CSI Contest! Name Who & Where...Be in a drawing for Swanee or US Bar Table Entry!
- Thread starter Holly
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Swannee stories
I attempted to submit a couple stories about Swannee and my experience meeting him the other night. It was quite long. When I hit the submit button, it appeared to time me out and disappeared. I was so pissed, I couldn't sleep. Gonna try again tonight.
I attempted to submit a couple stories about Swannee and my experience meeting him the other night. It was quite long. When I hit the submit button, it appeared to time me out and disappeared. I was so pissed, I couldn't sleep. Gonna try again tonight.
Efren, Swanson, Morro. Probably at Hard Times in California.
PICK ME PICK ME PICK ME!!!!!!!!!! :thumbup::thumbup:
PICK ME PICK ME PICK ME!!!!!!!!!! :thumbup::thumbup:
My Swanny story ...
Swanny was such a cool character it's hard to imagine anyone trying to faze him - even someone like Earl strickland. But I did see one guy try - "El Tico" Lopez.
El Tico was playing pretty sporty in one of the monthly tournaments at the old Billiard Tavern in downtown San Diego. He was on a tear on the winners side when he eventually got matched up with Swanny. Swanny gets off to an early lead and was playing real sweetly. El Tico sees he's in trouble and decides to throw off Swanny's game. His tactic was to slow the game down to a crawl, this even though El Tico normally plays an uptempo game. It didn't seem to matter as Swanny got control of the table, he smoothly ran out. After a while, the only way El Tico could slow the game down was while he was racking for the next game - and this was exactly what he tried to do. In the end it didn't work out and Swanny calmly coasted to win the match.
In those days it was a pleasure to see a big guy like Swanny have such a delicate finesse game and silky smooth stroke. El Tico is still around but rarely plays anymore (from what I undertand) but he has been seen at the BCA events in Las Vegas - and does fairly well.
As my story telling skills get better, I may come up with another one.
Swanny was such a cool character it's hard to imagine anyone trying to faze him - even someone like Earl strickland. But I did see one guy try - "El Tico" Lopez.
El Tico was playing pretty sporty in one of the monthly tournaments at the old Billiard Tavern in downtown San Diego. He was on a tear on the winners side when he eventually got matched up with Swanny. Swanny gets off to an early lead and was playing real sweetly. El Tico sees he's in trouble and decides to throw off Swanny's game. His tactic was to slow the game down to a crawl, this even though El Tico normally plays an uptempo game. It didn't seem to matter as Swanny got control of the table, he smoothly ran out. After a while, the only way El Tico could slow the game down was while he was racking for the next game - and this was exactly what he tried to do. In the end it didn't work out and Swanny calmly coasted to win the match.
In those days it was a pleasure to see a big guy like Swanny have such a delicate finesse game and silky smooth stroke. El Tico is still around but rarely plays anymore (from what I undertand) but he has been seen at the BCA events in Las Vegas - and does fairly well.
As my story telling skills get better, I may come up with another one.
December '85 - Sands Regent...Jay Swanson ("Swanee") getting paid for second place by Pete Cladianos, Jr - owner of the Sands. The man with the mike is NOT Pat Fleming - can't remember his name though. Efren Reyes on left, Ismael Paez ("Morro) in the background center & Rich "The Hat" Geiler back right. A few others look familiar but don't know their names...
Efren is walking away because he just got paid for first..... Surprised not to see Wade next in line......
A couple of Jay Swanson Stories
I met Jay for the first time in the late 70's in Northwest Indiana. He was on the road with Sandiego Bob Taylor. They came into a bar in Hobart, IN., located just east of I-65 on Ridge Road, which is route 6.
The Bars name was Don&Tony's. Many road players over the years came in there because of the Action during that time period. Bobby Lablanc, Flyboy, Peru Paul, Steve Oaks, Surfer Rod, Frisco Dave Piona, just about everybody that was anybody, passed through at one time or another.
I had heard of Swanee before, but had never met him. That particular night, all tables were busy and it looked like they were not going to get into action after him asking several people. I suggested to him that They go to Bullwinkle's about two miles west on the same street. The owner of that bar was a small time bookie and he was good for a $1000 score on the pool table and he liked to play Backgammon for similar stakes. They thanked me and left for the other bar.
I waited an hour or so and went down to Bullwinkle's to see if he got him down. The owner's name was Paul and he was well over 6FT and was nicknamed Tall Paul. I really can't remember him ever saying no to action from anyone. Lablanc, John Shuput, Surfer Rod had all beaten him before. Swanee beat him out of the typical $1000 and Paul and they talked of doing it again later. Paul was an equal opportunity employer for all road players. Jay and Bob invited me to eat at the local Denny's after the bar closed. They ended up staying at the Motel 6 next to Denny's. That's when Bob laid out his Sandiego Bay place mats, so he would feel at home. Jay gave me some jelly for the steer, which I appreciated, but didn't expect. They stayed around the area for couple of weeks going back and forth to Chicago and 12/20 bowling alley that had large pool room in what was then called East Gary, In. Never heard of him booking a loser during that time. I saw him several more times in the Midwest prior to me going into the Army in January 1983. If memory serves me correct, I think Bob Taylor later moved to Myrtle Beach.
From early summer 1990 until fall 92, I was stationed in Yuma, AZ.
Phoenix and Sandiego were the same driving distance. To get away from the brutal summers in Yuma, I went to Sandiego a lot of weekends, mostly for the beach. One time at the Kansas City Barbeque, where some scenes from Top Gun were filmed, I asked a bartender for directions to some place to play pool. He sent me to 11th and Broadway, where Hard times boxing and Billiard's was. What a place! When I was getting ready to leave, a boxer walked me to my car. He said it was dangerous to be out in that area at night.
Didn't keep me from going back many times. I have always been a boxing fan and hall of fame fighter Aaron Pryor was training and playing pool there at the time. Well past his prime and hooked on heroin, relegated to club fighter status. Very sad.
Okay, back to Mr. Swanson. I never saw Jay on any of those trips and probably could easily have looked him up.
In July of 1992, I came down on orders for Korea. I played pool in several bars in Yuma, two of which were owned by a Women named Judy. One was PJ's and the other was 8th Street bar. Judy was a real Garth Brooks fan and decided to treat myself and a few other regulars and her head waitress to trip to Sandiego for the concert at the Naval Base. She had a big van and we all headed for California to see Garth. On the 3 hour drive some of us were drinking beer. Not the driver. When we were pretty close, a few starting complaining about having to pee. Judy pulled off in El Cojon I think. She pulled into the parking lot of the brightest florescent orange bar I had ever scene. We all were kind of scared to go in, but fear of peeing down your leg will make you do things you wouldn't normally do.
After going in and taking care of bathroom business, Judy committed that we were way early, so decided to stay a while. They were 4 guys on the bar table playing a cheap ring game and Judy chided me into asking if they wanted another player. They said sure and said they were playing for five a game, guy who lets winner out pays the quarters. Typical ring game rules. After about an hour, I was up 5 games. One of the guys goes to the pay phone and makes a call. Half hour later, Jay walks in. I recognize him right away. He looks at me kind of funny. I had a very short military haircut at the time and the last time he saw me I had long hair to my shoulder blades. When he finally put it together, we started laughing and he told the guys I was cool and he knew me from way back. Jay won the last tournament that was held at Tommy's in Tempe, AZ. It was loaded with Monster players. I heard of Swanee's death when I was in Bosnia. A buddy at FT Carson wrote me and told me. Never heard a living human that knew him that didn't like him. I know I sure did. Anybody from that area remember that orange bar's name?
I met Jay for the first time in the late 70's in Northwest Indiana. He was on the road with Sandiego Bob Taylor. They came into a bar in Hobart, IN., located just east of I-65 on Ridge Road, which is route 6.
The Bars name was Don&Tony's. Many road players over the years came in there because of the Action during that time period. Bobby Lablanc, Flyboy, Peru Paul, Steve Oaks, Surfer Rod, Frisco Dave Piona, just about everybody that was anybody, passed through at one time or another.
I had heard of Swanee before, but had never met him. That particular night, all tables were busy and it looked like they were not going to get into action after him asking several people. I suggested to him that They go to Bullwinkle's about two miles west on the same street. The owner of that bar was a small time bookie and he was good for a $1000 score on the pool table and he liked to play Backgammon for similar stakes. They thanked me and left for the other bar.
I waited an hour or so and went down to Bullwinkle's to see if he got him down. The owner's name was Paul and he was well over 6FT and was nicknamed Tall Paul. I really can't remember him ever saying no to action from anyone. Lablanc, John Shuput, Surfer Rod had all beaten him before. Swanee beat him out of the typical $1000 and Paul and they talked of doing it again later. Paul was an equal opportunity employer for all road players. Jay and Bob invited me to eat at the local Denny's after the bar closed. They ended up staying at the Motel 6 next to Denny's. That's when Bob laid out his Sandiego Bay place mats, so he would feel at home. Jay gave me some jelly for the steer, which I appreciated, but didn't expect. They stayed around the area for couple of weeks going back and forth to Chicago and 12/20 bowling alley that had large pool room in what was then called East Gary, In. Never heard of him booking a loser during that time. I saw him several more times in the Midwest prior to me going into the Army in January 1983. If memory serves me correct, I think Bob Taylor later moved to Myrtle Beach.
From early summer 1990 until fall 92, I was stationed in Yuma, AZ.
Phoenix and Sandiego were the same driving distance. To get away from the brutal summers in Yuma, I went to Sandiego a lot of weekends, mostly for the beach. One time at the Kansas City Barbeque, where some scenes from Top Gun were filmed, I asked a bartender for directions to some place to play pool. He sent me to 11th and Broadway, where Hard times boxing and Billiard's was. What a place! When I was getting ready to leave, a boxer walked me to my car. He said it was dangerous to be out in that area at night.
Didn't keep me from going back many times. I have always been a boxing fan and hall of fame fighter Aaron Pryor was training and playing pool there at the time. Well past his prime and hooked on heroin, relegated to club fighter status. Very sad.
Okay, back to Mr. Swanson. I never saw Jay on any of those trips and probably could easily have looked him up.
In July of 1992, I came down on orders for Korea. I played pool in several bars in Yuma, two of which were owned by a Women named Judy. One was PJ's and the other was 8th Street bar. Judy was a real Garth Brooks fan and decided to treat myself and a few other regulars and her head waitress to trip to Sandiego for the concert at the Naval Base. She had a big van and we all headed for California to see Garth. On the 3 hour drive some of us were drinking beer. Not the driver. When we were pretty close, a few starting complaining about having to pee. Judy pulled off in El Cojon I think. She pulled into the parking lot of the brightest florescent orange bar I had ever scene. We all were kind of scared to go in, but fear of peeing down your leg will make you do things you wouldn't normally do.
After going in and taking care of bathroom business, Judy committed that we were way early, so decided to stay a while. They were 4 guys on the bar table playing a cheap ring game and Judy chided me into asking if they wanted another player. They said sure and said they were playing for five a game, guy who lets winner out pays the quarters. Typical ring game rules. After about an hour, I was up 5 games. One of the guys goes to the pay phone and makes a call. Half hour later, Jay walks in. I recognize him right away. He looks at me kind of funny. I had a very short military haircut at the time and the last time he saw me I had long hair to my shoulder blades. When he finally put it together, we started laughing and he told the guys I was cool and he knew me from way back. Jay won the last tournament that was held at Tommy's in Tempe, AZ. It was loaded with Monster players. I heard of Swanee's death when I was in Bosnia. A buddy at FT Carson wrote me and told me. Never heard a living human that knew him that didn't like him. I know I sure did. Anybody from that area remember that orange bar's name?
I think that was the name. I never made it to College Billiards until I played in my first Swanee Memorial in 2003. I had retired from the army the month before.
I only see Efren.
I recognize Swanson, Reyes, Paez, Geiler and Medina.
I still can't stop laughing at the reference of Geiler as a Bee Gee look alike. :thumbup:
Well...
I know Jay Swanson and I think Efren... I also think it may be at the LA open...
Jaden
By the way...any thread replies...even a CLEAN, FUN LOVING, NON-MEAN SPIRITED, WITTY retort or comment will get you in the contest too
*should you be the winning name and are not interested in one of the two initial prize options or can not play in either the Swanee or US Bar Table Championships coming up next Feb...we can come up with another option...
such as...Spectator ticket to either the 13th US Open One Pocket Championship (May 10-13, 2012) or the US Open 10-Ball Championship (May 14-19, 2012) at the Riviera Hotel and Casino)
I know Jay Swanson and I think Efren... I also think it may be at the LA open...
Jaden
You guys are good and almost got 'em all. It is Pete Cladianos Jr. handing the dough to Swanee at the Sands Regency hotel in Reno. And that's Efren to the left and Morro Paez and Rich Geiler in the middle. DOUG KLISCH is the man on the "mike" and the tournament director! Good job gang!
P.S. That may be Gene Catron in the jacket to the right, above Doug. I also know the guy talking to Morro, but just can't think of his name right now. Also may be Gene Stary with arms folded (partially hidden) on the far left.
P.S. That may be Gene Catron in the jacket to the right, above Doug. I also know the guy talking to Morro, but just can't think of his name right now. Also may be Gene Stary with arms folded (partially hidden) on the far left.
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Thanks Jay...
Doug Klisch has Pat's nose but Pat had more hair back then and no glasses..At least not in the video I have of him..
I assumed Fleming because the tourney is covered in one of the old AccuStats issues in the archive......