Omaha free pool on sundays!!

[Jedco]

Funny story about those 9 footers. I started going to Big John's in 1986 when it was 8 footers, I think 4 bar boxes, and two snooker tables. I went back about 10 years ago and they had installed the 9 footers since I had been there last (maybe a 5 year span), I asked the guy behind the counter when they got the 9 footers and he said "They've always been here", I informed how long I had been coming here and they didn't always have 9 footers, he insisted and I chuckled. LOL. A a friend I've shot pool with since the late 80's was with me, he laughed it off too.



Big John's doesn't have food anymore? I didn't know that. It was ok, their hot dogs were pretty good, they were foot longs grilled on the flat top, and cheap

Fox and Hound was a nice place, we played league there quite a few times.

There were (15 years ago) many bars with an emphasis on pool. I played in the Southwest Omaha Pool League (city league) for years and we played all over town - not just SW Omaha. There were also some very shady places we played at. Don't remember the name but there was a bar in South Omaha that was horrible, I watched a guy take a full glass pitcher of beer and just bash some guys head in. Nobody knows why, he had called a cab and when it arrived out front he walked from the back with his pitcher and just bashed this guy then ran out the front door. We ran after him but the cab driver took off, we're all pretty sure he was in on it. Guy ended up in the hospital.

I liked the Pool Deck on 63rd and Grover, not sure if it's still there though.

We also played in a North Omaha bar that was basically an all black bar. I actually went to school in the neighborhood for 6th and 9th grades (good 'ole bussing in the 70's and 80's) so I fit in pretty good and got along with everyone. Turned out to be a fun night.

Jacker's and Muldoons were two places we played out of, weren't bad. Muldoon's has/had great food.

Nino's was always fun. Nino was mid 60's back then (mid 90's) and was an old boxer from the 40's and 50's (maybe 60's). He had massive hands, I don't remember how many balls he could pick up with one hand but it was a lot, 8 maybe?

EDIT: Nino's was actually a double wide trailer, somewhere around 60th and Grover.

I had some good times playing pool back in Omaha.

I used to play in that same Southwest Omaha bar league out of a bar called Donohue's. In fact I even played for Poop Deck on 60th and Grover for a couple of seasons! I also loved going to Nino's very much. Every time I drive past there on the way to Big John's I tell whoever I'm with the story about Nino and what a character he was. It was a double wide trailer, but there was just enough room for a pool table, everyone was very friendly, and the drinks were cheap. The world needs more places like that! I think that bar in North Omaha you mentioned was the 3-5-7 club. I only went there when the league rotated through, but everyone was very friendly to us and we always had a good time. They did pot luck on league nights and the food was great!

 

[Chili Palmer]

I used to play in that same Southwest Omaha bar league out of a bar called Donohue's. In fact I even played for Poop Deck on 60th and Grover for a couple of seasons! I also loved going to Nino's very much. Every time I drive past there on the way to Big John's I tell whoever I'm with the story about Nino and what a character he was. It was a double wide trailer, but there was just enough room for a pool table, everyone was very friendly, and the drinks were cheap. The world needs more places like that! I think that bar in North Omaha you mentioned was the 3-5-7 club. I only went there when the league rotated through, but everyone was very friendly to us and we always had a good time. They did pot luck on league nights and the food was great!

Yep, that's got to be it. I remember the outside being a bit more dingy though? No windows and only one sign that read "Bar", or something similar. I only remember because I didn't even notice and the guy I drove there with said something about it? I also thought it was on a North/South St like 24th, clearly, my memory is not right.

Either way, that's got to be it.

When did you play in the league? I don't remember when I started (mid/late 90's) but I quit in 2004 when I moved to Boise. I still have a couple of the trophies, I'll snap some pics later and post them up. I also had a website for our team at one point (swopl.com) where we posted our stats. On top of the regular scoresheet we kept personal stats for fun. It started because one of the other guys on the team said he was better than me, he was wrong Buck was running it when I was there.

EDIT: Yeah, Nino's was a great place with good people, we always had a blast when we went there.

 

[Jedco]

Yep, that's got to be it. I remember the outside being a bit more dingy though? No windows and only one sign that read "Bar", or something similar. I only remember because I didn't even notice and the guy I drove there with said something about it? I also thought it was on a North/South St like 24th, clearly, my memory is not right.

Either way, that's got to be it.

When did you play in the league? I don't remember when I started (mid/late 90's) but I quit in 2004 when I moved to Boise. I still have a couple of the trophies, I'll snap some pics later and post them up. I also had a website for our team at one point (swopl.com) where we posted our stats. On top of the regular scoresheet we kept personal stats for fun. It started because one of the other guys on the team said he was better than me, he was wrong Buck was running it when I was there.

EDIT: Yeah, Nino's was a great place with good people, we always had a blast when we went there.

I played in that league in the early 2000s, I don't really remember the exact time. We didn't win any trophies, but I remember Buck. It's hard to forget that guy, he looked like he came right off a movie set! He used to come up to Poop Deck to shoot during the week, but I didn't know he ran the league.

 

[Chili Palmer]

I played in that league in the early 2000s, I don't really remember the exact time. We didn't win any trophies, but I remember Buck. It's hard to forget that guy, he looked like he came right off a movie set! He used to come up to Poop Deck to shoot during the week, but I didn't know he ran the league.

Yep, then we've definitely played each other before, that's funny. I have some old scoresheets at home also, I'll poke through them and see what I can find.

EDIT: Buck ran the league the entire time I was in it as far as I know. I know he ran it when we won the trophies because we all questioned where the money went, when it came time for us to pay him some dues he got pissed he was questioned and started talking shit so I through a wad of cash in his face (the dues) and walked out the door I wasn't a fan.

EDIT 2: Do you remember a guy at Poop Deck who would whack the balls every time he shot, his reasoning was - it's slop. Nice guy but it pissed us off because whatever he did it worked against us and he won frequently, even though he shouldn't have. He would also jump up on every shot.

 

[Gravey39]

Yep, then we've definitely played each other before, that's funny. I have some old scoresheets at home also, I'll poke through them and see what I can find.

EDIT: Buck ran the league the entire time I was in it as far as I know. I know he ran it when we won the trophies because we all questioned where the money went, when it came time for us to pay him some dues he got pissed he was questioned and started talking shit so I through a wad of cash in his face (the dues) and walked out the door I wasn't a fan.

EDIT 2: Do you remember a guy at Poop Deck who would whack the balls every time he shot, his reasoning was - it's slop. Nice guy but it pissed us off because whatever he did it worked against us and he won frequently, even though he shouldn't have. He would also jump up on every shot.

You’re guys conversation is really cool to read! I’m a sucker for old stories of good memories.

 

[Gravey39]

I used to play in that same Southwest Omaha bar league out of a bar called Donohue's. In fact I even played for Poop Deck on 60th and Grover for a couple of seasons! I also loved going to Nino's very much. Every time I drive past there on the way to Big John's I tell whoever I'm with the story about Nino and what a character he was. It was a double wide trailer, but there was just enough room for a pool table, everyone was very friendly, and the drinks were cheap. The world needs more places like that! I think that bar in North Omaha you mentioned was the 3-5-7 club. I only went there when the league rotated through, but everyone was very friendly to us and we always had a good time. They did pot luck on league nights and the food was great!

You shoot in the weekly tournaments at big Johns? If so we might have met a couple times.

 

[Chili Palmer]

You’re guys conversation is really cool to read! I’m a sucker for old stories of good memories.

Lol, that’s why I’m not too worried about derailing the thread, not too often there’s a thread about pool in Omaha

EDIT: and I got home too late to look for scoresheets, will try to get it done in the next few days.

 

[Jedco]

You shoot in the weekly tournaments at big Johns? If so we might have met a couple times.

I work weird hours and never am off work during the leagues or tournaments, but I do play there regularly, usually after 9pm.