Terry Ardeno said:
I received the book and shirt in the mail today and I want to thank you very much! What an enjoyable book! These stories are so funny that I called a few of my friends up and read them some excerpts. You're getting more fans by the day!
I have a question for you...how fine a line is there between "managing" a game ala Artie & Ronnie and being a "locksmith"? Between setting everything up just so right vs not playing unless you got "the nuts"?
Thanks again!
Terry
I'll take this one Freddie. "Managing" a game is far different from being a "Locksmith". Working backward here, a Locksmith will only play a game when they have the "nuts". They must have way the best of it to even get on the table.
Managing a game on the other hand means to get the conditions right where you think you have a fair chance to win. You don't want to put yourself in a bad spot, where all the little factors are weighted against you. A good manager gives himself the best possible chance to win a close game. You aren't looking for the "nuts", you just want a fair chance in the game.
An example might be that when I had my first poolroom in Bakersfield in the 70's, I was on every road man's map. They knew that the owner of the joint (me) was gonna play whoever walked in the door, and I was good for a three or four hundred dollar score if you could beat me. My old friend Jimmy Reid showed me all his notes he got from another player about me.
The first year or so, I would get up and play the moment someone came in looking for a game. Hey, it was my joint, and my tables. Well I was getting pounded over and over again. My problem was that I was playing mostly at night when the poolroom was packed (Tony Anningoni said it was the busiest room on the West Coast). So there were many distractions while I played. Customers to deal with, phone calls, employees with questions etc etc.
Finally I figured it out...duh. So when a player came in at say 8 PM, I would tell him to come back at 2 AM when I was closing and we could play all night. Now I had peace and quiet and the whole room to myself. Maybe me and one of my buddies and the player and his road partner. A cozy little game which I loved. All of sudden, the soft Jay became a tiger and I began to pound on a few guys. I won money, cues, cars and more! I felt sorry for Jerry Mackey and gave him back his cue and $200. He was on the road after all. I kept his Caddy though.
This is what is meant when you manage well. You create conditons more to your liking. Not change the game, just change some aspects of it. It can entail the size of the bet, the length of the match, where you play, the table, the cue ball or even the time you play. Got it?
Just covering your back Freddie. Chip in here if you want. By the way I love the GosPool! It is amazing how similar our experience of so many players. You made me chuckle many times with your dead on appraisals of so many players we both knew. I don't have a copy of Banking With The Beard though, so chalk it up.
