'Gettin Lucky'

[jjinfla]

What's the big deal Danny? You beat a washed up old hasbeen ready for the rocking chair and his retirement check. Isn't that the way everyone now thinks of Mike Sigel.

If it was me and I beat Mike Sigel, which will never happen. I would just gloat and say I "got Lucky" and beat the greatest player in the whole wide world. Even Reyes keeps saying he "got lucky" when he wins.

Oh well, I guess you just prefer to think of your win as nothing spectacular.

Over the years I have noticed that pool players are not good losers. How many times have I seen a player lose to a so called inferior player and it just is not in him to say the player was better than him on that night. they all come up with an excuse for losing.

Anyway, have a good day, and I prefer to think that you beat a very good player. One of the best in his day. But that was 30 years ago. How well will you be shooting 30 years from now?

Jake

 

[dmgwalsh]

At least he didn't break a shaft this time.

Who can forget the class way he reacted to being whupped by John Schmidt, who apparently does know a little bit about 14.1!!

 

[Icon of Sin]

Congrats man, not a bit of luck involved. Took down 1 of the former greats. If you were to play him again, my money is on you still!!!!

 

[ScottR]

.......Danny had used a reference point... it just so happened that when Danny was down on a ball facing my direction, he used my leg (did I mention I was tan & skinny back then?? ) as a sight point. LOL, I don't know why but that memory has always stuck with me and everytime I'm remotely close to being in a players line of sight I'm reminded of it. (LOL, I can even tell you what I was wearing that day!)

Shades of Sharon Stone?!?!?!?

 

[ironman]

Who can forget the class way he reacted to being whupped by John Schmidt, who apparently does know a little bit about 14.1!!

Seems a little ironic that Bobby Hunter tutored John Scmidt quite a bit.

 

[Mike Templeton]

Shades of Sharon Stone?!?!?!?

Hey Scott,

I was there for that match at Cue Time as well. It was in the early '90s. Danny stayed at my apartment for a couple of days that trip as a guest of my roommate who steered him around Greenville some. I think it was his first trip to Greenville. I met Danny, but didn't get a chance to talk to him much or watch him play that often. I happened to be "in love" at the time and I was up a young ladies skirttail (figuratively, of course) most of the time that he was there. Timberly didn't mention that she was also a teenager then, and most gentlemen in the poolrooms took glances at her long, slender legs whenever the opportunity arose .

Those were great days around Greenville. I owned a poolroom in town at the time, and I'll never forget the first time I met Timberly. She was about 17 or 18, and I ran into her at the local Bi-Lo (I think) where she was a cashier. I had seen her at the poolrooms, and invited her to come and practice at my place. She had a little gold colored Camry and did have cute, long legs. But that's another story. I'd also like to say that things have not been the same around Greenville since Fountain Inn Red died. I miss him. He was a local legend, and one of the biggest influences on me as a player. That's also another story, too, and I don't want to hijack the thread.

I'd also like to congratulate Danny on this nice win. Even with all of Sigel's antics and disrespect, he is still one of the top 14:1 players in the world. As Danny stated, Mike only missed one ball, so it had to take a world-class effort for Danny to come out on top....Great win, Danny!

Mike

 

[StevenPWaldon]

Hey Danny-

I was watching when you beat Sigel, and BOY I'm glad you beat him (with a free bank he left.... so stupid of him, honestly).

The worst thing is that for the next ten minutes after the match he was going off on how you "dogged the break shot" when you only needed 1 or 2. He was of course referring to your last break where you didn't come hard into the pack and was left without an out needing only a ball. The safety battled commenced, and Sigel frees up a bank in the side (I think it was the 15-ball) and you nailed it, jumped in the air and smiled.

Meanwhile Sigel kept badmouthing you to everyone he made eye contact with outside the tournament room. "Only against me can a guy dog his last break ball and STILL win!"

I wanted to walk up to him and smack him around a big. "You idiot, do you recall you also left him a FREE shot when he needed only 1? Even had he missed the bank you were stuck behind the stack with nowhere to go. You lost that match because you were out played!"

I kept meaning to thank you the entire tournament for beating Sigel and sending him to the 1-loss side (where he was immediately ousted by Mika). I don't think I got around to it although I did meet you after the entire tournament was over and the bar was closing up (I'm the friend who was hanging around Max). Either way, glad you beat him!

 

[NYC cue dude]

congrats.

Your play during the match with sigel was only a portion of what you have to be proud of. You represented yourself well on and off the table the entire tournament. More guys should be as respectful of the game as you are.

As for mike, well..... he's mike. Nothing he said should be taken personal. Infact, I'm sure he would have said the same thing about every player in the tourney except his chronological peers (hopkins, varner etc.) It just goes to show you that you were playing on an elite level, and no one can take that away from you or diminish it.

thanks for "showing" up"

Randy Goldwater

 

[Blackjack]

I just thought I would tell a quick story about a certain match against Mr. Sigel, I was recently competing in the World 14.1 Championship's and drew the infamous Mike Sigel. Well to make a long story short Mike only missed one ball and it was my day to win, after the match he shook my hand and turned to someone in the crowd and said " that guy is the luckiest Moth#r fu&%$ in the world" I must say this was the sweetest victory for me in a long time. I usually do not get so ecstatic about winning one particular match, he also forgot a specific rule when I asked him whether the ball in the rack got spotted and if so where. He told me that the ball was just re-racked with the other 14 ball's (like an opening break shot,) to my advantage Bobby Hunter who was playing on the table next to our's, intervened and helped Mike remember the correct rule. Which made a huge difference in our match as it allowed me to continue the run and in my humble opinion no one gets lucky in a race to 150 points. Thanks to Blackjack I did get an invite and the chance to prove that I belong competing against the best players in the world. I would like to apologize for my boastful dity about beating the inaugural "King of the Hill" I just had to get this one off my chest.

Danny, you have every reason in the world to be proud of your victory. A lot of hard work went in to getting you there - I would like to thank your Dad, Charlie Williams, Randy, and especially Scott - btw - next year Scott and I have to go to the event. We were sweating your matches over the phone and waiting for you to call us. We must have sounded like like two expectant fathers pacing the floor outside the delivery room.

Despite the all the issues surrounding your inclusion, you stood tall and delivered and represented yourself like the champion that you are. How many guys can still win even when the pool Gods decide to start a rain shower over their table? You da man, Danny!

 

[pharaoh68]

I just thought I would tell a quick story about a certain match against Mr. Sigel, I was recently competing in the World 14.1 Championship's and drew the infamous Mike Sigel. Well to make a long story short Mike only missed one ball and it was my day to win, after the match he shook my hand and turned to someone in the crowd and said " that guy is the luckiest Moth#r fu&%$ in the world" I must say this was the sweetest victory for me in a long time. I usually do not get so ecstatic about winning one particular match, he also forgot a specific rule when I asked him whether the ball in the rack got spotted and if so where. He told me that the ball was just re-racked with the other 14 ball's (like an opening break shot,) to my advantage Bobby Hunter who was playing on the table next to our's, intervened and helped Mike remember the correct rule. Which made a huge difference in our match as it allowed me to continue the run and in my humble opinion no one gets lucky in a race to 150 points. Thanks to Blackjack I did get an invite and the chance to prove that I belong competing against the best players in the world. I would like to apologize for my boastful dity about beating the inaugural "King of the Hill" I just had to get this one off my chest.

Danny-
You should never apologize for being proud of your own accomplishments. Self-pride is a good thing provided that it not be over the top and it is far from over the top here. You belonged there without any shadow of a doubt and it was just a shame that you were not originally invited (especially seeing as how you deserved to be there more than some others who were on the list from day one). As far as boasting that you beat Mike Sigel, do NOT apologize for that either. Mike is by far the ost arrogant individual around and it would be hard to look cocky in any story involving him, especially when the story showcases his poor sportsmanship.

Again, congrats on the win and the terrific play in the tournament. And never be afraid to be confident and proud (provided it be in moderation )!

 

[Snapshot9]

Danny ...

Congrats on what must have been a hard fought match. It is good to see you competing, and I know you will get your share of wins. Best of luck.

 

[Timberly]

Shades of Sharon Stone?!?!?!?

LOL, I should've known better...all u perverts out there! They were white capri pants.

Hey Scott,

I was there for that match at Cue Time as well. It was in the early '90s. Danny stayed at my apartment for a couple of days that trip as a guest of my roommate who steered him around Greenville some. I think it was his first trip to Greenville. Yep, Danny's first time in Greenville.I met Danny, but didn't get a chance to talk to him much or watch him play that often. I happened to be "in love" at the time and I was up a young ladies skirttail (figuratively, of course) most of the time that he was there. Timberly didn't mention that she was also a teenager then, Danny & I both were 18 if I remember correctly. I'm pretty sure he's the same age as I am.and most gentlemen in the poolrooms took glances at her long, slender legs whenever the opportunity arose .

Those were great days around Greenville. I owned a poolroom in town at the time, and I'll never forget the first time I met Timberly. She was about 17 or 18, and I ran into her at the local Bi-Lo (I think) where she was a cashier.Man, what a LONG time ago!! It was indeed a Bi-Lo. I also met Willie Munson there. During the pro tourney at the Shriners Club on Rutherford Rd he stopped in the store... I didn't know who he was at the time but he had seen me at the tourney the day before and when he saw me, he came through my line. He was very polite and asked if I was going to the tourney after work. (of course I was) He introduced himself & then left. I didn't see him again (that was the summer of '90 or 91) until Vegas last May. He hasn't changed much... still looks the same & still has the same big smile. I had seen her at the poolrooms, and invited her to come and practice at my place. You had a barbox towards the front with blue felt.... I had never seen blue cloth before... it was also smaller than a normal barbox IIRC. Strip mall in Powdersville... how many 9fts did you have there? I know you had mostly 9 fts & a few barboxes....She had a little gold colored Camry and did have cute, long legs. But that's another story. I'd also like to say that things have not been the same around Greenville since Fountain Inn Red died. I miss him. He was a local legend, and one of the biggest influences on me as a player. That's also another story, too, and I don't want to hijack the thread. Having Bob King around after Red died made it not so weird.... Now with both of them gone, it's just not the same. Red was truly a one of a kind. The pool scene just isn't the same around there anymore.

I'd also like to congratulate Danny on this nice win. Even with all of Sigel's antics and disrespect, he is still one of the top 14:1 players in the world. As Danny stated, Mike only missed one ball, so it had to take a world-class effort for Danny to come out on top....Great win, Danny!

Mike

Thanks for the memories Mike! I wonder if Danny remembers his stay in Greenville? I know we wanted to match him up with Stevie but Stevie was out of town at the time. It would've been fun... they were physically built about the same (skinny) played jam up pool and their playing styles were very similar... LOL, not much has changed.

 

[Bob Jewett]

I always have trouble breaking the rack when the break ball is on the head spot....

I describe two methods in my July 2000 article at
http://www.sfbilliards.com/articles/BD_articles.html
Diagram 2 is a little wrong in that the ball on the head spot is the 15th object ball and not the cue ball.

Irving Crane regularly played for the one-cushion break as noted. He played position on the shot by bringing the cue ball back to the center spot.

 

[Bob Jewett]

...
15th ball in the rack goes on the head spot with cue ball in position. You really think Mike didn't know that, or just had a convenient lapse of memory?...

There are two exceptions to this. If the cue ball is also in the rack, all 15 rack and you have ball in hand in balk. If the cue ball is blocking a ball being spotted on the head spot, the 15th ball spots on the center spot.

A trivia question: Under what condition does the cue ball spot on the center spot?

 

[bud green]

cue ball in rack, 15th ball on foot spot?

 

[sniper]

Congratulations on your big win Danny, there is nothing more beautiful to pool fans right now than watching Mike get his a$$ kicked.

 

[zeeder]

Congrats on the stellar play Danny!

My most favorite Danny moment was when I actually got to play him at a local pool hall when he was passing through...lol. He was nice enough to even let me win a set!

 

[Nostroke]

You should have given him the old. "Damn right im lucky-lucky i was playing YOU! "

Bet he would love that.

 

[Mike Templeton]

LOL, I should've known better...all u perverts out there! They were white capri pants.


Thanks for the memories Mike! I wonder if Danny remembers his stay in Greenville? I know we wanted to match him up with Stevie but Stevie was out of town at the time. It would've been fun... they were physically built about the same (skinny) played jam up pool and their playing styles were very similar... LOL, not much has changed.

Timberly,

The Shrine tournament was the summer of '91. It was the first pro tournament I ever played. We need to start an entire thread on that tournament. I remember Earl was World Champion, and wanted everyone know it. He had a red convertible Jaguar, and the tag read "WC9Ball". He parked it right in front of the door of the Shrine Club for all to see. That was the first tournament I remember where all of the Champions attended. Then they all met over at Cue Time afterwards. The Miz signed the shuffleboard in the sawdust, and Mataya pulled out $40,000 and laid it on the table when 2 pros were arguing. He said, "Would either of you like to play Yours Truly?" I also remember that there was gambling and a poker game in the basement of the Shrine Club, and it got busted by Greenville County Police. I played Parica and then Mike Massey. Being a green kid, of course I went 2 and out. They had a fancy program printed up and I remember that when I was leaving after my match with Massey, a lady asked me to sign her program. I was never so excited. Of course, she just wanted to get all of the participants to sign. In fact, I still have my program laying around somewhere. I even still have the T-shirt that they gave all of the participants.

The table up front in my place was a Murrey 7 foot, but made like a 9' commercial table. Most of the bar table gambling was done there. I worked 80+ hours a week there and made very little money, but it was probably the most enjoyable time of my life. I moved back to Powdersville from Chattanooga and live about a quarter mile from the strip mall. There is a clothes washing place there now.

You're right. Those are great memories.

Mike

 

[JimmyB500]

I remember that tournament. I think Miz ended up winning it. Keith was there. He played Chilli. I remember Don from the Golden Cue playing a match with Earl. Bob King, I remember had a tournament match with Buddy, who was late showing up. They kept asking Bob do you want a forfeit win or are you willing to give Buddy more time to show. He kept saying naw, let's give him some more time. Great tournament. Wish it had continued. Hopkins, Varner, Cardone, Davenport, Parica, Lebron, Vickery, many many others showed up...................