a lot of people in there, skyline billiards is another nice room. Equipments always kept up, four tight pocket tables for you to play on and lots of space inbetween tables.
cheemagun said:
I know Tim was the person the OP was referring to but I think WE are out of line even discussing Tim. If you want to talk about gambling in NYC, that's one thing but Tim is just a guy at a poolroom. He's done nothing to deserve the world's criticism.
Not for nothing tho Timmy did nothing wrong here and it isnt fair to knock him. You walked into his poolroom and ask him to play while he was already on a table. He beat you and switched tables. Now you beat him. Why are you allowed to ask to switch tables and he isnt??
cheemagun said:
Yeah and my comment wasn't meant to be directed specifically at you. What you said wasn't so bad but returned to the OP's statement. I don't think it's nice to be talking about Tim, in general. He's not an azb member nor a professional.
junior718 said:
Yeah, the only thing this thread tells you is, don't gamble with jtompilot because it might end up on azb.