Big stick at hard times? He seems like a nice older guy, but every time Ive ever seen him play, which is numerous, the guy could barely run three balls in a row. Maybe he was just goofing around everytime ive ever seen seen him play. But all he really does is come down stairs sit down with his arms out his feet up on the rails, and listen to people whisper things to him as they walk by. And then every once in a while someone will hand him a cue to see what he thinks about it. lol.bell said:
Best All Around Older Player In Ca
- Thread starter jrhendy
- Start date
RunoutalloverU said:
Give the guy a break. He's over 70 years old. You should ask the poor old codger to play. I'm sure he would appreciate that.
LOLIgnorant, I know EXACTLY what im talking about. You tell me where im wrong then well talk. You have 5 different pros there at any given time and you think fing Al is the big stick? Give me a break. Tell me where im wrong, and ill give you 1000 dollars, the thing is I KNOW im not wrong, because ive seen this same scenario for years. IDIOT!
RunoutalloverU said:
I think some of the posters were saying that you should be a lot more tolerant of the older gentleman and speak of him with a little more respect. He may be old enough to be your grandfather and the way that you are speaking about him insinuates that you have little respect for him or anyone his age.
The elderly gentleman has paid his dues and I don't even know him but it seems that MANY people in his pool room, respect him. You can show some class by doing the same for him, here on this forum.
JoeyA
No need to waste any more time; have a good Day.
RunoutalloverU said:
Six or eight years ago I was in Orange County for a funeral and stopped in at Hard Times before flying home to Hawaii. Having some time to kill, I talked to Al, reminiscing about old times. The last time I played him, years ago, was when we both played opposite-handed, and he beat me when I dogged it on the hill on a race to 11 for the cash at Bellflower Billiards.
I witnessed him beating many good shortstops on a bar table, playing opposite-handed. He was a fundamentally sound player with either hand. A close friend of mine, Hawaiian Brian, played many matches with Al, and they were always competitive. Al was not a flashy player with a big break, he just played a steady, fundamentally sound game that was anathema to many wanna-be champions. He was also a top bar table player in the LA area. But he was definitely a winner and well-known and respected player in the LA area in his prime. He could beat most of the shortstops left-handed. Ask Jay Helfert and others who knew him.
Hawaiian Jay
jayz said:
Hey Jay,
Thanks for not telling them about when we played. We did have a couple of good go rounds. Do you remember our 8-Ball game at the famous BanDor lounge in Ventura? Brian snuck you in on me, but I wasn't quite so easy to beat, was I. We played for 10 and then 20 a game and you kept trying to raise the bet. I think we quit even that time. Everyone went up there trying to trap Billy Teeter. I snuck Jimmy Reid in on him and we won about 400, a nice score in 1968. I think you and I were close to the same speed and you played good for the cash. See, I haven't forgotten you.
Al was definitely a top speed player in his day. How well he plays today I'm not sure. I did play him in the monthly One Pocket at Hard Times a couple years back when I still had my poolroom and I was playing regularly. It was a two out of three match that lasted over two hours, with one very long game. Somehow I won that match and everyone told me that Al rarely loses in that tournament. He must have been 70 then.
Al used to play Ronnie One Pocket and get 10-8, a very small spot for RA. And in Banks Ronnie gave Al 9-8. So he had a lot of respect for Al's game. Richie tried to give Al the 7 ball and went broke. And he beat a right handed Cecil Tugwell at the Billiard Den in One Hole (I was on the wrong side). I saw Al play many money games in the late 60's and 70's and can't remember seeing him lose. On bar tables and big tables. By the 80's everyone around LA pretty much left him alone. I think he played Brian even at 9-Ball and One Pocket. Brian may have been a better 9-Ball player and I like Al in the One Pocket. Tell me Jay, how did I handicap it?
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Al claims he closed out a pool hall in LA ( Mama's ? ) playing Ronnie Allen getting 10-8. The owner staked Ronnie and went broke.
It was amazing how Al remembers the ball Ronnie missed for the cash. Then Al said he made a huge comeback and busted the owner.
Al claims he closed out a pool hall in LA ( Mama's ? ) playing Ronnie Allen getting 10-8. The owner staked Ronnie and went broke.
It was amazing how Al remembers the ball Ronnie missed for the cash. Then Al said he made a huge comeback and busted the owner.
JoeyInCali said:
That was Big Mama's on Victory Blvd. in Van Nuys. A noted action spot in the late 60's and early 70's Ronnie was a partner along with Cokes and Lenny Moore, who was the main man with the deep pockets. I played Cokes some One Pocket in there and won, and he beat me in 9-Ball. He was an excellent Snooker player as well.