I played Willie an exhibition game in the summer of 1964. I was 17.Does anyone have any stories with A Willie Mosconi or a Minnesota Fats encounter.
It wasn't much of a match.
He played great and I racked great.
I played Willie an exhibition game in the summer of 1964. I was 17.Does anyone have any stories with A Willie Mosconi or a Minnesota Fats encounter.
Thanks. I think that as pool fans, we are starved for stories about Alex's (and with Corey) early road days.About 25 years ago an unknown 18 yr. old kid was on his first extended road trip, traveling with and being steered by a known pro player. They came to Chicago and spent a weekend at Chris's Billiard's. On Friday night the kid played a $500 set of 9ball with one of Chris's best players.
Well, although he'd never really played the game, this kid was fascinated by One Pocket and wanted to learn the game. So the owner of Chris's told him that if he wanted to learn the game, the best person for him to learn from would be me. So when the kid didn't have/wasn't in action he and I played cheap One Pocket, $10 a game, even. He didn't know the game so I won most of the games, but he was subject to run out if I left him a shot. It was a good time, he took note of everything I was doing/shooting, and he enjoyed his first lessons in the' One Pocket moving game'. Since then he's become a pretty good One Pocket player ...
His Name is Alex Pagulayan.
Postscript: Over the last many years, every time I would run into Alex at the DCC, by one of the tournament rooms or where ever, we both stop in our tracks and Alex gives me a bad-ass stare and says to me: "You want to play some more of that even One Pocket?"...and I always reply: "Sure, flip it - same bet as before though - $10 a game"...then we both laugh and fist bump.
- Ghost
But I don't know that one yet. Do tell.Thanks. I think that as pool fans, we are starved for stories about Alex's (and with Corey) early road days.
I do not want to hear the story about Alex and the big car again (!!!).
In a nitshell:But I don't know that one yet. Do tell.
I heard they had a safe welded to the trunk of that thing for their bankroll.In a nitshell:
Alex and Corey on the road. Alex never gets to drive and finally convinced Corey to hand over the wheel of the american land yacht.
Alex can't see over the wheel and touch the pedals at the same time.
Guy came into the pool room where I worked and wants to play 9b.
Mike and I were good friends. One time I took up a collection to fly him from Albany to Va Beach for the US Open, because he had incurred some serious medical expenses, and just couldn't afford it. We got him there just so he could play in the CCB annual tournament at Q-Masters. Lotsa guys and girls here remember Mike...really a great guy to be around. RIPJust so you all know, cueball1950's name is Mike Peabody, and he passed away a few years ago. He was a joy to be around and loved, loved, loved pool. He was the ultimate railbird, like me. Mike is depicted on the left with his arm around Keith McCready.
Tom...I was there in Burlington too. It was my first pro tournament, and Stroud had just delivered my first custom cue to me there! Everybody was there, old and young, road players, tournament players, and stone cold gamblers. Buddy Hall looked like toothpick...way tall and 150 lbs maybe (this is long before he was The Rifleman)! LOL That was also my first encounter with Keith (spoiler alert...I won!). The cool thing, I was watching guys like Ronnie Allen and Richie Florence playing in $500/man ring games with a half dozen other killers. Florence received a brand new Balabushka at the hotel, got into the ring game...went broke...left and got a loan on his car, came back and busted the game for $30K+! That night somebody stole that cue, and Richie never got it back.Island Drive is really your guy for Fats stories. But ...... Here's 2 I've mentioned before here.
1975 was the World 9Ball Championship in Burlington IA. Fats was scheduled to give an exhibition one night. Keep in mind, not only was players like Island Drive entered but Rempe (who won) Miz (2nd) but Lassiter, Balsis, Crane? I believe? Many Many others. Well Meucci gave Fats a cue to use for his show which always included several wing shots. Well Fats is having problems and the hoots, hollers and cat calls came from all around the arena. Fats puts the Muecci on the bridge rack, calls for bets, picks up his Rambow and then the crowd became silent for some reason.
Another time he's in the Student Center @ SIU in Carbondale, IL giving another exhibition. Right in the middle of it and over the PA system, the Counter Man blares out. "Does anyone here own a Cadillac that's parked on the sidewalk? If its not moved immediately Campus Police will have it towed!!" Fats stands straight up from his shot, hits the butt of his cue on the carpet, does his head twitch, looks at the Counter Man, another head twitch, and tells him to "Call the Mayor!!" Twitch. . Twitch "If he doesn't answer the phone, he'll be lucky if he's Dog Catcher by tomorrow morning." Couple more twitches, and a lonnnngg stare. Fats then resumes his routine without further interuption.
I'm still a nobody.I was playing Measureman back when he was a nobody>>>Pre-charging for water thread
It‘s the arrow AND the IndianIsland Drive is really your guy for Fats stories. But ...... Here's 2 I've mentioned before here.
1975 was the World 9Ball Championship in Burlington IA. Fats was scheduled to give an exhibition one night. Keep in mind, not only was players like Island Drive entered but Rempe (who won) Miz (2nd) but Lassiter, Balsis, Crane? I believe? Many Many others. Well Meucci gave Fats a cue to use for his show which always included several wing shots. Well Fats is having problems and the hoots, hollers and cat calls came from all around the arena. Fats puts the Muecci on the bridge rack, calls for bets, picks up his Rambow and then the crowd became silent for some reason.
A good story for “The cue doesn’t matter” crowd.