help me settle this! the truth is i really dont know. did willie masconi ever play minnesota fats
there's a video on google videos that has a challenge match between the two, it was televised even. i think it was from the show 'Wide World of Sports'. interesting match and watching, er listening, to Fats was pretty entertaining. i'll see if i can find the link again... but chances are someone else will post it before i get back.
eta: found this link with the video i was talking about
http://pool.bz/variety-pool-videos/1070-grudge-match-willie-mosconi-vs-minnesota-fats.html
Yes they played several times. Fats always lost when they played in tournaments and challenge matches playing straight pool. He often tried to goad Willie into gambling at
one pocket and Willie kept refusing. On one occasion Fats had a backer convinced Willie could not beat him playing one pocket. The backer gave Fats 2 grand to go to Philly
and try to shame him into playing in his home poolroom. He finally got Willie backed into a corner, so to speak, and they agreed to play $500 a game one pocket. After 4
games, Fat's was on the phone to his backer, asking him to wire him more money. He said to his backer " He doesn't shit about one pocket. He doesn't know the moves at
all! All he does is run eight and out!" :grin:
I've always said "eight and out" is the strongest "move" in one pocket!
Yes they played several times. Fats always lost when they played in tournaments and challenge matches playing straight pool. He often tried to goad Willie into gambling at
one pocket and Willie kept refusing. On one occasion Fats had a backer convinced Willie could not beat him playing one pocket. The backer gave Fats 2 grand to go to Philly
and try to shame him into playing in his home poolroom. He finally got Willie backed into a corner, so to speak, and they agreed to play $500 a game one pocket. After 4
games, Fat's was on the phone to his backer, asking him to wire him more money. He said to his backer " He doesn't shit about one pocket. He doesn't know the moves at
all! All he does is run eight and out!" :grin:
I've always said "eight and out" is the strongest "move" in one pocket!
You need to add some important info re that match, Sherm. People are confusing the exhibition matches Willie and Fats played on TV, with when they actually competed in Philly for real money. The Philly match took place when they were both in their prime, the 40s or early 50s.
Willie also got goaded into playing 1pkt with Don DeCoy in Philly and robbed him too. However, my mentor, Gene Skinner bar b qued Willie playing 1pkt in the 40s. Those are the only 3 incidents I know of with Willie gambling big at 1pkt.
Beard
My impression of Fats was that he actually didn't play very well at all (if he did, I never saw it) but he had one helluva mouth.