Native American Contributions to Pool

[JAM]

Of the 562 federally recognized Tribes in the country, 223 have gaming compacts. According to the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA). -- USAToday, February 23, 2007, "Tribes Making Inroads in Sports Industry"

In listening to the recent Runout Radio interview podcast with Kevin Pickard, who is instrumental in making the Seminoles Tribe events a reality, it got me to thinking about the contributions made by Native American Tribes to the pool.

Seminoles is one of the top Tribes in Indian Country when it comes golden opportunities for pool players. In fact, come this November 30th through December 2nd of this year, there will be a $25,000-added event where players of all caliber are welcome, and you don't have to be a member of any organization in order to participate. Pool is very alive in Florida, thanks to the Seminoles, which is why many a pro player has moved to the Sunshine State. The pool opportunities are plentiful. According to Kevin Pickard, the Seminoles are looking forward to expanding pool events throughout the nation. Bravo to Seminoles!

The Oneida Indian Nation has been hosting $25,000-added events for sometime now, thanks to Mike Zuglan's efforts in the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour. The Turning Stone Resort and Casino is a first-class facility, offering one of the prettiest venues I have ever seen in my travels on the tournament trail. AND most importantly, the Turning Stone casino folks like pool players. As an aside, I happened to catch a glimpse of a PGA golf tournament that was happening right there at Turning Stone yesterday. The Oneida Indian Nation will always be one of my faves!

The Mohegan Sun Casino hosts many pool events for Billiards International, with trick shot contests and Challenge of the Champions. This is a beautiful casino with a long and rich history. I love to see that howlng wolf as you walk in the casino.

I also seem to remember, though I can't find the link on this forum, that the Tyme Maidu Tribe Berry-Creek Rancheria Tribe in Oroville, California, put on a pool tournament a few years ago at the Gold Country Casino. I think the timing was off as there are other pool events happening at the same time. This is a smaller Tribe than Oneida, Seminoles, and Mohegans, but nonetheless still may provide some pool events in the future.

The WPBA, the women's professional organization, has many of their televised events at Native American casinos around the country. It would seem that it's a win-win for the ladies, thanks to the some of the Native American Tribes in Indian Country.

I visited the Native Youth Magazine website recently and discovered a whole bunch of ads for pool and billiard supplies. I see these pool ads on other Native American websites as well. Yet, I don't know of too many Native American pool players. I would be very interested to learn of any that are active in pool today.

Native American Tribes have been and are continuining to make a big investment in pool. I wonder if a Native American-sponsored national tour could be a possibility on the horizon.

I don't think this topic has been brought in the past, and I think it's time to pay tribute and give thanks to those Tribes which are making a very significant difference in the pool industry.

Here's my picture page link of a 2006 Joss/Turning Stone Resort and Casino $25,000-added pool tournament, won by Thorsten Hohmann. I hope you enjoy the Native American music on both pages, too.

http://www.hometown.aol.com/jamalloy/2006turningstone.html

JAM

 

[JAM]

Antique Pool Table From 1800's Returned

Here's an interesting little story about Gabriel Dumont, a Metis Indian whose pool table was stolen.

Around 1855, when billiards was actually quite popular in Canada, a now historic antique pool table was hauled away by Canadian soldiers after their victory in Batoche. The billiard table, and other looted items have become identity symbols in this area, which is predominantly Metis occupied.

In early 2006, news came that the antique pool table would be returned to Batoche, after is lengthy stay in a Manitoba penitentiary. Needless to say, this was a victorious moment for the people, and for the area.

Mark Calette of the Batoche National Historic Site, where the billiards table was unveiled, indicated that the return of Dumont's antique pool table "symbolizes a chance for us to reflect that yes, these things were taken, but now they're coming home." He says that, "For the families, including mine, that lost everything; this kind of symbolizes a return."

Dumont's antique pool table is a mahogany beauty, six feet by 12 feet, with the words "Northwest" engraved on the underside of the pool table's bed. When returned, the table was slightly battered and required a new felt cloth surface, but was otherwise in good shape.

The famously antique pool table was used in Dumont's "Stopping Place" south of Batoche where travellers could enjoy a drink, play some billiards, and have a rest. All this was in the late 19th century, when billiards was quite popular with tournaments even getting press coverage. Gabriel Dumont's acquaintance Louis Riel would often stop in to relax, drink, and to challenge Dumont to a game on the ole pool table. Dumont was an excellent billiards player, but it is said that when Louis would come to play billiards at Gabriel's club, Louis had to spot Gabriel points as he was reportedly even better.

Metis elders claim that Dumont's antique billiard table had ended up at Stony Mountain penitentiary in Manitoba. It is believed that a prison warden who was also a transport officer in the Canadian forces, took the table there after the battle in Batoche that eventually lead to Riel's death by hanging. After its stint at the penitentiary, the billiard table was used in the warden's home for decades, until it was eventually transferred to Parks Canada where it sat dormant in a warehouse for many years.

Today, a similar pool table to Gabriel Dumont's is on the market for $49,000 or best offer: 6'by 12', Antique Slate Pool Table in original condition. Brunswick pool table made by Balke Collender Company, which is stamped into the wood on the end of the table. This is believed to be made of MAGOHANY wood; mother of pearl inlays; patterning on each of the 8 large block legs (slightly larger at bottom of leg). This table is very similar to the one that was used at Gabriel Dumont's "Stopping Place" south of Batoche circa 1850. This is where Louis Riel would stop and challenge his friend, Gabriel Dumont to a game of pool. This pool table is truly a gem! Asking $49,000 or best offer

Just a little trivia about a Metis Tribal member from the 1800's that I thought I'd add to the thread!

JAM

 

[JAM]

I would be very interested to learn of more Native American pool-related topics, whether it be a pool player, an old tale, a Native Amercan activity in your area. I have been trying to accumulate some topics on this subject matter. Anything you can post up would be very much appreicated!

JAM

 

[Ken_4fun]

Isnt Liel Gay Native American?

He is the only one I thought might be Native American Pool player.

Hope that doesnt sound bad, no disrespect intended.

Ken

 

[JAM]

He is the only one I thought might be Native American Pool player.

Hope that doesnt sound bad, no disrespect intended.

Ken

I will definitely ask him next time to I run into him. He certainly is a great pool player.

I met a Cherokee named "Billy" from Oklahoma a while back who was on the road, looking for action, but I have never seen him since.

Leil definitely has a nice thick head of hair that so many Native Americans have. You won't see too many bald Native Americans. I'm part Native American (Cherokees from North Carolina), but unfortunately didn't get the thick hair gene! My birth mother's hair is thick, long, and beautiful.

Here's a picture of Leil taken at the 2004 Carolinas Open.

JAM

 

[JAM]

Here's a picture of one of pool's strongest supporters in the New England region of the United States, Oneida Tribal Member -- maybe an elder -- Maynard "Dip" Gabriel, as depicted on the right, posing with the head man at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino, the CEO, Ray Halbritter, on the left.

I was at the Turning Stone last year and was wearing my Native American beaded sandals that I purchased at the Cherokee Trading Post in Oklahoma when I drove cross-country. I was chatting with Maynard outside, the two of us sitting on a bench. Ray Halbritter pulled up to the casino in a white Cadillac, got out of his car, walked up to Maynard and immediately looked down at my feet.

He noticed my hand-beaded Native American sandals right away and complimented me on them!

JAM

 

[JAM]

Let's see who can recognize these pool folk in this snapshot!

JAM

 

[JAM]

How can I forget Richard Burton a/k/a Rolling Thunder from California. I would love to have a picture of him, and I neglected to take it when I saw him at the U.S. Open a few years ago.

This husky young man has a great sense of humor. Anyone who has met him will know about his infectious laugh. AND he likes action and shows no fear. I really enjoyed meeting him.

Somebody told me that it was Johnny Archer who nicknamed Rolling Thunder as "Richard Burton," but I am not sure if this is just an urban legend.

Richard is good friends with Scott Smith, the world-renown TD, and he came in fifth at the Reno Open a few years ago. So the kid's definitely got game!

JAM

 

[JAM]

Here's a cute story which is kind of pool-related.

A month or so ago, I dragged Keith McCready to the National Powwow which was held at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. I thought it would be a good opportunity for us to have fun together that did not involve ACTION!

We rode the Metro subway to Chinatown, the place where it was held, and it was Keith's first subway ride. He didn't like it one bit, the way it shook going at fast speeds underground. Yet, he's not afraid to hop on an airplane and fly anywhere else in the country. Go figure!

We checked out all the exhibits and saw some incredible shows, sitting in the peanut gallery. The Navajo Code Talkers were there, giving autographs and having their pictures taken. We ate some traditional Navajo fried bread tacos, which were tasty. As we were getting ready to depart, much to my surprise, this man recognized Keith from TCOM. I couldn't believe it, but I had my camera in tow and snapped this pic. It's a small world, sometimes smaller than you think!

JAM

 

[George Fels]

Everybody thinks he's black, but Cliff Joyner is Native American too. His tribe is the Lumbee, of North Carolina, and one of that tribe's physical characteristics is that they tend to look like light-skinned blacks. GF

 

[JAM]

Everybody thinks he's black, but Cliff Joyner is Native American too. His tribe is the Lumbee, of North Carolina, and one of that tribe's physical characteristics is that they tend to look like light-skinned blacks. GF

I had heard that before as well, but I never got the opportunity to ask Cliff about it when I saw him on the tournament trail.

You can be sure next time I do run into Cliff, I'm going to bend his ear a little, if he lets me. He's kind of a non-talkative kind of guy when he's in the pool environment. Thanks for that little pool snippet!

Here's a shot of Cliff Joyner (on the right) taken at an IPT qualifier in June 2006. On the left is Young Gun Brandon Shuff of Virginia.

JAM

 

[bigskyjake]

We best not forget Stan Torrangeau

 

[JAM]

We best not forget Stan Torrangeau

Does he have a long, thick, black ponytail?

JAM

 

[bigskyjake]

Does he have a long, thick, black ponytail?

JAM

that's a big ten four

 

[Pushout]

Here's a shot of Cliff Joyner (on the right) taken at an IPT qualifier in June 2006. On the left is Young Gun Brandon Shuff of Virginia.
JAM

I think Cliff definitely has the nose and cheekbones of a native American. And, I don't mean to be insulting about it That's the first picture of him I've see full face to the camera.

 

[Snapshot9]

Native Americans

We have a couple of Native Americans that play. One is a good woman player, not sure of her tribe, that is Cheryl Backward. Another Native American friend is known more for his drinking than playing, but he plays
pretty good when sober, and his name is Garfield.

 

[I rack balls]

I am Native American maybe I can get sponsored

Eric.

 

[Johnnyt]

The Indian casinos have and I think will contiue to help pool...and I'm happy for that. But they have put many horse tracks and dog tracks around the nation out of business or have them just barely hanging on. I was lucky to see it coming and sold my 100 or so dogs in 2001 for a nice profit. Johnnyt

 

[longhair]

Some friends of mine in Illinois travel to Wisconsin to play in a bar table tournament tour that is held in mostly Indian casinos. Maybe someone else here knows more about it and can give some details.

 

[Johnnyt]

Some friends of mine in Illinois travel to Wisconsin to play in a bar table tournament tour that is held in mostly Indian casinos. Maybe someone else here knows more about it and can give some details.

That tribe put two dog tracks out of business and are working on the 3rd and last in WI now. Johnnyt