Ismael "Morro" Paez
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Thank you for the info. We have all been wondering how he was doing, yet nobody until now offered any info on his progress. Thanks again for letting us know!
As I have said before, I don't understand how there can be so little information on Morro's condition when he was such a pool personality and fixture in the So. Calif pool scene for so many years. He is and has been a good man for pool and life in general. True to himself. He has been a great player a gambler with a ton of heart. I watched him play Kim Davenport Liability on Big Bertha for 3 days while he had the flu and was bundled up in a heavy winter jacket the whole time.
I guess I'll just have to drive up to Hard Times to try and find some info as they all are apparently computer illiterate--which I know is not true. I will report back both rumor and fact as you can never be 100% sure which is which in a pool room.
I guess I'll just have to drive up to Hard Times to try and find some info as they all are apparently computer illiterate--which I know is not true. I will report back both rumor and fact as you can never be 100% sure which is which in a pool room.
I talked to Elias today about Morro. He said he has a friend who is visiting Morro and he told Elias that Morro is still paralyzed but he is doing better. He said there is a chance he may recover completely. Probably a long shot but it was nice to hear it is a possibility.
Thanks, Wayne!... yeah, I was at HT tonight watching Immomen and Oscar... asked Oscar earlier if he or Ernesto had heard anything.... nada.
If he recovers completely, we gonna have a Morro day at Hard Times! If anyone can beat the odds, it's Morro. Arriba!
I certainly hope so!
I have used him as an example for my friend who has the big body-English that Morro shows sometimes. Uncle Bob has despaired of ever gaining control over this, but found that seeing the skill of Morro, in spite of, having the same issue, really brought hope to his game.
As an aside, in later videos, it seemed that there was much less of the "big reaction" as he stroked....anyone else noticed this?
Best wishes for Mr Paez
Ismael "Morro" Paez is one of the most exciting and colorful players we have seen in the last thirty years. I used to call him the Mexican jumping bean for the way he went up and down before shooting. He might do that ten times before staying down and following through on his shot. What a character and what a terrific player.
He was a highly regarded money player, taking on Earl Strickland in his prime with the eight ball and putting a whipping on him. He snuck into Detroit about 25 years ago and took off the whole town for about 30K. Morro also finished second in the World Pool Championships one year. He was a dominant player in Southern Cal along with his buddy Ernesto for three decades.
I'll never forget the match he played against Mike Sigel in 1987 in the Southern California Open in Santa Ana, CA. I was the TD and Mike was one of the favorites. The match was close and Mike tied up Morro behind a ball with the object ball near the side pocket. No kick was available as all paths were blocked. Morro stuck his cue straight up in the air, shot the cue ball out near the middle of the table and made it reverse and come back and make the object ball. Probably one of the greatest shots I've ever seen in a tournament in my life. It was a full 180 degree masses shot! Mike couldn't believe what he had just seen and proceeded to lose that match to Morro.
I hope to see that smiling face once again playing the game he loves on the green felt. Morro is a champion in Pool and life.
He was a highly regarded money player, taking on Earl Strickland in his prime with the eight ball and putting a whipping on him. He snuck into Detroit about 25 years ago and took off the whole town for about 30K. Morro also finished second in the World Pool Championships one year. He was a dominant player in Southern Cal along with his buddy Ernesto for three decades.
I'll never forget the match he played against Mike Sigel in 1987 in the Southern California Open in Santa Ana, CA. I was the TD and Mike was one of the favorites. The match was close and Mike tied up Morro behind a ball with the object ball near the side pocket. No kick was available as all paths were blocked. Morro stuck his cue straight up in the air, shot the cue ball out near the middle of the table and made it reverse and come back and make the object ball. Probably one of the greatest shots I've ever seen in a tournament in my life. It was a full 180 degree masses shot! Mike couldn't believe what he had just seen and proceeded to lose that match to Morro.
I hope to see that smiling face once again playing the game he loves on the green felt. Morro is a champion in Pool and life.
Jay, if ya come up with an address I'd like ta send em a card.
I've watched him practice that masse reverse...but on end rail...out and back to a corner...
best wishes sent for/to a SoCal legend...Morro!!!!!
me too
I don't know Mr.Paez personally, but I agree with most that he is such a positive image in our game. His style to me, has always been entertaining.
He is one upper echelon player who always seems to have fun playing the game. I hope that he recovers completely from this and continues to show the world his classy style of playing. One thing though, Jay; I thought he had lost in that gambling match to Earl in Vegas (when Earl spotted him the 8 ball). I think one of the commentators on an Accu-Stats match said so.
I don't know Mr.Paez personally, but I agree with most that he is such a positive image in our game. His style to me, has always been entertaining.
He is one upper echelon player who always seems to have fun playing the game. I hope that he recovers completely from this and continues to show the world his classy style of playing. One thing though, Jay; I thought he had lost in that gambling match to Earl in Vegas (when Earl spotted him the 8 ball). I think one of the commentators on an Accu-Stats match said so.
One of the greatest
Morro certainly deserves to be recognized as one of the truly great money players of all time. Sending prayers for a full recovery, God Bless !
Morro certainly deserves to be recognized as one of the truly great money players of all time. Sending prayers for a full recovery, God Bless !
He did lose and challenged Earl to play him at Hard Times where he subsequently won.
I was at Hard Times on Friday but no one had any new info on Morro's condition.
I'm sure that the Mexican players at the room in South Gate probably know something. I would be surprised if King Kong didn't know something or at least have a way of contacting his family.
Morro is certainly one of the good guys.
I'm sure that the Mexican players at the room in South Gate probably know something. I would be surprised if King Kong didn't know something or at least have a way of contacting his family.
Morro is certainly one of the good guys.
He use to drive Kenny, the previous owner, crazy when he would catch Morro practicing his masse shots on the tournament sections tables. Finally Morro went to the other side in the far corner to practice those shots.
Morro is one of the fiercest competitors I've known who is an honorable man as well. Besides big table and bar table his golf game on the 6x12 snooker table is jam up. I greatly respect Morro's gamble as unlike many, he mostly bets how own.
I hope he can recover.
I hope he can recover.
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Brian waited as Morro weighted
It was comical.
Labor Day Tournament, Shooters, Riverside, Ca...several years back...
Morro and Brian Parks in final or semi's.
After a missed shot early in a rack, Morro goes to his case and gets a tool kit from a storage pocket, leaving Brian to work thru the rack.
Being a courteous guy, Morro moves over to the player chair/drink table near the next goldcrown in the room.
He quickly breaks down his cue. He takes out both a phillips screwdriver, and a hex head 'T' handle driver, and a selection of weight bolts.
He gets busy, puts on his glasses and removes the bumper and the existing weight bolt. He rummages noisily through the various weight bolts on the tabletop and makes a selection...about this time he notices that Brian is standing next to the tournament table, cue in hand, looking at him, as are most of the spectators in the room.
"I'm almost done" Morro said.
"I see that" says Brian, laughing. "I'll wait, go ahead and finish and put your tools away", he added while still smiling.
I don't remember who won.
But I do remember this comical exchange between two gentlemen of the game.:thumbup:
Morrrrrooooo!!!!
ps: he might have changed shafts too
It was comical.
Labor Day Tournament, Shooters, Riverside, Ca...several years back...
Morro and Brian Parks in final or semi's.
After a missed shot early in a rack, Morro goes to his case and gets a tool kit from a storage pocket, leaving Brian to work thru the rack.
Being a courteous guy, Morro moves over to the player chair/drink table near the next goldcrown in the room.
He quickly breaks down his cue. He takes out both a phillips screwdriver, and a hex head 'T' handle driver, and a selection of weight bolts.
He gets busy, puts on his glasses and removes the bumper and the existing weight bolt. He rummages noisily through the various weight bolts on the tabletop and makes a selection...about this time he notices that Brian is standing next to the tournament table, cue in hand, looking at him, as are most of the spectators in the room.
"I'm almost done" Morro said.
"I see that" says Brian, laughing. "I'll wait, go ahead and finish and put your tools away", he added while still smiling.
I don't remember who won.
But I do remember this comical exchange between two gentlemen of the game.:thumbup:
Morrrrrooooo!!!!
ps: he might have changed shafts too