The Boyz Night Out


Once each month, the boys get together for a few cold beers, hot food, interesting discussions and of course, to play some 8-ball. Steve and Roman, my partner John and I (also John), have been doing this since 1998 or earlier. We usually meet at The Crooked Cue on Bloor St. West here in Toronto. Normally we start around 6pm with beer. At 6:30 we eat and around 7 the tournament begins and continues until about 10 or when one team has had enough. Sometimes we go for coffee and/or donuts afterwards.

Next meeting: Friday, Dec  29, 2006, 6:00 PM
Table
Commentary

Dec 15, 2006:
JS played poorly until the final game when he sank the last three balls to edge out a 3-2 victory over team RS. Highly unlikely that team RS can overcome a 4 game lead at the final match scheduled for Dec 29, 2006.

Oct 28, 2006:
We all showed up at 6pm, probably the first time this happened. Anyway JS played really well and team JJ managed a 3-2 win over team RS. One thing for sure - every game is taking a longer time to play and is always a close. Probably only two meetings left this year so it will be interesting to see if team RS can overcome a 3 game deficit to become 2006 champions.

Sept 29, 2006:
We ate at the Indian restaurant across the street from The Cue - on the south side of Bloor at Montgomery Rd. Roman didn't make it until we were at The Cue plauing pool. We didn't play a match tonight - just played each other one on one.

Aug 25, 2006:
Today team R/S won the match by a score of 3 to 2. Of course Roman played fantastic after a two month layoff. We agreed to eat at an Indian restaurant next time we meet and follow that with a pool match at the Cue. Should be interesting for JN.

July 25, 2006:

Roman had to leave after 1 hour because of a "family thing" so he didn't eat or shoot pool with us. That's the bad news. The good news is that JS has the best night of pool he ever had. Even beat JN in one game. Of course none of this counted as we wern't playing teams.

Jun 2, 2006:
Not much new to report on today's meeting. More or less a replay of last month except that this is the first meeting without a smoking lounge because of a new by-law in Toronto. Team J/J won the match 4-2.

May 5, 2006:
Not much new to report on today's meeting. Team J/J won the match over team R/S by a score of 5 to 2. This gives team J/J a one game edge over this year's play.

Apr 7, 2006:
Roman came out with "guns blazing" and played brilliantly winning the first two games. Team J/J valiantly attemped a comeback but fell short. Final score was 4-2 for team R/S who are now leading in 2006 by a score of 7-5.
Discussions centered around the Teacher's strike that had John S walking the picket line for 3 weeks . We also talked about the poor performance of the Leafs and other unimportant stuff that I can't recall.

Mar 3, 2006:

Steve returned from his trip to Buenos Aires. He went to visit his brother so he says. The real reason was to get in 5 rounds of golf.
Roman came directly from a meeting at Niagara Falls ... something to do with electricity generation I suppose and John N has a 7am dentist appointment tomorrow.
We played 6 games of pool. Each team won 3 games. John N and John S both lost a game on the final shot going after the 8 ball and sinking both it and the cue ball simultaneously. Roman and Steve kept talking about completing some match started last year and then having a January and February match but it was very confusing so the only recorded entry will be a 3-3 draw.
NOTE: The CUE had a new menu ... finally some vegetarian choices.

Jan 27, 2006:

Not much happened this meeting. No pool playing.... just talk but no one can recall what about.

Dec 28, 2005:

Our last meeting of 2005. A strange day, punctuated by the fact that for most of the afternoon we were joined by a guest - Paula. Somehow she "latched" onto John N and made herself at home at our table. Obviously she has a lot of problems and fortunately for us she left on her own before we did.
Anyway we played 5 games on this day - 3 to 2 for team JJ. John S lost game two on an easy shot that sunk the black followed immediately by the cue ball. We intended to play best of seven but by 5:30PM were too tired to continue. We agreed to complete this match in January.
We ended with coffee and tea at Timothy's.
Paula's visit was not a total loss. She took a photo of "the boyz". See our photo section below on this page.

Nov 25, 2005:
Today we managed to squeeze in several games. Final score was 3-2 for team J/J. John N says it should have been 4-1. John N had a root canal that was still quite painful, nevertheless he played brilliantly.

Oct 28, 2005:
Nothing exciting to report. Everyone was tired and John N had a tooth ache. So no pool tonight.

Sept 30, 2005:
Roman showed slides (on his laptop) of his trip to Ireland.
In pool, team R/S won the first game in convincing fashion but Roman blew two golden opportunities to win games two and three handing the victories to team J/J. We played two or three more games which were won by team J/J. FInal score was 4-1 for team J/J. It could be 5-1 but I can't recall.

Aug 5, 2005:
The evening began with Steve discussing his trip to Italy and ended with us sitting outside Coffee Time at Royal York Rd. and Bloor St. listening to John N planning his upcoming three week vacation to Lithuania.
In pool, Team R/S defeated Team J/J by 4 games to 3. John N, undoubtedly the best player in our group, was not himself tonight - two of Team R/S's victories occured when John N sewered the black ball. Obviously his mind was not on the game.
We expect both Steve and John N to bring photos of their trips to our next meeting - Sept 23.

July 9, 2005: Wasaga

There was no pool playing this meeting. Instead we met with Stanley, Bobby and Ritch at Bobby's cottage. Everyone enjoyed the BBQ and conversation. We spent the night at Roman's place and left for Toronto Sunday morning. There are a few photos in out photo gallery.

June 10, 2005:
By JN - the morning after: I guess everyone played kind of so-so yesterday but you (JS) rose to the ocassion a few times.  I think that last game with that black going in inadvertently was a real fluke cause it was very inconspicuously placed before I took that last shot, which was pretty nice cause I sank the object ball into the corner,  and so the cue ball must have hit the black afterwards and gone into the side pocket in a rather sharp angle.  I had no idea it went in !

May 6, 2005:

Nothing exciting to report on tonight's meeting. Both Steve and John S are having problems with their Subarus.
Not many people were at the Cue tonight so we got a good table.
John N again, was by far, the best player of the evening playing especially well in the final game. Roman wanted to keep track of the total balls sunk and after 5 games, team J/J was ahead by 5. Final score was 4 wins for team J/J and 1 win for team R/S.

Apr 1, 2005:

Tonight's discussions centered around OPG/Hydro One (5000 employees making over 100K) and The Pope (on his death bed).
We got free BUD Light beer samples that tasted like watered-down water.
The pool match belonged to JN who played his usual game while the other three of us played like the amatures we are. Final score was 4-1 for team JJ.

Mar 5, 2005:
A bad start for the new year for team JJ. Team RS won by a score of 3 games to 2. We left early because JN wanted to watch the first F1 race from Australia. Of course we watched the race together at Steve's place.
NOTE: The Cue is starting to catter to groups. Seems like the weekends are prebooked so we end up getting a poor table location. This is the second time we've been pushed aside because of our regular table being reserved. Steve suggested that if this happens one more time we should seriously seek out a new location for our meetings.

Jan 28, 2005:
Two big disappointments tonight: first, Roman was a NO SHOW and second, the Crooked Cue had booked the majority of their facilities to a private group - probably some company party or something similar.
Anyway, Roman not being available meant we (John S, John N, and Steve) played one-on-one pool. It was a miserable night for Steve and John S. Each played three games against John N and lost every game. John N was unbeatable. He made shots you only see in televised tournaments.
Meanwhile, looks like STRIKE ONE for the Cue. By pre-booking their facilities they had little room for their regular customers. If this continues, we may have to find another venue for our meetings.

Dec 29, 2004:
Prior to starting this final match of 2004 it was decided that the first team to win 6 games would be declared tonights winner. At the start, both teams fought hard and after 6 games the score was tied at three games apiece. It was then that team J/J lit the afterburners and won the next three. Final score: team J/J 6, team R/S 3. So the 2004 championship goes, by a score of 45 to 29, to team J/J.

Dec 17, 2004:
This was a strange night. Team JJ won the first game only to lose the next four but rebounded to win four after that. One of the many highlights was when Roman sunk three solids off the break and then proceeded to drop another four. All he needed was the black to record the first ever "perfect" game but he missed. Overall each of us experienced "hot & cold" streaks on this night with an unusual mixture of "flukes" and "sewers".

Nov 12, 2004:
JS started like a rocket only to flame out after sinking five in a row in the first game. He lost game one and game 7 with two horrible scratches. JN won the three games for team JJ. However, we can't negate the efforts of team RS. Steve played well and they never gave up. Congratulations to team RS for pulling out a victory.

Oct 15, 2004:
We were only going to play three games (I guess we all were somewhat tired) but after team JJ took the first two and RS took the third, we decided to play a fourth which was won by team JJ to solidify a victory for the night.
After the match we went to Tim Horton's for coffee and donuts.
Most of us feel George W will win the US election on Nov 2 ensuring another four years of corporate greed, insider trading, outsourcing, fighting and a widening of the gap between the rich and poor.

Sept 17, 2004:
A surprise visit by Steve´s better half and her sister marked (marred?) the beginning of our meeting. Afterwards Steve apologized and told us that he would speak to Donna tomorrow.
Anyway we played seven games of pool. Without modesty, I can say that I was the most consistant player of the evening. Team J/J now lead team R/S 28 to 17 for 2004. Team R/S will need a miracle to become 2004 champions.
The following is Roman's take on this evenings events:
"The JJ team was not at all shaken by an unannounced visit by Donna D and her sister during the customary pre-game activities. If anything the JJ spirits were raised by the feminine presence allowing them to march to an unexpected easy victory over the SR team, 5 wins to 2 losses. SR put up a
valiant effect but their hopes for success on this night were dashed suddenly and effectively by the JJ duo as JJ took the first four games and were never seriously threatened. An SR comeback was defused in a 'workmen-like' manner in the seventh and final game of the night. SR was eclipsed in the shadow of self doubt and left with thoughts of what might
have been."
Aug 6, 2004:
The outlook wasn't brilliant for team R/S this day,
The score stood two to two, with but three games to play.

And then when Roman missed his shot, and Selmys did the same,
A pall-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game.

Then from five thousand throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
it rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;

it pounded through on the mountain and recoiled upon the dew;
for Steven, mighty Steven, was advancing with his cue.

There was ease in Steven's manner as he stepped into his place,
there was pride in Steven's bearing and a smile lit Steven's face.

Ten thousand eyes were on him as he stood and took his walk.
Five thousand tongues applauded when he tipped his cue with chalk.

Then, while the ball ripped forward from momentum of his stick,
defiance flashed in Steven's eye, a sneer curled Steven's lip.

And now the solid sphere came hurtling through the air,
and Steven stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.

From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,
like the beating of the storm waves on a stern and distant shore.

With a smile of Christian charity, great Steven's visage shone,
he stilled the rising tumult, he bade the game go on.

He signaled to his partner, and once more the dun sphere flew,
and Selmys watched in horror - this ball was number two.

We saw Steve's face grow stern and cold, we saw his muscles strain,
and we knew that Steve's third shot would drop a ball again.

The sneer has fled from Steven's lip, he knows this ain't no fable.
He pounds, with cruel violence, his cue upon the table.

And now the Champ eyes the ball, and now he lets it go,
and now the air is shattered by the force of Steven's blow.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright.
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light.
And, somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout,

but there is no joy for team J/J --
mighty Steven has shut them out.

        With apologies to Ernest L. Thayer


July 9, 2004: Team J/J came back from last month's beating to shut out team R/S in five streight games that took a mere 1 hour and 15 minutes. With only five matches remaining in the year, it seems unlikely that team R/S can overtake team J/J and win the 2004 championship.
Coffee and donuts followed at Tim Horton's on Islington.
Note to team R/S: BRING YOUR OWN CARS NEXT TIME!

June 4, 2004: The evening began with Steve showing photos of his golf trip to Scotland to celebrate his brother's 50th birthday. After the usual dinner and conversation,  the tournament started at 8PM.
Although history may paint tonights play, the first in a smoke free environment, as erratic at best, the chalk marks on the scoreboard cannot be denied: team J/J was trounced by team R/S by a score of 6 to 2.
Game one went to team R/S. Games two and three to J/J and four to R/S. Roman played brilliantly to win game five and Steve  followed suit by winning game six. Both teams struggled in game seven with team R/S prevailing. To cap off a poor performance by team J/J, John S lost the final game by sewering the 8 ball.
Post Script: While no excuse can justify team J/J's poor showing, it should be noted that John S was on antibiotics and John N was suffering from nicotine withdrawal.

May 7, 2004: After a 2 month layoff it was expected that both teams would come out stale, but this was clearly not the case. John N of team J/J took control early and demonstrated once again, that his play stands above the rest. He completely demoralized team R/S by winning the first 4 games with consistant play and several exceptional shots.  Team R/S recovered somewhat by edging out a win in game 5 but collapsed in game 6. 
How much more punnishment can team R/S take is unknown. The year is almost half over and they trail by 9 games. Clearly, a shakeup is in order.

Mar 6, 2004: Tonight's match began quietly with a game 1 win for team R/S and ended with a brouhaha in game 6 that came close to fisticuffs. J/J took a 2-1 lead by winning games 2 and 3. Team R/S won game 4 to knot the match at 2. In game five, JN switched cues and came alive to notch out a win that gave team J/J a 3-2 lead. Controversy turned into a heated dispute in game 6 when Roman's attempt to drop a ball into a corner pocket came up short, with neither cue nor object ball hitting a rail. With Steve protesting we were not playing under the new rules, JN picked up the cue ball, cried foul and insisted team R/S return one of their sunk balls to the table. Steve and Roman then argued that JN should not have taken "ball in hand" but rather left the cue ball where it was. JN echoed, "a foul is a foul" and placed the cue ball behind the head string for JS to play. JS, now playing with frayed nerves, only needed to sink the 8 ball to put this game into the history books. Instead he drove the cue ball into the black with such force that it kept the black from holing while simultaneously sinking an opponent's ball. Needless to say team R/S jubilantly claimed victory over game 6. The match was tied at 3. Game seven was rushed because we wanted to return to Steve's place before the start of the Australian F1 race. It ended when JS sunk the black after failed attempts by both JN and Roman.

Note 1: Check out paragraph 9 below for definition of "ball in hand". Roman was right, you can place the ball "anywhere" on the table and shoot "any" legal ball.
Note 2: Nowhere do the rules say that the game is lost when shooting the 8 and an opponent's ball is sunk instead. Could it be that game 6 ended prematurely?

Jan 31, 2004: Another great night for the J/J team: blowing away team R/S easily in the first 4 games. JN almost ran the table in game 2 by dropping two off the break and sinking the next 5, but missed holing the 8-ball by a hair. Roman gave J/J the victory in game 5 but redeemed himself by dropping the 8 ball hard from across the table in game 6. In other news Steve predicted the Leafs take the cup in seven; Roman thinks they'll make it to the finals but loose and JS figures they'll bow out in the first round. Also, "the Kone" insists George W will take it in November. Finally, JS will have a new car by the next meeting - will it be a Subaru, Suzuki or Kia? We ended the evening with coffee and donuts and watching the Australian Open at Steve's house.

Dec 27, 2003: Steve suggested we play "first to 4" for the 2003 championship. This was his fatal mistake. The play went 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 5-1, 6-1. Finally Roman had enough and suggested we go to Tim Horton's for coffee and donuts. Congratulations to Team J/J - 2003 champions!

Dec 05, 2003: J/J were down 1-4 but came back to tie. This was a great "virtual" victory for team J/J.


The Score


Date
Team R/S
Team J/J
Dec 15, 2006 2 3
Oct 28, 2006 2 3
Aug 25, 2006 3 2
June 2, 2006 2 4
May 5, 2006
2
5
Apr 7, 2006 4
2
Mar 3, 2006 3 3
Totals (2006) 18
22
Dec 28, 2005 2 3
Nov 25, 2005 2
3
Sept 30, 2005 1 4
Aug 5, 2005 4 3
June 10, 2005 3
4
May 6, 2005 1 4
Apr 1, 2005
1
4
Mar 5, 2005 3
2
Totals (2005) 17
27
Dec 29, 2004
3
6
Dec 17, 2004
4
5
Nov 12, 2004
4
3
Oct 15, 2004 1
3
Sept 17, 2004
2
5
Aug 6, 2004
4
2
July 9, 2004 0 5
June 4, 2004 6 2
May 7, 2004
1
5
Mar 6, 2004
3
4
Jan 31, 2004
1
5
Totals (2004)
29
45
Dec 27, 2003
1
6
Dec 5, 2003
4
4
Totals (2003)
5
10
Grand Total 69
104

Photo Gallery

Dec 2005
The BOYZ
Jul 2005 JOHN N
Jul 2005 STEVE
Jul 2005 RK+JS+SD
Jul 2005 RK COTTAGE
Jan 2004
JOHN S
Jan 2004
JOHN N