YOUR story with a PRO PLAYER

[JoeyA]

Great stories all, thanks to all of you who took the time to share them with us.
I have a story that pales by comparison but I hope it is of some interest. I had just started playing in a league and discovered a love for the sport although I was past middle age when did. I was in Los Angeles at a convention and decided one afternoon that rather than attend an event that I felt would be boring, I would find a pool hall and play some pool with a colleague that also enjoyed the sport.
We played for awhile and suddenly two guys came up to us and asked if we wanted to play partners. I looked around the pool hall to see if it was full, it wasn’t, so was a little surprised but said ok. Immediately, the taller guy said “we’re playing for drinks.” I nodded, thinking that they were looking to drink for free for awhile and that explained the approaching us to play.
My friend and I won the first two games, my friend was playing well and, without trying always seemed to leave the better of our two opponents with no shot. When we won the third game after he had changed to shoot following me I said to the better player (meaning nothing by it, just making conversation) that it was too bad that my partner had to carry me so much. Suddenly the guy was in my face “you think he’s good, well I want to play him for money.” I knew this guy was a better player but I thought what the heck and said ok but you have to give him odds. I’ll put up $10 against your $20 a game.
They played and my colleague did better than expected and they both got down to the 8 with my guy missing but leaving the cue on one end of the table against the rail and the 8 ball about an inch off the rail at the other end about a diamond and a half from the corner. Without hesitating the guy steps up, calls bank to the corner and makes it like it had eyes. I hand him $10 and say it was worth $10 to see a nice shot like that. The guy jumps in my face again says, ”Now I want to play you.” I reply ok, but you have to give me better odds say 20 to 1 and I’ll put up $20. He agrees.
Our game comes down to the 8 and I am shooting a corner bank, miss but leave him with a similar shot to the one he had in beating my friend. He steps up, bank corner, and I am starting to reach for my money as the 8 heads toward the corner.......then bobbles on the horn leaving me a hanger which I sink. He counts out $400 in my hand and says he wants a rematch. OK with me. He beats me and as I hand him back $20 I can see that he realizes his chances of winning the next 19 to break even versus losing another $400 or more along the way are not good. He snatches the $20 tells me I’m full of it and stomps off with his friend trailing behind looking apologetic.

This was a GREAT story but I have to ask, was it a pro whom you beat for the $400? If so, out him. :grin:

 

[Maniac]

This was a GREAT story but I have to ask, was it a pro whom you beat for the $400? If so, out him. :grin:

Not a pro Joey, just some scumbag tryin' to catch a BIG fish .

I LOVE it when it backfires on them :thumbup:!!!

Maniac

 

[JB Cases]

Great stories all, thanks to all of you who took the time to share them with us.
I have a story that pales by comparison but I hope it is of some interest. I had just started playing in a league and discovered a love for the sport although I was past middle age when did. I was in Los Angeles at a convention and decided one afternoon that rather than attend an event that I felt would be boring, I would find a pool hall and play some pool with a colleague that also enjoyed the sport.
We played for awhile and suddenly two guys came up to us and asked if we wanted to play partners. I looked around the pool hall to see if it was full, it wasn’t, so was a little surprised but said ok. Immediately, the taller guy said “we’re playing for drinks.” I nodded, thinking that they were looking to drink for free for awhile and that explained the approaching us to play.
My friend and I won the first two games, my friend was playing well and, without trying always seemed to leave the better of our two opponents with no shot. When we won the third game after he had changed to shoot following me I said to the better player (meaning nothing by it, just making conversation) that it was too bad that my partner had to carry me so much. Suddenly the guy was in my face “you think he’s good, well I want to play him for money.” I knew this guy was a better player but I thought what the heck and said ok but you have to give him odds. I’ll put up $10 against your $20 a game.
They played and my colleague did better than expected and they both got down to the 8 with my guy missing but leaving the cue on one end of the table against the rail and the 8 ball about an inch off the rail at the other end about a diamond and a half from the corner. Without hesitating the guy steps up, calls bank to the corner and makes it like it had eyes. I hand him $10 and say it was worth $10 to see a nice shot like that. The guy jumps in my face again says, ”Now I want to play you.” I reply ok, but you have to give me better odds say 20 to 1 and I’ll put up $20. He agrees.
Our game comes down to the 8 and I am shooting a corner bank, miss but leave him with a similar shot to the one he had in beating my friend. He steps up, bank corner, and I am starting to reach for my money as the 8 heads toward the corner.......then bobbles on the horn leaving me a hanger which I sink. He counts out $400 in my hand and says he wants a rematch. OK with me. He beats me and as I hand him back $20 I can see that he realizes his chances of winning the next 19 to break even versus losing another $400 or more along the way are not good. He snatches the $20 tells me I’m full of it and stomps off with his friend trailing behind looking apologetic.

Good one. I have barked at great players asking for those odds for years and never gotten any of them to bite on it.

You probably didn't play a pro though as a pro knows better than to try and hustle you that way.

 

[Masayoshi]

A couple years ago, I asked a local Filipino for some cheap sets and he tells me "nah I'm feeling a little sick, you should play my friend here." referring to a short, older Filipino guy. We get started playing races to 7 for 30 and I win the first few games without giving up many chances. Eventually he gets in stroke and makes a slight comeback but it proves to be too little to late as I beat him 7-4.

After the end of 2 sets an acquaintance comes up and tells me I shouldn't be playing this guy he's a well known pro. Well, that was a surprise to me because I beat him quite handily both sets, although I was admittedly playing a few balls above my head on my favorite table (table 1 at Hard Times). I tell him "don't worry about me, I'm having fun, win or lose."

I end up 2 sets ahead (I think he won the next set and I won the last set) and the older fellow says "I'm done, you play Santos." Well, honestly, I'm not the kind of guy to say no when I'm up and playing good and not playing for a siginificant amount, so I agree to play santos a single race to 9 for the money I won off of the older guy (who was being backed by the guy I originally wanted to play).

Well, lack of experience and being a little star-struck got the best of me and I ended up losing pitifully 9-4 despite the good performance I put on earlier (not to mention Santos' stellar play). From that experience I learned 2 things:

1) Never let the title "pro" get the best of you.

2) There is always a better Filipino.

A few years later, I was practicing in the same room and Santos comes by and ask me if I want to "practice". We ended up playing races to 7 for 30. At first "practice" was looking pretty dang good. I was getting out from everywhere, playing some lock up safes, and decent return safes and ended up crushing him 7-1 in the first set.

The next 3 sets, well, lets just say I got few opportunities and squandered those few opportunities due to shell shock. I ended up taking a beating something like 7-2, 7-1, 7-1, but still payed with a smile. From that final run-in with Santos, I learned 3 additional things:

1) The first set is only the beginning of a gambling session. Don't get a big head just because you got off to a rocket start.

2) (as pointed out by a guy watching the match) Don't embarrass a pro if you want to get further opportunities at the table.

3) "Practice" is apparently equivalent to "bet" in the Philippines.

 

[screamingelvis]

I have one too !

After words I was embarassed but I attended a Women's Pro tour event in the late 80's "just to see how good they really were" tickets were sold out to the small viewing area and I had no chance to view the final matches.
So I got a table and practiced anyway until this beautiful creature walked up to the table and asked if I wouldn't mind racking 9 quickly.

As you can imagine I racked and she ran and thinking all the pros were "in there" well I thought this was a pipe dream come true. She thanked me after 5 or 6 racks and winked at me and ran off. It was the wink....and the signed photo that the waitress brought over that killed me Ewa Mataya had spent a few racks w/me. Talk about forest gump'n.......

Humbly summited

JBC

 

[bender_lu]

It's been streamed for a few years now, and has always had a smattering of international players - well Scottish, anyway. :sorry:

But yes, it's impressive. The tour has gone from strength to strength in recent years. It will be interesting to see how many have signed up for it this year because it isn't cheap, and the chances of the amateurs getting into the money stages are slim now, to say the least, especially as it's now double elim. There are going to be some serious drubbings, no doubt about it.

Are you interested? Flights are pretty cheap these days.

i wouldnt stand a chance there plus id come with the ferry, i LOVE these ships have been to england not even two weeks ago, but in the southern region you dont find many pooltables (canterburry was the only town with the snooker/pool hall)

 

[MartinBullet]

i wouldnt stand a chance there plus id come with the ferry, i LOVE these ships have been to england not even two weeks ago, but in the southern region you dont find many pooltables (canterburry was the only town with the snooker/pool hall)

There's a LOAD of good pool halls in the South, you've just gotta know where to look
Whereabout were you staying?

 

[bender_lu]

hi! i was staying in a bed n breakfast in dover (for the white cliffs winter ale festival :grin: ), but also went to fokestone, canterburry, have been to maidstone, etc etc yada yada... actually following the good beer guide :sorry:

problem is that we were 7 guys, and 5 dont play/like pool or snooker

but i will definetly make a tour in england for the poolhalls too! maybe next year.

 

[MartinBullet]

hi! i was staying in a bed n breakfast in dover (for the white cliffs winter ale festival :grin: ), but also went to fokestone, canterburry, have been to maidstone, etc etc yada yada... actually following the good beer guide :sorry:

problem is that we were 7 guys, and 5 dont play/like pool or snooker

but i will definetly make a tour in england for the poolhalls too! maybe next year.

Glad to hear it, and I'll look forward to seeing you at a GB9 event!
As for checking out the pool halls, there are a number of decent ones in the North of England, especially in Yorkshire, you should easily be able to find a game

 

[ShootingArts]

two sisters

Well, I was warming up for a little bar table tournament at Two Sisters in Slidell. This kinda medium sized friendly fellow comes up and wants to hit a few balls.

Little did I realize it was JoeyA . . . :grin: :grin: :grin: