Message from Jay Helfert
This is a private message I received from Jay. It made me feel very good. I hope he doesnt mind that I am going to share it with the fellas on the forum.
"Thanks Freddie! I just got off the phone with Jimmy. He answered and I said "Hippy Jimmy". And he said "Hi Jay". His mind is intact!
I told him he had one of the greatest little laughs, that cackle of his. It spoke volumes. He could cackle, and shark most of his opponents without hitting a ball.
A great shotmaker and a hard player. He would not quit, until the bank ran dry. But he beat his fair share of Champions, not shortstops. He always looked for the best players.
When these youngsters make claims about how the players today are better, I think of guys like Jimmy and Buddy and Mataya and Keith and Denny, who could run out for days. And play for the cash too, with no quit in them.
I remember Lassiter saying that if he heard about a good player, he would go watch them play. If they missed once an hour he knew he could beat them.
Anyway thanks for his number. We had a good talk and I told him I love him. Thanks Freddie."
Jimmy was a straight ticket, if you beat him you broke him. However, beating him wasnt so easy. I watched him torture and bust Richie Florence playing 9Ball in Detroit. The session lasted 3 days. Trying to outlast Jimmy Reid was usually a bad idea. I know him since he was 15 yrs old and I too love him, Jay.
the Beard