Question about Chicago, Illinois

LWW

MEMGO5
Silver Member
I'm not from there nor have I ever visited, but from all accounts Chicago has a very good history when it comes to pool. I recently saw a video on the hall that the color of money was shot in and it's one of those old timeless places that seems like it will never go away.

Anyway, my question is, why are there no major pro pool tournaments being held in Chicago? Since I've been on this site I've never seen or heard of anyone doing anything in that city. Is it not possible?
What was, was.

What is, is.

Chicago is amongst the very most likely places to get killed/stabbed/robbed/shot in the USA.
 

DynoDan

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
FYI: Out-of-state residents with carry permits are not allowed to leave their cars while armed in Chicago. Likely very reassuring to the carjackers & muggers there.
 

Patrick Johnson

Fish of the Day
Silver Member
What was, was.

What is, is.

Chicago is amongst the very most likely places to get killed/stabbed/robbed/shot in the USA.
Yeah, right behind St. Louis, Detroit, Baltimore, Memphis, Little Rock, Milwaukee, Rockford, Cleveland, Stockton, Albuquerque, Springfield, Indianapolis, Oakland, San Bernardino, Anchorage, Nashville, Lansing, New Orleans, Minneapolis...


Maybe stay in NPR where factuality isn't as common and you seem more or less normal.

pj
chgo
 
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erle flad

New member
I lived there from 1985-90, and it was a great time for pool in Chicago - Marie's Golden Cue, Chris's Billiards, The Chicago Billiard Cafe, many others I cannot remember the names of; there was that one odd place - you climb the stairs and at the top on the left was like a 7 lane bowling alley, and on the right a small pool hall - they shot one of the Color of Money scenes there, maybe the scene with Forest Whittaker ... My pal and I had our regular billiard night, took lessons at Chris's, entered 8 and 9 ball tourneys ... the Matayas were around then, also saw Efron Reyes play a few times. My buddy and I both bought SW cues from John Wright there ... And I was an extra in the Color of Money, as were pretty much all of the better players in Chicago at that time! The big tournament scene, supposed to be a casino in Las Vegas?, but was shot at Navy Pier. Fun times - what is the scene like now?
 

book collector

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I do see your point now and understand what your saying. So I agree and appreciate your viewpoint. From my perspective, I lived in the streets as a young man for several years. I was a throw away child at 17. That experience taught me survival skills that have stayed with me since. I have little or no concern of being shot or murdered.

Add to that most of the murders and shootings in Chicago and areas nearby are gang on gang killings or shootings. There are random innocent victims too. But it is not prevalent everywhere it is mostly in pockets/neighborhoods where gangs are predominant. Avoiding those areas is how to avoid possibly being a victim. I never felt fear in the areas I played pool at when I lived there. Situational awareness and listening to my subconscious has kept me alive and injury free through riots and living in the streets...

Be well and thank you for your reply!
I understand your point of view also. You can fit in, and be welcome in places most people don't want to drive past. I could also.
But, that is a luxury not shared by most people. I can remember sitting in dark bars, or an old pool room, and have the door open and within 10 seconds, with my back turned to them , I knew if they belonged there or not. If they didn't belong , I turned around to find out why.
I still remember the last time I walked into a dive bar {about 1983} everybody in the place turned around to check me out, and I knew I no longer belonged, and was going to be tested in short order. I said , "sorry , wrong place" and got in my car and left.
I could probably still go in most places , especially if there was an old school guy or two in there I could relate to . but I am not going to test that theory, just for giggles.
 

WMHarkins

AzB Gold Member
Gold Member
Just an FYI... Sad to say, Pheasant Run (in St. Charles, IL) burned to the ground a year or so ago... too bad... they held many events there.

Mike
 

benjaminwah

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
There are some big tournaments that have been happening here lately, recently was a large 9 ball bar box event on the Southside. Most of this is on Facebook these days, including live streams.
As mentioned above, Hammer tournaments has been live streaming some awesome challenge matches between local monsters. Another local has been backing our guys against challengers from the midwest area, matches have been for some big $, usually streamed live. One was a bar box 8 ball race to 40, lasted 11 HOURS!!!
Neil V is/was a top local player, Fargo 709, he was attempting to clean up Chris's and host some big tournaments. All of the 9 ft gold crowns rolled drastically different and had very different bumpers/rails. He helped get them all as uniform as possible with the intent on having large tournaments. They had a couple, one was a qualifier for and free entry to the US Open I believe? Anyway they were attracting some big names, then the big bad Covid hit and that was that. No attempt to bring anything like that to Chris's since then that I've seen.
As to why we don't produce more talent on the national scale, it's simple economics. Most of the guys I play at Chris's will occasionally make it to a Turning Stone or a Derby and collect some scalps. Our beloved Neal Jacobs is a nationally regarded bank pool player, he ventured out to Vegas for a national tournament a couple of years ago, cleared out everyone but just couldn't beat Shane. But mainly they can't afford the travel/entry fees etc. Most have families and careers.
Anyone can come to Chris's on a Wednesday for 8 ball at 8 pm or Sunday for 9 ball at 7 pm and get some world class competition. It's amazing that living here you can just show up and compete with top players, most are very friendly and open about technique/information. Occasionally a big name will pop up here and play, many passing through will pop in and hit some balls.
 

benjaminwah

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Also, our APA players do great out there. Our Women's teams have won the APA Women's "World" championship many times in the last few years. Teams out of the south suburbs have either won or come in 2nd in Masters teams and 8 ball teams at the nationals.
 

ribdoner

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
Silver Member
Also, our APA players do great out there. Our Women's teams have won the APA Women's "World" championship many times in the last few years. Teams out of the south suburbs have either won or come in 2nd in Masters teams and 8 ball teams at the nationals.

the chi guys have always been masters at laying down the lemon, what they're not so adept at is getting off of it , myself included
 

straightline

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Guys always come on like they're stalling but usually can't play a lick. Takes a fine (lol) player to take it down on lemon.
 

Island Drive

Otto/Dads College Roommate/Cleveland Browns
Silver Member
All this chi town talk, make me think about mah buh John Abruzzo Sr.
With Brunswick in their backyard since the beginning of the twentieth century, life, change played out.
TAXES in IL are Absurd. We have a very successful room closing in El Paso County because of TAX increase.
 

ribdoner

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
Silver Member
All this chi town talk, make me think about mah buh John Abruzzo Sr.
With Brunswick in their backyard since the beginning of the twentieth century, life, change played out.
TAXES in IL are Absurd. We have a very successful room closing in El Paso County because of TAX increase.
John, Bob Haddad (rip) & i worked the graveyard shift @ T & C Bowling Alley in Northlake in the early 60's. John was a yr ahead of me at Willowbrook Hs although our friendship dates back to Villa Park Bowl, i think i was 12 when we met and he was prob 13

He always matched up real well and didn't book many losers. As you prob know bar tbl 8B was his best game.

Saw John several yrs ago, looked good and talked about moving to NV., reno IIRC...not sure if he did

Sold the "PALACE" some time ago per 3rd hand info

Speaking of taxes, my son has a modest home in Lombard, taxes are 12 dimes p/yr

Hit em str8
 

Joe_Jaguar

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
John, Bob Haddad (rip) & i worked the graveyard shift @ T & C Bowling Alley in Northlake in the early 60's. John was a yr ahead of me at Willowbrook Hs although our friendship dates back to Villa Park Bowl, i think i was 12 when we met and he was prob 13

He always matched up real well and didn't book many losers. As you prob know bar tbl 8B was his best game.

Saw John several yrs ago, looked good and talked about moving to NV., reno IIRC...not sure if he did

Sold the "PALACE" some time ago per 3rd hand info

Speaking of taxes, my son has a modest home in Lombard, taxes are 12 dimes p/yr

Hit em str8
The "Palace"? Palace Billiards in Villa Park that he had? That was closed well over a decade ago.
 

Joe_Jaguar

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Time flies, do you know if he sold it and moved to Nv?
No idea. I lived about two miles from the place. It was very poorly run. If I remember it closed a couple of years before I moved back to FL and that was over 11 years ago now. If I recall there was something about it closing and then moving to the other side of the same shopping center but can't remember if that ever actually opened. The last time I went in there it was a on a Saturday late morning snowing like hell out and I had my knit hat on. Before I could even request what table I wanted the moron behind the counter goes "we have a no hat policy". WTF? I was also the only one in the place. I said well you can play with the balls yourself then and walked out. Tools. They acted like real clowns during the two WPBA events I went to there as well.
 

Island Drive

Otto/Dads College Roommate/Cleveland Browns
Silver Member
John, Bob Haddad (rip) & i worked the graveyard shift @ T & C Bowling Alley in Northlake in the early 60's. John was a yr ahead of me at Willowbrook Hs although our friendship dates back to Villa Park Bowl, i think i was 12 when we met and he was prob 13

He always matched up real well and didn't book many losers. As you prob know bar tbl 8B was his best game.

Saw John several yrs ago, looked good and talked about moving to NV., reno IIRC...not sure if he did

Sold the "PALACE" some time ago per 3rd hand info

Speaking of taxes, my son has a modest home in Lombard, taxes are 12 dimes p/yr

Hit em str8
I grew up in Glen Ellyn.
Yrs ago I purchased a bunch of GC's from him, and later on he hooked me up with investors Opening a new pool room at the intersection of Roosevelt Rd. and Hwy 59.
Once I found out it was Korean$$$$$$$$$$$$, NOT.
I've got nothing against them, but in business back then, with special tax-free loans for 5 yrs for Koreans I found out how they Roll.
Culturally, it was ok/acceptable to lie/cheat/steal in business as long as you NEVER/ever got caught.
If you did then your Korean community would forever look down on you.
But if you didn't get caught that was acceptable and the way they roll.
I'm sure they were borne/learned this behavior from birth. Almost 20 yrs ago this occurred. Do you know where John might be?
 

dogginda9

I need a vacation.
Silver Member
I grew up in Glen Ellyn.
Yrs ago I purchased a bunch of GC's from him, and later on he hooked me up with investors Opening a new pool room at the intersection of Roosevelt Rd. and Hwy 59.
Once I found out it was Korean$$$$$$$$$$$$, NOT.
I've got nothing against them, but in business back then, with special tax-free loans for 5 yrs for Koreans I found out how they Roll.
Culturally, it was ok/acceptable to lie/cheat/steal in business as long as you NEVER/ever got caught.
If you did then your Korean community would forever look down on you.
But if you didn't get caught that was acceptable and the way they roll.
I'm sure they were borne/learned this behavior from birth. Almost 20 yrs ago this occurred. Do you know where John might be?
We had a retirement party for Mike Bandy several months ago and John, along with many of the Chicago players were there for that. He looked in good health and seemed quite happy. Not sure where he is residing these days but I believe it is still Chicagoland.
 
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