SJDinPHX
Suspended
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2007
- Messages
- 9,226
Lets put this Fat's thing to rest...I don't think anyone, including myself...ever said Fats wasn't a colorful character, and fun to be around, and listen to. However to many, his constant self-glorification could be a bit much, at times.
His conquest over Richie, is well documented, most others are not...Many people lay claim, to having 'been there' (not saying you weren't)... but actually very few were "there" except for RA, and the Jansco's... I happened to be in frequent contact, with both RF and RA,, at that time, and, as has been said by many, that RA was in with Fatty. I cannot honestly say, whether he was or wasn't. It would not be a real shocker, if he were !... I only know Fats, jacked Richie around, outsmarted him, and got the cash.
Going back to some years earlier, Joanne Jansco, who WAS THERE for sure, has stated that "Fats was flat broke, and in considerable debt to her father George"...He was headed for extinction, When the movie "The Hustler" came out, in '61. Joanie says George encouraged Fat's, to insist that the Gleason character was actually him, and to take the credit for it, and actually pursue legal action with Tevis, to that end.
I don't know for sure, how that was eventually resolved, but we all know (or should know) that it was a miraculous resurection for Fatty, and expert con man that he was, he milked it to the max... Not saying there was anything wrong with that, but one must wonder, how a washed up, over the hill, broke pool hustler, living in "Nowhere, Illinois".. may have lived out his years, were it not for Walter Tevis, and the success of the movie. Not to mention, the prodding (again according Joanne) of one smart cookie, George Jansco.
Fat's was a real live "Damon Runyonesque" character, who lived a colorful, and exciting life. His exploits were many, and we heard most of them from him...He was off the charts, when it came to "the brag" and he had enough charisma, to pull it off. I certainly can respect that.
However, I don't think there need be any 'jealousy' involved..Might check with your paisan Danny D on that... Those who believe he was a "really great pool player"...EVER, at any game...are simply under the Fat man's spell...and refuse to recognize, there were always 'hundreds' of players, who played better than him, at any point in his life.
His conquest over Richie, is well documented, most others are not...Many people lay claim, to having 'been there' (not saying you weren't)... but actually very few were "there" except for RA, and the Jansco's... I happened to be in frequent contact, with both RF and RA,, at that time, and, as has been said by many, that RA was in with Fatty. I cannot honestly say, whether he was or wasn't. It would not be a real shocker, if he were !... I only know Fats, jacked Richie around, outsmarted him, and got the cash.
Going back to some years earlier, Joanne Jansco, who WAS THERE for sure, has stated that "Fats was flat broke, and in considerable debt to her father George"...He was headed for extinction, When the movie "The Hustler" came out, in '61. Joanie says George encouraged Fat's, to insist that the Gleason character was actually him, and to take the credit for it, and actually pursue legal action with Tevis, to that end.
I don't know for sure, how that was eventually resolved, but we all know (or should know) that it was a miraculous resurection for Fatty, and expert con man that he was, he milked it to the max... Not saying there was anything wrong with that, but one must wonder, how a washed up, over the hill, broke pool hustler, living in "Nowhere, Illinois".. may have lived out his years, were it not for Walter Tevis, and the success of the movie. Not to mention, the prodding (again according Joanne) of one smart cookie, George Jansco.
Fat's was a real live "Damon Runyonesque" character, who lived a colorful, and exciting life. His exploits were many, and we heard most of them from him...He was off the charts, when it came to "the brag" and he had enough charisma, to pull it off. I certainly can respect that.
However, I don't think there need be any 'jealousy' involved..Might check with your paisan Danny D on that... Those who believe he was a "really great pool player"...EVER, at any game...are simply under the Fat man's spell...and refuse to recognize, there were always 'hundreds' of players, who played better than him, at any point in his life.
Last edited: