Johnny and Earl match and pizza

freddy the beard

freddy the beard

Freddy Bentivegna
Silver Member
Tues nite, the day before the Strickland/Archer match, I hooked up with the IPT conglomeration of Grady Mathews, Deno Andrews, J. Archer, E. Strickland, the cute blonde pool babe, Rachel Appink?, and a few others, for some pizza, beer, and pool talk, at Giordano's on Rush st. Mike Sigel had a taste for steak that nite so he excused himself. Even so, the rest of us all had a great time. Johnny and Earl were very entertaining and personable. Aside from his famed antics at the table, Earl is a great guy. Once, when Earl was fronting for a big distributor at a convention show, Earl requested the owners give me a set of poker chips as a gift of the show. When they outright refused, Earl gave me the best set they had (about $300) and paid for it out of his own pocket. He wouldnt let me say no to the gift. Regarding the future of the IPT -- of course we talked about it -- I can honestly say I see a glimmer of hope. As far as the pizza, beer and wine, Deno and the IPT picked up the check.

I went to the studio where they broadcast the match the next nite and came away impressed with their first effort at the new internet match format. They are spending money and they are using top people. Something can happen. Keep your fingers crossed.
 
freddy the beard said:
Tues nite, the day before the Strickland/Archer match, I hooked up with the IPT conglomeration of Grady Mathews, Deno Andrews, J. Archer, E. Strickland, the cute blonde pool babe, Rachel Appink?, and a few others, for some pizza, beer, and pool talk, at Giordano's on Rush st. Mike Sigel had a taste for steak that nite so he excused himself. Even so, the rest of us all had a great time. Johnny and Earl were very entertaining and personable. Aside from his famed antics at the table, Earl is a great guy. Once, when Earl was fronting for a big distributor at a convention show, Earl requested the owners give me a set of poker chips as a gift of the show. When they outright refused, Earl gave me the best set they had (about $300) and paid for it out of his own pocket. He wouldnt let me say no to the gift. Regarding the future of the IPT -- of course we talked about it -- I can honestly say I see a glimmer of hope. As far as the pizza, beer and wine, Deno and the IPT picked up the check.

I went to the studio where they broadcast the match the next nite and came away impressed with their first effort at the new internet match format. They are spending money and they are using top people. Something can happen. Keep your fingers crossed.
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Fred,
1. Great to see you posting regular again. We missed you.
2. It's Abbink, not Appink. What the heck was you thinking?:)
3. Where did Ike go? Looked like half way thru, he was gone.
4. Are Earl and Johnny still friends? Earl was at Johnny's wedding. When I was finally able to see the match last night, Johnny seemed to really be trying strongly not to engage him in conversation unless it was a cut, i.e., Earl-"The balls didn't break good for me." Johnny-"No, you hit 'em bad." Stuff like that. When Johnny yelled at Earl to "shut up when I'm at the table", I thought that friendship was on it's last rack. Archer wouldn't even look at Earl when they did jaw at each other. Although after the match, Johnny was very gracious in his victory speech. Pretty classy and I'm glad.
 
Sigel lives in Florida yet still has the gall to turn down a quality pizza? Do you have any idea of the bat-guano that passes for pizza down there? GF
 
My opinions for what they are worth

I strongly hope and feel the IPT still has a chance to make a comeback. I am surely rooting for them or someone like them to be able to make a go of things.

My opinion is that they need to restart on a smaller scale and work their way up i.e. start the prize funds at maybe 250,000 dollars rather than a million dollars. Do like most businesses and start small and work your way up. I find it hard to believe that the pro players would not have come and been just as happy starting smaller and being assured that they would be paid in full at tourneys end.

Secondly the play on words or whatever you want to call it such as what was done on this last event. They stated that the viewing of the match would be free. Yes they made it seem like free was free. Turns out you have to sign up for memebership that only cost 5.95. Why not just advertise it at 5.95 to view. I mean for heavens sake who wouldn't pay 5.95 to view these types of matches done professionally like the IPT does.

Bottom line I am wishing the IPT as much success as they possibly can achieve as I think the state or condition of our beloved game surely needs a boost before it totally disappears.
 
Secondly the play on words or whatever you want to call it such as what was done on this last event. They stated that the viewing of the match would be free. Yes they made it seem like free was free. Turns out you have to sign up for memebership that only cost 5.95. Why not just advertise it at 5.95 to view. I mean for heavens sake who wouldn't pay 5.95 to view these types of matches done professionally like the IPT does.

Bottom line I am wishing the IPT as much success as they possibly can achieve as I think the state or condition of our beloved game surely needs a boost before it totally disappears.[/QUOTE]

It was free. I think you need top pay the 5.95 or whatever if you want to watch it "on demand". In other words if you didn't catch it live and want to watch the replay you need to pay the membership fee. I could be wrong but thats the way i understand it.
 
I enjoyed the match. I think Johnny's was breaking the balls nicely. That and it seemed Earl didn't make a few tough but definitely make-able eight balls. As far as the IPT goes who knows. I think most of us are hoping something takes pool to another level in our life times. That being said i can't go for the comments of Earl and Johnny saying how great Kevin is. I know his tournaments paid more to players than any other. And for that im glad. But after Reno and the money still owed, and the crushed dreams i witnessed after wards im not so sure.
 
freddy the beard said:
I went to the studio where they broadcast the match the next nite and came away impressed with their first effort at the new internet match format. They are spending money and they are using top people. Something can happen. Keep your fingers crossed.
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I really hope you're right, but this whole thing is kind of surreal. You have to admit, to a certain degree, a lot of folks, fans and players alike, had to swallow their pride to go along with this.

I guess there's really nothing to lose by supporting it, but I would imagine most people are not going to get as carried away over the IPT as they were before.

The sad thing is that no matter what the words are or how many people smile at Kevin Trudeau in front of the cameras at these events, no one really trusts him. As a fan, it's hard for me to get past that.

Thanks for posting Mr. B.
 
Alls I know is that if that's the same chick in both pictures...well then the blond most assurredly WORKS BETTER on her...

The red headed pic was just not good...not good at all .. .well not bad..but the blond was miles better

I wouldnt know what she looked like on the stream as I refuse to give KT the time of day until his debts are paid..... in full.

The cash used to pay for that pizza shoulda been sent to some player that is still owed... Hope it was good
 
Animosity?

Terry Ardeno said:
Fred,
....4. Are Earl and Johnny still friends? Earl was at Johnny's wedding. When I was finally able to see the match last night, Johnny seemed to really be trying strongly not to engage him in conversation unless it was a cut, i.e., Earl-"The balls didn't break good for me." Johnny-"No, you hit 'em bad." Stuff like that. When Johnny yelled at Earl to "shut up when I'm at the table", I thought that friendship was on it's last rack. Archer wouldn't even look at Earl when they did jaw at each other. Although after the match, Johnny was very gracious in his victory speech. Pretty classy and I'm glad.
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They sat next to each other, and across from Grady and I, in the pizza joint. I detected no undercurrents of bad feelings whatsoever. We all had a good night. However, during, and immediately after a match, Earl might bark at Al Capone.

the Beard
 
freddy the beard said:
They sat next to each other, and across from Grady and I, in the pizza joint. I detected no undercurrents of bad feelings whatsoever. We all had a good night. However, during, and immediately after a match, Earl might bark at Al Capone.

the Beard
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Speaking of Capone, do/did you know Warren Capone, Fred?
 
freddy the beard said:
They sat next to each other, and across from Grady and I, in the pizza joint.

the Beard
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Oh how I would have loved to be the waiter there that night. Two of my all time favorite pool characters and commentators (you & Grady) and one (Earl) of my two favorite active players ( Shannon the other) in the same booth....Wow. Also wish I was a little birdie....

I should have taken a class on pizza making in school instead of daydreaming about the next rack....:)
 
I think egos, money, and competition turns friends into enemys on the "field of play". I think this is especially true in pool.

I'm sure alot of pool players can relate. In the pool room I grew up in, I would gamble for hours on end with the owner, be at each others throats every minute, arguing every hit/call. The next day I could walk into the pool room and we would be friends just like anyone else there. I think fierce competition, especially when its for your livelyhood can easily make for short term enemies.
 
From Cappa's liquors?

hemicudas said:
Speaking of Capone, do/did you know Warren Capone, Fred?
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Do you mean the skinny kid that used to back pool players at the old Cappa's Liquors action bar on the South Side? If so, yes. His name was actually Wayne Capone, and Capone was only his nickname. Yer gittin old, Bill. He is still around and has gained 200 lbs!

the Beard
 
freddy the beard said:
Do you mean the skinny kid that used to back pool players at the old Cappa's Liquors action bar on the South Side? If so, yes. His name was actually Wayne Capone, and Capone was only his nickname. Yer gittin old, Bill. He is still around and has gained 200 lbs!

the Beard
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Ask him if he wants a rematch in 9-Ball Banks at DCC. :D
Just kidding, tell him I said Hi.
 
freddy the beard said:
Do you mean the skinny kid that used to back pool players at the old Cappa's Liquors action bar on the South Side? If so, yes. His name was actually Wayne Capone, and Capone was only his nickname. Yer gittin old, Bill. He is still around and has gained 200 lbs!

the Beard
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For sure, it was, and obviously still is, Wayne Capone, Fred. Where did I get Warren? Yea, we all are getting old. If I ever make it to DCC I got a story and a half for ya about, Capone. Too hot for publication, even in an email.
 
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