Best pool stories and tales!

[L.S. Dennis]

Poker Paul, Me And The Dogcatcher

It has probably been 20 years or so, but it was summertime and pretty slow for pool action around the Bay Area in Northern California, so Poker Paul and I decided to take a road trip. While I was not a champion or anything, I played all games ok and golf on a snooker table was my best game. We stopped in Phoenix for a few days and made a little money at the Golden Cue and then headed for Albuquerque, New Mexico. We ended up at the Corner Pocket, where Cowboy Jimmy Moore was still the house pro and there were some pretty good local players - Louie Roybal and two guys name Wilford. I was playing one of the Wilford's (Dave Murietta) golf on an awful 5 x 10 snooker table that had a loose rail at one end and the ball hopped every time you hit it. We were both stalling, but there were two guys from animal control in there sweating the game and one of them named Al said he thought I played pretty good and would I play some for more money. I said sure, but not on this table with the bad rail. He said he knew where there was a good table downtown and off we went. We kicked it off for $50 and $5 and ended up playing for $100/$10 and went the night was over, he beat me for $700 plus. I didn't play bad, the guy was a good player. Poker Paul never said a word, but when we got back to the motel room he said "I got me a hell of a road man. The dogcatcher beats us for $700". We ended up staying in town for a week or so and I finally won our money back from Al. Turns out he used to own the pool room and was a solid player. Louie and Wilford were too smart to trap, so we headed up the road to Denver, but that's another story. John Henderson

I remember 'Poker Paul' he's the only one that I've run into that remembers Paul 'Bone-rack' Tessure and Mike 'Shorty' Dixon from way back when in Redwood City, Ca.

 

[gregcantrall]

. He would tell Mosconi stores non stop

Cool! I got to know Portland Slim at the 211 in Seattle. He told of racking for Mosconi when he was doing exhibition in Portland. He said he had seen him post centuries when he was so drunk he was holding the rails to navigate around the table. Others think Mosconi was a tea totaler. Do you have any stories that confirm or disprove what Slim told me?

 

[Little Brother]

I remember 'Poker Paul' he's the only one that I've run into that remembers Paul 'Bone-rack' Tessure and Mike 'Shorty' Dixon from way back when in Redwood City, Ca.

Funny I should find this thread tonight. I was just thinking about John. I was friends with Poke and John. Good guys. Pokey was pretty smart; he never missed a chance to bet against me!
I really miss John. We usually talked once a week or so, regaling one another with stories. Of course, he had a ton. Mine were more about growing up in The City. I was put in catholic school and my mom ran three topless bars on Broadway..

My memory isn't the greatest but I'll try to get back with a story about those guys sometime.

John left me message from the hospital just after ICU and before he went home for the last time. The end of the message? ...I outran the nuts again!

 

[Hungarian]

Cool! I got to know Portland Slim at the 211 in Seattle. He told of racking for Mosconi when he was doing exhibition in Portland. He said he had seen him post centuries when he was so drunk he was holding the rails to navigate around the table. Others think Mosconi was a tea totaler. Do you have any stories that confirm or disprove what Slim told me?

I actually don’t remember many details but I’m sure I never heard a single negative word coming from Elder’s mouth, especially about Mosconi. But one thing that stuck is Willie Elder would go into towns early and scout things out and get the town primed and get the venues ready for when Willie Mosconi would arrive. He would also match up and clock the gamblers. These are the visuals I have from those stories.

 

[gregcantrall]

I actually don’t remember many details but I’m sure I never heard a single negative word coming from Elder’s mouth, especially about Mosconi. But one thing that stuck is Willie Elder would go into towns early and scout things out and get the town primed and get the venues ready for when Willie Mosconi would arrive. He would also match up and clock the gamblers. These are the visuals I have from those stories.

Thanks, it might have been a one time happening.