Varner on Fats You will love this.
- Thread starter middleofnowhere
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i did love it
saw it yesterday....
Nick Varner story: Meeting Minnesota Fats
Nick told this story at one of Mark Wilson's Play Great Pool clinics in Sullivan IL, 2021.
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I watched this yesterday. It was great. I'm actually really glad Nick gave a lot of credit to Fats' game. I was always under the impression that he wasn't that strong of a player. I would have put him at a strong shortstop. We all know Nicks speed and for him to give Fats the nod really means something. I now have adjusted him to a mid-level pro at minimum. Something I have noticed among some of the older videos is the players of that era would shoot shots we wouldn't even consider today. Yet they would make them frequently. Who do you think his speed compares with today?
Jason, as I said before per Evelyn Wanderone, he played his best 1940-51. And he did have a room of his own on the E. Coast.
At one point in time he was called ''triple smart'' Fats.
Evelyn told me quite a bit about Fatty and Huebert playing I think in Huberts room if I'm correct?, money was never their objective they just wanted to beat the other man, they did like each other. Bird of a feather.
he was already an old man when he beat all those johnston city players during and after the tournaments.
none wanted to admit fats was too good and too smart for them. as was the case. most were fools anyway. always talking about out running the nuts and stuff like that. all that means is they make bad games and sometimes get lucky and win or break even.
not eddie as he was a friend and way to pool smart. but i beat the others out of whatever they had multiple times locking them up in something.
almost none of the old time champs could keep a dollar in their pocket more than a day or so.
the not as good ones were the ones that managed to get ahead, as they were much smarter and could handle pressure and money and most importantly knew to quit when you didnt have the best of it.
none wanted to admit fats was too good and too smart for them. as was the case. most were fools anyway. always talking about out running the nuts and stuff like that. all that means is they make bad games and sometimes get lucky and win or break even.
not eddie as he was a friend and way to pool smart. but i beat the others out of whatever they had multiple times locking them up in something.
almost none of the old time champs could keep a dollar in their pocket more than a day or so.
the not as good ones were the ones that managed to get ahead, as they were much smarter and could handle pressure and money and most importantly knew to quit when you didnt have the best of it.
I knew an old-timer like that. Didn't have to lose to anyone and was favorites over almost everyone. But he had zero ego. If he got stuck two or three bets, he would always unscrew, shrug his shoulders, and say "not my day today". Most of the time he was winning and breaking people though. I was always amazed at his self-restraint and discipline in that regard. Because most pool players win some lose some, he's one of the few that won lots and lots.
The one that said he was weak was Mosconi , and then all Mosconis followers chimed in .
I think Mosconi hated him so much because deep inside, he wished he could be more like Fats, let his hair down, win the money , not have to do a trained seal act to get a piece of it, and to really say what he was thinking. On the other hand , if you told Fats he had to trade places with Mosconi , he would have put a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger twice.
I don't mean this in any kind of disrespect, Mosconi was a great player, and the only game Fats had a chance at with him imo, was banks and I give Fats the nod there, but Mosconi played all games great. I was also told by someone I don't see lieing about it, he was not a Mosconi fan, more Fats type of guy. He told me he didn't think Mosconi ever gambled, until one day he walked in the pool room where the 5x10 they called Big Bertha was, and Mosconi was giving a really good player, top shortstop calibre the 5 ball for a lot of money and spotting him the 5 , he wouldn't say who it was, so if anyone knows for sure , I have always wondered about it. He said Mosconi just kept breaking and running out , he could have been playing anybody and giving them that spot, unless they racked differently.
I think Mosconi hated him so much because deep inside, he wished he could be more like Fats, let his hair down, win the money , not have to do a trained seal act to get a piece of it, and to really say what he was thinking. On the other hand , if you told Fats he had to trade places with Mosconi , he would have put a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger twice.
I don't mean this in any kind of disrespect, Mosconi was a great player, and the only game Fats had a chance at with him imo, was banks and I give Fats the nod there, but Mosconi played all games great. I was also told by someone I don't see lieing about it, he was not a Mosconi fan, more Fats type of guy. He told me he didn't think Mosconi ever gambled, until one day he walked in the pool room where the 5x10 they called Big Bertha was, and Mosconi was giving a really good player, top shortstop calibre the 5 ball for a lot of money and spotting him the 5 , he wouldn't say who it was, so if anyone knows for sure , I have always wondered about it. He said Mosconi just kept breaking and running out , he could have been playing anybody and giving them that spot, unless they racked differently.
The only videos you've ever seen of him were when he was geriatric
He was pulling out $1000 bills in the 80s. How is someone spending 50 year old money if they weren't a monster?
There's a video of him banking against Willie and saying "I haven't missed one of these since World War I" and then rifling it in. Wasn't a hanger either, he had to turn it and shorten it big time. No amateur is hitting that shot on purpose
The real problem could of been Willies parents and how they were as people. Fattys dad Adored fatty, took em overseas twice Ev said on a ship, and he was always first in line when they ran the dinner bell, he was already washed up be my guess. Meal time was part of the job for the merchant marines.
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Compared to Mosconi, Fats WAS weak. Mosconi was certainly not the only player who thought so. He was a good gambler, got himself into some great games but no way was he a top pro.
Didn't have to be. He raaahbd every body.
Since he played even with Hubert, possibly better in youth, I think Nicky speaking about these men skills, will have more credence.
It's easy to have an....Opinion..... we all have them.
But.....
When others speak about Rudolph, that were never around this person in the 60's - 70's, and who never met his wife of over 40 years who knew em better than anyone.
It just shows me more about those, who speak w/o true knowledge of this person.
I watched that video yesterday. Was great.
I never met Fats or even saw him in real life. It would be cool if there was more videos of him. I’ve watched every possible one at least 10X.
I can talk my way in and out of damn near anything in life, that my strong suit. Words. Having said that, Fats could give me the 5out & the break in the talking game & I probably still would have had the worst of it. Nobody in history could lay it down like the REAL Fats
Fatboy<———knows when he’s beat
I never met Fats or even saw him in real life. It would be cool if there was more videos of him. I’ve watched every possible one at least 10X.
I can talk my way in and out of damn near anything in life, that my strong suit. Words. Having said that, Fats could give me the 5out & the break in the talking game & I probably still would have had the worst of it. Nobody in history could lay it down like the REAL Fats
Fatboy<———knows when he’s beat
Eric: One of my newest favs of the incomparable Rudy W. is this 3-minute geriatric-years one (don't know if you -- or other AZBers -- have seen it). It's called "Minnesota Fats vs Me" - lovingly (and thankfully) uploaded to YT four years ago by Paul Ryden:
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Eric: I'm sooooo pleased to hear that!!!That’s one I didn’t see
I was -- fingers crossed -- greatly hoping it would be a treat for you (and very likely plenty of other folks on here).
Gotta luv the "Hey I'm a hundred years-old -- what do I care?' I'll be saying exactly that 12 years from now.
Arnaldo ~ Some good deeds (little-known video for AZB-ers' pleasure) do go unpunished
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totally wrong he played pro speed when younger. less as he got older same as any pool player.