Could it have been Vernon Elliott?
The best non-pro player ever?
- Thread starter DarkPoseidon6
- Start date
Could it have been Vernon Elliott?
Didn't Mike Massey and Buddy Hall both do the schtick with overalls? Add lil bit more disguise...
Well for my vote...
Mostly cause he grew up in my area (Reading, PA) & because I saw him play goes to.....
"Jimmy Matz"!! He done things with a cue that defied logic... he was barred from playing in
many, many tournaments...
The people who knew him saw magic... he once ran "275" balls then stopped without missing
just cause he was tired of playing... & yes there were witnesses!! Most of the pros in his day
(80's & early 90"s) refused to play him. Many including world champions ducked him.. Matz
was a special player... too bad he died way too soon!!!
I'm sure if you look for posts of "Jimmy Matz"... you will find more about him.
Back in those days... a lot of hustling going on... Jimmy was one of the best
money players ever & many who knew him would agree!! Lastly, everyone
has their own favorite players....
So it is NOT easy to pick a certain one... it is better to just say they all were in a class of their own!!!
Mostly cause he grew up in my area (Reading, PA) & because I saw him play goes to.....
"Jimmy Matz"!! He done things with a cue that defied logic... he was barred from playing in
many, many tournaments...
The people who knew him saw magic... he once ran "275" balls then stopped without missing
just cause he was tired of playing... & yes there were witnesses!! Most of the pros in his day
(80's & early 90"s) refused to play him. Many including world champions ducked him.. Matz
was a special player... too bad he died way too soon!!!
I'm sure if you look for posts of "Jimmy Matz"... you will find more about him.
Back in those days... a lot of hustling going on... Jimmy was one of the best
money players ever & many who knew him would agree!! Lastly, everyone
has their own favorite players....
So it is NOT easy to pick a certain one... it is better to just say they all were in a class of their own!!!
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No, I knew Vernon Elliott.
I don't remember ever seeing him play in any of the big tournaments back East. Not in Dayton, not in Atlantic City, not in Toledo, not in Cleveland. I never knew why either.
Bob Vanover was a World Class player! That's the long and short of it. And all the pool players knew it too.
I was under the impression that it was "Wimpy" Lassiter that did this.
Maniac (read it in a book somewhere, I believe)
Tom golley...?
I'm actually surprised that no one has mentioned......ME!
People say I could have gone pro. I got a full ride to college but blew out my rotator cuff trying a behind the back jump shot with my regular cue. My horse at the time, Big Bucks Bobby Belkworth told me to play safe...don't attempt a behind the back shot like that, especially with a regular cue!!!
Well, you know the story, I was young, dumb and full of piss and vinegar. As soon as I jumped, I felt the cuff tear and it sent pain down to my finger tips. I knew from that moment, my career might be over.
As fate would have it, I did manage to leave it safe. I was playing against a short fellow with curly hair who went by the name of Cool Hand. He spent more time smoking than playing. Well, he tried a 3 rail kick, he missed and I took it down, with much pain. After the match he admitted that he had some work to do on his game and I suggested that he take up chewing gum instead of smoking and he said "sure thing"
After that day I realized that I had to find a real job like the rest of the bums out there. I tried selling cars and vacuum cleaners...not at the same time though. It seemed like everything I did took me back to those smokey rooms where the beer was cool and the ladies smelled like cooked cabbage and stale PBR.
I was in a room one afternoon when when I heard THAT sound. The sound of crashing balls that sent an echo throughout the room that seemed to make everyone stop and stare. I didn't want to turn around because I knew a PLAYER was in the room. I didn't want to be drug back into a game that almost literally took my right arm.
After another crushing break of balls, I couldn't stand it any longer and finally turned around and saw a large fellow with a bit of a beer gut who resembled Grizzly Adams. I can't remember his name now but it was something like Shooter or Shotgun or Rifleman.
He asked me if I wanted a game for which I said "no thanks ol' timer, the game has past me by" I told him that I had not seen him around these parts before and asked what he was doing here. He told me he was looking for action against a one time legend named Bic D. I told him that I had heard of Bic D before but thought he retired from the game years ago as a result of an old billiard injury.
The man looked dejected so I said..."I'll tell ya what ol' timer, I play ya a race to 3 just for funzies, okay" He said, sure thing.
I broke and ran a 3 pack and was walking out the door when the ol' timer said..,."Thanks for the lesson..... Bic D. I said...sure thing.
People say I could have gone pro. I got a full ride to college but blew out my rotator cuff trying a behind the back jump shot with my regular cue. My horse at the time, Big Bucks Bobby Belkworth told me to play safe...don't attempt a behind the back shot like that, especially with a regular cue!!!
Well, you know the story, I was young, dumb and full of piss and vinegar. As soon as I jumped, I felt the cuff tear and it sent pain down to my finger tips. I knew from that moment, my career might be over.
As fate would have it, I did manage to leave it safe. I was playing against a short fellow with curly hair who went by the name of Cool Hand. He spent more time smoking than playing. Well, he tried a 3 rail kick, he missed and I took it down, with much pain. After the match he admitted that he had some work to do on his game and I suggested that he take up chewing gum instead of smoking and he said "sure thing"
After that day I realized that I had to find a real job like the rest of the bums out there. I tried selling cars and vacuum cleaners...not at the same time though. It seemed like everything I did took me back to those smokey rooms where the beer was cool and the ladies smelled like cooked cabbage and stale PBR.
I was in a room one afternoon when when I heard THAT sound. The sound of crashing balls that sent an echo throughout the room that seemed to make everyone stop and stare. I didn't want to turn around because I knew a PLAYER was in the room. I didn't want to be drug back into a game that almost literally took my right arm.
After another crushing break of balls, I couldn't stand it any longer and finally turned around and saw a large fellow with a bit of a beer gut who resembled Grizzly Adams. I can't remember his name now but it was something like Shooter or Shotgun or Rifleman.
He asked me if I wanted a game for which I said "no thanks ol' timer, the game has past me by" I told him that I had not seen him around these parts before and asked what he was doing here. He told me he was looking for action against a one time legend named Bic D. I told him that I had heard of Bic D before but thought he retired from the game years ago as a result of an old billiard injury.
The man looked dejected so I said..."I'll tell ya what ol' timer, I play ya a race to 3 just for funzies, okay" He said, sure thing.
I broke and ran a 3 pack and was walking out the door when the ol' timer said..,."Thanks for the lesson..... Bic D. I said...sure thing.
I’ve thrown a name out from time to time over the years of Harold’s sparring partner in
Grand Rapids. He was involved in mentoring some world class players from the area
Over the years I believe.... a couple who became well known (Hunter, Belfus ).
I recall that he told me he beat Fats 3 different times for a G each time. I’ve never heard
Anyone on here give him any recognition. His name was George Ellis. RIP George.
Td
Why is he and a few others allowed to play in the amateur championships all these years?
There isn't a true answer, however there are people who can be eliminated from that list through definitions or common sense.
This topic comes up a lot.
This topic comes up a lot.