I moved to Oklahoma City in late 1969. Around that time, Buddy Hall and Eddie “The Hat” Burton were there, along with Norman Hitchcock who played just like Buddy…maybe better. The action was at Chester Truelove’s place at 50th and May. Chester was a hard working decent man but perhaps the tightest individual I have ever known. Case in point: One time Steve Cook comes through town and I’m the only guy who can play him even up One Pocket. So, Chester calls me up, I come down, bet my own money, and win $800. I tipped Chester $100 whereupon he asked me for the dime he spent calling me.
But, I digress. This story is about Eddie Glans (Might not be the right spelling.). Eddie weighed more than five hundred pounds but he was a giant of a man in other ways. He staked Buddy and Norman. Here are some facts about Eddie:
1. Any time you beat Eddie, playing anything, if you liked he’d lay you six to five on the money for everything you had. There used to be a guy around OKC called “One Percent Bill” who as his name suggests would really bet high if he thought he had any the best of it. Eddie kept this poor guy broke for a long time.
2. Eddie loved golf and he would make a game with you for $500 or $1000 a hole. But, Eddie couldn’t hit the ball over any water, so if a water hole came up, he just conceded the hole.
3. Eddie would calculate the odds of you breaking and running a rack of 9 Ball. So, let’s suppose that he figures that it’s 30 to 1 against Willie Bet More to break and run out. If “Willie” has $2000 in his pocket and he bets it, he gets $60,000 cash if he breaks and runs out.
4. He made me empty my pockets once. I had $1200. He bet me I wouldn’t make a spot shot. I made it, but it wobbled going in.
5. In a nice way, Eddie would figure out what kind of bank roll you had. Then, if he ever asked you to raise the bet when you had enough money, if you said no, he was through with you for life.
6. Eddie would get robbed once a year. When I asked him about this, here’s what he said, “Grady, I’m a lucky man. I don’t mind helping anybody out, even thieves. I haven’t been a saint myself. But, they better hold it to once a year, or I’ll find out who they are, easily and have them eliminated”.
Eddie was a great man for action and for young pool players like us to be around. Any time he came around, there was going to be big time professional action. I loved Eddie for teaching me much about gambling and about life and I still miss him. He was one of a kind.
But, I digress. This story is about Eddie Glans (Might not be the right spelling.). Eddie weighed more than five hundred pounds but he was a giant of a man in other ways. He staked Buddy and Norman. Here are some facts about Eddie:
1. Any time you beat Eddie, playing anything, if you liked he’d lay you six to five on the money for everything you had. There used to be a guy around OKC called “One Percent Bill” who as his name suggests would really bet high if he thought he had any the best of it. Eddie kept this poor guy broke for a long time.
2. Eddie loved golf and he would make a game with you for $500 or $1000 a hole. But, Eddie couldn’t hit the ball over any water, so if a water hole came up, he just conceded the hole.
3. Eddie would calculate the odds of you breaking and running a rack of 9 Ball. So, let’s suppose that he figures that it’s 30 to 1 against Willie Bet More to break and run out. If “Willie” has $2000 in his pocket and he bets it, he gets $60,000 cash if he breaks and runs out.
4. He made me empty my pockets once. I had $1200. He bet me I wouldn’t make a spot shot. I made it, but it wobbled going in.
5. In a nice way, Eddie would figure out what kind of bank roll you had. Then, if he ever asked you to raise the bet when you had enough money, if you said no, he was through with you for life.
6. Eddie would get robbed once a year. When I asked him about this, here’s what he said, “Grady, I’m a lucky man. I don’t mind helping anybody out, even thieves. I haven’t been a saint myself. But, they better hold it to once a year, or I’ll find out who they are, easily and have them eliminated”.
Eddie was a great man for action and for young pool players like us to be around. Any time he came around, there was going to be big time professional action. I loved Eddie for teaching me much about gambling and about life and I still miss him. He was one of a kind.
That's hilarious!!!
