Hey Old Guys--does the fire still burn?

I'm 67 and still ride my bicycle 25 miles a day. 50's on weekends. I just don't G.A.S. as far as pool. It's just a game. I can cut the mustard and lick the jar. But to answer the question, I just don't care as much as I used to. Good to you if you do.
 
Johnnyt said:
After my stroke 10 years ago, I had to re-learn how to play all over again. The first few weeks I couldn't run 3 ball in rotation or more than 7 or 8 in 14.1...and I ran 100 and 60 and seventies 100's of times, before stroke. I bought several books and DVD's on the basics. It took me at least 5 years to get back to a B player.

The next year or so I slowed way down and gave each shot and position a lot more thought. I got back to an "A" player again. Sadly back, knee, and shoulder problems set me back again, plus the Arthritis took over all my joints...so as much as I loved the game I played over 60 years...I had to give it up.

PS: I was watching an interview with Earl before his last MC. He said when his father took him to a poolroom when he was 10 years old, he fell in love as soon as he saw the table and watch the balls being broke.

My Dad took me to his firehouse when I was 6. The soon as I saw that 10' table and my Dad firing balls in the pockets...I was good and hooked. Johnny

My father took me upstairs in
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Your post of had a stroke interested me. I had one about two months ago after an MRI discovered it. A-fib in my heart. But, my only symptom was my speech was not correct and my wife took me to the doctor. Anyway, I'm curious as to your symptoms. Also, my pool shooting ability is not as good as it was before. I just can't concentrate as I once did.
 
doitforthegame said:
So after many years absence I started to play tournaments again. I keep doing the two step. I lost to guys I would have gladly put the money down and played. Sadly, they not only beat me, but I stunk! I just didn't have "it". I didn't have focus or drive. I was just a guy with a pool cue in his hand. When I go back to my home room against the same guys, I can still play.

I've been hoping to pull a Rocky like he did in "Rocky Balboa". You know, bounce the young guys around a little and make them feel a little pain inflicted by a senior.

So my question is, is this the end? Am I done with competitive pool? Can I ever get back the "Eye of the Tiger" like days of old? Have you ever faced this demon? How were you able to get your groove back?

Bob
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Does the FIRE still BURN???...not after a shot of penicillin:eek::thumbup:
 
Waited awhile to post since I knew I would be playing in a local 8 ball tournament this week end. Well I think it's gone, played my first match against a very strong player, might be the best that regularily come in our local room. I had to go to 3 he had to go to 4. I managed to win in a match that took over hour and a half. lost my next match 3 to 1 then won my next match on the losers side 3-0. At that point I had it I was totally worn out. I just quit. I'll be 75 in few days and while I still love to play there won't be any more tournaments for me. I'll be going back to AZ soon and look forward to playing a lot of 1P seems to be a good game for us old dudes.
 
Because I'm a slow learner, I'm still engaged in getting better at pool. I'm still learning something everyday...as long as I keep playing and studying the game.

I've studied the game early in life and have really studied it since about 1986 or so. Some guys learned it all early in life, played at a pro level for as long as they could take it, then quit when they started to decline in playing ability. I'm still going up in the learning curve, so I'm still enjoying the process. I'm now kind of glad that I didn't play much from 21 to 35, as that has allowed me so much to learn since then and I'm still at it.

Hope that makes sense. It's good to be slow.



Jeff Livingston
 
I'm 73 and like a lot of geezers, my problem is inconsistency. I can still beat pros in occasional short races (9 ball), but then I'm just as likely to get knocked out later by some stiff I could give the 7 ball to in a gambling session. But whenever I can get into the money it's still a major rush. It's funny, even now I still think of one pocket as an old man's game, but that's probably just because I could never come close to mastering it.

My all time sports hero is the late Mickey (Peaches) McGuire, a local DC area bookie who was a fair player in his time (once matched up with Minnesota Fats), and who won the weekly 9 ball tournament on his 80th BIRTHDAY, beating the great Freddy Boggs in a hill-hill final, and capping it with a long shot on the 9 ball down the opposite side rail. All this while having to deal with a mild form of Parkinson's that gave him the occasional "shakes". To me this was almost the pool equivalent of the 46 year old Jack Nicklaus winning the Masters. Not quite the competition level, but then anyone who tells you that "80 is the new 46" is blowing it out of his butt.
 
Taxi said:
I'm 73 and like a lot of geezers, my problem is inconsistency. I can still beat pros in occasional short races (9 ball), but then I'm just as likely to get knocked out later by some stiff I could give the 7 ball to in a gambling session. But whenever I can get into the money it's still a major rush. It's funny, even now I still think of one pocket as an old man's game, but that's probably just because I could never come close to mastering it.

My all time sports hero is the late Mickey (Peaches) McGuire, a local DC area bookie who was a fair player in his time (once matched up with Minnesota Fats), and who won the weekly 9 ball tournament on his 80th BIRTHDAY, beating the great Freddy Boggs in a hill-hill final, and capping it with a long shot on the 9 ball down the opposite side rail. All this while having to deal with a mild form of Parkinson's that gave him the occasional "shakes". To me this was almost the pool equivalent of the 46 year old Jack Nicklaus winning the Masters. Not quite the competition level, but then anyone who tells you that "80 is the new 46" is blowing it out of his butt.
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Hey Taxi, Fred Boggs plays on a VNEA team I'm also a member of. Send me a PM with your name and I'll be sure to tell Fred when I see him.

Lyn
 
chefjeff said:
Because I'm a slow learner, I'm still engaged in getting better at pool. I'm still learning something everyday...as long as I keep playing and studying the game.

I've studied the game early in life and have really studied it since about 1986 or so. Some guys learned it all early in life, played at a pro level for as long as they could take it, then quit when they started to decline in playing ability. I'm still going up in the learning curve, so I'm still enjoying the process. I'm now kind of glad that I didn't play much from 21 to 35, as that has allowed me so much to learn since then and I'm still at it.

Hope that makes sense. It's good to be slow.



Jeff Livingston
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I am also like Jeff , I got back into Pool at age 44 I am now 68 and love playing and learning more about Pool. I play / practice everyday and never let my age get in the way.
 
denwhit said:
Your post of had a stroke interested me. I had one about two months ago after an MRI discovered it. A-fib in my heart. But, my only symptom was my speech was not correct and my wife took me to the doctor. Anyway, I'm curious as to your symptoms. Also, my pool shooting ability is not as good as it was before. I just can't concentrate as I once did.
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I lost all use of the movement in my arms, legs, and speech. I was one lucky guy that everything came back with in about a week...except a lot of memories on how to do things . Pool was like I was just starting to play. It took me forever to get back o a C+ player and about 3 more years to get back to A on the BB. Johnnyt
 
franko said:
I am also like Jeff , I got back into Pool at age 44 I am now 68 and love playing and learning more about Pool. I play / practice everyday and never let my age get in the way.
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Well, we may both be slow, but I haven't gone over to 1-pocket yet. :thumbup:

How about you?


Jeff Livingston
 
Johnnyt said:
I lost all use of the movement in my arms, legs, and speech. I was one lucky guy that everything came back with in about a week...except a lot of memories on how to do things . Pool was like I was just starting to play. It took me forever to get back o a C+ player and about 3 more years to get back to A on the BB. Johnnyt
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Was it as fun the second time, as the first, working your way up the learning curve?

I remember waking up a 4 am thinking of a shot I needed to go practice. Being higher up on the flatter end of the learning curve now, I don't do that so much.

I'm thinking you might be lucky getting to do it twice? Not to dismiss what you went through, but maybe?


Jeff Livingston
 
Johnnyt said:
I lost all use of the movement in my arms, legs, and speech. I was one lucky guy that everything came back with in about a week...except a lot of memories on how to do things . Pool was like I was just starting to play. It took me forever to get back o a C+ player and about 3 more years to get back to A on the BB. Johnnyt
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Good for you, I'm glad it all come back for you. My stroke was just into a little of my speech and I still can't remember some things. But, my pool has gone down a good 30%-40% or so, I just can't concentrate on what things need to be done. I just turned 72 today and glad to still be here.
 
Absolutely!...and Henry is a 3-time graduate of pool school, and this was his 3rd win for this tournament. His stroke got better each time! That's a tough tournament to win now, as a big part of the field are previous winners! Brian Parks has won the US Amateur 4x! :grin:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Quesports said:
Well this old guy can still play a little. I believe he has won this event three times now...
http://www.ocweekly.com/news/henry-...-at-2015-us-amateur-pool-championship-6781783
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Last night at 73 almost 74 , I won the loosers bracket , was offered a spit , 50-50 , way past my bedtime , so we split .
 
I'm sure everyone is a little different

And it also depends on where each person is in their life
With age, work, time available, the friends they have, and
The money they have to spare..... all of which fall behind
What kind of shape each is in physically.

In my 30's the fire was still strong, in my 40's it was just as
Strong... but I learned that no matter win or lose, or who I
Was playing against... I was just competing against myself.

The fire started to fade.... now at almost 60, I still like
To compete, but now the need to prove myself has almost
Disappeared ... NOT gone... just not as important.....

What remains, and has always been there is the desire to
Show those that don't know, the beauty of the game, and
How it can be played.

TD
 
So, not that anyone really cares, but here is an update on my play. Been playing every week in a league. Though I am not the top shooter I am 10-3. My ego gets stroked when I play and the younger guys watch and stay quiet. I am considered a position player and not a shotmaker. I swear 10 years ago it was the opposite. On my 68th birthday I won a 22 player 8 ball tournament at my men's club. Not really a big deal in the scheme of things but for the second year in a row my name goes on a champions plaque. The club has been around since 1894 so hopefully after I am gone people will say. "Hey, that old man could shoot".

Bob
 
This is my third time back with the �� fire still burning.

1967-first real job at Varsity 8 Ball in Denver, 15 years old

1973-quit at age 21 because playing for money was becoming too big of a hassle, and I didn't enjoy playing for fun

2002-started playing again after my divorce, loved playing for fun, and I won quite a few tournaments

2012-health problems, heart, two back surgeries, many days in the hospital, 12 procedures until now, quit all my teams.

2017-just started playing again, three man VNEA over sixty 8ball playing pretty good considering, and I lost some bad habits.

Still spending thousands and thousands of dollars on cues, and actually playing with them.

Fire is burning hotter than ever, and the cue business is booming

Pool life is good, tragedy with my son really hurts and I wish he was here so I could give him a new cue to play with.
He didn't like the cue I gave him, and when I picked it up at my ex-wifes place, I pulled the ferrule off, so no wonder he asked me for a different cue.

Peace to all the pool player's out there
 
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