Shorty and Miz
One of the stories that Steve Mizerak told when Shorty was inducted to the HOF was of a time when Miz was young and cocky and had become so well known in his home area that he had to travel to get a good money game.
Miz flew into Boston and got into a cab with his bag and cue case. He asked the driver if there was anyone in town who might like to play a little pool for money. Miz knew cab drivers were often clued into the action around town and figured it was worth an ask.
The driver turned around in his seat and said: "I'll play ya some, mister." And he drove them straight to a pool hall bear the airport. Miz leaves his bag in the truink of the cab and they go inside to play. To make a long (and obvious) sotry short, the cab driver was Shorty and in about nine hours all of the cash Miz had brought to town had been transferred to Shorty's pocket. Shorty had to forgive the cab fare, buy Miz a parting dinner, and take him back to the airport for the broken flight home.
Another tidbit: Shorty often put into the negotiations of his gambling games that the had to be allowed to climb up on the table to shoot. I have heard it said he would not play anyone at any of the Jansco's tournaments (in the back room) who would insist that the one foot on the floor rule remain in effect. He told Bill Staton: "That rule's for giants, not us real people."
I only knew Shorty in his later years, but if you ever get around someone who was familiar with him in his prime, offer to buy them a meal if they will tell you some Shorty stories. Everyone who ever knew him has a story or three to tell, and all of them I've heard include a good laugh.
Y'know, I very much miss the old guys like Beany and Miz and Shorty and many of the old-style road guys with their alligator shoes. But in twenty years we will be here in the forums sharing tales about the good old days when the game had folks like Strickland, Sigel, Reyes, Hall, and the ilk.
And the young drop now coming up has a lot of potential for creating memories. I know a dozen good stories about Tony Watson that will have to wait many years for the telling. ANd he has lots of company in the 'colorful character' category.
We may often decry the state of pool, that it cannot gain its footing as a mainstream sport, but it is this fact and the sometimes desparate situations that it creates that make for the settings that create the stories.
Y'know, I don't drink much, and I hate the noise of bars. But having a beer in the hotel bar before turning in has led to encounters wih relaxed Nick Varners, Jay Helferts, Bill Statons, Buddy Halls and many others and has given me memories that I would not trade for anything.
So, next time you're in Derby City or Vegas, turn into the bar on your way out of the tournament room.
Jerry