Has anyone witnessed someone getting an azz kicking over shooting air barrels? No names need to be revealed, but I am curious if this "urban legend" still occurs.
Fighting over money
- Thread starter insanepoolgod
- Start date
I've played before knowing damn well that if I won I would hear, "I don't have it right now, I'll catch ya next week", etc. Been stiffed before, and will again....don't care. 
I've been a regular at the various poolrooms (never bars) since about 1993. I recall maybe 3 or 4 fights, but they were with bangers. I don't ever recall a fight breaking out over money or being stiffed.
Wait, I just remembered one incident. 2 big guys, C players, were playing a set for 200. The one guy won, the other paid him. The winner was packing up his stuff, and the loser jumped on his back. The winner did not throw any punches, or fight back, and waited for the houseman to pull the loser off of him (the winner would have really hurt the loser if they had fought), and he was in control of the situation. This "fight" was not about money, they both had plenty of it. It was more about the loser being embarrassed he lost. Plus, the loser definitely had a screw loose.
I saw another "fight". An 80 year old frail hustler that we all knew and was a staple in the pool room played a 20 yr old for $2 a game. He beat the kid for $6. The kid was always broke, and didn't have the money. The old hustler was truly old school. He went up to the kid and threw a punch at his face. Unfortunately, he slipped, and fell into the kid. The kid thankfully did not fight back, and one of his buddies broke it up. His buddy paid the old hustler the $6.
Most of the rooms in my travels were in the suburbs, in relatively safe neighborhoods.
Wait, I just remembered one incident. 2 big guys, C players, were playing a set for 200. The one guy won, the other paid him. The winner was packing up his stuff, and the loser jumped on his back. The winner did not throw any punches, or fight back, and waited for the houseman to pull the loser off of him (the winner would have really hurt the loser if they had fought), and he was in control of the situation. This "fight" was not about money, they both had plenty of it. It was more about the loser being embarrassed he lost. Plus, the loser definitely had a screw loose.
I saw another "fight". An 80 year old frail hustler that we all knew and was a staple in the pool room played a 20 yr old for $2 a game. He beat the kid for $6. The kid was always broke, and didn't have the money. The old hustler was truly old school. He went up to the kid and threw a punch at his face. Unfortunately, he slipped, and fell into the kid. The kid thankfully did not fight back, and one of his buddies broke it up. His buddy paid the old hustler the $6.
Most of the rooms in my travels were in the suburbs, in relatively safe neighborhoods.
Seen a $5K air barrel walk after losing to the owner of the room. Owner said it was worth $5K to know he would never be back in his place and with the word out he'd never get any real action after that.
I haven't seen anyone actually getting their ass kicked for air barrelling but I did once see a kid who I know was air barreling playing a set of 9 ball against a guy who I know would have beaten the kid to within an inch of his life if he had gotten stiffed. The kid was very small and weak, a bit of a pretty boy, why he was air barreling against the other guy was beyond me. It was a very even match that went hill-hill and the kid was really nervous but managed to just barely eek out the win. I remember thinking along with a few other railbirds "my god this kid is going to end up in the hospital" everytime he rattled a ball that just manged to drop in.
About 10 year ago this idiot lost to me 2 x 100sets. He wants to double up and I tell him to pay up and post and we are on. He pulls out 200 and pays me but insists he'll run to a bank machine should he lose.
It must have been the pressure but he played like a chump. I go about my business and torch him 9-1. As I drop the last ball I walk up to him and take the cue out of his hands. Well with no issue out the door he goes for the cash. 60 minutes later I give up on the idiot. This was not my home room but I gave the houseman my business card (everyone knew me) and told him to inform loser that I had his cue and he could call me to square up. I think I probably went back there about 8 times before one day he walks into my home room looking for me complete with friend.
Well he had half my money and insisted that I produce his cue. I tell him thats nice but it was home and he could have it once the balance was paid. His buddy then gets up in my face and tells me he should simply take my gear. This is where it gets fun. The owner winks at couple of regulars and it's on. It looked like a old Batman episode. Bing...Banggggg...Zooommmm...Plinnnnnng. I'm not sure what I enjoyed more. The beating they received or dragging them down a flight of stairs to the street.
I miss that old place. I still have that Falcon in my office. I smile every time I see it.
It must have been the pressure but he played like a chump. I go about my business and torch him 9-1. As I drop the last ball I walk up to him and take the cue out of his hands. Well with no issue out the door he goes for the cash. 60 minutes later I give up on the idiot. This was not my home room but I gave the houseman my business card (everyone knew me) and told him to inform loser that I had his cue and he could call me to square up. I think I probably went back there about 8 times before one day he walks into my home room looking for me complete with friend.
Well he had half my money and insisted that I produce his cue. I tell him thats nice but it was home and he could have it once the balance was paid. His buddy then gets up in my face and tells me he should simply take my gear. This is where it gets fun. The owner winks at couple of regulars and it's on. It looked like a old Batman episode. Bing...Banggggg...Zooommmm...Plinnnnnng. I'm not sure what I enjoyed more. The beating they received or dragging them down a flight of stairs to the street.
I miss that old place. I still have that Falcon in my office. I smile every time I see it.
lol
In my neck of the woods it still happens, not on a daily basis but it does happen alot more than I would like to admit just because of the 'New blood' working its way into the poolroom and not knowing etiquette or when they're out matched.
In the three years i've been playing at this room, there's a few times it pops into mind. The first was a guy that we nickednamed Wheelie. Everytime dude walked in we were fighting over who got to hook him on the cash. Anyway there's two incidents with this kid. First night he plays an older guy whose a construction worker, he fires 50 at him that he doesnt have, turns around and runs to the atm. Never comes back but he left a brand new sneaky pete stick layin on the table [ muecci i believe] which the guy enjoyed. His second offense was he stiffed a railbird like 20 bucks when he played the 4 ball ghost. Ghost ate him alive, railbird had backed ghost, it never got out of hand dude always ran. Now he's not welcome back.
Second time is this kid from down mid bama [bham/tuscaloosa] comes in and offers a friend of mine the wild 7-8, my buddy takes it and jumps on him for about 400. Dude didnt have the cash, they worked it out on a payment plan, anyway he stiffed my boy for about 250ish? My buddy got him with one good lick and the guy handed over a predator.
Third one is my favorite. Our local nit and whiny ass came in, starts playing some 9 for 5-10 a game with a good friend of mine, my buddy gets up like 40 on him, and the boy starts screaming for an adjustment. Anyway my buddy won't give it to him, and they start to argue. Guy goes and pays the pool man and looks at me and my buddy [whom i was backing] and says " i aint got your money you nitty f***s" and i proceeded to stand up, follow him down the stairs to the parking lot and of course my friends are all tagging along expecting to see us fight, his friends are trying to break it up. I grabbed him by the shirt and told him he would pay me, or he'd lose his precious custom J/B. Anyway he starts fidgeting and throws like 10 bucks on the ground and my buddy grabs it for me, and he tried to kick my buddy in the face. Never the less I got my money, and he toted a whipping. Not for the air barrel but more for the fact that he kicked a man who leaned over.
So yeah in this section of the pool world it happens more than enough. Not many severe beatings because our action just aint up to snuff for the severe ones.
In my neck of the woods it still happens, not on a daily basis but it does happen alot more than I would like to admit just because of the 'New blood' working its way into the poolroom and not knowing etiquette or when they're out matched.
In the three years i've been playing at this room, there's a few times it pops into mind. The first was a guy that we nickednamed Wheelie. Everytime dude walked in we were fighting over who got to hook him on the cash. Anyway there's two incidents with this kid. First night he plays an older guy whose a construction worker, he fires 50 at him that he doesnt have, turns around and runs to the atm. Never comes back but he left a brand new sneaky pete stick layin on the table [ muecci i believe] which the guy enjoyed. His second offense was he stiffed a railbird like 20 bucks when he played the 4 ball ghost. Ghost ate him alive, railbird had backed ghost, it never got out of hand dude always ran. Now he's not welcome back.
Second time is this kid from down mid bama [bham/tuscaloosa] comes in and offers a friend of mine the wild 7-8, my buddy takes it and jumps on him for about 400. Dude didnt have the cash, they worked it out on a payment plan, anyway he stiffed my boy for about 250ish? My buddy got him with one good lick and the guy handed over a predator.
Third one is my favorite. Our local nit and whiny ass came in, starts playing some 9 for 5-10 a game with a good friend of mine, my buddy gets up like 40 on him, and the boy starts screaming for an adjustment. Anyway my buddy won't give it to him, and they start to argue. Guy goes and pays the pool man and looks at me and my buddy [whom i was backing] and says " i aint got your money you nitty f***s" and i proceeded to stand up, follow him down the stairs to the parking lot and of course my friends are all tagging along expecting to see us fight, his friends are trying to break it up. I grabbed him by the shirt and told him he would pay me, or he'd lose his precious custom J/B. Anyway he starts fidgeting and throws like 10 bucks on the ground and my buddy grabs it for me, and he tried to kick my buddy in the face. Never the less I got my money, and he toted a whipping. Not for the air barrel but more for the fact that he kicked a man who leaned over.
So yeah in this section of the pool world it happens more than enough. Not many severe beatings because our action just aint up to snuff for the severe ones.
How about 2 killings and numerous shootings.
I had someone refused to pay after I came back from a 6-1 deficit in a race to 7. He broke bad , started to get in my space... and I ended up beating him like a drum...didn't stop till I heard someone say undercover police..He then said in front of everyone I wasn't getting s#*t ...so I asked him " well tell me ...how did that $100.00 a** whippin feel ? Got to tell you it did feel good ..I went to Burger King Got a big meal ,called my buddy told him the story...He then said ..remember when you were young...you used to want a girl..now you want to eat...
Sorry,I know your talking air barrels, but I had to add this one! In the mid eighties, I witnessed someone get their skull split wide open with a crowbar. It was over a quarter, and who was in line next on the pool table. I thought the guy had just stomped off mad. Then he rushed in with this crowbar, and then he popped the guy in the forehead he was argueing with. Man did he bleed! It was awful. If it had been a dollar I could understand it, but a quarter! 
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I used to own a country dance club.I had a 18 year old kid come in one night and said he wanted to gamble with me.I ended up beatind him out of $100 at $10 a game.Then he said he only had $20.So me and one of my bouncers took his shoes(new nikes) pants and shirt and put him out the back door in his underwear.I never saw him again but I hope he learned a lesson.The shirt and shoes we donated to goodwill and the shoes fit me perfect.
Didn't TAR have an interview with Scooter where he says "always fire the air barrel"? "The worst that can happen is you owe next time".
Guess he doesn't hang out in the same places as the rest of these stories.
The Byrnes story about Mcgoorty said the way you get tournament tough was to bet without having the money.
Not an air barrel story, but I always wondered how somebody with a mouth like Minnesota fats reportedly had lived to an old age.
The first time everyone saw Color of Money who didn't think "Vince" wasn't going to get "drilled" when he was spinning his cue?
Guess he doesn't hang out in the same places as the rest of these stories.
The Byrnes story about Mcgoorty said the way you get tournament tough was to bet without having the money.
Not an air barrel story, but I always wondered how somebody with a mouth like Minnesota fats reportedly had lived to an old age.
The first time everyone saw Color of Money who didn't think "Vince" wasn't going to get "drilled" when he was spinning his cue?