I was talking with Richie in 1974 at Joe Burns’ Forest Park billiards in Dayton at a tournament. Late at night.
We were standing by the snooker table, and someone walked by (I think it was Rempe).
He stopped Jim, set the cue ball in the jaws of the corner pocket and placed a ball in the center of the 10-foot table.
He wanted to bet Jim that he could make the ball diagonally in the corner if given two attempts.
This was at a time when very few people played on a ten footer at all, let alone snooker pockets.
Rempe bet him, and Richie made it on the second try. $20 in his pocket. He said he would go again.
Rempe said ok, but Tom Spencer wanted in, so he bet both of’em. Made on second attempt. Up $60.
He said he didn’t like taking their money, so he would bet again, this time in one shot. Three guys bet him, he made it. Up $120.
Now he had four guys on, he bet he would make it twice in a row. He made it both times. Now up $200.
He next bet he would make it three times in a row, but the bet had to be $100. Chicago Joe Riggie bet him. Richie made it. Up $300.
The whole thing took three minutes. No one bet him again, no matter what he wanted to do.
He turned back to where I was, and said let’s go over to the lunch counter, I’ll buy burgers. I never forgot that little piece of time.
Will Prout