Buddy Hall

punter said:
OK, Tramp, guess I just took it wrong. Seemed like you were making fun of his weight, and considering he has had related health issues...well that's what prompted my comment.
Click to expand...

I kinda got the same feeling. I don't think Tramp meant any harm but it hit me the same way. I figured maybe I took it worse than I should have.

I would like to meet Buddy some day. Every time I have heard him do commentary he has struck me as a knowledgeable person to be sure, but what really impressed me was how gracious he was. He just seems like a genuinely great guy.
 
Comparing Lassiter to Buddy is very difficult, even if it's Lassiter doing the comparison.

Lassiter's most dominant years as a hustler were in the 1940's, and his best years as a competitor were 1960-65, all of this during the straight pool era of pool. Buddy's most dominant years as a hustler were in the 1970's, and his most dominant years as a competitor were in the 1980's. Their primes did not coincide, but I've always believed that players are best measured against the players of their own era.

Lassiter was so much better than his peers at nine ball that he couldn't even get games in the early 1960's. Eddie Kelly and Harld Worst are, I'm told, the only two who would play Lassiter without weight, and they would, typically, come out on the short end. Buddy is an undeniable legend and one of the all time greats, but there were far more with a chance to beat him at his best than Lassiter ever had to deal with. By this measure, I think Lassiter rates as the greater of the two.

Still, the debate cannot resolved, and in the end, we are rightly left to admire two of the all time greats.
 
obe1 said:
thank you tim..i have to find that video and buy it..worht every penny
Click to expand...
Fyi, Buddy and Nick Varner made a series about a year ago that has 2 hours of 8, 9 ball, 14,1 and 1 pocket. They do the same thing throughout explaining what they are thinking and why. Also some tricks of the trade. Look for it at Nickvarner.com
 
Tramp Steamer said:
I always like telling this story about Buddy, and it's true.
On the third day of the Derby City Classic, in 2005, I was sitting alone near the end of the buffet line at the host hotel, having lunch, when suddenly a giant shadow comes across my table and I look up. It was Buddy Hall.
Buddy stared down at me for a moment, and then said, "Can I have that?", pointing to a spoon lying on the table.
I said, "Sure, Buddy."
He picks up the spoon, walks over to his food tray on the buffet, and starts spooning gravy over everything on his plate.
What a guy. :smile:
Click to expand...
Buddy and I were rooming together and he asked me to get him $10 worth of stuff from the vending machine. I asked him what kind of things what he looking for and he told me anything. I asked again if he was sure and there must be something on his mind that he wanted. Nope he told me just get anything. Well Buddy didn't talk to me for the rest of the day after I came back with $10.00 worth of wriggly spearmint gum. Actually his only words were "You're a real Funny MotherF^*$@R arn't ya?" He uses this phrase alot with me. There will be a few Buddy stories when the time comes I get my book done where all he has to say to me is that. :)
 
sjm said:
Comparing Lassiter to Buddy is very difficult, even if it's Lassiter doing the comparison.

Lassiter's most dominant years as a hustler were in the 1940's, and his best years as a competitor were 1960-65, all of this during the straight pool era of pool. Buddy's most dominant years as a hustler were in the 1970's, and his most dominant years as a competitor were in the 1980's. Their primes did not coincide, but I've always believed that players are best measured against the players of their own era.

Lassiter was so much better than his peers at nine ball that he couldn't even get games in the early 1960's. Eddie Kelly and Harld Worst are, I'm told, the only two who would play Lassiter without weight, and they would, typically, come out on the short end. Buddy is an undeniable legend and one of the all time greats, but there were far more with a chance to beat him at his best than Lassiter ever had to deal with. By this measure, I think Lassiter rates as the greater of the two.

Still, the debate cannot resolved, and in the end, we are rightly left to admire two of the all time greats.
Click to expand...

According to Ronnie Allen, Worst was the better player over Lassiter.
 
bfdlad said:
Buddy and I were rooming together and he asked me to get him $10 worth of stuff from the vending machine. I asked him what kind of things what he looking for and he told me anything. I asked again if he was sure and there must be something on his mind that he wanted. Nope he told me just get anything. Well Buddy didn't talk to me for the rest of the day after I came back with $10.00 worth of wriggly spearmint gum. Actually his only words were "You're a real Funny MotherF^*$@R arn't ya?" He uses this phrase alot with me. There will be a few Buddy stories when the time comes I get my book done where all he has to say to me is that. :)[/QUOTE

Feel free to use my little nugget, if you wish, although there was a couple of guys here that thought I was disparaging him for some reason.
My story doesn't actually end were I ended it. Buddy brought the spoon back and we talked for several minutes about his One Pocket game, who he was playing in the afternoon session, etc. He's a helluva nice fellow. :smile:
Click to expand...
 
Tramp Steamer said:
bfdlad said:
Buddy and I were rooming together and he asked me to get him $10 worth of stuff from the vending machine. I asked him what kind of things what he looking for and he told me anything. I asked again if he was sure and there must be something on his mind that he wanted. Nope he told me just get anything. Well Buddy didn't talk to me for the rest of the day after I came back with $10.00 worth of wriggly spearmint gum. Actually his only words were "You're a real Funny MotherF^*$@R arn't ya?" He uses this phrase alot with me. There will be a few Buddy stories when the time comes I get my book done where all he has to say to me is that. :)[/QUOTE

Feel free to use my little nugget, if you wish, although there was a couple of guys here that thought I was disparaging him for some reason.
My story doesn't actually end were I ended it. Buddy brought the spoon back and we talked for several minutes about his One Pocket game, who he was playing in the afternoon session, etc. He's a helluva nice fellow. :smile:
Click to expand...

You mentioned this story just a week or two back and I was intrigued by it then. Most around here enjoy your post and although I am sure all your tales are true every once in awhile you do post something not so funny and it.....well lets just say it makes us wonder if there is a deeper meaning. It happens with Black-Balled now and then too!

Cuebuddy thinks Tramp can be a real Funny MotherF^*$@R just like bfdlad.:)
Click to expand...
 
backplaying said:
According to Ronnie Allen, Worst was the better player over Lassiter.
Click to expand...

All around in cuesports, Worst, also a world championship caliber player at 3-cushion billiards, was the better of the two, but I've never ever heard anyone suggest that Worst was Wimpy's equal at nine ball.
 
Especially if someone is as well known as Buddy, I find it in poor taste to divulge any story that casts him in less than positive light. Most everyone agree that Buddy is a gentleman. Unless you believe otherwise, why would you post a story that he may not want out there for everyone to see. I think it only indicates that you appreciate attention more than that person's privacy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top