Rod, from another thread I was reminded that you knew Johnny Vivas. Would you tell us all about him-- at least your impressions? Most of us knew that he won first place at the inaugural Johnston City tournament in 1961. I'd also heard that he had trouble with the bottle or drugs. But other than that, not much seems to be known about him. How about it?
Thanks~
Doc
When I first saw him play I was so impressed, for about a week my cue stick touched my chin on every stroke.
I was very young and looking for what would help my game.
He was at the Gandy tournament in Macon Ga.
I next saw him in Memphis.
He was hustling the one pocket ghost prop.
He let most there shoot at 15 in 5 innings, no one was successful.
He beat 16, 17, 18 and 19 then everyone quit and he left town.
He came to Houston, maybe 10/12 years later and stayed quite a while.
He no longer played as well and couldn't compete with a host of players here at that time.
I took him home to his room for whatever, he said come in I'm going to shower. We were going to a bar spot.
The room had syringes laying all around. He said never mind those I've been giving myself some B12 shots.
Many said he was on Heroin, I never saw him on the nod or any other signs of it, but his game had slipped badly, he couldn't beat players my speed.
He didn't drink, in the bars he'd buy a beer and sit it aside when we left.
Possibly drying out from drugs had ruined his nerves ?
When playing if someone rattled a newspaper in the back of the room, he'd holler at them. If I was there he say "I'm gonna kill a sweater before I die"
Rod.
P.S. He was an awesome player when first I saw him.