hemicudas said:
8&out, Bugs told me that Eddie Taylor taught him how to bank and he thought Eddie was the best banker ever. He also told me that he, (Bugs), would have to try Eddie some One Pocket though. In answer to your question? I don't know. But, it's an honest answer. After Ronnie Allen on my list, it could just as easily be Grady at #2.
I've only seen Eddie Taylor during his 'retirement years' -- not back when he was at the top of his game. Although I suspect Eddie would be considered a notch above 'Bugs' as an all-around player, Bugs may have been a more well rounded One Pocket player than Eddie was, and of course he got damn close to Eddie at banks.
One of my favorite personally witnessed matches was a classic session between Grady and Bugs in about 1991 that took place after hours at Strawberry's One Pocket tournament in the DC area. Bugs was a complete One Pocket player, not just a banking maniac. But like Taylor, he could disregard the other man's pocket to fire at a bank that most other players would never consider. He'd peruse a tough situation that offered an even tougher looking bank, and say, "Grady, I got to go..." and fire at some off-angle straight back without regard to ducking -- and usually make the shot and then some!
Shots like this:
START(
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%KE4O9%LI1M2%MN4U0%NC2B6%OB2B7%PK6S1%U`8I1%VM0R4%Wr3N4%Xd4H9
%YD9[0%Zs0N9%eB5a0%_l8Z1%`h2D4%ac2G5%bm0E7%cl8J7%dl4Z8
)END