Lessons from Danny Diliberto...

[dmgwalsh]

I am having dinner tonite with Dan and Geo Fels at Jim Parker's Ill. Billiard Club. Danny is going back home tomorrow. I feel so bad that he's unable to spend more time here. Parker locked him up for a few days with lessons and exhibitions, which was good because he could use the income. I was hoping to take a lesson myself. Nobody runs the balls like DiLiberto. Anyone considering lessons from DD, dont hesitate. Aside from his voluminous knowledge, his personality and stories alone make whatever he might charge an underpayment.
I did have him alone and all to myself once in Chicago when he stayed with me for about a month. It was great times, and he's also a terrific cook. As Billy Johnson (Wade Crane) said once to me about Cornbread Red, "Make sure you enjoy him while he's still here, because they aint making another one like him."

the Beard

It was a great time at the Illinois Billiard Club last night. It was our awards banquet for our Straight Pool Leagues. We had two separate leagues going with 15 contenders in each league. This is the 34th year of operation.

Anyway, we were treated to Pool Royalty. As Fred mentioned, Danny had been in town the previous two days giving thirteen hours of lessons at the Illinois Billiard Club and he agreed to stay over and present the awards at our banquet. He was able to get several of his friends to show up as well. George Fels, Freddy Bentivegna and Bobby Hunter were all in attendance.

Danny was shooting the breeze, demonstrating a bit and meeting some of the members who had not taken lessons. During the ceremony, Danny regaled us with a few stories. Later, Freddy demonstrated some banks to an enthralled audience. George Fels, as usual, exuded wisdom. Bobby Hunter stuck around later and talked to us about how he learned straight pool and some of the things he taught John Schmidt.

All in all, a splendid evening.

I video'd all the lessons and was watching one on my ipod as I commuted to work today. Lessons, stories, humor - the whole package.

I'd say if you get the opportunity, take a lesson from Danny. Everyone who did at our club does not regret it.

 

[JimS]

Your club has to be the triple nuts.

 

[freddy the beard]

Triple Hungarian Nuts

Your club has to be the triple nuts.

Jim and Bonnie Parker's Illinois Billiard Club might be the greatest room in the country. The only thing it lacks is location. It's located in the Southwest suburbs, I would need my own helicopter to go there every night. The equipment is all perfectly restored antique pool and billiard tables. The attitude in the joint is pool and billiards, period. They have a high-class dining room where Jim's wife Bonnie serves outstanding home-cooked goodies. A pool player will only be treated better by his own mother. Danny Di loved it as much as I did.

the Beard

Incidentally, Danny only ran 200 balls the day he bowled a 300 game. That's ridiculous enough aint it?

 

[alstl]

Thanks to Willie "Bang Bang" Betmore, I was fortunate enough to be able to meet and live with Danny Diliberto last weekend. What a treat!

Danny was doing some group lessons. Well, that's not quite right...He actually did individual lessons with a group of 5 or 6 guys. He would give each guy an hour lesson playing straight pool while the rest of us played on adjacent tables. Anyone could stop playing and just watch the lesson on Danny's table, if he wanted.

That guy knows 14.1, I tell ya! Being mostly an 8-ball player nowadays, I was fascinated (and intimidated) by the straight pool strategies and moves. He also showed us some really good moves for 1-pocket. Damn, no wonder he's one of the overall champions! What a storehouse of knowledge he holds.

Because of circumstances, I was lucky enough to get some private instruction from Danny and even had road time and meals with him. The stories he tells are just so interesting. He signed and gave me a copy of his book, written by Jerry Forsyth, Road Player. I'm about half way through it and the reading the stories is great, but listening to him tell those stories was even better. That guy can spin a yarn.

He should be the official announcer for whatever broadcast tournaments there are....nobody I've ever heard can do it better.

Thanks to Williebetmore, for sure.

Now, I'm going to spend the summer practicing and playing straight pool. I'm curious to see how it helps my 8-ball league play next winter.

Jeff Livingston

P.S. Danny dubbed Williebetmore, "bang bang" and I think it should stick.

What was the most important thing you learned?

 

[skip2134]

Incidentally, Danny only ran 200 balls the day he bowled a 300 game. That's ridiculous enough aint it?[/QUOTE]


If you go to www.dannydiliberto.com and scroll to the bottom it says...


1981

Bowled 300 game and ran 308 balls in straight pool
on the same day

 

[yobagua]

Recently I heard that Accustats might be doing the straight pool tournament in New Jersey. If they are then I presume Danny would do the commentary. Well that is great news if it happens. Most of you have heard Danny do the Derby and Turning Stone but he is definitley a 14.1 specialist. Having been one of the few guys who gambled and won world championships playing straight pool. His matches against Steve Mizerak for cash are world class.
I tried to match Danny up with TAR for the Schmidt/Harriman match especially the 14.1 portion. Danny was going to be on the road then nearby and Justin and Nasty already had Fred A and Ken S on board. But they were kind enough to offer the hotel room and a piece of Jelly to open up the show and have an hour or two. But unfortunately it couldnt happen. I say this because there is no one who can give insight to the 14.1 game as Danny and I hope he can show that soon.

 

[dmgwalsh]

Recently I heard that Accustats might be doing the straight pool tournament in New Jersey. If they are then I presume Danny would do the commentary. Well that is great news if it happens. Most of you have heard Danny do the Derby and Turning Stone but he is definitley a 14.1 specialist. Having been one of the few guys who gambled and won world championships playing straight pool. His matches against Steve Mizerak for cash are world class.
I tried to match Danny up with TAR for the Schmidt/Harriman match especially the 14.1 portion. Danny was going to be on the road then nearby and Justin and Nasty already had Fred A and Ken S on board. But they were kind enough to offer the hotel room and a piece of Jelly to open up the show and have an hour or two. But unfortunately it couldnt happen. I say this because there is no one who can give insight to the 14.1 game as Danny and I hope he can show that soon.

Danny said he would be doing New Jersey.

Yeah Danny would have been great doing both the Harriman/Schmidt matches. At DCC, we learned a lot with the players whose patterns were not traditional since we could see what they did and what Danny thought they should do.

Listening to him during our lessons reminded me of his commentary at Derby City. "you don't want to gamble going into those balls" "all the balls go now. You just have to get on them where they go" "Don't run into the balls when you don't have to. It'll just create clusters" and when he hits a rail going into the hole- "Never a doubt"

Now I have about 13 hours of his lessons on video. Sweet!

 

[yobagua]

Never A Doubt

I think this should be the title of his next book. Because Danny never had a doubt about his game. He just truly had the confidence of an excellent sportsman.

 

[chefjeff]

What was the most important thing you learned?

Even though I've played for 45 years or so, I learned just how ignorant I am about pool.

He also confirmed one of my main points and that is: if it isn't any fun, go do something else.

It's really hard to pin it down to just one thing, if you know what I mean.

Jeff Livingston

 

[freddy the beard]

Literary License

Incidentally, Danny only ran 200 balls the day he bowled a 300 game. That's ridiculous enough aint it?

If you go to www.dannydiliberto.com and scroll to the bottom it says...


1981

Bowled 300 game and ran 308 balls in straight pool
on the same day[/QUOTE]


I know Danny since 1964, and know of that story since its inception. When I learned of the story 25 years ago it was 200 balls. Time has added another 7 racks to the story. Since Danny is not a liar or a braggart, you can bet that it wasnt him who put that webpage together. I dont even think he has a computer at home so he may never have even seen the page.

the Beard

 

[yobagua]

If you go to www.dannydiliberto.com and scroll to the bottom it says...


1981

Bowled 300 game and ran 308 balls in straight pool
on the same day

I know Danny since 1964, and know of that story since its inception. When I learned of the story 25 years ago it was 200 balls. Time has added another 7 racks to the story. Since Danny is not a liar or a braggart, you can bet that it wasnt him who put that webpage together. I dont even think he has a computer at home so he may never have even seen the page.

the Beard[/QUOTE]

Freddy, Danny does have a computer at home but it is his wife that uses it and set up his website. Thats why you cant dial his home directly and have to get him on the cell cause she is on the line most of the time.

 

[Williebetmore]

If you go to www.dannydiliberto.com and scroll to the bottom it says...


1981

Bowled 300 game and ran 308 balls in straight pool
on the same day


I know Danny since 1964, and know of that story since its inception. When I learned of the story 25 years ago it was 200 balls. Time has added another 7 racks to the story. Since Danny is not a liar or a braggart, you can bet that it wasnt him who put that webpage together. I dont even think he has a computer at home so he may never have even seen the page.

the Beard

Bearded One,
Not to confuse things, but I recall seeing a copy of the "Faces in the Crowd" page from Sports Illustrated that also said a 300 game and a run of 308. Its been a couple of years since I've seen it, but my recollection was 300/308. Maybe someone has the original SI issue.

 

[freddy the beard]

The final say

I know Danny since 1964, and know of that story since its inception. When I learned of the story 25 years ago it was 200 balls. Time has added another 7 racks to the story. Since Danny is not a liar or a braggart, you can bet that it wasnt him who put that webpage together. I dont even think he has a computer at home so he may never have even seen the page.

the Beard

Bearded One,
Not to confuse things, but I recall seeing a copy of the "Faces in the Crowd" page from Sports Illustrated that also said a 300 game and a run of 308. Its been a couple of years since I've seen it, but my recollection was 300/308. Maybe someone has the original SI issue.[/QUOTE]


I just talked to Danny on the phone. The number unbelievably was 308! The confusion came from an article Geo Fels wrote about the feat many years ago. George cited 200 balls in his article. What happened Danny said, was he was playing a game to 200 which he ran all the way out, and kept shooting up until the 308 plateau. What addled my brain was that I talked to Danny about the incident years ago when he stayed with me. All I could recall tho, was that the number I was familiar with was wrong. ...That somebody said it was 100, but it was actually 200, or visa versa. Whatever... brain lock is starting to set in , so lets just leave it at 308.

the Beard

 

[Terry Ardeno]

Bearded One,
Not to confuse things, but I recall seeing a copy of the "Faces in the Crowd" page from Sports Illustrated that also said a 300 game and a run of 308. Its been a couple of years since I've seen it, but my recollection was 300/308. Maybe someone has the original SI issue.

Here's a link to the SI archived articles. I have it set for "Lassiter" on this link, but just type in pool or DiLiberto for whatever you want to read.
Also, your PM box is full.
http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn...._Lassiter/1900-01-01/2100-12-31/mdd/index.htm

 

[yobagua]

"brain lock"? Is that like the Hungarian double nuts lock that Fatty used to always talk about? He was an expert at that one.

 

[PETARD]

Freddie; How Can We Contact Danny For Lessons At More Than $25 Per Hour? I Will Fly Him Or Me Anywhere For A Few Days Of Lessons. Pm Me If You Like

 

[freddy the beard]

Lessons

Freddie; How Can We Contact Danny For Lessons At More Than $25 Per Hour? I Will Fly Him Or Me Anywhere For A Few Days Of Lessons. Pm Me If You Like

Check PM box.

the Beard

 

[Vahmurka]

someone mentioned Road Warrior... I think I got that picture somewhere here at AZ (where else?) the original is 3 times heavier butI had to resize it to meet the attachment limit.

 

[yobagua]

Thanks for posting this great pic! Danny just sent me one from his boxing days. As soon as I can figure out how to post I will

 

[dmgwalsh]

coming soon video lesson

I am uploading my lesson with Danny to google and once it is complete, I will post the link here.

Stay tuned. Probably will take a couple of hours to upload.