The Dark Side of Pool - Getting StreetWise Hustling & Gambling with Road Player Rick Thompson

[@rackyballboa5744]

A a black guy, from Dallas, named "Hill", would often gamble in our 9 ball ring game in the early 70s. You ought to organize a reunion with all those mentors, hustlers, and characters you've met over the years and have a few beers and exchange stories.

[@CarlSpat]

Love the stories about Rick. He was a good friend of mine. Good stuff. Thanks, CJ.

[@cjwiley1541]

I wish we would have kept a diary.

[@CarlSpat]

@@cjwiley1541 Me too! I'm sure that would've been a very interesting read.

[@EricPetersen2922]

Hey CJ, even tho I never was a top player, what I learned in pool defined me. And all the spoils of success I credit to learning being in the pool world and gambling. Hope you are good, -Fatboy

[@cjwiley1541]

Yes the PHD (Pool Hall Degree) is powerful!

[@gkvogt]

😂​@@cjwiley1541

[@williamhall7349]

Got mine at Jack and Jill’s in shirlington Va aka beanies pool room and a few little bars on Richmond hwy in Alexandria Va spent some time in OK city also

[@David-nd9su]

Hopefully you come to DFW soon. Im wanting to schedule a session or two with you if you ever do. Keep up the good work

[@alexcollins1630]

Love the stories . You ever shot at Riverbend Billiards when it was around in Alton, Illinois? My dad worked in the poolhall in Harrisburg, Illinois. Currently live in N.C. Charlotte area. Good shooters down here

[@cjwiley1541]

I've played all over Illinois but I don't remember that place in particular - Charlotte does have some good players I'm currently in Bristol Tennessee so not far away - I have some players there that want me to come over and train them to learn the pro level fundamentals.....this weekend I'm in Nashville - thanks for reaching out bud, shoot Straight 💪

[@alexcollins1630]

@@cjwiley1541 thanks I sure will I'm going to be entering a one pocket tournament and smoking cue in Charlotte and then before that I'm going to be in a 8-ball tournament BCA rules but I feel I'm not where I should be as my fargo rating that has me as a 366 and the 450s

[@tyarnold4088]

I had family in Dallas. Did you gamble any at the Clicks in Dallas mid 90s? That's where i would play when i went down there.

[@cjwiley1541]

Yes, quite a bit until I bought CJs Billiard Palace where most of the action was - there was a lot of action in Dallas and Ft Worth back then that's for sure.

[@tyarnold4088]

@cjwiley1541 I miss the action from the 90s CJ. I hope pool can grow more, so maybe the action will improve some.

[@MichaelSmith-wb1es]

I have met Sammy a few times at Lori Jon Jones store in Greenville SC.

[@JohnOlson-mb3ey]

Did you ever play in Brooklyn NY at all, if yes where?

[@cjwiley1541]

No just Amsterdam Billiards and the Yale Club in NYC

[@charleswilliams2547]

You Da Man CJ

[@subdue8182]

I have a ques. for you Cj. Did you have coaches growing up as a kid? or as a young adult? how did u get so good?

[@cjwiley1541]

My coaches were my road partners, Omaha John, Rick Thompson, Dalton Leong, Rusty Brandimier, Big Brad, Strong Arm John, Doug Smith, etc - we played for a lot of money so we had to win, they knew all the tricks of the trade and willingly taught me everything they could so I would win them money.

[@subdue8182]

@@cjwiley1541 wow. thank you.

[@billenright2788]

rick came to tulsa to do battle with fat randy. rick said after the ordeal he needed therapy. ;)

[@shainhaggadone9943]

I'm from Missouri. I'm sure you've played Danny Harriman

[@cjwiley1541]

Yes a couple times

[@shainhaggadone9943]

@@cjwiley1541 ol Danny's a piece of work

[@roysmith8703]

Hey why the seat belt today?

[@cjwiley1541]

It's a new vehicle and haven't figured out how to turn the seatbelt notification off - there's a way to do it, I have a friend that can probably do it today - thanks for the reminder, I hate seatbelts more than eating a streak with a balloon around my tongue 😉

[@rodlively1055]

Have you ever run into a guy of a name of joel solomon

[@cjwiley1541]

I don't recognize that name.

[@shainhaggadone9943]

You ever gamble with 9 Ball Harry

[@cjwiley1541]

From Detroit?!?

[@shainhaggadone9943]

@@cjwiley1541 Flint Michigan Richie R use to play out of Hit N Run. Harry's Hang out. In the 80s

[@rodlively1055]

Joel solomon

[@angieandfidelromero9343]

Which “Little Al” are you talking about in this video? Dig your stories CJ!

[@cjwiley1541]

Al Mason from Dallas - there was another Lil Al in LA you may be thinking of.

[@angieandfidelromero9343]

@@cjwiley1541 Oh yes… Al Romero is who I thought you might be talking about… he used to find his way around Texas at about that time.

[@EricPetersen2922]

I played little Al Romero in La back in the 80’s

[@angieandfidelromero9343]

@@EricPetersen2922 Where at?

[@tomshaw661]

stick with the Pro !

[@tonysarabia4463]

How did he say he was accused of being 16 to drive than says he had a fake id of 21 yrs old that same day??

[@cjwiley1541]

I had two IDs, one was real and the other was fake - please try to keep up 🤣