Anyone Ever Heard of a Player Called "Practicing Tom"?

I met Tom while I was on the road years back. I got stuck in Denver in the late 70's. That was a whole story in itself. But Tom was working some at Family Billiards. I don't know but this might have been real temporary. He was considered the house pro I guess. He would wear a little apron when he played if I recall right.

I layed down there for about 4 months. Davey Gomez was my steer horse Danny Medina was always trying to get me to play.

Tom was pretty smart pool wise. Every once in a while he would say to me. Hey there kid. Your show'in to much.

This little phrase of his stuck in my mind all these years.

After that I still played on the road off and on for years and everytime I felt like letting it rip and showing off a little which was not good when trying to get a game I would always remember what Tom said. Hey there kid. Your show'in too much.............

Tom was a real nice guy. I considered him a good friend in this short time in my pool life.

This picture brought back some great memories.............
 
genomachino said:
I met Tom while I was on the road years back. I got stuck in Denver in the late 70's. That was a whole story in itself. But Tom was working some at Family Billiards. I don't know but this might have been real temporary. He was considered the house pro I guess. He would wear a little apron when he played if I recall right.

I layed down there for about 4 months. Davey Gomez was my steer horse Danny Medina was always trying to get me to play.

Tom was pretty smart pool wise. Every once in a while he would say to me. Hey there kid. Your show'in to much.

This little phrase of his stuck in my mind all these years.

After that I still played on the road off and on for years and everytime I felt like letting it rip and showing off a little which was not good when trying to get a game I would always remember what Tom said. Hey there kid. Your show'in too much.............

Tom was a real nice guy. I considered him a good friend in this short time in my pool life.

This picture brought back some great memories.............
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Your post reminded me of the 1963-1964 time period when I was in Denver getting a degree. Was that the Family Fun Center at 38th and Sheridan? Seems like there was a guy named Virgil Abernathy who played pretty sporty back then.
 
Hunter said:
Here's an old episode from "Quantum Leap" where Scott Bakula lands in a poolplayer's body in 1954 who is in danger of losing his poolhall and saves the day. The player....Robert "Rags" Woods!

http://sharetv.org/watch/197833
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I just watched it. They may have used his name, but Rags wasn't in that episode. I have to wonder when they shot it, since he died about ten years ago. Someone had to be the Technical Advisor and shoot some of those shots. Usually Lou Butera used to get called for that stuff in L.A. I'm thinking the writer of that episode knew something about pool, using the name of Rags Woods and Grady for another character.

Rags was much older and a much larger man than the black pool player in this episode. I see his name in the credits, just not on screen. If the episode is old enough, perhaps Rags shot some of the shots for the black actor. I have no idea, but I do know he didn't appear on screen.
 
BillPorter said:
Your post reminded me of the 1963-1964 time period when I was in Denver getting a degree. Was that the Family Fun Center at 38th and Sheridan? Seems like there was a guy named Virgil Abernathy who played pretty sporty back then.
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Andy Hudson was the old guy who played good in there for a long time.
 
The only time I think he was seen was when Scott Bakula saw "his" reflection in the mirror right at first...
 
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jay helfert said:
Andy Hudson was the old guy who played good in there for a long time.
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Yep, I remember that name! And I recall him being a pretty strong player, maybe at the strong shortstop level.

I'm pretty sure there was a Virgil Abernathy, and older guy even back then in 1964. It's been so long ago that just about everyone who would know is 6 feet under.
 
Hunter said:
The only time I think he was seen was when Scott bakula saw "his" reflection in the mirror right at first...
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Yeah, they showed an older black man with grey hair. Only from the back though. Never showed his face.
 
jay helfert said:
I just watched it. They may have used his name, but Rags wasn't in that episode. I have to wonder when they shot it, since he died about ten years ago. Someone had to be the Technical Advisor and shoot some of those shots. Usually Lou Butera used to get called for that stuff in L.A. I'm thinking the writer of that episode knew something about pool, using the name of Rags Woods and Grady for another character.

Rags was much older and a much larger man than the black pool player in this episode. I see his name in the credits, just not on screen. If the episode is old enough, perhaps Rags shot some of the shots for the black actor. I have no idea, but I do know he didn't appear on screen.
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Jay, that was Robert Woods. I went back and looked at it again. A good view of him is when they go into the bathroom to talk and Scott looks into the mirror. Right there is where there is a good look at him and it sure looks like Rags to me. At about 10:03
 
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I remember some others also..........

BillPorter said:
Your post reminded me of the 1963-1964 time period when I was in Denver getting a degree. Was that the Family Fun Center at 38th and Sheridan? Seems like there was a guy named Virgil Abernathy who played pretty sporty back then.
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I was just in Denver about 4 months ago. Family Fun Center is still there. Different name though. There never was much action there though. Just like the name said Family Fun. It was a nice place though. Nice and clean and good equipment.

Back then most of the action was at Colfax Billiards on colfax. Frank Burgess had it. When I was there I remember 2 old timers. A guy named Marty(Omaha Fats) was always at Colfax. He was quite the hussler in his day. I had never played one pocket ever and he had me giving him 6 to 8 and the break. He could hardly walk. He hardly needed to walk to beat me out of a couple of hundred.

His favorite line to me all the time I was there in a voice that sounded very forced was : Young man, would you go get me a glass of water.
I always got him one too. He was quite a character.

Then there was a black guy named Henry Hudson. I think he was in his 70's but he still played pretty good. I was told he was a powerhouse in his day. I could see why.
:)
 
genomachino said:
Thanks for the help there. Was a long time ago.
Was he as good as what they say at one time?
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I didn't really know him well. Only knew about him. All the players from around Denver always raved about him and how solid he was. They liked him to a man and said that he played all games well. He was generous with his time and knowledge to upcoming players and quite willing to gamble with the road men passing through. He seemed to have everyone's respect.
 
dabarbr said:
Jay, that was Robert Woods. I went back and looked at it again. A good view of him is when they go into the bathroom to talk and Scott looks into the mirror. Right there is where there is a good look at him and it sure looks like Rags to me. At about 10:03
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Thanks Frank. That's him! Must have been near the end when he was that old and gray. I bet he was pushing 80 there. Glad to see that someone hired him and used his name in that segment.

I'm sure someone (Mark Cobb?) may have copies of his matches on the Legends of Pool. He was already in his late 60's when they were filmed. Rags remained a top player until his late 50's. That would have been in the 1970's.
 
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Robert "rags" Woods was once in an episode of Quantum Leap I believe, where he played an old pool player.
 
jay helfert said:
I don't know about all that. I've just been around the pool world a lonnng time. There are many players I wish I had seen play in their prime. Artie from Chicago and Strawberry from DC come to mind. Artie was in California but he laid it down good, never having to show his speed. And when I was in Chicago he was never in action. I think he sweated me playing Joey Gold once but never said boo to me.

I was only in DC one time and didn't cross paths with Strawberry (or at least didn't see him play). I spent most of the time in Beenie's room. That's where most of the action was. It was Richies first time there as well and he lit the place up, taking on all comers. For a minute there, Richie may have been the best 9-Ball player in the country. It was between him and Bernie Schwartz and Billy Incardona. Yes Billy played that good once upon a time.
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I know my grandfather had a VERY high opinon of Billy Incardona's 9ball game. WhenWwimpy was in his decline in the early 70's circa 1973 my grandfather was asked who the best 9ball player was playing, and being from the Midwest and familiar with all the top players around he said "I don't see too many people beating Pittsburgh Billy playing nineball maybe Wimpy and that kid out West (I don't know who he was refering to) but he sure don't miss too often"
 
huckster said:
I know my grandfather had a VERY high opinon of Billy Incardona's 9ball game. WhenWwimpy was in his decline in the early 70's circa 1973 my grandfather was asked who the best 9ball player was playing, and being from the Midwest and familiar with all the top players around he said "I don't see too many people beating Pittsburgh Billy playing nineball maybe Wimpy and that kid out West (I don't know who he was refering to) but he sure don't miss too often"
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He was referring to Richie Florence from Torrance, CA.
 
More on Andy by Melissa Little

BillPorter said:
Yep, I remember that name! And I recall him being a pretty strong player, maybe at the strong shortstop level.

I'm pretty sure there was a Virgil Abernathy, and older guy even back then in 1964. It's been so long ago that just about everyone who would know is 6 feet under.
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Andy Hudson Passes Away at 86 - An Icon Pool Player from Colorado

Andrew K. Hudson was the first of five children born to Dennis Leroy and Alice Payne Hudson in Denver, CO on October 2, 1920. Andrew married his high school sweetheart Electra in 1938. Andy was known as the “golden boy” of Colorado as described by John Rayburn, former Channel 9 news commentator, when it came time to play a game of 9-ball, Andy was a pool shark! Those who knew Andy knew of this passion. He began teaching pocket billiards in 1974 at the Physical Education Department of Metro State College. With this position, he innovated the game of pool for many students opening up the game to woman, which used to be a man’s game. He also introduced and instructed pocket billiards to players at the Family Fun Center, and introduced the game as a family sport. Andy was a member of the Commerce City Recreation Center. He always took first place in pocket billiards at the Colorado Senior Games. Andy was also an avid golfer and bowler.

Andy was passionate about many community causes and would give his time to help in anyway he could. He was a Teachers Assistant for Reading at the 24th Street School. He was his Swinging 30’s Class Treasurer. Andy was a member of the Park Hill Leisure Club. As a devout Catholic, he was a dedicated member of St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, devoted to assisting his brothers and sisters in Christ, ready to give spiritual guidance when needed. He loved the Lord. Andy was a devoted husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great grandfather, a good neighbor, and an all around great human being. He was an avid reader. He was a polished gentleman and was much loved by our community. Andy had “never met a stranger.”

In April of 1988 in the Colorado Billiards News, Jonesy wrote:
In the last month I had the privilege to interview one of Colorado’s top players. For over, four decades, the name “Andy Hudson” has struck fear in the heart of pool players all over America. Born in Denver 67 years ago, and Andy has been playing pool for over 50 years and is nothing short of a true gentleman. He is also one of the nicest people you could ever meet and one of the most knowledgeable players I have ever seen play. Denver should be proud to say that Andy is a “home grown son.” Thanks Andy, for all the thrills….Your a true champ.

Andy’s favorite game was one-pocket, his favorite place to play was The Family Fun Center, he practiced three hours a day – five days a week, he played pool with a hustler cue, and was asked in this interview what is the biggest mistake that amateurs make playing pool? Andy’s answer: “They don’t keep their eye on the object ball”- you can take that advice to the bank!

For some of you players that did not get the honor to meet Andy- stop by Hank’s Billiards (formally know as Paradise Billiards or The Family Fun Center) and ask any of the veterans and they will only have great stories of Andy Hudson. When I was 24 years old I was blessed to play Andy everyday at the same time at the same place “The Family Fun Center.” I have to say I learned a lot from playing Andy- I would miss him dearly. He was an ICON to pool and Colorado! God bless Andy!
By Melissa Little - 2007-10-25
 
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