Fast Larry

[hustlefinger]

Yep, you guys just miss FL - otherwise why would you even bother to open this thread?

The guy is not even here to defend himself and people are putting him down - how low can you get? How many other people do you talk about behind their backs? You must have one miserable life.

LOL, You must be a comedian. Who started this thread anyway?

 

[drivermaker]

The thread isn't going to be closed down yet. Yesterday I received FL's video tape in the mail along with a very sane well written note and a copy of all of the Ripley's Believe It Or Not articles on the shots highlighted in Ripley's book. Yes folks, even if you'd like to think he was lying, it's all right there and he did accomplish what he said.

When FL was here on AZ, I also vividly remember all of the flame wars and in many cases I got caught up and became a part of it. Like many of you, I didn't know him from the man in the moon and after a while you start forming opinions based on various factors that may or may not be true. Was he opinionated and did he have a big ego? As Don Purdy said, "yes"...and as Don also said, "we all do" and he's on the money with that statement.
Did FL go overboard and verbally nuts on the forum? Well, no question...he did. Many times as these wars were going on I defended him and helped to bolster his arguments and as a result got slammed myself and my own forum reputation. But that's the way it goes and so be it. You surely can't please everyone and you'll have your friends and your foes for the most part.

I can't remember who made the first call, but somehow or another FL and I spoke on the phone, subsequently 4 or 5 more times after that, and I was kinda taken aback by his "real life" demeanor and presentation. He's a very bright guy, quick, extremely humorous, casual, thoughtful, and no where near this fire and brimstone hellraiser persona that comes across on the forum.
I have yet to meet him in person and I don't know how he or ANYONE on here would be over time in face to face situations.

What I do know from watching the tape this morning is the SOB really CAN do some incredible shooting and perform shots that I've never seen before...shots that I don't think I could pull off if I practice from now until the rest my life!! I'm not bullshitting either. His draw stroke, besides Mike Massey, has to be one of the strongest and most accurate out there. He did some things on a snooker table with draw that blew me away, not to mention a regular 9' pool table. He also did a trick shot multiple times rolling an OB or two OB's down the table, bouncing the CB off the floor and striking it in mid air to pocket both balls as they're rolling down the table. He also bounced it off the rail and did the same thing. That is F*#KING INCREDIBLE!! Do you have any idea how much timing, and hand/eye coordination that takes?!! Give me a breaK!!

I think I also know why he was so opionated about certain things such as draw, power stroke, masse, cues, etc. The reason is he knew what he was talking about! Until seeing this tape, I would NOT have made that statement. Sure, everybody has an opinion on here and they come on with it to share, but in many cases it's WRONG, right from the start. FL just didn't beat around the bush when that occurred and tact went right out the window. Were feelings hurt? Were egos crushed? Were enemies made?
Did arguments and wars start?

We all know the answer to that. Think what you want about him bad or good...but DON'T say he was making the shit up about what he could do on the table because he could. And I guarantee, NONE OF US could pull those shots off because it just isn't about "knowing how to set the balls up".
The guy really has a super powerful stroke and he knows what to do with it.

 

[Koop]

I still haven't had a chance to watch my video but I'm really looking forward to it. He PM'd way back saying he was going to send it and I honestly forgot about it. When the package came, I had no idea who it was from or what it was. All I can say is he turned out to be a man of his word, which in my book goes a long way.

Dave

 

[vagabond]

The thread isn't going to be closed down yet.
I have yet to meet him in person and I don't know how he or ANYONE on here would be over time in face to face situations.

Howdy drivermaker,
As I said earlier I saw him at trade show in Vegas 3 weeks ago.I did not speak to him but I observed his demeanor.He did NOT act like a raging maniac.He was very quiet,minding his own buisiness.He carried himself with self confidence.He has ,on his face, look of a very strong willed person.Cheers
Vagabond

 

[tom haney]

I was here and saw the entire show go down. Once people figured out how touchy FL was they could not stop themselves sticking little pins into him just to see how high they could make him jump. It is the same thing as Earl Strickland, by in large the guy is cool as long as you dont do something stupid to him, he will blow it out of preportion and flip out because he is like that. Same thing with FL, and once people here figured that out they could not stop themselves from neddleing him in order to see the FL show. If he came back today on his best behaviour it would be no different, I guarentee that you would get yahoos who cannot help but poke the old caged bear with a stick just to get a rise out of it.

Good post and absolutely dead on. He got so mad at
me on playpool one time he called me every name
in the book and then sent sent me a pm telling me how
sorry he was. I like FL. Everybody yanks his chain
cause it's so easy to get him to go off.

 

[kokopuffs]

Me and Fl pm'ed a couple of times and he came across as sensible. I have yet to watch him shoot.

 

[Rickw]

I've never ever questioned his ability just his judgment regarding posting. I've always said that just because someone has excellent skills at something doesn't mean they can't be a jerk. I thought that Larry showed extremely poor judgment on this board and if Mike thought he should be banned, then so be it and the issue should be closed. I don't understand why this subject surfaces every now and then. It's over and done with and life goes on.

I think this is a great board and I appreciate what Mike has done with it. I for one am not in favor of people second-guessing him. Write him a PM and talk to him about it if you are so inclined. Why stir this up on the board again and again?

 

[jjinfla]

I've never ever questioned his ability just his judgment regarding posting. I've always said that just because someone has excellent skills at something doesn't mean they can't be a jerk. I thought that Larry showed extremely poor judgment on this board and if Mike thought he should be banned, then so be it and the issue should be closed. I don't understand why this subject surfaces every now and then. It's over and done with and life goes on.

I think this is a great board and I appreciate what Mike has done with it. I for one am not in favor of people second-guessing him. Write him a PM and talk to him about it if you are so inclined. Why stir this up on the board again and again?

Well Rick W. wouldn't you like to be so popular that your name would receive 711 hits in just 30 hours? And over the past couple years I would ask pros if FL was legit and they all told me yes. I was beginning to think that Mike Massey was the only person alive who could force draw into the side rail and then around two balls and go up table and make a ball. Fast Larry goes around 4 balls. Un*******real. Of course Mike is so good at it he can do it successfully during a tournament. In the videos FL draw full length on a 6x12 snooker table and makes it look so easy. I asked Stefano if he knows FL and he said yes. I asked him if he can do the 4 ball bottle trick and he said he doesn't do it.

Of course we all know that having a trick shot on video is nothing like performing it in a tournament. Who knows how many times he tried the shot before he was successful. But at least he has proof that he did do it. I just wish that he had some help in putting the videos together. Someone who knew about editing and adding sound to the videos.

Jake

 

[Rickw]

Well Rick W. wouldn't you like to be so popular that your name would receive 711 hits in just 30 hours?
Jake

No. Again, I didn't say anything about his ability just his posting judgment and they are mutually exclusive. I like this board and I like the way Mike runs it. Enough said.