Doc Hubert and Howard Hankin again!
Doc Hubert and Howard Hankin again!
I should of posted this story in this thread to begin with, it belongs over here.
In Chicago, there have been many fascinating characters, as I’m sure there were in many other cities. One of them that have hung around the edges of the gambling and pool world for years is brilliant guy named, “Doc” Hubert.” As of recently one of the former owners of Chris’s Billiards in Chicago. Doc was actually a REAL doctor, been retired now for about 7 years. He’s been a BIG pool bug and sports better his entire life, one of the REALLY unusually strange birds around is Howard Hanken. He’s worked at the ball parks for years selling beer and programs.
Howard is a really huge White Sox fan, and he and Doc always were making bets with each other. This one particular game was in the early fall, a night game at Sox park. Howard took the Sox and Doc had the other team, the weather turns bad before the game starts and it’s called off. Tomorrow both teams play again with the same pitchers. During towards the end of the game, 8th inning, Howard calls up Doc and says, “We got action, right same pitchers!” Doc tells him, “We got NO action, NO bet,” and hangs up the phone.
At that time, Doc was the head doctor at the psychiatric floor at the VA hospital. That evening one of the nurses on the floor grabs Doc and tells him there’s a man here to see him, he name is Howard Hankin. Howard comes from around the corner starts yelling, “We had action, and you owe me money!” Doc tells him, “Get out of here Howard I don’t owe you anything, and go away!” Howard refuses and starts screaming at the top of his lungs, “He’s NO Doctor, He’s NO Doctor, He’s a bookmaker, give me my money, you thief!”
Well Doc had enough of Howard and called for security, when they showed up, Doc begins to explain to them that, “This man is a mental patient of mine, and he needs to put in a straight-jacket, and locked up in a room until I finish my shift.” “Then I’ll take him to Walter Reed for a more extensive psychiatric evaluation!” So, they hall off Howard in a straight-jacket to a rubber room. Now, Doc’s shift doesn’t end till midnight, during that 6 or 7 hours, the nurses would have enter Howard’s rubber room to feed him by hand.
When Doc finished his shift, he went down where Howard was being held and asked him, “You going to behave yourself and NOT cause another scene,” If so, I’ll have them let you out of the room and jacket.” If, NOT, I’ll see you in the morning!” Howard timidly replied, “NO, NO, Doc, I’ll behave. Please let me out, I’ll be good!” They let Howard out, and Doc gave him a ride home.
Just another couple of, “Zanies’” that hung around pool rooms and gambling joints in Chi-Town!