Have you ever met a big name player???
- Thread starter prulhiere cues
- Start date
Met Earl Strickland twice..and met Fran Crimi (well she's my instructor so duh). I've seen a few others such as Jose Parica but never had a conversation with them.
Earl's cue must be over 6 feet long.
Players I've Met
I started playing at BoulderBilliards(what a spot!) in '79. First real player i met was one Cecil "The Rifleman" Hall. He was living in Ok. at the time and the pool this man played was beyond belief. Others i've met and got to know are a midwest who's-who: Dick Lane, Dave Matlock, "FatRandy" Wallace, James Walden, Mike Betts and more. Now we've got the new kids: Shane McMinn, Chip,Joey, Gabe Glad to know these cats
I started playing at BoulderBilliards(what a spot!) in '79. First real player i met was one Cecil "The Rifleman" Hall. He was living in Ok. at the time and the pool this man played was beyond belief. Others i've met and got to know are a midwest who's-who: Dick Lane, Dave Matlock, "FatRandy" Wallace, James Walden, Mike Betts and more. Now we've got the new kids: Shane McMinn, Chip,Joey, Gabe Glad to know these cats
I was living in Orange CO CA. I went to College Billiards in San Diego for a 1-pocket tourment. That never happened. So i went to the Hungry Stick in San Diego. I was hitting some balls and in walks Jay Swanson.He asks me where i am from. I tell him i went to College Billiards for their 1-pocket tourment. So he asks me to play. So we play for 5 a game 1-pocket. He wins 50 bucks. But the neat thing he tells me what i should have done. Jay was very nice guy. Later on that year they had the Southern Califorina Open at Hard Times in Bellflower Ca. Jay walked up and said hi to me.
I have had the opportunity to meet alot of men & women pro's over the years of my playing. A few opportunities came when some came into town to do exhibitions at either Rack'em or The Break Room when it was open.
Mike Massey did a show at The Break Room. Before his show he & I played a short race to 50 points Straight Pool game. I won the lag. He broke. I had a long cut shot to the left corner pocket, made it and proceeded to run 23 before I missed. Mike went up and ran his 50 and that was that.
Earl Strickland and Johhny Archer put on a show at The Break Room as well. And then Nick Varner & Johhny Archer put on a show at Rack'em about a year later. I had Varner & Archer sign my Dead Stroke denim playing jacket on its shoulder areas.
During the years that I worked for The Break Room's pro shop I made several visits to the BCA trade shows with my employers. Those trips gave me opportunities to meet almost everyone that can be considered major. While attending those shows I collected autographs on a Palmer Custom hustler cue that I had since selling cues in College.
The men pro autographs I have on my hustler include:
Allen Hopkins, Jimmy Carras, Mike Massey, Steve Mizerak, Buddy Hall, Lou Butera, Howard Vickery, C.J. Wiley, Earl Strickland, Nick Varner, Jim Rempe, Johnny Archer, Kim Davenport, Jimmy Wetch, Roger Griffis, and John Horsfall.
At one of the BCA trade shows a world 3 cushion event was going on at the same time. There I picked up autographs from Raymon Cuelemans, and Frank Torres. When I asked for Frank Torres autograph he said in his broken english that it was the first time that anyone had asked for his autograph.
Among the women pro autographs I have on my hustler include:
Alison Fisher, Karen Corr, Jeanette Lee, Ewa Laurence, Loree Jon Jones, Gerda Hofstater, Helena Thornfeldt, Vivian Villareal, Robin Dodson, Dawn Hopkins, Laura Smith, Jan McWorter, Kerry Hartsfield, Bonnie Arnold, Aileen Pippin, Darlene Stinson, and Niki Benish.
I've had the opportunity to play challenge games against Dawn Hopkins. Went 5-1 against her. Played Loree Jon and finally got a win after my 3rd game against her. Played Ewa and went 0 for 3 and didnt really care. Played Jeanette and lost and didnt care. Played Allison and lost. Played CJ Wiley and broke and ran against him He signed me a photo saying "great shooting".
Every woman pro I ever met was very considerate and gracious to me and everyone I saw that they interacted with.
Most of the pro men were OK in how they interacted. For me Nick Varner, Jim Rempe, Mike Massey and Johnny Archer always presented themselves as true gentelmen and have always been very gracious to me and other fans around them.
Mike Sigel was rude when I asked for an autograph from him, and refused to sign. Steve Mizerak was a bit surly when I asked for an autograph from him. But he did sign, at the time I was totally blown away by how big he appeared at the time. And it semmed evident to me then that he was having some serious health issues going on. So I chose to dismiss my experience with him due to that.
Mike Massey did a show at The Break Room. Before his show he & I played a short race to 50 points Straight Pool game. I won the lag. He broke. I had a long cut shot to the left corner pocket, made it and proceeded to run 23 before I missed. Mike went up and ran his 50 and that was that.
Earl Strickland and Johhny Archer put on a show at The Break Room as well. And then Nick Varner & Johhny Archer put on a show at Rack'em about a year later. I had Varner & Archer sign my Dead Stroke denim playing jacket on its shoulder areas.
During the years that I worked for The Break Room's pro shop I made several visits to the BCA trade shows with my employers. Those trips gave me opportunities to meet almost everyone that can be considered major. While attending those shows I collected autographs on a Palmer Custom hustler cue that I had since selling cues in College.
The men pro autographs I have on my hustler include:
Allen Hopkins, Jimmy Carras, Mike Massey, Steve Mizerak, Buddy Hall, Lou Butera, Howard Vickery, C.J. Wiley, Earl Strickland, Nick Varner, Jim Rempe, Johnny Archer, Kim Davenport, Jimmy Wetch, Roger Griffis, and John Horsfall.
At one of the BCA trade shows a world 3 cushion event was going on at the same time. There I picked up autographs from Raymon Cuelemans, and Frank Torres. When I asked for Frank Torres autograph he said in his broken english that it was the first time that anyone had asked for his autograph.
Among the women pro autographs I have on my hustler include:
Alison Fisher, Karen Corr, Jeanette Lee, Ewa Laurence, Loree Jon Jones, Gerda Hofstater, Helena Thornfeldt, Vivian Villareal, Robin Dodson, Dawn Hopkins, Laura Smith, Jan McWorter, Kerry Hartsfield, Bonnie Arnold, Aileen Pippin, Darlene Stinson, and Niki Benish.
I've had the opportunity to play challenge games against Dawn Hopkins. Went 5-1 against her. Played Loree Jon and finally got a win after my 3rd game against her. Played Ewa and went 0 for 3 and didnt really care. Played Jeanette and lost and didnt care. Played Allison and lost. Played CJ Wiley and broke and ran against him He signed me a photo saying "great shooting".
Every woman pro I ever met was very considerate and gracious to me and everyone I saw that they interacted with.
Most of the pro men were OK in how they interacted. For me Nick Varner, Jim Rempe, Mike Massey and Johnny Archer always presented themselves as true gentelmen and have always been very gracious to me and other fans around them.
Mike Sigel was rude when I asked for an autograph from him, and refused to sign. Steve Mizerak was a bit surly when I asked for an autograph from him. But he did sign, at the time I was totally blown away by how big he appeared at the time. And it semmed evident to me then that he was having some serious health issues going on. So I chose to dismiss my experience with him due to that.
About 1973 I was livining a small town in Arkansas. The nearest city ws Shreveport La. so we read the Shreveport Times each day.
One day I opened the the sports page and there is an article featuring Buddy Hall. I loved to play but had never heard the name before but I became an instant fan.
The article mentioned many challenge matches and that he had on offer to play anybody in the world there In Shreveport at Gus & Dolls. It went on to talk about how he sometimes gave private instructions. I had to go see what this was all about.
I was an average player at very best and wasa bout to die for some instruction or just any information. My friend and I drove to Shreveport on a week night and found Guys & Dolls and walked in.
i saw him standing by the counter having recognized him from the picture in the paper and article. I saw him and we made eye contact and nodded.
A few minutes later I guess he noticed I was carrying my cue in one of those cheap soft cases and approached with some type of tube like hard case. He was asking $50 for it I near tore the pockets off my pants buying it.
I then told him about the article I had seen and he stared at me expressionless for a few seconds and then asked,"Hos what can I do for you"?
I went into a rant about how badly I wanted to learn and where I lived and explaining I would drive to get lessons as many times each week as needed.
He finally surrendered and said,"ok let's see what we got here"!
We found a table and he let me hit balls for about 5 minutes and then said,"Ok i see what we have here but you have to do exactly as I say or we are done"!
i agreed with great enthusiasm.
He then said,"hoss I want you to go home, rst well and not hit one single ball for 10 days. Then come back here and we will begin"!
i agreed and promised and my friend and I drove home.
The following 10 days were pure torture for me, but I did as instructed and hit not one single ball. At the end of the 10 days we drove back to Shreveport.
We got to the pool room and Buddy was in the side room practicing. I sat and watched and never said a word. he never nodded or even acknowledged my existence. i sat there clutching my cue and very anxious.
After about 2 hours he seemed to be done and headed toward the counter.
I followed and then finally approached him stating I had done as instructed and was ready to begin.
He looked at me rather puzzled and scratched his head and then looked at the case I had bought from him and said," O h yeah kid, i remember, and what is it we are supposed to begin today"?
Confused, I reminded him of his instruction not to hit a ball for 10 days and that I was here and ready to begin.
"Oh yeah, I remember now, the college kid? okay hoss now totally quit the game, you have zero talent for it"!
i was devastated and went into immediate shock with those words.
Fast forward about 10 years and I was in Dayton Ohio at this 9 ball tournament and survived Saturday. My match on Sunday was against none other than Buddy Hall. I could still recite his words and was nail biting mad still. I was awake half the night sweating the upcoming match and vindication for what I felt were horrible words for anyone so anxious to learn. By 4 am I hated his very existence and was going to play well and shoot a hole right in his middle.
i got to the room the next morning and began to hit balls. I was fired up and about to crap lightening. I was blasting balls at warp speed and could careless if the world saw or what they might think. I was gonna bury this guy.
He walked through the door looking a bit ragged from the night before and that motivated me even more. he searched the board and then made his way to the table. He introduced himself as though we had never met. he then asked to hit some balls and warm up. I almost said something about having all that talent and why, he, of all people needed to warm up. Intsead I relinquished the table and sat while he prepared.
I watched him warm up and was again in awe, but was highly motivated and anxious.
Finally the match was underway and I lost the flip. Well when I got to shoot, i was down 7-0. He had missed a fairly routine shot and looked almost suicidal. So rattled by now I missed a pretty easy shot and got beat by a score of 11-1.
i shook his hand and waled away before he could even think of further advice.
When i shared this story with him about 15-20 years later, he just roared and laughed about it.
Did I ever get over it? Well now at age 60, I am still pissed off and he still laughs about it. I don't blame him though, i would laugh too!
One day I opened the the sports page and there is an article featuring Buddy Hall. I loved to play but had never heard the name before but I became an instant fan.
The article mentioned many challenge matches and that he had on offer to play anybody in the world there In Shreveport at Gus & Dolls. It went on to talk about how he sometimes gave private instructions. I had to go see what this was all about.
I was an average player at very best and wasa bout to die for some instruction or just any information. My friend and I drove to Shreveport on a week night and found Guys & Dolls and walked in.
i saw him standing by the counter having recognized him from the picture in the paper and article. I saw him and we made eye contact and nodded.
A few minutes later I guess he noticed I was carrying my cue in one of those cheap soft cases and approached with some type of tube like hard case. He was asking $50 for it I near tore the pockets off my pants buying it.
I then told him about the article I had seen and he stared at me expressionless for a few seconds and then asked,"Hos what can I do for you"?
I went into a rant about how badly I wanted to learn and where I lived and explaining I would drive to get lessons as many times each week as needed.
He finally surrendered and said,"ok let's see what we got here"!
We found a table and he let me hit balls for about 5 minutes and then said,"Ok i see what we have here but you have to do exactly as I say or we are done"!
i agreed with great enthusiasm.
He then said,"hoss I want you to go home, rst well and not hit one single ball for 10 days. Then come back here and we will begin"!
i agreed and promised and my friend and I drove home.
The following 10 days were pure torture for me, but I did as instructed and hit not one single ball. At the end of the 10 days we drove back to Shreveport.
We got to the pool room and Buddy was in the side room practicing. I sat and watched and never said a word. he never nodded or even acknowledged my existence. i sat there clutching my cue and very anxious.
After about 2 hours he seemed to be done and headed toward the counter.
I followed and then finally approached him stating I had done as instructed and was ready to begin.
He looked at me rather puzzled and scratched his head and then looked at the case I had bought from him and said," O h yeah kid, i remember, and what is it we are supposed to begin today"?
Confused, I reminded him of his instruction not to hit a ball for 10 days and that I was here and ready to begin.
"Oh yeah, I remember now, the college kid? okay hoss now totally quit the game, you have zero talent for it"!
i was devastated and went into immediate shock with those words.
Fast forward about 10 years and I was in Dayton Ohio at this 9 ball tournament and survived Saturday. My match on Sunday was against none other than Buddy Hall. I could still recite his words and was nail biting mad still. I was awake half the night sweating the upcoming match and vindication for what I felt were horrible words for anyone so anxious to learn. By 4 am I hated his very existence and was going to play well and shoot a hole right in his middle.
i got to the room the next morning and began to hit balls. I was fired up and about to crap lightening. I was blasting balls at warp speed and could careless if the world saw or what they might think. I was gonna bury this guy.
He walked through the door looking a bit ragged from the night before and that motivated me even more. he searched the board and then made his way to the table. He introduced himself as though we had never met. he then asked to hit some balls and warm up. I almost said something about having all that talent and why, he, of all people needed to warm up. Intsead I relinquished the table and sat while he prepared.
I watched him warm up and was again in awe, but was highly motivated and anxious.
Finally the match was underway and I lost the flip. Well when I got to shoot, i was down 7-0. He had missed a fairly routine shot and looked almost suicidal. So rattled by now I missed a pretty easy shot and got beat by a score of 11-1.
i shook his hand and waled away before he could even think of further advice.
When i shared this story with him about 15-20 years later, he just roared and laughed about it.
Did I ever get over it? Well now at age 60, I am still pissed off and he still laughs about it. I don't blame him though, i would laugh too!
That is a great story.....I bet he made you a better player because of it, and you did learn from him.
Well yes I have always admired and respected Buddy.
Made me a better player?? i doubt he seriously wants any of that credit! LOL
Nick Varner,Buddy Hall,Dennis Hatch,Shannon Dalton,George Breedlove,Loree Jon Jones,Sammy Jones,Tom Rossman,Jeff Carter,Keith McCready,Mark Jarvis,C.J. Wiley. I am sure that I have forgotten some.
Back in 2004 my APA team went to Nationals. I was walking with a few friends down to the Riviera playing area and wasn't paying attention to where I was walking. I mistakenly walked into the back of the feet of the lady in front of me and she almost tripped forward. She whispered "Oh goodness!" but caught herself. When she turned around, I apologized and realized I just almost tripped Allison Fisher.