Minnesota Fats, Where Are You?- A Good read from an old Texas Monthly Magazine.

I did notice "Toupee Jay" getting a mention!

I did notice Jay getting a mention. A bit of color added, needed to sell a story, but I found this perhaps the most accurate story about pool I have read that was written by an outsider although the title was a little misleading. A shame it was from 1977 and not today. The writer bothered to do the story right.

Unfortunately, pool's story is the same today as it was in 1977 or in 1973 when I decided that turning pro was a sucker's bet. We are still waiting for pool's big break and for it to become a legitimate sport.

Hu
 
Thanks for posting this. I've never seen it before. I knew "Richie From The Bronx" since I was a kid. He was the best 9-Ball player in New York when there were guys Like Jersey Red, Shorty, New York Blackie and Ervolino hanging around. Richie is still alive and still chasing that big Craps score in Vegas. :rolleyes:

I miss Roger a lot. He was one of my favorite guys to hang around with. He was always cracking jokes and having fun. And damn, he could play! Both for the cash and in tournaments. I remember well when he came to Hard Times in the late 80's and no one knew him out there. All we knew is that he was from Arizona and was accompanied by Tommy Dilorenzo, a pretty sharp old line hustler. I had heard about him from Dave Hemmah but had not seen him play.

Roger proceeded to win both the 9-Ball and One Pocket tournies to the tune of $8,000 (3K One Pocket and 5K 9-Ball), and knock off a few of our big guns for another five or six thou. All and all a very good week for the Arizona team.

UJ Pucket was a mentor of mine in the pool world. He taught me how to have fun and make money at the same time. I LOVED that man! He was still hustling pool in bars and chasing young girls well into his 70's! I will tell you this. He enjoyed his life as much as anyone I ever met.

I got used to seeing my name in pool stories back then. I think writers just liked the name Toupee Jay and the story behind it, which was more accident than design. Thanks again.
 
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jay helfert said:
Thanks for posting this. I've never seen it before. I knew "Richie From The Bronx" since I was a kid. He was the best 9-Ball player in New York when there were guys Like Jersey Red, Shorty and Ervolino hanging around. Richie is still alive and still chasing that big Craps score in Vegas. :rolleyes:

I miss Roger a lot. He was one of my favorite guys to hang around with. He was always cracking jokes and having fun. And damn, he could play! Both for the cash and in tournaments. I remember well when he came to Hard Times in the late 80's and no one knew him out there. All we knew is that he was from Arizona and was accompanied by Tommy Dilorenzo, a pretty sharp old line hustler. I had heard about him from Dave Hemmah but had not seen him play.

Roger proceeded to win both the 9-Ball and One Pocket tournies to the tune of $8,000 (3K One Pocket and 5K 9-Ball), and knock off a few of our big guns for another five or six thou. All and all a very good week for the Arizona team.

UJ Pucket was a mentor of mine in the pool world. He taught me how to have fun and make money at the same time. I LOVED that man! He was still hustling pool in bars and chasing young girls well into his 70's! I will tell you this. He enjoyed his life as much as anyone I ever met.

I got used to seeing my name in pool stories back then. I think writers just liked the name Toupee Jay and the story behind it, which was more accident than design. Thanks again.
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Not tryin' to age ya here JH but you really got to experience some of pool's coolest years and events. Your takes on stuff are always must-read.
 
jay helfert said:
Thanks for posting this. I've never seen it before. I knew "Richie From The Bronx" since I was a kid. He was the best 9-Ball player in New York when there were guys Like Jersey Red, Shorty and Ervolino hanging around. Richie is still alive and still chasing that big Craps score in Vegas. :rolleyes:

I miss Roger a lot. He was one of my favorite guys to hang around with. He was always cracking jokes and having fun. And damn, he could play! Both for the cash and in tournaments. I remember well when he came to Hard Times in the late 80's and no one knew him out there. All we knew is that he was from Arizona and was accompanied by Tommy Dilorenzo, a pretty sharp old line hustler. I had heard about him from Dave Hemmah but had not seen him play.

Roger proceeded to win both the 9-Ball and One Pocket tournies to the tune of $8,000 (3K One Pocket and 5K 9-Ball), and knock off a few of our big guns for another five or six thou. All and all a very good week for the Arizona team.

UJ Pucket was a mentor of mine in the pool world. He taught me how to have fun and make money at the same time. I LOVED that man! He was still hustling pool in bars and chasing young girls well into his 70's! I will tell you this. He enjoyed his life as much as anyone I ever met.

I got used to seeing my name in pool stories back then. I think writers just liked the name Toupee Jay and the story behind it, which was more accident than design. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Glad you liked it. I may have a few more of these to post soon if I can track them down:)
 
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