The title of this thread could have easily been "Something I have wanted to say for a long time."
Smorgass Bored has been the most liked poster on this forum for many years and with good reason.
Doug Wiley has brought tears of laughter to this forum on more occasions than I could count. His wit and investment of his time have been priceless to many of us. He really has no equal. No one person has ever impacted this forum the way that Tampa-Tubby has.
Tampa-Tubby Bob is a unique man and a friend to many.
Some of you know that Doug and I haven't always been friends. We've never been enemies and really didn't know each other until probably ten years ago or so. I don't wish to go back and clarify just how long we have been friends but wanted you to know a little history about he and I.
On the old newsgroup forum called rec.sport.billiard, he and I am many of you traded words of familiarity and angst on what is often called RSB. It was a fun place for many years and while there's no reason to discuss why we're not still there, many of us have simply moved on to this forum. In ten more years it might be something else or somewhere else; no one knows what the future will hold.
On RSB, Doug would often talk about New Orleans and refer to people that I see on a regular basis but I had never heard of any Doug, especially not the one that had been described to me on RSB. One day after many condoned posts I finally challenged him to explain to me how it was that he lived here in New Orleans and that he and I had never crossed paths. I had finally got enough of his bally-hooing about him and New Orleans and wanted the truth. It was really quite simple Doug explained, "I played in the bars and you played in the pool rooms and that is why we never crossed paths". I never told him that I occasionally would make forage in the bar rooms on an occasion or two but I guess he knew that. Doug knew a lot of things.
Doug knew how to make friends. He knew the secret and he shared it with me without telling me what the secret was. Really, all you have to do is read a little and if your want friends, you have to be a friend. That's all there is to it. Doug, in spite of our different lives, we had shared similar interests and affiliations. Doug is a former marine much like myself and loved gambling and playing pool. He had other interests like antiques, fishing and being the greatest stay-at-home husband. Doug shared a lot of love with his wife Barbara who is also a former New Orleanian.
Tampa-Tubby would save up his dough and make a trip to New Orleans every now and then. Me being the suspicious guy that I am, always waited for the other shoe to drop. I just knew the guy was up to something no good and it involved me; I just knew it. Each and every time I met Doug, he came all the way to wherever I happened to be to spend time with me and the rest of our kind, to laugh, to joke, to gamble and yes, to play a little pool.
Doug was a guy who didn't hesitate to bet his money where he felt he had an even chance to win and it didn't have to be on himself either. If he lost, you never heard him whine about the loss. He might tease his horse but it was always in good spirits. I waited and waited for this very interesting and friendly fellow to let me know what his true intentions were. Finally it dawned on me that he had no intentions except to be my friend. There were people whom he had flame fests with whom Doug had rankled. Yes, even my good friend Doug could raise the ire of some individuals. On occasion, I was asked by his detractors where he lived, what his real name was, what his telephone number was and so forth. They even asked how I could protect such a guy as he. Those words were weightless words and fell on my deaf ears. No man is ever going to travel this earth without annoying at least a few people from time to time.
Most of the time when he or I would have a little pizzing contest with another member of the forum, we would simply stand on the sidelines and let each of us make it on our own. We didn't need each other's morale support in such an overt way. We knew we had each other's respect and friendship and allowing each of us to fight our own battles was just our way. The people that we PO'ed either got over it or they didn't and we didn't really try that hard to make up either. If it happened, it was good if it didn't, it was still OK. Smorgass Bored and I didn't march to the same drummer but we liked similar rhythmic tunes and respected each of our individualistic lives. Doug enjoys his the role of anonymity that he often portrayed here on AZ Billiards and RSB but for sure, it was just a ruse, a play for Doug never feared any man or anything that I know of. He enjoyed the notoriety that some offered him because of his anonymity and he laughed at them because of their angst and I can tell you for a fact that no person had to like getting into a brawl with Doug. Lately, he hasn't been doing very well. In fact, you could say that he is doing about as poorly as a man can be doing and I don't know how much longer he will be around. I like many of you wish he would last forever. I wish he would come on this forum and pour out his heart in song and verse but he is no longer able to do that.
I could tell you many times when Doug showed me what a friend was and he always amazed me because I never knew what I did to deserve such friendship. Once when Doug was watching my back, as he was apt to do at any pool tournament he and I happened to be at, I was utterly astounded to hear him admonish one of the most respected pool players that has ever lived. I was playing a match and Buddy Hall had just finished his match (which he had come from behind to win) and Buddy was being extremely loud and exuberant for a long period of time as he stood close to my table as I struggled with every shot grimmacing and cursing Buddy's distraction under my breath. At the time I didn't really know Buddy that well but Doug stood up and questioned Buddy who lived in the same town as Doug and was a friend of Buddy's. Doug asked Buddy if he had completed his match to which Buddy replied with a smile big as a quarter moon, "Yes, I did but I had to come from behind to win". Doug replied, "Well Joey is still playing his match". Buddy fell silent for a moment as he was embarassed by this admonishment. It wasn't easy to be admonished by Doug and on behalf of a banger like myself, I'm sure it wasn't an easy pill to swallow. Buddy being the real man that he is, formed the words and apologized saying, "I'm sorry! I'm just crazy" or something close to that and quickly scooted away. Buddy saw me the next day practicing early in the morning and schooled me on a few shots and that was the beginning of my friendship with Buddy Hall. It started with Doug admonishing one of the greatest players that ever played, on my behalf. There are many other stories, far too many to share in this forum or any other. Conversations by PM, email and telephone that went on for limitless amounts of time.
Many of you have written to me to send your wishes to Doug and I have done as you have asked.
I fear the end is quickly approaching and I wanted to share some of my story with you and Doug while there is still time.
The old saying, "Time waits for no man" could not be more seasonable.
If you are inclined to tell Doug something, you are invited to say it here and now.
Doug and I wish you all of the best that life has to offer.
Doug, you've been a good friend and I value your friendship far more than I could ever tell you. Just rest assured that you are my friend.
JoeyA
