Best pool stories and tales!
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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
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
Little Johny Stroke'm Faster walked into the dimely lit poolhall. He could hear the clicking of the balls but his eyes had yet to adjust so he couldn't see who was in the room. He could tell by the smell in which direction the pisser was; it was that-a-way. He stood there taking in deep breathes of stale urine scented air and the after burn of the cigar smoke burned his lungs...agh, he thought if that doesn't get your juices flowing nothing will. The smile of deep pleasure crossed his lips.
Johnies eyes adjusted and he walked over the the front desk where an old geezer sat reading the ponies sheet. The old boy with his tobacco stained mouth says "how old are you, you little bastard?"
Taken back Johnie says "I'm 16 and half. I've come to bet all I have with your best player."
"Hey, Two Feathers Fart Breath, this kid wants to bet his bankroll against you" the old boy yelled to the guy on the nearest table. Two Feathers Fart Breath nods his head and says "9ball call it!" Johnie calls heads, it's tails. Johnie racks the balls. Two Feathers breaks in the cash. Johnie plays up his only dollar and walks back out to the street.......
sorry, i'm bored.....
Johnies eyes adjusted and he walked over the the front desk where an old geezer sat reading the ponies sheet. The old boy with his tobacco stained mouth says "how old are you, you little bastard?"
Taken back Johnie says "I'm 16 and half. I've come to bet all I have with your best player."
"Hey, Two Feathers Fart Breath, this kid wants to bet his bankroll against you" the old boy yelled to the guy on the nearest table. Two Feathers Fart Breath nods his head and says "9ball call it!" Johnie calls heads, it's tails. Johnie racks the balls. Two Feathers breaks in the cash. Johnie plays up his only dollar and walks back out to the street.......
sorry, i'm bored.....
So this was about 6 months ago. I had been playing pool for just over a year. I head over to one of our pool rooms to catch a few games for 10 bucks or so. There was a group of guys already there when I got in. These guys are known around town for their ability to go off for thousands at a time. Not a single one of them can play any pool. But as soon as I walk in the door, one of them, we'll call him "G" for now, asks if I want to make some money because he knows a place. Well if there's anywhere this guy can make money gambling, I want in. So we go to this little mexican bar. The owner of this bar is playing one of his amigos for 10 bucks. The owner already knows G and they start talking about 50 a game. Last pocket 8-ball is the game here (I'd never played this before). What I saw next completely amazed me. This guy absolutely could not handle a cue. It was actually really funny. But anyway, we play the first game for $50 (G's backing me). After some confusion with the rules and a short safety battle on the 8-ball, I was able to bank the 8 two rails to my pocket (thanks to the little knowledge of one-pocket I had at the time). This was by far the most intense game I had ever played. We get paid and the guy pull's out a hundred. He says we play for a hundred of he's done. I already don't like where this is going, but nobody ever accused G of being the smartest gambler around. So we play the next game for a bill. I change my strategy a little bit and let him make all his balls before attempting any kind of run-out. It works like a charm. He missed the 8 and I ran out. Next game we play for 200, then we play for 400. This is about the time he runs to the back and comes back with a nice little stack of cash. I'm guessing there's about 7 grand in his hand. This game we're playing for 800 dollars. That's a lot of money, and there are other guys in the room making sidebets with G. So we have about a grand riding on this single game. I already know, if I win this I'm not bumping the bet anymore. We'll play a grand a game. At the same time, I feel just about invincible. The first 20 innings or so, he's just trying to make all his balls. He even starts to play a little defensively (I guess he's catching on). Finally, it's time for me to run the table out. I screwed up though. I end up on the wrong side of the key ball in this rack. I slow roll this ball into the side but the table rolls off. I miss the most important shot in my run and what's worse, I've left him a simple bank on the 8. He jumps up and banks it in. Here I am standing in complete disbelief. I just couldn't believe I missed. G is about ready to put up another 500 but I'm done. I take my cue apart and walk out, tail between my legs.
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I was lucky enough to work in a GREAT local small room in S.E PA that has seen the likes of Sigel, Varner, Hopkins, Polo, Maidhof...etc....so, I'm about 2 weeks into my new job, and loving it, when I get in for my shift. I get behind the counter and ask whats going on at the "action" table. The boss sais Andy is playing this guy $100 "80 no count". YES! my first question is "what the hell is 80 no count?".....and whats the bet? so I bet against Andy (my near future teacher)....finding out he has to run at least 80 balls at straight pool or his turn doesn't count, and I went broke in about 2 hours watching him run 100's at almost every try. I could not believe how well he run 80+ and not blink an eye.
Andy showed me the ropes over the next few years, along with "Pineapple" (Dave Marks) and the info has been priceless. I miss those days....hopefully I can find the time and capital to start my own room and bring back those days!
Gerry
Andy showed me the ropes over the next few years, along with "Pineapple" (Dave Marks) and the info has been priceless. I miss those days....hopefully I can find the time and capital to start my own room and bring back those days!
Gerry
jrhendy said:
Hi John,
Thanks for sharing. Think it might have been in the 70's - think I might have seen you all in the Golden Cue
Dave Marietta moved to Phoenix - he died awhile back. Roybal's game was one pocket. And whats the Denver story?
Back in 1992,when I walked into Harold's Pool Parlor,there was a kid playing the local legend,Randy Tate,for big cash.This kid was with his Dad or Uncle,whatever,who was staking him.Kid kept getting frustrated and wanting to give up.He was unusually talented with a huge stroke! He just couldn't put it all together.His Dad/Uncle kept pulling him off to the side and getting in his face.Like pep talking him in a sort of controlling manner.Hard to explain,but there was something special about this kid,and this guy from wherever coming to play for cash against the best player at Harold's.Nobody had a clue who they were or where they were from.They just seemed like some poor hillbillies looking for action. I think they were just looking for a game really and found it there.
Well,to shorten things up,those memories are priceless because they were of a player that is very well known and feared today.I got to witness first hand,when "The Truth" was not known as "The Truth",but was just some humble kid with loads of talent.Larry Nevel was definitely to be one of the best that ever played the game!
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Well,to shorten things up,those memories are priceless because they were of a player that is very well known and feared today.I got to witness first hand,when "The Truth" was not known as "The Truth",but was just some humble kid with loads of talent.Larry Nevel was definitely to be one of the best that ever played the game!
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Good story! I remember playingLarry in a weekly 9ball tournament I lost the coin flip and the next thing I know it's 5 to 0 before I get a shot which is a long kick I might add. Would you believe I came back and beat him? No didn't think you would. He kicked butt. Randy Tate is a good player also. PhilwOnepocket73 said:
A big Italian guy wants to bet $20 on one game of 8 ball cause his tab is $38 and he only has $20. My buddy insisted I play him because he was an ass all night. My friend racks em for the guy and slides the house cue towards him to break with but the stick skips off the table and almost hits the guys. He gets in my friends face and then starts throwing punches. He tackles my friend's head into the ledge and gets on top of him with my girlfriend underneath both of them because she tried to break up the fight. He's mounted my buddy throwing wild punches while my friend's head is bleeding and I'm trying to pull my girlfriend out from beneath them but they are too heavy. I grab the butt of my broken down break cue and give him a good shot to the head that I thought would knock him out. He jumps up and says, "You didn't hit me hard enough! You wanna fight with sticks?!" He grabs a house cue and tries to unscrew it. He's twice my size and I'm scared but I'm yelling, "C'mon *****!" with my stick waving in the air. You could see in his eyes that my stick was a better weapon and he was having trouble deciding whether to attack or not. Security came and grabbed him and he eagerly bounced out of there without having to pay his tab which was his plan all along I'm sure. I then get tagged in the arm with a pool ball that his girlfriend hurled at me but that was just an afterthought.
They were going to ban me from the casino but after further review of the tape they decided I did the right thing. I still get nervouse when I see a big italian guy.
They were going to ban me from the casino but after further review of the tape they decided I did the right thing. I still get nervouse when I see a big italian guy.
Denver Story
Nice to hear from you Jack. We originally met at Dick Migiveron's room in San Diego years ago and when you were working in San Jose you talked about Montana. Glad to see you made it there. Anyway, here is the Denver story. Not funny like the other one, but Denver was good to me and my road partner, Poker Paul,(you should remember him from California Billiards) until the very end. We went to the Family Fun Center in Denver because the guys over at Colfax Billiards said it was the best Golf action in town. Sure enough they had two ring games going. An "A' table and a "B" table. I was sweating the A game and started asking questions about the rules to a young guy in a suit who was also watching the game. He said it sounded like I knew how to play and would I like to play some for $50 a game. We started up and he could play a little, but I was starting to hit em pretty good and feeling strong after winning my money back in New Mexico, making another small score in Colorado Springs, and beating some guy named Neil at Colfax Billiards every game in the joint, and then a session for his last money playing one handed golf. I didn't stall with the guy at Family, just made sure I won every game I could and he stuck around for 7 or 8 hundred before he quit. Nice guy who loved to play. We came back the next day and all the players in the "A" game cornered me and said ok, we didn't know you could play, but don't worry about playing him any more, he is ours and you are knocked. I tried playing in the ring game but they treated me like they should treat a stranger in a home game and I had no chance, so I bailed on the ring games. I kept coming back for a few days and sure enough they were beating this guy at golf, snooker, billiards and 9 ball. I finally got one of the guys to play some heads up golf and knocked him in and an older guy called Cigar Sam, who I had only seen play billiards, came over and asked me if I would like to put up a thousand and play $100 a game and $10 a hickey. Sam never took the unlit cigar out of his mouth, and his solid play finally broke me down. He had that table wired. His speed was perfect and anything near the sides got kicked in. He could run the holes too. I had never seen anyone as solid as him, except Ronnie Allen (that's right folks, he was a great golf player) and Glendale Johnny. Anyway, he didn't get the whole thousand but put quite a dent in it. We left for Cheyenne Pete's in Wyoming for a few days and headed to our last stop in Salt Lake City where I played some kid named Mark Tademy. But that is another story. John HendersonJack Madden said:Hi John,
Thanks for sharing. Think it might have been in the 70's - think I might have seen you all in the Golden Cue
John
Oh I remember CB and Poker Paul. Just got off the phone with Uncle Larry (you remember him?). And who the hell was the guy I played for $1000 a game straight pool - you told me he was running a couple hundred a day and was north hollywood way?? Never did find out who he was. I think I had more fun knowing a guy betting against me lost a thousand. And what is the SLC story?
Oh I remember CB and Poker Paul. Just got off the phone with Uncle Larry (you remember him?). And who the hell was the guy I played for $1000 a game straight pool - you told me he was running a couple hundred a day and was north hollywood way?? Never did find out who he was. I think I had more fun knowing a guy betting against me lost a thousand. And what is the SLC story?
About twenty years ago a young fella named Mexican Robert was running around Southern California on a constant search for money games. One day he and a couple of his buddies head out to a rough part of LA. They end up at a seedy bar and Robert is in action. Robert gets on a roll and is completely immersed in the game. Unrelated to the game, an argument develops between two fellows at the far end of the bar. Then a fight breaks out, catching everyones attention except for Robert who is completely focused on the game. Then one of the guys involved in the fight pulls out a gun and fires it in the bar. Suddenly everyone dives to the floor, hiding behind the pool tables...except for Robert who was in the middle of running out the rack!! Robert later said he thought they were trying to shark him!
Robert was a colorful player but passed away young in an auto accident.
Robert was a colorful player but passed away young in an auto accident.
Great stories guys!
Im glad everyone has been sharing such great stories. I thought i would add a short but very important story that i will always remember. My friend and i headed down to a monthly open tournament at Styx in Waterford, Michigan. Their were plenty of strong players from around the area including:Harry Sexton(poochie), Richie Richeson, Miami, and Cornbread Red. I was around 18 years old at the time and just came to watch the big boys play some 9 ball. I was watching Cornbread play some guy in 9 ball and i was amazed at how he would literally one stroke balls and run out. Cornbread noticed me watching and gave me a wink and said hello in between innings. I politely asked why he only used one warm up stroke. Cornbread replied, "Son, when you have been playing as long as i have, you know how to hit them balls, i just don't want these old eyes to give me a second opinion."
Im glad everyone has been sharing such great stories. I thought i would add a short but very important story that i will always remember. My friend and i headed down to a monthly open tournament at Styx in Waterford, Michigan. Their were plenty of strong players from around the area including:Harry Sexton(poochie), Richie Richeson, Miami, and Cornbread Red. I was around 18 years old at the time and just came to watch the big boys play some 9 ball. I was watching Cornbread play some guy in 9 ball and i was amazed at how he would literally one stroke balls and run out. Cornbread noticed me watching and gave me a wink and said hello in between innings. I politely asked why he only used one warm up stroke. Cornbread replied, "Son, when you have been playing as long as i have, you know how to hit them balls, i just don't want these old eyes to give me a second opinion."
Hello Jack,Hi John,
Thanks for sharing. Think it might have been in the 70's - think I might have seen you all in the Golden Cue
Seems like you knew the Albuquerque/New Mexico players… what’s your connection?
His post was made over 17 years ago... I hope he remembers!
Yeah I saw that. I was doing a search on Dave Marietta and I found his post. I’m sure he’ll remember if he reads this post.
Parents moved to Phoenix when I was a baby. Spent a lot of time in local pool rooms on west side, golden cue and golden eight ball. Lots of good road players came to Phoenix in winter (too cold and wet in east and north). UJ Puckett tried to hustle me when I was a teenager.
Puckett was a smooth operator. And a funny, classy hustler as well. When I was a teenager (maybe 16 or 17 years old) I took lessons from Willie Elder who was one of Willie Mosconi's road men. He would tell Mosconi stories non stop like Don Rickles would tell Sinatra stories. Anyway, I used to go to his house and his wife always made me a sandwich. One day during my lesson out walks UJ Puckett from one of the bedrooms. I guess he was staying with them. He watched my stroke and started giving me ideas and tips to think about. So there I was, young kid getting lessons from Willie Elder and UJ Puckett.
I'd always see Puckett and Elder around town at the tournaments. Willie ran local tournaments just about every day of the week. He was a show man and played pretty good. When Puckett would see me he'd always say something to me or ask my how my game was. throwbacks for sure.
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