There comes a time

[ironman]

aw, toughen up kid. quit reading all this stuff on this site about aiming and rely on your memory of what feels right. you've always been a straight shooter. "getting old ain't for sissies" rodney.

You crack me up and I ain't gonna blow the whistle but if most here knew who you were and how you have played and gambled in your life, there would be different attitudes.

I always had fun playing with you, but you frustrated the hell out of me with all those "hail Mary shots" flying all around.

I never had an aiming system. I just always looked at it and went by the old" I reckon if I hit here, it ought to go here" type of system. It worked pretty good for quite a while.

I remember a while back when Kieth was talking about people he respected in this game and you were on of the first he mentioned and not many caught it. I nearly blew the whistle on ya right then and there.

 

[ironman]

And I thought you were retired.
JoeyA

That was my intention, but I felt I was being called out and I have about always been too stupid to duck. Guess that's why my Dad called me damitt Lew until I was about 33.

 

[Eric.]

I've quit several time too and for lengthy periods and coming back wasn't that big a deal.

You know, I was a pretty fair athlete in my day leteering in 4 sports. Each year when football was over after working on my placekicking skills all season, we would go straight into basketball, then to track and baseball with little time to work on the kicking in the off season. Each year I would return afraid the "magic" was gone. Each time I gave up pool, I think I returned to rpve to myself I could do it. Now I feel if I take off 36 hours, I'm a goner.

Straight and to the point is the only style I know. When I walk into the pool room, everyone knows I didn't come in for a haircut.

It was just an offer. No big deal with me either way. They have casino in Louisiana to which I have made a sizeable deposit. It would take a huge withdrawal to get me even. Big Patty warned me that if she found out I even looked that way while over there, that well, it wasn't very nice.

Hey man,

Is it so bad to be a recreational player? I'm guessing that you have something else going on for yourself, besides Pool?


Eric >recreational player

 

[Island Drive]

All I can think of is a GIANT LEMON...and wonder if one fell on my head would it hurt.

 

[ironman]

All I can think of is a GIANT LEMON...and wonder if one fell on my head would it hurt.

Bill, you have always had a warped sense of humor. Just part of your charm,,,,,RIGHT?????

 

[ironman]

Hey man,

Is it so bad to be a recreational player? I'm guessing that you have something else going on for yourself, besides Pool?


Eric >recreational player

I weigh about 202. If I depended on playing pool for a living I would weigh about 102. The last time there was $100 won or lost in San Antonio the cops were called.

But yes, I run a little tour here in Texas and run some independent events.

 

[Island Drive]

The biggest lemon I've ever seen is 102 lbs...hard to imagine one larger...wink

 

[ironman]

The biggest lemon I've ever seen is 102 lbs...hard to imagine one larger...wink

I just remembered the knot head again. LMAO!!

Seems like 100 years ago we took that trip.

 

[Samiel]

From my point of view (C player, banger), you're still shooting pretty sporty Lewis! I'm sure there are many more pool scores for you if you make the right game! Heck, barely less than two years ago you were robbing the Diamonds' handicapped One Pocket tournament!

Maybe it's time for you to write a book! (Patty can translate it into French for all those French pool players... oh wait, nevermind...)

 

[Island Drive]

From my point of view (C player, banger), you're still shooting pretty sporty Lewis! I'm sure there are many more pool scores for you if you make the right game! Heck, barely less than two years ago you were robbing the Diamonds' handicapped One Pocket tournament!

Maybe it's time for you to write a book! (Patty can translate it into French for all those French pool players... oh wait, nevermind...)

I think we should consider calling him the Texas Underdog, tho Dave C in CA can lemon up to at least a good 250 lbs. LMAO:grin:

 

[SJDinPHX]

There comes a time for most when you must ask, "am I still competitive or just hanging on"? This question has been nagging me for about two years now and I suppose it is time I truely address it. My answer, it has come time.
This is not a "poor me thread" nor am I a victim of time. This game has been the major part of me my entire adult life and it is a life filled with incredible adventure, wins, losses, scuffles, hustles, scores, and a lot of things nobody would even believe. If I had it to do oveer again, yes, I would do it again.
Something happens to different people at different ages and times and I guess it happened to me a couple of years ago. I'm just not as comnpetitive as I used to be. I won so many big matches in my life on Heart alone and now that is not what it was.
I gave this up in 93 and returned in 2000 thnking it would just take some time and practice and I would be right back in the thick of things. Well, I had some flashes, but something during the vacation went away to not return for any lenght of time. My attitude and perspective had changed and I wasn't nearly as hungry for the wins. Things I wused to do so well, had vanished or became such labor.
I know this won't be easy, but I'm done. Maybe I state it here in some way to hold myself accountable to see it through. I'm not sure.
My involvement in the game now will be strictly that as a promoter. I will continue with the tour and pour much more energy into it than I have in years past. That I owe to myself and the game.
Pool is a good game with lots of good people who love it and want to do good thigs for it. The dark side of the game is so overly stated and exaggerated these days. Todays characters are nothing like those of the days past.
SO there is my rant. I resign, as Costner said in the movie, "for love of the game".

Lewis,

I have read this entire thread, and I'm coming back to your original rant.
I really miss all the years I've been gone from guys like you, Charlie Brown, James Christopher, Rodney, Billy Dan (RIP)and Puckett (RIP) and dozens more.
I missed the whole 70's and 80's, which was the best time to be a pool player ever. It has meant the world to me to be able to re-live those days through guys like you. I am not competitive any more either, but like you, I can still remember when I was. If I had continued my life, the way it was, I really doubt I'd still be around to talk about it.
I envy you that you are still involved in tournament promotions and a little side action once in a while. I just have to look at my past accomplishments and wonder what might have been. Makes me a little blue sometimes, but knowing I'm back in the fold again, with new friends, and old, has been really a great experience, and I thank you for it.

Dick

PS. Now that we got the sentimental crap out of the way, I want a rematch with Rodney !

 

[ironman]

Lewis,

I have read this entire thread, and I'm coming back to your original rant.
I really miss all the years I've been gone from guys like you, Charlie Brown, James Christopher, Rodney, Billy Dan (RIP)and Puckett (RIP) and dozens more.
I missed the whole 70's and 80's, which was the best time to be a pool player ever. It has meant the world to me to be able to re-live those days through guys like you. I am not competitive any more either, but like you, I can still remember when I was. If I had continued my life, the way it was, I really doubt I'd still be around to talk about it.
I envy you that you are still involved in tournament promotions and a little side action once in a while. I just have to look at my past accomplishments and wonder what might have been. Makes me a little blue sometimes, but knowing I'm back in the fold again, with new friends, and old, has been really a great experience, and I thank you for it.

Dick

PS. Now that we got the sentimental crap out of the way, I want a rematch with Rodney !

I was anxioius about your take on this. The 70's and 80's are gone and I guess someday forgotten. You said it, it was the best time to be a pool player indeed.

There were some tough times, but, when you're youn tough times are just a part of it. All you had to do was get in a good game, win, and all that was behind you. Money wasn't that hard to come by and it really didn't take a lot to live rather well and have fun. We were in Red Roof inss and the like for around $10-$25 per night. Meals were $3.50-=$6.00. Gas was less the 50 cents a gallon. Cigs were like a buck a pack. A bourbon and coke was around 75 cents to a dollar. You could make a living playing $5.00 9 ball or $20 one pocket. The bars were jumping and there was always money in those.

I would like to have seen you and Rodney play. He3 is quite a guy and I always enjoyed playing him. The old fart still gets out good and can really piss you off at times. That's pool playing.

I'm pretty lucky having this tour going. I won't get rich at it but it keeps me somewhat involved and it's fun. We have a great bunch of players on our tour.

I talked to our buddy Charlie the other day and he told me you should tell the story about Jack Taylor and the class reunion. Maybe not, you might get banned. I laughed so hard. It's the 2nd time I heard Charlie tell it, but he sounds like a giggling little kid when he tells it. LMAO>

My wike is a school teacher and just hounding me to death to write a book, and about 30 minutes ago I promised her I would start it right after Christmas. I'm warning ya though, there might be some pissed off people when this is done. But I feel I could write one simply about how incredibly lucky I've been.

I hope we run into each other.

 

[olauzon]

great thread (boys). unfortunately i can't contribute, but i will say this; as i retire on my sailboat, pool room in the aft, there will be nobody that can beat me even at age 80. and if anyone even comes close i will raise sail and bet, then have another beer from my on board brewery and go for kill.. hmm, btw, i'll be in the french polynesia in 12 years 8 ball stitched on main.

 

[Island Drive]

great thread (boys). unfortunately i can't contribute, but i will say this; as i retire on my sailboat, pool room in the aft, there will be nobody that can beat me even at age 80. and if anyone even comes close i will raise sail and bet, then have another beer from my on board brewery and go for kill.. hmm, btw, i'll be in the french polynesia in 12 years 8 ball stitched on main.

Where the heck is Oregen I see its your location, mines Colorado......is it a state of mind or something you put in your pasta...:wink: :wink:

 

[emoney]

You're not quitting. We all have those moments. Maybe you can't do the road, don't have the killer instinct for it anymore but don't forget that this game is brutal. It demands 100% focus to win against decent players. Just don't go into it thinking you have to match up or prove you're the best each time out.

Try to focus on yourself when you play and you'll have more fun getting back to the game for the game itself.

As a promoter I think you'll do really well but don't hang up those sticks just yet.

like he said dont give up yet

 

[olauzon]

Where the heck is Oregen I see its your location, mines Colorado......is it a state of mind or something you put in your pasta...:wink: :wink:

hahaha i think it's a combinationnnnn (damn that finger stuck to the key there again) pfft. of course i'm in aregoon and not oregen. butt really, how many sailboats is there with a pool room in it? i think i might have a niche championship coming my way.

 

[JoeW]

The only old retired people are those who think they are old.

I may have stayed in one place for the last 30 years but I have changed my interests about every five years. At the age of 60 I built a house from scratch and did everything myself includng building the whole damn thing out of rough sawn lumber planed to specs, plumbing, electric, cabinet making -- everything. Bought a new motorcycle at 64 years of age (last one I had I was about 55). And now after one and one half years of back to playing pool I have moved up three notches in less than one year at the age of 65. Now I take it seriously.

Change your point of view, take up something new in pool. I look in the mirror and see some young kid's eyes in this old man's body and say to hell with it, I am going to be me. Getting older sucks unless you make it work. Just like on a pool table.

I think that some of us old guys that get back to or take up pool later in life can be some pretty stiff competition in our own ways.

Put on some old time rock and roll and find the good in what you do --, you quit -- you die. I have worked with many old people in my work (before I retired) and many of those who die had given up on finding the good in life. They just want to rest -- and sleep forever.

The things that used to matter no longer matter, so what, there are other things now that matter more, if you look for them. So if your gonna quit be sure you take up something new that gives meaning to your life.

I retired from my occupation at the age of 60 and now wonder how I ever had time to work.

 

[Quesports]

I drive one

The biggest lemon I've ever seen is 102 lbs...hard to imagine one larger...wink

I have a bigger lemon and it says FORD on it!!!!

 

[SJDinPHX]

Young= not too smart...Old= not too stupid !

I always had my game in a pretty good perspective and knew my capabilities. That I could live with. It got to the point where how well I played was okay, but how badly I often played was just unbearable.

There is lots of talk about the secrets to this game and IMO it's all about how you pocket balls. That is the secret. After nearly 40 years of this though, I can't believe how I could miss some balls that are actually harder to miss than to make.

Lewis,

If its any consolation to you, I am on my 4th comeback. I think I have a few years on you, so I hope you aren't giving up too soon.
I found myself playing the best golf and one pocket I ever played, from about 60 to 70.
Sure, the shots got harder to make, but I knew my capabilities going in and my expectations were not that high. In other words, as my skills diminished it seemed as though my mental game got a lot tougher.
They came in droves to play the old "has been" in Phoenix, but a lot of them didn't like it, and the ones that did, knew they had earned it.
I may sound like I'm bragging, and maybe I am, but I think I have earned the right. Let me give you a list of guys who will verify all the smoke I'm blowin'.... RA, Richie Richeson, Bill Cress, Monk Costanza, Jack Cooney, Scott Frost, Gabe Owens and a lot of other guys who thought they had a birds nest on the ground. (sorry guy's, no rematches now.)
I'm proud of the fact that I hung in there as long as I did, and I see by you woofing back at JoeyA that you still have a little fire in the belly.
Hang in there Bud, You can still play with the best of 'em.

Dick

PS. By the way, which Jack Taylor story is Charlie talking about ? I only have about 200 of them.

 

[Johnnyt]

Lewis,

If its any consolation to you, I am on my 4th comeback. I think I have a few years on you, so I hope you aren't giving up too soon.
I found myself playing the best golf and one pocket I ever played, from about 60 to 70.
Sure, the shots got harder to make, but I knew my capabilities going in and my expectations were not that high. In other words, as my skills diminished it seemed as though my mental game got a lot tougher.
They came in droves to play the old "has been" in Phoenix, but a lot of them didn't like it, and the ones that did, knew they had earned it.
I may sound like I'm bragging, and maybe I am, but I think I have earned the right. Let me give you a list of guys who will verify all the smoke I'm blowin'.... RA, Richie Richeson, Bill Cress, Monk Costanza, Jack Cooney, Scott Frost, Gabe Owens and a lot of other guys who thought they had a birds nest on the ground. (sorry guy's, no rematches now.)
I'm proud of the fact that I hung in there as long as I did, and I see by you woofing back at JoeyA that you still have a little fire in the belly.
Hang in there Bud, You can still play with the best of 'em.

Dick

PS. By the way, which Jack Taylor story is Charlie talking about ? I only have about 200 of them.

Wow, that's some list there. I tap my cue to you. Johnnyt