That is correct! Still alive, living in Oakland. One of the best Bank Pool players of his era. He was the first guy to give me 5-4 in short rack Banks and beat me (maybe he came a few games ahead after playing for hours). He once hustled King Kong, one of the top Hispanic bar table players, on the small table and ended up beating him and his backers for 15K! James could play all games! He played an epic match with Jimmy Fusco in the finals of the Dayton tourney one year (Banks division). Jimmy finally beat him and afterward he looked at me and said, "Damn, that guy can play!"
Jay, 'Blood' hung around Chicago in 70,71. The only player that talked 'faster' then James was, 'Alphonso' from the Southside of Chi-town.
He did play all games well, even tried a little 3C with me, no need to speak on how that worked out for him! He made money while there, Louie Roberts was around at the same time, they never played each other. Blood loved to chase the 'Ladies' in the Windy City.
Jay, a funny story you can appreciate about, 'Blood and Ronnie Allen' years later. I was Manager of Hollywood Billiards from 87-90 for Arnie, Seymore and George Aronek.
Smitty, the very good snooker player and I became very good friends.
Every day during the week about 10 am, Smitty would come in and have a cup of coffee, leave in 15-20 mins.
After about 2 weeks of this behavior, I asked, "Where do you go every day from here"? Smitty said, "To the golf course, I gamble High with the Orientals." And He said, "I heard you play also!" Smitty invited me to play with his group and I became a regular.
After playing a couple of months, I was making Big$ playing a few days a week.
Somehow or other, Blood and Ronnie found out I had a 'Honey Hole'!
So, one morning I'm walking to the putting green and who do I see practicing but, Blood!
I exclaim, "What are you doing here?" NO sooner does he start to answer, Who comes bopping out from the clubhouse but Ronnie! Witha 'six-pack' under each arm. I yelp, "WTF" is this an ambush?"
They wanted to muscle in on my action, it was a firm NO! But I said, "You guys can play me!"
They had a $1,000.00 between them, So, we're going to play $500 a side. I gave Blood 2 a side and Ronnie 4!
Ronnie wins the flip to tee off first. Now listen, it was an unusually cloudy day in LA, So, Ronnie pulls out the Driver, and is taking a couple of practice swings, The 'Gleam/Shine' coming from Ronnie club made me snap to attention!
I said, "Woe Ronnie, what's up with that driver?" Well, Ronnie had 'Greased' up All his clubs with Vaseline! For non-golfer's, the ball goes straighter! Ronnie, under protest wiped them down and I preceded to relieve them of their, 'Elusive Spandulicks'!
