Bobby "Cotton" Leblanc - what a life
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The more I watch Pool Hall Junkies the more I like it. But at first I didn't and thought it was really cheesy. It's actually still cheesy. But I will never understand why they made the pro Ricky Schroeder play with that black cue. I mean after hanging out with you all that time Mars had to know better than that.
But in your honor, I am going to watch it again!
I loved Cotton's book
I certainly enjoyed Cotton's book and knew most of the people in the book, Cotton is a great player and a great guy !
I certainly enjoyed Cotton's book and knew most of the people in the book, Cotton is a great player and a great guy !
and you'll get beat again
:thumbup: 10/6 you got me....aint no fluff in that book at all. to say there is fluff just shows lack of knowlege of how things were.
Steve has a book you can get also. He is definitely a cool guy imo and a helluva player.
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and you'll get beat again
aint no fluff in that book at all. to say there is fluff just shows lack of knowlege of how things were.
Its got nothing to do with knowledge about how things were at all. If you knew anything about publishing and authors, you would know they dont want drab stories, they want sensationalism, thats what sells and thats what the games all about.
It is a good book, i am enjoying the hell out of it, but i take all stories with a grain of salt. If you seen half the bs i seen in my life, you would understand.
I known Cotton for 20 years, I know the book, was there when he wrote it, been in the pool world almost 30 years, know INDEPENDENTLY people in that book and knew the stories from them separately, same stories. I know how that book was written, when and why(it was more than just a payday), And being a pitchman for 20 some years, i can sizzle a steak with the best of them, Cotton didnt sizzle the steak, didnt have too. even the part of the book with me in it is accurate to a tee. The Rolls Royce's were NOT rented or borrowed.
respectfully
eric
I known Cotton for 20 years, I know the book, was there when he wrote it, been in the pool world almost 30 years, know INDEPENDENTLY people in that book and knew the stories from them separately, same stories. I know how that book was written, when and why(it was more than just a payday), And being a pitchman for 20 some years, i can sizzle a steak with the best of them, Cotton didnt sizzle the steak, didnt have too. even the part of the book with me in it is accurate to a tee. The Rolls Royce's were NOT rented or borrowed.
respectfully
eric
Understand what im saying, im not saying the guys a liar, far from it. BUT, i do know how things get lets say "Inflated", lol. A score of lets say $200 by the time it gets around a bit becomes $1000, a $1500 score will wind up becoming $5000, along those lines.
Hell, i had it happen to me. I made a score of $4500 one weekend and by the time it got aound they had me winning $15,000 !!
My original comment was along the lines of all books make the author look better than he was, not very many books shows the main character as being less than stellar, its just the way it is.
My final word on the book is this : I would recommend it to anyone, its funny as hell and colorful and interesting.
I hear you but generally when it's first person, such as Bobby relating the games he played then it's unlikely to be exaggerated because not only did he actually live it but a lot of the guys who were there are still around to dispute anything that might not be true. Now if he says well I won $1500 but it was actually $1700 then who cares?
Very few people can remember amounts to the exact dollar amount when trying to remember a lifetime of action.
I do remember one time I went into Markley's Billiards near the SBE and when I asked what was happening I was told that the guys in the back corner were playing back pocket nine ball for $1000 a game. I drifted back there and curiously no one was watching their big game. So I asked them and turns out they were playing for $10 a game.
I know what you mean. I played one place where the bouncer walked the floor with an ax handle. Back in the day, players were hard. You couldn't shake them up. They knock balls off no matter what was going on.
great book
Cotton talks about a girl in Huntsville named Sandy he flew out to California and the one about Alabama Al calling and getting him to Chicago I know for fact these stories are true Sandy is my Aunt and Al is my dad. The book is awesome and the stories are facts. I judge a book on how long it takes to finish Cottons book once I started I couldn't stop and read it again. Alfs book which I did enjoy took me 2 weeks to get through. And the guy on here that was pumping the Philippinos book I bought that a month ago and still on the 2nd chapter. Garbage. If you like gambling stories this is a must read.
Cotton talks about a girl in Huntsville named Sandy he flew out to California and the one about Alabama Al calling and getting him to Chicago I know for fact these stories are true Sandy is my Aunt and Al is my dad. The book is awesome and the stories are facts. I judge a book on how long it takes to finish Cottons book once I started I couldn't stop and read it again. Alfs book which I did enjoy took me 2 weeks to get through. And the guy on here that was pumping the Philippinos book I bought that a month ago and still on the 2nd chapter. Garbage. If you like gambling stories this is a must read.
I haven't read the book, but now I will.
I have to wonder for those that make the bold claim to think it's hogwash or whatever you're thinking, I have to question how many similar situations have you ever been in, involved, watched, etc.
I can say that if I had never been to the early Derby Cit Classics and to any of the tournaments where every style of degenerate gambler was there, then maybe I wouldn't believe anything either. But that would only be because I didn't go out much and was sheltered. Fortunately, I wasn't.
I think there are too many endorsements here to suggest that the book isn't legit (again, other than some money amount, but that's not really what people are talking about).
Freddie
I have to wonder for those that make the bold claim to think it's hogwash or whatever you're thinking, I have to question how many similar situations have you ever been in, involved, watched, etc.
I can say that if I had never been to the early Derby Cit Classics and to any of the tournaments where every style of degenerate gambler was there, then maybe I wouldn't believe anything either. But that would only be because I didn't go out much and was sheltered. Fortunately, I wasn't.
I think there are too many endorsements here to suggest that the book isn't legit (again, other than some money amount, but that's not really what people are talking about).
Freddie
book
I have never seen the book but I talked to a man from Osceola, Arkansas that said he used to back him years ago and talked about all the money they won. He said they were playing one time and they were winning and the other backers came in with a brief case full of money and wanted to bet it all. They could will but didnt have a brief case to match so they didnt get all the money.
I also know that he used to play a lot in Blytheville, Arkansas and played everybody.
I have never seen the book but I talked to a man from Osceola, Arkansas that said he used to back him years ago and talked about all the money they won. He said they were playing one time and they were winning and the other backers came in with a brief case full of money and wanted to bet it all. They could will but didnt have a brief case to match so they didnt get all the money.
I also know that he used to play a lot in Blytheville, Arkansas and played everybody.
I am Cotton's sister--I can vouch for EVERY word
I am Cotton's older sister and I remember the day he left home, about the age of 14 and went on the road. I know all of his stories, many of his pool buddies from years ago, many of the women, and all of the dangerous situations he found himself in and managed to get out of. One thing about Cotton is that he has a "photographic" memory and every time he tells a story it has the exact details in it. You can ask anyone about that. He can tell you exactly how much money was at stake, how much he won, how many games played, and the names of players and where they were from. I find this gift totally awesome. Every WORD in that book is true, starting at the beginning about our father, and his near fatal accident, being in a body cast, his dogs Ginger and Petey and all of the roadman stories over almost 40 years. I can also say that (even though he is my brother) he is one of the most ethical, honest, kind and compassionate men I have ever known. The book is true. It is his memoir and was not meant to be a million-dollar best-seller. It was meant to be an accurate portrayal of his life and his legacy. Thank you to everyone who bought his book and who enjoyed it. Sydney LeBlanc
I am Cotton's older sister and I remember the day he left home, about the age of 14 and went on the road. I know all of his stories, many of his pool buddies from years ago, many of the women, and all of the dangerous situations he found himself in and managed to get out of. One thing about Cotton is that he has a "photographic" memory and every time he tells a story it has the exact details in it. You can ask anyone about that. He can tell you exactly how much money was at stake, how much he won, how many games played, and the names of players and where they were from. I find this gift totally awesome. Every WORD in that book is true, starting at the beginning about our father, and his near fatal accident, being in a body cast, his dogs Ginger and Petey and all of the roadman stories over almost 40 years. I can also say that (even though he is my brother) he is one of the most ethical, honest, kind and compassionate men I have ever known. The book is true. It is his memoir and was not meant to be a million-dollar best-seller. It was meant to be an accurate portrayal of his life and his legacy. Thank you to everyone who bought his book and who enjoyed it. Sydney LeBlanc
Hey, was that guy from Osceola named Danny ? I hung around that area for quite a whille with my great friend that died, Walter Boles. We made a ton of money together since I was a teenager, he gave me the green light on who ever I wanted to play ! I miss him. Also another buddy of mine too in that area was "Bowlegs Bill Cochran" ! Great people back there in Arkansas
Hey Nick, some days when I was young I had 2.8 a day lmao !!!!!
Hey taimedowne, your dad is a great guy, he can verify alot of the stories in my book as you know. thanks for the nice comments too. I've seen your dad in action and there weren't many that could stand up to him I gaurantee. "Alabama Al" is the man !!
True or Not?
Bobby and I left Memphis Tn on Feb 14, 1970 and spent a year on the road together. During that year, we ate plenty of good meals from our winnings, slept in the back seat of a 56 chevy for 4 days and washed our socks in the sink at the bus station in Ft Worth Tx, had Mike Massey down $1,500.00 before he came back to beat us in Austin Tx.
All that was just in the first 2 months on the road!! After that, we got robbed, hung around with a hit man at Trader Bo's in Ft Worth and spent several nights at George McGans house while he was the stake horse.
I can vouch that all the stories in Roberts book about our time on the road are absolutely true.......dangerous, fun, scarey at times but that was the life of a hustler in those days.:grin:
Dick Clark
Bobby and I left Memphis Tn on Feb 14, 1970 and spent a year on the road together. During that year, we ate plenty of good meals from our winnings, slept in the back seat of a 56 chevy for 4 days and washed our socks in the sink at the bus station in Ft Worth Tx, had Mike Massey down $1,500.00 before he came back to beat us in Austin Tx.
All that was just in the first 2 months on the road!! After that, we got robbed, hung around with a hit man at Trader Bo's in Ft Worth and spent several nights at George McGans house while he was the stake horse.
I can vouch that all the stories in Roberts book about our time on the road are absolutely true.......dangerous, fun, scarey at times but that was the life of a hustler in those days.:grin:
Dick Clark