Ok hopefully the grampa story eliminates the rig raf. Here comes more classified information.
The fingers provide the fine tuning. Oooops forgot the
The fingers provide the fine tuning. Oooops forgot the
Practice practice practice
- Thread starter gregcantrall
- Start date
The cocain and then meth. Fire the same whatever that I get with the fight/flight mode engaged. My opponent doing drugs was a sign of weakness to me. Bringing it up natural is healthier and more consistent. With the coke I loved seeing him invest $100 to break even.
I remember Billy Incardona comment regarding someone saying Efren had a pump handle stroke. After playing him Billy said “that ain’t no pump, he’s playing a violin.”(or close to that)Ok hopefully the grampa story eliminates the rig raf. Here comes more classified information.
The fingers provide the fine tuning. Oooops forgot the
Carnegie hall, ain’t that where they play the violin? Hmmmmm, practice practice practice.
I was in Chico back in 95.. I remember Greg Cantrall, was a very good player. I practically lived there having known the bar tender, Peak, and one of the chefs, Francis. We got a lot of free pool and pitchers of beer. Some of the names I remember were charles (very good, very cocky), jim (one pocket), mike mares (very good), john lentini (very good and young), Hiro from Japan, Long, Jeff the owner, a few others I can't remember names but faces.
Remember when charles lost a bunch of $ playing dice and then got the guy to play one pocket? The guy then just flat out hustled charles... when i mean hustled, i mean down to being super late to the match and homeboy just went to the wall and picked a stick. good times.
Funny thing about Chico, I always thought it had a lot of talent, but when the outsiders came in, the outsiders really cleaned up. Although, Mares spent some time at Hard Times Bellflower back then and double dipped Keith McCready in one of their tourneys. I was there (on summer break or something like that). He was so excited.
I'm guessing the best player to hang around was Barry Emerson??? Didn't you have something to do with that? Other notables that ran through was Rafael Martinez... And when the tour came around, I made a little bit of dough betting on tang... i thought he would go all the way since at the time he was killing it in SoCal where Im from. I believe Billy Palmer took both big events when I was there.
Remember when charles lost a bunch of $ playing dice and then got the guy to play one pocket? The guy then just flat out hustled charles... when i mean hustled, i mean down to being super late to the match and homeboy just went to the wall and picked a stick. good times.
Funny thing about Chico, I always thought it had a lot of talent, but when the outsiders came in, the outsiders really cleaned up. Although, Mares spent some time at Hard Times Bellflower back then and double dipped Keith McCready in one of their tourneys. I was there (on summer break or something like that). He was so excited.
I'm guessing the best player to hang around was Barry Emerson??? Didn't you have something to do with that? Other notables that ran through was Rafael Martinez... And when the tour came around, I made a little bit of dough betting on tang... i thought he would go all the way since at the time he was killing it in SoCal where Im from. I believe Billy Palmer took both big events when I was there.
Oh gosh, you have me now. Stories out the yin yang.(hope that’s not racist).
Where to start? We’re you there for Ronnie Allen/Monk match. One handed on Jeff’s money. Not sure how much he paid for the entertainment. I was in Butte creek looking for gold. When I returned to town, I was seated at a round table with a few young players. They told the story and then enquired as to my opinion as to was it legit? My reply was(knowledge from Race Track Rick) “I have been told; with Ronnie Allen, if you are not in on it, don’t bet.” Just as the last word left my mouth, up walked Jeff. As a chorus they gleefully sang, “Greg says You Got Dumped.”
Great Barry Emerson story. I came to this site years back to communicate with him.
Ok, so a young whipper snapper was getting out of line and wanted to see how much money I had on me. I used the Samurai move and said, “If I take it out we have to play for it.” He agreed and I pulled $285(or there about) Just then Russ The Cab Driver walks in. Whippersnapper says, I am backing Russ. I plaid perhaps slightly better than Russ but I knew how hungry I plaid when driving cab. Barry was sitting next to me. Russ shot well and took a big lead but when Barry got the feel of the table......... Hopefully the whippersnapper learned a lesson. He had to give the bartender his cue until he made the till right. 
Where to start? We’re you there for Ronnie Allen/Monk match. One handed on Jeff’s money. Not sure how much he paid for the entertainment. I was in Butte creek looking for gold. When I returned to town, I was seated at a round table with a few young players. They told the story and then enquired as to my opinion as to was it legit? My reply was(knowledge from Race Track Rick) “I have been told; with Ronnie Allen, if you are not in on it, don’t bet.” Just as the last word left my mouth, up walked Jeff. As a chorus they gleefully sang, “Greg says You Got Dumped.”
Great Barry Emerson story. I came to this site years back to communicate with him.
Ok, so a young whipper snapper was getting out of line and wanted to see how much money I had on me. I used the Samurai move and said, “If I take it out we have to play for it.” He agreed and I pulled $285(or there about)
Just then Russ The Cab Driver walks in. Whippersnapper says, I am backing Russ. I plaid perhaps slightly better than Russ but I knew how hungry I plaid when driving cab. Barry was sitting next to me. Russ shot well and took a big lead but when Barry got the feel of the table......... Hopefully the whippersnapper learned a lesson. He had to give the bartender his cue until he made the till right.
Mike and Lindini and can’t remember a couple of the other names and Charles. Heard he and Jeff have both passed. The last time through Chico I had to check out the pool room. Seems like it was Team Players? Anyway it was a disaster. The only table I looked at looked like a murder most have been committed on it. Yikes, where was I.
Charles was on the list for Road Players. He had a couple thousand and Jeff talked backing him to 10 g.
Mike Danner came to town with John Smith No Really That’s His Name. We were able to comp a room as we were managing the Thunderbird Lodge. I gave him the lay of the land and told him not to be seen with me.
Sunday morning: A normal morning for Charles, practicing on his table. I am being normal and practicing near his table with my cup of coffee. John Smith enters and bee lines for Charles. No stall here. So he negotiated $10 one pocket and Charles thinks one pocket is his best and secret game.(I had outlined this with Mike)
So then I get to watch an exhibition of the best one pocket I have ever seen. 10 racks straight. Charles unscrews, Mike comes to my table and is almost banging his head. Says something along the line of, “might as well take him to Hard Times, throw open the door and holler...”
Charles was on the list for Road Players. He had a couple thousand and Jeff talked backing him to 10 g.
Mike Danner came to town with John Smith No Really That’s His Name. We were able to comp a room as we were managing the Thunderbird Lodge. I gave him the lay of the land and told him not to be seen with me.
Sunday morning: A normal morning for Charles, practicing on his table. I am being normal and practicing near his table with my cup of coffee. John Smith enters and bee lines for Charles. No stall here
. So he negotiated $10 one pocket and Charles thinks one pocket is his best and secret game.(I had outlined this with Mike) So then I get to watch an exhibition of the best one pocket I have ever seen. 10 racks straight. Charles unscrews, Mike comes to my table and is almost banging his head. Says something along the line of, “might as well take him to Hard Times, throw open the door and holler...”
Hiro was my only big loss, $500. Oh boy I knew I wasn’t uh sober that night. We played even. Hope that win didn’t contribute to his delinquency. Something about tuition at Chico State.(#1 party college in ....) I think his parents were in Japan. I took one stab at what I figured to be his half the next morning. He got ahead and I had it to even and felt good. His girlfriend came in and I let him off the hook. Not sure why. Just felt it would’nt be sporting? Didn’t feel the need to go after that money as I still had easier options.
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Tang might have been the player I played in the earlier story.
Lindini did bust Cole on a night that Cole had too much Stolies. I took him to his room and tucked him in with his cue in bed with him. The next morning I answered the desk phone. Cole asked, “where’s my cue?”
There was a card player that thought he had a game with one pocket his secret game. When Ronnie came into town it got the gambling juices flowing. So I played the card player $20 nine ball. Figured 8 ball next then one pocket. $320 score but must have showed too much or I moved away from Chico. The 8 ball never happened. Ronnie put the bite on me for $40. He had been sweating the match with Jeff. He could have made good money on the side because Jeff thought the card player was a secret.
Lindini did bust Cole on a night that Cole had too much Stolies. I took him to his room and tucked him in with his cue in bed with him. The next morning I answered the desk phone. Cole asked, “where’s my cue?”
There was a card player that thought he had a game with one pocket his secret game. When Ronnie came into town it got the gambling juices flowing. So I played the card player $20 nine ball. Figured 8 ball next then one pocket. $320 score but must have showed too much or I moved away from Chico. The 8 ball never happened. Ronnie put the bite on me for $40. He had been sweating the match with Jeff. He could have made good money on the side because Jeff thought the card player was a secret.
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Billie Palmer got the truck driver rate at the motel. He had a passing gear. On the big tournament weekends we filled up so we found ways to get the pool players into our rooms reserved for truck drivers.
I heard David Rhoads from Portland made a decent score on Charles. David was the player that told me about the Big Eye, imagination.
Enjoying your stories Greg, being from northern ca. (Redding) i am acquainted with some of the players you mentioned.
My brother let David Rhoads live with him for a bit, got a cue off of him that he built, great hitting cue.
That guy had some skills but I think his vices may have got the best of him, last I heard he was headed to the pokey. Too bad...
My brother let David Rhoads live with him for a bit, got a cue off of him that he built, great hitting cue.
That guy had some skills but I think his vices may have got the best of him, last I heard he was headed to the pokey. Too bad...
I think it was Walt Dorsey that made multiple scores with Charles. Walt is the player that pronounced me a player. He had a backer that loved to sandbag Jeff.
When I first got to town I was playing Jeff $5 nine ball and after a fashion rather than hustling I narrated to Jeff and then stepped on the gas. He got his entertainment cheap. Never wanted to play with me again, cheap or otherwise. Backer had Jeff spotting him the 7.
Anyway Backer got me a couple of beers into a pass time game as Walt was working on the adjacent table. I knew better but wanted a look at how big a sandbagger, well he asked for the 6 at $10 a game. I accepted. He got the first break and charged me $60 to get my first shot. I was pissed! Mostly because I had a good buzz going and had to sober up. Got it to even after about an hour and half. As we unscrewed he was moaning to Walt. Walt replied, “I told you he’s a player.
When I first got to town I was playing Jeff $5 nine ball and after a fashion rather than hustling I narrated to Jeff and then stepped on the gas. He got his entertainment cheap. Never wanted to play with me again, cheap or otherwise. Backer had Jeff spotting him the 7.
Anyway Backer got me a couple of beers into a pass time game as Walt was working on the adjacent table. I knew better but wanted a look at how big a sandbagger, well he asked for the 6 at $10 a game. I accepted. He got the first break and charged me $60 to get my first shot. I was pissed! Mostly because I had a good buzz going and had to sober up. Got it to even after about an hour and half. As we unscrewed he was moaning to Walt. Walt replied, “I told you he’s a player.
Yes spot on with David. I too found it sad as I got to see him play a couple times at the White Spot. Lenny put 5 of us into the bi-yearly 9 ball tournaments as we worked as table referees. Lol, funny how the visiting players schmoozed the referees. Cole and David gave me lots of knowledge while watching matches from the stool next to mine. One time as referee I was at the bar getting a drink between matches. An older gentleman asked me what was going on. I went into a explanation of what 9 ball was which he politely listened to. Then he introduced himself, “they call me Flyboy “. I felt so humbled!
The backer story happened in Enterprise. Walt was playing the tall skinny biker owner.
Gene Curl and I first met and played Lindini and Mike Mears in a partners tournament at the Hilltop in Redding. We went into the looser bracket first match. Format was play each of the other 2 a game of 8 ball. If all square one game scotch. We got to the finals and won the first set against those 2. Then.........a sad sad story.(almost as sad as The Mighty Casey) At hill/hill Lindini had a shot with tight clearance past a ball. I knew he was a small ball player and this was big ball. I figured he could miss judge the clearance as with the big ball it required the slightest curve. He brushed the intervening ball and it moved 2 or 3 inches as he pocketed his ball. I cried foul and could understand how he could have been unaware as he was focusing on the object ball. Less likely but Mike said he didn’t see it move. Charles was seated next to the tournament director. She had just returned from the bar and said she saw it and inquired if both teams wanted her to make the call.(As she was my wife). Both teams consented and she proudly pronounced, “Good Hit”. Charles eyes rolled! We took second. It was a great production my wife made happen and the finals pitted Redding against Chico. I just wish she had stayed at the bar a little longer as both teams would have respected Charles call.
Forgot to introduce Gene, Rod Curl the golfer was his brother.
First played Gene for a beer as we were feeling each other out. He won so many beers consecutively we had to change to $5. The more he drank the better he played.
First played Gene for a beer as we were feeling each other out. He won so many beers consecutively we had to change to $5. The more he drank the better he played.
I didn't know Gene but I knew Rod Curl was a pretty good pool player.
The tall skinny biker guy sounds like George, very good player, I think his room was called Miss Cues. He went to the pokey as well...
Gene caddied for Rod when he was on the tour. Had a great story about a prank his brother and George Foreman pulled on him at a pro am tournament. Since he was protective of his brother they acted out a confrontation while seated to prompt Geno to intervene. When Foreman stood Geno didn’t come much above his belt buckle. Can’t remember the punch line. Something to the effect of uh “carry on”.
I remember Russ the Cabbie. He used to drive us around town just for fun. Cool guy. I also remember Walt, very good player. I thought he went to New Mexico to help run one of Jeff's other Team Players. If you hung around the bars, maybe you also know Kyle the Indian. He was my neighbor who like to gamble in the bars, not so much on the big tables. Who do you think was top dog back then?
Uhmmm well on a bar table? Top Dog? Hmmmm, reminds me of my favorite response when the neophytes would ask me how good I was. My response,”well I am the best player within a 6’ radius.”
In Chico, well can’t remember the name of previous story re 7-0 to lose 9-7. Anyway it was him and Charles on the snooker table that did back to back B&R at golf for $20. I did maneuver him to the bar table for $10 eight ball. He didn’t like it. His excuse was the rules. So I agreed to the bullshit rules and beat him again.
When I started out In Sacramento, it didn’t take long for the little tournament people to steer me to more. One had a good turnout but bullshit (I mean gentlemen) rules. So I am playing the guy that was by consensus of the tournament players Sacramento’s best. First game he played a bullshit safety by just rolling the cue ball to the other end of the table. We were down to endgame and I had the advantage of 2 balls to 1 and position. So I just stepped up and rolled it back to where my last gentlemanly safety had put it. But didn’t hit it as well the second time leaving him a shot, hard but a shot. He declined and did it again. It was a stampede for the Tournament Director. His decision was ungentlemanly conduct on each of us. The game was to be replayed and if either intentionally missed his ball forfeit of game. I broke and made the 8! Justice was served. The next week they changed to BCA rules.
Where was I? Hmmm can’t think of?? Did I mention my $650 score well + $100. Friday night was working the bar next to Team Players. A student turned me down saying, “I don’t gamble “. I cruised around to the other bars and came back just before closing to pick up my wife. She was playing Mr I Don’t Gamble for $5. I said to him,”oh so you don’t gamble but you will steal.” So he has to save face and we are going to team player as they keep the tables open all night locking up the booze. $10 eight ball bar table is the agreed upon game. It is Friday night and I am uh $0 so detour across the street to the atm and get $100 which is way more than what I need for that game. Seems like his name was Greg too. Anyway I get into the room and Greg is talking to another guy and he tells me we can’t play cause he’s playing this guy for $20. So I says, “if it’s about the money let’s play for $40! This guy slides in with, “I will play you for $50. I figure if Greg liked his game as he obviously knew him...... He won the first I won the second, he won the third. After that I won 2 to his return of one. Then 3 in a row to close him out at $650. He had hit the card room and probably borrow money. In the course of the match (which Mike Mears was sweating and didn’t knock my action when Mr Drug Dealer went to him) I had more than 1 person whispered in my ear, “beat this guy he’s a drug dealer. Afterwards my wife says, “I could kill that girlfriend!” I asked, what girl?”” Boy was she trying to shark you.” Was the reply. I told her as many people that I don’t know told me this guy is a drug dealer.....he ain’t going to be on the street much longer. The next night I had to pull out early just up $100 then he had an extended stay at the many bar hotel.
To finish the Bully story. My last engagement came when I was in the 6th grade and he the 8th. His growth had accelerated, mine hadn’t and he was getting agresive. In the lower grades we had a sand pit that we wrestled in. My class was the largest Douglas City had seen with one girl and 7 boys. (She must have been Snow White) Where was I oh yea me and Dave ruled the sand box but never engaged each other. So now we caught the bully in the coat room. We took him all the way into the closet and explained to him that This Shit Is Going To Quit. We were both on top of him forced down in the corner. He agreed. Ah diplomacy!