*** A GREAT Interview with Danny Medina ***

I just got this on my Facebook page, An interview with Danny Medina.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SFjN4N-Ogq8[/ame]

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"

Good interview and video, sad story. We must hope all the young local sharpshooters are paying attention. But probably not. We have seen more than a few of these in recent years, and more on the way. Sad but true.

This is one of the *best* videos I have ever seen in my life of a pool player. The quality of the video itself is extremely high, but it's the content that is delicious and rich. The little music interludes between interviews is not offensive, and it keeps you interested.

Bravo to the sponsors who contributed to this video. Well done, Ray aka Big Truck. Melissa Little and John Haddad, et al., thanks for creating that website. We are donating $100 later today for the cause.

I am well aware how expensive it is to create and maintain a website. Aside from time and effort involved, the one for "Justice for Mike Surber" to date has cost over $500, i.e., domain name, privacy ensurance, and software for the website itself.

It would be cool to have Ray aka Big Truck do more interviews just like this. They are creating an archival record, something that hasn't been done in times gone by.

I hope Danny Medina is pain-free during this difficult time and is aware of how much he is loved in the pool world.

Seeing the older photos inserted in the video is a really nice touch. You can see how much time and effort went into this.

I have only seen Danny shoot one time, and that was at the U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship. I remember he had this quirk, I guess you'd call it, in that his tongue would go in and out like a lizard when he was in dead punch or in the zone. It was the most unusual thing to see, but everybody has their quirks when they get in the zone.

My prayers go out to Danny Medina as well as his family and friends.

That pool room Hank's used to be called Paradise, I think, in Colorado. We took this picture there with Mark Haddad and Melissa Little when we were on the road. It is as really cool pool room.

For those who might be interested in donating to help Danny Medina during this difficult time, here is the website ---> Danny-Medina.com.

Picture from Accu-Stats, 1998 World One-Pocket Championships, Medina vs. DiLiberto, $19.95.

Danny was a great player and a solid guy, he has always handled himself with class and dignity, I played Danny at the Sands hotel and Casino in Reno, race to 9. The score was one game apiece, I broke the balls and came up dry. I never shot again. Danny ran 8 straight racks and out. When you talk about the big breakers Danny's right up there with players like Bustamante, Crane, and David Howard. Danny may have hit the balls the hardest of all the big breakers, at least it 'sounded' that way.

By the way, I really enjoyed the interview. Great job, all around.

Dr. Bill

Fundraiser/Denver for Danny

Fundraiser/Denver for Danny

Was good to seem em, his mind is still there but his body is slipping fast. We had some good chat tho with difficulty. He said he'll have the book ready when I arrive so that we can both make sure where the action is. Melissa Little helped put this together quickly and it was appreciated by many. Here's my last pic of me and Danny, we had quite a few side by side over the years in the Local publications. Dino as I called em, gonna miss ya.

Bill Meacham

Danny Medina is his own man who believes in himself in every way. I have always admired Danny for being the person/player that he is, just a no nonsense kind of a guy. He is a great player that never played soft, it was all business when he played. He is solid as a rock, both on and off the table. Life seems that it has really flown by as I think about all the players that I grew up playing, and where they are now. Yes, we had our time and now it's time for others, that's the way everything is. Danny, you're a true champion, may God bless you my brother.

Bill Incardona

wincardona said:

Danny Medina is his own man who believes in himself in every way. I have always admired Danny for being the person/player that he is, just a no nonsense kind of a guy. He is a great player that never played soft, it was all business when he played. He is solid as a rock, both on and off the table. Life seems that it has really flown by as I think about all the players that I grew up playing, and where they are now. Yes, we had our time and now it's time for others, that's the way everything is. Danny, you're a true champion, may God bless you my brother.

Bill Incardona

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I got emotional reading this and thinking of everyone also.

We're actually just here for the blink of an eye.


Peace Danny.

Island Drive said:

Was good to seem em, his mind is still there but his body is slipping fast. We had some good chat tho with difficulty. He said he'll have the book ready when I arrive so that we can both make sure where the action is. Melissa Little helped put this together quickly and it was appreciated by many. Here's my last pic of me and Danny, we had quite a few side by side over the years in the Local publications. Dino as I called em, gonna miss ya.

Bill Meacham

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God in heaven. Was that really Danny? You still look good, Bill.

Beard

Would it be redundant to reaffirm how good he played and how tough he was to beat?

Holy Christ. God save us all.

fred bentivegna said:

God in heaven. Was that really Danny? You still look good, Bill.

Beard

Would it be redundant to reaffirm how good he played and how tough he was to beat?

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Yep that's Dino, I'm going up Tue/business and on my way back gonna visit em/hopefully in the afternoon. Was thinking about em again this am, and his patetnted lingo/whadda ya wanna do/and his lip likin' style, kinda like a kid in candy store just wanting to play and always had a smile and a He' He' kinda giggle. Before I left he said, ''you gonna stop by Tue? His voice is VERY weak, but his mind is still there. Fred, I too didn't recognize him when he first rolled in, but ya know, like Fatty said, rack em up st. peter I'm coming, were All not far behind. I hope he's there Tue.

Island Drive said:

Yep that's Dino, I'm going up Tue/business and on my way back gonna visit em/hopefully in the afternoon. Was thinking about em again this am, and his patetnted lingo/whadda ya wanna do/and his lip likin' style, kinda like a kid in candy store just wanting to play and always had a smile and a He' He' kinda giggle. Before I left he said, ''you gonna stop by Tue? His voice is VERY weak, but his mind is still there. Fred, I too didn't recognize him when he first rolled in, but ya know, like Fatty said, rack em up st. peter I'm coming, were All not far behind. I hope he's there Tue.

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You're a true friend Bill. I know it means a lot to Danny to have you visit him during this waning time, he needs people like you to comfort him and remind him of how strong and important he is. Please tell Danny that I think about him in many ways, and I love him.

Thanks,
Bill Incardona

I had not realized that Keith wired $100 to Melissa for Danny a few days ago, and this morning, I sent $100 via my PayPal account in Keith's name, as he wanted to send Danny $100. Keith doesn't have PayPal.

Talk about communication! And we live in the same house!

Anyway, I guess we donated $200. I think there is a pool tournament going on today, as well, at Felt Billiards in Denver, Colorado.

Keith is talking to Melissa Little now on the telephone, and she said that 100 percent of the money is going to the Danny Medina trust for his burial. He wants to be buried and does not want to be cremated.

JAM said:

I had not realized that Keith wired $100 to Melissa for Danny a few days ago, and this morning, I sent $100 via my PayPal account in Keith's name, as he wanted to send Danny $100. Keith doesn't have PayPal.

Talk about communication! And we live in the same house!

Anyway, I guess we donated $200. I think there is a pool tournament going on today, as well, at Felt Billiards in Denver, Colorado.

Keith is talking to Melissa Little now on the telephone, and she said that 100 percent of the money is going to the Danny Medina trust for his burial. He wants to be buried and does not want to be cremated.

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Billy I'll tell em, and on the communication matter, this was put together Very quickly and I'm sure there were a few sooooooo busy and others just didn't know and unable to attend and so it goes. For those of you like Billy that want him to hear your words I'll do a copy/paste and bring that with me on Tue. I'm not gonna call just show up as he's expecting me and I'll leave the info with Stephannie for him to hear it if he's too medicated.
Bill

Island Drive said:

Billy I'll tell em, and on the communication matter, this was put together Very quickly and I'm sure there were a few sooooooo busy and others just didn't know and unable to attend and so it goes. For those of you like Billy that want him to hear your words I'll do a copy/paste and bring that with me on Tue. I'm not gonna call just show up as he's expecting me and I'll leave the info with Stephannie for him to hear it if he's too medicated.
Bill

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I'm sorry, but I guess I did not express my thoughts well in my post about communication.

I was referring to the communication between Keith *and* me. I had not known he already sent $100 to Melissa for the Danny Medina fund a few days ago. Keith had expressed to me that he wanted to send $100 to Danny Medina, but he did not tell me when he sent the $100 to the fund. Meanwhile, this morning, I'm thinking I better get that $100 of Keith's to that fund quickly, not realizing that Keith had already sent the money a few days ago. Keith does not have a PayPal account, and I do. I had no idea that Keith would wire the money. I'm wondering when he did that without me knowing about it, but he did it.

That is the communication mishap I was referring to, the communication between Keith and myself, and, by the way, we both live in the same house.

JAM said:

I'm sorry, but I guess I did not express my thoughts well in my post about communication.

I was referring to the communication between Keith *and* me. I had not known he already sent $100 to Melissa for the Danny Medina fund a few days ago. Keith had expressed to me that he wanted to send $100 to Danny Medina, but he did not tell me when he sent the $100 to the fund. Meanwhile, this morning, I'm thinking I better get that $100 of Keith's to that fund quickly, not realizing that Keith had already sent the money a few days ago. Keith does not have a PayPal account, and I do. I had no idea that Keith would wire the money. I'm wondering when he did that without me knowing about it, but he did it.

That is the communication mishap I was referring to, the communication between Keith and myself, and, by the way, we both live in the same house.

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Jam, no no no, it's me I don't express that well on a keyboard, I have edit so much at times I used U/Kieth as a comparative. Your fine kid, no biggie, we all are in our own world a little more than years past. Feels like we all seem to assume more because we have access to so much info, but that at times drowns out the simple/important matters of life. Like the time my mom asked me as a child driving thru Chicago. She felt sad for all the bums just sittin' around broke on their porch in the day doin' nothing, my response ''why don't they sell their car and get money that way''.
Have a great new year you Two.

May God comfort Danny, his family and friends. I pray for easing of his pain and that he doesn't suffer. Absolute monster player, cherish the good times and memories forever.




Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow, For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
James 4:14

Island Drive said:

Was good to seem em, his mind is still there but his body is slipping fast. We had some good chat tho with difficulty. He said he'll have the book ready when I arrive so that we can both make sure where the action is. Melissa Little helped put this together quickly and it was appreciated by many. Here's my last pic of me and Danny, we had quite a few side by side over the years in the Local publications. Dino as I called em, gonna miss ya.

Bill Meacham

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WOW!!! i cannot begin to convey what I felt seeing this picture of my long time friend.
As Billy said, Danny was/is a strong man and always has been. i simply ca't belive the courage and strength he has shown over tha pst several months.
I have talked to him on the phone multiple times weekly for moths and he rarely even talks about the illness and never mention any pain.
I was in Denver for 4 days back in August and we spent day and night together and he never talked of the illness even then. We instead laughed about much of the dumb stuff we did over the years.
I think Danny has regrets as all of us will, but, I do't think being a pool player is one of them. It was his passion and his joy from his early years to the present. he was ready for any challenge and at any time. In the 80's and early 90's few came to Denver and tried him on #9 at Table Steaks Billiards.
Since the illness has progressed I have trouble getting him on the phone and it often sends me into a panic or high level of anxiety.
i am leaving for Denver next Monday and just hope and pray I can be as strong as he is. That may be one of my toughest challenges yet.
Through all this, all Danny has ever asked for are prayers. i ask/beg that all of you keep in your prayers too.
I love Danny and ask that you love him too!!

ironman said:

WOW!!! i cannot begin to convey what I felt seeing this picture of my long time friend.
As Billy said, Danny was/is a strong man and always has been. i simply ca't belive the courage and strength he has shown over tha pst several months.
I have talked to him on the phone multiple times weekly for moths and he rarely even talks about the illness and never mention any pain.
I was in Denver for 4 days back in August and we spent day and night together and he never talked of the illness even then. We instead laughed about much of the dumb stuff we did over the years.
I think Danny has regrets as all of us will, but, I do't think being a pool player is one of them. It was his passion and his joy from his early years to the present. he was ready for any challenge and at any time. In the 80's and early 90's few came to Denver and tried him on #9 at Table Steaks Billiards.
Since the illness has progressed I have trouble getting him on the phone and it often sends me into a panic or high level of anxiety.
i am leaving for Denver next Monday and just hope and pray I can be as strong as he is. That may be one of my toughest challenges yet.
Through all this, all Danny has ever asked for are prayers. i ask/beg that all of you keep in your prayers too.
I love Danny and ask that you love him too!!

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Yeah it was Very tough on us all, but he def. appreciated being there and he and I did hold hands tightly. His voice is VERY weak, so he may be getting to the point of not being able to talk at all, hopefully we can and will tomorrow afternoon. His will is impenetrable as is his attitude....he's got NO give up still, quite amazing but thats Dino...''wha da ya wanna do'', well lets play some, I can hear him now, and his patented he'he'. We were very lucky to be part of his life, he's my super mex, the best mexican player in the world, NO doubt, and I played all the west coast guys 76-81, they were'nt ever at his level.