B
Bruce S. de Lis
Guest
As I read everyone else's Stories, I realizes I have lead for the most part a BORING LIFE... 
Best Pool Memory
- Thread starter ScottR
- Start date
Man, I wish I could relate some of the neater things I have witnessed.
Some of you have such a gift for relating stories
I really miss the old place we used to shoot ( Golden 8 Ball in Phoenix, both the old location and new )
1. Had a friend who worked there come over to me and said he had someone he wanted me to meet.
He introduced me to John Paul Jones. Very special memory.
2. I wish I could remember the name, but I watched Danny Di Liberto get his ass handed to him by a kid who had to be 15 or 16 years old.
3. Same hall, a friend of mine met and wanted to date this gal, really nice looking, but the only way was if someone ( me ) would entertain her friend too.
She wasn't going to win any contests, but she wasn't chasing cars either.
Everything was fine until she started talking. Words don't serve trying to describe her voice. Nails on a chalkboard. Nice personality, but OMG, that voice.
Buddy is running around with this babe and I'm hanging out with her friend. The best I could do was get some other pals and we started drinking.
We were all sitting around one of the round tables and the babe walks over and claims her friend for a trip to the ladies room.
They hadn't rounded the corner yet when my friend runs up to the table and in his best imitation of Curly ( 3 stooges ) yells " Hey Moe " !!!
Five of us simultaneously spewed beer.
It still haunts me, that is exactly the tone and pitch her voice had
Dave
Some of you have such a gift for relating stories
I really miss the old place we used to shoot ( Golden 8 Ball in Phoenix, both the old location and new )
1. Had a friend who worked there come over to me and said he had someone he wanted me to meet.
He introduced me to John Paul Jones. Very special memory.
2. I wish I could remember the name, but I watched Danny Di Liberto get his ass handed to him by a kid who had to be 15 or 16 years old.
3. Same hall, a friend of mine met and wanted to date this gal, really nice looking, but the only way was if someone ( me ) would entertain her friend too.
She wasn't going to win any contests, but she wasn't chasing cars either.
Everything was fine until she started talking. Words don't serve trying to describe her voice. Nails on a chalkboard. Nice personality, but OMG, that voice.
Buddy is running around with this babe and I'm hanging out with her friend. The best I could do was get some other pals and we started drinking.
We were all sitting around one of the round tables and the babe walks over and claims her friend for a trip to the ladies room.
They hadn't rounded the corner yet when my friend runs up to the table and in his best imitation of Curly ( 3 stooges ) yells " Hey Moe " !!!
Five of us simultaneously spewed beer.
It still haunts me, that is exactly the tone and pitch her voice had
Dave
Voodoo Daddy
One Pocket 101
1. Best with you at the table
I was about 18, the guy that schooled me beat me for nickles and dimes for 4 years or so. We played One Pocket, a game I had fell in love with and he played it well. With a small spot and a few games I beat my mentor out of a nice sum. I had him sign each bill and I still have them framed at home...guess I'll never be busted.
2. Best with someone else at the table
Having the pleasure of playing with some legends of the game...my fondest memory is playing 14.1 with Johnny Ervolino. He ran 145, one rack one handed. one rack left handed dancing around and whistling all the while, truely showed how effortless this game could be. R.I.P. Johnny...
3. Best pool-related, but non-playing (woofing, etc.)
Anytime Earl gets into it with the crowd is my favorite woof. One US Open when it was at the Lake Wright Hotel Earl got into it with a guy in the stands. He said something like I hate this place, I cant wait ot leave. The guy yelled out "I'll buy you a plane ticket"...HAHAHAHAHAHA!!
I was about 18, the guy that schooled me beat me for nickles and dimes for 4 years or so. We played One Pocket, a game I had fell in love with and he played it well. With a small spot and a few games I beat my mentor out of a nice sum. I had him sign each bill and I still have them framed at home...guess I'll never be busted.
2. Best with someone else at the table
Having the pleasure of playing with some legends of the game...my fondest memory is playing 14.1 with Johnny Ervolino. He ran 145, one rack one handed. one rack left handed dancing around and whistling all the while, truely showed how effortless this game could be. R.I.P. Johnny...
3. Best pool-related, but non-playing (woofing, etc.)
Anytime Earl gets into it with the crowd is my favorite woof. One US Open when it was at the Lake Wright Hotel Earl got into it with a guy in the stands. He said something like I hate this place, I cant wait ot leave. The guy yelled out "I'll buy you a plane ticket"...HAHAHAHAHAHA!!
1. Best with you at the table
That would have to be when I finally broke my losing streak against Linda Haywood-Shea at Centennial Billards in 2001 and having both her and her husband John praising the development of my game.
2. Best with someone else at the table
Allison Fisher and Grady Matthews come to USA for an exhibition. After the match the players can pay $5 for a shot at Allison. Esther Lee pays her 5, gets up and gets out. Allison's face was HILARIOUS!
A couple of weeks later, Bobby Chang and Peter are barking at Ester and I to play with them in a ring game. We do, and bust 'em.
3. Best pool-related, but non-playing (woofing, etc.)
Tuesday night tournament at Champions in Laurel. Danny Green v. Keith McCready: Danny Green with his infamous "barking" is giving Keith a bunch of crap and just basically being himself. Danny shooting at (I think) a 6 ball, missing it horribly and it goes 3 rails into another pocket. Danny says to Keith "It's like your worst nightmare, isn't it?" And the room ERUPTS into laughter. Was actually one of the first times I saw Keith play live. Good stuff.
That would have to be when I finally broke my losing streak against Linda Haywood-Shea at Centennial Billards in 2001 and having both her and her husband John praising the development of my game.
2. Best with someone else at the table
Allison Fisher and Grady Matthews come to USA for an exhibition. After the match the players can pay $5 for a shot at Allison. Esther Lee pays her 5, gets up and gets out. Allison's face was HILARIOUS!
A couple of weeks later, Bobby Chang and Peter are barking at Ester and I to play with them in a ring game. We do, and bust 'em.
3. Best pool-related, but non-playing (woofing, etc.)
Tuesday night tournament at Champions in Laurel. Danny Green v. Keith McCready: Danny Green with his infamous "barking" is giving Keith a bunch of crap and just basically being himself. Danny shooting at (I think) a 6 ball, missing it horribly and it goes 3 rails into another pocket. Danny says to Keith "It's like your worst nightmare, isn't it?" And the room ERUPTS into laughter. Was actually one of the first times I saw Keith play live. Good stuff.
ive had 7 nines in a row but 11 is cooler! i broke the white ball on the 8th as well lol, thats why tony drago called me the cyclone!
Best memory... This ranks up there with me.. Back in 1993 when I took 4th Place in the ACU-I Regionals... 3rd match of the day. My opponent, his name I forgot, was one of the tournament favorites. Right before the match, I recalled he and his buddies were making some rude comments about how he was gonna crush me and they insisted that I placed a side bet on the match. I just bit my tongue and did not response. I went on to clobber him 5-0 to win the match and the guy was in total awe, got pissed and stormed out of the tournament area... Never seen him again after that...
For those that dont know what ACU-I is, its Association of College Union - International. Basically, at that time, the US is broken up into 15 regions. The region I was in was Region 9 which were all colleges in Illinois and Indiana. Each college was allowed to send a team of players to represent the school in the regional tournament. The winner of the regionals advances to the nationals. I believe the winner of the nationals at that time received scholarship monies for tuition etc....
For those that dont know what ACU-I is, its Association of College Union - International. Basically, at that time, the US is broken up into 15 regions. The region I was in was Region 9 which were all colleges in Illinois and Indiana. Each college was allowed to send a team of players to represent the school in the regional tournament. The winner of the regionals advances to the nationals. I believe the winner of the nationals at that time received scholarship monies for tuition etc....
1pRoscoe said:Sugar Shane used this line about 100x at this year's SBE Valley Forge event to Keith....
JAM - How often does Keith say, "Damn I hate that line..."?
Sweet Sugar Shane, always a pleasure running into him!
I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard that word "nightmare." LOL.
Funniest story relating to the nightmare line was at the Trumps in Atlantic City. We were there attending a 10-Ball tournament. There was a snow blizzard in effect, and cars couldn't get in or out. Imagine being stuck in a casino with a bunch of action-ready pool players!
We're strolling along through the rows of crap tables, and Keith decides he wants to roll the dice. At the other end of the table, I spotted Pat McNally and his backer, Carlos. Keith got on a roll and strung up a few nice runs with the dice, and he had every number on the board lit up. For every good roll of the dice, Carlos would blare out to Keith, grinning from ear to ear, "It's like a nightmare, baby." Keith would roll the dice, and then would come Carlos' retort, "It's like a nightmare, baby," and again, "It's like a nightmare, baby."
Electricity was in the air surrounding that crap table, and Keith couldn't make a bad roll. One older gentleman who was standing alongside us said, "This is the most action we've had here all day." The crowds drew near, and everybody was hooping and hollering: "It's like a nightmare, baby." I'm not sure what the pit bosses were thinking, but they came out of the woodwork and about five of them were standing in unison at complete attention watching Keith's each and every roll. We had a blast and actually made a little score.
JAM
Memories ...
One of my best memories:
When I was in the Navy (back during Nam), and was stationed in Bremerton,
Wa., across the bay from Seattle, on the USS Talladega, and we were in
the process of decommisioning the ship. Our pay records were no where to be found, galley was closed aboard ship and the base, and I was living with Jim
and Linda, a nice couple, in the bottom of a house, 1 bedroom, and I slept
on a sofa sleeper in the living room.
We had been surviving off variations of Peanut butter for 6 weeks, and milk for ttheir 3 month baby. Money was running out, we were not getting paid, and I had $10 left to my name. Went to a popular bar, drank a couple of beers, and challenged the challenge table, started playing for $2 game. Rolled up a little and started playing $5 game, kept going and played $10 a game. Kept going and played $20 a game.
By the time all the challengers ran out, I had won a little over $650 from
having only $6-7 in my pocket. I immediately went to the grocery store,
and bought over $150 worth of food, diapers, and formula for Jim, Linda,
the baby, and me. When I showed up with the food, Jim and Linda were floored, and I told the whole story of my good fortune. We barbequed some
steaks that night to celebrate.
2 weeks later, someone had brought an old early 60's pro in from Vegas.
I guess he was originally from there. I didn't know it at the time, and
I gave him the 7 ball, and ended up losing $60.
But the feelings I felt going home with the groceries after we had almost
been starving is something I will always remember. Especially to know
that the baby was going to be taken care of.
One of my best memories:
When I was in the Navy (back during Nam), and was stationed in Bremerton,
Wa., across the bay from Seattle, on the USS Talladega, and we were in
the process of decommisioning the ship. Our pay records were no where to be found, galley was closed aboard ship and the base, and I was living with Jim
and Linda, a nice couple, in the bottom of a house, 1 bedroom, and I slept
on a sofa sleeper in the living room.
We had been surviving off variations of Peanut butter for 6 weeks, and milk for ttheir 3 month baby. Money was running out, we were not getting paid, and I had $10 left to my name. Went to a popular bar, drank a couple of beers, and challenged the challenge table, started playing for $2 game. Rolled up a little and started playing $5 game, kept going and played $10 a game. Kept going and played $20 a game.
By the time all the challengers ran out, I had won a little over $650 from
having only $6-7 in my pocket. I immediately went to the grocery store,
and bought over $150 worth of food, diapers, and formula for Jim, Linda,
the baby, and me. When I showed up with the food, Jim and Linda were floored, and I told the whole story of my good fortune. We barbequed some
steaks that night to celebrate.
2 weeks later, someone had brought an old early 60's pro in from Vegas.
I guess he was originally from there. I didn't know it at the time, and
I gave him the 7 ball, and ended up losing $60.
But the feelings I felt going home with the groceries after we had almost
been starving is something I will always remember. Especially to know
that the baby was going to be taken care of.
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Best with me at the table--- a couple
1- My APA team needed a 18-2 win from me playing a decent player. The other team was laughing and joking about it. I won with a 19-1.
2- I beat David Grossman in a regional sized tournament once. I had been beaten by him a few times over a couple year period. He told me afterwards that I had gotten alot better and that I just plain BEAT him that set.
3-I used to play in the McDermott Tour events and had never cashed. I had
a running total of 7 events in a row without cashing and losing one spot out.
I finally broke into the money spots in one event with a win. Only John M and
myself really knew how big that win was for me. He was great about it. I did not even know that he was aware of it.
With someone else at the table---
1- My buddy is a good player. I went to a pro event and he beat Buddy Hall
in the first round. I was very happy for him.
2- Same guy won a tournament at my local room. The two of us had been going there off and on for a little while together when we were around. I had been a regular there for a long time. During the event he became sort of a "local" there and all the regulars rooted for him. He made a very very good out for the win and the place erupted. I realized that many people had been sweating the matches but did not realize that he had somehow became
the locals favorite.
Non-playing --
First APA event in Vegas and first BCA event in Vegas. Both stand out
in my memory. So many tables and things happening.
Standing at a counter paying time after playing for almost a whole weekend
straight. An old timer ( very good and well known) leaned over and recounted
a couple shots he had saw and told me to keep on playing. He said he saw something. He gave a couple other bits of wisdom and then was gone. I can still hear the words today. I wonder if he was wrong
but I still hear them.
1- My APA team needed a 18-2 win from me playing a decent player. The other team was laughing and joking about it. I won with a 19-1.
2- I beat David Grossman in a regional sized tournament once. I had been beaten by him a few times over a couple year period. He told me afterwards that I had gotten alot better and that I just plain BEAT him that set.
3-I used to play in the McDermott Tour events and had never cashed. I had
a running total of 7 events in a row without cashing and losing one spot out.
I finally broke into the money spots in one event with a win. Only John M and
myself really knew how big that win was for me. He was great about it. I did not even know that he was aware of it.
With someone else at the table---
1- My buddy is a good player. I went to a pro event and he beat Buddy Hall
in the first round. I was very happy for him.
2- Same guy won a tournament at my local room. The two of us had been going there off and on for a little while together when we were around. I had been a regular there for a long time. During the event he became sort of a "local" there and all the regulars rooted for him. He made a very very good out for the win and the place erupted. I realized that many people had been sweating the matches but did not realize that he had somehow became
the locals favorite.
Non-playing --
First APA event in Vegas and first BCA event in Vegas. Both stand out
in my memory. So many tables and things happening.
Standing at a counter paying time after playing for almost a whole weekend
straight. An old timer ( very good and well known) leaned over and recounted
a couple shots he had saw and told me to keep on playing. He said he saw something. He gave a couple other bits of wisdom and then was gone. I can still hear the words today. I wonder if he was wrong
but I still hear them.