lll
Verified Member
great stories everyone
very enjoyable thread
keep them coming
very enjoyable thread
keep them coming
There are a lot of great stories and great players mentioned. i also have a few overlooked players.
How about Richie Florence? No one could out gamble Richie and there was never a better pool tournament promoter then he. If he was alive today I guarantee there would be some serious money added to tournaments.
I learned to play from several players who played world class but loved to drink and stayed broke. When they were sober they could really dab it. Mexican Phil, Crying Sam and Marvin Henderson all passed now but had great games. I think it took an absolutely great player to go up to Tacoma and beat Whitey playing anything. Ronnie Allen tried to give him a ball many times and got busted. Another great player in Tacoma was Max Wilson who also owned a pool room. His best playing days were in the 1950's. I played him in 1966 and he could still play one pocket very well. Tommy the Greek was in his seventies when I met him in 1966 and he played great one pocket. In 1968 I staked him against Denny Searcy and he beat Denny out of $240 and $20 a game and made Denny say uncle. I think Jay Swanson could play anybody and hold his own. Being a big guy myself, I really appreciated how well Jay played for a fat guy.
I could go on an on about west coast guys but when it came to nine ball, the west coast players dominated in the 1960's.
There are a lot of great stories and great players mentioned. i also have a few overlooked players.
How about Richie Florence? No one could out gamble Richie and there was never a better pool tournament promoter then he. If he was alive today I guarantee there would be some serious money added to tournaments.
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Jerry, I respect you and your opinion but when you say that the west coast players dominated 9ball in the 60's that's a bit of a stretch, don't you think.?
Early in the 60's, players like Luther Lassiter--Ed Kelly--Ed Taylor--Harold Worst---Craig Stevens
Later in the 60's there were also great 9ball players like myself, Bernie Schwartz, Steve Mizerak, Buddy Hall and you can also throw in Jim Marino, Jim Rempe, and Wade Crane.
I don't believe the west coast dominated.:heh :sorry
Stay healthy,
Bill Incardona
....I knew Ritchie in the early 70's.....bought a cue from Him....when He busted out in a week long Payball game....at Vern Petersons place in Bellflower, CA......one of (if not) the greatest 9 ball player(s) on a bar box....
......but, don't forget there were...also some great "under the Radar" players...in that era also.....players that didn't want to advertise....they quietly took Your money and left You with a smile on your face...while You thanked them for the games......not at all like Ritchie and Ronnie Allen...that always did a Victory Lap around the Table...after they robbed You :lol
.....one Player named Alberto Florez...also called Nica or Nicaraguan Al (probably so other Players wouldn't confuse Him with Mexican Al), or as Ritchie and Ronnie....called him....just plain Nic.......used to beat both Ronnie and Ritchie playing 8/9 ball on a pretty regular basis....Al would...immediately take the winnings to the track...and promptly go tap.....which is also what Ronnie would do with His winnings.....
.....Al would always play them in an obscure out of the way Mexican bar......so if anyone in the bar saw Him win the money...they wouldn't know He was beating a Champion....they just thought He beat a couple of "white Boys"...out of their paychecks.....:heh
I knew Nic well. I beat him out of $500 once in Bellflower playing golf when he was waiting to play Eddie Burton some 9 ball. They played every day for a week and Nic got all the $$.
His eyes went bad and he started dealing cards at one of the clubs around Los Angeles.
Great story Bill, and an even better payday!
~Doc
if veasy had the cue he had stolen it from someone.
somehow. just before he would leave a town he would get a few cues from people and tell them he would re-wrap them or put a new tip on for free. then he was gone and so were the cues.
I know Freddy did. I believe the Ghost did too when he lived out in CA.Anyone here spend any time at the Billiard Den.
That's where I stayed for awhile and played with Harry the Horse, Marvin and a lot of other players.
Spector was a regular as was Savalis, Joey Bishop, Peter Folk and many other movie people.
Action every day and night.
I was staying at the Gene Autry hotel. A guy named Jim asked me if I wanted to stay at his place in the Hollywood hills. I was a little wary but went to see what it looked like. Walked in the front door and you could see through to the pool. In the pool were 3 naked good looking women. Turns out Jim was in the Porno business.
I stayed there for two weeks before I left town.
The Billiard Den was a great pool room.
Bill S.
Jimmy Marino played as well or better than anyone during that time period. So did Billy Incardona, Bernie Swartz, Jimmy Reid, Rempe, Buddy, Toby Sweet (I don't thing anyone could beat him) and tons of others not from the west coast.
With the exception of Florence I consider the West Coast players inferior to the East Coast players. Most were about the speed of Billy Johnson. Toby gave him the 8 and robbed him in Atlanta.
Bill S.
Toby was a master at the old shootout rules. I found this out a little too late. He came to Hard Times in Bellflower around 1990 and I beat him a set for $500, Texas Express rules. He offered to play another set with the old shootout rules and I agreed. I knew he could play, he came in with Cuban Joe, but after I won the first set I figured I had a free shot at $1,000.
It was no contest and he BBQ'd me. I know he wasn't the monster he was in the earlier years, but he still could play.