cleveland players of the past......

[JPB2]

“He had a long, fluid, left-handed stroke and he knew a lot of “trick” shots (i.e., hand is quicker than the eye kind of shots the average mark would never notice or question).”

In light of the push shot thread I noticed this. I’d like to hear more. Maybe it fits in the other thread. What was that movie with Minnesota Fats from the ‘70’s that got talked about in the last couple years? The one that had one surviving bad copy that got rescued and put on YouTube? The end had Fats catch the illegal shot?

 

[VarmintKong]

Just a skinny little boy from Cleveland Ohio
Come to drink your women and chase your beer

 

[KAW]

He asked for stories, he never said short stories.

 

[easy-e]

I’m in Cleveland at the moment. Any good pool rooms around?

 

[KAW]

I’m in Cleveland at the moment. Any good pool rooms around?

Sorry, I haven't lived in the Cleveland area for a long time now. After I got out of college, I spent 20 years as a Naval Officer traveling the world, another 16 years as a Consultant for a large consulting firm, and eventually retired in the St. Louis area where I still live today. I spent many years in Norfolk, VA while in the Navy going to the US Open 9 Ball Championships in the late 80s and 90s watching some great pool and champions. I also followed Lassiter's model of hustling sailors in Norfolk out of their pay checks for many years. Not that I'm comparing myself to Lassiter, far from it, but a few beers and a pool table and every sailor thinks they are Mosconi. Everything and anything I loved about pool in Cleveland is now gone as sad as it is for me to say that. Some of the places I used to love going to are just parking lots now. So, I have no current knowledge to share with you about the best places for you to go there and play. Especially if you are looking for a serious game.

 

[VarmintKong]

I’m in Cleveland at the moment. Any good pool rooms around?

Out on the Far East side there is one of the old Brunswick pool rooms at Wickliffe lanes. A dozen old anniversaries. A couple tables have their own character; I heard rails got mixed up during recoveries over the years.

West side there are nine footers at River City Billiards in Fairview Park. It is also right next to the Metroparks and the Rocky River is loaded with Steelhead right now. All public access via walking/bike and bridle paths from the lake to Cedar Point Rd. where it forks and continuing public access along east branch.

Parma has Polack’s and pierogies, as well as nine footers at Continuous Play Billiards. A new place recently opened nearby that I believe only has sevens called Showdown Billiards. Hear the owners are genuine folks holding events where they provide home made food drawing in the kids from the local college.

The true destination would be to head to Fiddlestix in Canton. That is the number one spot in northeast Ohio. On the way there is a barbox room on the outskirts of Akron called Sharkbites. They had the Predator tables when they opened, but I heard they ditched them for Diamonds.

 

[easy-e]

Out on the Far East side there is one of the old Brunswick pool rooms at Wickliffe lanes. A dozen old anniversaries. A couple tables have their own character; I heard rails got mixed up during recoveries over the years.

West side there are nine footers at River City Billiards in Fairview Park. It is also right next to the Metroparks and the Rocky River is loaded with Steelhead right now. All public access via walking/bike and bridle paths from the lake to Cedar Point Rd. where it forks and continuing public access along east branch.

Parma has Polack’s and pierogies, as well as nine footers at Continuous Play Billiards. A new place recently opened nearby that I believe only has sevens called Showdown Billiards. Hear the owners are genuine folks holding events where they provide home made food drawing in the kids from the local college.

The true destination would be to head to Fiddlestix in Canton. That is the number one spot in northeast Ohio. On the way there is a barbox room on the outskirts of Akron called Sharkbites. They had the Predator tables when they opened, but I heard they ditched them for Diamonds.

Thanks for all the info!

 

[KAW]

“He had a long, fluid, left-handed stroke and he knew a lot of “trick” shots (i.e., hand is quicker than the eye kind of shots the average mark would never notice or question).”

In light of the push shot thread I noticed this. I’d like to hear more. Maybe it fits in the other thread. What was that movie with Minnesota Fats from the ‘70’s that got talked about in the last couple years? The one that had one surviving bad copy that got rescued and put on YouTube? The end had Fats catch the illegal shot?

Yes, "The Player" a 1971 movie. I looked it up since you mentioned it and had never seen it before. It is still on YouTube if anyone wants to watch it. Stouffer knew a lot of shots like that, most much more discreet and harder to detect to the average eye in most cases though...

 

[JustPlay]

I miss Starchers. It was a 24|7 9ft gold crown wonderland. Sadly its long gone. As for fiddlestix, unless it moved, its located in Canton, Ohio. about 60ish miles south of Cleveland.

 

[VarmintKong]

On the way there is a barbox room on the outskirts of Akron called Sharkbites. They had the Predator tables when they opened, but I heard they ditched them for Diamonds.

Avoid this place like the plague!

I am ashamed to say that I recommended this on word of mouth.

Last Saturday I decided to seize a rare opportunity to spend a few hours by myself. I chose to go check out Sharkbites.

Their most recent hours were posted less than a month ago(6/22) as opening at noon. I went there at almost 4. It was an hour drive after a 50+ hour work week.

I passed it up because the surrounding bushes were so completely overgrown that they blocked out the address. After turning around and pulling in I couldn’t avoid the pot hole that completely swallowed my 3/4 ton pickup. One car in the lot, heard music. Walked up and saw the hours(open at noon) posted on the door, so I walked in.

I didn’t even get a second foot in the door before some little troll started wagging his finger at me like I was a toddler.

“We’re not open! You have to leave!”

“What’s up? You have hours posted as being open 4 hours ago.”

“We’re just practicing. We’re not open.”

“How many tables do you need to practice on? I’m not tryin’ to piss on your bathroom floor or make you cook me sumthin’. I’ll just hand you some money and you hand me some balls and I’ll go over in the corner, and not bother you, and work on my game.”

“Leave”

Alrighty then. What an epic waste of time! I’ll never go there again.

 

[ibuycues]

Avoid this place like the plague!

I am ashamed to say that I recommended this on word of mouth.

Last Saturday I decided to seize a rare opportunity to spend a few hours by myself. I chose to go check out Sharkbites.

Their most recent hours were posted less than a month ago(6/22) as opening at noon. I went there at almost 4. It was an hour drive after a 50+ hour work week.

I passed it up because the surrounding bushes were so completely overgrown that they blocked out the address. After turning around and pulling in I couldn’t avoid the pot hole that completely swallowed my 3/4 ton pickup. One car in the lot, heard music. Walked up and saw the hours(open at noon) posted on the door, so I walked in.

I didn’t even get a second foot in the door before some little troll started wagging his finger at me like I was a toddler.

“We’re not open! You have to leave!”

“What’s up? You have hours posted as being open 4 hours ago.”

“We’re just practicing. We’re not open.”

“How many tables do you need to practice on? I’m not tryin’ to piss on your bathroom floor or make you cook me sumthin’. I’ll just hand you some money and you hand me some balls and I’ll go over in the corner, and not bother you, and work on my game.”

“Leave”

Alrighty then. What an epic waste of time! I’ll never go there again.

Wow.
I don’t know how you kept your composure through that crap.

Will Prout

 

[Cleveland_Rocks]

The 9 footers in Cleveland are at River City Billiards in Fairview Park, Continuous Play in Parma, Wickliffe Lanes in Wickliffe, and Rack Em Up Billiards in Eastlake. River City is the cleanest room with good 9 foot equipment, they typically allow smoking in Continuous Play. You can usually find a 1 pocket game at Wickliffe Lanes. Wickliffe Lanes has a 9 ball tournament on Tuesday night, and River City has a 9 ball tournament on Thursday at 7:30 and Sunday at 7.

A bit further south, in Canton, Fiddlestix has both 9 footers (10 or so) and 7 (18 or so) footers,

There are also a lot of bar leagues and players in the area. If you are in the area and you think that you can play, stop in one of these fine establishments.

I'm well known in the Cleveland 9 foot table community. Some "yesteryear" names that I have heard and I believe were remarkable players are JR, Mark Mario (is still playing and teaching), Shawn Putnam, and Frank Zummo. I'm only referencing players here that either were professionals or could routinely compete with professionals.

I won't give you the names of the top players today, if you are in Cleveland you might find out who they are someday. The easy way or the hard way.

 

[measureman]

Anyone remember a pretty good player named Rick Spurrier?
He was from Cleveland and wound up in Denver.

 

[JustPlay]

Buckeye Tony (a beast) and Buckeye Frank. Son and Father. Whitey Stone.

 

[Cleveland_Rocks]

Wow.
I don’t know how you kept your composure through that crap.

Will Prout

Play on 9 footers, problem solved.