Small Town Pool
- Thread starter Biloxi Boy
- Start date
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
Incredible. Thank you. I realize that all of the great old rooms in New York, Chicago, and elsewhere, are essential elements of our American pool experience, but the small establishments in Hometown, USA, are just as important.
Dadgum it, google maps found it and says "permanently closed." Was dreaming of a road trip!
The first time I was there, I thought I left a tough shot, the guy climbed up on the table and played the shot. I was like WTF, but as the yankee in their room, I said nothing... I was telling Nick Varner about it, he said a bridge salesman would have a rough go in KY. lol..
Are you talking about Jimmy Wells. Strong at that age and got better. I won the first tournament Twain's billiards had in Decatur,Ga. which Jimmy played in. While I had a break I watched him play Wade Crane I believe. Totally amazed at his game at such a young age. He beat him. I said to myself ,I hpoe I don't have to play him. As it was I played Bill Blanda in the finals. For a few years he was a blaze of fire. Hope that's who you were thinking about. Larry Hayes
That’s sounds right. Maybe it was Jimmy Wales? Or something like that?? I wanted to make sure that wasn’t you before I said anything but he wasn’t very liked. Kind of a snot nose but damn he could play. The problem was when he lost it was always someone else’s fault for breaking his concentration. Do you know what ever happened to him? One of the other times I went broke was in Dothan. Played in a small tournament there and before I even got to the second round I was busted in a ring game. Damn those were good times being single with no plans.
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
Ring games in a small town can be treacherous.
Yes Jimmy 's last name was Wales not Wells. Maybe he was rude to some people but was always nice to me. Some young guys are like that. Can't control their emotions. Played a lot of tournaments in Dothan. One was at Pockets I think. Played all around there down to Panama City to Fort Walton Beach. Loved being around Scotty Townsend.
A lot of guys hit an awkward age for a few years when they are young and many people find them annoying to be around. Those they like and/or respect don't have issues but the world at large may find them pretty annoying! I have found it a good idea not to judge people, particularly competitors, until they are twenty-five or so. When I was in my late teens I bumped into another owner/driver at the beer stand, neither of us driving that night. He wanted to introduce me to his wife so I went over with him. He introduced me, got a blank look. Told her I drove the red car. "THAT SON OF A, ...oh how are you doing?" finishing with that butter wouldn't melt in her mouth southern lady charm. "Yes ma'am, that son of a bitch." We got to be friends once she knew me.
Scotty was a star. He was one of those people who lit up a room. As soon as you walked into a place you knew it if Scotty was there. It was awhile before I realized what "star power" meant but Scotty was one of those few in a hundred or few in a thousand that had it. I never knew Scotty well but he will be remembered by those that knew him for many a year to come. I miss him and wouldn't have called him a friend, I'm sure his friends miss him a lot more!
Hu
I’m sure plenty of people thought I was a schmuck at that age too, and some probably still think it. I just remember he played Tommy Kennedy a few matches after Tommy smoked me. I casually knew Tommy because he would come to Clearwater to play $100 practice games of straight pool with the owner of our room so I knew how nice of a guy he was, especially for a pool player. Tommy won the match but had to run out the last few games to get it. Tommy made a great shot early in the last rack and before he even finished the road map the kid was breaking down his cue and complaining that if he any concentration at all he would be the best in the world. But I get it, that was one instance and I’m sure it doesn’t define the guy. But it’s what I remember. Mostly because Tommy is just a nice person so it seemed wrong.
And for the record everyone in tally liked hanging out with Scotty. The dude was a traveling party.
I need a little help here. Was talking about small towns and places I mentioned I won a tournament in Eufaula,Ala. and beat a guy named Salazar in the finals. I don't think it was Joe Salazar. Think I saw him at tournaments selling cues and and don't think it was him I beat. Read today where someone was asking about the best bar table players ever and someone mention Tracy Joe Salazar. Is that his full name or another person. Thanks