Beaten by a guy using a mop handle

[Hal]

I was asked to share this story so here goes. It is a true story.

Capitol Billiards Tullahoma TN approximately 1991.​

I don't remember how this game came about, but I ended up playing the owner of the pool room 9ball for 2.00 a game spotting him the 8ball and he shot with a mop handle. It was one of those really big fat handles. There wasn't anything on the end of the handle. It was just wood with a radius of about one inch.
I would say my skill level at the time was a mid to high C. We played on a 6' Valley table with a HUGE cueball. I think it was one of those with metal inside it.
Anyway, we played for a long time. I was hanging tough, but there was several old timers sitting around watching and the man I played was a talker as well. I soon got rattled. It was also nearing time for me to leave for my job just around the corner at Dominoes.
I kept losing and losing and made the decision to call in sick and keep playing. I ended up losing $50.00 and also lost a days pay. It took YEARS to live that down. The owner has since opened another room in Tullahoma that his son currently runs. I see him from time to time and he rubs it in about once a year or so. The sad part is he doesn't play well at all. I should have beat him.

 

[chefjeff]

My wife beat me with a mop once...but that's another story altogether.

Thanks for the story...very brave of you to publicize it.

Jeff Livingston

 

[jimmyg]

A very good friend of mine, an excellent, tournament level tennis player, told me of the time he was hustled at the tennis court. Accepted a twenty dollar challenge to play a set against someone that he didn't know that played with a piece of WOOD ( maybe a piece of 2 by 4) instead of a tennis racquet. Of course my friend lost.

 

[DaveK]

Good post Hal, thanks for re-living this humiliation for our little community (OK, the ENTIRE WORLD really, but don't worry about that, I won't tell too many people to google "beat Hal with a broomstick" ). There is of course a natural path to regain your dignity ... you need to practice with a mop handle yourself and then go beat someone with it !

Dave, who will be watching over his shoulder for a large man with a stick looking to knock some respect into his skull

 

[Nostroke]

A very good friend of mine, an excellent, tournament level tennis player, told me of the time he was hustled at the tennis court. Accepted a twenty dollar challenge to play a set against someone that he didn't know that played with a piece of WOOD ( maybe a piece of 2 by 4) instead of a tennis racquet. Of course my friend lost.

Lee Trevino use to play guys golf with a Coke bottle at least that is what he said. I dont know how he did it though but it was widely known about him.

 

[PoolSharkAllen]

I don't remember how this game came about, but I ended up playing the owner of the pool room 9ball for 2.00 a game spotting him the 8ball and he shot with a mop handle. It was one of those really big fat handles. There wasn't anything on the end of the handle. It was just wood with a radius of about one inch.
I would say my skill level at the time was a mid to high C. We played on a 6' Valley table with a HUGE cueball. I think it was one of those with metal inside it.
I should have beat him.

Hal, Don't feel too bad about losing to a guy playing with a mop. When Willie Mosconi was a kid, legend has it he played with a broom and potatoes. We all know how good Willie became. Maybe you should practice with a broom too?

 

[Hal]

Maybe I can make a dvd. How to play with a mop. Use my techinques and clean up your game!

 

[sniper]

Maybe I can make a dvd. How to play with a mop. Use my techinques and clean up your game!

LMAO! At least you have a sense of humor about the whole thing.

 

[Rude Dog]

Great story Hal, don't sweat it though, it happens. Peace, John.

 

[Harvywallbanger]

I was asked to share this story so here goes. It is a true story.

Capitol Billiards Tullahoma TN approximately 1991.​

I don't remember how this game came about, but I ended up playing the owner of the pool room 9ball for 2.00 a game spotting him the 8ball and he shot with a mop handle. It was one of those really big fat handles. There wasn't anything on the end of the handle. It was just wood with a radius of about one inch.
I would say my skill level at the time was a mid to high C. We played on a 6' Valley table with a HUGE cueball. I think it was one of those with metal inside it.
Anyway, we played for a long time. I was hanging tough, but there was several old timers sitting around watching and the man I played was a talker as well. I soon got rattled. It was also nearing time for me to leave for my job just around the corner at Dominoes.
I kept losing and losing and made the decision to call in sick and keep playing. I ended up losing $50.00 and also lost a days pay. It took YEARS to live that down. The owner has since opened another room in Tullahoma that his son currently runs. I see him from time to time and he rubs it in about once a year or so. The sad part is he doesn't play well at all. I should have beat him.

I wouldn't feel bad at all. Getting beat with a broomstick or mop is actually kind of a hustle. Try to miss a straight in shot with a broomstick! Its almost impossible. In FACT beginner players can actually play better with a broomstick or mop. Why? Because it doesn't allow you to put accidental english on the cue ball which allows you to make shots easier. It's not a big deal and it only seems impressive to the ones that don't play much.
This happened to me a long time ago. I was drunk in a bar and everyone kept telling me the owner can play anyone with a broomstick. Finally he comes strutting out and playes me 1 game with his broomstick and wins. It didn't bother me one bit because I new all he had to do was get a good table layout and just make shots with proper speed, but everyone who saw it was like " OH MY GOD. HE JUST BEAT HIM WITH A BROOMSTICK". Whatever. He walked back to his office like he proved a major point or something. I came back the next day and played him a set for $100. This time he gets out his cue and I pound him like 7-0 or 7-1. He quit and has never played me again.

 

[Jigger]

I was asked to share this story so here goes. It is a true story.

Capitol Billiards Tullahoma TN approximately 1991.​

I don't remember how this game came about, but I ended up playing the owner of the pool room 9ball for 2.00 a game spotting him the 8ball and he shot with a mop handle. It was one of those really big fat handles. There wasn't anything on the end of the handle. It was just wood with a radius of about one inch.
I would say my skill level at the time was a mid to high C. We played on a 6' Valley table with a HUGE cueball. I think it was one of those with metal inside it.
Anyway, we played for a long time. I was hanging tough, but there was several old timers sitting around watching and the man I played was a talker as well. I soon got rattled. It was also nearing time for me to leave for my job just around the corner at Dominoes.
I kept losing and losing and made the decision to call in sick and keep playing. I ended up losing $50.00 and also lost a days pay. It took YEARS to live that down. The owner has since opened another room in Tullahoma that his son currently runs. I see him from time to time and he rubs it in about once a year or so. The sad part is he doesn't play well at all. I should have beat him.

Thx for the good story Hal.

Believe I lost about 5 games/beers in a row in college around 1977. He played with the butt end of a house stick in Wathena Kansas. He was downright obnoxious about it. Think most of my buddies have forgotten the episode since then - I won't remind them.

 

[NineBallNut]

great post! I had a guy come into my store talking it up like he was a champ. I live in a pretty small area so every bar player out here thinks he is the best. So It was slow and I offered to knock a few around with him, he said "he doesn't just play for kicks, only serious so I told him I would play him 3 games for 5 bucks a game. He then started giving me excuses about not having his cue, and so on so I handed him a predator and told him I would play him with a broomstick. He immediatley jumped at the chance. I went in the back, got the broomstick and won three games in a row....lol Little did he know that when bored at night I would grab that thing and knock balls around just for kicks. It is amazing what can be accomplished with a broom handle. Every time I see him I get a chuckle!

On a side note, I have also been beaten with one

 

[Williebetmore]

Lee Trevino use to play guys golf with a Coke bottle at least that is what he said. I dont know how he did it though but it was widely known about him.

Nostroke,
I've seen it with my own eyes. Lee (by the way, my favorite sports personality of all time) took a Dr. Pepper bottle, all taped up with adhesive tape (or something like it). He knelt on the ground, teed up the ball, and swung (from his knees) just like a short golf swing. Probably hit the tee shot about 200-230 yards. He then would tee up each shot where it lay; putting on the green with the same Dr. Pepper bottle.

On any regular length golf course, he was ALWAYS going to break 80 playing this way, and was even money to shoot par or better. He had MANY ways to get the money from your pocket into his.

 

[Nostroke]

Nostroke,
I've seen it with my own eyes. Lee (by the way, my favorite sports personality of all time) took a Dr. Pepper bottle, all taped up with adhesive tape (or something like it). He knelt on the ground, teed up the ball, and swung (from his knees) just like a short golf swing. Probably hit the tee shot about 200-230 yards. He then would tee up each shot where it lay; putting on the green with the same Dr. Pepper bottle.

On any regular length golf course, he was ALWAYS going to break 80 playing this way, and was even money to shoot par or better. He had MANY ways to get the money from your pocket into his.

That is so outrageous. Even hitting a little club from your knees i dont see how u can hit it that far. There is no flex to a Dr P bottle. Man id like to have seen that. Thanks Willie

 

[Colin Colenso]

Maybe I can make a dvd. How to play with a mop. Use my techinques and clean up your game!

Looks like your tip is laminating a tad. And you're aligning slightly off center

 

[CrossSideLarry]

Lee Trivino

Lee Trevino use to play guys golf with a Coke bottle at least that is what he said. I dont know how he did it though but it was widely known about him.

The fact is, it was a taped up Dr pepper bottle and he used the extended taped neck for leverage. He teed up each shot from tee to green. It was a sucker bet.

Though I don't know this for a fact, it was related to me by a friend who claims he witnessed Lee do this with remarkable results when he was a caddy along with Lee. That is why Wille Hoppe always said, "Never bet a man at his own game".

Cross Side Larry

"Learn from the best, and beat the rest"

 

[memikey]

I'm a fairly average 2 handicap golfer and beat one of the golf pros at our club off scratch with me using a 5 iron,a lob wedge and a putter against his full set (drunk bet struck in the bar the night before at odds of 16/1 in my favour).He's never lived it down

Maurice Bembridge of England was one of the all time legendary money players at golf.He actually held the course record at Augusta for many years but was never that great on the tour.Anyway,amateurs from all over the country used to take him on for several grand a time in the 60's/70's as he was 'the man'.....Anyway this 4 handicap amateur turns up to play him for 5 grand and Bembridge says ok you get 3 shots,the amateur says tell you what Maurice I don't want the 3 shots,instead I want you to let me shout "BOO !!!" once at any time of my choosing during the round.Bembridge thinks ok so he will shout BOO on my backswing once and I lose the hole...better than 3 shots which might be 3 holes,so agrees to the bet.

They play and the guy never shouts BOO once and Bembridge loses 3 and 1........cos every time he was on his backswing he's waiting for this guy to shout "BOO !!!" and it doesn't come ...screwing up his concentration and rhythm.......superb

 

[sixpack]

I'm a fairly average 2 handicap golfer and beat one of the golf pros at our club off scratch with me using a 5 iron,a lob wedge and a putter against his full set (drunk bet struck in the bar the night before at odds of 16/1 in my favour).He's never lived it down

Maurice Bembridge of England was one of the all time legendary money players at golf.He actually held the course record at Augusta for many years but was never that great on the tour.Anyway,amateurs from all over the country used to take him on for several grand a time in the 60's/70's as he was 'the man'.....Anyway this 4 handicap amateur turns up to play him for 5 grand and Bembridge says ok you get 3 shots,the amateur says tell you what Maurice I don't want the 3 shots,instead I want you to let me shout "BOO !!!" once at any time of my choosing during the round.Bembridge thinks ok so he will shout BOO on my backswing once and I lose the hole...better than 3 shots which might be 3 holes,so agrees to the bet.

They play and the guy never shouts BOO once and Bembridge loses 3 and 1........cos every time he was on his backswing he's waiting for this guy to shout "BOO !!!" and it doesn't come ...screwing up his concentration and rhythm.......superb

That is awesome!

RC

 

[sixpack]

Nostroke,
I've seen it with my own eyes. Lee (by the way, my favorite sports personality of all time) took a Dr. Pepper bottle, all taped up with adhesive tape (or something like it). He knelt on the ground, teed up the ball, and swung (from his knees) just like a short golf swing. Probably hit the tee shot about 200-230 yards. He then would tee up each shot where it lay; putting on the green with the same Dr. Pepper bottle.

On any regular length golf course, he was ALWAYS going to break 80 playing this way, and was even money to shoot par or better. He had MANY ways to get the money from your pocket into his.

I saw an interview with Lanny Wadkins once about the time they brought him down to Texas to play Lee. Lee was the bag boy, shoe shiner and ball collector at the club. While Lee was taking care of Lanny, he kept waiting for 'the player' to show up. When he finally figured out he flew in to play the guy that carried his clubs, he couldn't believe it. Thought it was going to be the easiest match he ever had. Said first round he shot 67 and lost. After the round, Lee took care of his clubs and shoes. He was thinking, I lost to the guy who's cleaning my clubs. Second day he shot 66 and lost. Third day he shot 64 and won by one stroke and pulled up. Very funny interview.

Lee Trevino is one of the great sports personalities of all time.

Cheers,
RC

 

[ALLENJK]

I had the opportunity to talk to Mr. Trevino a couple of months ago. I was very disappointed to find out that he doesn't play golf anymore due to some serious back problems. The golf world lost a great showman.

Back to the original post.

A friend of mine ( no names to be mentioned ) also was beaten with a mop handle. As soon as he saw the guy could play pretty strong he started playing safes when needed. When this guy got tired of it he went his car , brought back about a 3 ft toy broom and proceeded to make jump shots. Needless to say my friend got his a%$ handed to him.