Best Bankers Yesterday and Today:

[rzrbak98]

You got to be kidding me

TONY FARGO is an has been for the past 15yrs the best banker on the planet!!!! I did talk to tony an he said Varner (from kentucky) was very very strong banker.

P.S. I quote TONY (if anyone wants to come through mo on there way to DCC they can play some banks an pick em 5 to 10 dimes)

 

[hemicudas]

John Zaksas

John Zaksas, is a name 95% of you guys have never heard of but BELIEVE ME when I tell you John could gin-it in the 70s and still can today. All you would be bankers can drop by, Red Shoes Billiards, on the south side in Chicago and get played. You can check with, The Beard, on this one folks.

 

[freddy the beard]

Jet

there was a black guy a few years ago at the DCC that was playin some of the best big rack ive ever seen. think his name was Jet.

A West Side of Chicago boy, Riley Jet Johnson.

the Beard

 

[freddy the beard]

Johnny Red Shoes

John Zaksas, is a name 95% of you guys have never heard of but BELIEVE ME when I tell you John could gin-it in the 70s and still can today. All you would be bankers can drop by, Red Shoes Billiards, on the south side in Chicago and get played. You can check with, The Beard, on this one folks.

Johnny Red Shoes Zaksas still plays crispy in his own poolroom, Red Shoes Billiards. He plays the washed-up version of me 10-8, 11-8.

the Beard

 

[freddy the beard]

Great player and belongs in the Bank Pool HOF

TONY FARGO is an has been for the past 15yrs the best banker on the planet!!!! I did talk to tony an he said Varner (from kentucky) was very very strong banker.

P.S. I quote TONY (if anyone wants to come through mo on there way to DCC they can play some banks an pick em 5 to 10 dimes)

Tony was, and still is a great banker. Plays the game the right way. (Tony's record with the Beard --- 0 for 3. Sorry, I just had to throw that in. Don't even think about trying to get me to play him in DCC, I will claim the over-age exemption)

the Beard

 

[hemicudas]

Johnny Red Shoes Zaksas still plays crispy in his own poolroom, Red Shoes Billiards. He plays the washed-up version of me 10-8, 11-8.

the Beard

Another of the Joliet area players that banks-um pretty sporty and is mostly unknown is lefty Roger King. He has surprised some folks with his straight back ability. Ever run into Roger, Beard? Another question for ya Beard. You ever hear of an older black guy from Joliet called, Tennessee? He was in Wakegan playing Round Lake Mike some banks and loving it, when Alley Oop walks in. Oop, passes on the banks but offers to play 9 ball. Tennessee busted him playing 9 ball.

 

[freddy the beard]

A plethora of Bankers

Rusty Brandmier(sp) used to bank with the best of um too.

Rusty was never the same after he came to my joint, North Shore Billiards and ran into more top bankers than he had ever seen before and got beat by all of them, Piggy Banks, Howard the Coward, Johnny Boy, Tough Tony, Bugs, and Romberg. Truthfully, I was a little afraid of him, and waited until he had been beaten down a little by the above before I asked him to play. However, he had watched me bust Johnny Boy a few days earlier and said, "Screw this town, I'm going back home!" and left.

the Beard

 

[freddy the beard]

Roger King?

Another of the Joliet area players that banks-um pretty sporty and is mostly unknown is lefty Roger King. He has surprised some folks with his straight back ability. Ever run into Roger, Beard? Another question for ya Beard. You ever hear of an older black guy from Joliet called, Tennessee? He was in Wakegan playing Round Lake Mike some banks and loving it, when Alley Oop walks in. Oop, passes on the banks but offers to play 9 ball. Tennessee busted him playing 9 ball.

Roger King? I dont think so, Bill. But I could easily have forgotten playing him.
Tennessee, him I think I know. Was he getting staked by a white guy? Nice looking and well dressed? I used to know his real name but I forgot it.

the Beard

 

[freddy the beard]

Good list

From the past you have to include Youngblood Washington, who may have been Bug's equal. Others who must be included are Johnny "Cannonball" Chapman, who is right there with the top three guys. And he played all games very, very well, including 14.1.

Then there's Kenny Romberg, a devastating banker. And another brother who could fire the banks in was James "Youngblood" Brown. And let's not forget Jimmy Fusco or Mike Sigel, both great bankers of their generation. Last of all, believe it or not, Ronnie Allen was a very strong banker, right there with the above four guys. He just kept it under cover better.

As far as the younger generation, Mark Jarvis was one of the best for years. And still dangerous if he's playing. Of course, those who said Tony Fargo are right on. For the money, he is right there with Truman and Donny Anderson among the best ever white bankers after Taylor.

P.S. Mark Tadd could bank a little too, as could Johnny Archer and Danny Medina.

I know I threw a lot of names out there, but they could all bank great!

Jay, I have got to grab onto my right hand, like Peter Sellers did in Dr Strangelove, to keep from typing a bunch of brag about my record with most of the above. I will qualify a little tho. Youngblood Washington played Bugs 10 to 8 until Bugs was 26 years old. Him I kept away from. I was never going to go to Louisville and look for Truman Hogue. Cannonball, I would only play when he was drunk. Tadd, Archer and Jimmy Fusco I never played. You are wrong about Ronnie and Sigel. Both guys bank great but are not Bank Pool players. Who did either one of them ever beat? I played Ronnie 9 to 7 in LA. We quit after he called a bad hit on me. If he really liked the game he would have gave in and given me the shot. Sigel did beat me once in Miami. We played again in Chicago and he quit after 3 in a row and an 8 and out. Fargo, I also respected and avoided, but over the years he is 0 for 3 with me. Jarvis (as was his M.O.) pulled a horribly cheap cheat shot on me 15 years ago and we havent played since. James Brown almost got me killed when I beat him in Detroit, and his backer, Al Sherman, who erroneously thought it was business, stuck me up and took the money back. I have more, but I had better stop now. Apparently the Peter Sellers wrist grab didnt work very well and I wound up bragging and wolfing anyway. Well, look at it this way, when you get old and cant perform, what else do you have left?

the Beard
(and Jay, please dont use this thread as an excuse to mention that you beat me in a bank tourney match at DCC a few years ago. Show some class.)

 

[jay helfert]

Jay, I have got to grab onto my right hand, like Peter Sellers did in Dr Strangelove, to keep from typing a bunch of brag about my record with most of the above. I will qualify a little tho. Youngblood Washington played Bugs 10 to 8 until Bugs was 26 years old. Him I kept away from. I was never going to go to Louisville and look for Truman Hogue. Cannonball, I would only play when he was drunk. Tadd, Archer and Jimmy Fusco I never played. You are wrong about Ronnie and Sigel. Both guys bank great but are not Bank Pool players. Who did either one of them ever beat? I played Ronnie 9 to 7 in LA. We quit after he called a bad hit on me. If he really liked the game he would have gave in and given me the shot. Sigel did beat me once in Miami. We played again in Chicago and he quit after 3 in a row and an 8 and out. Fargo, I also respected and avoided, but over the years he is 0 for 3 with me. Jarvis (as was his M.O.) pulled a horribly cheap cheat shot on me 15 years ago and we havent played since. James Brown almost got me killed when I beat him in Detroit, and his backer, Al Sherman, who erroneously thought it was business, stuck me up and took the money back. I have more, but I had better stop now. Apparently the Peter Sellers wrist grab didnt work very well and I wound up bragging and wolfing anyway. Well, look at it this way, when you get old and cant perform, what else do you have left?

the Beard
(and Jay, please dont use this thread as an excuse to mention that you beat me in a bank tourney match at DCC a few years ago. Show some class.)

Bro,

We actually agree on the best players, like the first Youngblood, Cannonball and Truman. And you are also right about Ronnie. He was not a Bank Pool player. He was a little too busy robbing everyone in One Pocket. But I did see him play Banks on more than one occasion, and trust me, he could run some balls. You didn't have to like that 9-7 game you gave him. If he called a bad hit on you, it was probably a shark move to throw you off stride. You did the smart thing by quitting. He had you if you kept playing. You were mad by then. I know Ronnie and his moves.

As far as Sigel goes, he was close to Fusco's speed in Banks. And Jimmy played JAM UP! He WAS a Banker, and could play all games top speed as well. Sigel rarely played Banks, but when he did, he was tough. I remember one epic battle he had with Fargo in Houston. Tony got there, but Sigel earned his respect.

Sorry about your bad experiences with Mark J. and James Brown (aka Youngblood). Unfortunately, you're not the only guy who has had similar experiences. Mark gets in way too many disputes during pool matches. Why, I don't know. And James has always been bad news for the most part. I first met him in L.A. long, long ago when I was playing pretty sporty myself. He agreed to give me 5-4 in short rack banks. I jumped on it and we battled all day and night. I would run four and he would run five the next game. I played my best game and couldn't get there with him. I gave up at 2AM a few games stuck. I knew I had run into a Bank Pool monster.

Since then almost all my experiences with James have gone bad for me. Backing, gambling, loaning, etc etc. I won't go into the details but you get the picture I'm sure.

I am 1-0 against you and I plan to keep it that way. I don't buy that "washed up" bull crap. Please don't say anything about us playing when I see you next week. It ain't gonna happen , unless you draw me in the tourney.

 

[satman]

Hey Bill, I played Zaksas a little 9-ball at a tourney in Indianapolis back in the early 80's. He played pretty sporty 9-ball too. He beat me out of a little. He came to a couple of tourneys I ran and I ran into him a few times in northern Indiana. But haven't seen him in years. I didn't know he played bank though.

 

[klockdoc]

Rusty was never the same after he came to my joint, North Shore Billiards and ran into more top bankers than he had ever seen before and got beat by all of them, Piggy Banks, Howard the Coward, Johnny Boy, Tough Tony, Bugs, and Romberg. Truthfully, I was a little afraid of him, and waited until he had been beaten down a little by the above before I asked him to play. However, he had watched me bust Johnny Boy a few days earlier and said, "Screw this town, I'm going back home!" and left.

the Beard

I remember back in the late 90's when talking with Rusty Brandmeyer, (who hadn't been playing for a while), about the Moline 8 ball bar box tournament (not sure which year). He said he went downstairs Wednesday before the tournament and practiced hitting the edge of the ball. Then went up and went through 256 players undefeated for the win.

I thought he could have played banks with the best of them with a little more confidence. Anyway, he was a very good player with a definite "style" of his own.

 

[Cornerman]

Best Bankers Today:

John Brumback, Jason Miller, Shannon Daulton, Brian Gregg, Danny Harriman,
Efren Reyes, Marco Marques, Jason Kirkwood, Ike Runnels, Larry Nevel, Cliff Joyner.

Who am I missing or who should not be on either list.

Cross-Side-Larry

Glenn Piggy Banks Rogers.

I guess since Stevie Moore ran through last year's field and is the current World Bank Pool Champion, you need to keep him up there. Let's see what this year brings.

Fred

 

[showme87]

What about Neil Jacobs the young phenomenon from Chicago? He beat Jet last year long rack race to 5 5-0. I will let him play anyone short rack yes anyone including the best banker in the world (my friend Tony Fargo)

 

[iba7467]

What about Neil Jacobs

If this is the guy that played in the left corner partioned room of the action room ... this was the most incredible bank pool display I have ever seen.

I was standing there. I believe he ran 2 straight racks of full rack bank. He was pretty obnoxious to his opponent, but I have never seen better banking. See shot below:

 

[iba7467]

See shot below:

CueTable Help

Yes he scratched, but I couldn't believe the shot.

 

[philw]

What about Neil Jacobs the young phenomenon from Chicago? He beat Jet last year long rack race to 5 5-0. I will let him play anyone short rack yes anyone including the best banker in the world (my friend Tony Fargo)

Yes Neil Plays a great game of bank but I don't think he wants to keep playing Jet I think Jet handed him his walking papers. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. The Beard took him to school also and it wasn't that long ago. Please chime in Freddy I watched you playing him at Chris's
and I don't think he had much fun. Philw

 

[freddy the beard]

Safe?

Yes Neil Plays a great game of bank but I don't think he wants to keep playing Jet I think Jet handed him his walking papers. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. The Beard took him to school also and it wasn't that long ago. Please chime in Freddy I watched you playing him at Chris's
and I don't think he had much fun. Philw

Neil refuses to play safe and is obnoxious to his opponents. He thinks to play safe is to wear a prophylactic. With his act, playing in the joints I used to play in years ago, he would have got beat up once a week. I like Jet's game over his.

the Beard

 

[dogginda9]

Roger King? I dont think so, Bill. But I could easily have forgotten playing him.
Tennessee, him I think I know. Was he getting staked by a white guy? Nice looking and well dressed? I used to know his real name but I forgot it.

the Beard

Tennessee=George Cole. His stake horse was affectionately known as "Hillbilly Ray".

 

[freddy the beard]

That's him

Tennessee=George Cole. His stake horse was affectionately known as "Hillbilly Ray".

That's the guy, and that's the backer. George played good 8ball and 9ball on the bar table. That's one more of my old opponents that I need to list in my memoirs.

the Beard