There's folks on this thread that have met both players, folks that haven't, and some that have met one or the other. And then there's various degrees of meeting, Like I saw them once. The rest form conclusions from the videos. That's not a dig, its just the way it is.
For me, unfortunately I never met or saw Mosconi play. I've only seen him on the vids and knew one person that knew him personally. He never had a sour word about him.
On the other hand this person above also knew Fats. I can attest to that since I lived the better part of a decade in Carbondale, I and probably met talked and played Fats 3Cushion, all added up about 50 times. In that time I believe he never knew my name, only face recognition. I was simply a punk student with no money, except that evening he took me for literally every cent I had on a side bet in a 1 pocket game. (He didn't know that, and I didn't tell him)
Notice Bill Meachum only piped in here maybe once. He was there before me, but also during my tenure.
I will tell you when he dropped into town from Dowel IL only 8 miles, the rooms he picked would light up. On the night I lost my fortune of $50 or $100 the room he picked was a struggling new room. He came to help the business. That night it was standing room only. He was playing a nobody we know, called Doc from DuQuoin 1 Pocket. Doc was no pushover and he was winning when I got in. Get the picture? Anyway a great night of entertainment. Well worth my losings even then, certainly in today's dollars. I learned a valuable gambling lesson although. Take that how you will.
Point of all this is we have our hero's. Fats is not a hero of mine but I'm very happy that I got to meet him. Very funny energetic and entertaining man, and has been said a very generous man. He never mentioned anything of his charity. I respect that part of him. It came from the heart and had no part of his public persona.
There's mention of his loving animals. This is all true and if you're ever at the Humane Society in Carbondale you should see a plaque in his honor for his contributions. I assume its still there. Why take it down.
Some of my most memorable times when learning how to swing a cue was the moments with Fats around.
My ribs hurt just thinking about those days.
For me, unfortunately I never met or saw Mosconi play. I've only seen him on the vids and knew one person that knew him personally. He never had a sour word about him.
On the other hand this person above also knew Fats. I can attest to that since I lived the better part of a decade in Carbondale, I and probably met talked and played Fats 3Cushion, all added up about 50 times. In that time I believe he never knew my name, only face recognition. I was simply a punk student with no money, except that evening he took me for literally every cent I had on a side bet in a 1 pocket game. (He didn't know that, and I didn't tell him)
Notice Bill Meachum only piped in here maybe once. He was there before me, but also during my tenure.
I will tell you when he dropped into town from Dowel IL only 8 miles, the rooms he picked would light up. On the night I lost my fortune of $50 or $100 the room he picked was a struggling new room. He came to help the business. That night it was standing room only. He was playing a nobody we know, called Doc from DuQuoin 1 Pocket. Doc was no pushover and he was winning when I got in. Get the picture? Anyway a great night of entertainment. Well worth my losings even then, certainly in today's dollars. I learned a valuable gambling lesson although. Take that how you will.
Point of all this is we have our hero's. Fats is not a hero of mine but I'm very happy that I got to meet him. Very funny energetic and entertaining man, and has been said a very generous man. He never mentioned anything of his charity. I respect that part of him. It came from the heart and had no part of his public persona.
There's mention of his loving animals. This is all true and if you're ever at the Humane Society in Carbondale you should see a plaque in his honor for his contributions. I assume its still there. Why take it down.
Some of my most memorable times when learning how to swing a cue was the moments with Fats around.
My ribs hurt just thinking about those days.
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