What is the best story you have about playing a champiom, pro or monster player?
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Jeremy
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cliff j
Mid 90s was playing in alexandria va at fast eddies, it was a mcdermott tour event I believe, cliff has me 8 zero to nine, he breaks dry and I put the set on him. He shakes my hand and says " that's why I quit playing 9 ball". I lose to the late great Ginky 9 to 7 next match.
Mid 90s was playing in alexandria va at fast eddies, it was a mcdermott tour event I believe, cliff has me 8 zero to nine, he breaks dry and I put the set on him. He shakes my hand and says " that's why I quit playing 9 ball". I lose to the late great Ginky 9 to 7 next match.
I thank you for your kind words about this thread and all of the nice people that have posted into it. It is people like you and many of the people who have posted in this thread that make the world a nice place to be living in!
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
Hello all! Great thread and as good a location as any for my first ever post on this board. About six years ago (maybe seven), i'm playing in a Monday night local nine-ball tourney at Doc n Eddy's in ABQ, NM and in walks SVB looking for action. He was in town for our state open tourney that he had won the previous year and everybody already knew how strong he was and nobody wanted to play. I figured what the hell, i knew it wouldn't end well but i've never been afraid to play anybody. Ended up playing four sets with him ($50 per), with a ton of weight, and the closest i got was 7-4 in the second set. It felt like it was over in five minutes even though we played around 40 games. I paid him, and went to the bathroom with my tail tucked between my legs.
When i came back out i figured he would've been gone... instead, he's at the table with balls set up in some sort of drill. He proceeds to show me the drill and told me his grandfather used to have him do it all the time. He stayed with me for about another half hour watching me run the drill and giving me pointers.
He was a class act all the way. I "lost" $200 that night, but it was the best money i'd ever spent playing this game. I felt that way that night.... and that was before he turned into who he is today.
When i came back out i figured he would've been gone... instead, he's at the table with balls set up in some sort of drill. He proceeds to show me the drill and told me his grandfather used to have him do it all the time. He stayed with me for about another half hour watching me run the drill and giving me pointers.
He was a class act all the way. I "lost" $200 that night, but it was the best money i'd ever spent playing this game. I felt that way that night.... and that was before he turned into who he is today.
Many years ago before she was pro, Jeanette Lee walked into Steinway Billiards with her boyfriend. We never heard of her, but she announced herself as an up and coming pro. Back then there were no pros at steinway, so they settled for playing against my partner and me. It was only a cheap $20 game, but she was pissed her boyfriend wasnt shooting well. (He pretty much handed us the match.) So she quit after the one set, and walked out all huffing and puffing.
The next time I heard about Jeanette she had a new man...... but this one was a pro.
The next time I heard about Jeanette she had a new man...... but this one was a pro.
I first saw Joe play in Asbury Park at the World 14.1 in 1977. Years later, he was at a McDermott Tour Stop at Diamond Billiards, in Lancaster, 1994. I bought him in the calcutta and he won the Tournament. Later that year, he had become the leading point earner for Player of the Year status on the McDermott tour. At a tour Stop at Cue and Cushion, in Newark DE, that Fall, he lost a second round hill match with JR Harris and was in the loser's bracket. I played in that Tournament and lost in the second round to Ted Harris. After picking up a win against a local player, I was slated to play Joe. The match started by me losing the flip and Joe winning the break. The tables were Big G Gandy's and I had trouble getting the balls to rack right. The first break Joe makes a ball and runs out. Same with the second break. Unable to rack the balls tightly, I decide to tap the balls in place to keep them frozen. Uh oh, Joe breaks dry and I manage to win the rack. But, Joe then wins the next game and I hadn't bothered to tap the balls into place. Joe penalized me again. The match progresses to Neptune Joe 8 and me 5. I make sure I tap the balls in place for Joe's break. Sure enough, he breaks dry and I get an early 9, 6-8. Joe, unhappily, throws the balls up on the table, racks them nonchalantly and I break 'em and run out, 7-8. Again, Joe racks 'em nonchalantly and again I break 'em and run out. Uh oh, 8-8. Needless to say, Joe is not happy and this time, while racking, he takes the time to try to get the balls racked right. Being a bit pumped for the challenge, I crack in two balls on the break and run out again to win the match 9-8.
Joe shook my hand and said "nice shootin'" and walked away shaking his head.
Unfortunately for me, I lost to Don Polo 9-7 the next round.
I'm Alive Again
When I was asked to bring in Francisco to West Coast Challenge this week.
I didn't hesitate, we've been friends for 40 years.
To be honest, I figured well that is going to cost me.
Too many champions were coming to the event and anyone can win.
Well, I am glad that I did.
We have had a great time all week telling stories and re-living past events.
I have been struggling lately and Francisco, Santos, Tony and the boys have made me realize how great pool and friends are.
I am going to try and post pictures of my friend, hope you enjoy him as I do.
He is a gentlemen, great person and a credit to our game.
I believe I took this picture at Jay's LA Open 1988 or 1992?
When I was asked to bring in Francisco to West Coast Challenge this week.
I didn't hesitate, we've been friends for 40 years.
To be honest, I figured well that is going to cost me.
Too many champions were coming to the event and anyone can win.
Well, I am glad that I did.
We have had a great time all week telling stories and re-living past events.
I have been struggling lately and Francisco, Santos, Tony and the boys have made me realize how great pool and friends are.
I am going to try and post pictures of my friend, hope you enjoy him as I do.
He is a gentlemen, great person and a credit to our game.
I believe I took this picture at Jay's LA Open 1988 or 1992?
Back in the late 70's I was stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base, just outside of Great Falls, MT. One year, The Corner Pocket up there decided to bring in Frank McGowan, former World 14.1 champ, for an exhibition. Joannie, the manager, asked if I'd be willing to be the sitting duck and play him 125 points of straight pool, before McGowan shot some trick shots. I said sure.
Well, I don't know what I was thinking. But I had seen Mosconi do his exhibition several times before. And I kinda suspected that McGowan would follow the usual routine for these affairs and show up in a suit, or a coat and tie. So, for reasons that are still unclear to me today, I decided that the appropriate thing for me to do in this situation was to also wear a suit. The only problem was that, at the time, I only owned one suit. It was a perfectly fine suit: a three-piece; in light gray; white shirt; thin bright red tie.
Think Sean Connery... Bond... James Bond.
So it's time for the exhibition. There's a room full of people around one table and McGowan comes in, and I don't know, he takes one look at me -- three-piece suit; in light gray; white shirt; thin bright red tie -- and he kinda goes catatonic or something. I guess it would be like going out duck hunting and the first duck you see flies by in a tux.
Well, somehow I get the first shot. Clearly, the duck in the suit has thrown Frank off his game.
I start to run the balls. I get into the second rack. And then the third. Frank goes to the bathroom. I get into the fourth rack. The balls are *wide open.* And then comes the shot that I still remember today: a little baby two-ball combination on the rail behind the rack that, as Danny McGoorty would have said, a drunk Girl Scout could've made if you held her up to the table long enough.
And I took it for granted and I hung up the ball.
I was told afterwards, by a friend who went into the bathroom at that point, that McGowan was in there washing his hands. When my buddy told him that I had just missed, McGowan went, "He missed?!" And McGowan comes flying out and quickly proceeds to make a dish of, "Shredded Duck ala Lou," with an 80-something run and then a 50-something.
Lou Figueroa
Well, I don't know what I was thinking. But I had seen Mosconi do his exhibition several times before. And I kinda suspected that McGowan would follow the usual routine for these affairs and show up in a suit, or a coat and tie. So, for reasons that are still unclear to me today, I decided that the appropriate thing for me to do in this situation was to also wear a suit. The only problem was that, at the time, I only owned one suit. It was a perfectly fine suit: a three-piece; in light gray; white shirt; thin bright red tie.
Think Sean Connery... Bond... James Bond.
So it's time for the exhibition. There's a room full of people around one table and McGowan comes in, and I don't know, he takes one look at me -- three-piece suit; in light gray; white shirt; thin bright red tie -- and he kinda goes catatonic or something. I guess it would be like going out duck hunting and the first duck you see flies by in a tux.
Well, somehow I get the first shot. Clearly, the duck in the suit has thrown Frank off his game.
I start to run the balls. I get into the second rack. And then the third. Frank goes to the bathroom. I get into the fourth rack. The balls are *wide open.* And then comes the shot that I still remember today: a little baby two-ball combination on the rail behind the rack that, as Danny McGoorty would have said, a drunk Girl Scout could've made if you held her up to the table long enough.
And I took it for granted and I hung up the ball.
I was told afterwards, by a friend who went into the bathroom at that point, that McGowan was in there washing his hands. When my buddy told him that I had just missed, McGowan went, "He missed?!" And McGowan comes flying out and quickly proceeds to make a dish of, "Shredded Duck ala Lou," with an 80-something run and then a 50-something.
Lou Figueroa
He walked in wearing a hustlin USA hoodie.After the 3rd set it came off because he could see this was not going to be easy.
I was thinking about getting him something to read while he was sitting in his chair, the waiting can be boring.
When the smoke cleared i stll had my cheese.:smile:
But that one fellow wasn't so lucky on his way to become a champ.
While I have no chance now.He took a beating by a banger once upon a time.
I was thinking about getting him something to read while he was sitting in his chair, the waiting can be boring.
When the smoke cleared i stll had my cheese.:smile:
But that one fellow wasn't so lucky on his way to become a champ.
While I have no chance now.He took a beating by a banger once upon a time.
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GoldenFlash
Banned
A young pup gets a lesson
1957, I am 19 in the Navy out of San Diego. I have a hopped up ID card that says I am 21 so I can play poker at the card rooms down 4th street.
I'm in a poolroom called The Arcade...(Tommy The Sailor, The Mad Russian, The Little Indian, The Mustache Kid, Electronic Bob, used to make it their homebase).
I had learned to shoot good pool back home in Atlanta from Danny Jones but this day I was sitting at the poker table ($2 limit draw, I think) and I am winning good. The guy on my right is this old guy (maybe 35) and I keep raising him and laughing when he folds.
He gets redfaced and says..."okay Georgia boy, you wanta go out there and shoot some 9-ball for 20 a rack?"
I couldn't wait to get at the table.
We go around and around and I notice that none of the railbirds are not saying a word. Finally, one old geezer comes up to me and whispers..."son, don't you know you're playing one of the best pool players on the West Coast...that's LONG BEACH you're playing"
I had heard the name before and from that point on I had NO chance. I went down like the Titanic. He was playing 3 rail position on me so well that I just thought he was lucky from hitting the balls that hard.
Of course I went busted, but he was nice enough to give me a walking stick so I could get back to the ship.
I wonder if Long Beach and any of those guys are still alive.
1957, I am 19 in the Navy out of San Diego. I have a hopped up ID card that says I am 21 so I can play poker at the card rooms down 4th street.
I'm in a poolroom called The Arcade...(Tommy The Sailor, The Mad Russian, The Little Indian, The Mustache Kid, Electronic Bob, used to make it their homebase).
I had learned to shoot good pool back home in Atlanta from Danny Jones but this day I was sitting at the poker table ($2 limit draw, I think) and I am winning good. The guy on my right is this old guy (maybe 35) and I keep raising him and laughing when he folds.
He gets redfaced and says..."okay Georgia boy, you wanta go out there and shoot some 9-ball for 20 a rack?"
I couldn't wait to get at the table.
We go around and around and I notice that none of the railbirds are not saying a word. Finally, one old geezer comes up to me and whispers..."son, don't you know you're playing one of the best pool players on the West Coast...that's LONG BEACH you're playing"
I had heard the name before and from that point on I had NO chance. I went down like the Titanic. He was playing 3 rail position on me so well that I just thought he was lucky from hitting the balls that hard.
Of course I went busted, but he was nice enough to give me a walking stick so I could get back to the ship.
I wonder if Long Beach and any of those guys are still alive.
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Louie
A long tine ago at Times Square in Dallas, nothing going on, Louie Roberts,
And a few of us just standing around. I said come on Louie give me the 8
and lets practice some for $5 . We're playing for a while and I miss some
pretty easy shot. He says Jack if you keep missing those kind of shots you'll
go broke. I said well at only $5 a game it's going to take a long time for me
to go broke. He looked up smiled fired the 9 in and said " I HOPE SO". It brought the house down. Man what a character .
A long tine ago at Times Square in Dallas, nothing going on, Louie Roberts,
And a few of us just standing around. I said come on Louie give me the 8
and lets practice some for $5 . We're playing for a while and I miss some
pretty easy shot. He says Jack if you keep missing those kind of shots you'll
go broke. I said well at only $5 a game it's going to take a long time for me
to go broke. He looked up smiled fired the 9 in and said " I HOPE SO". It brought the house down. Man what a character .
Jay, What Year was the LA Open in Burbank
Jay, See my photos of Francisco.
I believe I took this at your LA Open?
Can't remember the year.
Jay, See my photos of Francisco.
I believe I took this at your LA Open?
Can't remember the year.
Topcat,
I wish to thank you for your good post! Keep up the good work.
Many Regards,
Lock N load.