Interesting/Bizzare People You've Run Across In Pool Halls - The REAL Standouts

Kickin' Chicken

Kickin' Chicken

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Some of us can probably write a book, or at least a good chapter or two, on this subject.

I'm looking for your stories describing those special folks whom you've run across in pool halls that have left you saying, wow, that's pretty cool - or alternately, wtf, how strange was that? Most everyone has come across one or two who really stand out.

Names and places are optional so feel free to share with anonymity, if you wish.

What got me thinking about this was from just this past Sunday night. I went to a very nice room that I don't get to very often because it's about 45 minutes from my house. I may be going more in the future, however, with my favorite room having closed their doors just two months ago. :frown:

There was supposed to be a Sunday night 9 ball tourney there but when I arrived, it was real quiet. There were maybe 6 or 7 guys, a few I recognized from my playing in that tourney, twice before.

I went to the counter and got some balls and the girl said they were gonna give it til 8 oclock to see if more people showed up. They didn't.

I was playing by myself and I noticed one of the 'regulars' was sitting near an adjascent table fooling with his smart phone. He is an older man, my guess would be around 70, and I've seen him play - he's got game. Very deliberate, an excellent tactician and a straight shooter. And, oh yeah, for 70ish, he can break the hell out of the balls. :cool:

I walked over to him and said, "excuse me, you feel like playing?"

Without hesitation and barely before his eyes made it up high enough to meet mine, he responded, "you wanna gamble?" I said "sure".

Perfect, the night will be salvaged. :)

We went to table number 1 by the counter and made a game and ended up thoroughly enjoying some long sets. He started out on fire running out from just about everywhere, then the tables turned and I caught a nice gear. It was a total pleasure playing with this old-school gentleman.

Here's where the story turns into another of those "REAL standout" events, for me.

The man's name is Steve but he says he's known as "Snap", that, because of his big break. He told me that over his pool career he has won a few tourneys on a snapped 9 ball, for which he seems to have a propensity. :thumbup:

He has played against both Mosconi and Fats and I'll be getting more into that when we get together again.

Snap was playing with a stunning I-don't-know-how-many-points pfd cue all ebony, ivory and silver. Just gorgeous!

He told me he designed it and if that wasn't impressive enough, he claimed that he built one in that exact design for himself and played with it for over 30 years. The one he made, he said, was also ebony but, otherwise, it was all German silver and 14k gold. Note, the points are 14k gold alternating with silver - lots of them.

So, naturally, I figured he made himself a playable cue that would in no way rival the execution seen in a Drexler made cue, right? Wrong!

He said he had it with him and he proceeded to take out this absolutely stunning cue that was flawless to my eyeballs in every way, and was every bit as gorgeous as the copy he had Paul Drexler make.

Worth noting is that the gold dot inlays on the cue Snap made are actually dots he ordered from Movado, the Swiss watchmaker, whose watches bear these signature dots. He said he wanted to use them because they are concave thus allowing more light to reflect.

The pictures taken with my cell will in no way do either of these cues justice. Every inlay on each cue is precise and razor sharp. Snap said he did it all by hand, including filing all of the inlays to perfection. The lighting in the pics below may distort things a bit so you'll have to trust me when I tell you, these cues are just beautiful. :cool: :cool:

In the end, it turned out that I was glad they didn't have enough players to put on the tourney. :wink:

So, who are some of the "REAL standouts", good or bad, you all have run across in the pool hall?

Best,
Brian kc
 

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Hi Brian!

Sorry I couldn't join you Sunday night -- too much administrivia (for work) I had to get done prior to Monday morning, due to end-of-month and end-of-quarter close-outs.

But I know exactly who you're referring to. "Snap" is not just for his good break, but also because of his last name. (If he told you his last name, it will make perfect sense.)

He's indeed a good player, and does not hesitate to mix it up. And he'll hit you with a good game, too! I only gamble with him in 14.1, and he has quite a good game there, as well.

However, you sugarcoated it when you say he's a deliberate player. He's gotten better, because a lot of the regulars (including myself) have pointed out to him he shoots NO BETTER playing slowly than when he plays at a reasonable pace. In fact, when he picks up the pace, he's actually even better -- the deliberation actually hurts his play. But in times past, he was actually very PAINFUL to be in a match with. Frank Tabersky looked like Jessie Owens next to Snap's pace of play.

Snap has a very interesting "hitch" in his stroke, as well. He has a twitch or bounce in his shoulder at cue delivery, just like SVB, or Phil Davis.

And yes, his cues are GORGEOUS! He's very entertaining to talk to as well.

He definitely affords an enjoyable evening, and even more so now, that he's picked up his pace of play. ;)

-Sean
 
The guys who stand out to me are some of the ones I lost money to back when I was a kid.

In my old home hall (now closed) in brunswick, maine there was a regular who came in named Pete. Usually dressed well, polite, and he could play. He was big on table manners... one of the guys who taught me basic pool etiquette. Sit down when I'm shooting, don't hover near the table. Don't move in my line of sight. Don't just stand there after your miss. Don't make comments when two guys are gambling, especially when one of them misses.

I was beating my buddies and thought I was an A player when I was really just D+. We made a game where he spotted me 70 balls in a race to 100 in straight pool. I lost.

The highlight of the game was when I got locked behind a ball near the head string without a look at anything on the table. There's a ball hanging very close to the side pocket. Because I was an idiot then, I kicked at it... but I called it in the corner at the head of the table. I kicked off the foot rail, even though it was hanging by the side. I made it and he says dryly: "Nice shot. I woulda probably kicked it in the side, but you made it so you must know what you're doing".

That's when I realized I had no idea what I was doing.

Later, he told me had to go away for a while. 15 years. Said he was accused of assaulting his woman in the head with a hammer, but he didn't remember any of it and may have been blacked out on prescription pills for his back (or something like that). Never found out what became of him.

================


Another guy that sticks in my memory was "Sea Dog" (or maybe "C-dogg"... think his real name was chris). A regular at Spot Shots in Portland. The first time I got hustled was when he asked if I wanted to play a short set for 20 bucks. At this point I'm still basically a fish. I won the set, probably he was laying down. We played another and he won. Then yet another and he won that too. At that point I quit him... I could tell I was outmatched. Later on the counter girl tells me I should have made him post the money, she said he didn't have a dime on him. Never does.

I asked around and found out he had quite a reputation. Supposedly he was about to lose a set for (either 100 or 1000, can't remember which) and he grabbed the money off the light and bolted. Ran all the way to a hotel quite a ways down the road on the other side of the city. Holed up there while his angry opponent was searching for days, threatening to do him bodily harm if he ever caught him. Later he mailed the money in to the pool hall. They had banned him there (more than once) but kept lifting it. But after a while I stopped seeing him.

My favorite memory of the guy is when I watched him play 9b one day... My memory is fuzzy here, it may have been a set or maybe one of the regular ring games. A local shortstop, Dave Hall (nicknamed "the Eagle") did a nice little 2 way shot where he tried a bank, and the cue ball rolled right up next to another ball. If the bank went, he had a look at the next object ball. But if not, the incoming player was dead safe.

Sea Dog studies it for a second, then kicks at the OB that ended up on the other end of the table about 6 inches for the pocket. Fires it in and says "Nice fυckin' safe." ...I gotta admit I've copped that line for myself, and sometimes use it when I make a kick.
 
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sfleinen said:
Hi Brian!

Sorry I couldn't join you Sunday night -- too much administrivia (for work) I had to get done prior to Monday morning, due to end-of-month and end-of-quarter close-outs.

But I know exactly who you're referring to. "Snap" is not just for his good break, but also because of his last name. (If he told you his last name, it will make perfect sense.)

He's indeed a good player, and does not hesitate to mix it up. And he'll hit you with a good game, too! I only gamble with him in 14.1, and he has quite a good game there, as well.

However, you sugarcoated it when you say he's a deliberate player. He's gotten better, because a lot of the regulars (including myself) have pointed out to him he shoots NO BETTER playing slowly than when he plays at a reasonable pace. In fact, when he picks up the pace, he's actually even better -- the deliberation actually hurts his play. But in times past, he was actually very PAINFUL to be in a match with. Frank Tabersky looked like Jessie Owens next to Snap's pace of play.

Snap has a very interesting "hitch" in his stroke, as well. He has a twitch or bounce in his shoulder at cue delivery, just like SVB, or Phil Davis.

And yes, his cues are GORGEOUS! He's very entertaining to talk to as well.

He definitely affords an enjoyable evening, and even more so now, that he's picked up his pace of play. ;)

-Sean
Click to expand...

Hi Sean;

His pace seemed pretty good to me and he def played high level for a while. :)

Looking forward to when you and I can get together and hit a few.

Remember, all work and no play . . . :wink:

best,
brian kc
 
CreeDo said:
The guys who stand out to me are some of the ones I lost money to back when I was a kid.

In my old home hall (now closed) in brunswick, maine there was a regular who came in named Pete. Usually dressed well, polite, and he could play. He was big on table manners... one of the guys who taught me basic pool etiquette. Sit down when I'm shooting, don't hover near the table. Don't move in my line of sight. Don't just stand there after your miss. Don't make comments when two guys are gambling, especially when one of them misses.

I was beating my buddies and thought I was an A player when I was really just D+. We made a game where he spotted me 70 balls in a race to 100 in straight pool. I lost.

The highlight of the game was when I got locked behind a ball near the head string without a look at anything on the table. There's a ball hanging very close to the side pocket. Because I was an idiot then, I kicked at it... but I called it in the corner at the head of the table. I kicked off the foot rail, even though it was hanging by the side. I made it and he says dryly: "Nice shot. I woulda probably kicked it in the side, but you made it so you must know what you're doing".

That's when I realized I had no idea what I was doing.

Later, he told me had to go away for a while. 15 years. Said he was accused of assaulting his woman in the head with a hammer, but he didn't remember any of it and may have been blacked out on prescription pills for his back (or something like that). Never found out what became of him.

================
Click to expand...

Interesting that I can remember like it was yesterday every time I attacked a girlfriend's head with a hammer. . :eek:

thx for the stories. :thumbup:

best,
brian kc
 
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Kickin' Chicken said:
Interesting that I can remember like it was yesterday every time I attacked a girlfriend's head with a hammer. . :eek:

thx for the stories. :thumbup:

best,
brian kc
Click to expand...

I believe this is also an important part of table etiquette, do not hit your opponent in the head with a hammer when they're about to shoot.

It's acceptible if they haven't gotten down on their shot yet.
 
Brian, do the stories have to be true? Almost all of mine are, but I thought I'd check, just to be on the safe side. :smile:
 
My coach

Our coach. He is sweet, super smart and none of us will play him for money. The only time I saw him loose was when the tip on his cue broke and he continued to play with his cue. He's extra shaft was getting fixed by some guy who has held on to it for 4 or 5 weeks :mad: Most of us get schooled by him and he loves the attention we give him. He worked for Mosconi in NY. It's like watching Mosconi shoot but with a NY Puerto Rican accent.:grin-square:

I have to send out :lovies: to the hubs he fixed coach's cue this week with a new moori hard tip and did an amazing job! Coach is back in action and WINNING!
 
I used to play this guy years ago that had serious OCD/turrets issues. He would do things like tap the cube of chalk on the rail 3 times after every time he chalked. Some of the other oddities of his was things like; every time he used the word break he would have to say it twice. ( as in "Good break,break. or "that break break sucked, I didn't make a thing.)

He had to rearrange the food on his plate when he got something to eat and would never, and I mean never pay with anything other than 1 dollar bills! If you bet him fifty on a match and won you better be prepared to look like you going to the strip joint! He was a nice guy and all, just a little different. I didn't mind much, he was always pleasant to deal with but you could tell he was suffering from some inner demons.

Not sure what ever happened to the guy, he was only around for a summer or two.

He was the one that really stands out in my mind though. There are a few others, but that's all for now.
 
do you mean stories like the guy that missed a ball and asked me to punch him in the face? And, when I refused to, he started punching himself, after a few good hits, went back to playing like nothing happened.

Or about the good player that was standing in traffic for a half hour or so until the cops arrived. When they searched him, they found a roadkill squirrel in his pocket that he had been petting (after it was road kill). When asked why he had it in his pocket, he said he needed a pet and thought that it would be a good one.

Nah, I'd rather forget some of those stories and people! :eek:
 
7 or 8 years ago in the San Fernando Valley there was a middle aged cross-dresser. He was a pretty big guy who would play in a dress and high heels. He looked nothing like a woman but every bit like your uncle in a wig and heels. He played in the USPPA tournaments - so you had to play him.

He was a decent player but all the good player's games would go straight in the toilet playing him. His manly legs sticking out of his dress, his gut and big shoulders, hairy arms. beard-stubbled square jaw and wig were a little much to bear.

I still feel a little nauseous just thinking about it!
 
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TATE said:
7 or 8 years ago in the San Fernando Valley there was a middle aged cross-dresser. He was a pretty big guy who would play in a dress and high heels. He looked nothing like a woman but every bit like your uncle in a wig and heels. He played in the USPPA tournaments - so you had to play him.

He was a decent player but all the good player's games would go straight in the toilet playing him. His manly legs sticking out of his dress, his gut and big shoulders, hairy arms. beard-stubbled square jaw and wig were a little much to bear.

I still feel a little nauseous just thinking about it!
Click to expand...

Had a guy something like that that used to come into a room I used to work in for lunch everyday for about a month. He had a split personality (we counted six) and some of them were women. He would get the end part of a watermelon, and when done eating it would put the dripping rind on his head like some kind of helmet, and then just sit there for an hour or so talking to himself. He was a big guy, and the owners were a little scared to say anything to him. It was always during off hours, so they just let him be knowing he wouldn't stay long. Guy was quite the sight! Some days dressed like a guy, some like a woman. Big black guy about 250 lbs.
 
Metro Sports Bar use to have this character who living in an old Checy Van in the parking lot, and spent his life in the Pool Spots Bar. He alway smelled in need of a bath, wore the same cloths day after day, live off the system, and was just what I would call a lost sole. He said the Bar hire him as Night Security, and that was the funnies part of the story. Ask me to borrowthe cost of a meal once, and as I knew his record for repaying loanns, I asked for his Pool Cue as coleratal. Left say he did not what or take my offer.
 
WHO made the cue

The cues in question were BOTH made by me, for Steve. Steve, had me make the first cue into which HE put the Silver inlays and Gold dots . . . and a very good job at that, and yes all by hand - I then finished the cue - correcting any minor flaws in the work. Fast forward many years, Steve wanted an identical cue done in Ivory - which we made for him AND totally refinished the original cue at the same time . . . so when he says that HE made the first cue that is perhaps overstating the facts just a bit.
 
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