taking money off the light
- Thread starter ruylopez
- Start date
PoolBum said:So, who won?
I'd say the dude with the .45
I was in the room the night Boy George, real name Dave Rodden, stole that money. He had matched up with a local hotshot the night before and had lost 3 or 4 hundred and made a date to play the next night for 2k, race to 10. He shows up with a large black guy named Paris and posted the cash on the light. 4k in 100's in a soda cup...The money we put in from Modesto was a corporation effort, I think there were three people involved. Anyways, Boy George just gets steamrolled and when he was losing 8 to1 he grabs the money off the light, screams that he has a gun and was gone in much less than 60 seconds. He lost his Southwest in the confusion, which in the ensuing anger got broken in the parking lot. I have no problem with repeating this story, I've done so many times. I was THERE, I saw the whole thing and I would never play him if I were you guys. The people he took the money from aren't exactly gangster type and it kills me that to this day nobody has made him pay, one way or another. I actually got to play him at the Reno barbox a couple years ago and it gave the large Modesto contingent great pleasure when I shot over my head to beat him...Awhile back somebody had a thread about whether anybody had ever sensed that their match was less about winning and losing but actually a struggle between good and bad, well that was one of those times. I really like the gambling side of pool but it is the few REALLY bad apples like him that gives the rest of the stakes players a bad name. We could do without it. See you guys on the table.....................Marc
PoolBum said:So, who won?
The funny thing was, after a while they put up $6,000 (I guess it was all they had left, 3K each), and started another set. I honestly don't remember who won (I left shortly after the robbery).
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Not to point fingers, but for someone to run into a place and snag money off the light on the one table where "big money" is, seems like a set up, or a tip off to me. Not saying the players/backers did it, but maybe a rail bird with sonar ears......you know?
Gerry
Gerry
If you are
going to play for substantial sums of money, you have to establish ground rules for doing so, and how they differ for playing someone local you know, as opposed to a stranger you don't. I NEVER post more $300 on the light EVER, and you have to have someone watch the table and money when you go to the bathroom, plus your equipment. Anything larger gets posted with a person associated with the Pool room that is known to be reputable and honest, and put into a safe if the amount warrants it.
You don't go around advertising that you are going to be shooting a set for a $1,000 or more, that's just stupid. You discuss the details of the match just before it is to begin, and you keep it quiet (between players and backers).
If you are local, you make damn sure someone has your back if you are playing a stranger, especially someone bringing 2 or more guys with them, and it is a good idea to stipulate how many 'back-up' guys can be present during the match for each player.
Gambling between 2 players IS NOT ILLEGAL in most states because it can be classified like a 2 person tournament with 1st prize being awarded (I know because my brother is a lawyer with 30+ years experience, and I had him check with the D.A. directly on this). BUT, if 3rd parties get involved with money, then it is illegal. (At least in Kansas). Although
player auctions (Calcuttas) are considered illegal, and we have them all the time here. (The Police have better things to do than bust a Calcutta).
Being smart about your game, matchups, spot is not enough, you have to be smart about the situation also, if you aren't you are going to run into trouble sooner or later.
going to play for substantial sums of money, you have to establish ground rules for doing so, and how they differ for playing someone local you know, as opposed to a stranger you don't. I NEVER post more $300 on the light EVER, and you have to have someone watch the table and money when you go to the bathroom, plus your equipment. Anything larger gets posted with a person associated with the Pool room that is known to be reputable and honest, and put into a safe if the amount warrants it.
You don't go around advertising that you are going to be shooting a set for a $1,000 or more, that's just stupid. You discuss the details of the match just before it is to begin, and you keep it quiet (between players and backers).
If you are local, you make damn sure someone has your back if you are playing a stranger, especially someone bringing 2 or more guys with them, and it is a good idea to stipulate how many 'back-up' guys can be present during the match for each player.
Gambling between 2 players IS NOT ILLEGAL in most states because it can be classified like a 2 person tournament with 1st prize being awarded (I know because my brother is a lawyer with 30+ years experience, and I had him check with the D.A. directly on this). BUT, if 3rd parties get involved with money, then it is illegal. (At least in Kansas). Although
player auctions (Calcuttas) are considered illegal, and we have them all the time here. (The Police have better things to do than bust a Calcutta).
Being smart about your game, matchups, spot is not enough, you have to be smart about the situation also, if you aren't you are going to run into trouble sooner or later.
Gerry said:Not to point fingers, but for someone to run into a place and snag money off the light on the one table where "big money" is, seems like a set up, or a tip off to me. Not saying the players/backers did it, but maybe a rail bird with sonar ears......you know?
Gerry
Gerry,
I agree. They had to have someone at Hard Times who tipped them off. As far as I know, no culprits were ever found.
The way I always understood the law when I was in NY and I assume it's true for most states is that private gambling among friends such as on a pool game, sports game, poker game, etc is fine and perfectly legal but it's when you open up the gambling to the public or start accepting bets, etc that it crosses over the line into being illegal.
Hunter v. Ernesto
My dad told me that story a while ago. What I know is my dad WANTED to give the dough to Mike or Chuck of HT. But Bobby insisted it was ok since Morro and Francisco had their opponents and were betting even more than my dad and Bobby were on nearby tables. Bobby and my dad were playing "cheap" comparatively. Anyways, after the money was robbed, the backers of Bobby were trying to force my dad to repost the stolen money. My dad argued that they were playing for the money on the lamp, not the money in his pocket. Anyways, long story short my dad reposted, but couldn't make a ball because his nerves got all screwed up, so he lost his lunch money for a long time.
My dad told me that story a while ago. What I know is my dad WANTED to give the dough to Mike or Chuck of HT. But Bobby insisted it was ok since Morro and Francisco had their opponents and were betting even more than my dad and Bobby were on nearby tables. Bobby and my dad were playing "cheap" comparatively. Anyways, after the money was robbed, the backers of Bobby were trying to force my dad to repost the stolen money. My dad argued that they were playing for the money on the lamp, not the money in his pocket. Anyways, long story short my dad reposted, but couldn't make a ball because his nerves got all screwed up, so he lost his lunch money for a long time.