Everything i have ever read or heard about Mr.Swanson indicates he was a really nice guy and really tough to beat for the money but being relatively new to the game and located in the southeast it is hard to get much info.There is no personal connection here, he just sounded like a very interesting good hearted person.Any Jay Swanson stories out there? Thanks,WO
Jay Swanson
- Thread starter whiteoak
- Start date
Jack Sharpe
Registered
God I have not heard that name in years. He played a lot back in the eighties was a dame good player. I watched him win a big turney back in eighty four I think it was. What was the name of that turney...anyway never met the guy, but a dame good player.
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Keith McCready
Pro Player
Swanee
Me and Jay Swanson were best of friends. I remember one of the funniest incidents that ever happened to him.
Swanee, as I like to call him, was a pretty big guy, and he made it to the finals at the Reno Open. At this particular tournament, he was wearing a formal black tuxedo. He was bending down getting ready to pull the trigger on a long shot, and his pants split wide open in the crotch area.
It wasn't too noticeable for him unless he had to make one of those long shots, and when a long shot appeared where something might show, it sort of slowed him down a little bit. It was real funny watching the expressions on his face trying to get through the match. I believe in my heart, if them pants didn't split, he would have won the tournament.
Years later, we'd always joke about that incident. It wasn't funny to Swanee at the time, but he did get through it and laughed at himself when it was over. Jay was one of the nicest guys I ever met in the pool business, and every time we hooked up, we always had a great time together!
Me and Jay Swanson were best of friends. I remember one of the funniest incidents that ever happened to him.
Swanee, as I like to call him, was a pretty big guy, and he made it to the finals at the Reno Open. At this particular tournament, he was wearing a formal black tuxedo. He was bending down getting ready to pull the trigger on a long shot, and his pants split wide open in the crotch area.
It wasn't too noticeable for him unless he had to make one of those long shots, and when a long shot appeared where something might show, it sort of slowed him down a little bit. It was real funny watching the expressions on his face trying to get through the match. I believe in my heart, if them pants didn't split, he would have won the tournament.
Years later, we'd always joke about that incident. It wasn't funny to Swanee at the time, but he did get through it and laughed at himself when it was over. Jay was one of the nicest guys I ever met in the pool business, and every time we hooked up, we always had a great time together!
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Swanee
I have lots of good memories of him too (not near as many as Keith since I didn't play in a lot of tournaments like Swanee and Keith). It is not often you meet a person and just know immediately this is a good guy - Swanee was one of the those GOOD GUYS.
Jack Madden
www.johnmaddencues.com
Keith McCready said:Me and Jay Swanson were best of friends. Jay was one of the nicest guys I ever met in the pool business, and every time we hooked up, we always had a great time together!
I have lots of good memories of him too (not near as many as Keith since I didn't play in a lot of tournaments like Swanee and Keith). It is not often you meet a person and just know immediately this is a good guy - Swanee was one of the those GOOD GUYS.
Jack Madden
www.johnmaddencues.com
I knew Swanee very well and he was a helluva nice guy. I played a tournament in San Diego about 12 years ago and the winner of the tournament received a limo for 2 hours. Well, I didn't win, but Ernesto Dominguez did, but he didn't want the limo. I came in 3rd or 4th and whoever the other guy was, he didn't want it either. I called up Swanee and asked him to show me and my friends around town. Well, about 12 hours later and every bar and casino in town, we brought the limo back. I heard about Swanee's passing while I was in prison and there hasn't been many days since then that I haven't thought about him. Peace Swanee!
Hi Whiteoak,
I believe every year in San Diego, there is a memorial tournament held for Swanee. The guys from SoCal I'm sure can give you the dates. I think they play it at one of Mark Griffin's pool rooms there. Gaslight Billiards maybe? I've heard the same stories you have from many people. One of the guys at our room here in Rochester knew him well! Moved here from there. I knew he had to be crazy. Leave that weather for ours!
I believe every year in San Diego, there is a memorial tournament held for Swanee. The guys from SoCal I'm sure can give you the dates. I think they play it at one of Mark Griffin's pool rooms there. Gaslight Billiards maybe? I've heard the same stories you have from many people. One of the guys at our room here in Rochester knew him well! Moved here from there. I knew he had to be crazy. Leave that weather for ours!
cardiac kid said:
The Swannee is every year at College Billiards, if my memory isn't completely shot.
I met Swannee once and what impressed me most was his reputation. Everybody that knew him told me that he was a good guy and would give the shirt off his back for anyone. Never had a bad thing to say about anybody.
You gotta respect a guy like that.
Eric
I lived and played in san diego off and on for the last 15 years and swanee is a legend in these parts.A great guy with a big heart,I played him a couple of times in the weekly 9 ball tourny at college billiards they used to have on thurs nights,back then the top players were victor,billy graves and roy stanzioni,but swanee was the best to come outta there when he was in town.
Swanee
Jay Swanson was a legend in San Diego. His home court was College Billiards. It is said that on Table 6 (I believe) that he was unbeatable. Many tried. The Ninth Annual Jay Swanson Memorial 9-Ball Tournament will be held on January 29th and 30th, 2005. It will be held at Gaslamp Billiard Palace in downtown San Diego. This tournament used to be held at College Billiards but it has outgrown that room. The field is limited to 192 players and it fills up fast. I believe that they had to turn away 20 or 30 or more players last year. It is very popular as all of the elite California players attend. Bill S
cardiac kid said:
Jay Swanson was a legend in San Diego. His home court was College Billiards. It is said that on Table 6 (I believe) that he was unbeatable. Many tried. The Ninth Annual Jay Swanson Memorial 9-Ball Tournament will be held on January 29th and 30th, 2005. It will be held at Gaslamp Billiard Palace in downtown San Diego. This tournament used to be held at College Billiards but it has outgrown that room. The field is limited to 192 players and it fills up fast. I believe that they had to turn away 20 or 30 or more players last year. It is very popular as all of the elite California players attend. Bill S
Hi Folks,
Thanks for the correction. I knew that Gaslamp and College were involved somehow. Couldn't remember which rooms Mark Griffin owned. Thanks to whiteoak for bring up another name from the world of billiards. Thanks to the promoters of the Jay Swanson Memorial for continuing to honor a person who was obviously loved and/or respected by his peers!
Thanks for the correction. I knew that Gaslamp and College were involved somehow. Couldn't remember which rooms Mark Griffin owned. Thanks to whiteoak for bring up another name from the world of billiards. Thanks to the promoters of the Jay Swanson Memorial for continuing to honor a person who was obviously loved and/or respected by his peers!
the Score
Raytown Missouri. Late seventys,Jay Swanson made a score of a life time giving up big weight,to a local player,and still to this date.thats the biggest score. thats ever happened in Raytown Mo, Ive never met Jay but his ledend lives on there,the player he beat still comes in to the pool room. from the horses mouth,pretty close to six figures. GOD BLESS. MAY HE REST IN PEACE!
Raytown Missouri. Late seventys,Jay Swanson made a score of a life time giving up big weight,to a local player,and still to this date.thats the biggest score. thats ever happened in Raytown Mo, Ive never met Jay but his ledend lives on there,the player he beat still comes in to the pool room. from the horses mouth,pretty close to six figures. GOD BLESS. MAY HE REST IN PEACE!
I used to work my mobile pro shop repairing cues in Atlanta in the late 80's and early 90's and saw Jay several times. As a cue repairman what I remember most about Jay was that he always played with the simple, no points, Tad cue. It was the first Tad I had seen and was every bit as impressed with Tad's work as I was with Jay's game. He was a very good player and almost no one asked him for a game. That says alot about how much respect the real players had for his game.
Chris
www.internationalcuemakers.com
www.cuesmith.com
Chris
www.internationalcuemakers.com
www.cuesmith.com
I got to know Swannie pretty well back in the 80's. Cant remember the exact year, but he amazed everyone with a perfect match (1000 Acu-stat) in a tournament at the Tamoshanter Center in Ohio. What was amazing about it was that due to poor planning, the tournament was held in a hockey rink with no air-conditioning. It was planned in the winter but held in July or August. There were people dropping out due to the excessive heat in the building. Jeannie Balukis beat "The Miz" 9-3 IIRC. They revised the posted "Dress Code" from Semi Formal to "Comfortable" ! It was brutal! But Swannie, contrary to what you'd think, due to his size, seemed unfazed by the heat! He later told me he had "tunnel vision" and hardly remembered anything except the next 3 balls. I do not even remember who his opponent was, but it didn't matter. They weren't in the game.
RIP Swannie, God Bless!
Sherm
RIP Swannie, God Bless!
Sherm