Nothing to apolgize for
Grady said:
I'm sorry for the way I've behaved the lasr few days. I promise I'm done with name calling, etc. I even apologize to JAM and Keith.
I've always hated drugs and drug dealers. They're the real scumbags. Some of my friends killed themselves while others left far too soon because of drugs and alcohol. I also see some players who are going to depart way before they should.
When I see guys who are funny or talented while stoned I don't find it even slightly amusing. It's tragic, is what it is.
I'm gonna' start over new today, in my dealings with substance abused players. But I won't have business dealings with them or loan/give them money.
Over the years I really have tried to help quite a few men get straight. But as I look back none of them ever quit the stuff. Not even one. So I guess I'll mind my own business, which is awfully hard to do because I have to watch them kill themselves,
I just went and read the entire thread from which this all transpired, and I don't think you have a thing to apologize for. I can't comment on Larry. I never knew him and only met him once or twice. But if he was a drunk, and it seems pretty clear that is what he became, then it isn't out of line to say he was. I didn't read it as a criticism; it was an observation.
As for Johnny Ervolino, I knew Johnny very well. He was a friend. I also spent considerable time with you, Johnny and Ted Blutter. What the folks here on this board don't know is, you and Johnny were friends, and you were never, ever disparaging of Johnny. On the contrary! I also recall several dinners with you, Ted and I where you were completely complimentary toward Johnny, and spoke at length about his talent (pre-jail). I never heard you say one bad thing about Johnny, other than his dancing away from people he owed money to. But even then it was all spoken in fun, and Johnny, more often than not was laughing and ad libbing to the stories. That Johnny when to jail was no secret to anyone, so to say he was a better before going to jail was simply stating a fact. Hell, Johnny himself told me that plenty of times. So how could anyone construe that as a cheap shot or even criticism? Again, it was nothing more than stating the obvious.
I know you also knew my great friend George Makula. George was a fantastic pool talent, and one of the best straight pool players I ever saw. But George was also a drunk, and indeed he finally drank himself to death in his mid 50's. Is it wrong to say he was a drunk? I like to remember him for his warmth and humor and fantastic skill, but there is no denying the man squandered an enormous gift with alcohol.
I should also like to point out, the times we went to dinner with Johnny or George, you never let them pay the bill. You paid for them every time. Those who are criticizing you here should know that. They should also know, everytime you came to NYC, you'd play the best players at their game, on their table. And I'm talking Johnny E. at one pocket (spotting the break and a ball), Tony Robles at 9-ball, Jack Colavita in Elizabeth at straight pool, and Frankie Hernandez, giving him the 7! You talk about a tough way to make a living!
You have a wonderful heart, Grady, and a grand respect for the game. You don't deserve the criticism I've read on this board. The people who've fired criticism either don't know you, nor your relationships and treatment of the players you mentioned, and therefore don't have a clue what they are talking about, or they are simply deadbeat dartthrowers who have nothing better to do than attack one of the true gentlemen of the game.
Best of luck to you in Orlando!
