Anybody seen him lately? Last i heard he was up in the Pacific NW area. Just curious if he's still at it. Like watching this guy play. Crazy ability.
Rafael's been dead and resurrected about three times now. He might be getting a little long in the tooth for hustling big time pool. He may be making the bar table circuit somewhere, and that's still very prominent in the Northwest.
He was certainly something to see in his prime, an amazing shot maker and fearless gambler. For his sake I hope he's shacked up somewhere with a girl who has a good job, enjoying a life of leisure. Rafael always had a fondness for the ladies of all ilks.
Last time I spent with him was at the U.S. Open about seven or eight years ago. I staked him in the tourney and in action around the Norfolk area. We drove all over the place in his old camper van looking for action and played in a few sketchy bars. He beat one loud mouthed braggart out of about 500 and didn't back down when the guy got in his face. I asked Rafael what he would have done if push came to shove and he smiled and showed me his knife (it was big!). You may not be aware of this but Rafael stabbed a belligerent pool player who was twice his size one time in Chicago when he felt threatened. He went to jail briefly but no one ever messed with him again.
By the way Rafael finished something like 17-24th in the tournament and we got back $2,000. He beat a couple of good players along the way. It had cost me well over a thousand to put him in and pay our expenses (500 entry fee and another 500 for the room and food). I split the money with him anyway, giving him a 1,000 and he was a happy camper. He took me to the airport and I haven't seen or heard from him since.
Rafael's been dead and resurrected about three times now. He might be getting a little long in the tooth for hustling big time pool. He may be making the bar table circuit somewhere, and that's still very prominent in the Northwest.
He was certainly something to see in his prime, an amazing shot maker and fearless gambler. For his sake I hope he's shacked up somewhere with a girl who has a good job, enjoying a life of leisure. Rafael always had a fondness for the ladies of all ilks.
Last time I spent with him was at the U.S. Open about seven or eight years ago. I staked him in the tourney and in action around the Norfolk area. We drove all over the place in his old camper van looking for action and played in a few sketchy bars. He beat one loud mouthed braggart out of about 500 and didn't back down when the guy got in his face. I asked Rafael what he would have done if push came to shove and he smiled and showed me his knife (it was big!). You may not be aware of this but Rafael stabbed a belligerent pool player who was twice his size one time in Chicago when he felt threatened. He went to jail briefly but no one ever messed with him again.
By the way Rafael finished something like 17-24th in the tournament and we got back $2,000. He beat a couple of good players along the way. It had cost me well over a thousand to put him in and pay our expenses (500 entry fee and another 500 for the room and food). I split the money with him anyway, giving him a 1,000 and he was a happy camper. He took me to the airport and I haven't seen or heard from him since.
...We drove all over the place in his old camper van looking for action ...
Found another video from last year in Mexico. He looked fine to me.I rode in the back of another one of Rafa's vans... around 7-8 years ago to cross houston to play in a tournament on the north side. I had to sit on a spare tire with his tools strewn all over the back...there were no back seats. Manuel Ayala got the front seat (seniority). Rafael has a lead foot.
I hope he's well.
I heard he's in Mexico and can't get the right Visa papers to get back in the States.Anybody seen him lately? Last i heard he was up in the Pacific NW area. Just curious if he's still at it. Like watching this guy play. Crazy ability.
Saw him play in a tourney held at the now gone Q street billiards in Springfield, Oregon..early 90's...maybe '93? Overheard the locals talking about another guy there..."He beat Raphael??? Damn, who IS this guy?"
It was Rodney Morris..
Rafael let me hit some balls one time with his cue. His shaft was the thinnest, most dinged-up shaft I've ever played with.
Rafael's been dead and resurrected about three times now. He might be getting a little long in the tooth for hustling big time pool. He may be making the bar table circuit somewhere, and that's still very prominent in the Northwest.
He was certainly something to see in his prime, an amazing shot maker and fearless gambler. For his sake I hope he's shacked up somewhere with a girl who has a good job, enjoying a life of leisure. Rafael always had a fondness for the ladies of all ilks.
Last time I spent with him was at the U.S. Open about seven or eight years ago. I staked him in the tourney and in action around the Norfolk area. We drove all over the place in his old camper van looking for action and played in a few sketchy bars. He beat one loud mouthed braggart out of about 500 and didn't back down when the guy got in his face. I asked Rafael what he would have done if push came to shove and he smiled and showed me his knife (it was big!). You may not be aware of this but Rafael stabbed a belligerent pool player who was twice his size one time in Chicago when he felt threatened. He went to jail briefly but no one ever messed with him again.
By the way Rafael finished something like 17-24th in the tournament and we got back $2,000. He beat a couple of good players along the way. It had cost me well over a thousand to put him in and pay our expenses (500 entry fee and another 500 for the room and food). I split the money with him anyway, giving him a 1,000 and he was a happy camper. He took me to the airport and I haven't seen or heard from him since.