There is a pool player/gambler around the DC area named Buck. He has lived here all of his life and excelled in one pocket. He has also always matched up and gambled HIGH (in his hey day) and still plays/matches up quite often.
He is one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet and I enjoy listening to his stories. In the last couple of years he has had many health problems/surgeries which has really hurt his game, but he has diligently practiced and is playing pretty darn well considering all he has been through health wise.
Buck told me stories of matching up with Grady Mathews in the 80's...Bill Incardona and Earl Strickland. I emailed Billy and Grady and got their feedback on Buck as well.
Anyhow, Buck is a funny guy and I'll share a few of his stories. They are pretty short and sweet and if you could hear Buck tell them in person you would really laugh, but I'll do what I can.
The first is when Buck played Grady Mathews in the early 80's.
Buck was at home late one night about to go to bed and he received a call from the pool room. "Buck, there is a guy here offering anyone 9-6." Buck said he turned them down as he was tired from a long day. He lay there for about 5 minutes and then jumped in bed exclaiming to out loud to no one in particular, "9-6!!!! Let me go get some of this 9-6." He went out to his car and drove to the pool room and there was Grady. Grady introduced himself as FRED and they played for $300 a game. Buck beat him out of around $1800 and Buck laughs because he said Grady looked at the crowd in frustration and said something along the lines of, "No wonder he busts all of you m-fers. You said he can't shoot but he hasn't shot one wrong shot all night."
Buck also has a few stories of playing Jack Cooney as well a variety of gambling games...but I'll need to get more details about them from Buck.
Here is the Earl Strickland story. Buck was playing a young guy one day some one pocket and beating him pretty easily. Now, in his day Buck banked very well, was a solid shooter and moved very well. He was also quite slow and methodical and just doesn't give up a lot of shots or offensive opportunities. I've heard guys around here say that in his day they never saw Buck miss any shots or banks he was supposed to make. He is also pretty hilarious with the table talk. He said he was beating this young guy pretty easily...and the guy was telling him how it was too bad they hadn't played weeks ago because he could have bet higher being that he just won a big tournament but was robbed in his hotel room for 15K. Buck thought he was just telling bald-face lies and was making joking responses to this younger mans stories. He said something like, "YOUUU won a tournament? What kind of tournament was this?"..so Buck wins 6 games straight and goes to the bathroom. On his way to the bathroom his buddy stops him and excitedly says, "Do you know who you are playing?" Buck says, "Yeah..some deadbeat who can't play one pocket a lick." His buddy opens up some sort of billiard publication with Earl on the cover holding a pool cue like a machine gun and it said the name of the tournament he won. Buck folds the paper up and puts it under his arm. He non-chalantly walks over to Earl, un-folds the paper holding it out before Earl. He points to the photo of Earl and asks, "Is thissssssss you?". Earl smiles and says "Yes." Buck looks down, slowly shaking his head and breaking down his cue. "Oh noooooooooooo...I don't play no champion EVEN." This, after beating him six straight for two or three hundred a game. We all laugh at that one.
Buck tells of gambling with Billy Incardona as well. He said that he received 9-6 or 9-7. They played 3 times. Billy beat him the first time. He edged out Billy the second time, and they broke even one time. Billy told me to tell Buck he would buy him breakfast next time he saw him and remembered how funny Buck was. I asked Buck about that and he said in Vegas Billy had won some money but was complaining about the breakfast prices and Buck razzed him about that.
Anyhow, those are just a few stories that I enjoy from my good friend Buck and I wanted to share them with you.
He is one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet and I enjoy listening to his stories. In the last couple of years he has had many health problems/surgeries which has really hurt his game, but he has diligently practiced and is playing pretty darn well considering all he has been through health wise.
Buck told me stories of matching up with Grady Mathews in the 80's...Bill Incardona and Earl Strickland. I emailed Billy and Grady and got their feedback on Buck as well.
Anyhow, Buck is a funny guy and I'll share a few of his stories. They are pretty short and sweet and if you could hear Buck tell them in person you would really laugh, but I'll do what I can.
The first is when Buck played Grady Mathews in the early 80's.
Buck was at home late one night about to go to bed and he received a call from the pool room. "Buck, there is a guy here offering anyone 9-6." Buck said he turned them down as he was tired from a long day. He lay there for about 5 minutes and then jumped in bed exclaiming to out loud to no one in particular, "9-6!!!! Let me go get some of this 9-6." He went out to his car and drove to the pool room and there was Grady. Grady introduced himself as FRED and they played for $300 a game. Buck beat him out of around $1800 and Buck laughs because he said Grady looked at the crowd in frustration and said something along the lines of, "No wonder he busts all of you m-fers. You said he can't shoot but he hasn't shot one wrong shot all night."
Buck also has a few stories of playing Jack Cooney as well a variety of gambling games...but I'll need to get more details about them from Buck.
Here is the Earl Strickland story. Buck was playing a young guy one day some one pocket and beating him pretty easily. Now, in his day Buck banked very well, was a solid shooter and moved very well. He was also quite slow and methodical and just doesn't give up a lot of shots or offensive opportunities. I've heard guys around here say that in his day they never saw Buck miss any shots or banks he was supposed to make. He is also pretty hilarious with the table talk. He said he was beating this young guy pretty easily...and the guy was telling him how it was too bad they hadn't played weeks ago because he could have bet higher being that he just won a big tournament but was robbed in his hotel room for 15K. Buck thought he was just telling bald-face lies and was making joking responses to this younger mans stories. He said something like, "YOUUU won a tournament? What kind of tournament was this?"..so Buck wins 6 games straight and goes to the bathroom. On his way to the bathroom his buddy stops him and excitedly says, "Do you know who you are playing?" Buck says, "Yeah..some deadbeat who can't play one pocket a lick." His buddy opens up some sort of billiard publication with Earl on the cover holding a pool cue like a machine gun and it said the name of the tournament he won. Buck folds the paper up and puts it under his arm. He non-chalantly walks over to Earl, un-folds the paper holding it out before Earl. He points to the photo of Earl and asks, "Is thissssssss you?". Earl smiles and says "Yes." Buck looks down, slowly shaking his head and breaking down his cue. "Oh noooooooooooo...I don't play no champion EVEN." This, after beating him six straight for two or three hundred a game. We all laugh at that one.
Buck tells of gambling with Billy Incardona as well. He said that he received 9-6 or 9-7. They played 3 times. Billy beat him the first time. He edged out Billy the second time, and they broke even one time. Billy told me to tell Buck he would buy him breakfast next time he saw him and remembered how funny Buck was. I asked Buck about that and he said in Vegas Billy had won some money but was complaining about the breakfast prices and Buck razzed him about that.
Anyhow, those are just a few stories that I enjoy from my good friend Buck and I wanted to share them with you.