Letting the Fish off the Hook

Well I was out for a night of drinking with a buddy and he had to go home early as it was a weeknight and he had to be up early. I am feeling pretty good and get dropped off at Kolbys to play some pool and just hang out. A guy is in there from Virginia, I have never met him before. He wants to hit some and I am just banging them around. He goes outside for a smoke and proceeds to come in and say he will give me the last 3 for $10 a game. We go back and forth with me just smacking balls around, I get up 4 games and he ask to play a race to 5 for $50 which I win 5-0. He think the place is going to close but we get the okay to play for another hour. I beat him the next set 5-3 so we agree on one last set for $100. I know that I dont even have to play to win, the guy is a decent player, probably plays a touch better then me even though he claimed he was an A player, but I am getting the last 3 so its utter thievery.

The kicker is he tells me that he just got back from Afghanistan so I start to feel some guilt, the guy is just in town visiting family. I lose the last set so the guy is only down $40 but I pay his time so its not like he lost anything. I felt bad because the guy is in the military risking his ass for me and our country so I know I was buzzed and playing on the lemon with him so it just did not feel good. I have no problem with hustling because when people gamble they are just trying to win the cash, that is what counts when you are in action. It is not always how good you play its how well you match up. Some people detest hustling and locksmiths, to me the greats like Ervolino from NY who layed it down so good, getting the 5 ball when they could give the 5 ball, it is really an art IMO. I do think that you should have to use judgement and sometimes realize that the cash is not worth the fact of feeling badly or guilt. The funny thing is that the guy said he does not care if he loses money and likes to gamble, he had no clue that he got a pass and got to keep his cash.

I will leave you with a picture of the great Brooklyn Johnny, Ervolino was a great hustler and pool player who even at the age of 65 still ran over 300 balls. Until the next time friends and foes, play well and be lucky.

Lenny the Lock

Played My First Race to 50

Well I got the bright idea a few nights ago to ask another player at Kolbys to play a race to 50 in 9 ball so we ended up playing it last night,just for good practice and because neither of us have done it before.I have to say it was more then I bargained for,it took 6 1/2 hours,we did have about 30 minutes worth of breaks though.I had some good runs and streaks but also some very bad play towards the middle and the end also.We are both 9 rated players in the state of AZ and 9 ball is his best game,its my weakest game I believe.I did end up winning 50-37,I do plan on doing it again perhaps once a month but I could only imagine how much it would improve my game if I did it everyday for a month.

9 Ball Run Out Video

Just a video of me breaking and running at Kolby's Corner Pockets in Tempe AZ during a tourney,table is a Gold Crown III with 860 Simonis,4 1/8 inch pockets.My opponent is Angel Paglia a female pro on the WPBA,she went on to win the match hill-hill.

OTR's First DVD~ Reyes Vs Frost

I am happy to announce we have obtained this footage and are releasing it to everyone.The footage was recorded at Kolbys last May in Tempe AZ by Carlos Avalos who is on the forums as BACK2GOOD1.This is 100% action,no commentary and no fancy frills just some great one pocket.The promoter of this awesome event was Mark Cantrill also known on the forums as BFDLAD and runs the Champions and Legends Tour with Earl Strickland,Johnny Archer,and Nick Varner.This match was much talked about and people have asked about this footage being released so we are getting it out there to everyone so my partner Steven Hofstetter took on the task.Down the road perhaps we might offer another DVD of this match with a player review by The Freezer,bonus footage and all the frills but at the moment we dont have time to do it nor can we give a date for that DVD,at the moment its just an idea.The DVD is 4 hours and a 2 disc DVD,click on this link to purchase,price is $24.99.Thank you. :smile:
http://ontherailtv.com/subpages/azbilliardsdvdorder.html
View the teaser here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c2A6vqQjk4

Thanks To Our New Sponsor!

We have a new sponsor on board with us,Crown Cues.We did have Albrecht Custom Cues but Dave is not taking anymore orders so him having a banner is pointless for him right now,we appreciated all the support Dave gave us from the start.We also have Eye Shafts who came on board with us last month,really glad they did,I myself play with a birdseye shaft and it plays excellent.We also are looking for more sponsors and can certainly say our website will give alot of exposure to the product your trying to promote.Thanks to all you viewers,drop a note to our sponsors and tell them that you appreciate them sponsoring us,thank you!

Video of Me Breaking and Running in 8 Ball

DCT Finale

Well the Arizona Desert Classic Tour Finale was a great event at The Mazatzal Casino in Payson AZ.We had 8 Diamond bar tables and the game was 10 ball,Big Bull came by to deliver and setup the tables which was great.We had over 50 players for the $6000 added finale and there was some really great play.I enjoyed the setup there,we had a 60 inch flat screen to watch the action on in the broadcast booth,a T1 internet connection which made the internet stream very smooth,the only thing that was missing was my new camera which I got the following Monday,a few days too late unfortunately.

I did enjoy the trip and won all bets made during the trip outside of the casino of course and on pool,I think I won about $400 playing and another couple hundred on other bets for matches.My goal was to beat one good player during the tourney and I did,I beat another fellow New Yorker named Paul who was known for winning $19,000 on a bar table.We had a great match on the losers side,racing to 9 I got up 8-5 before I missed a thin cut on the 8 ball with the 9 and 10 balls hanging in the pockets,I knew it was going hill-hill.At hill to hill he breaks and scratches,the 3-10 is lined up fairly well,the one goes but the 2 ball does not so I play shape for a safe,get bad shape and play a bank,it shortened up but I got lucky and Paul was safe.Paul kicks at the ball instead of messing up the 3-10 combo,he hits it and almost makes a ball but it hangs,I make a shot on the 2 ball and get perfect on the 3-10 to take the win.Paul remarked later he should have messed up the 3-10 but he said I was running out so good he felt I would be out anyway and if he could get lucky and make a ball he could win so he went for it.I told Paul early in the tournament that the only thing I wanted to do was beat a good player,so he remarked "Well you got to beat a good player like you wanted.",Paul was a real gentleman and a hell of a player with a win over Nick DeLeon 10-0 and a hill-hill match with Jimmy Mendoza.

Scott Frost lost his first match but came through the losers side to win 11 matches and beat Dennis Orender,then Jimmy Mendoza,he met Mitch in the Finals and played awesome to take the win and $2700 or so in prize money.I hoped my jump cue came in handy for Scott and helped him on his way to the win.Scott was stunned that I only slept 4 hours in the 3 days there as he was rooming with me but I just cant sleep in those casinos,pool and gambling action is too much to resist I suppose.Congrats to Scott Frost and Mitch Ellerman for playing great as they always do and Jimmy and Dennis for putting on a hell of an event.I was glad to have George Teyechea and Lisa there to help commentate for me as I was in really bad shape because of lacking sleep,it was one fun long weekend with great pool.

I hope this year the DCT continues to grow and prosper and new members continue to join,I believe they are over 150 members.I think my presence there attracts people to play and also they enjoy getting viewed by people all over the world on my website too.Well I hope those of you who have tuned in enjoyed watching it and this year should be awesome and only will get better then the last.

Lenny the Lock