Bobby Legg Passes Away
- Thread starter JLW
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billiardman1983
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Bobby was my friend!!
I remember the first time I saw Bobby play. He came to Baltimore in 1986. I will never forget because I played ok back then but I never saw anyone play as good as he played that night. There was a guy named Nicky that hung out in the poolroom I used to play in. It was called Bill & Billys. It was one of the best action rooms on the east coast back then. Nicky was a really good player. He used to give me the seven and I could never beat him so I thought he was a really good player. I heard some guy was coming in who just got to town and they were gonna play some $500 sets. I also heard that this guy was gonna give Nicky the seven. I thought damn how can any one do that. so I sat there and watched them play. Nicky thought he could get Bobby on table 16 which was the triple shimmed table and get him off his game and beat him easy. HE WAS SO WRONG!! Bobby had this incredibly strong and controlled break and he moved the cue ball so good I couldn't believe it. I watched him play for about four hours straight and I never saw him miss or get out of line. I fell asleep in the chair and woke up about an hour later and asked the guy next to me if he messed yet and he said with a wide eye look,"Nope". I said damn.
After that I got to know Bobby and he eventually ended up staying in Baltimore for the next 22 years. I knew his best friend Don Gibson very well also. after Don had passed away Bobby took it pretty bad and was never the same. I felt really bad for the man because I knew he had a really big heart and it was broken. Over the years I knew Bobby I played with him and I played on some pool league teams with him out in Vegas and I can tell you that he had more integrity then any pool player I have ever met. More then most any one I have ever met. I will never forget you Bobby you made a difference in my life and my heart goes out to your family. RIP Bobby!!! i will never forget you and will tell people about you as long as I live, your friend Mark....
I remember the first time I saw Bobby play. He came to Baltimore in 1986. I will never forget because I played ok back then but I never saw anyone play as good as he played that night. There was a guy named Nicky that hung out in the poolroom I used to play in. It was called Bill & Billys. It was one of the best action rooms on the east coast back then. Nicky was a really good player. He used to give me the seven and I could never beat him so I thought he was a really good player. I heard some guy was coming in who just got to town and they were gonna play some $500 sets. I also heard that this guy was gonna give Nicky the seven. I thought damn how can any one do that. so I sat there and watched them play. Nicky thought he could get Bobby on table 16 which was the triple shimmed table and get him off his game and beat him easy. HE WAS SO WRONG!! Bobby had this incredibly strong and controlled break and he moved the cue ball so good I couldn't believe it. I watched him play for about four hours straight and I never saw him miss or get out of line. I fell asleep in the chair and woke up about an hour later and asked the guy next to me if he messed yet and he said with a wide eye look,"Nope". I said damn.
After that I got to know Bobby and he eventually ended up staying in Baltimore for the next 22 years. I knew his best friend Don Gibson very well also. after Don had passed away Bobby took it pretty bad and was never the same. I felt really bad for the man because I knew he had a really big heart and it was broken. Over the years I knew Bobby I played with him and I played on some pool league teams with him out in Vegas and I can tell you that he had more integrity then any pool player I have ever met. More then most any one I have ever met. I will never forget you Bobby you made a difference in my life and my heart goes out to your family. RIP Bobby!!! i will never forget you and will tell people about you as long as I live, your friend Mark....
billiardman1983 said:
GREAT first post! Thanks Mark. Believe me, every player in the country knew who Bobby Legg was. For the last 30+ years!
Booby could really bang those pockets with emphasis. Kind of Cornbread style. I'll always remember that.
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billiardman1983 said:
Welcome to the forum, Donut Man. This is Jennie a/k/a JAM.
I was so sorry to learn of Bobby's passing. I can remember him coming to Sonny's place during the day mostly, and he would give anyone action, as long as it was a fair game. I can see why he would have impressed you. Every pool room has a gentleman player, and that was Bobby!
I thought he always lived in Baltimore area, as I did not know until this thread that he was from the Midwest.
Hope to see more posts from you, Mark! Where are you hanging your hat these days? How's the little one? She looks adorable in your avatar. BTW, how are you hitting 'em?
Hope all is well with you and yours! :smile:
Jennie
billiardman1983
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I dont really play much anymore. I am trying to get my Contracting company off the ground and I have to work seven days a week and as many hours as possible. I want to be able to make at least six figures and I dont think I will do that playing pool. actually that is my son mikey in the picture LOL. I know he had his hair a little long there for a while but we wanted it to grow for a while before we cut it. BTW is this Jennie from washington? Keith mcreadys GF ?
billiardman1983 said:
Yeah, it's me, Mark. Jennie from D.C., the better half of Keith. LOL!
I haven't seen you guys since a Planet Pool tournament in Laurel, and I remember y'all had just had a baby and were out enjoying yourselves for one of the first few times since his birth. Shame on me for not remembering it was your son and not daughter. He is truly adorable. Blonds do have more fun, don't they, Mark?!
You're right about getting the job away from pool. Like you, I tried my hand at working in the pool room and playing some when I was younger and had no responsibilities, but I'm sure glad that at that time I never quit my day job or lost my skills set to produce an income. Pool is cool and fun for folks like you and me, but you're right in that it definitely does not pay the bills. After going to two, three, and four pool tournaments every single month for about four years, Keith is taking a break from active competition. He misses it. I used to miss it too, but not anymore. It's a tough racket, driving hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of miles, paying $100-plus a night for a hotel room, and having to come in first, second, or third place in a tournament to break even. I was born at night, but I wasn't born last night.
I was so sad to learn that Hot Shots closed down on Pulaski Highyway, but I understand the restaurant with the bar boxes is still open. They sure do have GREAT FOOD!
You take care of yourself and your little one. Don't be a stranger on the forum either. There are a few kindred souls here, some folks you will definitely enjoy getting to know. It will at least keep you networked and up to date on what's happening in our neck of the woods. Planet Pool is now Tiger Tour, and you can reach them at http://www.pooltour.com. Also, Joss Tour is still running strong. Just in case you ever get the itch to hit some! :thumbup:
Jennie
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billiardman1983
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I always have the itch. Especially when i go to these websites and see guys winning events that once upon a time I used to beat regularly. I have a gold crown sitting six feet from me every night that I have taken the cover off of maybe twice in the last six months. I think once my business gets going and i can bring in between $150,000 and $250,000 annually I will start practicing again. I know myself and for some reason when I was broke and was playing for rent money I couldn't deal with the pressure and it took its toll on me. Whenever I was comfortable and didn't care about the money I always played my best. I'm not like some people who don't care about the money one way or another. Or will always have people behind them with stacks of cash to always send them in. I will have my own money and will be busting guys all over the place when I get rolling you watch. I will be on the cover of one of these pool mags one day I can promise you that. Tell Keith I said hi and I will see you guys again on the green. TTYL, Mark, AKA "Donut man"
Bobby Gene Leggs
I'm sorry to here that pool has had such a great as "Bobby Gene Leggs" pass away.
Well the first and only time I've ever had the honor to watch Bobby play was back in February, 1979. The reason why I remember the month and date is that my brother, Country Calvin and I had been in Northeast Arkansas for that past month , hustlin the (Bookie's and Farmer Gamblers) in and around MarkTree, Jonesboro, Forrest City, Earl, and Paragould Arkansas, and it was very, very Cold!, ice and snow everywhere!
My brother Calvin and I were at the "Stone House Bar" in Paragould,Arkansas, we had played there many nights in the past month, the owner would keep it open after hours, but would charge $1.00 agame for the bar box, that was high at the time, considering it was 25 cent during the day.
Well one afternoon ,here came up this motor home with Indiana license plates, these two guy's get out and came walking in, ordered a cola and asked if anyone wanted to play some $50.00 nineball, this young guy jumps up, (local young gun) and says he'll play, well it went back and forth for about 30 minutes and the young gun lost $150.00 to Bobby Leggs and quit.
I could tell that Bobby had been kinda fooling around with the young kid, and was much better than he was playing.
Bobby inquired if anyone else played, so Calvin told Bobby that he would play some nineball for $50.00 agame.
I told Calvin that I would put up $250.00 and that's all,because I see a "Player", Calvin agreed to also putting up $250.00, thats $500.00, 10 games ( barrels) to fire at him!
Well Bobby won the flip, he broke ran and 3 games, then made the nine on the break 3 times, I ask if I could rack, he said OK, he made the nine on the break again, now thats 4 in a row! Calvin says move out of the way, you rack no better than I do!......Bobby breaks and runs two more racks!...thats 9 ahead!
Calvn asks me how we stand, ( Well I didn't want to say we got 1 game left, so I told Calvin we were $450.00 down)......Bobby breaks the balls and to my amazement nothing goes!
Calvin proceeds to shoot, he runs out, then breaks and runs 10 more!...well Bobby then told Calvin that he has had enough, that he was looking for easier action.......they both shook hands and parted their ways.....
I told Calvin that, "that Man could shoot some Pool!"
So Bobby was up 9 games, then Calvin runs 11 back at him..( that was 1 of the best 5 matches I've ever seen!)
Later that week we found out that Bobby had just came in 3rd place at a World Class Tournament in Memphiis,Tn, the weekend before with such Greats as Buddy Hall, and Terry Bell just to mention a few!
I've always told that story to praise my brother's ability, but today I'm telling it to "Honor Bobby Gene Leggs' Ability!"
David Harcrow
JLW said:
I'm sorry to here that pool has had such a great as "Bobby Gene Leggs" pass away.
Well the first and only time I've ever had the honor to watch Bobby play was back in February, 1979. The reason why I remember the month and date is that my brother, Country Calvin and I had been in Northeast Arkansas for that past month , hustlin the (Bookie's and Farmer Gamblers) in and around MarkTree, Jonesboro, Forrest City, Earl, and Paragould Arkansas, and it was very, very Cold!, ice and snow everywhere!
My brother Calvin and I were at the "Stone House Bar" in Paragould,Arkansas, we had played there many nights in the past month, the owner would keep it open after hours, but would charge $1.00 agame for the bar box, that was high at the time, considering it was 25 cent during the day.
Well one afternoon ,here came up this motor home with Indiana license plates, these two guy's get out and came walking in, ordered a cola and asked if anyone wanted to play some $50.00 nineball, this young guy jumps up, (local young gun) and says he'll play, well it went back and forth for about 30 minutes and the young gun lost $150.00 to Bobby Leggs and quit.
I could tell that Bobby had been kinda fooling around with the young kid, and was much better than he was playing.
Bobby inquired if anyone else played, so Calvin told Bobby that he would play some nineball for $50.00 agame.
I told Calvin that I would put up $250.00 and that's all,because I see a "Player", Calvin agreed to also putting up $250.00, thats $500.00, 10 games ( barrels) to fire at him!
Well Bobby won the flip, he broke ran and 3 games, then made the nine on the break 3 times, I ask if I could rack, he said OK, he made the nine on the break again, now thats 4 in a row! Calvin says move out of the way, you rack no better than I do!......Bobby breaks and runs two more racks!...thats 9 ahead!
Calvn asks me how we stand, ( Well I didn't want to say we got 1 game left, so I told Calvin we were $450.00 down)......Bobby breaks the balls and to my amazement nothing goes!
Calvin proceeds to shoot, he runs out, then breaks and runs 10 more!...well Bobby then told Calvin that he has had enough, that he was looking for easier action.......they both shook hands and parted their ways.....
I told Calvin that, "that Man could shoot some Pool!"
So Bobby was up 9 games, then Calvin runs 11 back at him..( that was 1 of the best 5 matches I've ever seen!)
Later that week we found out that Bobby had just came in 3rd place at a World Class Tournament in Memphiis,Tn, the weekend before with such Greats as Buddy Hall, and Terry Bell just to mention a few!
I've always told that story to praise my brother's ability, but today I'm telling it to "Honor Bobby Gene Leggs' Ability!"
David Harcrow
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Max Eberle
Registered
Hey, I met Bobby a few times. He was a legend in my mid-atlantic area. Freddy and Scotty Boggs spoke highly of his game. I don't think we ever played but I always said hello as he was regarded with respect all around. Earning respect as a player in the D.C./Baltimore area is not easy. You've got to earn it with a power game and cue ball control. Blessings for eternity Bobby Legg!