OK, I'm a fan again.
As some of you know, I haven't participated at the DCC the last couple
of years because the player to table ratio had gotten out of hand. So I
drove down Tuesday, figuring I'd just sweat a few matches, some of the
14.1, and buy some books and gimcracks.
I bought my all day spectator bracelet for $15, walked into the
tournament room about 230pm, and was shocked -- there were empty
tables everywhere! Now I knew they had 470-something players who had
entered the banks and 420-something that had entered the 1pocket, yet
here they were, calmly waiting around for the last few matches of the
current round to finish up and the 330pm draw to begin on a Tuesday.
It wasn't until the draw, when I heard the table assignments, that I
understood: they had added about a dozen tournament tables upstairs in
the Jack Cooney/James Walden room (named after their high rolling 8
ahead 1pocket match from the 2000 Derby).
Everything was under control.
It was a pleasure to watch everything running so smoothly and I
definitely plan on participating next year. I wandered over to The
Executive, a short walk across the road to check out the 3C and watched
Jeanette Lee in a match on one of two billiard tables they had set up
for the round robin event. They also had a good number of bar tables
set up in the same room.
Back at the Executive West, I walked up and down the hall and took my
time checking out the numerous cue displays, from the exotic to the
mundane. I bought a couple of books, including Danny Diliberto's
biography, "Road Player." I glanced inside the AZ/onepocket.org room,
but didn't recognize anyone. And then it was on to Bob's 14.1 room.
It was amazing. Over a couple of days, I probably sat with Bob for
seven or eight hours watching the players compete on one of two tables
(there were actually four available in the room, if needed). I sat and
chatted with Johnny Archer, Danny Harriman, and author JD Dolan, and
watched the likes of Mike Davis, John Schmidt, Bobby Hunter, and Jose
Parica.
And then there was JR Gay.
JR, or Leil, or Junior, is a straight shootin' sumgun and a well
regarded straight pool mechanic. But the table's pockets were
unforgiving and Leil likes to shoot at speed and it was tough going for
JR. I think early on he popped off a 102, but then continued to pay his
$50 for a couple more attempts at the record. And then, well, he took a
few more tries. And then, well, he'd pass a few more $100s to Bob for a
few more go's. And, well, all I could think of was the scene in the
movie "Tin Cup" in which Kevin Costner just keeps taking drop after drop
to prove that he can clear the water and make a particular shot. Over
the course of two days I saw JR get off a few 70's and several 50's, but
that was it for Leil. You probably wouldn't believe how much in bought
in for chasing the record.
I watched some tournament matches and got to see Efren, Buddy, Earl,
Marshall Carpenter, Ike Runnels, and Cliff play. I also sweated some
after-hours action between Marco Marquez and Richie Richardson. That
was pretty amazing and very educational.
I got a chance to see many old friends including Jimbo, Fred Agnir,
Frank Brent, and Ed Wallace and finally met Jack Justis. I had "the"
cue mechanic, Guido Orlandi, retip a shaft and polish the butt of my Gina.
I attended the 1pocket HOF dinner and had a pleasant time listening to
the stories recounted by Freddy the Beard and Grady. And, it was
unexpectedly touching when the over 100 attendees spontaneously stood
and gave Bugs Rucker (in a wheel chair) a standing ovation, when his
named was called for induction.
It was late Wednesday, as I was watching the 14.1, when I ran into Greg
Sullivan and Mark Griffin. I told Greg how impressed I was with how
smoothly the tournament was running this year and he was kind enough to
explain to me, in depth, some of the logistics and finances behind the
tournament. Frankly, I was blown away by some of the information he
shared with me and I now have an even greater regard for his motivation
and what he's accomplishing with the DCC. My hat if off to him.
Lastly, at one point late Wednesday, I was in the 14.1 room and Bob
suddenly got up and pulled out his infamous briefcase from behind his
chair, put it on one of the tables and opened it up. I desperately
fumbled for my camera, thinking of how I could make my fortune by
auctioning a photo of the interior AND the contents of the mysterious
case, on eBay -- sort of like when Carly Simon auctioned off dinner
with herself and she revealed who she was referring to in "You're So
Vain" -- but I wasn't fast enough and Bob closed the briefcase.
Yes, I saw into the case. I know now what's in it. I know what darkness
lies in the hearts of men, or at least Bob's. It was a frightening
glimpse, to say the least and I doubt I could ever reveal what I saw and
burden another soul with the terrible secret I now carry
But other than THAT, the DCC was a blast and you should start making
your plans right now to attend in '07.
Lou Figueroa
I have few "behind the scenes photos"
ll try and post later today or tomorrow
As some of you know, I haven't participated at the DCC the last couple
of years because the player to table ratio had gotten out of hand. So I
drove down Tuesday, figuring I'd just sweat a few matches, some of the
14.1, and buy some books and gimcracks.
I bought my all day spectator bracelet for $15, walked into the
tournament room about 230pm, and was shocked -- there were empty
tables everywhere! Now I knew they had 470-something players who had
entered the banks and 420-something that had entered the 1pocket, yet
here they were, calmly waiting around for the last few matches of the
current round to finish up and the 330pm draw to begin on a Tuesday.
It wasn't until the draw, when I heard the table assignments, that I
understood: they had added about a dozen tournament tables upstairs in
the Jack Cooney/James Walden room (named after their high rolling 8
ahead 1pocket match from the 2000 Derby).
Everything was under control.
It was a pleasure to watch everything running so smoothly and I
definitely plan on participating next year. I wandered over to The
Executive, a short walk across the road to check out the 3C and watched
Jeanette Lee in a match on one of two billiard tables they had set up
for the round robin event. They also had a good number of bar tables
set up in the same room.
Back at the Executive West, I walked up and down the hall and took my
time checking out the numerous cue displays, from the exotic to the
mundane. I bought a couple of books, including Danny Diliberto's
biography, "Road Player." I glanced inside the AZ/onepocket.org room,
but didn't recognize anyone. And then it was on to Bob's 14.1 room.
It was amazing. Over a couple of days, I probably sat with Bob for
seven or eight hours watching the players compete on one of two tables
(there were actually four available in the room, if needed). I sat and
chatted with Johnny Archer, Danny Harriman, and author JD Dolan, and
watched the likes of Mike Davis, John Schmidt, Bobby Hunter, and Jose
Parica.
And then there was JR Gay.
JR, or Leil, or Junior, is a straight shootin' sumgun and a well
regarded straight pool mechanic. But the table's pockets were
unforgiving and Leil likes to shoot at speed and it was tough going for
JR. I think early on he popped off a 102, but then continued to pay his
$50 for a couple more attempts at the record. And then, well, he took a
few more tries. And then, well, he'd pass a few more $100s to Bob for a
few more go's. And, well, all I could think of was the scene in the
movie "Tin Cup" in which Kevin Costner just keeps taking drop after drop
to prove that he can clear the water and make a particular shot. Over
the course of two days I saw JR get off a few 70's and several 50's, but
that was it for Leil. You probably wouldn't believe how much in bought
in for chasing the record.
I watched some tournament matches and got to see Efren, Buddy, Earl,
Marshall Carpenter, Ike Runnels, and Cliff play. I also sweated some
after-hours action between Marco Marquez and Richie Richardson. That
was pretty amazing and very educational.
I got a chance to see many old friends including Jimbo, Fred Agnir,
Frank Brent, and Ed Wallace and finally met Jack Justis. I had "the"
cue mechanic, Guido Orlandi, retip a shaft and polish the butt of my Gina.
I attended the 1pocket HOF dinner and had a pleasant time listening to
the stories recounted by Freddy the Beard and Grady. And, it was
unexpectedly touching when the over 100 attendees spontaneously stood
and gave Bugs Rucker (in a wheel chair) a standing ovation, when his
named was called for induction.
It was late Wednesday, as I was watching the 14.1, when I ran into Greg
Sullivan and Mark Griffin. I told Greg how impressed I was with how
smoothly the tournament was running this year and he was kind enough to
explain to me, in depth, some of the logistics and finances behind the
tournament. Frankly, I was blown away by some of the information he
shared with me and I now have an even greater regard for his motivation
and what he's accomplishing with the DCC. My hat if off to him.
Lastly, at one point late Wednesday, I was in the 14.1 room and Bob
suddenly got up and pulled out his infamous briefcase from behind his
chair, put it on one of the tables and opened it up. I desperately
fumbled for my camera, thinking of how I could make my fortune by
auctioning a photo of the interior AND the contents of the mysterious
case, on eBay -- sort of like when Carly Simon auctioned off dinner
with herself and she revealed who she was referring to in "You're So
Vain" -- but I wasn't fast enough and Bob closed the briefcase.
Yes, I saw into the case. I know now what's in it. I know what darkness
lies in the hearts of men, or at least Bob's. It was a frightening
glimpse, to say the least and I doubt I could ever reveal what I saw and
burden another soul with the terrible secret I now carry
But other than THAT, the DCC was a blast and you should start making
your plans right now to attend in '07.
Lou Figueroa
I have few "behind the scenes photos"
ll try and post later today or tomorrow
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