How good did Jay play?

[Jimmy M.]

I've often thought that my stunning intellect held me back. I mean, other than class, charm, and wit, what is it that I possess that seems to hold me back while my less classy/charming/witty counterparts seem to win major tournaments? I have narrowed it down to intellect!

All joking aside though, and I know this has been brought up here on at least one occasion, there might be some truth to the idea that people who are more intelligent have a tougher time quieting their mind and performing under pressure. In fact, there was a study done, which is what I think sparked the conversation here, where a group of people had to take tests. They separated the participants into two groups based on I.Q., and then everyone was given a test (I can't remember, but I'm assuming it was a written test of some sort). The first of the tests was completely pressure-free. No time limit, etc. As expected, the group with the higher I.Q.'s scored better on the test than the other group. Next they were all given a test, but this time they administered the test in a pressure situation. I can't remember what all they did (I'm sure you can find information online), but, among other things, I know they put a time limit on it. This time, the group with the lower I.Q.'s performed fairly close to how they performed the first time around, but the group with the higher I.Q.'s performed significantly worse than they did the first time around.

So what does this all mean? It means that my practice of calling anyone who ever beats me "an idiot" might not be too far off!

It's not just intelligence. I have a very high I.Q. and am smarter than many great pool players. Sorry, but it's true. And many guys who are smarter than me, don't play as well.

 

[yobagua]

I really liked Cecil when he just came out of the Army and used to practice on the back table at the Den. Then something happened to him. I dont know what. I remember his battles with Brooklyn Butch. Do you know the real story as to why Cecil has to play lefty now?
Hey remember Crazy Bruce. I saw Diliberto punch him out because Bruce stiffed him. I saw him recently and he was wearing a 10K watch and tried to hustle me in a prop bet. I just laughed and said you dont remember me but I remember when they used to call you "Crazy". He had some of the best women in the joint. Some of the women were working girls too. You could write a whole book about the joint.

 

[Jack Madden]

Well, Jay had many hats (or should I say disguises or ) over the years, so he probably played a few who had no idea it was Jay.

Hi ya Jay

 

[Fatboy]

im in LA, I hope Grand Master Jay dosent dodge me,

 

[thebigdog]

Jay, it's kind of funny about spending so much time running tourneys. Most of the players don't think you can't hit a lick because they never get to see you play. It's one of the best hustles around.

Stones

I would have been one of those people back then. I always saw Jay running tournaments and never once hit a ball. I just figured he didn't play.

 

[jay helfert]

Well, Jay had many hats (or should I say disguises or ) over the years, so he probably played a few who had no idea it was Jay.

Hi ya Jay

Hi ya Jack

 

[jay helfert]

I really liked Cecil when he just came out of the Army and used to practice on the back table at the Den. Then something happened to him. I dont know what. I remember his battles with Brooklyn Butch. Do you know the real story as to why Cecil has to play lefty now?
Hey remember Crazy Bruce. I saw Diliberto punch him out because Bruce stiffed him. I saw him recently and he was wearing a 10K watch and tried to hustle me in a prop bet. I just laughed and said you dont remember me but I remember when they used to call you "Crazy". He had some of the best women in the joint. Some of the women were working girls too. You could write a whole book about the joint.

Cecil had an "accident" in Detroit. Crazy Bruce was from Miami and was an excellent Eight Ball player, but a complete nut case. I played him a couple of times and when he missed a ball, he would hit himself in the head with his cue. It could definitely be distracting. So the next time we played, I told him no more of that or I would quit. He said sure and we played in peace for a while. Now he was helpless, and I beat him for 40 or 50 bucks.

He wouldn't say a word to me, just gave me a weird smile. After HE quit he went outside while I was paying the time. Next thing I hear is a loud clunk. I walk out the side door to the den and Bruce is laying on the ground. Two girls are standing there with a look of horror on their faces. What happened I asked them. "That guy just ran into the wall head first and knocked himself out." And that's why he was "Crazy Bruce".

 

[JAM]

Edited and deleted because I got the scoop from some saged and astute AzBilliard members about my post.

THANKS to those who PM'd and Green Repped me!

JAM

 

[memikey]

Cecil had an "accident" in Detroit. Crazy Bruce was from Miami and was an excellent Eight Ball player, but a complete nut case. I played him a couple of times and when he missed a ball, he would hit himself in the head with his cue. It could definitely be distracting. So the next time we played, I told him no more of that or I would quit. He said sure and we played in peace for a while. Now he was helpless, and I beat him for 40 or 50 bucks.

He wouldn't say a word to me, just gave me a weird smile. After HE quit he went outside while I was paying the time. Next thing I hear is a loud clunk. I walk out the side door to the den and Bruce is laying on the ground. Two girls are standing there with a look of horror on their faces. What happened I asked them. "That guy just ran into the wall head first and knocked himself out." And that's why he was "Crazy Bruce".

Love it.........mental picture complete.......lmao

 

[kvinbrwr]

Cecil had an "accident" in Detroit. Crazy Bruce was from Miami and was an excellent Eight Ball player, but a complete nut case. I played him a couple of times and when he missed a ball, he would hit himself in the head with his cue. It could definitely be distracting. So the next time we played, I told him no more of that or I would quit. He said sure and we played in peace for a while. Now he was helpless, and I beat him for 40 or 50 bucks.

He wouldn't say a word to me, just gave me a weird smile. After HE quit he went outside while I was paying the time. Next thing I hear is a loud clunk. I walk out the side door to the den and Bruce is laying on the ground. Two girls are standing there with a look of horror on their faces. What happened I asked them. "That guy just ran into the wall head first and knocked himself out." And that's why he was "Crazy Bruce".

Nice story Jay.

Kevin

 

[Fatboy]

Jay is on his way to my neighborhood, he just called me, I hope I can play today. My back feels good so I have a chance of playing good, I will need too.

 

[1 Pocket Ghost]

'Crazy Bruce'

Hey remember Crazy Bruce. I saw Diliberto punch him out because Bruce stiffed him. I saw him recently and he was wearing a 10K watch and tried to hustle me in a prop bet. I just laughed and said you dont remember me but I remember when they used to call you "Crazy". He had some of the best women in the joint. Some of the women were working girls too. You could write a whole book about the joint.

Hey Yoba.....Like I told you awhile back, I also hung at the Billiard Den a coupla of different years back in the day, and I knew 'Crazy Bruce' too....That said, when I was in L.A. last winter, I ran into him at that bangers/tourist poolroom on the 3rd st. promenade in Santa Monica - it was the first time I had seen him in 30 years....He started talking nonstop about all of his schemes and 'big business plans' that he was working on - typical Crazy Bruce.....I asked him to play some one pocket for 'old times sake/$$$' and he said no, but he'd try me some 'one and one' - banks and one pocket, and I said fine....I won the first two games and he quit.

 

[yobagua]

Hey Ghost! I heard you had a very good trip while you were out west.When you coming back? It was nice meeting you and your lady in Louisville. Hope to see you there again.

 

[sixpack]

I know you don't I RC?

Hey Jay,

Sorry for the long delay, I didn't see this until now.

I don't know for sure that we know each other...but we both made up the fabric of pool culture at the same time in the same places. Our faces are both in the backgrounds of some of the moments that made pool in the late 80's and early 90's in the US what it was.

We know a lot of the same people and I'm about 100% sure that we have met. Your picture is familiar to me and I suspect mine would be to you.

All that being said, I know you now through the internet more than I ever possibly could have known you through running into you here and there. I know we've never played and I know you never backed me against anyone, but you might have backed someone against me or someone I was backing in the past.

While you were in with champs, I was making money from chumps and then spending it to play champs sometimes. I never beat anyone of note, but was beat to the tune of a lot of notes...c-notes that is.

I went to a lot of tournaments like the Rumrunners and Galaxy Billiards other small regional events. By the time I could afford to go, I couldn't always afford to take off of work to play, so sometimes I played and other times I just hung out and occasionally gambled with someone. But I did go on the road with some folks you know well and had some stakehorses that you might know.

Either way, you're one of the folks I wouldn't mind tipping a few beers and shooting some pool with sometime for a modest wager.

Cheers,
~rc

 

[jay helfert]

Hey Jay,

Sorry for the long delay, I didn't see this until now.

I don't know for sure that we know each other...but we both made up the fabric of pool culture at the same time in the same places. Our faces are both in the backgrounds of some of the moments that made pool in the late 80's and early 90's in the US what it was.

We know a lot of the same people and I'm about 100% sure that we have met. Your picture is familiar to me and I suspect mine would be to you.

All that being said, I know you now through the internet more than I ever possibly could have known you through running into you here and there. I know we've never played and I know you never backed me against anyone, but you might have backed someone against me or someone I was backing in the past.

While you were in with champs, I was making money from chumps and then spending it to play champs sometimes. I never beat anyone of note, but was beat to the tune of a lot of notes...c-notes that is.

I went to a lot of tournaments like the Rumrunners and Galaxy Billiards other small regional events. By the time I could afford to go, I couldn't always afford to take off of work to play, so sometimes I played and other times I just hung out and occasionally gambled with someone. But I did go on the road with some folks you know well and had some stakehorses that you might know.

Either way, you're one of the folks I wouldn't mind tipping a few beers and shooting some pool with sometime for a modest wager.

Cheers,
~rc

Like I said before, I'm not hard to find.
jayhelfert@yahoo.com

 

[HollyWood]

your still young enough for the seniors tour

Hello Jay- Any stories about lee Hewagon or Jamie Pluta. They were out your way 10-15yrs ago. Remember Rockford Ill. ? Keith was very hungry then Jimmy reid, willie munson, danny medina,bob muec, selling cues in the 70's for 500. Danny and Bill selling joss. Paul hubler, Jim mcdermott, Tad Mark

 

[jay helfert]

Hello Jay- Any stories about lee Hewagon or Jamie Pluta. They were out your way 10-15yrs ago. Remember Rockford Ill. ? Keith was very hungry then Jimmy reid, willie munson, danny medina,bob muec, selling cues in the 70's for 500. Danny and Bill selling joss. Paul hubler, Jim mcdermott, Tad Mark

Jamie spent a lot of time out here and in San Diego. Played good and gambled with everyone too. Keith was a monster back then. If I kept a close eye on him, he could play (and beat) anyone they put in the box against him. No one was barred back then. Thanks for the memories.