Howdy. Intro and some musings.

Howdy Tim, glad you're here. Lot's of stuff to see and do.
For instance, next Friday is our trip to the world finals of the NCJAA, or the National Cat Juggling Association of America. Cat jugglers from all over the world will be there. Way more fun than the U.S. Nine Ball Championships.
The bus leaves a 8:30 sharp, so be there or be square. :)
 
Now as I recall Levittown...that's where a good number of folks from Baldwin went during the rennovation. They had Gandy's best I could remember. And they had TVs...because I am pretty sure that's where I was when OJ was being chased in his white Bronco.

Georgie went there too, but not too long after he busted his leg and passed away from that and complications with diabetes... I can remember the day the gang called his hospital room from the Levittown room to check on him...last time I heard him was that day. Eh...

Well as you may have guessed, much of my love for the game is the people. It was the rag tagginist group of folks that got along together for no other reason than for the game. Some Times!

I can still see Charlie Gibel in my mind's eye taking off his 10 layers of winter clothes and dancing to Poison by Bel Biv Devoe!
Tim
MBL
 
This might also date my involvement to a degree, I remember it being a big deal when Jose Parica would come through "town" he'd play at Deer Park billiards for some tournament. I gotta find a decent room down here!?
Tim
MBL
 
Your memories of growing up around pool rooms sounds very much like mine, a room in New Bern NC called the Metropoliton club, Luther Lassiter used to come in and show off on occasion, wade Crane was sighted a few times also I think. Man, dontcha just love this silly game?
 
MBL said:
Now as I recall Levittown...that's where a good number of folks from Baldwin went during the rennovation. They had Gandy's best I could remember. And they had TVs...because I am pretty sure that's where I was when OJ was being chased in his white Bronco.

Georgie went there too, but not too long after he busted his leg and passed away from that and complications with diabetes... I can remember the day the gang called his hospital room from the Levittown room to check on him...last time I heard him was that day. Eh...

Well as you may have guessed, much of my love for the game is the people. It was the rag tagginist group of folks that got along together for no other reason than for the game. Some Times!

I can still see Charlie Gibel in my mind's eye taking off his 10 layers of winter clothes and dancing to Poison by Bel Biv Devoe!
Tim
MBL
Click to expand...

George was one of my mentor's at Levittown he certainly was a great man. leisure time only had Gandy's for a short while before they switched over to all GCIII's. I ran my first 100 in that room, right on the front table #9 my second one was there too on Table #1 right next to the front counter.

Teddy now there's a name that I haven't thought of in a while, he was a real good player.

This is all bringing back some good ole memories

Thanks
Steve
 
MBL said:
This might also date my involvement to a degree, I remember it being a big deal when Jose Parica would come through "town" he'd play at Deer Park billiards for some tournament. I gotta find a decent room down here!?
Tim
MBL
Click to expand...

I remember Deer Park well. that was one of KC's rooms, used to love the tourney room he had set up in the back with the bleachers.

i remember Playing Jennette Lee there one week for a tourney, and that was before she hit the big time.

-Steve
 
Speaking of Mentor's, I got another name for you.

How about Bobby C, I owe a lot of what I learned when I just started playing to him. Wish I had stuck with him longer and he pretty much said the same to me That he wished he would of taken the time to show me more than what he already had since I seemed to take in and grow off what he taught me !!

Steve
 
Welcome Tim.
You can learn a lot here.
Lots of nice people (with only an occasional knucklehead).
 
Bobby C! Yes. Or as he was referred to sometimes as Bobby C. "The truck driver" absolutely. He taught me some things as well. In fact...I had a few nicknames given to me back then...one was Dennis the Menace...and that came from Bobby C. Georgie always referred to me as the kid...and Frank would call me Two Tone cause I'd wear spectators from time to time. I was with the crew that drove the vintage cars...if that might ring a bell.

It seems we likely crossed paths at some point back then as Georgie spent a ton of time teaching me...he'd love it when I asked him a question and while he was explaning the asnswer I'd say..."but, couldn't you..." a riot those guys.

Tim
MBL
 
And Jimmy Skyking! With the constant Bevis and Butthead laugh. He was a funny dude. To think of all those characters in one room. The lesser known ones, like Spanish Alex...he sold me a Muecci that was really nice, and wish I still had. Wolf...who was apparently called that because it was his last name. :) Tall Mike...Joe Capo...Old Al...who used to wear a fedora and watch. Some more will surely come to mind.

Oh...Eric...he was tall and would crouch way down...teeth were every which way...and then he hit a scratch off ticket or something...got all of his teeth fixed. I remember the day he came in...all smilin'.

What I think was great about all of them is that no matter how old, they really were all just kids. Joking clowning...it was never super serious.
Saw some killer games though.
Tim
MBL
 
MBL said:
Bobby C! Yes. Or as he was referred to sometimes as Bobby C. "The truck driver" absolutely. He taught me some things as well. In fact...I had a few nicknames given to me back then...one was Dennis the Menace...and that came from Bobby C. Georgie always referred to me as the kid...and Frank would call me Two Tone cause I'd wear spectators from time to time. I was with the crew that drove the vintage cars...if that might ring a bell.

It seems we likely crossed paths at some point back then as Georgie spent a ton of time teaching me...he'd love it when I asked him a question and while he was explaning the asnswer I'd say..."but, couldn't you..." a riot those guys.

Tim
MBL
Click to expand...

Bobby C was a hell of a Safety Player, we would spend hours discussing and playing safeties. I remember one time i had to play him in a tournament, and won hill/hill. he had said to me afterward that "you beat me with one of my shots" lol it was true i got him good with one of his safety shots...

-Steve
 
MBL said:
And Jimmy Skyking! With the constant Bevis and Butthead laugh. He was a funny dude. To think of all those characters in one room. The lesser known ones, like Spanish Alex...he sold me a Muecci that was really nice, and wish I still had. Wolf...who was apparently called that because it was his last name. :) Tall Mike...Joe Capo...Old Al...who used to wear a fedora and watch. Some more will surely come to mind.

Oh...Eric...he was tall and would crouch way down...teeth were every which way...and then he hit a scratch off ticket or something...got all of his teeth fixed. I remember the day he came in...all smilin'.

What I think was great about all of them is that no matter how old, they really were all just kids. Joking clowning...it was never super serious.
Saw some killer games though.
Tim
MBL
Click to expand...

Yes, "Spanish Alex" - Alex Valencia.He moved to South Carolina several years ago. I wonder if that meucci that he sold you was the one that i sold him !!!

which Eric, was it maybe Eric Grasman ? if it is, he started playing again. He is signed up for my Straight Pool League at Bayshore Billiards. i believe he primerily plays at Mr Cue in Lindenhurst. also plays in a few of the tours like the Predator Tour, run by Tony Robles.

yes i really wonder if we crossed paths !!! PM me a pic of yourself, maybe from one of back in the day !!

-Steve
 
I'd have to dig for a pic to find one, but I used to wear an old Brooklyn Dodgers cap all the time in those days...If you don't remember me, it could be that I wasn't good enough to remember. I certainly never played to your level, but we had many of the same friends and acquaintences it seems. I did like that Meucci. Now if I can only find me that Helmstetter 86-14!?

As I think back...there was a Asian guy named Jeff. He palled around with another guy named Pete who had long hair...also a good pool player. Jeff worked down at Nautical Mile in Freeport. They'd sell cues around the room. Then through some deal with Frank "the teacher" and another guy Tony I think, they set me up with some nice playing Helmstetters. I had an 86-14 that Tony damaged by mistake while working on the tip for me. He said to sell it and he'd get me the same cue...so I did, but it turned out that he couldn't get that 86-14 and he set me up with an 86-15 that I have to this day.

the 15 is very nice, but I'm gonna need to get the 14 again. For old time's sake.

Tim
MBL
 
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Well the first attempt to get out and shoot a quick rack before the wife got home failed...Took a drive over to Lakeland to see what all was happening at a place called Walley's. I ran a quick calculation and determined there was exactly a 0% chance my truck was not going to be broken into...turned around.

Now there are a few other promising spots. Brandon Billiards is close. They apparently have Diamond tables...not my beloved Gold Crowns...but beggars can't be choosers I suppose.

Ya know come to think of it Ovington Billiards in Brooklyn was a good ole spot back in the day.

Tim
MBL
 
It just came to me. The Meucci I got from Alex was an M-6 I think. Pretty sure. I liked that one a bunch too. It was light...18oz or so long ferrel. I can't remember who I sold it to down the line...But I think I will try and hunt another down.

So on the list is the Helmstetter 84-14, and a Muecci M-6. If anyone knows of any not getting used, let me know.
Thanks
Tim
MBL
 
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