Black Bank Pool Players

[jay helfert]

I had a poolroom in South Central L.A. for a few years and 80-90% of my business was black. You rarely saw a 9-Ball game in there. It was almost all One Pocket and Bank Pool. SWEET!!

After a couple of years playing every guy who walked through the doors, they were calling me the King of the ghetto! I was playing pretty sporty for a while there. I beat everyone I played in Banks and only lost in One Pocket to Larry Evans and Gary Abood. Oh, and T-Rex bar-b-qued me too!

 

[IanCt]

I think there actually is something to this and its the same reason that bank pool is so big in kentucky along with one pocket.

Where I grew up at and a lot of other people in pooer areas grew up at pool was "by the game" instead of by the hour. You had a racker that handled each rack and charged you for each game.

Guess what games take the longest to play? One pocket and bank pool.

My guess is maybe they were broke and preferred games like this and as a result created a niche. They fell into that niche and exploited it for everything it was worth.

A lot of people from other areas can't figure out why that bank/onehole are so big in kentucky. well now you know.

I think you hit the nail on the head, I have heard this from several "old timers" and it probably has alot of truth, from the great depression, moving forward. I have known several african americans who would only play one pocket or banks, would not play nine ball or straight pool, even with a spot. Although, now there is a guy I have known for years, who happens to be black, and would rather play straight pool than anything. I also believe another aspect is, at least from my observations, African americans prefer to be different, its in the way a majority dress, behave in public, talk, cars of choice, I wouldnt necessarily say flashy, just want to stand out. Just my two cents.
Regards,
Ian

 

[Terry Ardeno]

I think there actually is something to this and its the same reason that bank pool is so big in kentucky along with one pocket.

Where I grew up at and a lot of other people in pooer areas grew up at pool was "by the game" instead of by the hour. You had a racker that handled each rack and charged you for each game.

Guess what games take the longest to play? One pocket and bank pool.

Maxeypad2007 has it right.

This goes way back, to the time of George "Rotation Slim" Hairston's days.
Blacks were usually poorer than the whites and games back then were often charged "by the rack" instead of a flat table time rate. Banks & One pocket took the longest to play, so, more pool for the buck. But, this practice of "specializing" in banks or one pocket stuck for another reason.
When the black player would challenge a white player, more often than not the white player was well versed in 14.1 or 9 ball. Believe it or not, rotation was also a very popular game back in the day as well. But many white players were not familiar with banks and so the black player had his "edge". One pocket caught on more quickly to the white player than banks did, but eventually, all the pool disciplines are spread out almost proportionally among the races. The exception of course being 3 cushion and snooker.

 

[thyme3421]

Interesting points about the 'pay by the game' and the hustling aspects.

I personally think it's because of the regional aspect... it's what you see played, so it's what you play. Think of rotation and the philip's for example.

Further more I think it's a matter of dedication to challenging yourself. Not saying black people challenge themselves more or less than any other race, but ... well, yes I am saying that.
Bank pool is a little more difficult and challenging than many other games. Perhaps when striving to be the best, instead of just doing bank the 8.. or bank the last 2.. 3.. whatever... they decide to bank the last 14, plus the 8.

just my $0.02

 

[cscott67]

Banks....

Some good answers so far. I suspect the "pay by the rack" is the closest to the origin. Bank pool is much tougher on a shot by shot basis as EVERY rail plays different, and any change in the amount of english has an effect to be adjusted and accounted for. My 2 cents, Scott

 

[Drawman623]

Black success stories

How about plain and simple mentoring. If blacks have dominated banks and OP, it provides a powerful model for others to strive for. As far as I am concerned, guys like Buggs or Cicero are sports heroes, no less admirable than the Aarons or Jordans of the world. Within a smaller racial community, they will inspire others to follow and to challenge themselves. Cultural opportunity exists in pool for people of color. I expect similar success would result in traditionally white dominated arenas given similar circumstances. Just one white guy's opinion.

 

[Terry Ardeno]

If blacks have dominated banks and OP...

Drawman,
I think "dominated" is too strong a word. Showed strongly, had several great players, etc., but when I think of "dominated", heck, I think of command, eclipse, monopoloize or over shadow. I'll put Eddie Taylor, Truman Hogue, Gary Spaeth, Vernon Elliott, etc against the black bank specialists and I would also take Efren Reyes, Ronnie Allen, Jersey Red, Shannon Daulton, etc over black one pocket specialists. That is not to diminish the accomplishments of the great black players, but my point is that as far as I know, the very upper echelon of bank pool & one pocket is still filled with many great white players.
Although several very fine black players have done very well in the games we're discussing, black players AS A WHOLE have not dominated bank pool or one pocket.
I'm not trying to nit pit here or parse your very well written post, but I read every word when it comes to the history, pecking order and exceptional players of our great sport and I felt that "dominate" really may not fit with the rest of your post. But that is just my opinion and others may choose to disagree with me.
And for the record, personally, I think Leonard Rucker was the second greatest banker of all time, behind only Eddie Taylor. He would be the "favorite" over many white bankers, but on the other hand, I think there are more (in number) accomplished white bank and one pocket specialists over all than (in numbers) black players. And, that being the case, I don't think that blacks "dominate" those two disciplines.
I do appreciate your thoughts though, and I agree with the "mentoring" and "inspirational" aspects of your post.

 

[sliprock]

I think there actually is something to this and its the same reason that bank pool is so big in kentucky along with one pocket.

Where I grew up at and a lot of other people in pooer areas grew up at pool was "by the game" instead of by the hour. You had a racker that handled each rack and charged you for each game.

Guess what games take the longest to play? One pocket and bank pool.

My guess is maybe they were broke and preferred games like this and as a result created a niche. They fell into that niche and exploited it for everything it was worth.

A lot of people from other areas can't figure out why that bank/onehole are so big in kentucky. well now you know.

The story that I always got concerning bank pool in Ky was....Nine ball, in some communities, if not the whole state was illegal to play at one time because of its gambling history. So, bank pool was the game of choice for many rooms. I can go to my local room and if the older guys are in there, you can bet your wad that they're playing bank.

If I had to guess an answer to the original post, I would bet that much of the southern states had similar laws banning 9-ball, and since (I'm guessing here) many of the black americans have ties to the southeastern U.S. through their ancestors, bank pool probably migrated to other parts of the country and remained a part of the black communities just like anything else. Just like different ethnic groups have different recipes for food, or different ways of celebrating holidays. Bank pool could just be part of the black community. That's my guess.

 

[LAMas]

I
Where I grew up at and a lot of other people in pooer areas grew up at pool was "by the game" instead of by the hour. You had a racker that handled each rack and charged you for each game.

Guess what games take the longest to play? One pocket and bank pool.

.

I remember that back in the 50's, there were pool halls that charged $0.10 a rack. You slid the dime down to the racker like the $0.25 you rolled down the gutter when he set the pins - good ol days.

 

[abbassi]

Maybe they just liked those games better.

 

[junior718]

blacks generally protect the money when they gamble so they play games where they can move and make the game last longer then 9ball.

 

[poolplayer2093]

blacks generally protect the money when they gamble so they play games where they can move and make the game last longer then 9ball.

Yeah they're funny like that!i read earlier in this thread that apparently they more likely to hustle too.

what else do they do??

 

[Drawman623]

Terry

Drawman,
I think "dominated" is too strong a word. Showed strongly, had several great players, etc., but when I think of "dominated", heck, I think of command, eclipse, monopoloize or over shadow. I'll put Eddie Taylor, Truman Hogue, Gary Spaeth, Vernon Elliott, etc against the black bank specialists and I would also take Efren Reyes, Ronnie Allen, Jersey Red, Shannon Daulton, etc over black one pocket specialists. That is not to diminish the accomplishments of the great black players, but my point is that as far as I know, the very upper echelon of bank pool & one pocket is still filled with many great white players.
Although several very fine black players have done very well in the games we're discussing, black players AS A WHOLE have not dominated bank pool or one pocket.
I'm not trying to nit pit here or parse your very well written post, but I read every word when it comes to the history, pecking order and exceptional players of our great sport and I felt that "dominate" really may not fit with the rest of your post. But that is just my opinion and others may choose to disagree with me.
And for the record, personally, I think Leonard Rucker was the second greatest banker of all time, behind only Eddie Taylor. He would be the "favorite" over many white bankers, but on the other hand, I think there are more (in number) accomplished white bank and one pocket specialists over all than (in numbers) black players. And, that being the case, I don't think that blacks "dominate" those two disciplines.
I do appreciate your thoughts though, and I agree with the "mentoring" and "inspirational" aspects of your post.

I was merely quoting the author of this thread. He described black players as dominant. My reply was not intended to tell him he was wrong to choose that word or to agree with it, but to offer an opinion "if" he were correct about his statement.
Thanks for your comment...in racial matters especially, one needs to pay attention to what he says. I mean no racial disrespect or disrespect to the masters you listed. Dominant is a strong word...and you hit home when naming Gary Spaeth (a player hero of mine) among your list of champions. Taylor is often cited as the best ever, but I never saw him play. Truman amazed me with his 13 shot run at the Derby. Buggs has been the champion I have seen most though. I'd be lying if I didn't admit to putting my best "Buggs Rucker" on a shot or two as I tried to bank out for the money. He is an inspiration.

 

[bankshot76]

Most of the black bank players in louisville are decent players and pretty good guys, you always have exceptions. But, as a rule bank players seem to have personalities that are way bigger that the games that they have. As far as the Greats of the game, I've seen alot of people bank balls and Truman H. is the best I've ever seen. He makes some nice shot, but he never misses the gimme's. Very impressive...

 

[pdcue]

Drawman,
I think "dominated" is too strong a word. Showed strongly, had several great players, etc., but when I think of "dominated", heck, I think of command, eclipse, monopoloize or over shadow. I'll put Eddie Taylor, Truman Hogue, Gary Spaeth, Vernon Elliott, etc against the black bank specialists and I would also take Efren Reyes, Ronnie Allen, Jersey Red, Shannon Daulton, etc over black one pocket specialists. That is not to diminish the accomplishments of the great black players, but my point is that as far as I know, the very upper echelon of bank pool & one pocket is still filled with many great white players.
Although several very fine black players have done very well in the games we're discussing, black players AS A WHOLE have not dominated bank pool or one pocket.
I'm not trying to nit pit here or parse your very well written post, but I read every word when it comes to the history, pecking order and exceptional players of our great sport and I felt that "dominate" really may not fit with the rest of your post. But that is just my opinion and others may choose to disagree with me.
And for the record, personally, I think Leonard Rucker was the second greatest banker of all time, behind only Eddie Taylor. He would be the "favorite" over many white bankers, but on the other hand, I think there are more (in number) accomplished white bank and one pocket specialists over all than (in numbers) black players. And, that being the case, I don't think that blacks "dominate" those two disciplines.
I do appreciate your thoughts though, and I agree with the "mentoring" and "inspirational" aspects of your post.

Terry, you make many good points - esp about Eddie Taylor.
But IMHO, there is less here than meets the eye. The OP did stipulate
'per capita'. African Americans are around 12% of the 'offical' population.

I'm not so sure about the 'top level', but if you want to look at say,
shortstop and above - IMHO it is a combination of cultural and
geographical. From roughly Dayton in Ohio, and Indy in IN, south thru
Tenn, you can find dozens of Bank pool players that you better be the
Bank Pool equivalent of a 14.1 'hundred ball runner' to have any chance
of beating. Black players, however, seem to play bank all over the country.

IMHO - cheaper table time has little or nothing to do with it. I don't know of a single room that has charged by the rack since Dwight E. was
president. But I know for sure that a ton of VITAL information
is passed on by watching and hearing from skilled players.

After all, who would think that living around the Mafia is the reason
Ney Jersy and New York players are so adept at Straight Pool.

Oh yeah, Flash has zero to do with playing good Bank Pool.
Perhaps it may look that way to people who don't understand the game,
but Bank Pool is as different from other Pool games as 3 Cushion is
different from Pool.

Dale