Hello everyone. Wondering if any one has stories about Happy Yeager or Leon Crump? In Amarillo Slim's biography he talks about players getting robbed after beating Happy. Anyone here have similar experiences? Also in golf gambler Leon Crump's excellent biography he talks about how much of his golf winnings he lost at pool. Anyone ever play him?
Happy Yeager- Leon Crump
- Thread starter vegasskip
- Start date
"Drive For Show, Putt For Dough", is the title of Leon Crump's biography, written by noted journalist John Stravinsky. John has written for Billiards Digest and faithfully attends DCC every year. It's a great book about one of golf's best hustlers ever. I recommend it to everyone. John is a terrific writer.
A little known piece of pool trivia, John did commentary for ESPN during the historic match between Earl and The Miz at Caesar's Tahoe in 1983. I was the Stage Manager, meaning I got to hold up my hands and signal the players when to break the balls or to hold up. One of the high lights of my television career!
A little known piece of pool trivia, John did commentary for ESPN during the historic match between Earl and The Miz at Caesar's Tahoe in 1983. I was the Stage Manager, meaning I got to hold up my hands and signal the players when to break the balls or to hold up. One of the high lights of my television career!
Last edited:
Nope, I only know pool players and poker players. The only way I'll go on a golf course is if I get to drive the cool little cart.
Nope, I only know pool players and poker players. The only way I'll go on a golf course is if I get to drive the cool little cart.
Darn, woulda' thought you'd also have at least ONE good story about the beer cart gals. I remember one year at the Broadmoor Hotel while working at the golf course bar one of our 'not too smart' cart gals didn't engage the park brake and it all ended up in the pond.
Last edited:
When I was a kid, I got into playing golf at the local country club where my dad was a member (in Dayton). I played a couple of summers in high school and actually shot a few nine hole rounds in the high 30's. It was a short course. My real skill was in putting, and I started putting for money on the practice putting green with the caddies and other kids. Pretty soon I had beat everyone (for quarters and maybe a dollar or two).
One of the members saw us playing for money and asked to get in the game. He was a low handicap golfer (maybe a 5 or a 6). I ended up beating him for over a $100 (like in 1960). Real money back then. The word got back to my dad and he barred me from my playing golf the rest of the Summer. That's when my pool career began. :frown:
I did play Putt Putt miniature golf the next Summer on their pro tour. They had tournaments all over Ohio for purses like five and ten thousand with the winner getting maybe $1,000 or $2,000. I played in four or five tourneys and won some small money, maybe $25 or $50. I was worried that it would cost me my high school eligibility on the school tennis team, but no one ever found out about it. Please don't tell on me. I don't want to give my trophies back :wink:.
(I wish I knew where they were - long gone!)
Last edited:
Nope, I only know pool players and poker players. The only way I'll go on a golf course is if I get to drive the cool little cart.
Hey Jay I thought you did play golf....ohh wait it wasn't golf it was a golfball on a football field
......Rongotcha14816
New member
to answer the question Leon is still around and i see him everyday..he is doing well and still plays golf. Maybe not as he used to but to hear the stories first hand is an experience of a life time
"Drive For Show, Putt For Dough", is the title of Leon Crump's biography, written by noted journalist John Stravinsky. John has written for Billiards Digest and faithfully attends DCC every year. It's a great book about one of golf's best hustlers ever. I recommend it to everyone. John is a terrific writer.
A little known piece of pool trivia, John did commentary for ESPN during the historic match between Earl and The Miz at Caesar's Tahoe in 1983. I was the Stage Manager, meaning I got to hold up my hands and signal the players when to break the balls or to hold up. One of the high lights of my television career!
I think I have seen you do that in at least one other match I have from AccuStats.
RedRockRob
Registered
Leon Crump
The pool tie to Leon was Marshall Carpenter "Squirrel", they ran around together. He would try to play golf, but I dont think he was any good. Leon stayed here a long time playing Mike Taylor and various others from Meridian, MS that is mentioned in his book. Not a very large write up about Meridian and Mike Taylor, because Leon didn't like his end of it.
The pool tie to Leon was Marshall Carpenter "Squirrel", they ran around together. He would try to play golf, but I dont think he was any good. Leon stayed here a long time playing Mike Taylor and various others from Meridian, MS that is mentioned in his book. Not a very large write up about Meridian and Mike Taylor, because Leon didn't like his end of it.
Pool room I grew up in was frequented by folks who were familiar with Weenie Beenie and (IIRC) they told tale of time Beenie and his partner were kidnapped after a score, taken to a field, stripped naked and robbed.
That is prettty tuff action there.
That is prettty tuff action there.