Be careful what you wish for, you might get it! (Wimpy)
- Thread starter L.S. Dennis
- Start date
L.S. Dennis
Well-known member
Wimpy was 5-1/2 years younger than Willie and kept up his game well in to his 50’s considerably better than Willie did.
In their primes, I doubt Willie would want any part of Wimpy in 9-ball, but likely just the opposite for 14.1.
Anyone ever hear of Flyboy? He was tail gunner on a B-52. B-52 duty entailed sitting in a ready room for 2 week stretches. Ah but the ready room had a pool table. Fortunately his service to our country never required him do anything other than, Be Ready.
L.S. Dennis
Well-known member
that would be 'Flyboy Spears'?
Pretty sure I never heard a last name. I had the pleasure of his aquintance at one of the White Spot weekend tournaments.
Twice a year Lenny put it on a race to 7 nine ball on the 5 barbox tables. The 2 day event was known the length of the west coast. He had 5 of us on his league team act as referees. Our pay was the $35 entry and food.
On Sunday between matches I was at the bar getting a drink, when an older gentleman asked me, "What's going on?" I assumed and started explaining 9 ball. When I paused to breath, he introduced himself with, "they call me Flyboy." I had heard so many Flyboy stories that I immediately kowtowed saying, "oh excuse me. It's 9 ball race to 7 and the finals are next....Sir!"
A tail gunner would have been a Sargent but he definitely deserved a Sir.
he played almost as good as anyone. i tell the story of playing up in tacoma at the red roof pub. the service guys hung out there. i would go there and make a ton playing on the bar table.
one day playing and knocking off all the quarters on the table for 5 to 20 a game one guy asked to play for more , we did and in the first game with the big cueball he jumped over a ball and made his shot. first time i ever saw that. quit him immediately after that. later found out about him.
one day playing and knocking off all the quarters on the table for 5 to 20 a game one guy asked to play for more , we did and in the first game with the big cueball he jumped over a ball and made his shot. first time i ever saw that. quit him immediately after that. later found out about him.
actually lassiter was a full on even money against willie in straight pool for most agendas.
so would have been ed kelly as few might not know that.
mosconi just played tournaments so his records are so impressive. lassiter mostly gambled and only played tournaments for whatever.
if both bet high with their own money lassiter would be the betting favorite.
so would have been ed kelly as few might not know that.
mosconi just played tournaments so his records are so impressive. lassiter mostly gambled and only played tournaments for whatever.
if both bet high with their own money lassiter would be the betting favorite.
Wow! Were you known as Rhinestone Ray? I better wait for the answer before I tell the story of the first tournament I ever won. Oooops pretty sure I have told it here once or maybe twice. The good news is, as the apprentice said, I tell 'em the same every time.
Some time around 82 was when I won my first tournament ever at the Red Roof. I was working on South Tacoma Way at 8222 making waterbeds.
One time at the Reno Sands tournament probably 85 or 86. Ed Kelly was the only opponent of Efren's to get to 7 in the race to 9. I sat behind his managers that carried a
full of money. Before the match Cole (with beer in hand) approached them and said, "I’ll bet a thousand that Ed gets to 7." They put their heads together and returned with, "you bet a thousand he gets to 8. You bet two thousand he gets to 7." Cole turned and left. Most likely used his phonafriend. Returned a few minutes later with, "Okay two thousand Ed gets to 7." The result was 9-7 and Ed was the only one to get to 7 against Efren in the tournament. 
L.S. Dennis
Well-known member
Luther was one of the great ones to be sure, but inevitably Father Time at some point catches everyone including Wimpy. I always remember the story that Earl tells about when he played Luther at some point after Luther was getting on in years and the young Earl was just coming up strong.
After Earl beat Wimpy he looked over and saw Lassiter crying, Earl went over to see what was wrong, and Lassiter said something to the effect, 'nothing' he had just realized that his time had passed, and it was a new era. That's how it is and should be. Time waits for no one!
After Earl beat Wimpy he looked over and saw Lassiter crying, Earl went over to see what was wrong, and Lassiter said something to the effect, 'nothing' he had just realized that his time had passed, and it was a new era. That's how it is and should be. Time waits for no one!
Brings a tear to my eye. No Really.
I never saw Lassiter play anything but straight pool, and he was well past his prime when I watched, but if I am to believe my friends Jay Helfert and Nick Varner, he must have been something to behold in his prime.
My favorite Lassiter story is when he hung a four-ball playing 9ball in an action match. He swept the balls, conceding the rack. His opponent was astonished, asking why Lassiter had conceded the rack. His now legendary reply, paraphrased of course, was "if you weren't running out from there, you've got no chance to beat me anyway."
Gamesmanship even after losing a rack - hard not to love that!
My favorite Lassiter story is when he hung a four-ball playing 9ball in an action match. He swept the balls, conceding the rack. His opponent was astonished, asking why Lassiter had conceded the rack. His now legendary reply, paraphrased of course, was "if you weren't running out from there, you've got no chance to beat me anyway."
Gamesmanship even after losing a rack - hard not to love that!
Yes, but Willie suffered a stroke when he was in his mid-40s that many have suggested compromised his long-term ability to sustain the super-human level of play he had displayed to that point of his legendary career.
Yes, that's hearsay, but I think it merits consideration.