I just got done reading his book,it was good,but iam just wondering how true it is,in the book cotton has beaten every top player in america that he has played,but there was a few that beat him the first day,but according to cotton he went back the next day and beat them also,there maybe a few loses that he says but not many,i just find it hard to beleive that he beat all these champions with out losing,and i thought i heard of all the great pool players out there,but i have never once heard of his name.i hope he is telling all the truth and if iam wrong it wont be the first time!I WILL SAY IT IS A REALLY ENJOYABLE BOOK,I JUST HOPE IT IS ALL TRUE!
Bobby cotton
- Thread starter richiebalto
- Start date
PocketPoint
Banned
It seems that's what I always hear.
Well nobody beat Buddy Hall. Nobody beat Sigel. Nobody beat Billy I. Nobody beat Bugs. Nobody beat Reid. Nobody beat Rempe. Nobody beat Keith. Somebody had to lose!
Well nobody beat Buddy Hall. Nobody beat Sigel. Nobody beat Billy I. Nobody beat Bugs. Nobody beat Reid. Nobody beat Rempe. Nobody beat Keith. Somebody had to lose!
I haven't read his book yet. But I knew Cotton well (and still do). The line on him was that he was a good player and liked to gamble. Might have been a little better on a bar box. It took a very strong player to beat him. Bobby was maybe what they would call a second echelon player in the Philippines, one notch below the top players.
Bobby could not and would not like it with Buddy, Reid, Marino, Rempe, Sigel or any one of a number of the thoroughbreds of his era. I would also put Lisciotti, Mataya, Hopkins, Diliberto and Varner above him on the totem pool. Of course these are not bad guys to play a speed under. Bobby was closer to Mike Massey's speed or maybe a Bob Osborne (who was a very good player) or Eddie Burton (another good player). I'd hesitate to rate him equal with George Brunt or Toby Sweet, also two high speed gamblers from that era.
Bobby was what we would call a "high speed" shortstop. He could beat all but the best players. Yes, he was a speed above me as well. We did play on a couple of occasions and I finished second best. In my poolroom in Bakersfield, I fought a good battle with him and he eked out a small victory. More recently we got into a partner's Bank Pool session and I showed my ass to a couple of very good players (Bobby and Max). Bobby may have been my partner in that go round. I know that I did most of the shooting that day. I was running twos, threes and fours! That felt good! :wink:
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"confessions of a pool hustler"
First let me straighten out the facts. I never said that I beat all of the best players in the world. The players that I said that I beat in the book are facts, go ask them. I went around by several different names many times. When I beat Fountain Inn Red I was Charlie Wade. I never said that I always went back the second day and always won, tell me what page I said that and I will change it on the next printing. When I was in Chicago I played all of those guys at Mocks and guys like Brunt and the rest would not come down and play me on this Irving Kay bar table with the big rock. A few in Chicago tried it and I shot their liver out. It really doesn't matter, but there are no lies in my book of who I played and who won. Of course I have played like a donkey many times, who hasn't.I could go on and on, I have played most of the great players back then on a bar table and quite a few on the big table too. Toby Sweet robbed me in Memphis when he was with Cuban Joe on a Gold crown, that don't matter either.
First let me straighten out the facts. I never said that I beat all of the best players in the world. The players that I said that I beat in the book are facts, go ask them. I went around by several different names many times. When I beat Fountain Inn Red I was Charlie Wade. I never said that I always went back the second day and always won, tell me what page I said that and I will change it on the next printing. When I was in Chicago I played all of those guys at Mocks and guys like Brunt and the rest would not come down and play me on this Irving Kay bar table with the big rock. A few in Chicago tried it and I shot their liver out. It really doesn't matter, but there are no lies in my book of who I played and who won. Of course I have played like a donkey many times, who hasn't.I could go on and on, I have played most of the great players back then on a bar table and quite a few on the big table too. Toby Sweet robbed me in Memphis when he was with Cuban Joe on a Gold crown, that don't matter either.
"confessions of a pool hustler"
Oh yeah, before I forget, I played Mike Sigel a set 8 ahead on a bar table for a thousand in Huntsville Al. He broke and ran the set out on me. I also played Vera Cruz in Chicago a set for all my cash at Bill Samples joint, the table was newly re-felted, he ran the set out on me also and wouldn't play the next day. All the truth, stories that alot of Ca. players don't know about, it's all history any way !
Oh yeah, before I forget, I played Mike Sigel a set 8 ahead on a bar table for a thousand in Huntsville Al. He broke and ran the set out on me. I also played Vera Cruz in Chicago a set for all my cash at Bill Samples joint, the table was newly re-felted, he ran the set out on me also and wouldn't play the next day. All the truth, stories that alot of Ca. players don't know about, it's all history any way !
"confessions of a pool hustler"
Thanks for the nice comment pwd72, I did not write this book to talk about who I've played, won and lost, I just wanted to get my story out while some of the guys are still around. My friend Vernon died last week before he could see his pic in the book, he would haved loved it. I've played hundreds if not thousands of people in my time. Alot of name players and alot of what Jay calls shortstops. I played Reid, Marino, Wade, Sergio,Buddy, Hubbart, Massey,Cypher,Hitchcock,Kanella,Mario, Monyetti,Chi Chi,Nagy, Ponytail, Searcy, Boston Joey, Romberg, Grady, Harley, Bento, Fat Randy, Black Danny,Lil Al Romero, New York Blacky and on and on and on. I hung around Ca. for many years running pool leagues, kinda out of action that I was used to. I saw the writing on the wall about how much money you would end up with when it was all over, your friend Robert
Thanks for the nice comment pwd72, I did not write this book to talk about who I've played, won and lost, I just wanted to get my story out while some of the guys are still around. My friend Vernon died last week before he could see his pic in the book, he would haved loved it. I've played hundreds if not thousands of people in my time. Alot of name players and alot of what Jay calls shortstops. I played Reid, Marino, Wade, Sergio,Buddy, Hubbart, Massey,Cypher,Hitchcock,Kanella,Mario, Monyetti,Chi Chi,Nagy, Ponytail, Searcy, Boston Joey, Romberg, Grady, Harley, Bento, Fat Randy, Black Danny,Lil Al Romero, New York Blacky and on and on and on. I hung around Ca. for many years running pool leagues, kinda out of action that I was used to. I saw the writing on the wall about how much money you would end up with when it was all over, your friend Robert
thanks bobby
first off i want to thank you for some wonderful reading!! great book. wish some of the older guys would write some, as it takes me back. i am 73yr, and i can rember some of your plays. i think in your book you played fountain inn red-you said from nc-well he was from sc, as he and i was good friends. he also was a player. did you ever make a lap through georgia?? if so did you match up with a guy name HORACE HARPER from around macon ga?? his backer owned GANDY table co.good play still today older than me!!!how about chickopee milton?? snooker of ga in 60?again thanks for the book and wish you much succes. JOHN[STICK]KYTLE
first off i want to thank you for some wonderful reading!! great book. wish some of the older guys would write some, as it takes me back. i am 73yr, and i can rember some of your plays. i think in your book you played fountain inn red-you said from nc-well he was from sc, as he and i was good friends. he also was a player. did you ever make a lap through georgia?? if so did you match up with a guy name HORACE HARPER from around macon ga?? his backer owned GANDY table co.good play still today older than me!!!how about chickopee milton?? snooker of ga in 60?again thanks for the book and wish you much succes. JOHN[STICK]KYTLE
"confessions of a pool hustler"
Hey stick8, I spent a while in Georgia in the mid 70's. I never did play Horace, I'm pretty sure he only played on the big tables and if I was omly playing on bar tables he would have shot me full of holes, haha ! He was a great player, not many people coming thru there left with the cheese ! I'm so glad yuo've enjoyed reading my book, I'll also correct where F.I.Red was from. I played him in Piedmont. Take care my friend, Bobby Cotton
Hey stick8, I spent a while in Georgia in the mid 70's. I never did play Horace, I'm pretty sure he only played on the big tables and if I was omly playing on bar tables he would have shot me full of holes, haha ! He was a great player, not many people coming thru there left with the cheese ! I'm so glad yuo've enjoyed reading my book, I'll also correct where F.I.Red was from. I played him in Piedmont. Take care my friend, Bobby Cotton
I played Vera Cruz in Los Angeles at 4th & Main. We posted the $$ and when I came back from the head, they had switched cue balls on me and put in the big bar ball which I did not play well with. I lost, took the heat and offered to play another set with the regular cue ball and got lucky and broke even. Stayed out of there after that.
Looking forward to receiving your book. John
I will swear on my mom, thats its all true. I played Cotton 5 days a week for 2 years and we have talked endless hours about his road days and mine, of course my time on the road was very little compared to Cotton of course. He shared many many stories with me and he never told the same story two different ways. Guys who are BS'ers never can tell the same story the same twice IMO, I heard Cotton tell some of the same stories to other people here at my house, as we awalys seemed to have some pool player(s) passing thru. The tails he would tell were awalys the same, if he lost playing someone-he would admit it. I never ever heard Cotton say something one way and then a different way 6 months later and I have a real good memory for that kind of stuff.
Also I have been friends with Billy Teeter for 22 or 23 years, Cotton and Teeter went to alaska together on the road. I remember Billy telling me about that, I thought it was great Alaska!!! Who would go that far to play??, they did thats who. I remember Billy telling me how they laid it down up there to get the $$$. When Cotton told me the story 20 years later his version was EXACTLY the same as what Billy told me in the 80's. So that checked out 100%.
Additionally if his book was fiction I'd say so. I wouldnt stake my reputation on Cottons book by endorsing it if it was fiction and represented as true. Cotton has no reason to lie about any thing thats in that book, and the guys that he talks about in that are still around, go ask them how it went down. Cotton has spent so much time on the road and been in so many spots that the book is just a high lite reel, he could write a book a year for the next 5 years and still have not told all the tails of the road.
On the topic of Books, Jay Helferts book was all real as well, I was around for lots of the things that happened in his book and it all went down as I remembered, These guys have been around for years and have great memories. Were lucky to have them write books. I spent about 5-6 months total in my life on the road and I had a few things happen that would be great material for a book, but I didnt spend enough time on the road, dont remember enough and didnt play good enough to write a book that would be any good. My point is these guys really did it, just like it says in the book. I did a fraction of it so I know how things can happen in pool rooms and bars. There is no reason to write fiction after 40 years on the road. If Cotton or Jay wanted to write a fictional book, they would do a great job of it but they would also make it clear its fiction. They have too much pride to lie about what they did. You have no idea how proud Cotton is of his book, its his lifes story.
I got you covered on that John. I just spoke to Cotton and he is gonna drop by and sign it, I hope tomarrow before I leave for LA. If I leave it will be a week late.
best
eric
Bobby,
When you were pillaging and plundering the western suburbs (mocks, oddo's, triple"s", casa madrid, etc.) of Chi did you play my ol high school bud John Abruzzo?
Also, i played a slender, 6' tall blonde haired dude some $20 9-ball at MULLINS Bros pool room (Dave Webb was like part of the decor) on Mannheim Rd just before uncle sam tracked me down in late 65. Dude played perfect and beat me something like 12 games in a row. Was that you by any chance? He said his name was "whitey".
TIA
When you were pillaging and plundering the western suburbs (mocks, oddo's, triple"s", casa madrid, etc.) of Chi did you play my ol high school bud John Abruzzo?
Also, i played a slender, 6' tall blonde haired dude some $20 9-ball at MULLINS Bros pool room (Dave Webb was like part of the decor) on Mannheim Rd just before uncle sam tracked me down in late 65. Dude played perfect and beat me something like 12 games in a row. Was that you by any chance? He said his name was "whitey".
TIA
Bobby Cotton
Every pool player thats spent a lot of years at the game has had some great days, when no one had to beat them, and a lot of days they couldn't run out if their life depended on it.
I tend to give any author the benefit of the doubt if only for the simple fact they spent their money to publish the book.
Lots of people know me and know the speed I play and if I were to tell them I won a tournament, race to 7 nine ball and had to play and beat at least 5 players in it who gave me, at least the 7, and one the wild 5, they know I am not a liar but it would be hard to believe.
It did happen , I have the tournament sheet to prove it.
I hope you enjoyed your pool life Bobby, a lot of great players don't.
Every pool player thats spent a lot of years at the game has had some great days, when no one had to beat them, and a lot of days they couldn't run out if their life depended on it.
I tend to give any author the benefit of the doubt if only for the simple fact they spent their money to publish the book.
Lots of people know me and know the speed I play and if I were to tell them I won a tournament, race to 7 nine ball and had to play and beat at least 5 players in it who gave me, at least the 7, and one the wild 5, they know I am not a liar but it would be hard to believe.
It did happen , I have the tournament sheet to prove it.
I hope you enjoyed your pool life Bobby, a lot of great players don't.
Haha, wouldn't that be something if it were?
Thank you for answering my question bobby,it just made the book even better knowing that it is all true,i didnt mean no harm to you by saying what i said about your book,i am just glad you set me straight on the facts,and like i said in my first post,your book is a great read and very enjoyable,thank you again for your answers cotton!
Hey, Richiebalto and Ribdoner, thanks for your interest, questions are good and I feel honored to reply to them. while I was in Chicago at first I wanted to play Abruzzo and he wouldn't play me on a bar table no way. We became the best of friends later on, I have the most respect for John cause he is triple smart and a great guy. I played every one around Chicago and we might have played, can't remember for sure. Darn I'm only 5'9' so it mighta not been me, haha ! When I was in Chi I didn't care about money too much so I would play any body for any amount any game on any table except Artie one pocket at Bensingers, I knew better, lol ! On that triple tough table at Mocks, most bar table players were in trouble playing me plus it was real dangerous too. If you didn't have alot of nerve you were really in a trap. Good ole days, haha, ask the "Beard" he'll tell you all about it. I hung with some pretty bad dudes so I wasn't to worried about any shit going down.
Kansas City Whitey
The only tall slim Whitey I can think of who was around at that time and could play, was Kansas City Whitey. He was an alky and hung out at Bensingers for awhile. As a side note, Whitey hung out on skid row when he was on a bender with the mass murderer Richard Speck! Speck murdered 8 nurses in the 60s. Whitey remarked, "I cant believe Richie would do such a thing." I believe Whitey wound up badly also.
Beard
The only tall slim Whitey I can think of who was around at that time and could play, was Kansas City Whitey. He was an alky and hung out at Bensingers for awhile. As a side note, Whitey hung out on skid row when he was on a bender with the mass murderer Richard Speck! Speck murdered 8 nurses in the 60s. Whitey remarked, "I cant believe Richie would do such a thing." I believe Whitey wound up badly also.
Beard