Humorous First Timer Gambling Stories

crawfish

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I don't know if I've let this one out on here before, but here goes.

1986-89?, Greenville, NC. I had just really started making three or four in a row consecutively. I think I was in my second year of college. Well, I had met Lenny Crandall, who in our world was a world beater. (Later, after moving to Raleigh, I realized him being a world beater was "not so much") Well, Lenny was a tall, black fella with a pretty deep voice. Commanding presence about him. Anyway, he invited me to go (I was the driver) to a poolroom in Roper, NC. He said there would be a ringgame that he'd have the best in, and I could go half. Well, I'd never seen anything for more than like $5 a game, so I was hooked.

I told my roommate about my trip on Friday night. He just laughed at me and told me I couldn't make a ball in the Pacific ocean. Oh well, off we went, bound for Roper.

On arrival, this place was a house. Seriously, a converted house. Well, I had very little cash, and so I bought a beer and sat down. Lenny jumped into a six ball game for $5 a man, five handed. Wow, it was new to me. This heavy set fella asked me to play some for $2 bucks a game. I was in action. After a while, I was up about $15-20? He wanted to raise the bet to $5. I literally was scared to death. Well, I drank enough to ease the fear. I finally get up to $40? He wants to play for $20! I asked Lenny what to do. Why not.........

The guy tells me before we start, he has to go home and get some cash. And does he. He comes back with a stack of twenties. Well, three or four hours later and I'm up over $400! I'm the only white guy in the place, and I'm listening to "Funky Cold Medina" on the jukebox like 20 times in a row. It's snowing like a madman outside, and Lenny urged me to get paid and head back to G-Vegas. So, the guy steps outside with me to pay me. Kinda scary really. Nope, no problem. He counted out the twenties, and I thought I'd bust I was so thrilled.

I decide to take my roommate and some girls out to celebrate and rub his Pacific Nose in it. So, off we go to the ELBO room. I quickly pull out my new wad for our Long Island Teas. High on pool. Anyway, the bartender takes the cash and then stops. He holds it in the light, and laughs. "What the fu@# is this?" He shows it to me. They were fake. Every fu#$ing one of them. My roommate is laughing so hard at me, I couldn't take it. Whatever, I'll never forget the snowfall and the win. And... the newly printed twenties.

As we headed back home, guess what was on the radio.

Funky Cold Medina. Fu@# that dude.
 
Last edited:
No, I didn't think to look at the bills. It was snowing, and dark. I was just happy to get out of there with what I thought was cash. Thanks for pointing out how stupid I was, a$$hat. That's where the comedic value of the story is. By the way, instead of PM'ing me, you shoulda posted that comment here so everyone could see.
 
I often wondered if this was going on. It's such a good move if you are a criminal.
 
There I was in Jacksonville NC

Just a young Marine just got to my school and had $5000 from before I came in the Marines plus my new paycheck. I go to Sammy's on Court street and hear there are some big money games you can get into if you have enough to get in. I had $5000.00 plus my paycheck. Pulled it all out of the bank and headed out to play. I get a game and the guy can play good but I am just losing and missing the outs still not in stroke yet. I catch a good role and hit stroke but so does he and I am just short but this guy is no world beater and I figure I will out last him since he is older than me and I stay in the game. These are many hill hill matches or close one two games losses. I go so bust this weekend that the next two weeks I cant even buy soap! Had to use my roommates shampoo for two weeks. Years later I talk to the guy and remind him of the event telling him the lesson that I learned that day taught me to never go off like that again and it was because of him I learned to save money and was able to buy my pool hall later in life. What does he say? Well since I was such a big part in your life success how about you loaning me another $10K and we call it even. That's how I met Jimmy Reid...
 
Counterfeit Twenties

No, I didn't think to look at the bills. It was snowing, and dark. I was just happy to get out of there with what I thought was cash. Thanks for pointing out how stupid I was, a$$hat. That's where the comedic value of the story is. By the way, instead of PM'ing me, you shoulda posted that comment here so everyone could see.


Wow that was one great story for the Ages! I bet you Were scared and happy all at the same time!


David Harcrow
 
My first time gambling on pool is not nearly as amusing, but it's kinda odd if you consider the age. I'd often go to my grandma's as a kid (it was a 3 block ride on the bike), and I had an uncle that lived another 2 blocks away (with a cousin that was about my age), so I'd hop on my bike and go to either's house all the time. My uncle hung out in a bar that was 3 doors down from Grandma's house.

Around age 9 I'd stick my head in this bar to see if uncle Bob was there, and occasionally he and my uncle Jack would be there together. Uncle Jack was my god-father and spoiled me like crazy. If Jack was there, he'd buy me a soda, a whole box of Twizzlers, and give me quaters for pool.

By age 10 I was a regular at the local watering hole, and both uncles set me up with the same GREAT late afternoon pool session :D I was playing guys (buddies of my uncles) for everything from the Twizzlers to Snickers bars and graduating to a buck a game. I got pretty good on that little barbox, and guys realized that taking it easy on a kid was no longer needed. My first real score, I was up a couple of bucks on a guy, and I was a bit cocky about it. He got a bit mad, and my uncle hollered out, "play him for $5 a game, I got it covered". I won two more games and the guy slammed down a $10 and walked out....I was shocked how mad the guy had gotten, but enjoyed EVERY minute of it.

BTW, I wasn't a stupid kid either....I asked my uncle for 2 $5s, and gave one to the bartender Mel, "that's for uncle Bob and Jack's next pitcher".... LOL :p :thumbup:
 
The Construction Contractor

One of my first road trips and gambling experience was in 1974 and only 15 miles from home, me and my buddy (we were both just 15yrs.) had heard about this construction contractor that had a poolroom just miles from home, so we went over , the poolroom was very small, three bar tables, sold chips, cokes, heat up sandwichs, ect...

Well me and my buddy had $25.00 between us when we arrived, sure enough the contractor was there, he was the only one in the poolroom, I ask him if he wanted to play some $2.00 8-ball, he ask me if I could afford it, I said sure I can.......

I won 7 games pretty quick, he said lets play for $5.00, won 3 or 4 more games, he said lets play for $20.00, I won more games, was up $164.00 all together, he said lets bet $50.00, I won that one, and he quit.

I'm up $214.00, all the while we had been marking up the games, well he was PISSED that some kid had just beat him, gave me a "Go to Hell LQQK" and wrote me out a check.

My buddy and I was happy as hell, we went back to our home town and tried
to cash the check at the local bank, the bank told me that their wasn't enough funds in the account to make the check good, we were let down badly.

I went down to our local poolroom with check in hand and told the owner what had happen to me and my buddy, the local owner told me to go back over to that small town (POP. 500) and go into the bank and ask them how much I would have to deposit into the construction contractors account to make it good, and that they then would cash it.

I did just that, this little old lady was the teller, she wouldn't tell me how much money was in his account, then she ask me if I worked for him, I said yes, she told me that she would hold the check until he made a deposit and then mail me my money, I said that will work, well about a week later I got a check from that bank for $213.50, the bank held out 50 cents for mailing the check.

My buddy and I was then Happy again!:D:D


David Harcrow
 
Last edited:
One of my first road trips and gambling experience was in 1974 and only 15 miles from home, me and my buddy (we were both just 15yrs.) had heard about this construction contractor that had a poolroom just miles from home, so we went over , the poolroom was very small, three bar tables, sold chips, cokes, heat up sandwichs, ect...

Well me and my buddy had 25.00 between us when we arrived, sure enough the contractor was there, he was the only one in the poolroom, I ask him if he wanted to play some $2.00 8-ball, he ask me if I could afford it, I said sure I can.......

I won 7 games pretty quick, he said lets play for $5.00, won 3 or 4 more games, he said lets play for $20.00, I won more games, was up $164.00 all together, he said lets bet $50.00, I won that one, and he quit.

I'm up $214.00, all the while we had been marking up the games, well he was PISSED that some kid had just bet him, gave me a "Go to Hell LQQK" and wrote me out a check.

My buddy and I was happy as hell, we went back to our home town and tried
to cash the check at the local bank, the bank told me that their wasn't enough funds in the account to make the check good, we were let down badly.

I went down to our local poolroom with check in hand and told the owner what had happen to me and my buddy, the local owner told me to go back over to that small town (POP. 500) and go into the bank and ask them how much I would have to deposit into the construction contractors account to make it good, and that they then would cash it.

I did just that, this little old lady was the teller, she wouldn't tell me how much money was in his account, then she ask me if I worked for him, I said yes, she told me that she would hold the check until he made a deposit and then mail me my money, I said that will work, well about a week later I got a check from that bank for $213.50, the bank held out 50 cents for mailing the check.

My buddy and I was then Happy again!:D

David Harcrow
I loves me some happy endings. Mine? Well, not so much.
 
Just a young Marine just got to my school and had $5000 from before I came in the Marines plus my new paycheck. I go to Sammy's on Court street and hear there are some big money games you can get into if you have enough to get in. I had $5000.00 plus my paycheck. Pulled it all out of the bank and headed out to play. I get a game and the guy can play good but I am just losing and missing the outs still not in stroke yet. I catch a good role and hit stroke but so does he and I am just short but this guy is no world beater and I figure I will out last him since he is older than me and I stay in the game. These are many hill hill matches or close one two games losses. I go so bust this weekend that the next two weeks I cant even buy soap! Had to use my roommates shampoo for two weeks. Years later I talk to the guy and remind him of the event telling him the lesson that I learned that day taught me to never go off like that again and it was because of him I learned to save money and was able to buy my pool hall later in life. What does he say? Well since I was such a big part in your life success how about you loaning me another $10K and we call it even. That's how I met Jimmy Reid...


Good post, sometime you have to loose $ to learn to save it!

P.S noticed your join date and you just now made your first post!:welcome:



David Harcrow
 
Last edited:
crawfish , Thanks for the funny story and the reminder to check out the cash after getting paid.
 
newly printed twenties!

around 1990 i had just finished my last day's work before a week's vacation. i stopped in a bowling alley/pool room in eastern ky to see who's playing. a friend was there getting into a game. he ended up with $2700 of, you guessed it, funny money. my friend didn't go to jail but the printers did.
 
Funky Cold Medina - Means something to me too

Then, I must have the year mixed up. Could have been my junior year? I was there 1986-89. Cause every time I hear that song, I think of that night.

Funky Cold Medina will always mean something to me too... just NPR.

I used to belong to a "group" back in the mid 90's that, shall we say, would distribute software to newsgroups so people could evaluate it.

Well, it was Dec. 12, 1996 and we would hang out on IRC all night, and one guy said "hey, I've been checking out this group that has mp3's in it. you can download songs and it only takes about 15 mins per song". (this was 28.8 speed, just before 56K came out)

So he tells me where to get Winplay (the only mp3 player there was back then and tells me how to encode a mp3... using a dos based l3enc program) I head on over to the alt.binaries.sounds.mp3 group and look around... not a whole lot there. If I remember, it might have been 20-30 songs. I see Funky Cold Medina there and 15 mins later, I'm listening to it... my first MP3 download.

My first MP3 I made was Fool For Your Stockings - ZZ Top... 12-13-1996

Back on Topic.....

I lived in Seattle when I first got into pool seriously and was breathing it for quite some time... came back to small town Nebraska for a funeral one year. Hooked up with my cousin and we went out to a bar and of course I want to shoot pool. I couldn't help myself, whenever I would get in a bar, I was always trying to drum up some action. We beat some guys out of several games at 5.00 a man and after the last game, all the sudden one of them is coming at me with a cue. My cousin jumps in and we go at it with them for a short time and all of us get kicked out.

What was weird, was that we seemed to be getting along the whole time, no arguing, the games were close. After being away for about 10 years from small town NE, I had forgot that it doesn't take much to start a rumble in a bar. There's nothing else to do, so what better way to liven up a weekend.
 
I got the rubber check payoff after beating a guy in Bird bowl in miami out of 1k or so in the mid 80s. Being young and naive I didnt see any part of it coming. Tommy Brown and his girlfriend Nikki were there and Tommy at one point sidled up to me and said "what u up?" 800 "what you betting? 50 gm. "what have you been paid" nothing. "You might wanna check and see what size shoes that guy is wearing". I still laugh when I think about him saying that to me.
 
About 10 years ago I'm in Davenport Ia. at Millers playin on one of the 2 9 footers in the back when this little Mexican guy strolls over and asks if I want to play. My total experiance up till then was a few tournaments but no gambling and I told him just that. So he said we'll just play for $5 a game and I could quit anytime I wanted. How could I get hurt?? I finally quit $150 down. I couldn't stop watching him play. I was totally mesmerized by what he could do with the cue ball. Over the next few years every time I drove through Davenport I would look to play him. I guess I gave him around $700 over that time. I have ended up getting all of that back and more from what I learned from "Little Joe Villalpando". Thanks Joe;):cool:
 
good thread, I can't even remember my first time in the grease...too much booze, pretty sure I lost a mortgage payment though.
 
Back
Top