Pool Stories

[jrhendy]

I ran into my old friend Ernesto Dominguez,who was covering the tables at Hard Times in Sacramento for the upcoming one pocket & nine ball tournaments. We started talking about the old days in LA when I played quite a bit with Ernesto, Morro and the other Mexican players who hung out at Romy's at 4th & Main in LA. They used to come over to the Golden Cue in Rosemead where I played most of the time. I've told this story before, but I'll never forget it. These guys didn't play much one pocket, but one of the stake horses told me there were a few guys who played one pocket at 4th & Main that would gamble & I could beat out of a little money. He would steer me for 30%. I went down there and beat two or three players out of a little money & a new guy came in that he put me on that bet and lost a little more. We met back at the Golden Cue to whack it up and he said "I should get a little more for the last guy". I asked him why and he said "he was my brother". Whether it was true or not (it probably was) I sent in a little extra.

[gulfportdoc]

We met back at the Golden Cue to whack it up and he said "I should get a little more for the last guy". I asked him why and he said "he was my brother". Whether it was true or not (it probably was) I sent in a little extra.
Now THAT'S a dedicated stakehorse!! Talk about cutthroat... :cool: I'm surprised Morro never took up 3C or straight rail, hanging at Romy's. I guess Ernesto did somewhat. Didn't Romy's have 4-6 billiard tables? That must have been the main billiard action until Tiff Payne's opened up in North Hollywood.

I see our bud Roger Estelle was knocked out of the Reno Open. See, you've been kickin' his butt so badly at one-pocket, he can't even play 9-ball anymore! :rolleyes: Nice to see Ernesto still hanging tough on the left side of the board. Looks like he'll at worst make expenses.

Doc

[hemicudas]

Late in 1979 I was playing some cheap one pocket at Oak Park Billiards in Chicago. I get a phone call from a friend telling me to come down to Freddy's pool room Northshore Billiards. My friend tells me that some left handed black guy was giving Larry Hubbart the hit and a pick playing one pocket and it wasn't Bugs.

I had never heard of Larry Hubbart playing one pocket but at the time he played 9 ball as well as anyone on earth. I pull up loser with my guy and head off to Freddy's. It takes about an hour to get there because of traffic and I am cussing to myself the whole time, thinking it is costing me money. I hit the door running, which is a feat in itself, up the stairs, turn the corner and my buddy is standing there looking like someone had just shot his puppy. I ask him what happened and he told me Larry had tapped out and he was almost broke himself. He told me he should have ask me if I wanted in over the phone but hadn't thought about it. I told him thanks for forgetting and ask who the black guy was. He said his name was Kenny Romberg and that he, Bugs and Tough Tony all lived together. Sure enough, all three were cutting the money up on an unused table in the corner.

Louie Roberts walks over to Larry and tells him that he doesn't think Bugs can give him that game, much less that guy and that he would stake Larry to play another set. Larry tells Louie, "You know Louie, I must like your money better than you do. Go back to the room and get some sleep."

[jrhendy]

Now THAT'S a dedicated stakehorse!! Talk about cutthroat... :cool: I'm surprised Morro never took up 3C or straight rail, hanging at Romy's. I guess Ernesto did somewhat. Didn't Romy's have 4-6 billiard tables? That must have been the main billiard action until Tiff Payne's opened up in North Hollywood.

I see our bud Roger Estelle was knocked out of the Reno Open. See, you've been kickin' his butt so badly at one-pocket, he can't even play 9-ball anymore! :rolleyes: Nice to see Ernesto still hanging tough on the left side of the board. Looks like he'll at worst make expenses.

Doc Actually, he gets me stuck every time we play. I can beat him to the shot, but can't run balls like he can. I warm up a little and get even or close to it, but he still has me stuck a few games.

[jrhendy]

Sometime in the late 70's a guy comes in the Golden Cue while I am playing pinochle and asks if anyone wants to play some nine ball. I say " I know you came to play me, so you must be a better player and I need some weight". He said "Your right, I am a good player and you have the 8" I played him a race to 5 for $200 and won the first set. Indian Joe Monzingo, who owned the pool room and was in with me said "Bet $400"", which we did and three sets later I could see I was up against it, and suggested we play some one pocket even. After losing 4 or 5 games at one pocket I pulled up. The very next day the LA Times had a two column article and a picture on the front page of the sports section about Louie Roberts who was in town to give a pool exhibition at the Elks Club in LA. Too bad the aricle didn't come out a day earlier. I loved pinochle but couldn't play a lick. They would always invite me in the game because I was a sucker, and then scream at me when I played bad.

[hemicudas]

Sometime in the late 70's a guy comes in the Golden Cue while I am playing pinochle and asks if anyone wants to play some nine ball. I say " I know you came to play me, so you must be a better player and I need some weight". He said "Your right, I am a good player and you have the 8" I played him a race to 5 for $200 and won the first set. Indian Joe Monzingo, who owned the pool room and was in with me said "Bet $400"", which we did and three sets later I could see I was up against it, and suggested we play some one pocket even. After losing 4 or 5 games at one pocket I pulled up. The very next day the LA Times had a two column article and a picture on the front page of the sports section about Louie Roberts who was in town to give a pool exhibition at the Elks Club in LA. Too bad the aricle didn't come out a day earlier. I loved pinochle but couldn't play a lick. They would always invite me in the game because I was a sucker, and then scream at me when I played bad.
Sounds like you were better off in the pinochle game, John, LOL.

Early 70s, I am playing some one pocket with a local guy named, Don Ballard, in Jackson, Miss. I couldn't beat Don playing even but he refused to give up any weight so I pull up. Don, keeps knocking balls around until two guys walk in, grab a set of balls and one of the guys starts hitting them on another table. Don, watches the guy for a while and the guy notices he is being watched. The guy asks Don if he would like to play some 9 ball. Don, tells the guy no thanks but that he would play his stakehorse over there some one pocket. Yea, Don had it all figured out. The "Stakehorse" tells Don that he doesn't play one pocket but would play him some 9 ball. Don, declines and offers the stakehorse 8 to 7 playing one pocket. No game. Don, comes down to 8 to 5 and the stakehorse finally agrees to play.

When Don finally pulls up broke he is getting 8 to 5 and the stakehorse is playing with only the shaft of his cue, one handed, with a roll of dimes in his hand for weight.

That was my first introduction to, Ronnie Allen.

[Shorty]

Sounds like you were better off in the pinochle game, John, LOL.

Early 70s, I am playing some one pocket with a local guy named, Don Ballard, in Jackson, Miss. I couldn't beat Don playing even but he refused to give up any weight so I pull up. Don, keeps knocking balls around until two guys walk in, grab a set of balls and one of the guys starts hitting them on another table. Don, watches the guy for a while and the guy notices he is being watched. The guy asks Don if he would like to play some 9 ball. Don, tells the guy no thanks but that he would play his stakehorse over there some one pocket. Yea, Don had it all figured out. The "Stakehorse" tells Don that he doesn't play one pocket but would play him some 9 ball. Don, declines and offers the stakehorse 8 to 7 playing one pocket. No game. Don, comes down to 8 to 5 and the stakehorse finally agrees to play.

When Don finally pulls up broke he is getting 8 to 5 and the stakehorse is playing with only the shaft of his cue, one handed, with a roll of dimes in his hand for weight.

That was my first introduction to, Ronnie Allen.

Damn what a way to meet Ronnie Allen...I would love to watch him play some one hole.

Shorty

[suki]

Damn what a way to meet Ronnie Allen...I would love to watch him play some one hole.

Shorty

His antics are still fun to watch but not his game. Too much mgd and whiskey

[philip guagliardo]

I owned north shore billiards with freddy the beard and bobby wilkinson . here's a little story about louie roberts . he called me up in 1979 and said would I stake him if he came to chicago . I told him I'm no stake horse but I would put him in a little action to get started if he came . I blinked and he was walking in the door . boston joey was in town a tremendous player on a bar table at the time . so I let louie play him a set for 500 hundred . louie got lucky and won because the bar closed . so I gave louie 300 and said you can sleep in the office and I'll let you eat for free . well louie gives the nuts to everybody he plays and ends up broke , but a friend of his comes in and starts to back him . so he decides he's going to beat the houseman . ME ! he says you got 2 hit and the pic and can spot another ball . I'm no great player but I know I have the nuts with that game . so the backer says 50 a game . I would have bet a 1000 . so we play and I'm 3 games ahead and louie puts me in a real tough spot , but I get lucky and make a tough shot and get out . the backer tells louie thats all ! louie rants and says one more game ! the backer says no way ! louie is standing at the head of the table and throws the cueball in disgust , it hits the backer right dead square in the forehead . louie then stars smashing his cue on the side of the table . broke it in ten pieces . as he's breaking the cue I noticed 3 guys jump out of their chairs . the wind up was louie hocked his cue to all 3 guys . each guy wanted to kill him ! the moral of the story is dont bite the hand that feeds you ! I really like louie ! he was all action ! and if he would have lived longer , no telling how good he may have played with some seasoning . he could cut the paint off the ball . I'll always miss louie ! a real classic pool character ! race track phil