Magic in the Cue...

Awesome story!!! Love reading war stories of yester year.

M HOUSE said:
It was around '84 or '85 that Efren came to south Fl. For about five days in a row he came into the room I was running to practice. I even opened up a little early for him so he could practice without being bothered. He was playing with a Tad at the time and when I got to hit a couple of balls with it, I remember thinking that it hit very similar to the Joss I was playing with at the time (a little stiff). Then Efren went down to Bird Bowl in Miami for a small tournament. Part of his first place winnings was a Meucci cue. He never even opened the plastic bag it came, but just threw it in the trunk of the car of the person that was driving him around.

A couple of days later he got matched up in a game over at Gold Crown Billiards in Hollywood, Fl. His backers had arranged a game with Carlos Vieria. They didn't know Carlos, and the game they made appeared to be out of line. Carlos was getting the call seven, the wild eight, and the BREAK. (Carlos had recently won the Eastern States 9-Ball tournament). The race was to 25 for 5K.

Carlos came within one shot of playing a perfect set. He missed only one ball that he trying to make in the 48 games that were played, and he LOST ! Efren didn't miss any and won the set 25-23.. What is really amazing is that when Efren went down 8-2, he called a time out, went out to the car and got the Meucci. He tore open the bag, sanded and chalked the tip and said play. All the games that he won from that point where with a cue that he had never hit a ball with, and it was with a cue that hit very different than the one he was used to...and he never missed a ball.

Mizerak was part of the group backing Efren and he said that it was the most amazing thing he had ever seen.
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hey Joey with a Tie...

you are a one and only...

just for the record i watched your match with sam ourso tonight - you on the hill and making the '9' on the break - WOW!

[are you sure you want (another) LD shaft???]

back on track
loved your story - Wonderful

the only question for me is: why do i have soooooooooooooooooo
mannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnny cues??????????????????

HELP! PLEASE!

all the best,
smokey
 
Hey JoeyA, I like the thread and the subject!

JoeyA said:
Yes, the one he won the 2011 U.S. Open One Pocket Championship with.

We all know it is the Indian and not the arrow, right?

Well, it could not be more true than in this case.

When Efren walked away from the table, Alex P was "admiring" his Efren's cue and I asked Alex to tell me what kind of cue it was. Alex being the perennial pixie, quipped, "bamboo stick", grinning wildly. That brought a chorus of laughter from the gallery and I slipped on down to the TV table to get a closer inspection of Efren's personal cue. I and most others have seen Alex's respect for Efren on more than one occasion. Alex and the rest of the Filipino players all acknowledge Efren as THE KING. One time during the tournament Efren was walking past Alex and not talking to anyone, Alex bowed low and extended both of his hands toward Efren like you see in the movies and would not stop until Efren shooed him away with a wave of his hand. I thought that was some funny stuff. Wish I had that on video. :D Alex is my favorite comedian pool player for sure.

Getting back to the cue.....It had a rather thin shaft, just guessing that it was probably below 12.0 mm. The cue but itself had a few points but for all practical purposes, it was a very plain looking cue. Another thing that caught my eye was the collar of the shaft. It was odd to say the least and did not match the collar on the butt of the cue. The taper looked similar to a pro taper but I can't be sure as I did not have a caliper with me.

Alex had been hitting some balls with THE CUE and I took my chances with facing the wrath of Efren. I know, I know it was stupid for me to hit balls with the champs cue but sometimes as human beings we do stupid things. I figured that my excuse that I was Efren's OFFICIAL "mini-tournament backer" might give me a stay of execution if the tip were to fly off of the cue or the ferrule breaking. Alex warned me that he did not give me permission to use the cue and I acknowledge that and inspected the cue closer. The ferrule had a thin line under it where there was "separation" from the wooden shaft. I placed my fingernail along the separation to make sure that I was seeing things clearly and sure enough there was a thin space not quite as thick as my fingernail under the ferrule. On one side of the shaft, the ferrule actually extended out enough for my fingernail to sit under the ferrule. I was careful not to put pressure on the ferrule for fear of it coming off.

I knew I didn't have much time as Efren would be returning soon. My blood pressure was increasing with each passing second so I set up my signature shot, the one with the object ball frozen to the middle diamond on the foot rail. Cue ball in the kitchen on the head string with the cue ball almost perpendicular to the object ball. I aimed just like I do with my OB Classic Pro and put the same amount of English and was very careful in doing so. My eyes almost popped out of my head when I saw that the cue ball hit the rail approximately 2 1/8" from the object ball. I shot a second and third time, thinking maybe I was being too careful or not aiming careful enough. I have made this shot many, many times and could not believe that I could not even hit the object ball let alone make it. After aiming directly at the object ball, I managed to barely clip the object ball, not coming close to making it. I whined to Alex that I couldn't play with THE CUE. Alex, opined, "That is what makes Efren such a great player". Efren can truly play with any cue if he can beat the best one pocket players in the world with THAT CUE.

I stopped after a few shots just in time to see Efren returning to the table and took a few moments to ask him a few questions, not wanting to disturb his continuity and focus. He replied that the cue was made or provided to him by Denny Glenn if I heard him correctly. Denny Glenn must be some kind of sorcerer and had given THE CUE some magical powers that only Efren can control. For me, the experience although it aged me quite a bit, I simply came away with more awe than I already had for "Bata". I still don't know if Efren saw me hit any balls with his cue. I only hit four shots with it but I know I couldn't play with it. I was just thankful that he didn't have one his minions punish me for my foolhardy move. As the tournament came to an end, I was in my room, listening to the commentary by Billy I, Corey Deuel and I think Larry Schwartz and I was kind of dozing off because of lack of sleep from the prior days. I set the alarm clock for 3:30 am so that I could donate a few dollars to the blackjack tables before I left for my 7:30 am flight and when I woke a couple of hours later, showered and packed my suitcase for the very early departure, who would I see sitting at the table next to me but THE KING himself. When he walked close by my table, despite still being embarassed by my outrageous move, I managed to mutter a "CONGRATULATIONS CHAMP" and he kindly smiled at me and tapped me on the shoulder. He must have passed on some of his magic to me as I won the next few hands of blackjack and retired a winner.

JoeyA
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I enjoyed reading this very much. And now I think the player makes the cue, and not the cue make the player! Good thread altogether! Thanks JoeyA. You sure were in a lot of good pool player company!
Glad you won on the other tables too. Keep up the good work!
Many Regards,
Lock n Load.
 
DogsPlayingPool said:
Joey, good thing you didn't op the tip off because as I recall, Efren only has one shaft. It might have been the "What's in the case" video. Sammi noted the single shaft and asked him what he would do if the tip came off and Efren just shrugged his shoulders, LOL. Probably just win the tournament with one off the wall. ;)
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I am known to hit balls rather hard when testing out a cue and sometimes I will use force-follow with a little side to test out a cue and just about anything else and believe me it was on my mind (about the tip popping off). Still I gave the cue a good whirl.

Alex made sure to tell me that if Efren caught me to tell him that he (Alex) didn't give me permission to hit with his (Efren) cue. I took a chance that I probably wouldn't do in the future. I would hate for THE KING to have to play with a cue off the rack. I would probably just offer up my POW-MIA cue for him to use and I would just watch the rest of the tournament. :)
 
Lock N Load said:
I enjoyed reading this very much. And now I think the player makes the cue, and not the cue make the player! Good thread altogether! Thanks JoeyA. You sure were in a lot of good pool player company!
Glad you won on the other tables too. Keep up the good work!
Many Regards,
Lock n Load.
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Lock,
I had some "Magic" rub off me that time to win at the black jack table, but you know what they say about "magic" down here in New Orleans. :wink:

Knowing about Efren's propensity to have but one shaft, I think in the future, I might not be so foolhardy. Hindsight is a blessing if you get the chance to have it.
 
I remember my losses best......

smokey said:
you are a one and only...

just for the record i watched your match with sam ourso tonight - you on the hill and making the '9' on the break - WOW!

[are you sure you want (another) LD shaft???]

back on track
loved your story - Wonderful

the only question for me is: why do i have soooooooooooooooooo
mannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnny cues??????????????????

HELP! PLEASE!

all the best,
smokey
Click to expand...


Smokey,
I have only one playing cue; a Mike Bender, POW-MIA tribute cue. I have one custom jump cue by Steve Lomax. I have one break cue, Predator BK2. The fact that I have several different shafts for my playing cue doesn't make me a bad guy does ittttttttttttttttttttttttt?

And NO, I am not sure if I want another LD shaft. That's why I want to hit some balls with the MEZZ line of cues. :wink:

I don't remember the match against Sam. I guess I am just getting old. ;)

JoeyA
 
don't laugh

at that bamboo cue, i just made a cue the butt is solid bamboo. i have not really had enough time for testing it, but everything seem's o.k. so far.
 
desi2960 said:
at that bamboo cue, i just made a cue the butt is solid bamboo. i have not really had enough time for testing it, but everything seem's o.k. so far.
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We all laughed at Alex Pagulayan who actually called Efren's cue a "Bamboo piece of s**t". :D Hope your cue lasts forever and has the Magic that all of Efren's cues seem to have.
 
didnt wanna sift through 4 pages but i heard through the grapevine he got it at gringots i went there but the man there would not tell me anything


hope people understand that :thumbsup:
 
Vahmurka said:
thanks for the post JoeyA. Seems like a piece of hackwork was applied to Efren's cue when they changed the ferrule... But we all know he can kick a$$ even with a mop stick.
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Hello Vahmurka,
How are you? Are there a lot of pool halls over where you live? Thanks.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Is this the cue you saw? If so I can't believe he still has it,word is he gets LOTS of offers to sell whatever he's playing with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex9VAjvxZ98

I picked up the cue he's using in the match I posted the link for here,and it was ODD to say the least.

That one had a shaft on it that must have been OLD wood,it was fairly stiff even with a 12mm or so diameter and a LONG taper. It also had a bunch of discolored grain in it. There wasn't a ferrule gap,but it had a noticable seam,like the ferrule was replaced rather poorly.

It also had a short wrap,and looked like Efren colored it with a brown marker of some kind,but had worn off in spots. It was also slightly rear-weighted,and had what looked like a SS butt cap. Tommy D.
 
AnitoKid said:
I read each and every story!
WOW! I love this thread! And I kid you not!

Thanks to all for sharing!



AnitoKid
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I agree, this is a very interesting thread about my all time favorite player. I'm so glad to be a fan and a player during the time Efren has been playing and making his mark in the pool world. There will never be another "Magician" and we should all be thankful to of witnessed such an amazing player!

James
 
M HOUSE said:
It was around '84 or '85 that Efren came to south Fl. For about five days in a row he came into the room I was running to practice. I even opened up a little early for him so he could practice without being bothered. He was playing with a Tad at the time and when I got to hit a couple of balls with it, I remember thinking that it hit very similar to the Joss I was playing with at the time (a little stiff). Then Efren went down to Bird Bowl in Miami for a small tournament. Part of his first place winnings was a Meucci cue. He never even opened the plastic bag it came, but just threw it in the trunk of the car of the person that was driving him around.

A couple of days later he got matched up in a game over at Gold Crown Billiards in Hollywood, Fl. His backers had arranged a game with Carlos Vieria. They didn't know Carlos, and the game they made appeared to be out of line. Carlos was getting the call seven, the wild eight, and the BREAK. (Carlos had recently won the Eastern States 9-Ball tournament). The race was to 25 for 5K.

Carlos came within one shot of playing a perfect set. He missed only one ball that he trying to make in the 48 games that were played, and he LOST ! Efren didn't miss any and won the set 25-23.. What is really amazing is that when Efren went down 8-2, he called a time out, went out to the car and got the Meucci. He tore open the bag, sanded and chalked the tip and said play. All the games that he won from that point where with a cue that he had never hit a ball with, and it was with a cue that hit very different than the one he was used to...and he never missed a ball.

Mizerak was part of the group backing Efren and he said that it was the most amazing thing he had ever seen.
Click to expand...


Thank you for sharing this little story!
 
M HOUSE said:
It was around '84 or '85 that Efren came to south Fl. For about five days in a row he came into the room I was running to practice. I even opened up a little early for him so he could practice without being bothered. He was playing with a Tad at the time and when I got to hit a couple of balls with it, I remember thinking that it hit very similar to the Joss I was playing with at the time (a little stiff). Then Efren went down to Bird Bowl in Miami for a small tournament. Part of his first place winnings was a Meucci cue. He never even opened the plastic bag it came, but just threw it in the trunk of the car of the person that was driving him around.

A couple of days later he got matched up in a game over at Gold Crown Billiards in Hollywood, Fl. His backers had arranged a game with Carlos Vieria. They didn't know Carlos, and the game they made appeared to be out of line. Carlos was getting the call seven, the wild eight, and the BREAK. (Carlos had recently won the Eastern States 9-Ball tournament). The race was to 25 for 5K.

Carlos came within one shot of playing a perfect set. He missed only one ball that he trying to make in the 48 games that were played, and he LOST ! Efren didn't miss any and won the set 25-23.. What is really amazing is that when Efren went down 8-2, he called a time out, went out to the car and got the Meucci. He tore open the bag, sanded and chalked the tip and said play. All the games that he won from that point where with a cue that he had never hit a ball with, and it was with a cue that hit very different than the one he was used to...and he never missed a ball.

Mizerak was part of the group backing Efren and he said that it was the most amazing thing he had ever seen.
Click to expand...

Great story!

Like Sfleinen said, the "Time of Efren" has been magical and entertaining for all of us who have witnessed his skill. He's on the back 9 holes now, so make sure you get a front row seat for his next event and match.
 
Sean, I think you missed the point of the post. Check out M House's story.
Efren picked up a stick he wasn't used to, adjusted immediately, and won the set.

You picked up a stick you weren't used to, missed some balls, and decided you had the wrong arrow and you needed to switch to a different arrow for the rest of your life.

It's not the arrow.

Sheesh, never thought I'd see you and pangit on the same page.
 
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