Don Lim, and Jimmy Duval RIP

Tobermory

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Mar 12, 2017
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San Francisco, CA
I first met Don in the 90's at lots of pool events, but I didn't get to know him until a few years ago when I started playing 14.1 at Crown in San Ramon. He seemed like he knew what he was trying to do but he couldn't ever get it done on the table, however he never came up short with his stories about the pool scene in San Francisco in the 60's and 70's, in which, by his telling, he knew and played all the local champions, and some of the road hustlers and beat them all at one time or another. I wasn't there, so I don't know for sure, but I took those stories with a few handfuls of salt.

Speaking of Salt, I met him in the 90's too, and we became pretty friendly for the next 25 years until he passed on. His stories were generally more plausible and much more entertaining than Don's, but he was usually pretty coy about any scalps he may have taken along the way. He always had some interesting prop shots to show but he couldn't keep the secrets to himself long enough to get a bet down first. I can't remember a single time I saw Jimmy actually get down and put up some money and play like it meant something, but I was never quite sure if that was because he had perfected the art of undercover pool and just never let anyone catch him playing his real speed, whatever that was.

So, who was around to see these colorful characters back in the day and can give us now they're gone the real 411 on our departed friends?
 
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jrhendy

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Placerville, CA
Both good guys with great stories and longtime friends. Don came around Hard Times, Sacramento and gambled a bit, but I will leave it there. Salt used to tell the best stories as his big wins were usually against players you heard about and usually prop bets. Salt seemed to know everyone and was respected and loved in the Bay Area, and had a story about any player who ever hit a ball. Miss them both a lot.
 

HowardK

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Nov 23, 2017
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San Jose, CA
I knew them both. I knew Salt had passed away, but I didn't know Don had as well. Don was a fun guy and always had a lot of stories.
 

Bob Jewett

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Jan 26, 2005
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Berkeley, CA
I knew Don very slightly from the 1970s or so and then better the last few years when we played in the same 14.1 league. He did have some amazing stories including about Leon Yonders who was a behind-the-back and a no-rail runout specialist. Don was still tinkering with his game the last time I saw him -- maybe in February -- and dealing with medical issues that didn't seem too serious.
 

catkins

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boulder creek ca
Don I knew when hanging out at Oakland herbies shop back in 1990 maybe and salt was salt great guy to see and great guy to know

Liked them both and think they both brought something unique to the bay area pool world
 

jay helfert

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Dec 6, 2006
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Both Don and Jimmy would show up at tournaments on the West Coast and in Vegas. Don was a pretty smart handicapper of pool and Jimmy always had a good story to tell about whoever we were watching play at the time. I think he also did more side betting and maybe a little staking too. Both of them were a big part of the Pool scene out here for a long, long time.
 

Ban Giang

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Aug 5, 2020
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California
RIP Salt

This was a shot that Salt had shown to me years ago. Shoot the ball off the point of the side pocket and it banks back to your hole. Try it a few times and you will figure out the right speed and english to use.

(photo- Diana Hoppe , table- DrawTable)

salt1p.jpgsalt2008.jpg
 

Ratamon

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Aug 8, 2018
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London, UK
RIP Salt

This was a shot that Salt had shown to me years ago. Shoot the ball off the point of the side pocket and it banks back to your hole. Try it a few times and you will figure out the right speed and english to use.

That shot is also on one of Freddy's DVDs. If memory serves, he said he had used it against Jack Cooney in a big money match
 

Tobermory

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Mar 12, 2017
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San Francisco, CA
Jim worked at the Bay Area horse tracks for many years, a lesser known fact. I'm still wondering: did anyone ever see him play a match, tournament or gambling, where he tried hard to win? If so, what do you think was his top speed?

I have the same question about Don...anybody have any idea what his top speed was back in whatever hay day he enjoyed?

Just curious.
 

12squared

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Mar 14, 2005
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Fort Collins, CO
Both good guys with great stories and longtime friends. Don came around Hard Times, Sacramento and gambled a bit, but I will leave it there. Salt used to tell the best stories as his big wins were usually against players you heard about and usually prop bets. Salt seemed to know everyone and was respected and loved in the Bay Area, and had a story about any player who ever hit a ball. Miss them both a lot.
John,

Salt was liked by most, including me, but not by a mutual friend of ours. Salt steered him into a game with Wade Crane as he found out later and Salt laughed about it all the time in front of him. Our friend did not see the humor. 😂🤣

I knew Salt and Don from the early 90s and never saw either match up with any one. Enjoyed talking with both. Don and I enjoyed talking and learning about cues so we talked a lot about that stuff as well as other pool related topics.

RIP both.
 
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