here is an interview with him from onepocket.org
http://www.onepocket.org/rackem-up-with-artie-bodendorfer/
http://www.onepocket.org/rackem-up-with-artie-bodendorfer/
The story that got back to me is Artie would only play on one table.
He was far from a "road player".
Freddy was his friend, and with his politics he advanced him for the HOF. Did he deserve it? I don't know, but is probably the least known and least traveled of all of the HOF players.
Ken
You are suppose to get out of bad games, that's what the smart folks with money do He made so much money in sports gambling that he really stepped away from pool for a long time. I know he played John Henderson at DCC a few years back, but they were both in their golden years already. Maybe he can give us some tidbits on his 1P prowess. I'm sure they've seen each other play many times over the years ??
I played Artie twice. Once in Texas during the big tournament in Galveston a few years back, and again at Derby City the following year. Both sets were races to seven for 3k.
The set in Galveston took 12 1/2 hours and we played until it ended, with Artie coming out on top. My mistake was trying to move with him. You were usually froze on the rail, froze to another ball or both. Artie likes to look em over and it is not a shark, it’s the way he plays. He never sits down while he plays.
The set at Derby City took around 16 hours and again, we played until it ended. This time I came out on top. I did not try to outmove him, I just outshot him and won by being more aggressive. I could see what a monster he must have been when he still had ball pocketing and banking skills to go along with his moving.
We have had many conversations over the years since we played and I visited him in his home in Las Vegas where he has a beautiful Diamond set up. Like RJ said, he is busy with his granddaughter. He is a good man who has had a very interesting life, and as he would tell you, he was after the money, not the glory.
Oh, there is no doubt you would win money in a spelling contest. As good as Artie was in making money, real money, gambling, you could spot him the C and the A in spelling cat and you'd rob him
But, he never had a paying gig for his wordsmithing
Although i stopped playing in 12-65 until relocating from CHI in 76 (military, job, life and other sundry bs) to the woderful metropolis of memphis i stayed somewhat abreast of the pool scene and can't recall Artie booking many, if any, losers.
That said i also can't recall any reports of him getting into the pit with monsters such as Shorty, Worst,Cook, etc......not to say he did or didn't
RJ, do you recall him playing "Champions" ?
RJ..was that your pops in the video near the beginning?
Thanks John, for chiming in. Nice to know someone that actually is a respected player and actually played against him in his prime knows the guy could play. Never leaving someone a shot is quite a bit bigger strategy than folks who think he just bunted balls up table. I know you still had game at DCC as well, I was there for that 1P match, but no, I didn't stay for the entire match. Yep, he truly didn't want medals, trophies or even HOF inductions if there was no money attached
He didn’t play Artie in his prime. He played Artie about a decade ago —- well beyond his prime (whatever that was). Unfortunately there wasn’t much record keeping back in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Barely any in the 90s. I’ve been around pool since the mid to late 80s. Never heard of Artie and very little of Freddie for that matter. They have stories of who they beat but no one really knows. All I know is the only one pocket players that were talked about from Chicago from my early years around pool were Bugs, The Dasher....you could also include Jeff Carter. Bugs obviously being the cream of the crop.
Then we will have to play a set of spelling bee and a set of 1p.
Tiebreaker, something fair...like bicycle!
He didn’t play Artie in his prime. He played Artie about a decade ago —- well beyond his prime (whatever that was). Unfortunately there wasn’t much record keeping back in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Barely any in the 90s. I’ve been around pool since the mid to late 80s. Never heard of Artie and very little of Freddie for that matter. They have stories of who they beat but no one really knows. All I know is the only one pocket players that were talked about from Chicago from my early years around pool were Bugs, The Dasher....you could also include Jeff Carter. Bugs obviously being the cream of the crop.
The story that got back to me is Artie would only play on one table.
He was far from a "road player".
Freddy was his friend, and with his politics he advanced him for the HOF. Did he deserve it? I don't know, but is probably the least known and least traveled of all of the HOF players.
Ken