Tell a story about a famous person stopping in your pool room.
- Thread starter Paul Schofield
- Start date
Wonder Woman bought her pool table from the place I used to work...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...-Carter-shows-luxurious-Maryland-mansion.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...-Carter-shows-luxurious-Maryland-mansion.html
On a hot summer afternoon in the early Sixties, I was in Mergard's Bowling and Billiards in Cincinnati (home room for Clem Metz, Joey Spaeth, Donny Anderson, Tom Smith) when the door to the room opened and out of the glare of the sunlight came Leo Durocher in a business suit. The Dodgers were in town and going to play the Reds that night. He knew several of the regulars in the pool room and sat down with them and had a cup of coffee or a glass of iced tea or something. I snuck over and listened in. Of course the talk was all sports.
When I got home, I told my father I had run into Leo Durocher that afternoon and sat with him for about two hours. My father said, "My Lord! What's he like?" I said he was quite a gentleman while he was with us. Of course we weren't wearing black suits and caps and calling his base runner out at second!
When I got home, I told my father I had run into Leo Durocher that afternoon and sat with him for about two hours. My father said, "My Lord! What's he like?" I said he was quite a gentleman while he was with us. Of course we weren't wearing black suits and caps and calling his base runner out at second!
Joe rogan
Circa 1991, before Joe Rogan was the big star he is today, he used to play at Executive Billiards in White Plains, NY all the time. We pretty much knew then with his drive and ability to tell a story & make people laugh that he'd make it big. -Z-
Christian Laettner stopped in one night. Jeeze the guy is tall. I was standing behind the counter which is a good foot over the floor in front of it, which was where he was standing, and the guy still towered over me. In spite of his reputation to the contrary, he was a really nice guy, polite, a real gentleman (can't play pool for squat though). After clocking that Christian couldn't shoot for $#!+, every shortstop & his brother in the house asked him if he wanted to "play some". There was practically a line. -Z-
Circa 1991, before Joe Rogan was the big star he is today, he used to play at Executive Billiards in White Plains, NY all the time. We pretty much knew then with his drive and ability to tell a story & make people laugh that he'd make it big. -Z-
Christian Laettner stopped in one night. Jeeze the guy is tall. I was standing behind the counter which is a good foot over the floor in front of it, which was where he was standing, and the guy still towered over me. In spite of his reputation to the contrary, he was a really nice guy, polite, a real gentleman (can't play pool for squat though). After clocking that Christian couldn't shoot for $#!+, every shortstop & his brother in the house asked him if he wanted to "play some". There was practically a line. -Z-
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I owned East Islip Billiards on Long Island up until 1980. Dell Insko and about ten other top harness drivers from the mob run Rosevelt Raceway met there once a week. Tami Mauriello who lost to Joe Lewis in a title fight was a regular.
The biggest stolen car ring Long Island has ever seen, my room was one of their meeting places. At one time I had the keys for most of the underground chop shops on L.I and a few in the city. My Dad bought a brand new Pontiac for $1500 from a guy at a bar down the street from the poolroom. The next day the ring started getting busted and they took his new car, and him for a night.
I probably shouldn't write this next part, but what the hell, I'm 74.
One of the reasons I knew so many mob guys from two different families was my wife (a CCU nurse at the time) took care of Mario Puzo and Gambino's Wife up in the penthouse of Amityville Hospital. Mr. Gambino was VERY greatfull to my wife.
I did some work for Mr.Gambino and another family from 1957 to about 1978 or 79. So that's why I had, if not very famous people come in the room, there names were in the paper a lot and police reports.
I was making more money on the street at 14 than my Dad, who had two businesses. Johnnyt
The biggest stolen car ring Long Island has ever seen, my room was one of their meeting places. At one time I had the keys for most of the underground chop shops on L.I and a few in the city. My Dad bought a brand new Pontiac for $1500 from a guy at a bar down the street from the poolroom. The next day the ring started getting busted and they took his new car, and him for a night.
I probably shouldn't write this next part, but what the hell, I'm 74.
One of the reasons I knew so many mob guys from two different families was my wife (a CCU nurse at the time) took care of Mario Puzo and Gambino's Wife up in the penthouse of Amityville Hospital. Mr. Gambino was VERY greatfull to my wife.
I did some work for Mr.Gambino and another family from 1957 to about 1978 or 79. So that's why I had, if not very famous people come in the room, there names were in the paper a lot and police reports.
I was making more money on the street at 14 than my Dad, who had two businesses. Johnnyt
Damn tough to top!! And I'm not even Jewish!!
In the old hagerstown md pool room in the late 70's, a guy came in with one of the fanciest Balabuska's ever made.
I staked Baltimore Buddy Dennis to play him because I wanted to try to win the cue.
Well, we won some money , but not the cue!
How is your 'Buska' Mr Schofield? lol
I staked Baltimore Buddy Dennis to play him because I wanted to try to win the cue.
Well, we won some money , but not the cue!
How is your 'Buska' Mr Schofield? lol
Ah yes, and I do remember. That was early 1976. I was an up-and-coming 22 year old. I played Buddy again, a grueling 24 hour session two years later in Glen Bernie. Buddy could play. Not to worry, My Balabushka is in good hands.
Here is the funny part. I still have Buddy's cue case (nice case). It houses my Szamboti "Sneaky Paul" that I used when I played Buddy the second time! Here is a picture. http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=125779 lol This is good stuff.
Incidentally, I quit playing for good in 1978.
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Paul, weren't you up in Alaska in the 1960's? If so, myself and I'm sure some of the other members would love to read some of your pool stories. I was in and around Fairbanks in the 60's, so I know how the money flowed on the tables. Johnnyt
well apparently i was in the same pool hall (slick willies montrose) with roger waters and a few of his buddies one night. it was an early friday night and there werent too many people around. i was a banger at that time just looking to catch a buzz and knock a few balls in before a friday night outing. i was across the room from this group of older gentlemen and paid no attention. after about an hour or so they left, and my waitress comes up to me and tells me that the manager told her not to tell any customers but that one of those men in the corner was roger waters(maybe with other members of the band?). found out the next day that pink floyd was in town for the weekend doing a concert. this was maybe 6 years ago or so...
Saw the Buska on the link you posted. What a cue.
Yea, Buddy was a long distance runner back then.
You retired young from playing,
Tc
Mark Kendall, lead guitarist for Great White. One of the best, maybe THE best celebrity pool players.
Amityville hospital was demolished a few years ago. The raceway and its fabulous flea market is but a memory. East Islip brings back a lot of memories. I think I used to get hammered at a place called Cogg's.
I mostly went to Colins Irish Pub down the street from the room, but if someone else was driving I'd go anywhere. The police almost got me one night in the apartment right over the poolroom. I had 6 pounds of weed being put in different size bags on the kitchen table. One guy helping me was a pretty big buyer of stolen goods from the area. Some drunken young guys were carrying four 20' clam rakes and a 30 HP outboard up the fire escape to my kitchen to sell. I looked out the window and saw a cop car in front of a store a few stores down. I pointed my gun at the three guys and told them I would shoot them dead if they didn't get down the fire escape quickly...and I would have. N.Y had that Rockefeller law at the time, and the amount of pot I had would mean life in prison. To this day I have no idea how those idiots didn't get us all busted. Cop must have been asleep or had a girl with him. Johnnyt
An OG? Johnnyt
Old geezer