Well, thought I would give my final DCC impressions to any who weren't lucky enough to be there. I was there from Wednesday till Saturday night - slept about 10 hours total.
First day was lucky enough to meet Weenie Beenie (Bill Staton). He is obviously having some thinking problems, but it was still a thrill to meet him, compliment him on his status in the game, and watch him observe a one-pocket match between Ronnie Allen and Scott Frost. Beenie still loves the game and is a great gentleman.
There couldn't have been more of a contrast than conversing with Beenie, and then seeing a ridiculous woofing session between Tony Chohan and Ronnie Wiseman. Neither could agree on a game, and both were extremely obnoxious and rude (both in the top 5 rude people I've ever seen). I'm sure they think such behavior is necessary in the hustler's world; but I wonder whether Beenie ever had to do it just to get a game.
Was introduced to a TON of really interesting people by Danny DiLiberto (who must just know everybody who has ever picked up a cue) - Ronnie Allen, Scott Frost, "Pots and Pans" (Bunny Rogoff - the crazy guy dressed up like Charlie Chaplin), Pat Fleming, a bunch of semi-anonymous old road players (who have supported themselves gambling for 50 years without a 9-5 job), and our own ZigZagMaster (who plays great and I think knocked Dave Matlock out of the 9-ball event and into second place in the Master of the Table competition - WAY TO GO ZZM).
Ronnie Allen was a hoot to observe scrounging up games, but I really think he is a step below the best one-pocket players - though he exclaimed while watching Scott Frost run out the set, "see that great stroke he has, it'll disappear when I play him for a thousand a game." Scott cracked up.
Scott Frost is a REAL character. Very interesting to watch, very vocal, very talented; and I think he likes to gamble. Don't miss an opportunity to watch him in action.
The venue itself was cold as a meat locker, but the action was fabulous. There was a bird flying around the main room the last 3 days. One poor schmuck (don't know his name) was down 6-4 in 9-ball (races to 7) and just as he was getting down to shoot a long cut on the 9 to stay in the match, the bird sent a dropping right on the back of the shooter's neck. He wiped off very calmly, then missed the 9 by a mile. It would be great if they posted the player's names by the table they are playing on as they do in the WPBA.
Nowhere near enough table's to play on - they were always busy - very tough to find a place to play an action match. Lot's of mini-tournaments with zero spectator value - but then again there were plenty of action matches to watch; if there had been more I might not have slept at all.
This tournament could REALLY use the excitement generated by the WPBA players. Jeanette wasn't even playing and she had more people out in the hall looking for autographs than watching the pro's in the main room. Sarah was also there looking like she would rather be competing.
No big straight pool match this year. Every day Alex P. and John Schmidt would claim, "we're thinking about it," but nothing came off to my knowledge. I had a straight pool match lined up with Efren if he got knocked out early (obviously didn't happen).
The LilJohn vs. Marcus Chamat match was the high point for me. Nine ball to 10 games ahead; Chamat spotting the last 3 and the 6 ball; ungodly amount of money on the line; Scott Frost at least partially backing Chamat and contributing his moral support. Epic struggle. I watched the first few hours and went to bed with LilJohn ahead 5 games. I came back at about 10 A.M. and they were still at it with Chamat 3 games up. Chamat loses the next 2 (now one up), then wins about the next 9 in a row (or maybe 10 out of 11) for a STUNNING conclusion to the match. Chamat won JUST IN TIME to head to his 11 A.M match after being up all night. I think LilJohn may be posting on a thread in Sarah's section - perhaps someone should PM him and ask for his thoughts on the match; because I would LOVE to hear his perspective on this match. He seems a GREAT player. How can anyone give him that kind of spot and still win? Is that spot really that big for runout players?? What separates a pro like Chamat from the players like LilJohn - I had a hard time seeing any difference in skill level???
Speaking of skill level - the tables seemed to play fairly tight and EVERYONE was missing some balls - as it should be. The players that stood out to me in 9-ball were Jamie Baraks, Efren, and George Breedlove. They were the three that seemed the least afraid to spin the ball when required, or use the POWER when required; they seemed well ahead of the other players on these particular tables. They also seemed the only ones to really be aggressive in trying the real tough runouts if some kind of wild come shot was required (or at least to be successful when they tried them). If you guys haven't seen Breedlove play you are missing some ungodly power pool (as well as a great finesse game). On the other end, Buddy Hall was tough to watch. He really seemed to be struggling with the weight, I'm afraid his health is really going to suffer. A friend from Indy (just an amateur enthusiast) jumped on Buddy 4-0, but Buddy rose to the challenge and closed him out 7-5.
Tons of young, not-so-well known players with real game. Lots of young players who don't drop their elbow.
One of my instructors (who yelled at me for not playing) told me to follow Efren's matches, study, take notes. I think he's good
. Efren was playing one-pocket with a cue wrapped with ragged adhesive tape (ragged ends of the tape flapping in the middle of the wrap). I will say that he missed as many balls as the other top players, but his position play was probably more consistent than anyone. Like Danny D. noted, he will use any spin at any speed required in ANY situation to get the required position. Like Breedlove, Efren tackled some REALLY difficult layouts in the attempt to runout (both in one pocket and 9-ball), very different from most of the other players who seemed to always favor playing safe with the balls sitting badly on those tight tables.
Nine-ball is a stupid way to try to separate the best players. WAY TOO MUCH luck involved. We again were going to try to predict the winning player after inspecting the table after the opening break. We were correct 10 in a row and gave up - the results of the opening break seem to be the prime determinate of who wins any given game. It was still, however, a great spectating experience; but more of an exhibition than a competition. If you haven't seen these players in person, then you are really missing a great experience. Hope to see you there next year. End of screed.
First day was lucky enough to meet Weenie Beenie (Bill Staton). He is obviously having some thinking problems, but it was still a thrill to meet him, compliment him on his status in the game, and watch him observe a one-pocket match between Ronnie Allen and Scott Frost. Beenie still loves the game and is a great gentleman.
There couldn't have been more of a contrast than conversing with Beenie, and then seeing a ridiculous woofing session between Tony Chohan and Ronnie Wiseman. Neither could agree on a game, and both were extremely obnoxious and rude (both in the top 5 rude people I've ever seen). I'm sure they think such behavior is necessary in the hustler's world; but I wonder whether Beenie ever had to do it just to get a game.
Was introduced to a TON of really interesting people by Danny DiLiberto (who must just know everybody who has ever picked up a cue) - Ronnie Allen, Scott Frost, "Pots and Pans" (Bunny Rogoff - the crazy guy dressed up like Charlie Chaplin), Pat Fleming, a bunch of semi-anonymous old road players (who have supported themselves gambling for 50 years without a 9-5 job), and our own ZigZagMaster (who plays great and I think knocked Dave Matlock out of the 9-ball event and into second place in the Master of the Table competition - WAY TO GO ZZM).
Ronnie Allen was a hoot to observe scrounging up games, but I really think he is a step below the best one-pocket players - though he exclaimed while watching Scott Frost run out the set, "see that great stroke he has, it'll disappear when I play him for a thousand a game." Scott cracked up.
Scott Frost is a REAL character. Very interesting to watch, very vocal, very talented; and I think he likes to gamble. Don't miss an opportunity to watch him in action.
The venue itself was cold as a meat locker, but the action was fabulous. There was a bird flying around the main room the last 3 days. One poor schmuck (don't know his name) was down 6-4 in 9-ball (races to 7) and just as he was getting down to shoot a long cut on the 9 to stay in the match, the bird sent a dropping right on the back of the shooter's neck. He wiped off very calmly, then missed the 9 by a mile. It would be great if they posted the player's names by the table they are playing on as they do in the WPBA.
Nowhere near enough table's to play on - they were always busy - very tough to find a place to play an action match. Lot's of mini-tournaments with zero spectator value - but then again there were plenty of action matches to watch; if there had been more I might not have slept at all.
This tournament could REALLY use the excitement generated by the WPBA players. Jeanette wasn't even playing and she had more people out in the hall looking for autographs than watching the pro's in the main room. Sarah was also there looking like she would rather be competing.
No big straight pool match this year. Every day Alex P. and John Schmidt would claim, "we're thinking about it," but nothing came off to my knowledge. I had a straight pool match lined up with Efren if he got knocked out early (obviously didn't happen).
The LilJohn vs. Marcus Chamat match was the high point for me. Nine ball to 10 games ahead; Chamat spotting the last 3 and the 6 ball; ungodly amount of money on the line; Scott Frost at least partially backing Chamat and contributing his moral support. Epic struggle. I watched the first few hours and went to bed with LilJohn ahead 5 games. I came back at about 10 A.M. and they were still at it with Chamat 3 games up. Chamat loses the next 2 (now one up), then wins about the next 9 in a row (or maybe 10 out of 11) for a STUNNING conclusion to the match. Chamat won JUST IN TIME to head to his 11 A.M match after being up all night. I think LilJohn may be posting on a thread in Sarah's section - perhaps someone should PM him and ask for his thoughts on the match; because I would LOVE to hear his perspective on this match. He seems a GREAT player. How can anyone give him that kind of spot and still win? Is that spot really that big for runout players?? What separates a pro like Chamat from the players like LilJohn - I had a hard time seeing any difference in skill level???
Speaking of skill level - the tables seemed to play fairly tight and EVERYONE was missing some balls - as it should be. The players that stood out to me in 9-ball were Jamie Baraks, Efren, and George Breedlove. They were the three that seemed the least afraid to spin the ball when required, or use the POWER when required; they seemed well ahead of the other players on these particular tables. They also seemed the only ones to really be aggressive in trying the real tough runouts if some kind of wild come shot was required (or at least to be successful when they tried them). If you guys haven't seen Breedlove play you are missing some ungodly power pool (as well as a great finesse game). On the other end, Buddy Hall was tough to watch. He really seemed to be struggling with the weight, I'm afraid his health is really going to suffer. A friend from Indy (just an amateur enthusiast) jumped on Buddy 4-0, but Buddy rose to the challenge and closed him out 7-5.
Tons of young, not-so-well known players with real game. Lots of young players who don't drop their elbow.
One of my instructors (who yelled at me for not playing) told me to follow Efren's matches, study, take notes. I think he's good
. Efren was playing one-pocket with a cue wrapped with ragged adhesive tape (ragged ends of the tape flapping in the middle of the wrap). I will say that he missed as many balls as the other top players, but his position play was probably more consistent than anyone. Like Danny D. noted, he will use any spin at any speed required in ANY situation to get the required position. Like Breedlove, Efren tackled some REALLY difficult layouts in the attempt to runout (both in one pocket and 9-ball), very different from most of the other players who seemed to always favor playing safe with the balls sitting badly on those tight tables.Nine-ball is a stupid way to try to separate the best players. WAY TOO MUCH luck involved. We again were going to try to predict the winning player after inspecting the table after the opening break. We were correct 10 in a row and gave up - the results of the opening break seem to be the prime determinate of who wins any given game. It was still, however, a great spectating experience; but more of an exhibition than a competition. If you haven't seen these players in person, then you are really missing a great experience. Hope to see you there next year. End of screed.
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