Jeff sparks
Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 17
Finding old rivals
Just throwing this out there to see if any of my old adversaries are still alive and willing to share a few words?
I played nine ball and one pocket in the late 60's and early 70's. I was known as tall Jeff to almost everyone and I would like to exchange a few lines with those of you who remember me or played me in the old days. I know this might not be the right place to ask this, but I feel there might be a good chance of finding some of the guys I used to battle with back then.
Hope to hear from a bunch of you!
androd
Verified Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: houston tx.
I heard you were still kicking. Nice to see you posting. Pasadena Squirrel makes a few posts here. Hope your health is good.
Your OLD pal.
Rodney.
#4
Yesterday, 02:57 PM
wincardona
Verified Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Dallas Tx.
Great hearing from you, it's been awhile hasn't it? Yes, you were a very feared player back in the "Stardust" days and one that many players respected, glad to know that your/we're still kicking. Take care, and good luck Jeff, stop back and get into the discussions it's always a pleasure and a learning experience when we read post from veteran players like yourself.
Bill "Dr. Bill" Incardona
#6
Yesterday, 04:15 PM
Jeff Sparks
Member
Rodney.
Stevens?
How are you? Good to hear from you. I guess you're still playing everyday somewhere, right? Where? You know I think about you and Tall Jimmy sometimes, like when I'm dreaming or running over things I failed to accomplish in life. Tall Jimmy was one of my greatest failed accomplishments in my pool playing days!!!
That guy beat me like a drum every time we played for years, then I finally got to playing pretty good, and he refused to play me anymore!!! If there was ever a pool player who rivaled Tall Jimmy in winning %tage, I've never heard of him!!
People thought Jack Cooney kept a low profile !! Most people never even heard of Tall Jimmy!! Hats off to you Jimmy wherever you are, you were probably the best, and kudo's to you Rodney for being his friend and life's companion.
Thanks for the reply
#8
Yesterday, 04:31 PM
Jeff sparks
Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 17
Quote:
Originally Posted by wincardona
Great hearing from you, it's been awhile hasn't it? Yes, you were a very feared player back in the "Stardust" days and one that many players respected, glad to know that your/we're still kicking. Take care, and good luck Jeff, stop back and get into the discussions it's always a pleasure and a learning experience when we read post from veteran players like yourself.
Bill "Dr. Bill" Incardona
My man Billy,
You and handsome Danny Jones were the best looking back then, even though they gave credit to Mataya!!! I'm very glad to hear you are still around and doing well I hope. Thanks so much for the reply and the exaggerated description of my game, you're to kind! I, like you, really loved the game, not the environment back then, it was tough and dangerous at times, but the game, played at the highest levels, it was super exciting fun for a young man with no responsibilities.
I wouldn't change a thing, except I would have played longer!!
Great to hear from you Billy, you're the one who's admired and highly respected.
#10
Yesterday, 04:34 PM
androd
Verified Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: houston tx.
Posts: 4,956
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff sparks
Stevens?
How are you? Good to hear from you. I guess you're still playing everyday somewhere, right? Where? You know I think about you and Tall Jimmy sometimes, like when I'm dreaming or running over things I failed to accomplish in life. Tall Jimmy was one of my greatest failed accomplishments in my pool playing days!!!
That guy beat me like a drum every time we played for years, then I finally got to playing pretty good, and he refused to play me anymore!!! If there was ever a pool player who rivaled Tall Jimmy in winning %tage, I've never heard of him!!
People thought Jack Cooney kept a low profile !! Most people never even heard of Tall Jimmy!! Hats off to you Jimmy wherever you are, you were probably the best, and kudo's to you Rodney for being his friend and life's companion.
Thanks for the reply
Stephens.
I'm ok, getting over Radiation. Yes I play every weekday, never miss a ball
Tall Jimmy was a well kept secret, he wasn't looking for fame, He took losing hard. I only saw it happen to him a couple of times. He lost to a guy in Alabama and left a new pair of Sharkskin shoes in the Motel, I mentioned them and he said nevermind they're bad luck.
I remember you coming to Houston from San Antonio with Blinky. When he left you said give me my clothes " I can't leave all this action" . That's how I remember it. It's only been 50/60 years ago.
Rod.
P.S Tall Jimmy beat King Curtis, james Christopher, Grady, Canello and everyone else he played.
P.P.S.I remember being in with you playing the young mexican fellow from across the river at cue and cushion. You really played great.
You got three sets winner and they quit. In a little while the stake horse (a very good player ) came back with a CB in his hand.
You nodded at me and started laughing and the guy just turned around and left.
Jeff sparks
Member
In 1969 I went on the road with a guy named Billy Jordan, he was a local guy from Houston,Texas where I was playing at that time. We went to Oklahoma to play a guy named Hitchcock at Truloves in OKC.
I played another guy before him though, nine ball so much a game, I can't remember exactly what we played for, but I beat him up pretty bad and he quit.
Then Hitchcock wanted to play and I beat him bloody also. Now I have been up
for over 24 hours and I gotta get some sleep because they wanna play some more the next day, so I head to the motel and Billy says he wants to hang out and sweat some of the other action.
I wake up in about 10 hours and head back over to Truloves and there's Billy, my partner playing Hitchcock one-pocket. Now to say Billy can't play is a gross understatement, he's a good guy, but he can't hit dark at midnight!! Hitchcock is spotting him 16/2 and giving him the break. Billy has blown all the money I won plus our entire bankroll and he's breaking on the air barrel! He scratches, of course, which he does about 50% of the time and we end up flat busted.
The first guy I beat was Buddy Hall.
Billy Jackets
Verified Member
Welcome to 1 Pocket.org, hope your stay is a pleasant one.
Hitchcock won the Stardust nine ball championship, I believe, and was reported to have almost never, or never lost a money match in OKC.
You must have been a very fine player sir ,if you went looking for him, my hats off to you.
The story about the backer who couldn't play dead, I wonder how many thousands of times that has happened.
Good stuff.
Originally Posted by Jeff sparks
Thank you
I had some moments.
Billy and I hit the pump and went to Amarillo to play a guy named Andy Ogaine,
but we arrived late, he had just went off to another road tick named San Jose Dick, so we just busted him instead and beat him outta his ring, watch, cue, and car. He put up the title, but stiffed us for the car when he just drove off!! Lol hey Dick, if you're still kickin, you can keep it, it's about 45 years old now!!!
Originally Posted by wincardona
Jeff, looking for Hitchcock and beating SJD has earned you much respect, however, not much from Dick. Yes Dick is still around and he was one of the regular posters on the site, he can be found over at AZB another pool forum. Once he hears about your post he may respond, he's excellent at rebutting, good luck.
Freddie the Beard was just sited doubling up laughing after reading this post.
Dr. Bill
