Hot Shots Pool Hall

The Pool Hall is a gritty, seedy looking establishment and as it is, a rather repulsive premises. Men come here to fight, bet, play pool and get intoxicated on bootlegged liquor and other readily available drugs. Not exactly a place you would bring the family. Rowdy testosterone fuelled crowds, pool hustling, betting, drinking and fighting are readily available on the menu here at Hot Shots.

A fight would break out every few hours and bets on who would be left standing would follow. The fighting bets as well as money wagered on pool games were just some of the daily action available here. The pool hall is also a front for the sports betting operation Libro Di Sports Betting.

Locals find their way upstairs to place their sports or daily numbers game bets, join the weekly poker tournament and visit the shylocking office whilst countless others enjoy a game of 8 Ball in the pool hall downstairs.

Just grab a table and pay when you finish

A casually dressed middle-age man stands behind the counter as you enter the main business premises. The walls of the ground-floor pool hall are adorned with dozens of era specific photographs. Fluorescent lamps hang low over 6 green-velvet tables in quarters spacious enough players don't bump into each other while shooting. But, who says that'll stop them. Part of the draw of this place is men wanting to be men; to play pool, drink, fight and gamble.

>> You grab a cue and play a game of pool <<

How much do you want to wager?

The sports book is run upstairs above the pool hall, away from the immediate public where a handful of local bookies take bets from punters. The narrow South Street stairway spirals from the backdoor and leads into the second-story open floor betting area with desks that act as betting stations and an array of leather cushioned chairs are scattered about. A big blackboard that needs a chair to stand on to reach the top shows different odds, especially for horse races and sports games and fills an entire wall.

>> You approach a betting station and enquire further <<

You here for poker?

A double door at the back of the upstairs gambling area opens into a large room where card players are seated around a variety of round wooden tables draped with simple white table cloths. Cards in hand, drinks next to stacks of poker chips at the tables and cigar smoke wafting through the air is what you will find here. Scarfo's weekly poker tournament calls this place home and you can find many daily casual games to throw your poker chips at.

>> You give the doormen a nod before making your way in <<

How much did you want a line of credit for?

One of the office doors on the second-story bookies floor opens into an office where gamblers and non-gamblers alike come for help with money matters when they have extinguished all other avenues. The rates are generous and there are multiple methods of security to ensure applications are approved for new faces. Clients that mostly visit need to borrow short term for sports bets, other forms of gambling, buying protection or paying off other debts and greasing contacts.

>> You enter the shylocking office <<

What numbers did you want to play?

The upstairs gambling area is also where you can drop off your three digit bets for the daily numbers game. The game offers the community a cheap and safe way to gamble and anyone who picks the right combination of numbers gets a massive cash payout. People at different betting stations can be seen taking money and slips of paper. The paper is unfolded and spiked through a steel rod, joining the pile of illegal lottery bets.

>> You approach a betting station and ask about the daily lottery <<

After leaving the Zoo IllFated womdered down the street looking for a connection to get his bank roll back on track. It seemed like he had been going forever with no luck than in the distance he spotted one of his old connects that he hadnt seen in sometime. As he got closer he defitenetly was him, he went over to him and said.

"Man its hard out here right now been looking for a couple hours. Thank god I ran into you, I thought you was locked up."

The two shook hands and conversed for a while before moving down a back alley and making an exchange. Ill got his supply and headed off down the streets to see if he could find one of them fiends to start pushing his new product. On his way down the road Hot Shots caught his eye, he figured it would be a good spot to regroup and shoot a game of 8 ball.

He walked in checking the place. Noticing the sticks he strolled over grabbed a few testing the weight before he found the perfect cue.Than went to an empty table began arranging some balls practicing his bank shot. A cocktail waitress walked by and he yelled

"Can you grab me a pint" than continued warming up.

Back in Ireland, Caolán had always enjoyed a game of pool. Up until now,he'd been unable to find a decent hall to indulge himself in a good game. Pool wasn't pool unless there was gambling and drink involved. He'd heard a of a place in Detroit that had all three.

As he walked in, he found a room separated into several booths that had tables inside. He orders a whiskey.

"Is anyone in here willing to play me. A grand a game is the wager."

As the cocktail waitress walked away IllFated was in the middle of his shot when he heard Cmckee's open challange to a well paying game, he tried not to sound to anxious and stuck his hand in the air saying "Right here, but a grand is a little steep I haven't played in a while..How bout best out of 3 for a grand?"

He made his offer and went back to his table and continued practicing his bank shot. His beer finally made its way over he leaned the cue against the wall as he stuck a few dollars in the waitress's hand than sipped on his drink.

Just as Scarfo strolled downstairs he overheard the respectable Philly mobsters IllFated and Cmckee in discussions regarding a game of pool. On his way past the table where he stopped in a position he felt both men could both hear and see him and spoke up.

"Feel free to call for me anytime I'm 'round to play a game or two with ya's. I'm not against taking your hard earned dollars."

Scarfo smirked, patted at his tie and made his way toward the counter and asked the barmen for a drink. Scarfo simply pointed at the bottle he wished for, which happened to be Calvert's whisky. The barmen returned with the bottle, placing it on the counter in front of Scarfo with a clean glass.

The drop was Scarfo's favoured label brand whisky. There were a few others he enjoyed, yet this just had something about it. Maybe it was due to the fact they had a stack of crates of it in a storage room from their move from Philly, and he could drink till his hearts content without worrying about the monetary consequences. Yet it was mostly due to it being one of the first proper bottles he had the pleasure of drinking from after having only the home made shit during the start of the prohibition ban.

Watching as his last shot missed he walked over grabbed his pint and took a sip from the corner of his eye he seen Scarfo walk down the stairs and heard him offer an open challenge. Ill than calculated how much gambling cash he had on him as he walked over toward the bar set down his empty glass looking at the bartender he pointed at his empty glass. The bartender nodded grabbed the glass brought it over to the tap filled it, than slid it down the bar to Ill.

"Hey Scarfo I wouldn't mind shooting a game with you. How's eight ball sound, clean, no slop, only have to call combos and the eight ball." he said invitingly as he walked away towards the table.

"I will even rack them up." he said as he went over and began arranging the balls in the triangle. He rolled the triangle up and back lining it up perfect, he than grabbed the cue ball and tapped the 1 ball before taking back the triangle in a flipping motion and set it back on its holder. He knew he had lured him in giving up the opening shot like he did and just waited.

Archy was back in Detroit for business he was driving through the streets of the city with Astro.

"Stop the car" yelled Astro.

Archy parked around the street corner and turned to Astro

"What's up? Why did you make me stop?"

Astro pointed at a sign reading "Hot shots pool hall" they had just passed.

"That name rings a bell?"

Archy started thinking but couldn't come up an answer, he got confused, should he know that place? He isn't that good at pool anyway, Astro cut through his thoughts.

"It's Don Scarfo's plce, you received an invitation on the day we moved to South philly, remember?"

Archy glared at the place one last time as scenes of the memory went through his head.

"Oh yeah, I do now, let's go inside and say hello to Scarfo, may be play some pool or a little poker, you know I haven't been in a casino for a while."

on that note, the two got out of the car and headed to the door, Archy pushed it open and the two walked inside.

"I'll grab something to drink till you get us a pair of cues to play a pool game till Scarfo shows up."

with that Archy walked to the bar, he smilled and greeted the bartender.

"Can i have a bottle of Vodka please and 2 glasses.."

Archy thought to himself for a moment then turned back to the bartender.

"Actually make it a glass and a Jar for my friend please. Also could you keep an eye on us, we will need refilling frequently."

The bartender brought the bottle, the glass and the jar then nodded at Archy

"Sure thing sir."

Archy smilled and tipped the man a ten dollar note, before fitching the bottle, the glass and the jar then heading to the table where Astro has been waiting. Archy poured himself some in his glass then poured the rest in Astro's Jar, the two raised their drinks cheering each other before they gulped the drinks down and each of them took a cue. 

"You know I am not too good with this, so easy on me Astro"

Astro laughed and walked around the table for his turn.

The other day, Uncle Joe was hanging out at hot shots pool sitting down with some younger members of the Detroit Partnership dispensing advice (as he always did) on the ways of the world and how to last longer in this thing of ours while maintaining smart, respectable habits. One of the young stunads in the crew was so captivated by what Joe was saying that Uncle Joe thought to share his "rules of wisdom" with the rest of the wiseguys there.

So Uncle Joe, began to describe 25 of the most important rules that he had learned over his years in the streets that he thought needed to to remembered.

25 rules of wisdom

1- Even the boss must get his fingernails dirty.

Don't make the people under you do things you haven't done or aren't willing to do. Once in a while, the boss should go out into the field with a trusted capo to send a message to his crew. If you're a leader, then lead by example. How can anyone argue with you then? 

2- A handful of luck is better than a mountain of wisdom.

Ok, as lucky as you can be, there are always some things in life you have to be prepared for. Even a wise man can slip on ice. Don't underestimate the power of being at the right place at the right time.

3- For every one word you say, let your enemies say 10.

Sort of like Rule 8 (you'll see it soon, shut up), but I like to emphasize this point by saying that the more you reveal to your enemy, the more weapons he has to hurt you with. Let your enemy talk because information is power, and information can destroy.

4- Cash is cash, even if it comes from an elephant's stomach.

When you have greenbacks in your hands, there are no maybes, no ifs, no credit checks, no anything. A credit can always drop, a credit can deflate in value, cash is always cash (which is why my establishments and businesses only deal in hard currency).

5- Never reveal 100% of anything to anyone.

If you have a great idea on how to become a millionaire, or how to convince the IRS that you really did only make $18,542 as a waste management consultant , never tell anyone all the details of your plan. Always hold something back, reveal only 75% or 90% of the plan if you have to. It protects you (especially if that last 10% is tricky/dangerous) and ensures that your great idea stays yours.

6- Never make a decision when you're angry.

Smart, careful men realize they must have a clear head to think. When you're angry, it's your boiling bloodlines that speak for you, not your logic. Control your emotions. This is one of the most important rules there is. When you're angry, you make threats you often can't deliver on, or decisions you come to regret. Don't say I didn't warn you.

7- A man is nothing without his word.

One of the few things even a poor man has is his word. Your word should never be broken. Always keep your promises (you should never make promises, but I know how some of you's can't stop yourselves). The minute someone doesn't trust you is the minute you lose them.

8- Keep your mouth shut and never lie.

If you don't have anything smart to say, don't say anything at all. Even if you have something to say, don't say it, you just end up revealing something to the other person, giving them more ammo to shoot you with. If your mouth stays shut, mistakes go the way of the dinosaurs.
If you lie, there's no use in you coming up with some conspiracy theory. Us wiseguy's have great intuition.

9- The best way to dodge an enemy's bullet is by never being in a position where he can hit you.

Don't put yourself in a position where you can get in trouble. Avoid being put between a rock and a hard place. Never be in the same district with your enemy and he'll never have a clear shot at your head.

10- When you can't win a war by playing fair, bend the rules. Better yet, break them.

Unless you're some salami who's as motivated as a slug, you always want to win. Winning doesn't mean you have to play by the rules. It means winning. If you want to get ahead in life, you have to learn the rules of the side-game. Those who run this thing of ours at the top levels learned this rule a long time ago, they're smart.

11- Never forgive betrayal.

Never.

12- Whenever you're in doubt about whether an enemy should respect or fear you, always choose fear.

Respect is great, fear is better. Machiavelli made this one famous. Fear is a better deterrent than respect; fear will stop an enemy in his tracks more than respect will.

13- Nothing lasts forever.

Whether it's love, good fortune, success in business, your looks, or your hair, nothing lasts forever. This one is self-explanatory.

14- Never give a tip to someone who isn't looking.

Whether you're in a bar being served by a hot waitress or giving a sports betting tip to someone at your local neighborhood hangout, don't give a big tip if; A) The waitress isn't even looking at you or going to know it's from you; or B) The idiot you're giving the hot tip to doesn't even know what sport your talking about.

15- If you go to war, always strike first. Strike hard, and hope it's the only strike you need.

When a conflict or fight is inevitable, always strike the first blow. You will knock your enemy off balance, and if your blow was strong enough, you could knock your enemy out completely.

16- Peace is only a prelude to war.

Never be complacent. Just because everything is going great in your life now, doesn't mean it always will. Always be ready for the worst, even if you don't, live as though the worst is actually happening to you.

17- Have a priest on call if you choose to be a careless man.

If you're not careful, or at least cautious in your actions or words, you're doomed to make your wife a widow or torpedo your career.

18- When in doubt, follow your gut.

Instincts were given to us so that we can make a decision when all the elements in a decision-making process aren't obvious. Listen to your gut, it'll save you more often than it'll hurt you.

19- Man appoints, God disappoints.

I used to hear an old timer say this when I first started off on these streets. I don't really know what it means and I don't think he did either. I always thought it sounded good though. (I really know what it means) 

20- Keep your friends close, your enemies closer.
People always misunderstand this saying. It doesn't mean you have to be best friends with your enemy, it just means you should do everything in your power to keep tabs on your enemy. Have someone you trust in his organization. Know his moves, predict his thoughts, and capitalize on his weaknesses.

21- There is no honor among thieves.

This is the mafia after all.

22- Overestimate the time something takes, and underestimate its rewards.

Even the best plans sometimes don't come to fruition. Most of the time, we have to work to get something, and that means being patient. Overestimating the work and underestimating the reward will never leave you disappointed.

23- To make money, you have to spend money.

I hate greasing all these corrupt pricks, but most of the time, it makes me 10 times more money as a result. Don't be afraid to spend money if it will bring you more. Take a loan out from Old Uncle Joe to get a CA and save on bribes, or borrow to gamble. I myself run loan sharking, book making and the numbers all in an effort to get ahead. 

24- Be a good earner, make money for yourself and your boss.

 I don't think I need to explain this one but money makes the world go around. See rule 23

25- Lucky is the man who suffers humiliation in front of others, for his revenge will be sweeter.

If someone ever embarrasses you, make sure he gets a good laugh; make sure people see this embarrassment because the memory will eat at you until you get your revenge. Too often, people don't retaliate when they're humiliated. Raise the stakes, and always do what you know in your heart is right.

These rules of wisdom had been handed down by many, proud and honorable Ligambi generations and Uncle Joe stood firmly by these rules and ethics. He figured maybe others in the room would find these helpful as well.

Suisitsu was making slow steps towards the shadow, that was behind the broken street lamp. There was no sounds, other than the slow footsteps Sui was making. It was just before midnight and most of the street was blackened and "closed" signs were all over the place. The only light that could be seen, came from the "Hot Shots Pool Hall". You could smell the different kinds of whiskey that people inside the Hot Shots Pool Hall was intoxicating themselfs with.
The slowly approaching man was dressed in a casual suit, since he didn't want to get his finest suits all dirty, if something should go down. Suisitsu was thinking that this was a great night to gamble just like the old days.

The shadow from the street lamp stepped forward when it saw Sui coming closer.

The former shadow made it's form as it stepped away from the broken street lamp. It was a man, about 199 cm and a pretty bulky build body. He had a big scar across his face and was missing some of his ear. 

"Well hello old friend, very surprised to see you here again after what you said the last time" the former shadow handed out his giant hand to greet Sui. 


"Yes it has been a long time, maybe even too long. But I needed to get out and have some fun" Sui grabbed the mans hand and shook it.

"The other guys will be here shortly, then we can go in and see what's happening inside" 

Sui and the man both walked behind the broken street lamp and waited.

Not long after 2 men, the one bigger than the other, came moving towards the street lamp. Inside the "Hot Shots Pool Hall" you could hear two men beginning an arguement. 

"Well it looks like we are all here then" said the bulky man. 

"Oh and I see you took an old friend of yours with you?" one of the men said to the bulky man.

Sui stepped forward and said " yeah could we please just not do this tonight, we have some money to earn tonight"

The four men stepped inside the "Hot Shots Pool Hall".

"I hope you have got a lot of money with you, cause we have gotten better at this since you saw us the last time"

Sui was about to open his mouth but hesitated and insted he just showed them what was in his pockets

When the four men entered, they were greeted with two men pushing each other, and a big crowd  gathered around them, just waiting for one of them to make a move. Suisitsu quickly made his way into the crowd and found the man in charge of the betting that was just about to begin.