Crazy Flipper Fingers were called out on their own turf by the rival pinball gang, Balls Of Steel (BOS) within months of developing. It happened at The Goodfoot where CFF had their very first meeting. “They left a note written on special letterhead to CFF calling us pussies,” Wray says. “I was fuckin’ pissed off man!”
BOS left their contact information confirming precisely how serious they were. It was an act that set the precedent for CFF to follow. A rumble had been officially declared among two pinball gangs in Portland. Wray and other members were infuriated with spite. CFF members incessantly called BOS’s leader Clint, leaving drunken, antagonistic rants on his voicemail dripping with hostility. As with any decent rumble, there was a mighty rise of tension that existed between the gangs.
Years prior to this engagement however was a small pinball crew in Portland known as Team Rocket (RKT) who were coming to an end. Despite the close friendships and passion for pinball, the camaraderie and unity was lacking. However, a new gang was emerging and three members from RKT, John Wray, Russ Wallis (Bonus, never remembers it-superjets didn‘t like name) and Dieter Hundt (Skillshot) were determined to keep their pinball habits going strong.
The “founding fathers” as members know them as, conceptualized Crazy Flipper Fingers while at the Pittsburgh Pinball Nationals in 2003. They formed the gang in a friend’s basement of Bloomfield’s Little Italy neighborhood. In October of 2003 the trio launched CFF and from there, the gang pioneered the path for pinball fanatics.
BOS had been the major rivals of the time, but CFF showed no mercy when it came down to a good old fashioned pinball rumble. Sights were high, booze was consumed, and flippers hit hard. During the rumble they were “not a friendly rival….it almost led to blows,” says Wray with a gaze of candor noting how he had to warn BOS several times that some CFF members couldn’t be physically held back if it came to a brawl.
There was unnerving trash-talking between the gangs and basic primitive rants between the two. Nonetheless, CFF beat BOS, and after the devastating loss, BOS disappeared and haven’t put a score up since. The event marked a well-deserved victory for CFF placing them at the top of the local pinball scene, while foreshadowing the endless rivalries that Portland would continue to offer.
Aside from grudges and heinous rivalries, CFF stay true to their pinball pledge of putting the initials up on as many games as possible, despite the countless “pinjuries” that occur among members, as Wray so humorously says. Tendon pain, wrist pain and the infamous calices that build up as a result of such barbaric flipper finger habits are a few of the detrimental consequences CFF members face.
John had to wear a brace for a while due to wrist pain, and another member, Jay aka Kickback even played with a “nub” for a hand after he contracted blood poisoning from punching a “butt rocker” in the mouth after the guy head butted Jay’s friend. He had to have his hand wrapped in garb. Members assisted Jay in a double-flipper feat where he controlled one flipper, while another member controlled the other.
As far as initiation is concerned, anyone interested in joining CFF must be sponsored by a gang member. John flipped open his phone and showed my five names, all beginning with the word “Prospect”. They have to attend five meetings in a row held every other Sunday at a location that has four or more pinball machines. Other than buying beers for members, the newbie goes through a hazing process involving a couple secrets John conceals behind a wide grin while stroking his frayed ZZ-Top beard.
I talked with the youngest member Josh who goes by the name of Slingshot. At 23, he’s been playing pinball ferociously for three years and was inducted into CFF just three months ago marking him as the third newest member. When asked why he wanted to join, Josh noted how at his work he use to watch them, “throw up insane scores and that got me thinking that there’s actually more substance to it than most people think, it’s a whole other subculture.”
Josh’s sincere appetite for the lifestyle has led him to play pinball on an average of two to three hours a day, not to mention he owns the 80s classic Taxi pinball game conveniently located in his kitchen.
CFF isn’t shy about their role in Portland pinball or the country for that matter. They’re in the process of obtaining their non-profit status and inquiring about sponsorship. Rumbles, camaraderie and dedication are a way of life for the gang, and it seems Rose City is the ideal habitat due to its stigma of being the “Pinball Mecca” for such an illustrious crew embarking on pinball domination.
Stay tuned for more . . .
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