anyone have any stories about George Rood

[Bob Jewett]

I believe the magazine article you are talking about was one of Tom Shaw's "Legends of the Road" series. An interesting story about that: ....

Here is the "Legends of the Road" article. I asked Tom, and he said it was OK to put it on-line and that he is looking into publishing all of that series of columns in a book.

I had the pleasure of having several breakfasts with George three years ago at Derby City. He was a real gentleman and had a great sense of humor. He also played pretty well, mostly at one pocket. He mentioned that he had run 128 balls in his 80s.

 

[paradox]

George was at Airway Saturday, I was there to knock 'em around while the wife and son went to the mall, and I ended up getting into the straight pool tournament.

He seemed to be sharp mentally, but was in a wheel chair. I am not sure if he needs it to get around or if it was just easier for him to be in it.

He indeed had great knowledge, and as Curt Bergeest said, he showed us so many shots the time Curt visited me it was hard to keep up. I still use a couple shots George showed us, Curt can execute all of the shots far better than I can, but it was amazing to play as partners with George in one pocket. He would help me choose shots I couldnt even imagine!

I have played with some very good players and watched MANY excellent players all over from Tokyo to Tennessee and seeing George play in his 80's makes me wonder just how good he was. He makes shots as if by radar.

I would like to see Efren at 80 and see how well he can play, or anyone for that matter. I hope we see George around for a long time.

 

[smoooothstroke]

from the 1P.org interview

Oh really? So you played Fats really early.
GR: 1934 or maybe ‘35 or ’36 -- along in there. He came to town and he was driving a LaSalle. You know what a LaSalle was?

1P: Was that a big Buick?
GR: A 16-cylinder car. He had a couple blondes with him and they parked out in front of the fireplug out in front of the poolroom. I was the only person in there, and I was brushing the tables. He came in and he says, ‘I'm looking for this guy George. I hear he plays.’ And I said, ‘Friend, he doesn't come down till about one, but I'll play you some till he gets here.’ He said, ‘Sonny, you don't have enough money to play me.’

So I went next door. The fellow that owned the place also was a bookie and he gave me a roll of bills about big enough to choke a horse. I came back and said, ‘Is this enough?’ He said, ‘That's enough.’ So he went and got his stick, you know, and he said, ‘You go and break them Sonny.’ So I broke them, made one on the break, and ran on out while he was taking his stick out, and getting it together. I broke them again, ran out and he’s getting some talcum powder from the bar and getting that ready. I broke them and ran out the third time. Now he's standing like this. The fourth time I broke them he was shaking his head and the fifth time I broke them he was unscrewing his stick. He never got a shot. Never got a turn at the table. That was The Fat Man the first time I played him.