Buddy Hall

[Scott Lee]

Agreed...but poolplayers, as a group, tended to spend more time 'on the road', and have other poor health habits (especially 'back in the day'), that contribute to being/becoming heavy or obese.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Most everybody was skinny in their youth and gained weight as they aged. Pool players don't hold the patent on this.

 

[Scott Lee]

macguy...Carson passed away at age 80...long after most people who die from cigarettes. Not making light of emphasema (sp) or lung cancer, but nicotine is a physical addiction that has been compared many times to heroin, in the difficulty to quit. Food addictions are psychological.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

I always look at the late Johnny Carson who was successful are anything he put him mind to but lacked the ability to quit smoking no matter how many times he tried and it killed him. We can be strong and weak at the same time.

 

[macguy]

macguy...Carson passed away at age 80...long after most people who die from cigarettes. Not making light of emphasema (sp) or lung cancer, but nicotine is a physical addiction that has been compared many times to heroin, in the difficulty to quit. Food addictions are psychological.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Not really. My wife smoked when we met and I wanted her to quit. She went through the American Lung Association program, (35 years ago I should add).. I took the course with her even though I didn't smoke to see what it was all about. The physical addiction to nicotine only lasts like a week till it is out of your system. The rest is all psychological. Cigarette smoking is a ritualistic behavior much like eating. Most of the eating people do has little to do with being hungry. It can be everything from social behavior to boredom. The problem is, as one gets fat the body can change in such a way to make it very hard to lose the weight and keep it off. We are the victims of thousands of years of evolution.

There is one certainty, if you head out to the golf course today you won't see any 80 year old's putting around that look like buddy. In fact if you see some fit old guy and ask, he will tell you he has been the same weight all his life. Weight kills and it often is not pretty. The lucky ones just drop dead, the unlucky ones end up with strokes and in wheel chairs drooling all over themselves. I added that final imagery on purpose because I have know so many. I am honestly too much of a coward not to take care of myself. The room with my Gold Crown is shared my gym and they both get used everyday.

 

[SCCues]

It's across the river from Paducah, Ky. and Buddy spent a lot of time in those pool halls too in his youth.

Buddy reminds me too much of Steve Mizerak. He MUST lose a lot of weight soon, or it will be too late. I tried talking to him (just like Steve) but my pleas fell on deaf ears. Oh sure, he shook his head and said he knows, but there was no commitment.

I wish Buddy would decide to do something about the extra weight before it's too late. It's not easy and i'm speaking from experience since I lost 40 pounds a few years ago. The hardest part is getting started changing your eating habits.......

James

 

[jamesroberts]

im sure if pool world commmited to Buddy that we would find a way to pay for most of it, I'd be in for a starting off with a good size piece. Buddy might take us up on it and get the Band

someone who knows him should sit down with him have a heart to heart talk with him and see if he would do it, I have made several threads on here for years about my concern for buddy's weight. He is just to good to leave behind when it is fixable-aint no shame in that we need to all help him.

thats pretty cool of you to start something like that, I would donate as well. Any idea on how much something like this cost?

 

[BobN]

Buddy does need to lose weight, but still, he's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet in the pool world. I used to see him quite often when he was living in Tulsa. Haven't seen him since he moved back to Metropolis... guess I just need to make the drive. It's only about 4 hours from here, and it's not like I can't fire myself for a day and make the trip.

I understand how bad eating habits can get to you. While I'm nowhere near Buddy, I could stand to lose 50 pounds, myself. Local poolplayers call me Pin Wheel. When we play at a local room, the owner keeps these Pecan Swirl snacks around for a quarter each. When I was a kid we called those PinWheels. I eat so damn many of them playing pool that the name "Pin Wheel" just stuck. If I miss a shot, someone will say something about my "mix" is off, that I need another pin wheel. I can go to the pool room after a huge healthy meal (well, healthy for someone who hates vegetables... they ARE what food eats, ya know) and still eat a dozen pin wheels in a night of playing.

It's just a HABIT. Buddy does the same thing. I've once saw him send someone out during a tournament in Tulsa to get him an ice cream cone. Another time he came to a match with me and had 4 or 5 candy bars in a bag (Snickers, I think, can't remember for sure) and while I was at the table, he was eating candy bars (and he WON'T share). When he's not playing, he just laughs, talks, tells funny stories and no snacks. Put a cue in his hand and he'll have a candy bar handy... at least it was that way while he was in Tulsa last year.

To answer another question asked, yes, he travels some... or I guess he still does. He's liable to show up at any of the Midwest 9Ball Tour stops. There are quite a few in Illinois, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, so they're all pretty handy to him living in Metropolis.

FatBoy, if you get that thing going, you can count me in for something. Hell, if we have enough flyfishers in the pool world, I'll donate a $1700 Custom Bamboo Fly Rod to the kitty if it's to help Buddy.

Bob

 

[jay helfert]

Buddy Hall is one of the most valuable living resources the pool world has! A brilliant player, great analyst of the game and gifted story teller. Buddy has never failed to amuse and entertain me over the years. Once upon a time someone was being honored for their contribution to pool and I asked Buddy if he thought there was anything that I should do to benefit the sport. He looked me dead in the eye and said,"Jay, you're a very important member of the pool community and everyone appreciates everything that you've already done for the sport!"

This one statement meant more to me than just about anything else I'd ever heard. Coming from Buddy, a man who I so respected, I felt very flattered having him say that to me. I love Buddy and wish him the best always. I guess I'm selfish and would like to see him stay around another fifteen or twenty years.

 

[interman]

One of the things that have worked for me is caring more about the meals I'm eating. If you get into cooking more as a hobby you're likely to enjoy better quality food, and have much less of a desire for a bag of snickers or whatever. I like the challenge of putting together a kickass meal, and it's been greatly appreciated by friends and family ever since I caught the cooking bug. Obviously, you can overeat on a lot of stuff and still get fat, but with a bit of exercise you can eat a pretty solid amount.

 

[LC3]

I've heard nothing but good about Buddy Hall, and the few times I heard him commentate or give interviews left me with the impression that he's a great guy. But seeing him strain under his weight as he moved around the pool table concerned me a lot. I hope he has an epiphany soon.

 

[LC3]

Agreed...but poolplayers, as a group, tended to spend more time 'on the road', and have other poor health habits (especially 'back in the day'), that contribute to being/becoming heavy or obese.

Yes, and group identity is a big part of it too. In some circles, eating a salad or a salmon wrap is a direct attack on the tribe.

 

[knifemaker]

raising money to help Buddy's weight

I have traded for some nice cues in the last couple of months. Get something going to help Buddy and I will put one up to raise money with.
I would think that Billy Schick would help out also. They are great friends.

A short story about buying a cue Buddy had in 1980. It was one of the Meucci Rifleman cues. I wanted it and he was selling it to me and I ask him how it hit, with no expression on his face he said Richie if you hit the ball in the right place it hits good. I will never forget that selling technique worked on me. Wish I still had that cue.

Knifemaker

 

[wahcheck]

What is the lapband thing?

Buddy should have the lapband thing done, I need it also but I'm struggling with the cash right now but it is amazing how quick you can have better health that way. May God bless Buddy one of the best to ever pick up a cue.--Leonard

What is the lapband thing? I gather it's some kind of surgery but I've never heard of it til now.....Is it the same as stapling the stomach to make it hold less amounts of food?

 

[poolcuemaster]

I think the easiest way to describe a lapband is that it is an adjustable band (belt)inserted around thje stomach that can be altered in size if needed and this can be done as outpatient surgery. I also think you can go home within a few hours after recovery room if you can get up and walk and use the john.--Leonard

 

[JimS]

It's important to understand that, for most grossly obese people, the problem is psychological. Regardless of their genuine desire to exert the will to stop over eating, they are powerless to do so. Over eating is very similar to alcoholism. Once a person has had an epiphany, and has realized that they are totally powerless concerning over eating, they then can start the process of recovery.

The principles and program of Overearters Anonymous is very effective in allowing a person to discover the basis of their problem, and how to live life without over eating.

Psychological counseling may also be of benefit for a compulsive overeater. But on their own, a compulsive overeater is not capable of staying on a diet, regardless of the threat to their health and life.

I sincerely hope Buddy will find the help that he needs.

Doc

Bingo!

I've just lost almost 70 pounds... 246 to 179. Pants down from 46" to 36". Shirts went from a snug extra large to a comfortable medium.

I feel good!

I reminded myself several times daily that I WANT TO.. eat to live instead of live to eat. The "I WANT TO" part is vital. Once you tell yourself that you really do WANT to do this you begin to believe it and then you do it because you really do WANT to do it.

I don't eat burgers, fries or drink Pepsi and in the past I ate bugers & fries daily and drank a two or three Pepsi's daily. Pepsi was my first drug!... back in the day.

I DO eat just about anything else I want ... in small portions.

It doesn't take long to get used to the process and once the pounds and inches start going away it gets real easy.

 

[knifemaker]

You are right about loosing the weight. I weighed 391 on Jan 3rd of this year. I ahve been dieting and am now down to 347 and the first two weeks were hell to say the least. I started getting the smart one meals from the grocery store and they are great. I could eat 2400 calories for three months and then down to 2000 for two months and now down to 1600 per day. My goal is to loose a hundred by christmas. It is far easier now that I have lost so much and I feel great now. I hope Buddy can and will do something and if I can help I will. Buddy was a great inspiration to me when I was in the military in Shreveport, just watching him play and beat every living sole that came in was inspiring to anyone who was learning to play. He would help me and I always appreciated that.
Let me know if you get something started.
percy/Knifemaker

 

[Aaron_S]

im sure if pool world commmited to Buddy that we would find a way to pay for most of it, I'd be in for a starting off with a good size piece. Buddy might take us up on it and get the Band

If there is any possibility of this happening, I am in. Buddy has been an inspiration to many players, myself included.

Aaron

 

[fcee06]

Most of you use to know me as big Frank on the AZ forums. I had gastric bypass in October of 09. I have currently lost 125 pounds thus far. I weighted 372 the day I went in for surgery. I was up walking around a couple of hours after surgery. I weight the options of the lap band against the gastric bybass surgery. I spoke with my best friend who had the lap band a couple years ago. He has some success with that surgery but the one major complaint is that you can still eat t he same bad foods. Another issue from my research is there seems to be a few more issues with the lap band. For these reasons I decided to go the the gastric. Although the gastric is almost double the price of the Lap band, I feel and have seen more success with this surgery. I can tell you guys first hand this was the best decision of my life. It has truly changed my life in just about every way. But please make no mistake, this is not just about weight. Its much much deeper than just losing weight. You literally have to change your life. This is not an instant cure for bad eating habits. I still struggle with bad food choices. It just gets a little easier each day. I truly hope that we can pull together resources to help a pool icon like Mr. Hall. But Mr. Hall has to want this. I had to be under the doctor care for 6 months before my insurance would pay for this surgery. Whether its lap band or gastric, something has to be done. There is a small group of us that can diet and lose weight, but thats a very small group of people. I will be happy to answer any questions that any of you may have. Im sure there are some lap band people on here too, so we should be able to get this figured out for buddy. I would be honored to help. Thanks for trying this

Frank Cherry

 

[iusedtoberich]

Ok, I think Buddy is one of the best of all time. I like watching him play on videos, listening to his commentary, his stories, etc....

But purely from the weight perspective, and NOT his pool or likability perspective, why are we discussing raising money to get him some stomach surgery? People are saying he lives on snickers bars. If he can't substitute good food for TOTAL GARBAGE, then thats on him.

I know this is harsh, but give me a break. Pay for a guy's stomach surgery because he can't eat an apple instead of a snickers bar?

Flame me if you want, but thats the truth.

 

[CharlesUFarley]

Ok, I think Buddy is one of the best of all time. I like watching him play on videos, listening to his commentary, his stories, etc....

But purely from the weight perspective, and NOT his pool or likability perspective, why are we discussing raising money to get him some stomach surgery? People are saying he lives on snickers bars. If he can't substitute good food for TOTAL GARBAGE, then thats on him.

I know this is harsh, but give me a break. Pay for a guy's stomach surgery because he can't eat an apple instead of a snickers bar?

Flame me if you want, but thats the truth.

You're not alone. This was my exact thinking when I first read this thread. I think Buddy is a legend and seems to be a nice guy, but if I have extra money to donate, I can think of millions that need help more than Mr. Hall. Maybe we could start with the homeless children in our country.

 

[Bigtruck]

Ok, I think Buddy is one of the best of all time. I like watching him play on videos, listening to his commentary, his stories, etc....

But purely from the weight perspective, and NOT his pool or likability perspective, why are we discussing raising money to get him some stomach surgery? People are saying he lives on snickers bars. If he can't substitute good food for TOTAL GARBAGE, then thats on him.

I know this is harsh, but give me a break. Pay for a guy's stomach surgery because he can't eat an apple instead of a snickers bar?

Flame me if you want, but thats the truth.

IUTBR,

That's been the conversation thus far, Buddy must decide to make a change.

Sometimes telling someone how much they mean to you can motivate them to make the right decisions. This is why it's so important to show our family, friends and associates how important they are and how much you care about them.

This is a pool brotha in need. Nothing wrong with showing Buddy how much you care.

Ray