Another long story...Jack Cooney !

SJDinPHX

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
(I tried to add this onto my existing 'story' thread, but couldn't get it to take ? sorry)

Jack Cooney and I go back to the 60's and the old Cochran days !..Jack is considerably younger than me !.. And he did go on to become one of the best money makers EVER, at hustling pool !.. I would gladly trade his record, for $$$$, won and lost,..for mine, any day !...However. as a youngster, he was not competitive with the more experienced good player's, hence we never really tried to match up back then.

Fast forward, about 35-40 years, to about 2005!..Jack and Barb, found themselves in Arizona .. Jack got word I was living there, and still 'trying' to play high dollar pool !..He had greatly improved his one pocket game by then, and had to believe he could rob an old dinosaur, approaching his seventies !..However, it did not work out too well for him !

In fact, humorous side note, (as Barb told me later)..As Jack was driving over to my joint he said, "Don't worry, this won't take long" ! :p.. I played the age card on him, and convinced him I needed 9/8, and after the usual 'stall time', he finally said..you got it.. Flip it !

Get ready for the brag !...After about 4-5 hours, of him winning about 1 out of every 5-6 games. I agreed to play even !
..Nothing much changed ! Barb was getting more and more stressed out, and finally they got into a little beef, and she threw some money at him, stormed out the door, and left him there !

By that time, Jack had tried quite a bit of 'medication' trying to stop the bleeding..But it was too late !..He soon ran out of the money she had left him, and I let him go on the wire to keep playing, with the understanding I would have to give him a ride to their motel in Mesa, (a 40 mile round trip) to settle up.

Well, I was having fun, and we both began sipping on the booze, and it turned into a 24 hr. marathon..I think we ended up playing for $3-400 a game !...Jack ran out of gas before I did ! he only owed me a few hundred, and I told him to forget it ..But I still had to get him home !...My main goal, was to drop him off, and get the Hell out of there, before either of us had to confront Barb !..I was afraid it might be Jack's turn, to "take a bullet for her" ! :eek:..I don't remember the exact count on the score, but it was several thousand !

We didn't play again, 'til several years later, and yes, hard-headed old fart that I was, I let him play position on me, and he exacted his revenge !..He ALMOST got even !...Lotsa fun times though ! Jack's a good guy to gamble with, and like I said, my main forte, was staying in action ! :p
 
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Two hall of famers going 24 hours. Quite a session at any age. Thanks for sharing. I would have loved to sweat that one.
 
What is jack up to these days, post HOF induction and all that?

As far as I know, he's just chillin' out in Vegas...He probably sneaks away, to snap off an occasional 'sucker whale' ! ;)

PS..I was really kind of surprised he went for the HOF exposure !..Just goes to show, we all have our ego's, and really enjoy a little recognition from our peer's..He and Barb, looked pretty classy up there, didn't they ? ;)
 
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As far as I know, he's just chillin' out in Vegas...He probably sneaks away, to snap off an occasional 'sucker whale' ! ;)

PS..I was really kind of surprised he went for the HOF exposure !..Just goes to show, we all have our ego's, and really enjoy a little recognition from our peer's..He and Barb, looked pretty classy up there, didn't they ? ;)

About three years ago I was in Best Billiards with no action. I ask the bar maid " do you know anyone that's plays $20 one pocket". Some older guy says "I'll do that".

Holly cow, I hardly won a game. After the games he told me his name was Jack Cooney.
Very nice guy to play. Nothing flashy, just great mistake free 1P.
 
Jack and Dick were truly two road warriors, traveling near and far to find action, and never being afraid to raise the bet. I have a lot of respect for guys like this (Ronnie was one too) as opposed to the one table wonders who ruled supreme on their home court. I'm not saying these "one table" guys couldn't play good, but they just don't rate as high in my book of great players.

There was a guy back in my neck of the woods (Ohio or West Virginia) named Bud Hypes who no one could beat on his table, not Lassiter, not Willis, not Rood, none of them! And out here in California there was a player in Visalia who beat everyone playing in his bar. Bobby Gils I think was his name. And of course we all know about the great One Pocket player from Chicago, Artie Beatmeoffer or something like that. :)
 
Nice read SJD thx, and Cochrans what a place on market street before the Bart was built.

Sounds like Sandy and Grady going at it back in the day.
Boy, red sure had an OKlaHoMa temper. :grin:
 
A real shocker...

I'll have to get Terry B, to give Barbara a call later today! ;)

P.S. They don't live in Vegas!

Its not surprising, that 'someone', needs someone ELSE to call the Cooney's for him ! ..Barb probably wouldn't even accept a call, from "You know who"!.. It is also very impressive, that same 'someone' may know where they live..Who cares ?..Jack may live in some 'out of the way' place, but, its pretty common knowledge, that Las Vegas has been his base of operations for many years now !...Right Jay, Billy, Lenny.. anyone? ;)

SJD

PS..Some people, who continually like to try and impress everyone with their secret, "inside information", usually wind up looking like a complete fool !..Some things never change ! :sorry:
Also, there is only 'one' person in the whole world, NOT welcome in ANY of my threads...It appears he is a little slow to catch on to that...Ya think ?
 
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Its not surprising, that 'someone', needs someone ELSE to call the Cooney's for him ! ..Barb probably wouldn't even accept a call, from "You know who"!.. It is also very impressive, that same 'someone' may know where they live..Who cares ?.....Jack may live in some out of the way place, but Las Vegas has been his base of operations for years now !...Right Jay, Billy, Lenny.. anyone? ;)

SJD

PS..Some people, who continually like to try and impress everyone with their secret, "inside information", usually wind up looking like a complete fool !..Some things never change ! :sorry:

I just don't have their number, but Freddy's wife, Terry does!

BTW, you would think the GREATEST Sports middler and one pocket players of ALL time and the BEST pool hustler would see, talk and know each other living in the same city, if they did!

BTW, Artie offered Jack 9/7, He wouldn't play!

This used to be your line, I'm here to, 'Protect and Serve!' :)
 
I just don't have their number, but Freddy's wife, Terry does!

BTW, you would think the GREATEST Sports middler and one pocket players of ALL time and the BEST pool hustler would see, talk and know each other living in the same city, if they did!

BTW, Artie offered Jack 9/7, He wouldn't play!

This used to be your line, I'm here to, 'Protect and Serve!' :)
Not sure what your purpose is to come into a good thread where people are enjoying this pool story stating you need to have someone make a call to Jack. Why don't you go find someone to play with or pay someone to play with you. :cool:
 
I just don't have their number, but Freddy's wife, Terry does!

BTW, you would think the GREATEST Sports middler and one pocket players of ALL time and the BEST pool hustler would see, talk and know each other living in the same city, if they did!

BTW, Artie offered Jack 9/7, He wouldn't play!

This used to be your line, I'm here to, 'Protect and Serve!' :)

More 'valuable' [sic] unsolicited information ! (I tell ya, its hopeless)..Lenny, lets put the troll back under the bridge...Its almost cocktail time ! :p

PS..I think for my next story, I will talk about ALL the 'billiard players', and '1-pocket players' (from Chicago)..that I have run across in my travels !..(but, it will be tough to complete a 'whole' sentence !) :cool:
 
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Not sure what your purpose is to come into a good thread where people are enjoying this pool story stating you need to have someone make a call to Jack. Why don't you go find someone to play with or pay someone to play with you. :cool:

Lenny; I hadn't thought about Jack in awhile since Freddy's passing! This thread sparked that I may want to talk to Him, you know, about some of the old days at the 'Rack!'

Theses types of stories make people think about others, and what they're up to. ;)

Like I said, I don't have His number, I'll get it from Terry, that's all!

Maybe I'll let YOU find someone I can play EVEN in AZ!

P.S. I won't post in THIS thread anymore, unless YOU find that player from AZ!;)

P.P.S. Lenny, since YOU want me to find someone to play, I'll play YOU!

YOU play me, 9/6 one pocket and I'LL play YOU 30/20 in 3 Cushion! We can play some $500.00 or 1K a game! Either game won't take long!

Remember, YOU started the 'sarcastic' remarks!

 
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Jack and Dick were truly two road warriors, traveling near and far to find action, and never being afraid to raise the bet. I have a lot of respect for guys like this (Ronnie was one too) as opposed to the one table wonders who ruled supreme on their home court. I'm not saying these "one table" guys couldn't play good, but they just don't rate as high in my book of great players.

There was a guy back in my neck of the woods (Ohio or West Virginia) named Bud Hypes who no one could beat on his table, not Lassiter, not Willis, not Rood, none of them! And out here in California there was a player in Visalia who beat everyone playing in his bar. Bobby Gils I think was his name. And of course we all know about the great One Pocket player from Chicago, Artie Beatmeoffer or something like that. :)

According to George Rood Bud Hypes was from West Virginia and George said he busted him and won his new Buick Roadmaster playing 9 ball but it took him a while because Hypes was a very tough player.
 

...Remember, YOU started the 'sarcastic' remarks!

P.S. I won't post in THIS thread anymore, blah, blah, blah...

I'm laying 200 to 1, he does post again ! (we could not be that lucky) :sorry:

If the distractions are finally out of the way...for those who like 'em..got another story coming up soon. This ones about one of my most favorite people ever, Richie Florence
;)
 
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Dick, thanks for the interesting story and I look forward to more. Somehow I knew it was a matter of time once Vegas was mentioned. Jay's post #8 was interesting but to quote it is too obvious.

Look forward to the Richie story!
 
Nice read SJD thx, and Cochrans what a place on market street before the Bart was built.

Sounds like Sandy and Grady going at it back in the day. Boy, red sure had an OKlaHoMa temper. :grin:

Bill, just curious..which 'Sandy' and/or 'Red', might you be referring to ???
 
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