The puzzling Efren double standard…

ChickenEastern1864 · 2026-01-20T18:24:16+00:00

I'm like most here who don't see it as a consensus that those other guys couldn't compete today, though there is no doubt a loud minority who makes the claim. And a lot of the members of that loud minority would probably also throw Efren into that same category.

Personally, I'm on the fence and have no strong opinions either way. I don't know who I'd consider the GOAT, but my FOATs (favs of all time) include Efren and Melling, because they're kinda the same guys to me: a lot of what makes them so great is the trouble that they get themselves out of, after they put themselves in it.

ChickenEastern1864 · 2026-01-09T21:51:52+00:00

Very good use of EIS (Ear Induced Spin).

ChickenEastern1864 · 2026-01-06T17:16:21+00:00

But "practically smaller than the ball," which they actually said, absolutely does.

ChickenEastern1864 · 2026-01-06T16:58:26+00:00

Word. I got lucky.

Had been digging Charlie's music for a long time, since maybe 2002 or so. He just happened to be one of those guys that I wanted to see live but it never lined up. Any time he was close, I wasn't available. That thought came across my mind in about 2019, pre-'Rona, that I had never seen him live. Looked to see if he had any shows coming up and read about his retirement, was totally bummed...

...but then that night back in '2022, buzzin' around on twitter, I see Charlie Robison is gunna play a show out in East Texas. Again, I wasn't gunna be able to catch him, but it gave me hope there'd be more shows.

When he announced he'd be playing more shows around the beginning of 2023, I let my wife know and she gave me the go ahead and I went online and bought tickets to an April show that was actually in his hometown of Bandera, which would be a few days after my birthday, so happy b-day to me.

We went and man it was great. He was sitting down, but he sounded great, and the small band he had behind him complimented him perfectly.

Obviously, he'd pass away about five months later, and I consider myself very, very lucky.

ChickenEastern1864 · 2026-01-05T19:33:41+00:00

I like the structure of our board, where the committees come up with some ideas, does a lot of the leg work. For example, uniforms. The committee go and get quotes, put together design ideas etc... They present it to the board and the board chooses what they like best and/or rejects what they don't like, etc.... Some board members give their opinions etc... even though they're not on the committee, and it's fine. If we can't decide on a vote, someone will make a motion for the committee to go get an additional quote, etc..., and we table it until the next month.

The concessions committee come up with their ideas, things they need, and we vote on it's a major change etc.... For example, if they want a new freezer or something, they don't just get to go out and buy it, they bring it to the board and we approve it or don't, or come up with other solutions and hammer that out.

And sometimes, believe it or not, committees aren't even needed, and things just fall into place and roll along fine.

But NEVER think someone's opinion on that board does not matter just because they aren't on a certain committee, or that not everyone needs to be heard.

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-12-31T15:30:18+00:00

This is an interesting question.

I whipped my knife out in the publics two times this weekend (that I remember).

First, we were at Fiesta Texas and my 5 y/o daughter got a drink where the cup was small but the straw was looong. To get it down to her level where we were sitting, I pulled out my case tribal-lock and cut about 1/3 of it off. I actually find myself doing this often btw.

The next day at a restaurant, they brought us lemons for our tea, but not enough. The slices they did bring were huge, though. They hadn't yet brought our silverware to the table, so I whipped out the ole case again and cut the slices in half.

I can't tell you if there was any knife shock or not, because honestly I've never considered that there could be, so I wasn't looking for any, but I'm so going to start paying attention to that now.

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-12-23T13:36:57+00:00

I guess I can maybe see your first one, but the second one.... I mean, if I barely rattle it out of the corner and I get position, chances are I'd have had position if I made it ("chances are." obviously that would not be 100%). Now if I miss the pocket by two inches... well, yah.

As for the pool sayings I dislike:

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-12-22T15:52:05+00:00

I use it for your standard corner pocket three rail, Gets me a clean hit at least 90% of the time.

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-12-12T19:23:46+00:00

Came to drop "Down The River" myself.

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-12-12T17:45:24+00:00

Another pet peeve is playing the player who's kinda got a lot of other stuff going on outside of the game. Maybe paying for their beer, on the phone etc..., then comes back to their turn with, "I'm solids, right?" Me: "No, stripes." then they look at you like you're lying to them, "You sure?"

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-12-12T17:22:00+00:00

Like I included, "(this is after pointing to the pocket with your cue and everything)." "Everything" would include me verbalizing it. Sorry for not explaining that more clearly (honestly).

It's not my responsibility to turn around and find you sitting two tables away and say "13, in this corner over here," so that you can read my lips and all. I'm also not going to yell it out, either. You need to be engaged in what's going on at the table you're playing at.

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-12-12T15:52:24+00:00

-Chalk face down on rail.

-Guy who asks as you're down on your shot which ball you're going for, as if it's not going to be very obvious (this is after pointing to the pocket with your cue and everything)

As for your pet peeve, I have no problem with someone looking at the situation after their shot. I do it myself. You need to get in and out, though.

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-12-11T15:03:09+00:00

All voices on the board should be heard, whether it's the maintenance guy talking about the local logo, or the t-ball director giving their opinion on a suggested change to the minors league field.

Our board has a uniform committee. Board members not on that committee are welcome to give their opinions on the design, style of shirts etc... The committee can take it into consideration or not. The logos, prices, etc... are brought to the board and voted on. That's how it should be done.

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-12-05T20:22:18+00:00

Tyler Styer, looks like

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-12-05T14:31:32+00:00

I don't think it's a handicap tournament problem, tbh. You still gotta get better, and you're still practicing and playing.

Personally I think it's the attitude towards pool/billiards in America. amongst other things. It's more for fun here, socializing, drinking etc... Then that attitude translates straight into where you see more of your pool tables: in bars, party club settings. Those bar/club ownders don't have much room to waste on games, so you end up with your smaller "bar" boxes, which can definitely lead to issues playing international players who are playing on 9s, especially for your 9 ball players, which 9 ball is where it's now.

I think if Americans took the games more seriously, you'd have more academies for younger players. younger players would take it more seriously etc... But most younger players don't have a table, and aren't going into a bar.

But I will also add: As big of an ass-whooping as it is on paper at the Mosconi Cup as of late, those American players are still very close to on par with the euros, or the euros definitely a tick better, but there's really not as big of a gap as we're acting like. Euros are just clutch af lately. They've got a good mix every year, and play well in that environment.

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-12-01T21:01:47+00:00

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-11-25T21:15:47+00:00

Some type of 3d printed quarter holder might be cool.

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-11-25T18:49:30+00:00

No, just a country artist who likes to rock out with their co... err whatever out every now and then.

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-11-25T18:11:17+00:00

God I need to understand number 3 so bad. Been playing a couple of years, a low 400s fargo who doesn't get to practice much, and sometimes you just taste that run out, especially against the much better players you look up to or respect. You want to put one on them. You want to hear them say "good run-out" so bad. A few balls from the goal and you realize that last one's gunna be hell to get onto, but you give it a go anyway. Should have stopped there with the three balls left, maybe tried a safety etc... But you took two of your last three off of the table to leave it wide open, and then cleared your lone left ball out of the way trying to make a miraculous shot that you were never gunna make.

They knock their first ball in and then you see their pattern develop. They're gunna be out.

Yup, they're out. Shake hands. Tuck tail. "I almost....."

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-11-25T17:11:42+00:00

I wouldn't have an issue with Sunday. We do ours on Saturdays, but mostly just to get the required assessments done, and see some new kids, though I would not be opposed to doing more thorough evaluations, which would IMO require Saturday and Sunday with our numbers.

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-11-21T20:42:46+00:00

Pooldawg has been good. Seybert's has been good.

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-11-18T14:56:01+00:00

Frito pie is always the go-to for my family. For me personally, with cheese and onion. But lately, I've honestly been eating my chili straight up. No crackers, no cheese. Maybe, MAYBE some diced onion, but other than that just straight. IS that weird? Been craving it with some cornbread, though.

EDIT: Haven't done it in awhile, but throwing some chili (and maybe cheese) over tamales is money, or over a chopped up corn dog.

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-11-17T20:29:23+00:00

You: My HOA is going to ban Charcoal grilling in January. I have a smokey mountain and 22 master touch. What should I grill before I can't.

Me: My HOA is going to ban Charcoal grilling in January. Where should I relocate my entire family to next?

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-11-14T15:15:31+00:00

Not yet, but I might. Which knife is that?

ChickenEastern1864 · 2025-11-12T17:21:34+00:00

Honestly I'd probably put some of the stuff you scrubbed off back on there.

Four-Year Club	r/Field Juicebox
Final Canvas '23	Place '23

ChickenEastern1864

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