I used to be better, but I haven’t played in a while.

ShootingArts said:
Pool is often a solitary activity for the people that don't play tournaments. There are people like Scotty Townsend. The IPT money flushed him out for awhile and he played in some other big money events so he became known a bit. I wonder how many victories he notched over tough competition that were forgotten the next week?

I was in Hotlanta many many years ago. Had a long drive to get to the airport so I had to leave out a few hours early to catch the bird out. Ended up with over an hour to kill before check-in, might as well go hit a few balls. I was playing pretty good pool so without much thought I gave my ride the spot of nothing straight in. I could shoot banks, kicks, combinations, caroms, nothing straight in. Since every minute counted we just grabbed a table by the counter. It was an old nine footer, ratty and generous pockets. As we were setting up I realized a couple things. One this was a barroom player driving me but not exactly a barroom banger, he rarely lost in a barroom himself. The other was that we were fiercely competitive with each other most of our lives. In short, I had let my mouth overload my butt!

We were just playing eightball for this short encounter, quick and dirty and best for this spot I was giving. I didn't want to lose so my "A" game was the only thing that might bail me out. I was getting out in one to three innings, one or two needed to massage the eight into a makeable position sometimes. I was getting to the eight in one inning most games, two at most.

The counterman noticed what was happening and soon everyone else in the place, less than a dozen regulars in this quiet midday, had laid down their sticks to come watch. They wanted to get on the phone and set up a nice money game but I had to tell them I was forty-five minutes from a great silver bird.

Not wanting to fly back with it and just a few day trip to deliver a vehicle, I didn't have my cue, just a splinter factory off of the wall and nothing with me to make it better. Playing for nothing but pride, I played some of the best pool of my life! When I thought about it, I decided to protect my turf. When somebody commented on my play and they all wanted to know who I was and where I was from I told them, "I am just a pool shooting country boy from South Louisiana, Everybody plays like this where I come from."

Two things, one, I was lying like a dog, this was my maximum game and I was "on". Nobody including me played like this where I came from! The other, that spot that seemed huge when considering all of those shots like that we were forced into making, wasn't nearly as big when I was playing shape for these shots. With just a little over an hour to play, I put on a show as good as anybody in the room had ever seen back in the seventies. Luck favored me and I was shooting between a third and a half break and runs.

Those there probably told the story for a year or three. Part of the legend was that I never returned to demonstrate that my play for that brief time had been a bit of a fluke. Had I even played that session for my usual six or eight hours it would have shown the weaknesses in my game. For that hour and change I played the game about as well as anyone who ever picked up a stick, then put up the balls and went away.

I built a few more memories of great sessions over the years. Not how I played everyday, not how I will ever play again. I don't have the physical abilities or the hunger any longer. It is fun to think that somewhere around Atlanta people probably told and retold the story of when I came to town. I'll never play that well again, I didn't even play that well then. It was kinda like that one monster shot to win a game. When somebody wanted to bet I couldn't do it again I always replied I didn't need to, the game was over.

No, I don't play as well as I used to. I have decades of my best play to cull through, I didn't even play that well then. There were some golden moments though...

Hu
Click to expand...
Hu, youdoing okay, Get along, take care... Guy
 
I'm 81 in 12 days & I'm itchin to play some on my Birthday. I played with a buddy a couple weeks ago & I ran some 9 Ball Racks..., I think 4 was the most. I don't play much & when I do it's playing Golf at Magoo's, in Tulsa. Been busy this Summer with the BreakRAK, personal projects & selling my home. Next month I'll be back... Can't wait to finish my Custom Pool Table, it's a Texas Ranger format for the Deco part...
 
I’m just a banger, but I used to be a better banger. Anyone that’s seen me play knows I was a better banger years ago
 
Guy Manges said:
Prayers... Greg.... Guy
Click to expand...
Thank you.
It's a variation of an old joke. I am all right.(Lefty shoots as good as ever) Just slight discomfort in the left shoulder on certain movement. Definitely feels better than the day I woke up in the hospital. 🤷‍♂️ 😉
 
I’m playing the best pool I have ever played in almost 30 years. Must be that I got a home table 4 months ago and I get to play more than two hours a week.🙄

Told all the old timers in my room they’ve never since my top gear. It drew laughs and snickers but I said to them dead in the eyes…. In two months I’m gonna come back and murder all you 🤬🤬🤬🤬 Well… it’s been 4 months but they didn’t read the tea leaves. 😛😛😛

If you don’t play regularly anyones game will slip. The longer you stay away the longer it takes to get back to where you were! Nothing like a little motivation to proving others wrong eh 👍👍
 
Last edited:
Haven't touched my cues in over a year, due to ongoing health issues. I'm pretty sure I was better then than I am now. A few years before that I was even better. Not sure if I could reliably hit the end rail now. However, fargorate only dropped me by 22 points, so they believe in me over there.:)

My hand, wrist and fingers are feeling almost ok this week, this thread made me want to try to play again.
 
nataddrho said:
Listen. I clearly told everybody what to do.

You are all directly disobeying me.

This is outrageous.
Click to expand...

Reminds me of a baseball game, the comedians against the actors. Groucho Marx was captain for the comedians. When it was time to start the game he sent Milton Berle up to bat. Groucho told him, "go hit a home run." Berle struck out.

Groucho stomped off the field. "I quit, you people can't follow the simplest instructions!"

Hu
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top