Dennis Orcullo - Bad Form
- Thread starter Kickin' Chicken
- Start date
10 straight wins on the losers' side to win the US Open 8-Ball:
Kang, Hatch, Szuter, E. Dominguez, Kiamco, Klatt, Morra, Chavez, Morris, Dechaine
Pretty good lineup!
Winning 10 in a row (even being a decent favorite in each match) is of low probability.
:thud::thud::thud:
:thud::thud::thud:
:thud::thud::thud:
orcullo
maybe this thread fired him up and energized him to the point where he eventually knocked out 10 straight top players to win the tourney.
if I was orcollo I would either
A say nothing and keep shooting lights out to prove people wrong
B say thanks for the wake up call that helped me get motivated
C say keep your opinions to yourself
D tell people to eat a bowl of d*cks lol
E all of the above
either way congrats to orcollo for an impressive comeback
maybe this thread fired him up and energized him to the point where he eventually knocked out 10 straight top players to win the tourney.
if I was orcollo I would either
A say nothing and keep shooting lights out to prove people wrong
B say thanks for the wake up call that helped me get motivated
C say keep your opinions to yourself
D tell people to eat a bowl of d*cks lol
E all of the above
either way congrats to orcollo for an impressive comeback
Last night during the SVB vs Dennis CSI barbox 8b match Dennis melted down and quit.
A few days ago I listened to Jay Helfert in the booth saying "Dennis has no quit in him; I've never seen him give up in a match", this comment made as Dennis was making an impressive comeback attempt after being down, I think, 6-0 in a CSI 9b match. Immediately I thought to myself, I'm aware of 3 times Dennis has given up and quit matches.
Back to last night.
Shane was playing brilliantly and was having great success with his break and Dennis was struggling with his break. When the score was approx 5 or 6 to 1 in favor of Shane, Dennis went over to the commentator booth and complained about the magic rack. He then complained to the TD who got him a new magic rack.
Dennis' body language in the chair was clearly the 'I give up' look and when it was his turn again to break, I think it was 7 or 8 - 2, he went to the table, still wearing that same body language, racked, then broke the balls wildly and the cue ball went flying off the table.
He then went over by his chair and began unsrewing his cues and John the TD came over and called a forfeit.
The rack wasn't the problem, Shane was having no such issues.
Dennis DOES have quit in him.
I fully understand that with the alternate break format there was little to no chance for him to win but you just shouldn't give up and a big concern over this type behavior is that it shows total disrespect for anyone who might have bet on him.
The other instances I recall were:
at the 14.1 challenge final at DCC vs Max Eberle a few years ago, Dennis was far from being out of it but he kept peering over the bleacher seats trying to watch Alex in another final and he finally just raked the balls and conceded so he could go watch the rest of Alex's match. Just crazy!
Dennis was in an action match, I believe at another DCC where he felt like he was trapped in the game with the spot he gave and he refused to continue and whined and whined about it.
In another DCC match, maybe a year or two later, playing against SVB in pb, Dennis actually took a ball from the ball box to use it to see if a ball would fit in a tight spot where he was intending to shoot. The look of disbelief on Shanes face was priceless as he (SVB) asked Dennis to hold up while he summoned a ref. I want to say it was Jay who came over but maybe it was another ref. It was called a foul and I'm pretty sure Dennis conceded that match, also.
My opinion is that this behavior from anyone, let alone one of the best in the world, is disrespectful and unsportsmanlike.
best,
brian kc
Congratulations Brian, you're right on all counts. Dennis should be on his best behavior at all times, just like everybody else. There is absolutely no excuse for him unscrewing his cue like that.
Now if you're interested I will share a few things with you. Dennis is enduring some personal family tragedy that is complicated by a trial separation from his wife and kids. He also feels quite a bit of pressure to make money as he is the sole support of a large extended family. He did win at the Super Billiards Expo in March, but that money is long gone. Dennis must constantly win or be close to the top to take care of everyone who depends on him.
Unlike some people, I have come to know Dennis very well. He is a proud man who keeps to himself and does not share details of his life easily. Let's just say he endures as best he can ALONE! Dennis Orcollo is a good man, one of the best I know and I'm proud to be his friend. The fact that he can still muster the courage to win a big tournament when faced with strong competition and a long road through the losers side, only makes me admire him more.
Yes he does get upset sometimes. This is not fun and games for him. This is his LIFE! I hope this helps all of you get an idea of the bigger picture.
Last edited:
Jay, it doesn't matter to me either way. I think he's a great player and he is entitled to act how he feels. But, I remembering watching somewhere that Dennis loves gambling in casinos. That, compounded with family responsibilities could put a lot of pressure on someone. Please correct me if I am wrong.
It has happened. The casinos have an allure for almost all the Filipino players. It looks like easy money to them. Dennis and I have had some talks about that. Within reason a little gambling can be fun. But Dennis understands his best gamble is at pool.
Actually almost all the pool gamblers are attracted to the potential for quick money that casinos offer. Many of the top names have suffered because of it.
Casinos are not easy money. If they were, they wouldn't be in business. I always thought pool gamblers choose that profession because they had the nuts and in that instance it isn't gambling anymore. I wish him the best, and hope he realizes the truth.
It was a long ten days and Bobby and I have a rapport that goes back decades. We know all the same people and have populated many of the same places. Because we have so much in common, it's natural that we like to reminisce from time to time. For the most part we do our best to make it between racks but that's not always the case.
I first met Bobby over 40 years ago when he came into my poolroom in Bakersfield. He was on the road looking for action and I accommodated him. We played 9-Ball and One Pocket and Bobby got the best of me. Not a lot of guys could beat me in my own poolroom, so he had my respect.
In later years we teamed up a few times and always made money. Bobby held up well for the cash and when a Bank game came up he would call on me. :smile:
Jay Helfert....you are a good and loyal friend.
You get a lot of respect from me for all you have done in our little pool universe, also.
You could tell Dennis that as a star, he will be scrutinized like a star....
....but he IS a STAR.
.....and I like the reminiscing....good luck on trying to please everybody.
You get a lot of respect from me for all you have done in our little pool universe, also.
You could tell Dennis that as a star, he will be scrutinized like a star....
....but he IS a STAR.
.....and I like the reminiscing....good luck on trying to please everybody.
If he had been an 80% favorite to win each of those matches (which he certainly wasn't), then his chances of winning all ten would be a little more than 10%.
I'd say his real chance of winning all ten was maybe 3%.
Last edited:
I spent about 30 hours with Dennis this past week. I backed some action he put together, both good and bad. I will say that I agree with Jay that he is a proud man and just like every other human being on earth, he has emotions that sometimes gets the better of him. Just as Dechaine refused to an interview with Jay just after he lost, Earl beats his cue on the table and Shaw snaps a shaft in half after a bad match. These people are not your role models, they are real people with real pressure and emotions. I consider Dennis a friend and a stand up guy. Looking forward to seeing him at the US Open, Derby City and possibly in Ohio soon (to be announced). I give him a pass on a very minor infraction.
Hi Jay;
We all get some tough rolls in life and how we respond to such adversity helps to define who we are.
Dennis' MEGA-talent and ability to come back in tough circumstances like how he just did at the CSI 8b, was never in question. He is one of the very best in the world. Even still, it was a tough road, but he navigated it. :thumbup:
Enjoying to wager on a game here and there, I am always mindful of the guys who grind til the bitter end and those who don't.
With that said, I remember watching a top pro friend playing in a final about a year ago and he had to get beat twice to lose since he won the hot seat.
In their first race l was distressed to see him going into give-up stroke mode because his opponent had him down something like 6 or 7 - 2, racing to 9.
When I asked him about this later, he told me he thought his best strategy to win in that situation would be to get the first race over asap and put all of his focus and energy into the 2nd race; basically keeping enough in the tank for round 2. It worked, he did win it.
So, I can appreciate such strategies..
As indisputable as Dennis' talent is, is that you are a good and loyal friend. He's lucky to have you in his corner.
As for yours and Bobby's storytelling during matches, even more would have been good with me.
best,
brian kc
Last edited:
Hi Jay;
We all get some tough rolls in life and how we respond to such adversity helps to define who we are.
Dennis' MEGA-talent and ability to come back in tough circumstances like how he just did at the CSI 8b, was never in question. He is one of the very best in the world. Even still, it was a tough road, but he navigated it. :thumbup:
Enjoying to wager on a game here and there, I am always mindful of the guys who grind til the bitter end and those who don't.
With that said, I remember watching a top pro friend playing in a final about a year ago and he had to get beat twice to lose since he won the hot seat.
In their first race l was distressed to see him going into give-up stroke mode because his opponent had him down something like 6 or 7 - 2, racing to 9.
When I asked him about this later, he told me he thought his best strategy to win in that situation would be to get the first race over asap and put all of his focus and energy into the 2nd race; basically keeping enough in the tank for round 2. It worked, he did win it.
So, I can appreciate such strategies..
As indisputable as Dennis' talent is, is that you are a good and loyal friend. He's lucky to have you in his corner.
As for yours and Bobby's storytelling during matches, even more would have been good with me.
best,
brian kc
Thanks Brian, Bobby and I are never sure if we should tell pool stories and just stick to the match. We try to stay with the match, only going off on tangents when time and the situation allows. I will occasionally refer to an old time player like Lassiter or Buddy if there is a good reason to do so. I realize most of our viewers have never seen these guys play in their prime and don't know much about them. They all had their own individual idiosyncrasies that made them unique. Lassiter was always complaining about feeling "under the weather" and being sick, yet I can remember him sitting in the front row in the backroom late at night, cue case between his legs, waiting and hoping for a game - from anyone! This when he was in his 50's. He lived to play pool and that was his whole life!
Last edited:
Indeed-I heard one guy is down over 400k in the last 2-3 years at the casino. Sounds high but who knows