Who is Rod Curry?

[lll]

Great hearing from you Billy. I was in college in Denver 1971-1975 and was I was married and went on the road about 1974 during a school break. I looked different in that I had long hair and a beard but after I won playing one pocket on the bar table, you asked me name.

could you tell us why the "SURFER" nickname??
just curious

 

[vapros]

After spending more than an hour on his site, I have to say that he primarily liked bar tables, 8 ball and prop bets. Not a degenerate one-pocket player like some of us, but I hope he will hang around and talk to us. I wonder if anyone traveled more and gambled more than Surfer Rod.

I'm eagerly awaiting delivery of Alfie Taylor's book, and I believe Rod has one in him also. Any chance you will write it, Rod?

 

[SJDinPHX]

Pool stories, you say? Follow JAM's link to Surfer Rod's website. Pool in every form there ever was, and many of the players everyone knows by name today, plus a lot of people I never heard of. Rod has either a fantastic memory or a great imagination. I had a good time on his site. Found SJD's name in there, along with his gun-toting backer. <---Bill, his "book" on his pool life, is on his web site !!!

Bill, (and Rod)

I'm sure you, and most of the regular's are aware of the Beard's great pool site. He has a ton of pool related stories, a few of which are mine. (yes, we used to speak )...So for the newer members, here is a link to my version of Rod and and I's first meeting...

http://bankingwiththebeard.com/?p=453#ABadDayinDallas >>>>Scroll up or down, for more stories.

It does not differ much from Rod's version, the main sticking point being, I do not recall George being broke. He and Rod were paying off after every game..(in fact, James Pelfrey had just brought him fresh $$$)...As I said, when we changed it to 'last pocket', and I won several games in a row..Rod said "Thats all, I quit"...Thats when Pilled up, Nut-case George flipped out, and threw down on him...Rod, do you happen to recall the very next night, when we continued our game, (all alone) at the Airport Lounge, near Love Field ?...No one ever said you wouldn't gamble...You broke two $1000 bills with me, before you emptied out !...I remember, because when McGann found out about it, he tried to 'tush' me out of half the money...But I stood my ground...I only gave him $400, but then I had to listen to him call me a "short count, hold-out artist" til the day he died..(which was not that long, after our play)...

Fun times with you all, over the south-southeast...Glad we both lived through them.. You are a class act !

Dick

 

[petie]

Bunny Rogoff was an Eightball specialist. He played it pretty damn good. The mop handle thing doesnt make sense unless they both used one or there was a gigantic spot.

Rod was big action where ever he went and he would go into the kind of joints that I would only go in with Sugar Shack Johnny by my side. He would go into them alone.

Beard

How do you spot 8 ball? I've heard of and played "Firehouse 8-ball" where you take the stripes and solids off in rotation as the game used to be plaid in all the fire stations in the country. This you could handicap but spotting a guy, say three balls, in 8 ball has always been a hustle as you know. You spot him but you take the 3 balls off thus making it in your favor.

 

[mr3cushion]

would like to hear aliittle more of this
pms accepted

Larry; Do you want to just hear about the "school girls" parts of the story?

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"

 

[Jimmy B]

How do you spot 8 ball? I've heard of and played "Firehouse 8-ball" where you take the stripes and solids off in rotation as the game used to be plaid in all the fire stations in the country. This you could handicap but spotting a guy, say three balls, in 8 ball has always been a hustle as you know. You spot him but you take the 3 balls off thus making it in your favor.

I use to let a young fellow have the break and first shot each game, but he did not play very well. I use to let another fellow take off a ball off of his choosing and break and shoot first. He couldn't beat the five ball ghost on a seven footer with six inch pockets however. Oh yea. I beat Surfer Rod one time on the bar table with the oversize cue ball where I would have to bank the eight but he could shoot it anywhere. And then I went over to a schoolgirls apt for the evening and watched Johnny Carson. Which of these statements are true? Any of them??

 

[bstroud]

Hit 'em with some of them 10 & outs Bill, you know, the ones you didn't use at DCC.

Dennis

I didn't play very well at the DCC. You're right. Had not played a good player in many years.

Playing better now even though the tables at Kolby's are strange to play on.
Have run one 10 and one 11. Lots of 8's.

Wish I had a normal Diamond to play on. Scotts' is shimmed way too tight for my taste. Had to gain any confidence.

Bill S.

 

[Frank Almanza]

How do you spot 8 ball? I've heard of and played "Firehouse 8-ball" where you take the stripes and solids off in rotation as the game used to be plaid in all the fire stations in the country. This you could handicap but spotting a guy, say three balls, in 8 ball has always been a hustle as you know. You spot him but you take the 3 balls off thus making it in your favor.

One way to spot in eight ball is to give (or take) the last ball, or two balls , or three balls off the table before shooting the eight. I've given the last three optional. Meaning he could shoot the eight after pocketing four balls or continue pocketing his balls until he decides to shoot at the eight.

 

[Skin]

How do you spot 8 ball? I've heard of and played "Firehouse 8-ball" where you take the stripes and solids off in rotation as the game used to be plaid in all the fire stations in the country. This you could handicap but spotting a guy, say three balls, in 8 ball has always been a hustle as you know. You spot him but you take the 3 balls off thus making it in your favor.

Artie maintained that pick-up ball spots in 8 ball were sucker spots. He thought games on the wire were better. But you have to be playing sets to do that, of course.

When playing by the game on a barbox, a way pick-up ball spots were handled was that the spottee got to remove ball(s) - could be his, the spotter's, or a any combination of both - as soon as the suits were determined. That could be a tough spot to fade if the guy could play some and halfway knew what he was doing.

Here's part of an exchange I had with Artie about 8 ball spots a couple years back..

Originally Posted by Artie Bodendorfer
Spoting a player all his balls off. Playing a player you have one pocket he has the pther 5 pockets. Never play a good player one foul cue ball in hand its the worst rule to play a good player that way. If you are the smarter player play shoot to hit your ball no cue ball in hand on a foul. When you play shoot to hit your ball yopu can never try to run the table unless you you no you are going to run out. Because if you dont run the table all you do is trap yourself and you should never get a nother shot from a smart good player. When you make your move you have to no that you are going to run out or play a stall shot or a safty. And let your opponent try to run out. Another game is alabama eight bal that also favores the smartest player. Or last pocket eight ball. A real good game is playing eight ball and you both have a back pocket. A good game I use to play on a bar table was I shoot one handed to your two hands on a bar table. If you are a good eight ball player. You no what you can spot a weaker player. By how he shoots. You can spot the player 4 pockets and you have the front two pockets witch is about a 50 50 game. You can give up the breack and first shot. You can even play a week player you bank the eight and he shoots it straight in. You can give a weak player the breack and the first 3 shoots. I even played eight ball were I have to win 5 games before he winns 2 games. Or I have to make the eight ball 3 times in the same game in different pockets. I even played eight ball withI even played eight ball one hand on one leg. I even played one handed jacked up. And I would play left handed to his regular hand. I would play eight ball even and I couldnt run out. Thier are more but thats enough for now. Eight ball is one of the greates games to hustle at.

Damn, Artie!

Skin

The entire thread is here. It's hilarious.

http://www.onepocket.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2386

 

[androd]

One way to spot in eight ball is to give (or take) the last ball, or two balls , or three balls off the table before shooting the eight. I've given the last three optional. Meaning he could shoot the eight after pocketing four balls or continue pocketing his balls until he decides to shoot at the eight.

That is a huge spot. The black guys around here in the 70's asked for the last three off because the last one off is the nuts, if you can play a little.
Rod.
P.S. Never gave it up, got it a few times on the lemon.

 

[bigpin22]

Pittsburg Mike??

Pittsburg Mike??

Pittsburg Mike, Pennsylvania & Okla City, 70’s

You stated that you played Pittsburg Mike in OKC & Penn. Are you sure it was the same guy? the Pittsburg Mike from OKC is about 64 yrs old now and was orginally from Pittsburg Ks, (which is where he resides and plays now). He is a good friend of mine and has also played many people from that list.

What game did you play and what was the outcome?


I have heard of another Pittsburg(h) Mike from Pennsylvania that was also real strong.

I am sure Bill Stroud can speak more of Pittsburg Mike from OKC.

 

[fred bentivegna]

Pittsburg Mike, Pennsylvania & Okla City, 70’s

You stated that you played Pittsburg Mike in OKC & Penn. Are you sure it was the same guy? the Pittsburg Mike from OKC is about 64 yrs old now and was orginally from Pittsburg Ks, (which is where he resides and plays now). He is a good friend of mine and has also played many people from that list.

What game did you play and what was the outcome?


I have heard of another Pittsburg(h) Mike from Pennsylvania that was also real strong.

I am sure Bill Stroud can speak more of Pittsburg Mike from OKC.

The Pittsburgh Mike that I knew had thick glasses.

Beard

 

[bigpin22]

The Pittsburgh Mike that I knew had thick glasses.

Beard

That must be the one from Pennskyvania, not OKC.

San Jose Dick knows the one from Pittsburg Ks. I believe they played some golf in Pittsburg.

 

[harleyb]

rod curry sufer rod

rod curry sufer rod

you and i played a few glad to see us still here we both made it 2013 your friend jvill fl harley bryan

 

[androd]

you and i played a few glad to see us still here we both made it 2013 your friend jvill fl harley bryan

Lighting, glad to see you posting. You and I played a few also. Hope all is well with you.
Rodney Stephens
Houston Tx.
P.S. I'm still kicking, just not as high.

 

[fred bentivegna]

you and i played a few glad to see us still here we both made it 2013 your friend jvill fl harley bryan

Well goddarn, look what the wind blew in. Glad you showed up, Harley. I need somebody to verify all these lies I been telling.

Freddy the Beard

 

[ironman]

Some of our illustrious member’s outcomes playing Rod Curry, interesting stuff!!

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"[/SIZE]

i remember some of this and some a little differently.
I saqw him playing Bernie,(Pots and Pans) in Vegas with the mop handle and that was impressive. he simply boroke off the mop, too the stick outside and roughed the handle end on the sidewalk, chalked it and played.
I watched the Cheyenne Pete gold match and he got crucified.
I was at the Serene Room in Vegas when he played Allen Hopkins last pocket 8 ball, with the big ball. That was the best I ever saw Rod play. $1000 per game and Rod lost $23,000!
As island Drive said,"he loved the attention of the big bet"!
i was a roommate of Al Hogue"s for about 8 years and I do';t remember the one pocket or 8 ball.
he was etertainig.

 

[surferrod]

Surfer Rod

Surfer Rod

I just saw your note and would like to clear up: the asterisks mean I asked my prospective competitors to play and they declined. It seems even worse these days in that the good players don't really gamble like we use to--betting our own against world champions getting staked or going 5 ways. Surfer Rod

 

[surferrod]

Surfer Rod

Surfer Rod

Yes, I remember 2 Pittsburgh Mikes; In OK city, I beat Mike playing 8-ball in the 70's on a bar table. Regarding the other Pittsburgh Mike, I met him once in an action town south of Pittsburgh, PA and later on in the 80's in Las Vegas, NV after he won one of the $25,000 tournaments. We either gambled with each other playing 8-ball, straight pool or pitching quarters closest to the foot spot on we teamed up and gambled against others in the Serene Room, Las Vegas for days. Both Pittsburgh Mikes were great guys in their fashion & they both loved pool action. Surfer Rod

 

[mbvl]

Surferrod,

I didn't see Bucktooth Cook on your list. I remember a time (1980 or thereabouts) Tooth was holding a tournament in his room in Castro Valley. You weren't entered, but I saw you wander in and get on the bar box. I asked one of the locals, "What's Rod Curry doing here?" He said, "Shhh, we're trying to get him and Tooth matched up."

I couldn't believe Bucktooth wouldn't know who you were, but maybe he hadn't ever seen you with short hair.

Did anything ever come of that?

Mark