Joe was a great player and a man's man. He had a firm handshake and looked you in the eye when he talked to you. He was a no nonsense kind of guy, not one for BS'ing or idle chit chat. If I have one regret in pool, it's that I didn't take any photos of myself along with the greats that I became friendly with.
I wasn't into hero worship back then (you know, autographs and photos). I just liked talking to my hero's and getting to know them the best I could. I was more into creating a friendship if possible. Some players were accessible that way and others were not. I could never get close to Irving Crane, Jimmy Caras, Lassiter or Worst. These men kept their distance, and communed only with their peers. I can only once remember any communication with Worst and that was a quick congratulations for winning at Johnston City. Crane, I tried to talk to several times, but he would only give me the briefest of replies. Lassiter would talk more if it was about pool, but he would also cut me off short after a couple of minutes. Mosconi was a little more talkative, but he was usually complaining or giving orders. He mellowed out in his old age.
The hustlers were far more open to conversation. That was how they made their bread - talking people into playing. Kelly, Cornbread, Jersey Red, Shorty, Jimmy Moore, Ervolino, Diliberto, Ronnie, Puckett, FATS and others were avid and gifted talkers. Fun to be around and willing to converse with just about anyone, even a dumb kid. Especially a dumb kid who thought he could play a little. They saw potential in me - to make a buck!
