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| Volume XXV, Number 8 | June 11, 2004 |
By Felix DoBosz
HOLLYWOOD — The Seminole gym floor was filled with nine pool tables and more than 100 tribal citizens and friends for the Eighth Annual Candy Osceola Memorial Pool Tournament on Friday May 21 and Saturday May 22.
Juanita Osceola created this annual Memorial Pool Tournament event as a tribute for her late daughter Candy Osceola.
“ Seven years and two months ago, Candy was taken away, she left two sons, a brother and sister,” said Osceola. “Her birthday was on May 18, so that’s why we hold this event for the community every year at this time, to honor her memory.”
Fifteen senior women and 16 senior men signed up for the senior’s 8-ball contest on Friday night. Thirty-four youth boys and 19 youth girls also signed up for the youth 8-ball competition.
All participants were striving to become winners to claim the big cash prizes. To keep everyone from growing hungry in this long competition, there was food catered by the local favorite Sonny’s Famous Steak Hoagies, that had the irresistible aroma and flavor everyone could really enjoy eating.
Mike DeWitt, founder and owner of Bizzaro Cues had set up shop in a small corner of the gym floor as the competition went on. He sat at a table in front of his cue sticks on display, some cue sticks costing as much as $2,000 dollars and more.
DeWitt said, “The Texas Tornado,” Vivian Villarreal, David Cypress, Mitchell Cypress, and Daniel Gopher all have custom made sticks, some with tribal colors inlaid on them.” He continued, “This gives them individuality that they can’t get anywhere else.”
According to DeWitt, these custom sticks are made out of the most exotic woods known to man and can take more than 50 hours to finish. The inlaid design used can be cut to measure down to 1/1000 of an inch, then the cues are hand rubbed for up to eight hours to get that luster shiny, slick look.
On display next to him were a dozen or so exotic custom cues that he had finished and was for sale. This grand cue master continues to tour the country bringing his custom cue sticks to pool trade shows and tournaments held around the country by professional national and regional billiard organizations.
In the middle of the spacious air-conditioned gym, Maria Billie and Marcellus Calderon sat at a folding table announcing names and pool table numbers of all the competitors. Some of the names of the winners were established players, while some were brand new to this billiards competition.
Calderon said, “David Billie helped organize part of this annual event; he's the athletic director of the Immokalee recreation department.”
Max Osceola Jr., Hollywood Council Representative and David Cypress, Big Cypress Council Representative, also sponsored this memorial event. Congratulations to all the winners who participated in the Eighth Annual Candy Osceola Memorial Pool Tournament
Here is the list of all the events winners:
8-Ball Senior Men: 1. Jimmy Bert; 2. Russell Osceola; 3. David Cypress; 4. Joe Billie Jr.; 5. Ronnie Doctor.
8-Ball Senior Women: 1. Laura Clay; 2. Jane Doctor; 3. Louise Osceola; 4. Annie Jumper; 5. Jennie Johns.
8-Ball Youth Boys: 1. Josh Garza; 2. Kendrick Osceola; 3. Jerome Davis; 4. Michael Doctor; 5. Tommie Benson.
8-Ball Youth Girls: 1. Mela Billie; 2. JoJo Osceola; 3. Nicole Osceola; 4. Erica Mata; 5. Krystle Young.
8-Ball Women’s: 1. Phalyn Osceola; 2. Juanita Osceola; 3. Carlene Osceola; 4. Vivian Osceola 5. Michelle Billie.
8-Ball Men’s: 1. David Cypress; 2. Daniel Gopher; 3. Woody Wilson; 4. Charles Osceola; 5. Raymond Garza.
Senior Scotch Doubles: 1. Ronnie Doctor and Mabel Osceola; 2. Juanita Osceola and Russell Osceola; 3. Annie Jumper and Joe Billie; 4. Keeno King and Betty Osceola; 5. Laura Clay and David Cypress.
Scotch Doubles: 1. Derrick Gopher and Phalyn Osceola; 2. Connie William and Daniel Gopher; 3. Yvette Jumper and Robin Buster; 4. Linda Jones and Woody Wilson; 5. Virginia Billie and Raymond Garza.
Open Men’s 9-Ball: 1. Che Mrvos; 2. Steven Nevens; 3. David Cypress; 4. Bronson Hill; 5. Raymond Garza.
Open Women’s 9-Ball: 1. Crissy Wiley; 2. Virginia Billie; 3. Jackie Thompson; 4. Phalyn Osceola; 5. Jaclyn Deck .
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