I just got back from Boston this morning where I was invited to play Tony Ruberto a 5,000 set of nine ball at Brighton Billiards in Brighton Center in Boston. I got there on Monday around 3:00 in the afternoon and had made an appointment to play Tony on Monday around 6:00 at the pool room. I flew in from Indy where I got into some good action prior the night before and was tired but b/c I said I was going to play I went ahead and played 10 ahead 7,000 and I lost. The agreement was that if I won I would pay all my expenses and if I lost they would pay my expenses so when I lost they handed me 700.00 back to cover round trip airfare,cab, and room. I asked what they wanted to do the next day and they said I could bet whatever I want so I flew in a friend from Tennesse and he arrived at 9:50 the next night and we were in action by 10:30 for 10 ahead for 11,500.00 and I won so I gave them half the money back for expenses and everything was fine. So I asked what do you guys want to do tommorrow. They said once again I can bet what I want so I called another friend from Slidell,LA and said lets try and play them set for 25,000 or more and he said I be there the next day. Me and my buddy wake up on Wensday and go to the poolroom and say we want to play for 17,000.00 and Tony says no problem, calls his man, and within the hour we are playing for 17,000 with 34,000 posted up in a resume size envelope that we put under the table b/c the owner had never been the the whole time we played and the worker said there was not a safe. The lights over the table were 3 prong lights with no solid base to put it on the light so I thought this would be the best thing. 4 hours later Tony is on the hill and 1 hour after that I am even. About six hours into the match I go to the restroom to wash my hands and face and come back out start playing again and about 30 minutes later I decide to get a tapper out of my case under the table and the resume envelope was gone. I tell Tony whats going on and he and all the sweaters start saying they dont know how it happened and they never saw anyone near the table. So the bottom line is I am out 17,000.00 and I guess I am a sucker for thinking you can travel to other parts and play for big money and expect to not have problems. Down south between Baton Rouge,Mobile,Hattiesburg, and New Orleans if you win you just win and if you loose you just loose. I know my money is gone but I wanted everyone to know that the Boston area is no good for action and we all know someone in Tonys click got the money and I would hate for the same thing to happen to someone else. LJOHN