Newspaper

[14-1StraightMan]

I had a write up in the major newspaper of Dallas today (Dallas Morning News). Here is the link:
http://static1.smallworldlabs.com/neighborhoods/content/PDF/SECTIONS/2011/0708/bestsouthwest.pdf


Pool Story: Last night during my match (9-ball League). My team against Bob Vanover's team. A guy walked up to the table when one of the players was about to shoot. Player stood up & gave the guy a look. Anyways, the guy is hanging out where we were all sitting. I figured that he knew one of the guys on the team. He starts talking in my ear telling me about the look he got. I told him about pool room etiquette. He then starts telling me how he was playing for a championship and had all kinds of people standing around the table...... Yea, yea LOL he then stated how he seen Steve Archer miss a easy shot..... This is one of many reasons I don't hang out in these bars.......

 

[14-1StraightMan]

Comment

Nice story Mike, but I have read that basic story before.

Hey, that guy in the bar/pool room sounds like a jerk....

 

[14-1StraightMan]

Reply

Yes, I know, sorry. This good friend of mine keeps calling reporters. If he does it again...... "To the Moon Alice"......

That guy was a jerk & was very annoying. There are a million guys like him in those places.

 

[14-1StraightMan]

Az

Don't know if anyone notice but I did give a shout out for AZ Billiards in the article.

Also, that match with Vanover's team. 5 man team, each man shoots two games of 9 ball against each opponent player. 50 games total. The score at the end of the match was: 25 to 25. We had to play one extra round. They beat us 3-1... Great match.
I was 7-3. Vanover as old as he is getting, still plays great. He broke and ran out against me. In the second game. I missed a combo to the 9 (3/9) that I should of made, then he ran the rest.

 

[stevekur1]

Very nice read mike, and i love how you answered your own question in post #2....LOL

-Steve

 

[BayGene]

Very nice article, Mike. At least once the dream of recovering something lost forever came true-thanks to your diligence.

 

[sfleinen]

Very nice read mike, and i love how you answered your own question in post #2....LOL

-Steve

And the funny thing is, he probably repped himself for it.

Just kidding, Mike. A beautiful and inspiring read. However, I do hope that one day, you can patch things up with the old man.

Without getting into specifics, I held a grudge against mine for decades, even though he was initially my main inspiration for getting into our sport in the first place. I patched things up a couple years ago, and it's a great feeling. People (like my Dad) make some severe mistakes in their younger years, that they later regret, but are too embarrassed (or think the situation is beyond repair) to even attempt repair, or to reach out with an olive branch. They'd given up hope. So I swallowed my pride, extended the olive branch, and can now say it was the best thing I ever did.

Again, a very inspiring story about finding and re-acquiring what was once thought to be lost.
-Sean

 

[14-1StraightMan]

Thanks

And the funny thing is, he probably repped himself for it.

Just kidding, Mike. A beautiful and inspiring read. However, I do hope that one day, you can patch things up with the old man.

Without getting into specifics, I held a grudge against mine for decades, even though he was initially my main inspiration for getting into our sport in the first place. I patched things up a couple years ago, and it's a great feeling. People (like my Dad) make some severe mistakes in their younger years, that they later regret, but are too embarrassed (or think the situation is beyond repair) to even attempt repair, or to reach out with an olive branch. They'd given up hope. So I swallowed my pride, extended the olive branch, and can now say it was the best thing I ever did.

Again, a very inspiring story about finding and re-acquiring what was once thought to be lost.
-Sean

Thanks Sean for the kind words. I really appreciate them. I have extended the olive branch over the years and it has always come back to bit me in the ...... I have decided that he has done so much harm to my brothers & I that it is best to keep away from him. I do have a few good memories of him and I do hold them to my heart. From all the sadness he has caused. It has taught me how to be a good person and to be a proper husband & father to my family, something I never had growing up.

I apologize for posting the same basic story that I have posted before on the main forum & on our forum. I just wanted you all to see that I had a small write up. Thanks for all the friendships from everyone here.

 

[Blackjack]

I was 7-3. Vanover as old as he is getting, still plays great. He broke and ran out against me. In the second game. I missed a combo to the 9 (3/9) that I should of made, then he ran the rest.

So you're saying that he lied to me when he told me that he plays like an old man?

 

[14-1StraightMan]

Vanover

So you're saying that he lied to me when he told me that he plays like an old man?

Yes..... LOL He has lost a lot but his "a lot" was so great, that "now" he is very good and can still hold his own among the young guns out there.

Sean: I just sent you a pm.

 

[Blackjack]

Yes..... LOL He has lost a lot but his "a lot" was so great, that "now" he is very good and can still hold his own among the young guns out there.

Sean: I just sent you a pm.

Don't worry, I told him that I knew him better than that and that I could tell that he was hustlin' me. Mike, It's pretty bad when a guy in his 70's tries to hustle you like a you're a sucker. Bob also told me that I was the only person in the room old enough to remember how many times he had won the Texas Open.

 

[14-1StraightMan]

Lol

Don't worry, I told him that I knew him better than that and that I could tell that he was hustlin' me. Mike, It's pretty bad when a guy in his 70's tries to hustle you like a you're a sucker. Bob also told me that I was the only person in the room old enough to remember how many times he had won the Texas Open.

LOL... that's funny.
In one of those Open's he ran 10 racks of 9-ball and beat a guy 10-0.
When asked if his opponent was any good. He replied: "I don't know, I never seen him shoot"

He has asked him to come over to his house a few times to shoot but I have never took him up on it.

 

[Blackjack]

LOL... that's funny.
In one of those Open's he ran 10 racks of 9-ball and beat a guy 10-0.
When asked if his opponent was any good. He replied: "I don't know, I never seen him shoot"

He has asked him to come over to his house a few times to shoot but I have never took him up on it.

He's one of my favorite people and one of my favorite players. I'd be over there in a heartbeat - even if it was just to rack for him.

 

[14-1StraightMan]

Lol

He's one of my favorite people and one of my favorite players. I'd be over there in a heartbeat - even if it was just to rack for him.

Believe me when I tell you that I have racked for him many, many times.
He use to play with Leroy Kinman every Thursday night at one of their houses for seven years. Those two use to have some great matches together & their game went to high levels.
There use to be a Dallas Invitational 14.1 tournament every year. Either Bob would win or Leroy would win, with Dick Lane coming in 3rd. I remember watching some of those matches. The tournament was played out of Click's on Skillman (the place is no longer called Click's). Very good tournament with all the top notch players from the DFW area.

I was on the same team with him many years ago. We took 2nd in the State Team Championship. I was not even half as good as I am now and the rest of the players on the team were equal to me. Bob has a way of bringing out a better level of play in an individual. We all played great that season with his help.