Question for CJ Wiley
- Thread starter TheCutShot
- Start date
I looked up at him and could instantly see, he was calm, yet his eyes were blazing
My dear friend and mentor, Wade Crane (aka Billy Johnson) was a regular at CJ's Billiard Palace for many years. Here's a story of when I first got to know him and the impression he made.
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The Stage Was Set - The tournament was in Anniston, Alabama. and it was a huge bar table tournament. All the greatest players were there, and I was with Weldon Rogers, "Billy Johnson", Berle, and a group from Kentucky. Reid Pierce and I had recently played in Atlanta and I ended up giving him the 8 on a bar table and managed to win - it took like 3 straight days.
Weldon told me he wanted me to play David Matlock (the world's greatest bar table player) and have Billy Johnson break for me, so we matched up a 10 ahead for $10,000. "Billy" (Wade Crane) had only been playing on big tables the last few months and couldn't get the break working.
We played flawlessly and got 8 ahead, then Matlock put an "8 Pack" together and we were even, then 1 down.....down 2....and counting.
I was sitting next to "Billy," he leaned in close to my ear and whispered "I just figured the break out....we're going to beat him 30 ahead if he doesn't quit!"
I looked up at him and could instantly see, he was calm, yet his eyes were blazing - he was DEADLY SERIOUS! I suddenly knew what was coming, I'd seen that look in Billy's eyes before.
Sure enough, all of a sudden I won a game and BILLY BROKE>BAMMMM!!! The cue ball hit the one and went straight up in the air while 4 balls fought to get in the pockets - the cue ball came down {still bouncing} PARKED at the center of the table. Billy said in that "low tone" as he walked back to the chair "I over amped on that one," glanced at me with a smirk on his face, and winked. I knew what was fixin to happen.
We put on a devastating "One/Two Punch Clinic" from there on out and won the 10 ahead in the next hour. He was right, we would have put "30 Ahead" on anyone from that point on. Weldon got up and offered anyone at the tournament the "Last 2" if they wanted to play us, everyone politely declined.
Wade Crane aka Billy Johnson (middle) with me and Roger Griffis (ESPN Ultimate 9-Ball Champion)
My dear friend and mentor, Wade Crane (aka Billy Johnson) was a regular at CJ's Billiard Palace for many years. Here's a story of when I first got to know him and the impression he made.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Stage Was Set - The tournament was in Anniston, Alabama. and it was a huge bar table tournament. All the greatest players were there, and I was with Weldon Rogers, "Billy Johnson", Berle, and a group from Kentucky. Reid Pierce and I had recently played in Atlanta and I ended up giving him the 8 on a bar table and managed to win - it took like 3 straight days.
Weldon told me he wanted me to play David Matlock (the world's greatest bar table player) and have Billy Johnson break for me, so we matched up a 10 ahead for $10,000. "Billy" (Wade Crane) had only been playing on big tables the last few months and couldn't get the break working.
We played flawlessly and got 8 ahead, then Matlock put an "8 Pack" together and we were even, then 1 down.....down 2....and counting.
I was sitting next to "Billy," he leaned in close to my ear and whispered "I just figured the break out....we're going to beat him 30 ahead if he doesn't quit!"
I looked up at him and could instantly see, he was calm, yet his eyes were blazing - he was DEADLY SERIOUS! I suddenly knew what was coming, I'd seen that look in Billy's eyes before.
Sure enough, all of a sudden I won a game and BILLY BROKE>BAMMMM!!! The cue ball hit the one and went straight up in the air while 4 balls fought to get in the pockets - the cue ball came down {still bouncing} PARKED at the center of the table. Billy said in that "low tone" as he walked back to the chair "I over amped on that one," glanced at me with a smirk on his face, and winked. I knew what was fixin to happen.
We put on a devastating "One/Two Punch Clinic" from there on out and won the 10 ahead in the next hour. He was right, we would have put "30 Ahead" on anyone from that point on. Weldon got up and offered anyone at the tournament the "Last 2" if they wanted to play us, everyone politely declined.
Boom Boom
Here's a pic of a Board from his home town kid pool room in the Carolinas....
My dear friend and mentor, Wade Crane (aka Billy Johnson) was a regular at CJ's Billiard Palace for many years. Here's a story of when I first got to know him and the impression he made.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Stage Was Set - The tournament was in Anniston, Alabama. and it was a huge bar table tournament. All the greatest players were there, and I was with Weldon Rogers, "Billy Johnson", Berle, and a group from Kentucky. Reid Pierce and I had recently played in Atlanta and I ended up giving him the 8 on a bar table and managed to win - it took like 3 straight days.
Weldon told me he wanted me to play David Matlock (the world's greatest bar table player) and have Billy Johnson break for me, so we matched up a 10 ahead for $10,000. "Billy" (Wade Crane) had only been playing on big tables the last few months and couldn't get the break working.
We played flawlessly and got 8 ahead, then Matlock put an "8 Pack" together and we were even, then 1 down.....down 2....and counting.
I was sitting next to "Billy," he leaned in close to my ear and whispered "I just figured the break out....we're going to beat him 30 ahead if he doesn't quit!"
I looked up at him and could instantly see, he was calm, yet his eyes were blazing - he was DEADLY SERIOUS! I suddenly knew what was coming, I'd seen that look in Billy's eyes before.
Sure enough, all of a sudden I won a game and BILLY BROKE>BAMMMM!!! The cue ball hit the one and went straight up in the air while 4 balls fought to get in the pockets - the cue ball came down {still bouncing} PARKED at the center of the table. Billy said in that "low tone" as he walked back to the chair "I over amped on that one," glanced at me with a smirk on his face, and winked. I knew what was fixin to happen.
We put on a devastating "One/Two Punch Clinic" from there on out and won the 10 ahead in the next hour. He was right, we would have put "30 Ahead" on anyone from that point on. Weldon got up and offered anyone at the tournament the "Last 2" if they wanted to play us, everyone politely declined.
Wade Crane aka Billy Johnson (middle) with me and Roger Griffis (ESPN Ultimate 9-Ball Champion)
Here's a pic of a Board from his home town kid pool room in the Carolinas....
Attachments
The game "AMOS AND ANDY" was a popular gambling game
We used to play that game in Tennessee and Kentucky.
The game "AMOS AND ANDY" was a popular gambling game back "in the day" - below are some players that may have played it at one time or another.(the original member of the PCA) .
We used to play that game in Tennessee and Kentucky.
The game "AMOS AND ANDY" was a popular gambling game back "in the day" - below are some players that may have played it at one time or another.(the original member of the PCA) .
Thank You CJ
As the originator of this thread, I want to Thank CJ Wiley for his participation and the great stories he related about events at CJ's Billiards Palace and his road stories. Especially liked the stories from his younger days on the road. I'm a little disappointed that at times the thread turned into arguments and attacks on CJ, that was not the intent of the thread. Everyone let's keep the thread about Colorful Stories & Characters or events that happened at CJ's or even another Pool Room that you may have frequented, and not turn it into a mud slinging contest!!
Thank You:wink:
As the originator of this thread, I want to Thank CJ Wiley for his participation and the great stories he related about events at CJ's Billiards Palace and his road stories. Especially liked the stories from his younger days on the road. I'm a little disappointed that at times the thread turned into arguments and attacks on CJ, that was not the intent of the thread. Everyone let's keep the thread about Colorful Stories & Characters or events that happened at CJ's or even another Pool Room that you may have frequented, and not turn it into a mud slinging contest!!
Thank You:wink:
Amen to that Mr. Cutshot.
Very good thread.
Very good thread.
We used to play that game in Tennessee and Kentucky.
The game "AMOS AND ANDY" was a popular gambling game back "in the day" - below are some players that may have played it at one time or another.(the original member of the PCA) .
Looks like a whole room of tough action there!
Ken
What about you crow ? You play any bud ?
That Tony Barrington sure was a big go off back in those days , lol !!!!
I don't know why I never saw this thread before. I knew CJ from when he won the Miller Lite World Series of Pool. He had to then play the winner of the Pro tournament for an extra five grand. It was Dallas West and no one thought CJ had a chance against him. CJ was just a kid and Dallas was a seasoned pro. Turned out to be a very close match and Dallas may have just eked it out, something like 11-9. I knew then this kid could really play!
The tournament CJ won was played on bar tables and Dallas had beaten a strong field of pros playing on a 9' table (I think he beat Miz in the finals). Then CJ had to play Dallas on the big table. Correct me if I'm wrong CJ.
The tournament CJ won was played on bar tables and Dallas had beaten a strong field of pros playing on a 9' table (I think he beat Miz in the finals). Then CJ had to play Dallas on the big table. Correct me if I'm wrong CJ.
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