This one mentions a former az member who passed away recently. Tom Ferry or better known as Old Has Been.
During that period of time, there were at least four bar table players with a legitimate claim to be the best in the world. The ones with the biggest reputation were: Mario, Chi Chi, Bakersfield Bobby and One eyed Tony.
Louis Goad, a gambler from Oklahoma City, had been keeping a watchful eye on Buddy. He knew a man who he could bring into Gringo's that would take care of Rags. Louis made a phone call, and let a few of his friends in on his plan. He had called a big gun, who was regarded by many as the best bar table player in the world. A buzz of confidential whispering was going around Gringo's, "Wait til Rags gets a load of the way this guy plays. This is really going to be a something to see. Yeah, the money that we lost to Rags, now we can get it back, making bets on the side."
The following day, Buddy learned about the ambush that was planned for him. Buddy loved the way the pool table in Gringo's played. The pockets were tight, the table had a good speed, and it was level. He had been living on it for a week, and he knew it like the back of his hand. He was practicing when Louis Goad walked in with a tall dark stranger. Louis came to Buddy asking, "Are you interested in playing my friend some 9 ball for $50 a game?"
Buddy looked the stranger over. Although he had never seen this man, he had heard plenty of stories about him. He immediately realized this was One Eyed Tony. Louis had brought him out of Oklahoma City. Tony was a little taller than Buddy and almost as slender. He had jet black hair combed straight back. He played with much the same form as Eddie Taylor and Jimmy Moore, in that, he used a long slip stroke, and like them, he could dab it.
Buddy agreed to the game, but before it started the locals lined up to lay bets on Tony. Tom Ferry handled the money, and covered all side bets, which amounted to $120 a game.
Every eye in the house was focused on the pool table. It had been a long time since the sweaters at Gringo's had witnessed this level of play. To the chagrin of the locals, Rags was rising to the occasion. Realizing from the first shot, that he was shooting against the best, Buddy didn't miss a ball. He had the home table advantage and pressed it to the limit. Buddy was beating Tony to the get away shots. Tony never had any opportunities to really get going. Buddy refused to leave Tony any shots that would turn him loose. Louis hadn't brought enough money to survive Buddy's opening attack. Within an hour and a half, Tony was broke, and forced to quit before he could get in stroke.
Wounded, but not convinced, Tony declared, " I will be back."
Buddy and Tom had won a little more than 1600 dollars and they were content to wait until Louis and Tony drove back to Oklahoma City to re load.
Tony and Louis came back the next day. It was a rout; a re run of the previous day. Before they were ready to quit, they were broke again; they still hadn't brought enough money.
The third was was a completely different story. It was not a re run of the previous two days. Tony won the flip for the break, he ran six racks his first inning. Tony broke the seventh rack and nothing fell. Buddy had no shot, and rolled the cue ball out. This roll out gave Tony the option to shoo or pass. It was a bank shot, and by now, he knew the table as well as Rags. Tony elected to shoot. But, instead of banking the ball, he fanned it along the end rail into the corner pocket. He ran that game out, and followed by running three more racks.
Buddy was very impressed by the ability of the great One Eyed Tony. But, he was not intimidated. Rather, he was inspired. This inspiration, that came from his respect for this man's game, coupled with a desire to match this great player's performance, caused Buddy to reach deep inside. When he came to the table, Buddy displayed a level of play that even the great One Eyed Tony couldn't match. Bearing down on every shot,Buddy was executing perfectly. It was only a matter of time, before Tony and everyone in the joint were convinced, regardless of Tony's reputation, slip stroke, or bankroll, he couldn't beat Rags.
Buddy divided almost $5000 with Tom. Taking his share of the winnings. Tom returned to St. Louis with the story of how One Eyed Tony had been gunned down in Gringo's by Rags..... three times.
During that period of time, there were at least four bar table players with a legitimate claim to be the best in the world. The ones with the biggest reputation were: Mario, Chi Chi, Bakersfield Bobby and One eyed Tony.
Louis Goad, a gambler from Oklahoma City, had been keeping a watchful eye on Buddy. He knew a man who he could bring into Gringo's that would take care of Rags. Louis made a phone call, and let a few of his friends in on his plan. He had called a big gun, who was regarded by many as the best bar table player in the world. A buzz of confidential whispering was going around Gringo's, "Wait til Rags gets a load of the way this guy plays. This is really going to be a something to see. Yeah, the money that we lost to Rags, now we can get it back, making bets on the side."
The following day, Buddy learned about the ambush that was planned for him. Buddy loved the way the pool table in Gringo's played. The pockets were tight, the table had a good speed, and it was level. He had been living on it for a week, and he knew it like the back of his hand. He was practicing when Louis Goad walked in with a tall dark stranger. Louis came to Buddy asking, "Are you interested in playing my friend some 9 ball for $50 a game?"
Buddy looked the stranger over. Although he had never seen this man, he had heard plenty of stories about him. He immediately realized this was One Eyed Tony. Louis had brought him out of Oklahoma City. Tony was a little taller than Buddy and almost as slender. He had jet black hair combed straight back. He played with much the same form as Eddie Taylor and Jimmy Moore, in that, he used a long slip stroke, and like them, he could dab it.
Buddy agreed to the game, but before it started the locals lined up to lay bets on Tony. Tom Ferry handled the money, and covered all side bets, which amounted to $120 a game.
Every eye in the house was focused on the pool table. It had been a long time since the sweaters at Gringo's had witnessed this level of play. To the chagrin of the locals, Rags was rising to the occasion. Realizing from the first shot, that he was shooting against the best, Buddy didn't miss a ball. He had the home table advantage and pressed it to the limit. Buddy was beating Tony to the get away shots. Tony never had any opportunities to really get going. Buddy refused to leave Tony any shots that would turn him loose. Louis hadn't brought enough money to survive Buddy's opening attack. Within an hour and a half, Tony was broke, and forced to quit before he could get in stroke.
Wounded, but not convinced, Tony declared, " I will be back."
Buddy and Tom had won a little more than 1600 dollars and they were content to wait until Louis and Tony drove back to Oklahoma City to re load.
Tony and Louis came back the next day. It was a rout; a re run of the previous day. Before they were ready to quit, they were broke again; they still hadn't brought enough money.
The third was was a completely different story. It was not a re run of the previous two days. Tony won the flip for the break, he ran six racks his first inning. Tony broke the seventh rack and nothing fell. Buddy had no shot, and rolled the cue ball out. This roll out gave Tony the option to shoo or pass. It was a bank shot, and by now, he knew the table as well as Rags. Tony elected to shoot. But, instead of banking the ball, he fanned it along the end rail into the corner pocket. He ran that game out, and followed by running three more racks.
Buddy was very impressed by the ability of the great One Eyed Tony. But, he was not intimidated. Rather, he was inspired. This inspiration, that came from his respect for this man's game, coupled with a desire to match this great player's performance, caused Buddy to reach deep inside. When he came to the table, Buddy displayed a level of play that even the great One Eyed Tony couldn't match. Bearing down on every shot,Buddy was executing perfectly. It was only a matter of time, before Tony and everyone in the joint were convinced, regardless of Tony's reputation, slip stroke, or bankroll, he couldn't beat Rags.
Buddy divided almost $5000 with Tom. Taking his share of the winnings. Tom returned to St. Louis with the story of how One Eyed Tony had been gunned down in Gringo's by Rags..... three times.
