Joss Tour Finale Begins Today

By InsidePOOL Staff

They came in o­ne by o­ne at Spot Shot Billiards for the main Joss event of the year, the $25,000-added tour finale.  It is the eve before registration deadline, which is at high noon o­n June 3rd, and the buzz in the pool room is filled with anticipation, wondering who will walk down the red-carpeted stairs next.

Joe Tucker and Bill Dunsmore were among the first to arrive, and it wasn't long before they began playing o­n o­ne of the 18 freshly felted Gold Crowns in the back of the pool room, just a friendly little match that went o­n for 10 hours.

UPA Rookie of the Year Mike Davis was practicing solo, getting a feel for the equipment and winding down from the long flight from California where he finished second to Mike Massey in the 9-ball tournament at the Hard Times Jamboree in Sacramento.

Rodney Morris and Alex Pagulayan came strolling in sporting shorts, and after paying their entry fee to Mike Zuglan, they got a rack of balls and got down to business.  Some other players who showed up were Charlie "Hillbilly" Bryant from Texas, the Maryland gentleman Shaun Wilke, Danny “Kid Delicious” Basavich, Keith McCready, Ryan McCreesh, Teddy Garrahan, and Carlos Viera.

Mike Webb, who has been serving the Northeast area since 1991, will be o­n site to provide cue maintenance.  Folks were gathering around his booth checking out a beautifully arranged display of Webb Custom Cues.  Three of his custom-made sticks were sold at the last Joss event in Providence, RI.

Pookie Rasmeloungon, the young gun from Virgina who has been playing strong o­n the Planet Pool 9-Ball Tour, had planned o­n attending, but his plans were pleasantly thwarted with the arrival of his first child, a baby boy.

The wooden bleachers are in place, and the pool room will remain open all night, much to the delight of many players.  Everybody is looking forward to Saturday night when there will be a party to celebrate the life of Larry Lisciotti.  The tournament will begin tomorrow, and it is anybody's guess as to who will shine in a rainy Portland this weekend.

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