Hi there Don from one that knows............
I started a thread a couple years back about some great players that I was fortunate enough to play on teams with, but it didn't generate a lot of responses.
I'd love to hear any stories about Len Jaszewski, Whitey Lee, Timmy Stellpflug, Mike Haggerty, Louie Lemke, Jimmy Scrima, Pat O'Neill and Billy Steele, who was the best of all of them. Sadly, he passed away in his early thirties.
Louie and Jimmy are also gone, but I'd like to know what the others are doing now, as I lost contact with them long ago.
Donny L
PBIA/ACS Instructor
Back in the 70's I met Billy, Whitey, yoursekf and the rest of the gang.
If I could take these guys at the top of their individual games we could have competed against any team in the country.
I remember Billy very well. He had it right. The food was the secret to our health. But from the sounds of it he didn't get it right with the food. I heard that is what did him in. Some kind of ulcer or something. Don't know for sure.
It was always a running battle with myself and Billy back then. I remember one time we played and he put this pyramid under the table. Something that was going to give him power. It must have worked because he won that day.
When I played my top game I would win but anything else was disaster when playing Billy Steele.
I always liked him, just didn't understand him. Now I would. He was a pretty good guy. Sure wish he was still around.
I was out to Dave Gross's house in Colorado and he pulled out an old Southwest. Back when I played Billy this was the cue he was using. Dave payed a bunch of money, don't remember how much, mainly because it was Billiy's. We had no clue about Southwest and how they played. Billy was way ahead of the rest of us on that for sure.
He used to also claim he would practice while he meditated. He told me he didn't need the physical practice. At least something on that order.
One time we played he went over in the corner and stood on his head. I don't even know what that was all about.
It was always a real tough game with Billy. I really didn't go looking to play him. We mostly played when we just ended up at the same place and we were both feeling like playing.
I know Don, that you knew Billy pretty good and maybe you could explain his death a little and some of these off the wall antics he used.
All in all I really liked Billy but back then I was pretty rednecked, drinking and smoking and these guys were just trying to be as healthy as possible. I envy that now.
Hoping to hear more about Billy.
Thanks Don for the thread down memory lane...........
