I am sitting in the Philly airport (ugliest airport in the world...that is saying something) waiting for my plane to KC and this weeks Morra/Bergman match. I thought I would post up some pics and a few stories from my trip to Valley forge.
I got in on Thurday and hit the check in at the Raddison and met up with my roomate for the weekend boradriver who was kind enough to to share his room with a dummy who didnt make a reservation in time.
After that things start to blur together in a big swirl of pool, cues, laughter and a beer or 20 so instead of a chronological account which I would mangle horribly I will just give you the greatest hits.
-I was standing around a table downstairs with Shane, Ronnie Wiseman, Tony Chohan and 200 of our closest friends while Tony and Shane were trying to make a game. They had agreed on a 10 ball game and were discussing the stakes.Tony said "$5000" Shane said "I'll play you for $2000" to which Tony replied "I said $5000" at which point Shane shrugged looked over his shoulder at the crowd and said "Who wants to bet on me?" He had $5000 in about 10 minutes. The game was cancelled due to a sleepy backer who didnt feel like getting out bed to sweat a match, which is understandable considering all this went off at 3:30 AM.
-On a related note, earlier in the above negotiations when they were making the 10 ball game, Shane suddenly says "I will play you some last pocket 8 ball" to which Tony replied "OK" and Shane's eyes lit up like a slot machine as reached into his pocket for his knot and said "How much money you got?!! We play right here!!" To say he was a little too ready for that particular game would be an understatement and being a seasond road man Tony saw it and said"Hold on we have a 10 ball game" at which point Shane looked a little dissapointed then with a resigned little smirk on his face looks at Tony and says softly "Are you scared?" To which Tony replied with a hilarious and unprintable tirade ending with "We play in order you dingbat, first 10 ball then you can play 8 ball." Shane just smiled the whole time. I love this crap.
-Scooter was playing race to 2 10 ball for $1000. 'Nough said
- I laughed so hard I thought I would die for about 3 hours on Friday night listening to Jimbo and Dennis Dieckman have a converstaion at 4 in the morning and after Dennis had almost as much to drink as I had. Suffice it to say that if I had those 3 hours on video I would be able to retire because it was funnier than any comedy special in history.
- Saturday night I hung out with a bunch of AZ'ers in Chumley's the bar at the Raddison. Louis Ulrich and his lovely wife Connie were there along with Sunnyday, Hilla Hilla, DeadPoked, Mr. Mark Griffin (yes I always call him Mr.) John Schmidt and Stevie Moore cracked us all up with road stories.Stevie is a hilarious dude when he gets to telling road stories and I was glad I got to hear them. A good time was had by all.
- My road dog DeadPoked was looking for a cue so went walking around and I introduced him to my friend and cuemaker Mike Stacey. Mike had a beautiful 8 point Azalea Burl handled cue that Poked like and after some thought he ended up buying it. Mike gave him a great price because he felt sorry for Poked having to walk through the show with only me for a guide.
- One thing I am bummed about is not getting to watch Shane snap off the finals.The finals started at 3:30 and figuring everything in the pool world is 20 minutes late anyway I went to get my ticket at 3:45. Bad news....no tickets avaiable and I could not get in. Bad roll but the Sleeve kept me updated via text message.
- I got to meet Tony Scianella and Craig at his display booth and I am now a full on Black Boar fan. Forget that the work in Tony's cues is mind boggling, he is one of the nicest and funniest guys I have met. He talked to Poked and I for about 30 minutes and had us in stitches. He was telling us about how he came to have chickens in his shop, why he makes so few cues and myriad other things. One of the highlights of the trip.
-In the Jimbo room I challenged Andy Gilbert and Jim Stadum to a tag team wrestling match with me and Nasty for a cue. Details are TBD.
-The best part of the trip was getting to meet many new friends who were very supportive of TAR and very friendly towards me. I thank you all.
I got in on Thurday and hit the check in at the Raddison and met up with my roomate for the weekend boradriver who was kind enough to to share his room with a dummy who didnt make a reservation in time.
After that things start to blur together in a big swirl of pool, cues, laughter and a beer or 20 so instead of a chronological account which I would mangle horribly I will just give you the greatest hits.
-I was standing around a table downstairs with Shane, Ronnie Wiseman, Tony Chohan and 200 of our closest friends while Tony and Shane were trying to make a game. They had agreed on a 10 ball game and were discussing the stakes.Tony said "$5000" Shane said "I'll play you for $2000" to which Tony replied "I said $5000" at which point Shane shrugged looked over his shoulder at the crowd and said "Who wants to bet on me?" He had $5000 in about 10 minutes. The game was cancelled due to a sleepy backer who didnt feel like getting out bed to sweat a match, which is understandable considering all this went off at 3:30 AM.
-On a related note, earlier in the above negotiations when they were making the 10 ball game, Shane suddenly says "I will play you some last pocket 8 ball" to which Tony replied "OK" and Shane's eyes lit up like a slot machine as reached into his pocket for his knot and said "How much money you got?!! We play right here!!" To say he was a little too ready for that particular game would be an understatement and being a seasond road man Tony saw it and said"Hold on we have a 10 ball game" at which point Shane looked a little dissapointed then with a resigned little smirk on his face looks at Tony and says softly "Are you scared?" To which Tony replied with a hilarious and unprintable tirade ending with "We play in order you dingbat, first 10 ball then you can play 8 ball." Shane just smiled the whole time. I love this crap.
-Scooter was playing race to 2 10 ball for $1000. 'Nough said
- I laughed so hard I thought I would die for about 3 hours on Friday night listening to Jimbo and Dennis Dieckman have a converstaion at 4 in the morning and after Dennis had almost as much to drink as I had. Suffice it to say that if I had those 3 hours on video I would be able to retire because it was funnier than any comedy special in history.
- Saturday night I hung out with a bunch of AZ'ers in Chumley's the bar at the Raddison. Louis Ulrich and his lovely wife Connie were there along with Sunnyday, Hilla Hilla, DeadPoked, Mr. Mark Griffin (yes I always call him Mr.) John Schmidt and Stevie Moore cracked us all up with road stories.Stevie is a hilarious dude when he gets to telling road stories and I was glad I got to hear them. A good time was had by all.
- My road dog DeadPoked was looking for a cue so went walking around and I introduced him to my friend and cuemaker Mike Stacey. Mike had a beautiful 8 point Azalea Burl handled cue that Poked like and after some thought he ended up buying it. Mike gave him a great price because he felt sorry for Poked having to walk through the show with only me for a guide.
- One thing I am bummed about is not getting to watch Shane snap off the finals.The finals started at 3:30 and figuring everything in the pool world is 20 minutes late anyway I went to get my ticket at 3:45. Bad news....no tickets avaiable and I could not get in. Bad roll but the Sleeve kept me updated via text message.
- I got to meet Tony Scianella and Craig at his display booth and I am now a full on Black Boar fan. Forget that the work in Tony's cues is mind boggling, he is one of the nicest and funniest guys I have met. He talked to Poked and I for about 30 minutes and had us in stitches. He was telling us about how he came to have chickens in his shop, why he makes so few cues and myriad other things. One of the highlights of the trip.
-In the Jimbo room I challenged Andy Gilbert and Jim Stadum to a tag team wrestling match with me and Nasty for a cue. Details are TBD.
-The best part of the trip was getting to meet many new friends who were very supportive of TAR and very friendly towards me. I thank you all.
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