SPM Magazine Issue 3 by SPM Billiards Magazine

What’s Inside? Arthur Robbins - Pg 64

Kim White-Newsome - Pg 46

Florian “Venom” Kohler Interview - Pg 6

and more...

Illustration by: Arthur Robbins Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014 1 - February Sneaky Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - 2014 - Issue 3

Table of Contents Kicking Out - Part 2 - Pg-4 Florian Kohler Interview - PG 6 Don’t get sharked - Pg 8 How it’s Made - Pg 12 Thinking about pool lessons? - Pg 17 Keeping your Composure - Pg 18 What would a sucker do? - Pg 23 Travekers Tips - Pg 24 Interview with Tyler Styer - Pg 26 Fats...he sailed around the world - Pg 28 Sneaky Pete Mafia Founder - Pg 31 Fatal English - Pg 32 Black Belt Billiards - Pg 34 Gripping Experiences - Pg 37 Road Stories - Not on my watch - Pg 39 “Toothpick” - Pg 44 Americas Lone Star - Pg 46 Earl - vs - Efren - Pg 48 Patience in One Pocket - Pg 53 Meet the Streamers - Pg 58 A “Brush” Stroke of Genius - Pg 64 Buffalo Unleashed - Pg 68

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Kicking Out Part 2

Last month I described the situation where your opponent has executed a safety, placing the cue ball behind a cluster and you have to kick out and make a good hit. That same drill gives you the foundation to accurately learn to apply 1, 2, and 3 tips of English on the cue ball. That will come in handy every time I write you a suggest the amount of English This month we will again focus aon kicking, only time Lastlesson month I and described the situation where your opponentneeded. has executed a safety, placing the cue ball behind cluster and you havethis to kick out and make a good hit. Thatof same gives theout foundation accurately apply 1, 2, andlast 3 tips of English the cue 1ball. shooting the length thedrill table to you kick and hittothe objectlearn ball.to Remember month we on applied tip of That will come in handy every time I write you a lesson and suggest the amount of English needed. English for 1 diamond, 2 tips for 2 diamonds and 3 tips for 3 diamonds? Now we’re shooting the full length the we table the on distance), so this we time apply half the English fortable each Diamond Point. You’re to love Thisof month will(twice again focus kicking, only shooting the length of the to kick out and hit the object ball.going Remember last month we applied 1 tip of English for 1 diamond, 2 tips for 2 diamonds and 3 tips for 3 diamonds? Now we're shooting the full length of the this. table (twice the distance), so we apply half the English for each Diamond Point. You're going to love this.

THE DRILL Place the cue ball in front of Diamond Point 0, from 6 to 8 inches off the rail. Place object balls rails atPoint Diamond 1, 2, 3,off4,the 5, rail. & 6, as shown in the diagram. Place the cue ball in fronton of the Diamond 0, fromPoints 6 to 8 inches Shoot, with a ½-Tip of English, into Diamond Point 0 to hit the 1 ball. Place objectwith balls 1-Tip on the rails at Diamond 1, 2, Point 3, 4, 5,0&to6,hit as shown in the diagram. Shoot, of English, intoPoints Diamond the 2 ball. Shoot, with 1½-Tips of English, into Diamond Point 0 to hit and maybe even pocket the 3 ball. Shoot, with a ½-Tip of English, into Diamond Point 0 to hit the 1 ball. Shoot, with 2-Tips of English, into Diamond Point 0 to hit the 4 ball. Shoot, English, intoPoint Diamond 0 to hit the 5 ball. Shoot, with with 1-Tip 2½-Tips of English,ofinto Diamond 0 to hitPoint the 2 ball. Shoot, with 3-Tips of English, into Diamond Point 0 to hit the 6 ball. Shoot, with 1½-Tips of English,can intobe Diamond 0 toby hitexperimenting and maybe even with pocket the 3diamond ball. This long shot kick-out further Point studied other contact point locations. Keep in mind that you’ll need to determine what one tip of English on your cue stick tip equals. Obviously Shoot, with 2-Tips of English, into Diamond Point 0 to hit the 4 ball. a 10.50mm tip verses a 13.25mm tip will see one, two and even three tips differently. By hitting the targeted diamond pointsofaccurately, be able to0determine Shoot, with 2½-Tips English, intoyou’ll Diamond Point to hit the 5 what ball. the striking point on the cue ball is that equals one, two, and three tips of English for you. Work hard on these and you’ll soon become a tough player to play Shoot, withon, 3-Tips English, into Diamond 0 to hittothe 6 ball.up ball in hand. a safe andofyou’ll surely be sayingPoint good-bye giving THE DRILL

This long shot kick-out can be further studied by experimenting with other diamond contact point locations. Keep in mind that you’ll need Every volume of of lessons Drill Instructor worth thousands poolalessons. can drill to determine what one tip Englishby on The your cue stick tip equals. is Obviously a 10.50mm tipinverses 13.25mm You tip will seefind one, this two and even threeand tips more differently. By hitting the targeted diamond points accurately, you’ll be able to determine what the striking point on the cue ball in their entirety at www.thedrillinstructor.us where you can Get your copy todays! is that equals one, two, and three tips of English for you. Work hard on these and you’ll soon become a tough player to play a safe on, and you’ll surely be saying good-bye to giving up ball in hand.

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Florian Kohler Interview - November 2013 by Suzanne Smith 1. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Where did you grow up? Tell me about your home life. When I was a child I wanted to be a pilot. I grew up In Kingersheim, a small city on the northeast border of France. I am 15 min from Germany and 15 minutes away from Switzerland. I had a normal happy life when I was a kid, usually always in the first 3 of my class when I was young. It was a nice peaceful area, I have man friends from my childhood there and I keep in touch every time I have the chance to go back there. I studied a lot during my younger years. I was born in France the 10 of july 1988, speak 3 languages, I am licensed Optometrist and hold a black belt in Judo.

medium players after my shows. But of course I started to love the game and decided to take it to another level. I then went in Germany , about a year ago now and played every weekend there against Martin Schwab, former German champion. All I did was racking in 9 balls and play straight pool with him. Sometimes 10 hours in a row. He loved my attitude of never giving up so he started to give me more advice and taught me some. Shortly I reached a great level and now I can almost play anybody beside pros and not be afraid of being bad. The only trouble I have is, since I learnt very recently my knowledge is limited so when I play 9 ball for example if the table is not a run out I am missing knowledge to play the correct safe or I attack too much the table due to trick shots.

2. Tell me about how you got your start in Trick Shots. I started trick shots at the age of 18 when I received a small pool table for my birthday. I had no clue how to play since I barely ever touched the cue before so I checked online to learn and I found Trick shot video. No instructional were to my liking so to learn I started by doing the shots I saw in videos. 3. What trick shot artists, if any, have inspired what you do? Why? Mike Massey and Semih Sayginer. First Semih Sayginer, his style and shot selection are just beautiful. Lots of skill shots, masse, huge curves and new things. Very little props. Mike Massey because he is one of the greatest pool artists of all time and also very entertaining. Mike Massey is also ‘my mentor’ even though we didn’t practice much together, every time we have the opportunity we will play together. Mike comes often to visit me at my parent’s house in France. There he is really happy to play 3 cushion and artistic billiard with me while enjoying the great food . So, Semih for the shot making and the style, Mike for the attitude , the entertainment and the love of the game.

Anyway, with Straight pool it’s different, not much long shot to play so even if I don’t practice I can still have fun without missing too many balls. Then you have all the rack to analyse, how to break it, and trick shots can be useful there. So when I am alone and bored with trick shot I will usually play straight pool. I have a high run of 72 now, and my goal is to reach 100 within a few years. It’s a shame this game isn’t played enough anymore, it’s really a beautiful game. 5. What are your proudest moments in your career, please describe the sensations you went through when they occurred, anything that stands out about them in your mind now, looking back. The first Venom DVD was definitely a highlight in my life, everything went better than expected and my skill and creativity were perfect that moment. It’s a sensation of ‘you can accomplish everything.’

4. Aside from trick shots, what is your favorite pool game to play? Why? Straight pool easily. Like I told you I am a trick shot player that never learnt ‘real’ pool properly so after I started to get better in trick shots and traveling I faced something very awkward to me, I had to play people after my shows and that moment people couldn’t understand why I wasn’t good at pool. No matter if I tried to explain to them that is was two different sports, that bad impression was there. I decided that I should change some things and get better even if I had no love for the game at that moment. I then forced myself to play a little bit of pool every week and found friends to do so. Of course with my skills I quickly reached an ‘acceptable’ level, enough to be able to beat ¾ of the Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Then it’s been a few others: That one time in Korea I played with Semih Sayginer on TV, he kicked my ass in 3 cushions but I beat him in the trick shot event which was insane for me at that moment. Then there was the ‘Juanjo artistic cup’ where I beat all those legends on the billiard table such as Mike Massey, Roberto Rojas,

I think that’s the biggest trouble of our sport right now, trick shot competitions are already rare but by doing such things it will lead to the death of our sport while actually we need the exact contrary…

Miguel Torres… Great feeling. The first Artistic Cup I won in the USA was awesome as well but I think the most awesome moment was last year world cup of Trick shots. I am the last player to shoot for team Europe. USA just made their last shot to tie. So if I miss it’s a tie and a sudden death on the dollar bill which is pretty much a lottery. Anyway I made the shot under a huge pressure, I remember it like yesterday, jumps on the rail alternating hands. It was pure joy with all the team coming up to me and cheering. One of the greatest moment in my pool career for sure

So considering these elements I already know that I will have to take more and more my distances from competition and build my own path to promote our sport and myself. Tell me about your sponsors, people that have supported you on your journey, anyone you would care to thank or mention. I am lucky enough to be supported by a few of the best brands in the pool industry. Some of them saw potential in me early enough when I was just making videos in my room and I always kept them since that day. I am thinking of Mezz that supported me with cues at a very early stage as well as Kamui. With the extreme power I apply to my cue, that was a great relief not to have to pay thousands in material anymore. Then came Simonis, supplying me with the best felt on the planet and my skills got even better.

6. Tell me about your goals and dreams for the future. What are your thoughts on the current state of pool in general, and the trick shot realm specifically. My goals are multiple but I mainly follow one which is to make pool more universal by modernizing the discipline of Trick shots. Trick shots have been the same for the last 60 years but now with all the new cues and materials we can take it to a new extreme. I think, just like skateboard in the 90’s we can come up with a brand new and extreme Trick shot discipline that would fit more the new generations. Pool and Trick shots have been for some political reason stop in its evolution which brought to the state it is now, pretty much dying… Like every other sport pool has to evolve but unfortunately some people, especially in Trick shots either refused this evolution or acted only in their own interest. You honestly have no idea of what is going on backstage and how other players will try to destroy your career just by pure jealousy or by fear that the new things you bring will make you better.

Recently I signed with Rasson and Delta 13. Rasson is probably the most serious pool company I know in China, they have given more support and trust than any other company and our relationship works perfectly. We are usually the most crowded booth at the GBE in China. Not only they are serious but their material is super quality and beautiful. Lastly I teamed up with Delta 13, which is hands down the best triangles on the market. I have been using them before I even signed with them. It’s definitely a must have for every trick shot artist—these triangles are not only beautiful but also super solid. Again, great support from their staff who support my creative side and keep me alive to follow my dreams.

Not only that, but the decrease of our prize money forbid also more players to get better. Nobody wants to play in a tournament coming from Europe when first place is $1000. That not only avoids new players to show up but it also serves the local players governing our sport by keeping them on top of the ranking. Take it that way, how am I supposed to become number one in the world if I have to fly from France for an event and even if I win lose money? Of course there is no way.

All these 5 sponsors have also sponsored my new project, Venom Trick shots II. This TV show is now done and we are negociating its airing on the big networks such as ESPN, CCTV and Eurosport. It will be available in VOD and DVD as well. This project took more than a year and is probably the highest budget for a trick shot video so prepare to be amazed…

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Don’t Get Sharked By Food Allergens By: Skippy “The Billiards Biohacker”

Playing pool in stressful situations can cause some anxiety and jitters. This is commonly referred to as “nerves”. Most pool players have experienced this at one time or another. However, you might not realize that the food you eat may be affecting or contributing to the anxiety or perceived nerves that your feeling during a match. Surprisingly, it is not necessarily the most obvious culprits, like coffee, sugar, etc. It has nothing to do with eating “healthy”, though that is always a good foundational practice. It has everything to do with “food allergies”. People can have allergic reactions to even the healthiest whole foods.

Your health and performance can be greatly improved by taking the time to identify the foods causing an allergic reaction in your system. The good news is that this is a simple process. The bad news is that you have to be fairly disciplined to work through finding the actual food that caused the allergic reaction.

Surprisingly, 90 percent of the U.S. population have some level of food allergies. Unfortunately, most people aren’t aware of their adverse reactions to many foods. Most of the time, this is because the symptoms are minor or don’t seem to be typical food allergy conditions. Many people are aware of their sensitivity to the major allergens that tend to be problematic, such as eggs, milk, wheat, shellfish, nuts, etc. However, many people don’t realize they have allergic reactions to seemingly innocuous foods like oranges, apples, sugar cane, white potatoes, onions, etc.

To get you started, I’ll give you the basic process for identifying food allergies. Step 1: Record your pulse just after waking (while you are still laying down), before you sit upright. This will serve as your baseline pulse. Step 2: Record your pulse just before eating a meal (while sitting). Through this investigative approach, you will find it easier if you have very few food items in each meal. Don’t overlook small things that are added to food, like spices, garlic, onions, oils, etc. They may seem insignificant, but they may be causing a lot of damage if you are sensitive to one of them. Record all food items in the meal.

Allergic reactions to these foods have been linked to all types of conditions including headaches, nervousness, hypertension, epilepsy, weight gain, hives, asthma, abnormal tiredness and many other ailments. Sadly, many people live with these adverse reactions every day without realizing it. Fortunately, there is a simple way to test for these types of food allergies. It is called “The Pulse Test”. It was developed by a medical doctor named Arthur Coca. Simply put, his research showed that your pulse rate goes up when your body has an allergic reaction to food. An increase of more than 16 beats per minute is a strong indication of a food allergy. Typically, this increase happens within the first 30 minutes of eating. The increased heart rate is the body’s reaction to what it considers an attack to its system. The increased heart rate commonly lasts 60 to 90 minutes, but it can last for days or longer depending on the level of sensitivity. In Dr. Coca’s experiments, it is common to see pulse increase from a normal rate of 70 bpm (beats per minute) to over 100 bpm after exposure to a food allergen.

Step 3: Record your pulse 30 minutes, 60 minutes and 90 minutes after your meal (while sitting). If your pulse increases to more than 16 bpm above the morning baseline, that is a strong indication of an allergic reaction. From there, start eliminating foods to find out which one is causing the reaction.

Ideally, you’ll want to eliminate those foods from your diet. Start logging your meals and eliminating foods that cause your pulse to increase. This can be a painful process, but eliminating foods that disrupt your system is well worth it. I have just touched the surface of this subject here. To help even more, I’ve prepared a free instructional guide that goes into more detail about how to eliminate food allergens from your diet. You can get that guide and ask me questions at: www.BilliardsBiohacker.com/pulse

Imagine the affect that this could have on your performance in an already stressful pool match. Not only does the elevated pulse cause some stress-related issues, but your body is, literally, fighting off an attack on its system. Fighting this allergic reaction can keep you from performing at peak levels, by affecting your mood and energy levels. Also, it knocks down your immune system and leaves you more susceptible to other ailments like the common cold. Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Angel of Billiards Jacqueline “The Angel” Karol (formerly Broadhurst) is an instructor, author, inventor, and philanthropist, and has been playing pool since she was 3 years old. She earned her nickname, the “Angel of Billiards”, for organizing and participating in charity fundraising events including, trick shot exhibitions, challenge matches, and spectator contests. Jackie is also an instructional columnist for AZBilliards, Fury/Cuesight, Professor Q-Ball and Cue Times.

Jackie has developed and teaches a variety of training programs including her new Billiards Boot Camp, a challenging and intensive 2-day course designed to quickly take your game to a higher level. She also produced billiards training videos, is authoring a new instructional book, and has invented several training devices which she uses in her Billiards Boot Camp. Jackie can be reached at Jackie@AngelOfBilliards.com Visit her on the web at www.AngelofBilliards.com & www.BilliardsBootCamp.com

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

How It’s Made Enough about me. Let’s build a pool cue. First we need the materials that will be used to build it. The picture shows all the materials that will be used. I will list them.

by Kim Walker

Most pool players have seen the many different pool cues used by players everywhere. Pool cues are different length, different weight, different diameters, and are mostly made from wood but, many other materials have been used. I intend to build a pool cue and show exactly how it is done, by me. I say “by me”, because there are many ways to build a pool cue. Some ways are better than others. I will show you my way. I will show you with pictures and explanations exactly how it is done, from start to finish. Before we begin, I will tell you a little about myself. I retired a few years ago after a long career of electronic repair, mechanical repair, and technical training. I play pool and I thought that I could build a pool cue. What did I know? I was like many other pool players. I thought that you throw a piece of wood in a lathe and you whip out a pool cue in no time. After all, how hard could it be, it’s just round wood? I wasn’t doing this very long before I came to see the big revelation. A simple Merry Widow or Plain Jane cue can have as much as 25 hours of build time in it. Building cues is a never ending learning experience. It involves a myriad of intricate techniques, methods, procedures, and abilities. I am far from knowing it all. I feel that I have just scratched the surface. In the beginning, I thought that I would build myself a few cues and build a few extra and peddle them off at the local pool hall. I thought that this would pay for my cues too. The truth is that I am still loosing money. I now have about $20,000 worth of tools and materials and I still haven’t made a profit. I tell people “I’m not making a profit but, I’m losing less.” Well, I built myself a few cues and some of the local league players asked about them when they saw me playing with them. A few of the best players in town offered to buy a cue if I made it to their specs. So I made a few, using my best skills, materials, and techniques (at the time). They were well liked because, it seems that my methods produce a cue with a nice hit. I like to feel the cue strike the cue ball. I like the feed back you get when the vibration transfers down the shaft to the butt and to you hand, Evidently, so did they. My first customers talked up my cues with other players I have never advertised my cues in any way. Before I had been building cues for 6 months, I had a back log of about 20 cues and back log has never been less than 20 for 3 years. Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Figure 1 • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

an 18 in long by 1 ½ square piece of Curly Maple an 18 in long by 1 ½ square piece of Gaboon Ebony sheets of dyed veneers for the points and the rings a 1 in long Juma ferrule a G10 3/8-10 joint screw a ½ in diameter and 2 in long phenolic shaft insert a rubber bumper a 3/8-16 weight screw a Ultra Skin medium tip a 12 in long by 1 in diameter round black Juma a 12 in long by 1 3/8 in diameter round black Juma 2 Gaboon Ebony 1 in square by 12 in long for points a rough tapered 30 in hard maple shaft dowel a ¾ in by 30 in long laminated maple coring dowel

We will start by making some square things round. A few tools are needed.

Figure 2

With the Curly Maple piece mounted in the lathe, we begin to cut it with a router. The wood spins about 200 rpm and the router. with a ¾ in straight carbide bit, spins at 20,000 rpm. The router travels up and down the lathe slowly turning the wood round.

We will use a center finder to mark the center of Maple and Ebony.

Figure 3 Next we make a pilot hole using an awl and the dead blow hammer.

Figure 6 The corners are off and things are beginning to take shape.

Figure 4 Then we will drill a 3/16 hole in both ends of each piece Figure 7 The piece needs to be about 1 3/8 inch so it will fit in the lathe head stock.

so we can hold them between centers on the lathe. Figure 5

Figure 8

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Next the Gaboon Ebony is turned round. The chips are piling up on the floor.

Figure 9 They are round and now they need to be cored.

Figure 10 The piece is mounted in the lathe and we switch to the ½ hp AC motor because this procedure is a little much to ask of the DC motor. I use a 36 in long ¾ in gun drill. Air is is fed through the drill to the tip at 40 psi to keep the drill and wood cool and to blow out the chips as the drill goes through.

Figure 11 Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

It takes about 10 minutes to drill all the way through. The gun drill comes out within about 20 thousands of an inch every time. A regular drill would walk off center as it follows variations in the grain, so a regular drill bit cannot be used.

Figure 12 Next the ¾ in coring dowel needs to be trued up and turned to .735 to .740 in for clearance.

Figure 13 The Curly Maple and Gaboon Ebony are cut to approximate size. The pieces are left to rest for a week or two. This will allow them to acclimate to the shop environment. It is important the all the pieces are at the same moisture level before assembly to prevent movement later.

Figure 14

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Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

If you compete in tournaments, gamble, play pool regulary, or occasional 8-Ball, 9-Ball, One-Pocket or Straight Pool, these tapes will cut your learning curve by years, it may even turn you into a winner. Trusted by Niels Feijein, World Straight Pool Champion who owns all of Bert’s Videos. For years, Neils has traveled all the way from Holland to the United States to take Private Lessons from Bert. As a subscriber, you can access over 100 “One-Hour” DVDs 24/7 on your computer, iPhone and iPod-Touch for less than 22 dollars a month with your premier subscription. If purchased separately at their retail price of $31.95 each, they would total more than $3000. This is an absolute groundbreaking service for present and future pool and billiard enthusiasts. Bert Kinister’s DVDs are on sale, you can purchase the videos at http://www.bertkinister.com/dvd.html. Or you can contact Bert. He will personally return your call. Bert is available for private One-On-One private training. Please book in advance.

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Thinking About Pool Lessons? Prepare for your lesson do not try to impress your instructor he needs to see how you truly play so he There are several things you should consider can address your real issues and help you become a when you decide to take pool lessons. Cost and better player. You need specific goals, do you want convenience are secondary decisions. It takes to be a run out player, or do you want to win more “desire and determination”. games with the ability you have? They are different things. The most important element is YOU. Are you personally ready to make a commitment? To be Learn to speak up. Your instructor should not do all successful you need to be in for the long haul. You of the talking or shooting. It is easy to talk without are about to embark on a journey to learn one of the listening. He needs to know what you are feeling most demanding and rewarding disciplines on the and thinking. You should not let him move onto planet. The successful student will be able to enjoy a new subject until you are sure you understand one of the few sports that he can play the rest of what he has just showed you. You should be doing his life. Do not have unrealistic expectations. You ninety eight percent of the shooting or more if you are not going to learn how to play pool well in a few are not head for the door and keep your cash in weeks. your pocket.

By Bert Kinister

You must see your instructor on a regular basis. It really will not do you much good to take just one lesson unless you are able to spend several days with your instructor you will not be able to follow up with questions or tweak what you have learned. The opposite is also true you need time to work on and digest what you have learned. Success in any field is directly related to how much time you are willing to spend alone perfecting what you have been taught. I might work with a touring professional many days in a row but even then I tell him to go home and work on what he has learned. He will know when it is time to return. For amateurs one to two hours once a week is ideal if they do their homework. For every hour you spend with an instructor you should plan to work eight to ten more by yourself before you see him again.

Know your limitations even the best tour players cannot absorb much more than three ideas a lesson. If he tries to give you more than that speak up, then take the three ideas he has given you and practice them so you will be ready for your next lesson. You are wrong if you think taking a different lesson every day will help you will only go broke and clutter up your brain. You are correct if you dedicate yourself to learning what he has shown you this time so you can be ready to learn more next time. Check out your instructor. Ask for references not credentials.

Photo provided by Rosanna Ramirez

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

KEEPING YOUR COMPOSURE Webster’s Dictionary defines composure as “calmness; self-possession.” (Webster’s New World Dictionary, 2nd Ed., Simon & Shuster, 1979, p. 101)

• Composure

is remaining calm and focused

enough to perform up to your capabilities.

• Composure

It is similar to approaching life from a well-balanced center. If you do your best to keep balanced, you will have a better chance at staying afloat if something rocks your boat.

is consistently responding to

stressful situations with empowering thoughts, feelings and actions.

• Composure

is letting go of past mistakes and

breathing out anxieties about the future.

• Composure

is laughing in the face of seemingly

gargantuan pressure and concentrating on the task at hand.

Why would you want to have composure? Maybe you want to make great comebacks; or just play your game against a top player; or be a champion; or impress a potential significant other (show off). Whatever your reason, composure is a good place to start when you are striving for positive results.

Gaining composure could mean changing the way you think about certain aspects of the game. I am sure you know a few players who go berserk every time their opponent gets a good roll. The more bad rolls they get, the more they freak out and start announcing to the world that you are lucky. Meanwhile, they are stuck in the past with a dark storm cloud growing over their head. Granted, there is too much luck in nine-ball, but until the rules are changed to call all shots and safeties, it is necessary to understand that rolls happen and you should be happy to be at the table. If you find yourself on the short end of the rolls during a match, just think to yourself “things will turn my way,” and do the best with what you have. For example, what if you were on the hill with a seven game lead and your opponent comes back to tie the match? You could be in shell shock and flub a possible chance at a win, or you could understand that many matches are close anyway, and all you have to do is concentrate on each shot in this final game. When you have a big lead it is especially important to bear down even more, and realize that if you go to sleep you have no chance at winning. No lead is a safe lead. The same thing applies when you are coming from behind. No lead is insurmountable. Just think “I’ll hold him there and then pass him.” It is amazing to see what happens when you are unflappable. The more you understand match dynamics, the less likely you will be taken by surprise, and the more you will be giving the surprise. Composure has a lot to do with knowing and remembering the truth about yourself in any given situation. Whether the heat is on or off, it is good to remember what you are capable of (physically, mentally, and spiritually) and let this give you confidence. Letting go of fears and doubts is one of the main challenges every pool player, and person in life, for that matter, must face. The illusions of fear and doubt have no power unless you have allowed them power. Once you learn to recognize illusions, it will be easier to get rid of them. If the truth is that you play at a certain level, then you want to do your best to prevent anything from interfering.

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Often, blockages are very subtle and it would be wise to take a deep honest look into the causes. Once you have targeted any interference, it is necessary to actively and willfully diminish it by turning its positive counterpart into a habit. Sometimes habits die hard, but in the business of uncovering the truth it will be worth it. If you are often too tense, learn to relax. If you are doubtful, learn to generate feelings of courage and confidence. If you have trouble concentrating, turn pool into a study on concentrating. Whatever the malady, there is a remedy, and a little discipline can go a long way. Not enough can be said about the benefits of preparation. Before a big match, tell yourself that this will take everything you have, and that you must go deep to your basic core where your strength lies. If perhaps you have never beaten this player, tell yourself “that was then; this is now,” or “I am due for a win.” Michael Jordan says that before he shoots a big foul shot, instead of thinking about the millions of people watching and everything at stake, he puts himself in a familiar place like his old high school gym where he feels comfortable. Being physically and spiritually fit are also great bonuses. The link between your body language and your mental/ emotional states is amazingly close. It is good to work just as hard on your composure (mental game) as you do on your physical skills. Talk to experienced players and champions about this and read plenty of books like Pleasures of Small Motions by Bob Fancher, Phd., Golf is not a Game of Perfect by Bob Rotella, The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallway, and Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsh. Max Eberle

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

What Would a Sucker Do? (Part 3)

If you look around the room and don’t see any suckers….YOU are the sucker! You have stripes here. You are now on the 8-ball. Your opponent has 2 solids left. What do you do? “Kick at the 8-ball to make a legal hit!” - “Massé around the solid!” - “Kick at it with lots of speed and try to bank it across the table!”

Suckers.

Here’s a situation where taking an intentional foul will stack the odds in your favor, whereas doing the “right thing” and attempting a legal hit on the 8-ball is suicide. In this case, if you try to hit the 8-ball, you will likely solve your opponent’s problem by breaking the solid ball and 8-ball cluster and giving them an easy run out. Therefore, there is no payoff in making a legal hit on the 8-ball. Instead, make an illegal hit and pocket their solid ball in the jaws of the corner pocket and give them ball-in-hand. Now it is almost impossible for them to run out and also almost impossible for them to play safe. Now instead of watching your opponent run out, you get to watch him struggle. Your chances of winning are much higher with this approach than if you try to make a legal hit on the 8-ball. By Jacqueline Karol House Pro at DownLo Billiards in Chico, California League Operator & Tournament Director - www.AngelofBilliards.com - www.BilliardsBootCamp.com 23

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Travelers Tips – Safety and Security are the name of the game By Heather Bryant

car keys in your fist and place one key between each of your fingers. This turns your bare-knuckles into spikedknuckles. One punch and Surprise!!!!

I have been traveling to tournaments for almost 10 years now. Sometimes I hit the road with my husband, sometimes with friends and sometimes by myself. No matter the company, safe practices keep me and my belongings protected. Before your trip, be sure to call your bank and let them know where you will be travelling to and the dates so they can monitor spending. Let them know what your spending habits will consist of (bar tabs, fast food, fuel, hotel, etc.) That way, if they notice irregular spending, they can alert you immediately. If you carry cash, split it up. Carry some in your wallet, some in your pocket and some hidden in other places. This way, if someone picks your pocket, they don’t clean you out for every dime you brought with you.

When you get to your car, check the vehicle next to you for someone sitting in it like they are waiting. This is a common practice used in shopping mall parking lots. They wait until the person is at their vehicle, jump out and hit them in the head. Check back seats and look around for people lingering in the area. If you see any of these things, head back inside and let someone know. Also, make sure your keys are in hand before you ever leave the building. Many innocent people are taken by surprise because they are giving their attacker time to pounce while they are bungling around for keys. If you use the keys-in-the-knuckles technique described above, they are already in hand when you get to your vehicle. Once you get in, lock the doors and drive away. Do not linger in the parking lot.

In this day and age, we are compelled to post our every move on Facebook and other social media. This is a beacon that lets potential burglars know that your home will be empty for the weekend. Instead of saying, “Headed to Texas for a tournament”, make up an imaginary friend and post a thank you like, “Thanks Mary for watching my house while I am at the tournament in Texas.” This way, you are still letting people know where you are going but giving the illusion of a house sitter. If you are going to travel by yourself or with friends, make sure you let people know where you are going, the dates, where you are staying and contact numbers for a couple of people that will be there if possible. If you are in an accident and no one knew you were traveling, there will be no one to look for you when you disappear. It is always safer to travel in pairs or groups. Not only are fuel costs and hotel bills cheaper when you have someone to split with but you can help keep an eye on each other’s things and provide support at the event. There is a false sense of security in groups but precautions should still be taken. When women leave the event venue, they should ask an employee to walk them to their vehicle or at least watch from the door. This is especially true for those players who finish in the money at the event. Everyone just watched you get paid and now you will be walking through the dark by yourself. Perfect target… If you insist on walking around by yourself, it is strongly advised that you invest in a Taser or pepper spray. These are non-lethal ways of protecting yourself long enough to get to your vehicle or back into the venue. If you do not own one of these, there is a ‘home-made’ weapon that women have been using for years. Simply take your Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Speaking from experience, thieves don’t always care what time of the day it is when they strike. I had my vehicle cleaned out in the middle of the afternoon because I made the mistake of not paying attention to where I was parking. Parking in lit areas exposes thieves and makes your vehicle less of a target. Parking near windows means anyone breaking into a vehicle will be seen. Make sure your vehicle is locked and hide all valuables that you don’t take with you in the trunk, under the seat or in a glove box. Vehicles can be broken into for a pack of cigarettes or a couple bucks left in the cup holder. If you stay in a Motel, make sure you always lock the additional bars, chains or bolts on the inside of the door. Keep your phone on and handy at all times. Do not answer the door for anyone you don’t know. When traveling, I never order room service or have anything delivered because it forces me to open the door to strangers. It is much safer to go out to eat with friends or pick something up on the way back to the room. One of the most common and most heartbreaking crimes that can happen to a pool player is when their cues are stolen. This is almost always due to human error. Someone who is too lazy to pack their things up or

doesn’t want to lose their table will set their cue down and run to the restroom or the bar real quick. It only takes a second for someone to grab your cue and walk out the door. Either have someone watch your things or pack them up and take them with you. There is always an alternative to leaving them lying around. Another thing you can do to help protect yourself is to make sure your equipment, specifically your case, is personalized to the point that anyone would recognize it if they saw it walking out the door in someone else’s hand. My case is a plain black 4X8 cue bag but I have covered it in pool patches that I have collected up over the years. I have two small stuffed toys hanging off the top. It is a hideous site to behold but it is more noticeable than the plain old black leather case that looks like everyone else’s.

For many years, I have been converting everyday items into ‘costumes’ for my belongings. A Band-Aid box is perfect for sticking jewelry or cash into and then leaving in your suit case. No robber in their right mind thinks, “Oh look, Band-Aids! I hit the jackpot!” Look around your house for common items that can be used to conceal your belongings inside your luggage. Never leave them out on the counter because if they are moved, your cover will be blown. I have collected these tips up over the years after making many mistakes. I am proud to say I am incident free for about 3 years now and hope they help you travel a little safer. Carry on road warriors!

Thieves know exactly what they are looking for… cash, wallets, jewelry and electronics. Never leave tablets or phones in your hotel if you can help it. All it takes is the cleaning staff not pulling the door closed all the way and anyone can walk off the street and grab your things. I trade in my purse for a small backpack when I travel so that I can keep my valuables on me. If you don’t want to do that, find ways to disguise them.

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Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

SNEAKY PETE MAFIA MAGAZINE Q&A Interview with Tyler Styer by Suzanne Smith Me- How old were you when you started playing pool? Tyler- I started playing when I was 14 Me- What do you like about pocket billiards? Tyler- I like the fact that you don’t get paid until you

perform. Me- What do you like to do besides play pool? Tyler- Hang with friends, Listen to music, Running,

Going to baseball games Me- What are some of your proudest memories both on

and off the table? Tyler- On the table: Winning my first tournament,

Off the table: Competing in a baseball tournament in Cooperstown New York Me- Who have been the most influential people in your

life? Tyler- My Mom and Dad Me- Who are your favorite players? Players you look up

to the most? Tyler- Efren Reyes, Earl Strickland, Shane Van Boening,

Ronnie O’Sullivan Me- Do you have any advice for young players just

starting out? Tyler- Watch better players, Practice to your favorite music for long periods of time, Play better players. Believe in yourself.

Tyler- The BEF is great, how many

other people my age can travel around the world to do what they love? Me- Are there any sponsors

you would care to mention? Or people that have supported you on your journey?

Me- What are your goals

for the future? Tyler- Win the All Around at the Derby City Classic

Tyler- I would like to thank

Terry Romine Jr. for getting me involved with the game, and thank Jerry Briesath for taking me to the next level. I play with a Schon Cue.

Me- How do you feel

about the BEF and what they do for youth, for you in particular? Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Volturi Cases...

Contact: Roger Assuncao authenteak@gmail.com Like us on Facebook: Volturi Cuecases

… Luxury you can afford… 27

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Fats.... he sailed around the world six times Stories compiled by John Langwig

“Money is the root of all good.”

Minnesota Fats may be the most unique and entertaining person Pool has ever seen. He was a one man quote machine and here are some of the best stories and quotes by and about The Fat Man. Let’s start with some claims Minnesota Fats made at one time or another in his life.

“I’m the laziest guy in the world.” “Titanic Thompson got his name cause he was on the Titanic in 1912. He put on ladies’ clothes to save himself, and got off the boat first.” “I know three, maybe four, people in the world that can drink and shoot.”

•He sailed around the world six times, and survived two shipwrecks.

“I dated Mae West when she was a young woman.”

•He had sex with harem girls •He was forced to perform fellatio at gunpoint by a pistol-packing beauty

“If it wasn’t for me, ‘The Hustler never would have been as fantastic as it was because everyone on earth knew me.”

•He beat Hitler at pool

On the draft:

“Why wasn’t I drafted? I played in Army and Navy hospitals till it came out of their ears so they bypassed me on account of all them charity things. And me, I wouldn’t shoot a fly myself. They would be wasting their time, drafting me.”

•He hobnobbed with kings, queens, and celebrities including Clark Gable, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Damon Runyon and Al Capone •Etta James claimed to be his illegitimate daughter

On his fellow man:

•Willie Mosconi wore ear plugs when playing Fats •He had a bunch of nicknames. “Minnesota Fats,” “New York Fats”; “Brooklyn Fats,” “Broadway Fats,” “Chicago Fats,” “Fatty,” “The Fat Man,” “The Fat One”, “Double Smart Fats,” “Triple Smart Fats,” “Rudy,” “The Bank Shot Bandit” and “The Dean of the Green.” •Richie Florence once spotted Minnesota Fats 8-7 playing one pocket and ended up losing $52,000. In a published interview years later, Florence said that Fats was so funny, he was belly laughing the whole time.

Quotes:

“I’m the most intelligent man I know, the more I hang around with you imbeciles the more I realize I am the most intelligent man I know. I could spot Einstein the 10 ball. I know everything that everybody else knows, and nobody knows what I know.” “Ordinary humans are imbeciles to start with. A lot of people don’t know the strength of that.” On why he avoided pool tournaments: “You judge a king by the size of his wallet and his palace. You can leave the crown in the toilet.”

“If Cornbread Red ever plays me, he’ll be known as No Bread Red.”

On his trip to Baghdad as a young man and other travels:

“I beat them all; there was Blue Hamilton, Sniffy Moore who sniffed from morning till night. The Yellow Kid, Ralph Greenleaf, and his wife Princess Nai Tai Tai, who was beautiful beyond compare, Wimpy Lassiter, Tuscaloosa Squirrelly, and Cornbread Red. Some of the greatest action men of all time, I ironed ‘em all out.”

“At the palace the princess Fatima danced on a table right in front of me. Years later her daughter came after me. In India, I used to entertain all the important ones, the Ali Kahn and his old man Aga Kahn. I was around with what’s his name way back in the olden days, Maurice Chevalier. Anyway, I played in the sultan’s palace, the most unbelievable joint in the world, solid gold stairs and a gold pool table.”

“A pool player in a tuxedo is like whipped cream on a hot dog.” “My grandfather took me to the Pool hall when I was a baby, and they’d put me on a table while they played. My crib was a pool table.” Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

On Education:

“School, to me, was the biggest joke the world has ever known. I learned everything I ever needed to know from lawyers and doctors and legislators, all them people who was brilliant.” 28

On exercise:

“Exercise is the biggest joke in the world, it’s a joke. And aerobics, it’s so ridiculous it ain’t even funny. I never watch TV in my life, but I’m down in the bar and I see it. Here’s a woman who looks like Tarzan. Unbelievable, so ridiculous it ain’t even funny.” “I wouldn’t carry a golf bag if you put a machine gun in my mouth. Carry a golf bag, 100 pounds of clubs in the joint. You gotta put it in the car and take it outta the car. To me, it’s the silliest thing on earth.”

On animals:

Fats owned 27 dogs and 14 cats and fed every stray in the vicinity. He used to drive around with a carload of Kentucky Fried Chicken and throw it to baying packs of dogs. “What’s more ridiculous than an animal? He doesn’t know where his next meal is coming from. I hear about the things people do to dogs, it makes me sick.”

On Money:

“I gave millions out.” It was widely known that Fatty was a soft touch. He would cave in to every sob story. He gave clothes to children. He peeled off countless bills to the infirm, the unemployed and the very clever. “It is easy for me to make money. I got so many different outs it ain’t even funny. I could hustle cards and make $200,000-$300,000 a year, a million. I could hustle pool again. I can do things a lot of people can’t do. Ordinary people can’t do that.”

And, finally, on Fats:

“I come from a long line of honest people. Me to cheat would be like me sweeping up the entire downtown area with a nickel broom, you understand?” “Ask around, I’m purer than the Pope of Rome. Purer than nine Popes of Rome” “I’m the greatest pool player that ever lived, bar none” In some ways he may have been right.

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Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

SNEAKY PETE MAFIA Founder Garret Troop

Most of us can agree that we would like more money and prestige for pool and billiards players, and most of those can see the end goal: clean up the image of pool, bring it into the 21st century, make it more friendly for new players to join in and enjoy, and make it easier for all players to find information, instructions, products, leagues, or anything else about the sport. This is much easier said than done, but Garret Troop has actually mapped a path to accomplish just that with the new Sneaky Pete Mafia community and magazine. Like so many players, Garret has seen the dark underbelly of the pool world – hustlers “laying a lemon” to trap him, broke and homeless, selling his cues to make it to the next payday, wondering how the skillful, rigorous, beautiful aspects of pool can emerge from the darkness and leave those shadows behind. Although the name Sneaky Pete Mafia might seem to have some negative connotations of its own, the intent of the name is quite wholesome. Garret explained to me that his use of the word ‘mafia’ is more in line with the less-well-known dictionary definition, “Mafia means ‘family or group with similar interests’, and that is what I hope to create: a large family, a community of people who love billiards, where everyone helps each other to learn about, enjoy, and support this sport we all love.” The current media sensationalizes the negative aspects of billiards. Something attracts people to the tricky and dangerous characteristics of the game, and all the best parts are overshadowed by that. The best way to combat media bias would be to have a media outlet with a better vision of the game and create a more balanced presentation to the public – enter Sneaky Pete Mafia.

by Gail Eaton

attracted some highlevel endorsements and support for the next step – SPM magazine, where all the best topics from SPM group can be showcased. What I heard from Garret is so exciting: “It’s all about honest and equal representation. SPM magazine will cover all aspects of the game, not just the top names and paid advertisers. We’ll cover the room owners, cue makers large and small, known and unknown products and players, and of course instructional articles. Lots of outlets claim to do that today, but most of those sources are biased to some degree, and really cater to established or favored players and companies. With SPM, we want to make billiards an accessible and friendly sport for youth and new players, too – show them how to learn about and become involved in billiards without being hurt or scared away by all the negative things they may have heard and seen before.”

There is so much more Garret has planned for SPM, and every bit of it has me impatiently wondering when these tools and information will be available. Imagine being able to find local leagues, tournaments, and products without scouring dozens of websites. What if someone had explained [so many things about the game] to me before I dove headfirst into the shark I asked Garret how SPM is going to do this; after all, pool? Won’t it be great to be able to get some straight there are several web sites and magazines which answers about the sport without learning the hard way? claim to be ‘the one source’ for billiards information. We all love this sport and want it to be respectable and The first step was to create an SPM Facebook page to sustainable, and I believe SPM can score a big win with start connecting with people with the most valuable, this approach. I hope you will join Garret and the SPM interesting, and up-to-date billiards information to be had, and the conversations there are fantastic! Whether team in making this exciting vision a reality – join in the conversation, tell your friends, share information, there is a tournament to publicize, a question about and help make billiards the respectable sport it can and equipment, products or rules, preferences about cues, should be. See you there! ways to learn or practice specific games . . . the list goes on. With keen moderation skills and a talent for starting and keeping conversations going, Garret has 31

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

FATAL ENGLISH

dead stroke only as perfect as a world class caliber pool player exhibits when everything around them ceases to exist before sinking a match winning shot.................”pttp” broke the silence as she stroked the cue ball sending it into a fast, steady roll, colliding into the patiently waiting “8” ball with what was obviously a more than firm shot. “Pluck” was the only sound I heard as my eyes rolled down to the ground in regretful defeat. “son of a B#%TCH!!!!!” wanted to spit from my tongue as I gripped the life out of my cue stick knowing I gave away the victory that should have been MINE, MINE, MINE ! The pool gods never intended for me to get back on that table for another shot. My head still hanging down like it was holding the weight of the Titanic.

By Tino Talamantes

“Hey man, how did you miss that shot?”, asked my slightly perturbed teammate as I stepped away from the 8 foot pool table which seemed to be perfect in every way, hence his inquisition of me missing a game winning shot. A shot that would have given me a break and run, no less. I battled to find the answer in my own mind, my heart pounding; a rage simmering inside me looking at the ball setup left for my now victory tasting opponent. An anger was boiling as I took my seat at the team table, staring at what looked like a run out a blind person could execute. I gritted my teeth as she sank each striped ball leaving perfect shape on her next shot since all of my solids were out of her way. The match was hill to hill and our team going to Vegas for the National Team Championships hinged on this final match, that final missed 8 ball shot..............what went wrong? kept racing through my head as she meticulously placed one shot after another in its targeted pocket. The air was filled with increasingly pathetic guilt as she patched her match winning pocket for the solitary “8” ball shot that would seal the deal for her inevitable victory due to my inexcusable ability to miss my shot on the 8 ball. Depriving myself of game winning glory and a paid trip to Vegas to compete against national qualifiers.

I ached to yell out, “STOP! PLEASE LET ME RETAKE MY 8 BALL SHOT!” but reality corked my mouth as only silence perpetuated the fast sinking hopes I would get one more turn at the table, ugh ! Steam had to be fuming from my ears and nose; my eyes fixated on her alignment of the cue ball with the 8 ball in the corner pocket, sweat now dripping from my forehead. My gut curled up like a boa constrictor knowing how easy of a shot she left for herself. All eyes pierced into my body like pins and needles, my teammates sensing how close to defeat we were. “HOW COULD I MISS THAT 8 BALL SHOT?!?!?!?” were the only words locked in my brain. Tension was about to explode like an erupting volcano as she crouched down and laid into that game winning shot with a Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Her teammates swarmed her like bees on a nest...........BUT WAIT............the cue ball bounced off the short rail, spinning with enough force to continue rolling with enough speed heading directly for the side pocket. “OH MY GOD!!!!” was all I heard from the same teammate who asked me how I missed my “8” ball shot. Hands sunk into my shoulders like vultures snatching up their prey for a feast. The room went from ecstatic pandemonium to utter silence as I lifted my head at just the precise moment the cue ball fell into the side pocket............. .......................................”SHE SCRATCHED !!!! SHE SCRATCHED!!!! SHE SCRATCHED!!!!”, pummeled through my head like a locomotive on crack ! I leaped into the air, my emotions in a wreck as I went from feeling like a nuttered dog to an MMA fighter crushing his mangled opponent. Instantaneously, my body surged with an adrenaline rush so intense I about fainted right there on the spot. Even though my teammates bum rushed me like an NFL quarterback getting sacked by 300lb.+ linemen, I stammered back to the seemingly perfect table, clenching the rails to hold myself steady, leaning down to kiss the felt. The pool gods had nothing to do with it. I had nothing to do with it. As I often tell my pool friends, it was the “Broken English”, “Luck of the Draw!” Excessive English”, “Stroke of Luck”, “Fatal English.”

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Black Belt Billiards By “Hurricane” Wayne Jenkins

Hello Class!!! Are you ready to get on your way to earning your black belt in billiards? I will guarantee you, if you complete all of the games and skills exercises in this series, you will have earned it!!! Ready to get started? Great !!! This game is the advanced version from the “Hurricane’s” Hot Seat section. First we need to determine your skill level in billiards. The best way to do this is with a very easy game called “Streight Pool”. Streight pool will determine your ball pocketing ability by keeping count of how many balls you can continually pocket without missing. It will also measure your cue ball control, by how you use English with cue ball speed, to place the cue ball for your next shot. It will also help you focus mentally for longer periods of time as your scores begin to increase each time you play the game. You will need to have 5 scores that you can average together. This could take some time depending on your skill level, but is necessary for your overall belt ranking at the end of the series. There are also a few rules to follow when playing these games and Be honest in your scoring. You will only cheat yourself.

exercises:

Do not restart a game or skill challenge because you got off to a bad start. You will only cheat yourself. Don’t ever give up or quit in the middle of what seems like a losing effort. You will only cheat yourself. Have fun!!!

Streight pool This is an excellent game to find out your true ranking and follow your improvement. Rack the 1-10 balls with the 8 ball in the middle and place the 8 ball over the center spot of the table. Break the balls. After the break you have ball in hand. All balls pocketed on the break stay pocketed. If you scratch on the break you still have ball in hand after the break. Pocket all balls in any order, leaving the 8 ball for last. You can pocket the 8 ball to play for position or breakout. If you pocket the 8 ball before you finish pocketing the other balls, spot the 8 ball back on the table on any of the 3 spot locations and continue shooting. Each ball is worth 1 point. Each rack is worth 10 points. Keep a running total until you miss a ball, foul, or scratch. Add your 5 running totals together, and then divide that number by 5 to get your average. Good luck! Here are the Streight Pool scores needed to achieve each level. Check out my youtube.com channel………….... Hurricane Wayne Jenkins…. for the video lesson on this article. http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJxGgvL9WKcdvWeZ1fg9SGA Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

On the first day of pool school, I point out that if you can’t deliver the cueball where you think it has to go, nothing else matters. All your strategy, knowledge, and experience won’t pocket a ball or win a game. Your fundamentals do that, and so they are first and foremost. At pool school, we focus hard on fundamentals of form, how best to arrange your body to facilitate an accurate, fluid, consistent, straight, repeatable stroke. We all have form flaws, departures from the ideal. And of course, exactly what constitutes the ideal is different for every player. There’s a lot to it, but we move the class along in a fairly systematic way. As the instructors circulate to help the individual players at their tables, we generally work on the biggest things first. As I watch a player, I’m looking for what sticks out to me the most. What’s the simplest thing we can change or improve to get the greatest immediate gain? Maybe their bridge is floppy or their head is moving or their stick is swerving or their stance is awkward or any of a hundred things. Whatever it is, we gradually work each player into something closer to ideal for them, something that gets them past the biggest issues they had, gets them more confidence and better results. Eventually, as players’ fundamentals are “roughed in,” they start to look like solid players. Things become more consistent, fluid, athletic, simple. It’s worthwhile to let players work on these changes for some time, perhaps a few months. The longer someone has played, the tougher it is to overcome old habits. At this point, though, our players are very clear on why they should make their changes, and so they are motivated to change and to be vigilant about it. For those who stick with it and are patient with themselves and their learning process, their new fundamentals begin to dominate their play and their game comes up. Here’s where we can begin to refine the finer aspects of form, and get even further down the path to excel-

lence. But this is also where the changes become much more subtle. Instructors can point out some factors to consider, some ways to experiment, some ways to measure or compare results.

One of these subtle areas is grip. Grip is what connects us to our instrument—the cue stick. This joining, and the motion of the grip with the stick, must function smoothly. In my opinion, your grip can evolve and improve throughout your entire pool life. We can give you general guidance, such as where your grip hand should be on the cue. We can give you important ideas, such as your grip should be very light. We can suggest experimenting with different numbers of grip fingers, different thumb placements, and small changes in your palm/stick angle. These are all worthwhile areas to explore, but aside from seeing whether a change allows the stick to stroke straighter, all you have is “How does it feel?” Does it feel smoother? Is it uncomfortable? Is it difficult to do consistently? Does it give you more confidence? It’s hard for an instructor to tell whether a change feels better to a player. That’s up to the player. We try to see whether the “quality” of their stroke improves and whether their pocketing and ball control improves. So while I can’t really tell you exactly how to improve your grip, I do have a few suggestions you’ll find worthy of attention:

fingers in place without tension? Don’t brace your hand shape. Fewer fingers: The more fingers the stick touches, the more ways there are for the stick to go crooked. Everyone’s hand is different, but it makes a certain amount of sense that as the weight of the stick passes from finger to finger during the stroke, things can go wrong. Also, micromovements in your fingers can make you miss. So maybe fewer fingers would work better. Try a one-finger or two-finger grip. Find your angle: Most players stroke with the palm of their grip hand facing their body. Some players stroke with the palm rotated toward the back of the stick. I can’t tell you what’s right. Everyone’s joints work a little differently. What’s important is to find the palm angle that works best in your stroke. Note that changes in this angle affect where the stick rides in your fingers, so this experiment calls for you to really observe closely. It’s complicated. Feel the weight of the cue: This is a huge tip. Try to feel the weight of the cue hanging from your elbow point. Feel the weight in your fingers. What can you soften to feel the weight more clearly? You’ll find that when you feel the weight, everything is soft and you are fully connected to your instrument. Begin your backswing without effort and without gripping. Do less.

No gripping: Don’t squeeze the stick. Don’t grab it. Just swing it. Gripping runs tension up into your arm and hobbles your fluidity. It’s actually okay to hold so lightly that the stick sometimes slides forward after the hit. Rule of thumb: No squeezing with the thumb either, for the same reason. The thumb makes some kind of soft loop that keeps the stick from falling off your hand—and that’s all. Our rule of thumb (ha ha) is “When the tip hits the ball, the thumb points to the floor.” Soft hand: Your grip hand should be as soft as possible. Tensions in your grip fingers can tighten up your wrist and affect your fluidity. How can you “hold” your

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Road stories: NOT ON MY WATCH! By Barbara Lee

A few years back, Reno, NV. SNOW! SLOTS! POOL! The infamous USPPA, Tony Annigoni, Tony Chohan and a huge cast of pool characters dressed in the most interesting garb, playing twice a year events. There’s the little Asian guy that shoots almost standing straight up, then “jumps” back after he hits the ball. There’s the entire RAKIN clan, the young Asian girl who bobbles her head back and forth like a metronome while lining up her shot, the big belly guy with the suspenders who reels you in with his “I don’t play very well” then runs over you like a cement truck, and a host of other regulars! This old girl goes to each and every one of these always determined to do “better”, “go further”, “get smarter” and hopefully get some $$ back! I’m cutting my teeth on higher stakes “tourney” play. Now “Joe” (named changed to protect the guilty) attended each of these events too, and that’s where the trouble started! So I start watching Joe because one could NOT be present at one of these events and not know JOE was there! Loud, boisterous, sharking, intoxicated, obnoxious, you name it. I’m thinkin, gawd— please don’t let me draw that dude! Fortunately I didn’t—at least not at THIS event. Although there were many run-ins with Joe, these two stand out because NO ONE ELSE AT THIS EVENT HAD THE (ahem) BALLS to CONFRONT this JERK!

I’m sitting on the sidelines sweatin’ matches. I glance to the right down the “lane” of tables and see Joe playing some young, leggy, “kid” with complexion issues—and Joe is STANDING UP BEHIND THE KID WHILE HE IS SHOOTING, and sharking him. Of COURSE the kid misses the shot and Joe runs out. I glance at the score—HILL HILL, race to 7. Joe has gone to the bathroom for a break. The kid looks distraught! I just couldn’t help myself. I see RED! I feel bad for the kid. I’m PISSED! I march down to the table, kid sitting in his chair facing away from my approach. I get close, lean over and whisper in his ear: “Do NOT let this guy take you out! He’s sharking you!” The kid turns around and says, “Oh, no, I’m just not playing very well right now”. “ NO NO NO! Look, when you get up to shoot, if Sir Sharks a lot stands up behind you, you STOP and get up, turn around and tell him to sit his ass back down while you are shooting. If he gives you any trouble, call for a referee or the tourney director. But listen up, YOU can beat him and you need to TAKE HIM OUT for ALL of us!”

directly in front of the directors. A drunken Joe saunters into the venue. Oh NO! Decked in fur with a cue case the size of a whale, cues sticking out—he looks like an ad for Bigfoot mates a porcupine! He starts yelling to the directors as he struts towards their table. Players and sweaters alike are rolling their eyes. He’s sharking all the tables in view! He won’t stop! The directors are trying to calm him down. Fruitless! BUT THEY DO NOTHING to remove him! Here we go again! The “urge” comes over me. SOMEONE needs to do something! Why a girl has to intervene is beyond me. I stand up, approach the bigfoot/ porcupine and with a LOT of intention, and get in his face. “Joe, hey, take it outside please, there’s a tournament going on and you are bothering the players!”

He looks at me incredulous. “YOU are telling ME what to do? WHO Joe is returning from his break so are YOU? Some WOMAN telling I turn and walk back to my seat. me?” Yada yada. I persist. Again, I keep an eye on their match. calmly but with authority tell Five minutes later, the entire him to take it outside! He starts room ERUPTS in cheering and muttering, but HE IS WALKING clapping! The kid took him out! TOWARDS THE EXIT DOOR HOOOOO RAYYYYY! End of and out he goes! TRIUMPH! I sit Case number ONE! back down and enjoy the rest of the matches in peace. Next! Again, I’m sweating a match. This time, a very dear In a few, one of the directors close friend of mine is in a heated comes up to me on the sidelines. match towards the finals of the “Hey, thanks a lot for helping to event. They are on the table 39

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

“handle” Joe.” “My Pleasure” I reply while I’m trying to figure out why “they” couldn’t handle him. Fast forward a number of years. The USPPA, the “Tony’s” and ALL are kaput. We sure miss the annual events and are eager to attend ANYTHING that is being put on. Northern Cal—the famous GREAT HARD TIMES BILLIARDS in Sacramento! BIG TOURNEY—woot woot!

I’m waiting for the matches to be called. I see JOE out in the smoking area--oi! I hear the loud speaker announce “Barbara Lee and JOE—table 22. Oh GAWD!

He lumbers over to the table, approaches me (sober thank gawd), extends his hand and says “Hello, I’m JOE, nice to meet you!” WHAAAAAAAAA????? End of case number TWO!

I make my way over, all the while trying to decide how I’m going Moral? to respond if he brings up all my GONNA interference with him. I set my WATCH! mind as to how to play him, what to do if he starts sharking etc. I’m READY!

THIS JUST AIN’T HAPPEN ON MY

•••••BILLIARD EDUCATION FOUNDATION ••••• Support the future of our sport by raising money for junior pool programs, scholarships, and pool in school programs! For more information on ways to get involved, contact Samm Diep directly at 303-926-1039 or samm@billiardeducation.org. Request a donation box or download a donation banner ad from the BEF website (http://www.billiardeducation.org). All donations can be made to: Billiard Education Foundation PO Box 11197 Englewood, CO 80151 Or Paypal: info@billiardeducation.org

And I will happily se nd you a rece ipt for your dona tion.

Committed to promoting a lifelong love of pool & building the next generation of players through youth programs and academic scholarships. Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

“Toothpick”

by Anthony Beeler

I was 17 years old and was just starting to get my feet wet with serious competition. J.R.’s weekly 8-ball tournament in Lancaster, Kentucky, was viewed by many as the strongest tournament in the state. When I arrived on the scene over 50 players had already paid their entries. During the tournament, one player in particular caught my attention. In fact, the man referred to as “Toothpick”, waltzed all the way to the finals of the 52-man field. This wasn’t by coincidence; at that time, Ronnie Lane was one of the best defensive 8-ball players that I had ever seen. After watching a few games, it was easy to see that Ronnie played 8-ball like most people play chess, executing shot after shot with a toothpick hanging out of the side of his mouth. Every move and every shot was both deliberate and calculated. Many times he would either pocket his opponent’s ball for strategic purposes or roll a ball in front of a pocket to congest traffic for his opponent. At the same time, I, too was making my way through the one loss side and it was becoming apparent that there would be a showdown between the two of us in the finals. There were a lot of clusters in our final rack, and I knew it was going to be a long defensive battle. After running a few balls, I attempted a difficult defensive shot and fell short of the mark. At that point, Ronnie had positioned his balls out in the open and decided to attempt a run out. During his attempt, Ronnie played himself out of position on his final striped ball and was left with the layout below.

As soon as Ronnie got out of line I felt as though I had a chance to win the tournament. It looked as though his best bet was to play a difficult low percentage bank. Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

But even in face of adversity, one could see the wheels turning as he decided what to do. Ronnie approached the table and did something I never expected. He shot the cue ball into the 14, freezing the cue ball to my 3 ball (leaving me at cue ball position “a”). At the same time he banked the 14 up table positioning it near the upper corner pocket. The key to this shot is to hit the cue ball 1 tip below center striking the 14 slightly to the left of center. When executing the shot, you are better off banking short leaving the object ball near the long cushion. Speed is critical to executing the shot. If you hit the bank too hard you could pocket the ball or leave it on the end rail where it would be very difficult to pocket. “Don’t overlook the obvious!” he said as he executed the shot. It was a very common sense, high percentage play. The truth is, I never thought about him using my ball to play a defensive shot. In fact, looking back on the situation, he did the only high percentage thing that he could have done. “At least you can hit it!” he laughed. I was in a trap. Ronnie had turned a losing proposition into a fighting chance to win. I will always remember the disappointment I felt as I approached the table. I attempted to play some kind of a safety, but the sly fox had positioned me into a no win scenario. When Ronnie returned to the table he pocketed the final two balls to win the tournament. The wise veteran had taken me to school. It was at that moment I began to understand a new concept. I had learned not to overcomplicate things, and to look for simple things to do in high-pressure situations. Over the next few years I learned a lot from watching Ronnie play, but looking back I will never forget the time that he showed me just how important it is to always play the percentage.

Anthony Beeler is a 2013 BCA National 9-Ball team champion. He also finished 9th out of 1086 players in the 2013 BCA National 8-Ball Championships. He is a certified Level 3 instructor for the American CueSports Alliance and is the founder of Maximize Your Potential Billiards Academy located in Bradfordsville, Kentucky. Beeler is also a fully licensed Kentucky Educator having, received his bachelor’s degree at Campbellsville University and his master’s degree in Education Leadership at Eastern Kentucky University. Throughout his pool-playing career Anthony has won over 300 tournaments and has defeated numerous professional players in tournament competition. 45

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

America’s Lone Star Kim White-Newsome: A Matter of Integrity by Suzanne Smith Anyone who has had the opportunity to meet Kim WhiteNewsome, aka Lone Star, knows she doesn’t mess around. Whether it is as a competitor, as a tournament director, as a board member, as a horseman, or as a wife, Kim always establishes her boundaries upfront and often, to make it clear to anyone that might be thinking they can pull one over on her that that just isn’t going to happen. According to Kim her tone is often mistaken for harshness, but I generally feel that Kim is one of the most respectful, honest, and hardworking women in the American pool scene, and anyone who isn’t trying to pull a fast one is going to appreciate her straight forward approach to getting things done. Based out of Houston, Texas, Kim is and has been the house pro at Bogie’s Billiards for over 25 years. Kim is also a touring pro for the Women’s Professional Billiards Association (WPBA), where she and her husband John are also Board Members, she runs the Lone Star Tour, and she is actively involved in supporting her communities’ charity and junior organizations. Simply put, there just isn’t anything she is not involved with for pool in the Houston area, so when I approached her for this interview, as you can imagine, I was very excited to have the opportunity to get her story, both old and new, and provide our readers with deep insight into what makes Ms. Lone Star tick. Kim was born in Houston, Texas, April 17, 1972. She was one of two children adopted by her parents, George Goodwin and Betty Edwards. George was “a real cowboy, carpenter by trade” and Betty was an Executive Assistant nearly all of her life. At only 4 years old, George died suddenly and unexpectedly of a rare bone cancer. I asked Kim if she had any memories of her father and she said she didn’t, she was just too young to recall. Betty remarried a few years later to who Kim considers her “dad.” John Edwards. John owns a Pest Control company and has been married to Betty for more than 30 years now. Being the first baby in their family, Kim developed a very close relationship with her maternal grandmother. As a child, Grandma Edwards would take Kim out to the country to visit her great aunts and to a stable just out of town, where Kim developed her love for horses in an equestrian relationship with “Sarge.” Grandma even bought Kim her first horse, when she was only 16 years of age. From that moment on, Kim has always owned horses. She still does to this day. Kim started playing pool in 1988. She was 16 years old and the boy she was dating at the time had a table in his home. “I was captivated by that table, but the boys would never let me play. When my boyfriend and his brothers retired to other activities, I Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

would hit balls in secrecy. I think that’s when I fell in love with pool.” Although Kim broke up with the boy, she never broke up with pool. She blossomed into a fierce competitor, taking her lumps at the local pool room. I asked her if there were any players that had a significant influence on her as a player and she recalled “an older black man, a former

70’s champion who spent countless hours playing and sharing his knowledge with me.” Kim called James “Nana,” but to others he was “99.” Kim fondly recalled how much gamble Nana had, that he would play for days straight, she would be glued to her seat watching and learning. After he would win, “He would always throw me a jelly.” I had never heard this term before, but essentially when you are sweating the action obviously in favor of one player, you can alter the energy, give them good luck or whatever you want to call it. A “jelly” is a kick back for your support. Straight out of high school, Kim worked for a couple law firms, but spent her evenings and weekends at the pool room. She became a seasoned gambler in those early years. She recalled that “no matter where I was, practicing or playing tournaments, someone was always asking to play.” One of her earlier memories was of a guy asking to play for $2 a game. He kept pressing the bet and she just kept on winning. She couldn’t believe that she won $300 off of him, in one night. Kim’s biggest money game was for 5 or 6 thousand dollars (she put up a thousand of her own money.) She got a call from a friend that wanted to stake her in action against a former Swedish Champion. Kim got the

breaks and the 6 out, it was a race to 6 ahead. Kim told me that “He played better at safeties, than I did at pocketing balls.” She learned a hard lesson that day because she wasn’t always pocketing a ball on the break and whenever she came to the table she could never see the ball. After it was all said and done, Kim was so sick to have lost, she went home and burned the running suit she was wearing at the time. A couple years later, after earning her “touring pro status” with the WPBA, Kim threw in her gambling towel, she just felt it didn’t “fit the profile” of what the WPBA represented. Gambling is actually not permitted in the WPBA by-laws. We discussed the WPBA at length, but those conversations will not be included in this interview. Kim’s first tournaments were just those small entry weekly events. She couldn’t recall her first experience, but she did remember that she didn’t win. Playing mostly bar table 8 ball, if there was a tourney, she was playing. Her first larger tournament experience was the 1998 BCA National 8 Ball Championships in Las Vegas. She was taking classes at a junior college when the opportunity to play presented itself. She went all in, dropped her courses and flew to Nevada. She bested 437 women to claim her first National Championship Title. She never looked back. Kim started competing on the Hunter Classic Women’s Regional 9-Ball Tour, now the OB Cues 9 Ball Tour, and took the necessary steps to get qualified for the WPBA. Within her first year on tour, Kim finished high enough to earn her “touring pro status” and has been a top ranked WPBA player ever since. Her highest finish on the WPBA is 3rd place and Kim told me that it is her goal to win a WPBA Major (WPBA Masters, WPBA US Open, or WPBA Tour Championships). Kim said her father was disappointed with her decision to quit school and become a professional pool player, until the moment he saw her competing against Allison Fisher on ESPN. From then on, he saved every article and tournament photo, essentially becoming one of Kim’s biggest fans. Kim’s most recent “big” tournament was the 2013 Women’s World 10 Ball Championships in Manila (early November). Representing the United States is such an honor, Kim was one of five American women to compete in the event, one of four selected to represent her country based on current WPBA rankings. One other woman won a qualifier to earn her spot. I asked Kim to reflect on her experience. Kim told me that the

event was a somber experience and even though she was elated to have defeated former World Champion Ga Young Kim in round robin play, she fell one match short of advancing to the top 32. She told me that she didn’t know that advancing came down to her last match, that whoever won would be the player to move on. She said, “I prefer not knowing the details beforehand, it adds too much pressure. When I found out the next day, only because someone told me, I didn’t ask. Then I really felt sick to my stomach.” Kim and I discussed winning and losing at length and for Kim, “There is no better feeling than winning, ever.” On the opposite end of the spectrum, there is no more sickening feeling for Kim than losing. She told me that when she used to lose a match that was important to her (all matches were important) she would end up house ridden until the sickness subsided and she wanted to play again. It is that kind of passion that drives Kim to continually compete at an extremely high level. I asked Kim if she had any advice for novice players and this is what she told me: “Preconceived notions can be your worst enemy; what you think, will become (Zen philosophy). For example, prior to executing a shot, the last thought in your mind may be ‘that’s a scratch shot.’ The player then scratches because his negative thought came to fruition. When practicing, players should work on developing a clear, concise, and positive thought process prior to execution.” On a more personal note, I had the pleasure of meeting Kim back in 2011, when Bogie’s hosted the WPBA Regional Tour Championships. She exudes southern charm, but also demands the respect that she gives to each and every person. She is the kind of person I would always want on my side, both on and off the table. When we talked about personal relationships and people that influenced her life, she wanted to thank her husband John Newsome. She told me: “He supports me in all I do. He’s not only a successful attorney, but a fantastic player as well. I am really lucky.” I would like to personally thank Ms. Lone Star Kim White-Newsome for taking the time out of her very busy schedule to conduct this interview with me. Her next event is the WPBA Masters at Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt Pleasant, Michigan, Feb 5-9, 2014. If you are interested in finding out more information on Kim or the Lone Star Tour, please check out the following websites: http:// w w w. l o n e s t a r o f t e x a s . com/ and http://www. lonestarbilliardstour.com/ Please send any comments or questions regarding this interview to editor@ sneakypetemafia.com.

All photos provided by Kim White-Newsome, Action photo courtesy of Sandro Menzel

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

The Big Match - E

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Earl - vs - Efren

Photos courtesy of our staff photographer Eli Ceballos and the big event near of the start of the year. Earl the Pearl and Efrin the “Magician” Reyes

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Patience in One Pocket by Mark Finklestein One of the key skills in playing one pocket is the ability to wait. Having the patience to wait long enough for your opponent to make a mistake is one of the hallmarks of a strong one pocket player. However, I’d like to put my opponent into positions that make it more likely that they will make an error. Take a look at this situation.

My opponent left me this with my pocket being the lower left corner pocket. I don’t have any shots, but the cue ball is off the rail. As much as possible, we want to leave our opponent on the rail. Before I show you how I would play this, let’s look at how we determine which shot we will take. First we could use the black cue ball to hit the left side of the 11 and then carom into the 5 making it in our pocket. That is a really risky shot, and it pushes balls towards my opponents pocket. Not a good choice at all. Our next choice is to bank the one ball into the stack, pushing balls towards my pocket and swinging the cue ball three rails to get up near my opponents pocket. Here is what these two options would look like.

Your opponent has to jack up to hit the cue ball, only has the top part of the cue ball to hit, and is most likely limited in the shots they can take. That sort of pressure over time will likely lead to your opponent making a mistake and giving you a shot. - Here is what this option looks like.

This is the least aggressive of our options, but it does some good things for us. We put the one in a place that will block banking lanes to our opponents pocket, we protect the 5 ball from our opponent, any ball that our opponent hits up table will most likely push balls towards my side of the table, and most importantly, we force our opponent to take a shot with little to shoot at and jacked up. All of these things make it much harder for our opponent to shoot a good shot. The mental gymnastics that we do for every one pocket shot is to come up with at least two options. Never shoot a shot unless you have thought of two options and then picked the best one. Let’s review some of the key ideas so far. First we want to be patient and wait for our opponent to make a mistake. Next we want to always try to leave the cue ball either frozen on the rail or frozen to the stack, and finally, we want to find two shots or more and then pick the best one. You will be amazed at how often you will struggle to find a second shot, but once you do, you will realize that it is a better option. Let’s take a look at another situation to see what options we can find. Again our opponent left the cue ball off the rail, and we like that. Let’s see what choices we have here.

So far we have a highly risky option and a middle of the road option. There is a third choice, and it is the one I like the best. I like going thin off the left side of the one and freezing the cue ball on the 12 and 13. The idea of freezing the cue ball on the stack is a key concept in the early parts of a one pocket rack.

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

First we could use draw to hit the one around the table and pull the cue ball under the 13. Our next option could be cutting in the 5 ball. Another option might be to cut the 5 into the 9 and turning the cue ball loose. That would look like this.

spot on the rail that you aimed at. I’ve put the 7 ball on the rail where the line the cue stick is on extends out to. What you want to do is pick a spot on a wall about 10-15 feet from the table that the stick is pointing to. That is your spot on the wall.

The final option would be to take a 3 rail scratch!! This protects the 5 ball and the 9 ball and puts our opponent in trouble. Here is what that would look like. Now that we have all these options, let’s see which one is the best shot now. Drawing off the one is not a bad shot, but there are some things that could go wrong. We could hit the one funny and wind up sending it towards our opponents pocket, we could also over draw the shot and leave an opening for our opponent. I think I’ll pass on that option. Either cutting in the 5 ball of kissing the 5 ball off the 9 is a very risky shot and will send a lot of balls towards my opponents pocket. Again, I’ll pass on these high risk moves. That leaves going three rails and taking a scratch! The scratch will cost us one point, but doesn’t lose the game for us. It also protects the balls we have near our pocket and doesn’t leave many answers for our opponent. You might think this three rail shot is risky, but I’m going to show you how to figure them out so that they become a high percentage move for you.

Now the magic part of this spot is that no matter where on the table you are, if you aim at that spot with the same spin and speed you used to find the corner pocket, you will pocket the cue ball. Let’s pretend the 7 ball is the spot on the wall and I’ll show you how you can figure out a shot. Here are three track lines all aimed at the spot on the wall with the same speed and spin. They all track to the top left corner pocket. The last piece to help you here is how to make adjustments. Since you know how to find the corner pocket, if you want to hit one diamond up the rail, aim one diamond up the rail from the spot on the wall track line. Here is the diagram. As you can see, aiming one diamond to the left of the black

track line to the pocket hits the rail one diamond short or up from the corner pocket. Have fun with this! It will win you a game. See you on the road.

Here is how you do that. First you start from the cornet and aim at the second diagram using right spin. You want to find the spot on the rail from the corner pocket and the speed that you can consistently make the cue ball into the corner pocket. Once you have that spot on the rail here is what you do next. Lay your cue stick on the table from the corner pocket to the Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

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Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Meet the Streamers - Volume I By Suzanne Smith In the last 10 years, live streaming over the internet has exploded, especially with respect to watching live pool. I became a huge viewer of pool live streams when I was on maternity leave with my daughter in 2010. I hadn’t watched much pool before and I must say that in the last few years, my knowledge of pattern and defensive play has improved significantly, and I feel like I can honestly contribute that to the streaming that has been made available to us over the internet. There are streamers across the nation that are doing all kinds of amazing things, including covering many top professional tournaments, setting up action matches, and assorted contests and give away’s. The WPBA has even started exploring live streaming their matches through ESPN3. There are networks being developed where you can access live streaming and videos 24/7. As a pool player and avid streaming enthusiast, I thought that I would coordinate an introduction to some of the best streamers in the business. I sent a list of questions to several of the streamers that I know, so the list that will be featured is definitely not all inclusive. It is my hope to provide some free exposure for the streamers I have had the pleasure of watching.

1. Why did you get involved with Live Streaming? After a rather strange 20 years of becoming an adult and becoming a really good young VW mechanic the appearance of a tragedy happened. I had my shop broken into and all my tools stolen. With no insurance on my tools and little options of working on cars immediately my Aunt Vera helped me get a job at her boyfriend Joe Scarl’s Pizza shop, so I gave in submitted and took a normal job. I was a manager at a Pizza shop. Quite young and confused with no direction in life and truly a sad story unravelling. There one night I met a Here is a list of the streamers that have agreed to pizza driver named Bryce Eshelman. This guy became contribute to this series . If you know a streamer in a very close friend to me still to this day even. As time your area that you would like to see featured in our Meet went on I learned that Bryce’s father owns a powerful the Streamers Volumes, please send me a message at Personal Injury Law firm in Akron called the Eshelman editor@sneakypetemafia.com. legal group. Mr. Eshelman invested a ton of money into an Avid video editing suite with Avid Media Composer Inside Pool www.insidepool.tv JR Calvert, Alvin Nelson 1. This was to produce his Onsite Pool Network www.onsitepool.com Zachary Goldstein own in house Television POV Pool www.povpool.com Daniel Busch commercials that play Adrianne Beach, all over the NE Ohio TV Rail2Rail Productions www.rail2rail.tv Anne Bounds stations even now. www.poolactiontv.com Ray Hansen The Big Truck Show This Avid Suite was a decked TV Mike www.tvmike.tv Mike Warden (TV Mike) out office and was a top of For our first Volume, I will include Q&A with Alvin Nelson from Inside Pool. I first met Alvin in 2011, the year I won the US Amateur Championships. He was streaming the event. Inside Pool always provides a high quality stream, often with different camera views, and usually free to the public.

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

the line editing system at the time. As I look back on it, it is truly amazing how I was placed there. Mr. Eshelman not only is a huge pool fan, backing Nick Varner and having him visit his residence often. Mr. Eshelman was highly involved in professional pool in the Akron Cleveland area working with the Akron Open every year and donating to pro level competitions. So truly in the end Mr. Eshelman was the prime mover in the sequence to get Bryce and me on course to our destiny.

So on with the story. There was an assistant that worked for the legal group named Aaron Czetli who knew Niels Feijen via Joe Kerr of Starchers Billiards fame. Aaron is an energetic player and part time backer of the pros. Aaron Plays pretty sporty pool. So a few years roll by and Bryce and I are best friends after time and eventually we became roommates and really started planning our next move. Bryce by the way was and still is a computer genius, anyone who knows him will tell you the same thing. So Bryce comes to me one day and says hey Alvin here is what we are going to do. We are going to use my dad’s betacam SD and Avid Editing equipment and start producing Pool videos of professional players. Aaron knows this guy Niels Feijen and he is going to have him set up a king of the hill tournament in North Canton Ohio at Fiddlestix. Mr. Eshelman can get Varner of course and they can bring several other pro players in and we are going to do a video tournament. With great excitement I say ok count me in!!!!! So after tons of prep work we knock this tournament out March 2002 with 3 cameras and the player list was Nick Varner, Niels Feijen, Corey Deuel, Mika Immonen, Jose Parica, Troy Frank, Max Eberle and Shawn Putnam. What a way to enter the pool industry! So that weekend we knock out 20 matches on video and Jose Parica ends up winning the tournament. Bryse and Aaron did a great job and I tried to for sure do my part.

He spoke with me awhile and asked my plan for selling WorldPool tapes. I said I had no plan I was just here! So then JR pushed aside a small section of his booth and said here you go Alvin here is a spot you can set up your TV VHS player and sell WorldPool matches. I was totally blown away at how kind JR was immediately. So the next year Bryce comes up to me and says, Hey Alvin you ever heard of internet live streaming? I said no. He said well we are going to do the first live stream ever from Amsterdam billiards in NYC. I was absolutely so happy because I had never been to the city before. So after months of prep work we pulled off this event the World Summit of Pool and had about 6 viewers but it was the pioneering event at the time and I am very proud to say I helped design and execute this project. From there after a year or so I split off from WorldPool and moved away giving up pool forever!! Of course it called me back and I decided that I was just going to travel the tournaments and make my own documentary movie. So I funded my own stuff for years until one day AZ billiards called me asking me to go to Manila to do video for them. I said sure and for the next 2 years worked with Mike and Jerry very closely and traveled all over to Dubai, Manila, Vegas,, US Open. Then the funding ran out and Mike told me he had no projects in the future for me.

After this tournament was over Mark Whiteside from Inside Pool was covering our event because JR Calvert was working with our company named WorldPool.com. JR was giving us a free article to help us on our way in the industry. And we worked with Mark that weekend to get an article written for Inside Pool magazine. So even at this early stage of my career JR was helping me in the background. I ended up filming a commercial with Corey Deuel and Dee Adkins for ESPN commercial for Inside Pool and we offered a free 15 min Instructional tape to any new subscriber to Inside Pool. So for days and days Bryce and I were mailing out these VHS tapes for JR’s magazine and he was working with WorldPool and supporting us. After the Filming of the tournament, we began the editing of the videos. This was a huge feat for me to dive into and learn and I truly learned a lot during the next year producing these videos and traveling to events selling them. My first event was US Open 9 Ball Championships in 2002. I went there with a car load of VHS tapes to sell and no plan on how to sell them. I had never personally met JR at this point and I walked into the Inside Pool booth to say hi and there was JR! 59

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

So I quit Pool again. In 2009 I was sitting in an attic looking out the window and I said ...” I am going to Vegas on my own and produce my own videos. I have to get back into pool because at that time I was the only guy making music videos and YouTube clips besides JR and Inside Pool.”

the front of UstreamTV is huge for our sport. It means we get viewers from all over the world who never have seen professional pool. Knowledge acquired is of proper mechanics position play and technique from top pros commentating and industry people who we select to talk. People benefit with entertainment and obvious benefits of laughter and that creates good energy and So I go to Vegas and get a press pass and free hotel room health. Connecting with the chat can bring incredible from Matchroom Pool. I produce daily videos from threads of events we cannot even imagine. So overall the event with Christina Delagarza as the interviewer. live streaming will truly take pool to the stars in my My computer crashes and JR and AZ both help me opinion. separately to use their editing system and cameras and 4. How do think streaming has changed the pool helped me complete the assignment. world? Streaming since the first pressing of the live So at the MGM grand, JR Sally Timko and I are in the button in 2003 has brought pool to the homes and lounge having a drink. JR says. Alvin I want you to work places all over the world that it normally would not be for Inside Pool video. You need a job and I need some seen. The voices are heard and the history is made for help with the video... all to see from tournaments that normally are only seen From there the story goes even stranger but InsidePool by people in the area. Streaming has changed pool in a TV show was born and JR and I have built it to its current good sense that people watching streaming, who have stage with Blood sweat and many tears. In the end it never seen pool, can view our show on a platform like is something incredible to me. I have to say I do owe the ustream tv home page as well as YouTube live. I everything to one book I read and take everywhere. see a bright future for streaming, but it takes striving It is called A course in Miracles and I have followed for perfection by each person who sets up a camera to the path so far to Miracles. Being in gratitude to the represent our sport well to anyone who might be viewing Universe is number 1 to me without that none of this pool for the first time... I would add to always shoot for the best show possible and do the homework first would have been built. before turning on the stream. Streaming has shown off 2. What are the key elements to a good stream? The key elements to a good stream are the right setup of computer cameras and lighting. From what I learned from JR, lighting and lenses are the most important parts of the stream and that proper understanding of mechanics and fabrication are critical. It is most important to have a proper plan before streaming a room. Make sure to have the owner take pictures of the room, ceiling, and electrical outlets and sends them to you. Also test the upload speed in the room before you get there. 1.5 -2 megs per second upload speed is ideal for HD. The more you know before you get to the room for the first time the better. Also always go as early as possible to avoid running out of time before the tournament starts. Once it starts it becomes a machine and there is very little time between matches to change the set. Be prepared to work 35 hours straight sometimes. Be prepared for an extremely difficult balancing act making everything work. 3. How do you think players can benefit from watching streaming? The players benefit with knowledge, entertainment and connecting in the chat. It also gives them good industry sponsor ads and the ability of Inside Pool to be a good enough show to get Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

talented players from all over the world who normally would not be noticed. It gives people there fame and fortune and always a story from these amazing match ups and tournaments. I do hope that my work in past and future and the maximum concentrated serious effort to be as artistic as possible, can help propel billiards into a new Golden Age. I always put full intensity into everything I do and I thank you for this interview and would like to wish Sneaky Pete Magazine and its stellar staff all the best of luck in the Universe! 5. What types of events do you stream? We stream many top pro and amateur events. 6. What is the average cost of your stream? The cost is usually a few thousand dollars a stream after it is all said and done with. Room owners usually Pay Hotel and Food Beverage. We sell advertising to pay Inside Pool. We do the full lighting and ceiling multi camera layout so it is a very involved process for sure and raises the cost. Gaining sponsorships and advertising products for your sponsors is critical. Timing is critical. It is all gathered from trial and error but never give up on your destiny. I am living proof you can do anything starting from nothing. 7. What events do you stream? Diamond Pro Players championship. Derby City Classic big Foot 10Ball, Southern Classic 10-Ball Events. World 14.1, The US amateur championship. The Virginia State 9 ball and Maryland 14.1 championships. The great Southern Billiard Tour Championships and many other small tours and events all over the World.

Michael’s billiards in 2010. JR and I showed up to film a Great Southern Billiard tour event and it was about 9 pm on a Saturday night and we are going strong on the stream match after match. I was commentating with JR and there were about 230 pool players in the room at the time—it was a major event. The lights all go out, complete power loss on the entire mile radius of the city. I went outside and it was complete chaos everywhere. No stop lights no nothing and sirens going off all over the place. Back inside Michaels there were people confused and bumping into each other. The house was packed and it was pitch dark! All of a sudden I hear pool balls getting hit. I walk into the Diamond Mine action room and there are people hanging their smart phones over the table with the flash lights and also a miner’s cap flashlight was over another table. It was so funny hearing pool balls getting hit in the dark! That was really fun and funny. It is always the best when the tournament is over and the doors are locked. Being in the room with all the top pros hanging out and having fun after the matches is always the best. I think after last year’s Johnny Archer Classic and the doors were locked we had one really fun party. I think the most rewarding experience has been the friendships I have made along the way with the Pro Players, Industry people and Fans.

Many times I have felt incredible energy from pulling off events perfectly all over the planet or having insane coincidences and powerful lessons happen for me to keep me on this path. Life has been one incredible 8. What are some of your fondest memories from adventure for me and just because I let go of my fears events you have streamed? and trusted the voice that told me where to go. Seeing My favorite moment in all time was in 2007: I was in The where I am now in the sport and looking back at the Philippines at the World Ball Championships at Areneta whirlwind of madness that took me to get here. I am Coliseum. I was filming Earl Strickland playing one of very thankful to the Universe for giving me this task. the Asian Superstars. I was in Earl’s corner and he was Truly an honor to be interviewed by Sneaky Pete Mafia talking to me. At this point Earl was down 6-0 and the and thank you to everyone who watches the show. Stay player was running out like crazy from everywhere. tuned for some huge changes at InsidePool.TV Earl was not making a ball on the break because no one had figured out where or how to break on the TV table at this point. I noticed that Earl was breaking a bit too hard and the one ball was hitting the top of the side pocket and Earl was breaking dry. I said to Earl...”Hey Earl break softer and you will make a ball.” Earl got up on TV and said to me rather sternly, “That’s like telling Tiger Woods how to play Golf!” He then broke and made the ball in the side and proceeded to win 9 straight racks and win the match! It was so cool being there on Live TV with Earl. Another fun memory was at 61

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

A “Brush” Stroke Of Genius

Arthur, who began painting and sculpting at the age of two and a half, is now a renowned artist who, for the past 37 years, has shown his work on the streets of New York, in the John McEnroe Gallery in Soho, in the City of the Museum of New York, and in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Another great accomplishment came in 1993 when he was one of the founding members of A.R.T.I.S.T., a group who successfully litigated a Federal landmark case extending the First Amendment right of free speech to artists and fine art.

by Peggy Mallen

“I work from a place in the mind that i discovered where reality, memory, imagination and the dream world meet.”-A.Robins The “STROKE” – how illusive it can be when mastering the game of pool. We all know that peak performance can only be attained when the stroke is at its finest. The “BRUSH STROKE” to an artist has the same connotation – again, striving for the purest balance of relaxation, focus and strength behind every silhouette, to create the perfect scene. I believe I’ve found the perfect comparison of the stroke between billiard player and artist – capturing the essence of the sport of pool on canvas – his name is Arthur Robins. Let’s imagine a time long ago in Brooklyn, NY – it was the 1950’s – a mother is pushing a stroller down a narrow sidewalk with a small boy in tow – on their way to “Arty’s Pool Hall.” When they walk in they hear Elvis on the radio singing “Jailhouse Rock” and the crack of billiard balls with a cloud of chalk dust over the entire room giving it an intriguing and mysterious atmosphere. This was Uncle Arty’s pool hall and this was Arthur’s first introduction to the world of pool – even though he can barely remember the times spent in the pool room, it made a lasting impression that carried over to his vision for billiard art.

“SALSA POOL” Giving us insight into his love of painting pool scenes, Arthur wrote… “My first Pool painting was a tribute to my close friend Fred Schuback, an awesome artist and incredible pool player. He didn’t look like much, didn’t impress you upon meeting him, and could beat the pants off most people in pool. He died in 1991, and I painted “POOL HUSTLER” in memory of him. The experience of painting pool was so intense for me that I painted one after another. Ideas poured out of me. It wasn’t until years later that my Mother told me that before moving away from Brooklyn at age 5, she had wheeled me into my Uncle’s Pool Hall as a baby. It was called, ironically “ARTY’S POOL HALL.” I then remembered shadowy figures moving mysteriously around slabs of, well lit, green. I then understood a lot of what connected me to this pool world.”

Robins’ “pool art” has been revered and collected by top billiard players around the world and his work resides in thousands of private and public collections in over 50 countries.

Arthur admits that his paintings are collaborations between him and God. He said, “Several years ago, in search of a higher power, I demanded that God show Himself…I closed my eyes and began to paint. To my

“POOL HUSTLER” Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

~continued top of next page ~

a unique visual…looking into the huge tip of the cue, while the player is small and insignificant or making the 8-ball huge in anticipation of the cue ball drilling it into the pocket. As I read through the many articles written about Arthur Robins, one of the most profound paragraphs came from an article written by him called “Discovering the Nature of Existence through Art.” He stated, “My work is universal in the sense that my language is universal. All people from all lands and times can interpret my images. My art transcends this culture and this century even though it addresses it and includes it or criticizes it. I believe all art should be a universal language accessible to all people everywhere.”

“THE LAST SHOT”

This statement leads me to believe that Arthur Robins has a deep understanding of the power of the stroke and has mastered the “Brush Stroke of Genius.”

amazement, I had painted a man’s face appearing to be laughing, crying, dreaming, singing, sleeping, and talking – all at the same time!”

References:

A great place to review all of Arthur’s paintings, specifically billiard images is http://www.poolpaintings. com/billiard- paintings/. There you will see his unique style of painting where one can get the real feeling of the gritty atmosphere of the pool room by the images he paints. For instance, almost all of the men are in suits with ties; however, there are characters within the same scene with muscle shirts and t-shirts. There are very few female figures. This was probably because of the era when women were not generally accepted in pool halls and certainly not as billiard players.

www.RevelationFineArt.com, www.PoolPaintings.com, www.ArthurRobins.com, http://www.poolpaintings.com/ billiard-paintings/

“OVER THE TOP” Within his settings, hanging on the walls of the pool rooms are paintings of abstract cityscapes. Some look like San Francisco, Seattle, New York and probably more which I am not familiar. The distorted objects lend

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Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

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Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

by Jason Christopher Hunt Well it’s now the 3rd installment of Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine and things are really going strong for the team. We have an eclectic staff totally committed in different ways of life to this game—we all have the same destination. A day when AMERICAN POCKET BILLIARDS is on the same plane as all other professional sports in the world—to have the pay in the game reflect that. Whether it’s from your local or national pool leagues, local or national tournaments or even your local action, we all want to see the game get bigger and only through bigger money—sad as the reality of it is— is the only way. This is what my third installment of BUFFALO UNLEASHED intends to discuss: seeing my part as a featured writer is really to be avant guard and tell things as they are in. And maybe some of my personal insight as to how we can go about fixing the problems.... and enhancing the great parts of the game which so outweighs the bad parts. It’s just a shame the bad parts are able to hold the game back so far that they must be fixed in order to move on. I have never been a league player per se. I have played in some leagues and actually have a couple Championships under my belt in cities like San Antonio, and Las Vegas, but I have never really been a league player. And that is because I play pool for money for a living. Or at least it was at that time one of my main sources of income. So if I couldn’t make money playing pool, I didn’t want to be playing pool in a situation if I couldn’t get paid at the end of the day. For most people, this is not their mindset. They play leagues for the pure enjoyment of competitive pool in a social non gambling situation and to have a physical way to tract their progression in the game and their rise in the pecking order of their pool community. And that is the purest form of any art, to do it for the love of it. But there is no worse feeling when you get to the point

of winning things and you start doing the math and find out you’re not winning as much money as you probably should; that the person throwing the events is keeping all the money for themselves—only throwing you a bone to keep your mouth occupied so you might forget to talk about it right away. Then you will know the feeling I get when I win. Same feeling....different paths to get there. And if you’re a good player on a league who wins things within the league you all will, I would think, agree with me. Maybe I’m wrong...I very may well be. But I don’t think so. I really don’t. The sponsors, which in any other sport are the only sponsors who pay in products and patches—try paying your bills on that!! Imagine if Wilson only gave footballs and Nike only gave shoes and hats! We’d have a bunch of broke atheletes with tons of product probably opening up a MY SPONSORS PRODUCT store to sell the stuff so they could pay their bills, put food on their table and clothe their children—maybe take care of their elders. Life comes down to money. And the sick part of life is that there is enough money for every living human being to have enough to live on. I’m sure everyone knows by now that 1 percent of the population controls 99 percent of the global wealth in the world. So even in our own little community we need to fix that and that is done by people banning together to protest. We need to rally for better pay or there is no more participating patrons, like a pool strike. New people coming out in pool to start their own leagues and sponsors not using their players as walking dollar signs when they are just using the players to make money and helping them pay their bills. ~continued top of next page

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

Sponsors need pay the players good money , tournaments need to pay out more money from what is taken in and money needs to be added that is shown in pay outs. I don’t know HOW many tournaments say money added but if you do the math it’s actually money taken away. ‘ Leagues need to give back some of those millions of dollars that are brought in each year through all the major pool leagues in the United States. Pool is big business. But it’s not reflected back to the players who are the one’s paying the millions. It’s terrible...and it kills pool. Another thing is there needs to be a more active role that the room owners have to take in knowing what’s going in their pool halls. Many times I have witnessed and even been on the losing side of shady things going on in the pool room and when the owner is approached you’re told: “It’s none of my business and if there’s a problem I’m going to have to ask you to take it outside please.” These happenings are what kill pool. Nobody wants to touch it as in big business sponsors, and it has made many a player quit this game completely due to something happening when it could have easily been solved in the right way...or...avoided in the first place

due to correct management and ownership. If you are a pool room owner give back to your patrons! They pay your bills! Hold money added weekly tournaments. Know what’s going on in the action in your room and make sure everyone has the money up if they are playing! If you ask me, this is the owners and the managers responsibility and although people may say, “that’s between the players!” I disagree. if you come in my house, especially to make money in my establishment, it is my business. I have to make sure I’m going to get paid and my customers are going to get paid. It’s all just good business. Everyone is protected to get what they have earned. And that is really my whole point in this article. The theme is “in pool we need to get paid what we earned” in contrast to “us earning it and someone else getting paid our earnings.” I think Zach Goldsmith with OSPN (On Site Pool Network) is a perfect example of someone who gets this concept. Zach is out here all over this pool world recording matches, live free streaming and he wants the players he’s recorded to get paid for their performance. Pool is Big Business. People love to watch pool. It can be exciting and engaging. So why would we want outside sponsors and you tube and ustream to make all the money off of our content? The players and our networks should be reaping that money. And I agree 500 percent. And I thank Zach for being out there doing what he does for pool. And being a very level headed guy with not a jealous hater bone in his body. That is very important to success. So back to the whole point for EVERYONE in the game: the game needs to have more money in it. Find new creative ways if you’re a room owner or a sponsor to justify in your mind increasing what you put out to those players who support your business and pay your rent, food and gas. Basically it all comes down to love like all things which are good in life. Love your customers and patrons, give back to them, take care of them, and make sure they have money to come back. So they happily spend more money with you or make you more money. Whichever way it is and many times.... it’s both. Don’t worry. I am a full believer in if you’re not walking what you’re preaching you aren’t worth a 6 pence. I’m out here doing my part for my game...my sport...and the artform that has so much potential just not the right leaders right now. That is all... Happy New Year everyone. 2014 is going to be a GREAT year for AMERICAN POCKET BILLIARDS!!! Sincerely, Jason”Buffalo” Hunt

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

NOTES & STUFF

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

NOTES & STUFF

Sneaky Pete Mafia Magazine - February 2014

SPM Magazine Issue 3

Articles inside

Meet the Streamers

A “Brush” Stroke of Genius

Patience in One Pocket

Americas Lone Star

“Toothpick”

Road Stories - Not on my watch

Gripping Experiences

Black Belt Billiards

Fatal English

Sneaky Pete Mafia Founder

Florian Kohler Interview

Don’t get sharked

Fats...he sailed around the world

Keeping your Composure

Travekers Tips

How it’s Made

What would a sucker do?

Thinking about pool lessons?