You know, I started to make this post more then once over the last year or so but stopped every time because I like the Beard. But finally, I can’t take it anymore. Like a couple of other well known posters on here, I just hate bs, extreme bragging, and the spreading of misinformation. As in the bs posted by some on here and the naïve fan boy posts by others. And this recent bs love fest with the Beard was the last straw. Sorry Beard, I like you, and you’re a great character of the pool world, but it’s time for the truth. But Beard, I will do you the favor of only posting this over here in our own little world, I won’t post it over at a azbilliards --- I won’t smarten up your fanboys & suckers over there.
The thing is, I’m in a very unique position on this forum. Because I am the only person on here who knows exactly what speed Artie, the Beard, and the rest of the Chicago players played, while also having no bias, alliance with anyone, or axe to grind, and will post the truth. Some might not believe that, but that‘s their choice. Other than myself, there are three groups of people on here -- The large group that never saw Artie and the Beard play in their prime, and don’t know, and the Chicago gang, who being close friends all stick up for each other, wherein the credibility of what they say about each other is very suspect --- And a couple of old time top players who have certain reasons to not speak the exact truth. As I said before, I traveled around the Midwest regularly throughout the 60’s and 70’s and along with being in Cincinnati watching the Spaeth’s play, Detroit watching Red play, St. Louis watching Louie play, and more, I was in Chicago
a lot, and saw Artie, the Beard, and all of the lesser known Chicago players play many, many times. Now there are some who are naïve and might say, hey, Billy Incardona and Jay Helfert can also tell truly of the Chicago players. And Billy and Jay have previously posted such things, but ahem, the truth is, you think they’re going to post what they really think and/or
know, when there’s money to be made -- business dealings/gambling to be involved in, and also they are all cozied up together heartily recommending and selling eachother’s books and dvd’s, wink, wink.
Now speaking of naïve, the King of the naïve is Terry Ardeno. He posted in this thread, that he’s “never known the Beard to lie, ever!” -- I fought not to spit my coffee out all over my keyboard reading that. My wife’s best friend is a social worker, and she tells a lie -- but Terry Ardeno thinks an old school pool hustler wouldn’t lie for Gods sake! Now let me say that Terry Ardeno is an extremely nice guy and a great supporter of pool. But, with that said, his sappy hero worship of top pool players, particularly the older players, and his gullibility in believing everything they say, is not a pretty sight.
" Originally Posted by newfosgatesucks
None other than Tony "FARGO" Ferguson. While playin with him I asked him about the Beard. He said, "Who?" I said , 'Fred Bentivegna, from Chicago".
Well, I got a great story. Tony proceeded to tell me they played banks on a 5x10 in Chicago, years ago. He said they played to 4 games, and Freddy beat him 4 in a row. Tony went on to say, with aggrevated demeanor, that he had the worst stroke on earth, and just couldn't understand how Freddy could make one ball - much less 8.lol....I asked if they played a second set--he promptly replied NO. You could tell Tony didn't like it. He didn't
ike it so much that He was jarred years later just recounting it. But wait a minute - This is FARGO! FARGO! He could be backed or put up and go get another dose anytime he wanted - So I askd him---"Well Tony, How'd you do with hi the next time? " I EXPECTED to hear a great story, but no.
"There was no second time. We never matched up again, in all of these years."
WHY WHY WHY ??????? Would Tony Fargo not want to play Banks with Freddie? IDK, but I assure you, just as sure as I sit here, he was SHAKEN about the last time they played. So badly it showed YEARS LATER. Im not saying anything above that. Fargo himself said he doesn't like it. And said HE (FARGO!) Pulled up!.
Fred, you have nothing to prove to me. Same goes for Artie. I'd just like to have dinner and a nite at the pool room with either of you. I dont care how cold and wet it is. I'm used to playing in a boiler room.
Furthermore, I accept your word as the gospel truth. "
Now that was some real bs, posted by this fan boy newfosgatesucks --- Tony ‘Fargo’ Ferguson badly shaken from playing the Beard banks? Now I spit up my coffee again laughing. Anybody who knows hardcore Tony Fargo knows that this is a joke. And I know personally that what this kid posted is bs. And here’s why. You posted that Tony supposedly told you they played that one time? Oh really? Well it just so happens that I was in Chicago for the weekend about 25 years ago. The action at that time was at the Billiard Café --- there was good action there. That weekend that I was there you know who came to town? Tony Fargo. And he wasn’t “shaking” when he came in. And he played the Beard banks. And. They didn’t play even, Tony spotted the Beard 2 balls. Also, this is some truth opposed to what the Beard has posted about his playing Fargo.
First though, let me rightfully compliment the Beard. His knowledge of banks and bank pool is as good as it gets, and his books and dvd’s are well worth having if you have any interest in banks and bank pool. Also his knowledge as a historian of the last 45 years of pool players and pool action is exceptional.
So how good did the Beard actually play back in the day? In a nutshell --- In his prime, at his best, The Beard played close to top speed in banks, and mid shortstop speed in one pocket --- a fairly strong speed.
As the Beard has said, he could beat top speed 9ball and straight pool players playing banks --- yes this is true, if, they didn’t play banks. But contrary to what he says, from a Bugs or an Eddie Taylor, the Beard needed 2 balls. And also, he most definitely needed a little weight from top bankers like Fargo, Spaeth, Truman, and Donnie Anderson.
The Beard’s one pocket game was about 10-8 under his bank game. Playing one pocket, the Beard needed 2-3 balls from the very best players such as a Ronnie Allen, Eddie Kelly, Jersey Red, or Artie.
As for the Beard's beat list. For now, without going into detail, I'll just say this --- It's very deceptive.
And here’s some final proof for you regarding the Beard‘s one pocket speed, courtesy of Artie. First let me say that other than how Artie brags about his own “correct perfect” game, he actually mostly tells the truth --- he’s not a bs’er. With that said. All of you longtime members on here of course remember the big fight on here between Artie and the Beard that happened a couple of years ago. Well in one of those posts by Artie, regarding he and the Beard playing each other down in Bensinger’s when both were in their
prime, he mockingly said to the Beard “Yeah I always gave you 10-8 and 10-8 and the breaks and busted you like that on a regular basis --- your wife used to call me and ask me to please stop playing you” Artie wasn’t lying about that. That was the truth. Compute the Beard's speed from that.
I'll maybe write some truth regarding Artie and "Mr. 3cushion" another time.
I won't be responding too often on this thread, I'm too busy hacking up the golf course and playing with my six grandkids.
Old School
The thing is, I’m in a very unique position on this forum. Because I am the only person on here who knows exactly what speed Artie, the Beard, and the rest of the Chicago players played, while also having no bias, alliance with anyone, or axe to grind, and will post the truth. Some might not believe that, but that‘s their choice. Other than myself, there are three groups of people on here -- The large group that never saw Artie and the Beard play in their prime, and don’t know, and the Chicago gang, who being close friends all stick up for each other, wherein the credibility of what they say about each other is very suspect --- And a couple of old time top players who have certain reasons to not speak the exact truth. As I said before, I traveled around the Midwest regularly throughout the 60’s and 70’s and along with being in Cincinnati watching the Spaeth’s play, Detroit watching Red play, St. Louis watching Louie play, and more, I was in Chicago
a lot, and saw Artie, the Beard, and all of the lesser known Chicago players play many, many times. Now there are some who are naïve and might say, hey, Billy Incardona and Jay Helfert can also tell truly of the Chicago players. And Billy and Jay have previously posted such things, but ahem, the truth is, you think they’re going to post what they really think and/or
know, when there’s money to be made -- business dealings/gambling to be involved in, and also they are all cozied up together heartily recommending and selling eachother’s books and dvd’s, wink, wink.
Now speaking of naïve, the King of the naïve is Terry Ardeno. He posted in this thread, that he’s “never known the Beard to lie, ever!” -- I fought not to spit my coffee out all over my keyboard reading that. My wife’s best friend is a social worker, and she tells a lie -- but Terry Ardeno thinks an old school pool hustler wouldn’t lie for Gods sake! Now let me say that Terry Ardeno is an extremely nice guy and a great supporter of pool. But, with that said, his sappy hero worship of top pool players, particularly the older players, and his gullibility in believing everything they say, is not a pretty sight.
" Originally Posted by newfosgatesucks
None other than Tony "FARGO" Ferguson. While playin with him I asked him about the Beard. He said, "Who?" I said , 'Fred Bentivegna, from Chicago".
Well, I got a great story. Tony proceeded to tell me they played banks on a 5x10 in Chicago, years ago. He said they played to 4 games, and Freddy beat him 4 in a row. Tony went on to say, with aggrevated demeanor, that he had the worst stroke on earth, and just couldn't understand how Freddy could make one ball - much less 8.lol....I asked if they played a second set--he promptly replied NO. You could tell Tony didn't like it. He didn't
ike it so much that He was jarred years later just recounting it. But wait a minute - This is FARGO! FARGO! He could be backed or put up and go get another dose anytime he wanted - So I askd him---"Well Tony, How'd you do with hi the next time? " I EXPECTED to hear a great story, but no.
"There was no second time. We never matched up again, in all of these years."
WHY WHY WHY ??????? Would Tony Fargo not want to play Banks with Freddie? IDK, but I assure you, just as sure as I sit here, he was SHAKEN about the last time they played. So badly it showed YEARS LATER. Im not saying anything above that. Fargo himself said he doesn't like it. And said HE (FARGO!) Pulled up!.
Fred, you have nothing to prove to me. Same goes for Artie. I'd just like to have dinner and a nite at the pool room with either of you. I dont care how cold and wet it is. I'm used to playing in a boiler room.
Furthermore, I accept your word as the gospel truth. "
Now that was some real bs, posted by this fan boy newfosgatesucks --- Tony ‘Fargo’ Ferguson badly shaken from playing the Beard banks? Now I spit up my coffee again laughing. Anybody who knows hardcore Tony Fargo knows that this is a joke. And I know personally that what this kid posted is bs. And here’s why. You posted that Tony supposedly told you they played that one time? Oh really? Well it just so happens that I was in Chicago for the weekend about 25 years ago. The action at that time was at the Billiard Café --- there was good action there. That weekend that I was there you know who came to town? Tony Fargo. And he wasn’t “shaking” when he came in. And he played the Beard banks. And. They didn’t play even, Tony spotted the Beard 2 balls. Also, this is some truth opposed to what the Beard has posted about his playing Fargo.
First though, let me rightfully compliment the Beard. His knowledge of banks and bank pool is as good as it gets, and his books and dvd’s are well worth having if you have any interest in banks and bank pool. Also his knowledge as a historian of the last 45 years of pool players and pool action is exceptional.
So how good did the Beard actually play back in the day? In a nutshell --- In his prime, at his best, The Beard played close to top speed in banks, and mid shortstop speed in one pocket --- a fairly strong speed.
As the Beard has said, he could beat top speed 9ball and straight pool players playing banks --- yes this is true, if, they didn’t play banks. But contrary to what he says, from a Bugs or an Eddie Taylor, the Beard needed 2 balls. And also, he most definitely needed a little weight from top bankers like Fargo, Spaeth, Truman, and Donnie Anderson.
The Beard’s one pocket game was about 10-8 under his bank game. Playing one pocket, the Beard needed 2-3 balls from the very best players such as a Ronnie Allen, Eddie Kelly, Jersey Red, or Artie.
As for the Beard's beat list. For now, without going into detail, I'll just say this --- It's very deceptive.
And here’s some final proof for you regarding the Beard‘s one pocket speed, courtesy of Artie. First let me say that other than how Artie brags about his own “correct perfect” game, he actually mostly tells the truth --- he’s not a bs’er. With that said. All of you longtime members on here of course remember the big fight on here between Artie and the Beard that happened a couple of years ago. Well in one of those posts by Artie, regarding he and the Beard playing each other down in Bensinger’s when both were in their
prime, he mockingly said to the Beard “Yeah I always gave you 10-8 and 10-8 and the breaks and busted you like that on a regular basis --- your wife used to call me and ask me to please stop playing you” Artie wasn’t lying about that. That was the truth. Compute the Beard's speed from that.
I'll maybe write some truth regarding Artie and "Mr. 3cushion" another time.
I won't be responding too often on this thread, I'm too busy hacking up the golf course and playing with my six grandkids.
Old School
Last edited: