Where did anyone say that? I too would like to know if this rumor is true but other than this thread getting off subject a little, I haven't seen anything bad being said about Rafael. I understand you being upset about the rumor, I am too. I really hope it isn't true, he is a good friend of mine. Peace.Josh Palmer said:
Rafael Martinez Passing
- Thread starter Tom In Cincy
- Start date
blah blah said:
I have seen no "confirmation" that Rafael Martinez passed. As one who utilizes a vast array of search engines and resources frequently, I have not been able to locate one shred of anything. Plus, I can't read Spanish. Was Rafael a "Junior," does anybody know? Did he have any brothers or sisters? Several years ago, I think he was living in Washington State for a spell. Him passing with not one iota in any form is hard to believe; no actual "evidence," for lack of a better word.
I hear quite a few "wild rumors" from time to time relating to players, but hearsay renditions about someone's death, with no proof positive, is unsettling, to say the least, i.e., the recent Jimmy Mataya thread on this forum.
And it is not uncommon for pool players to leave the "scene" for spells due to personal reasons, i.e., lack of money, illness, substance abuse-driven agoraphobia, family obligations, and, I hate to say it, even incarceration. Not saying any one of these examples pertain to the Mexican champion Rafael Martinez. He is a very complex person, sensitive to others, with a big heart, and it may be that Rafael, like other pool players who have devoted their life to the game, made the difficult decision to pursue a different lifestyle. Last few times I spoke to him, he seems to have been on a mission to attain peace of mind and tranquility, sharing self-improvement strategies and beneficial nutritional supplements.
By the number of hits on this thread, Rafael Martinez has touched the hearts and lives of quite a few. Rather than believing the worst, I will await to hear further developments which can be confirmed rather than word-of-mouth.
JMHO, FWIW.
JAM
Rafael has a cousin staying in Washington St. He has been contacted and still doesn't know the status of this rumor. He will try to confirm or deny the info within the next few days.
JAM said:
blah blah
Shoebat
Josh Palmer said:
Josh-
I heard this from someone who has been one of Raphael’s closest friends and backers for over 15 years. He introduced me to Raphael ten years ago, and we have had a lot of great/terrible times and travels together. So if he confirmed it, I actually do believe it-- even though he didn't know all of the particulars you are requesting. When I asked how R died, he let out a painful string of cursewords and a guess, so honestly, he didn't have anything concrete there. Now, he doesn’t believe in computers and I can’t imagine asking him if I can quote him on the internet. So I’m not going to cite my sources. It’s unfair to ask you to go on “hearsay,” and I am sorry- you're just going to have to make your own beliefs on your own, just like the rest of us.
And truly, it is my deepest wish that Raphael will show up soon and say, a la Twain, “The news of my death have been greatly exaggerated,” or even better, a la Pryor- “I ain’t dead yet, m**f**.” If that happens, I'll be so f'ing happy I'll replace that damned Martinez Special for him myself.
... What with the added sub-thread here about studying history and then the complaint of not having any newspaper articles (does the mainstream really give a sh* about poolplayers?), I'm feeling a weird numbness about how our lives are so short and insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Anyone else thinking that?
Blah Blah, I am sorry to hear that. I choose not to believe it until I know for sure, but I appreciate you getting back to me.
The Pechauer Tour will be at Hard Times this weekend. Maybe some light will be shed on these rumors then.
By the way, we should have the brackets from the event sometimes Saturday afternoon.
Mike
By the way, we should have the brackets from the event sometimes Saturday afternoon.
Mike
The man could flat play.....
> I saw Rafael run 10 racks in a race to 15 tournament at Fitzgerald's Casino in Tunica,Ms once,and wound up finishing a race to 15 in just 2 innings. Even though this was a bar box event,he just never gave you the slightest impression he would ever miss,even when coming with a phenomenonal shot. I had a chance to buy his entire rig once at the U.S. Open for 700 bucks,2 sweet Predator cues with 4 shafts and a Whitten case,but was running low on cash. I sure wish I could have helped him out,he looked almost embarrassed to be selling it for so cheap,but said he needed it to get to the next tournament. If this is true,I will also miss him,and what he brought to the sport. Tommy D.
> I saw Rafael run 10 racks in a race to 15 tournament at Fitzgerald's Casino in Tunica,Ms once,and wound up finishing a race to 15 in just 2 innings. Even though this was a bar box event,he just never gave you the slightest impression he would ever miss,even when coming with a phenomenonal shot. I had a chance to buy his entire rig once at the U.S. Open for 700 bucks,2 sweet Predator cues with 4 shafts and a Whitten case,but was running low on cash. I sure wish I could have helped him out,he looked almost embarrassed to be selling it for so cheap,but said he needed it to get to the next tournament. If this is true,I will also miss him,and what he brought to the sport. Tommy D.
D
d-man
Guest
ANY NEWS ABOUT THIS RUMOR ?
D-man
D-man
Still no confirmationi
No News is BAD news. IMO
NO News over the weekend.
Those players and friends of Rafael have still not heard from him.
No News is BAD news. IMO
NO News over the weekend.
Those players and friends of Rafael have still not heard from him.
Please report
I always said no news is good news and in this case that is what I would hope.
Also could you report on the Sacramento tournaments? You did advertise them so I thought maybe you would report. Interested in amount of players and who. This kind of stuff is what makes this forum so great, you can find out whats going on everywhere in the world if people will report it. Thanks
Tom In Cincy said:
I always said no news is good news and in this case that is what I would hope.
Also could you report on the Sacramento tournaments? You did advertise them so I thought maybe you would report. Interested in amount of players and who. This kind of stuff is what makes this forum so great, you can find out whats going on everywhere in the world if people will report it. Thanks
I was with JoeyinCalif last night at Hard Times watching the Pechauer tournament when he asked Morro about the rumor. Morro confirmed that he, Raphael, had died. The word at HT was the death was a result of liver failure. Morro did not confirm the reason of Raphaels death.
Too bad, so sad
Well that makes sense cause the last time I spent time with him was at a Peachauer tournament at Fast Eddys in Cal. and I remember him telling me about how he was really having stomach problems and he was funny he came in Sunday morning and asked for some time before his match as he was hurting and needed to drink or eat some type of Mexican stomach cure. He looked like he was in pain then and I was worried because I knew he used to drink a lot and it can eat your liver. It is so sad and I am glad I live with the memory that he won the first ever Pechauer at Fast Eddy's and we got him to smile for the picture. RIP my friend.
Gerald said:
Well that makes sense cause the last time I spent time with him was at a Peachauer tournament at Fast Eddys in Cal. and I remember him telling me about how he was really having stomach problems and he was funny he came in Sunday morning and asked for some time before his match as he was hurting and needed to drink or eat some type of Mexican stomach cure. He looked like he was in pain then and I was worried because I knew he used to drink a lot and it can eat your liver. It is so sad and I am glad I live with the memory that he won the first ever Pechauer at Fast Eddy's and we got him to smile for the picture. RIP my friend.
37 players in the One Pocket event Billy Palmer won, Roger Estelle 2nd
64 players in the 9 ball event, Tony Chohan won, Chris MacDonal 2nd
More details later, I am at work without all the details.
64 players in the 9 ball event, Tony Chohan won, Chris MacDonal 2nd
More details later, I am at work without all the details.
nfty9er said:
RIP Rafael Martinez.
Never had the pleasure of seeing him in action. I noticed that Martinez visited Europe as well and finished in top 4 in one Eurotour in 1999:
Brunswick Portugal Open - Lisbon 28-30.01.99
1 Souquet Ralf GER
2 Johns Dieter GER
3 Campagnolo Gianni SWI
3 Martinez Rafael MEX
Also, Morro Paez has competed in at least one Eurotour and won one in 1998:
Barcelona Open Spain 17-19.09.98
1 Paez Ismael MEX
2 Jahnke Bernd GER
3 Engert Thomas GER
3 Lely Alex NED
Never had the pleasure of seeing him in action. I noticed that Martinez visited Europe as well and finished in top 4 in one Eurotour in 1999:
Brunswick Portugal Open - Lisbon 28-30.01.99
1 Souquet Ralf GER
2 Johns Dieter GER
3 Campagnolo Gianni SWI
3 Martinez Rafael MEX
Also, Morro Paez has competed in at least one Eurotour and won one in 1998:
Barcelona Open Spain 17-19.09.98
1 Paez Ismael MEX
2 Jahnke Bernd GER
3 Engert Thomas GER
3 Lely Alex NED
The last time I seen Rafael he came through Cincinnati after going bust down in Lexington. My good friends Bobby Renner and his son Justin helped Rafael out and tried to make games to get him back to cali. Bobby said he took Rafael to a one pocket tournament in Dayton where Joe Brown, Jason Miller, Frank Ruby, Steve Cook and other pretty strong players reside. He said Rafael should have won that tournament hands down but he would get to drinking and play careless. The next day Rafael would bring up talk about quiting drinking. He finally booked a few winners and with the help of Michael Medely caught a flight back to cali. Bobby said it was horrible to watch him play with such carelessness knowing that he is thousands of miles from home without any money. I had the honor of meeting him and playing with him at Michaels in Fairfield(Cincinnati). He was a great guy...quite at first but once he loosend up he was cracking on everyone and having a good time. We hated to see him go home we had a great time hanging out with him. This was probably 4-5years ago.
RIP Rafael you'll be missed
RIP Rafael you'll be missed
I had the pleasure of meeting Rafael at the Rack in Memphis a few years ago. He was an absolutely fabulous player. I heard of his passing from a reliable source at a tournament in Mississippi this weekend. I truly hope the rumors are not true, but it appears as if they are. RIP Rafael.
Chuck Raulston
Chuck Raulston
