Skins Day One

JAM

I am the storm
Silver Member
The 1:00 p.m. rounds will start off the Skins Billiards Championship, and this looks like one of the TOUGHEST foursomes in the event: Tony Robles, Johnny Archer, Thorsten Hohmann, and Mika Immonen.

In the front lobby lies the practice table in full view of all casino goers. Keith has been practicing since early this morning, and about a half hour ago, Tony Robles showed up. He's dressed to the nines, a beautiful brown silk shirt and shiny black Italian leather shoes. I asked him about competing in the upcoming Puerto Rico tournament, something I read on AzBilliards Main Page. He is very excited to go back to Puerto Rico and compete in this event. He hasn't been to Puerto Rico in 10 years, and he has an 86-year-old grandmother who still lives there. I really like Mr. Robles and wish him well at 1:00 p.m.

The name of the referee is Frank Del Pizzo. He was the TD at the last Super Billiards Expo Pro Event in Valley Forge. He's a very tall man, strikingly handsome, with shoulder-length curly hair. By profession, he is a stand-up comic, but he's got a long history with pool, though. He knew about Capps pool room in Syracuse and used to play there years ago. Capps is one of the BEST old-timey pool rooms in the country. Frank has personality plus and will provide a little sparkle to the Skins this year.

One fellow stopped in the lobby, flew all the way up here from Norfolk, Virginia. He had seen the advertisement for the Skins in a pool mag, but at that time, it was advertised as being at the Hilton. The venue changed several months ago to the Resorts. Fortunately, the pool enthusiast located the Skins and is looking forward to watching it this afternoon with his family.

The Resorts Casino is one of the oldest gambling establishments in Atlantic City. The rooms have all been refurbished and are very high class, and I've got to say I'm pleased. When you get a nice hotel room, it makes all the difference in the world when you're on the road. The mattresses are firm and dreamy, and I like the fact that we can actually open our window and allow the cool ocean breeze to blow in. Keith showed me the door of the Resorts where Paul Newman went out and gave a little yell when he beat Tom Cruise in "The Color of Money." I took a picture of it, just like a tourist! :D

This high-speed complimentary computer is in the lobby, right next to the practice table. So I thought I'd post up a little more Skins smut! :p

JAM
 
Well, finally the players are beginning to trickle down to the lobby to practice. Tony Robles just left for the Super Star Theater which is where the Skins event will take place.

Corey Deuel just came down to the lobby to hit a few balls, and then Mika showed up with a very determined game face on. Mika plays at 1:00 p.m.

Corey Deuel will play at 3:00, and he will be up against Charlie Williams, Troy Frank, and Ralf Souquet.

JAM
 
Doh! I didn't even realize that it was this weekend. I might be going down to AC tomorrow. If I do, I'll be sure to say 'Hi'.
 
JAM said:
...Mika showed up with a very determined game face on.

Do you often see Mika WITHOUT his determined game face on? Thanks for all the updates JAM, best of luck to Keith!
 
Skins

Good luck to Keith, he is in a pretty tough group.

And good luck to Gabe .... our hometown pro.
 
JAM said:
about a half hour ago, Tony Robles showed up. He's dressed to the nines, a beautiful brown silk shirt and shiny black Italian leather shoes.
JAM
Jam,

Tell Tony that, according to my grandmother, he shouldn't wear a brown shirt and black shoes :eek: :D . Just kidding.

Tell Keith good luck. We all wish him well.

Mike
 
we just left the Super Star Theater, and round one is in progress. With 16 games in total for the set, so far Johnny Archer is shooting the balls in the holes with authority, winning 5 games worth $500 apiece. Thorsten and Mika each have one win, and so far, Tony Robles is still waiting in the wings to make his mark. Tony came up dry on the break twice. Mika missed a straight-in 9-ball to give Johnny a win.

Mitch Laurence is here, and he and Allen Hopkins will be doing the commentating for the TV match.

Carol Clark from NYC is greeting all the guests in front of the theater, and she always has a smile on her face. I like seeing Carol on the tournament trail, always upbeat.

InsidePOOL is also here snapping pictures and writing down notes.

Oh, BTW, each player is allowed one "time out" per game. Otherwise, they are on the 30-second shot clock. At the players meeting, Rodney Morris was joking around and saying the ladies tour calls it an "extension," but the men call them "time outs." :p

The pockets are 4-1/2 inches, fairly tight compared to some venues.

JAM
 
watchez said:
Is this a winner take all event? Who put up the $130,000 added?

I actually posted earlier "130,000 added," when in fact it is $130,000 in total monies. I was typing on my laptop in my hotel room at that time, before I discovered this high-speed computer in the lobby, and I got knocked off so many times I gave up and couldn't edit my earlier post. Sorry about that! :)

Sixteen players each posted up a $5,000 entry fee, and there is $50,000 in added monies, making it $130,000 for the total purse. In each round, the player who wins the MOST monies gets a $500 added bonus.

Here's the latest. First round: Johnny Archer, $3,500 (includes $500 bonus for biggest money winner of the round); Mika Immonen, $2,000; Tony Robles, $1,500, and Thorsten Hohmann, $1,500.

Second round at 3:00 p.m. ended like this: Rodney Morris, $2,500; Luc Salvas, $2,500; Santos, $2,500; and Gabe Owen,$500. Right now Rodney, Luc, and Santos are playing to see who wins the $500 bonus. Since there is a tie in this round, the $500 is awarded to the player who wins two games in a row.

Up next on deck: Charlie Williams, Ralf Souquet, Corey Duel, and Troy Frank.

Eight players who score the HIGHEST monies today will advance to the semi-finals tomorrow. The monies are spread out kind of even right now, which makes it tough for my horse. With four players out of the eight who have played so far with totals of $3,500, $2,500, $2,500, and $3,000 (whoever wins this $500 for the tie referenced above), this means that in order for a player to advance to the semi-finals, he had best score at least $2,500 or more, meaning he must win 5 out of 16 games played in the group of four.

This is exciting pool, but it's a tension burner for me at this juncture! :p

JAM
 
How many...

Are Thorstens games finished and that's all he can win? Or does he have some more matches to play today?
 
Jam, Good luck to you guys!.....Very cool of you to keep us posted....Hey, If they have programs, can you get me one?, and have Kieth and maybe the guys autograph it, and I"ll pay you whatever it takes to get it to me,...........of course with whatever price tag Kieth feels is fair:)........Thanx....Gerry
 
JAM said:
I actually posted earlier "130,000 added," when in fact it is $130,000 in total monies. I was typing on my laptop in my hotel room at that time, before I discovered this high-speed computer in the lobby, and I got knocked off so many times I gave up and couldn't edit my earlier post. Sorry about that! :)

Sixteen players each posted up a $5,000 entry fee, and there is $50,000 in added monies, making it $130,000 for the total purse. In each round, the player who wins the MOST monies gets a $500 added bonus.

Here's the latest. First round: Johnny Archer, $3,500 (includes $500 bonus for biggest money winner of the round); Mika Immonen, $2,000; Tony Robles, $1,500, and Thorsten Hohmann, $1,500.

Second round at 3:00 p.m. ended like this: Rodney Morris, $2,500; Luc Salvas, $2,500; Santos, $2,500; and Gabe Owen,$500. Right now Rodney, Luc, and Santos are playing to see who wins the $500 bonus. Since there is a tie in this round, the $500 is awarded to the player who wins two games in a row.

Up next on deck: Charlie Williams, Ralf Souquet, Corey Duel, and Troy Frank.

Eight players who score the HIGHEST monies today will advance to the semi-finals tomorrow. The monies are spread out kind of even right now, which makes it tough for my horse. With four players out of the eight who have played so far with totals of $3,500, $2,500, $2,500, and $3,000 (whoever wins this $500 for the tie referenced above), this means that in order for a player to advance to the semi-finals, he had best score at least $2,500 or more, meaning he must win 5 out of 16 games played in the group of four.

This is exciting pool, but it's a tension burner for me at this juncture! :p

JAM

Thanks for the clarification. I think the format is a good one. Is it a regulation game of 9-ball with safeties allowed?
 
JAM said:
The name of the referee is Frank Del Pizzo. He was the TD at the last Super Billiards Expo Pro Event in Valley Forge. He's a very tall man, strikingly handsome, with shoulder-length curly hair. By profession, he is a stand-up comic, but he's got a long history with pool, though. He knew about Capps pool room in Syracuse and used to play there years ago. Capps is one of the BEST old-timey pool rooms in the country. Frank has personality plus and will provide a little sparkle to the Skins this year.

JAM
Now I'm even more depressed that I've got to work this wkend & won't make it up. :( I met Frank at Valley Forge this yr & spent some time talking to him at the IP party. Such a nice, funny man!! He had just become a father when he was at VF, be sure to ask him how fatherhood is going & if you think about it, please tell him that Timberly said hello. Thanks!
 
JAM said:
I actually posted earlier "130,000 added," when in fact it is $130,000 in total monies. I was typing on my laptop in my hotel room at that time, before I discovered this high-speed computer in the lobby, and I got knocked off so many times I gave up and couldn't edit my earlier post. Sorry about that! :)

Sixteen players each posted up a $5,000 entry fee, and there is $50,000 in added monies, making it $130,000 for the total purse. In each round, the player who wins the MOST monies gets a $500 added bonus.

Here's the latest. First round: Johnny Archer, $3,500 (includes $500 bonus for biggest money winner of the round); Mika Immonen, $2,000; Tony Robles, $1,500, and Thorsten Hohmann, $1,500.

Second round at 3:00 p.m. ended like this: Rodney Morris, $2,500; Luc Salvas, $2,500; Santos, $2,500; and Gabe Owen,$500. Right now Rodney, Luc, and Santos are playing to see who wins the $500 bonus. Since there is a tie in this round, the $500 is awarded to the player who wins two games in a row.

Up next on deck: Charlie Williams, Ralf Souquet, Corey Duel, and Troy Frank.

Eight players who score the HIGHEST monies today will advance to the semi-finals tomorrow. The monies are spread out kind of even right now, which makes it tough for my horse. With four players out of the eight who have played so far with totals of $3,500, $2,500, $2,500, and $3,000 (whoever wins this $500 for the tie referenced above), this means that in order for a player to advance to the semi-finals, he had best score at least $2,500 or more, meaning he must win 5 out of 16 games played in the group of four.

This is exciting pool, but it's a tension burner for me at this juncture! :p

JAM


Whatever happened to getting JAM a laptop? I vote for getting her a VERIZON HIGHSPEED card for her laptop. The card is $150 or even free depending on whether you sign a contract or not and the service is liek $50 a month. I will contribute $10 towards the card and $5 a month towards the service and other expenses. I vote for JAM to be AZB's action reporter and I think we could all easily pay for it.

Then you wouldn't have to worry about dial-up ever again and you can post from the comfort of YOUR computer Jennie.

Thanks for the updates,

John
 
onepocketchump said:
Whatever happened to getting JAM a laptop? I vote for getting her a VERIZON HIGHSPEED card for her laptop. The card is $150 or even free depending on whether you sign a contract or not and the service is liek $50 a month. I will contribute $10 towards the card and $5 a month towards the service and other expenses. I vote for JAM to be AZB's action reporter and I think we could all easily pay for it.

Then you wouldn't have to worry about dial-up ever again and you can post from the comfort of YOUR computer Jennie.

Thanks for the updates,

John

I thought that was a great idea until I realized that JAM and Keith will soon be rolling in money, thanks to the IPT! She can buy everyone on AZ billiards a laptop in a few years! :D
 
beetle said:
I thought that was a great idea until I realized that JAM and Keith will soon be rolling in money, thanks to the IPT! She can buy everyone on AZ billiards a laptop in a few years! :D

Wishful thinking, Beetle! For every winner, there's got to be a loser, and tonight Keith got knocked out of the Skins, only scoring one game. Story to follow, maybe. An incident happened 3 minutes before his match began by some fellow pool players sitting on the rail ringside.

Danny Basavich was the big winner of the foursome, pocketing $3,000 plus a $500 bonus for the highest amount of money won. Danny's parents were in the audience, and it was kind of heart-warming to see them cheering their son in.

Marlon Manalo also lost this round, winning $2,000, though, for his performance. He made some fantastic shots and moved the ball real smooth. Great break, too. BTW, Marlon is 29 years old and is single. He owns a pool room in the Philippines. He has been playing pool seriously or professionally since 2003, he said.

Jose Parica will return tomorrow with Kid Delicious for the semi-finals, which begins at 3:00 p.m. Jose won $2,500 so far.

Well, now to Plan B. Off to the table games! :eek:

JAM
 
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Any word of what happened with Corey, Charlie, Frank, and Ralph? I think they were supposed to play at 3, but I am not sure.
 
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