OK I had a little trek north and thought I would post up my adventure. First of all my brother came to Indy with his 2 sons and we had a family visit in Indy. He said that were going through Chicago on the way back to Texas. I got an invitation to go with so we convoyed in two vehicles up to Chicago.
On the way north I called Ed Young to find out where I was on my cue, it is stalled out currently as Ed has gout. Prior to my visits I had spoken with our own Dennis Walsh about a visit to see Sailor and he was open to giving me a lesson. I could not wait to get up there to see Sailor as he was on my bucket list. I have not hit a lot of balls this summer so I intended to put in some table time to get in stroke.
Back to the trip with my brother, the reason for the trip to Chicago was his son wanted to go to Second City to inquire about taking comedy classes so we drove up to the north sound of the inner city and went by the school/comedy club. It was a good visit and I think my nephew might attend time will tell. We wound up getting tickets to watch a show that night pretty funny all improve 5 players very cool. We got to sit in the booth a special booth which had picture of famous people from the past all sitting in the same booth. Belushi had sat there also Bush along with a ton of other famous people. I was surprised they did not take a picture of me sitting in the booth but I guess they missed it because the place with completely full. Improv was pretty good very dynamic but they were not quite up to Wayne Brady level, I would go back for more. I had a 3 Floyds beer very tasty, Food was OK, then a Miller Lite now that is good beer right there Miller Lite.
We got a fancy hotel room downtown on Hotel tonight 160 for a $400+ room when we got there they hit us for $65 more to park, made me glad I had paid for overnight parking by the comedy club for my car. In tolls and parking the first day we spent on 2 cars ~ $125 Chicago needless to say is a little more expensive than Indy.
More Chicago stuff on Friday Thick Pizza (Eduardos good but not fabulous), Cubs vs Ray (Cubs lose ) then the Willis/Sears tower great view glass floor ledge 1352 ft up is really cool. My bro said he had to head back to Texas after all that Friday afternoon late so we called it and he dropped me at my car, I paid some more for parking to break my car out and I drove straight to Red Shoes.
When I got to Red Shoes I played till they told me they were closing shop. I needed to hit some balls before seeing Sailor and I got right to it I opened up with a 24. I had 2 or 3 other runs in the 20’s I played almost 5 hours. Fist day at Red shoes I got in some time made some balls.
Now my intent was to play Sat and Sun 11-6 for ten bucks each day it did not quite work out that way. Since I stayed so late on Friday night and my cheap Expedia hotel was 30+ minutes away and I slept in so I got back to Red Shoes about 12:30 Sat afternoon and Ed Latimer had been waiting for me expecting I would get there at 11 he got into a bank game before I arrived so I did not get an Ed L lesson. Dennis we played 3 games and it was great to play some 14.1 as we are well matched. Dennis scores with an iPad or something we got some info along with like time per shot I am slower than Dennis but I picked it up the second 2 games got my shot time down near 25 sec or so 1st game was 30 sec plus. Later Bob Cozzolino showed up and gave me a lesson. He was big on execution and control so back again to the brain wash drill, then the rail drill then the Mosconi circle drill. We did not do a lot of those but some with tips so I need to work on those when I get home. While I was playing at Red Shoes other tables had 14.1 going on during the day. Later Bob took off and I came back late and played till almost 1 went to meet my college roommate buddy who works at Ford he got off work at 2 AM so I planned to stay at his place. After he gets off work we had to go way into Indiana and pay more tolls and then drive and drive we went to Valpraiso and then of course we hang out catchup and drink some mixed drinks. I go to sleep at about 6 AM central time.
Sunday morning I sleep in till almost 1 PM, get up fix my bed/couch go eat and drive back to Red shoes it is after 3pm before I get back to the table. Coz is giving someone else a 14.1 lesson I am doing brain wash drills and another table has a 14.1 match going and some guys was practicing 14.1 by himself. When the 14.1 game stopped the winner went over and watched the end of the lesson Cozz was giving. Now I ate on the way in at the Portillos I had the Italian beef with hot peppers so after Coz finished that lesson he asked me to go eat and I had to pass as I was still full from lunch so he goes to eat and while he was gone I step out and walk to the end of the strip mall and get some ice cream from DQ which I ate in Red Shoes. I get back on the table and Cozz comes back he wants to play 14.1 we play a game to 125. I had a few short runs missed some break balls he wins 125 to 90 something. Nobody did nothing great but he is a real combo kid and the side pockets seem to open up for him, thin into the side got him started on a run multiple times. I told him I had to head out after that game to drive to the west side to my hotel room. I stayed in a Quality Inn / Suites near Ohare/Schaumberg it was a real dump not so great but the shower worked and I was near my customer for a Monday sales call.
Monday AM I got up at Customers by 8:30 or soand got that visit done first thing and hopefully I will get some Chi town work but we will see in the future. Leave the customer and I head out to Racine, WI to see Sailor. I get up to Sailors a little early I was supposed to be there at 3 pm I got there a little after 2pm his nurse was there Sailor has good care, he was in a wheelchair after having recently having some foot surgery. He looked real good his eyes were bright and his hands are strong. I looked over his place the main room had a covered gold crown and pictures and memorabilia on all walls. Pool was everywhere I looked. On one wall was a 25,50 and 100 14.1 hi run club with names under each one. The higher the run the less names in the club. Lots to look at in Sailor’s abode.
We got into why I came and first we talked pool and stuff about me initially like what I wanted to do, had I had lessons etc. He asked lessons from whom and when I told him he said why are you here you have had so many lessons. I told him I wanted to learn how to play more than how to hit the ball. We talked a little about books he said Mark Wilson had the best book and pooled out his copy with a beautiful inscription from Mark. I showed him my copy he told me mine did not have enough wear on it yet. I asked to video my lesson and Sailor was not comfortable with that so we went to playing a little.
The first step was take the cover off the table he showed me how to do that and the first thing I did was take 3 attempts at 14.1 cold. Only the first 3 attempts or the last 3 of a day would allow entry into the hi run clubs. I told him I wanted to get in the 25 club, I ran a 2,1 and then a 26. The 26 ended with 3 balls near the rack I am cutting a ball into the side and trying to bump the other 2 balls out one to a break shot and one to be my setup ball. I missed so a 26.
We then played me shooting Sailor talking and I will not bore you with my lesson but will tell you that Sailor is very serious about pool. Later we went to eat and then more pool which I had to cut short as I drive home later that night. I arrived in Indy ~ 4AM Tuesday morning. What did I learn at Sailor’s you have to make your time count, draw the line, tighten up the cut, push thru on slow shots with lots of side spin and speed control. My grand ma probably has more speed control than I was showing but Sailor kept setting up a shot which showed both stroke and soft speed control pretty patient thanks again.
Prior to leave Sailor revealed an interesting piece of pool memorabilia which was really cool to see he had an old silver certificate dollar signed by 1961 Ralph Walderone under that he had wrote New York Fat’s. He said that the Fat guy could actually play pretty good better than people give him credit for playing anyway.
Anyone wanting to learn some old school pool the Sailor Racine might be your better choice he has the knowledge and is a real nice guy, I am glad I went to see him and I will be back.
So in closing 14.1 is alive and well in Chicago. An hour north of the northside of Chicago is the Sailor man of Racine WI. A true living legend and he likes to teach and share his knowledge. I had a great little impromptu pool trip. Score +1 for the Elvi
On the way north I called Ed Young to find out where I was on my cue, it is stalled out currently as Ed has gout. Prior to my visits I had spoken with our own Dennis Walsh about a visit to see Sailor and he was open to giving me a lesson. I could not wait to get up there to see Sailor as he was on my bucket list. I have not hit a lot of balls this summer so I intended to put in some table time to get in stroke.
Back to the trip with my brother, the reason for the trip to Chicago was his son wanted to go to Second City to inquire about taking comedy classes so we drove up to the north sound of the inner city and went by the school/comedy club. It was a good visit and I think my nephew might attend time will tell. We wound up getting tickets to watch a show that night pretty funny all improve 5 players very cool. We got to sit in the booth a special booth which had picture of famous people from the past all sitting in the same booth. Belushi had sat there also Bush along with a ton of other famous people. I was surprised they did not take a picture of me sitting in the booth but I guess they missed it because the place with completely full. Improv was pretty good very dynamic but they were not quite up to Wayne Brady level, I would go back for more. I had a 3 Floyds beer very tasty, Food was OK, then a Miller Lite now that is good beer right there Miller Lite.
We got a fancy hotel room downtown on Hotel tonight 160 for a $400+ room when we got there they hit us for $65 more to park, made me glad I had paid for overnight parking by the comedy club for my car. In tolls and parking the first day we spent on 2 cars ~ $125 Chicago needless to say is a little more expensive than Indy.
More Chicago stuff on Friday Thick Pizza (Eduardos good but not fabulous), Cubs vs Ray (Cubs lose ) then the Willis/Sears tower great view glass floor ledge 1352 ft up is really cool. My bro said he had to head back to Texas after all that Friday afternoon late so we called it and he dropped me at my car, I paid some more for parking to break my car out and I drove straight to Red Shoes.
When I got to Red Shoes I played till they told me they were closing shop. I needed to hit some balls before seeing Sailor and I got right to it I opened up with a 24. I had 2 or 3 other runs in the 20’s I played almost 5 hours. Fist day at Red shoes I got in some time made some balls.
Now my intent was to play Sat and Sun 11-6 for ten bucks each day it did not quite work out that way. Since I stayed so late on Friday night and my cheap Expedia hotel was 30+ minutes away and I slept in so I got back to Red Shoes about 12:30 Sat afternoon and Ed Latimer had been waiting for me expecting I would get there at 11 he got into a bank game before I arrived so I did not get an Ed L lesson. Dennis we played 3 games and it was great to play some 14.1 as we are well matched. Dennis scores with an iPad or something we got some info along with like time per shot I am slower than Dennis but I picked it up the second 2 games got my shot time down near 25 sec or so 1st game was 30 sec plus. Later Bob Cozzolino showed up and gave me a lesson. He was big on execution and control so back again to the brain wash drill, then the rail drill then the Mosconi circle drill. We did not do a lot of those but some with tips so I need to work on those when I get home. While I was playing at Red Shoes other tables had 14.1 going on during the day. Later Bob took off and I came back late and played till almost 1 went to meet my college roommate buddy who works at Ford he got off work at 2 AM so I planned to stay at his place. After he gets off work we had to go way into Indiana and pay more tolls and then drive and drive we went to Valpraiso and then of course we hang out catchup and drink some mixed drinks. I go to sleep at about 6 AM central time.
Sunday morning I sleep in till almost 1 PM, get up fix my bed/couch go eat and drive back to Red shoes it is after 3pm before I get back to the table. Coz is giving someone else a 14.1 lesson I am doing brain wash drills and another table has a 14.1 match going and some guys was practicing 14.1 by himself. When the 14.1 game stopped the winner went over and watched the end of the lesson Cozz was giving. Now I ate on the way in at the Portillos I had the Italian beef with hot peppers so after Coz finished that lesson he asked me to go eat and I had to pass as I was still full from lunch so he goes to eat and while he was gone I step out and walk to the end of the strip mall and get some ice cream from DQ which I ate in Red Shoes. I get back on the table and Cozz comes back he wants to play 14.1 we play a game to 125. I had a few short runs missed some break balls he wins 125 to 90 something. Nobody did nothing great but he is a real combo kid and the side pockets seem to open up for him, thin into the side got him started on a run multiple times. I told him I had to head out after that game to drive to the west side to my hotel room. I stayed in a Quality Inn / Suites near Ohare/Schaumberg it was a real dump not so great but the shower worked and I was near my customer for a Monday sales call.
Monday AM I got up at Customers by 8:30 or soand got that visit done first thing and hopefully I will get some Chi town work but we will see in the future. Leave the customer and I head out to Racine, WI to see Sailor. I get up to Sailors a little early I was supposed to be there at 3 pm I got there a little after 2pm his nurse was there Sailor has good care, he was in a wheelchair after having recently having some foot surgery. He looked real good his eyes were bright and his hands are strong. I looked over his place the main room had a covered gold crown and pictures and memorabilia on all walls. Pool was everywhere I looked. On one wall was a 25,50 and 100 14.1 hi run club with names under each one. The higher the run the less names in the club. Lots to look at in Sailor’s abode.
We got into why I came and first we talked pool and stuff about me initially like what I wanted to do, had I had lessons etc. He asked lessons from whom and when I told him he said why are you here you have had so many lessons. I told him I wanted to learn how to play more than how to hit the ball. We talked a little about books he said Mark Wilson had the best book and pooled out his copy with a beautiful inscription from Mark. I showed him my copy he told me mine did not have enough wear on it yet. I asked to video my lesson and Sailor was not comfortable with that so we went to playing a little.
The first step was take the cover off the table he showed me how to do that and the first thing I did was take 3 attempts at 14.1 cold. Only the first 3 attempts or the last 3 of a day would allow entry into the hi run clubs. I told him I wanted to get in the 25 club, I ran a 2,1 and then a 26. The 26 ended with 3 balls near the rack I am cutting a ball into the side and trying to bump the other 2 balls out one to a break shot and one to be my setup ball. I missed so a 26.
We then played me shooting Sailor talking and I will not bore you with my lesson but will tell you that Sailor is very serious about pool. Later we went to eat and then more pool which I had to cut short as I drive home later that night. I arrived in Indy ~ 4AM Tuesday morning. What did I learn at Sailor’s you have to make your time count, draw the line, tighten up the cut, push thru on slow shots with lots of side spin and speed control. My grand ma probably has more speed control than I was showing but Sailor kept setting up a shot which showed both stroke and soft speed control pretty patient thanks again.
Prior to leave Sailor revealed an interesting piece of pool memorabilia which was really cool to see he had an old silver certificate dollar signed by 1961 Ralph Walderone under that he had wrote New York Fat’s. He said that the Fat guy could actually play pretty good better than people give him credit for playing anyway.
Anyone wanting to learn some old school pool the Sailor Racine might be your better choice he has the knowledge and is a real nice guy, I am glad I went to see him and I will be back.
So in closing 14.1 is alive and well in Chicago. An hour north of the northside of Chicago is the Sailor man of Racine WI. A true living legend and he likes to teach and share his knowledge. I had a great little impromptu pool trip. Score +1 for the Elvi
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All funnin' aside, the wife is from Chicago, so we've definitely a Chicago trip in our near future for sure. And my goal is to stop by Red Shoes for sure!