Buddy - Can Play One Pocket!

hemicudas said:
No, I didn't know that SJM but when asked who was the greatest guitar player ever, Eric Clapton, without hesitation said, Stevie Ray Vaughn.

SJM, my list I based on players that I had seen play. I had/have never seen Rags Fitzpatrick play. I have heard many stories of his prowess at one pocket though.

Top ten lists probably should be left to Dave Letterman but here, again, is mine. As I have stated prior, I now believe Efren belongs in the #1 spot.

1. Ronnie Allen
2. Eddie Taylor
3. Efren Reyes
4. Kenny Romberg, I know, Kenny who? Ask Ronnie, He Knows
5. Grady Mathews
6. Leonard Rucker "Bugs"
7. Steve Mizerak
8. Buddy Hall
9. Clyde Childress
10. Sonny Springer
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Wow, great list. Have seen seven of them play, and I've heard of Childress, but I'm not familiar with Romberg and Springer.

By the way, Hemi, ever see a guy named George Rood play one pocket? He's from Ohio, I think. I've heard he was really something special in his day.
 
hemicudas said:
SJM, my list I based on players that I had seen play.
1. Ronnie Allen
2. Eddie Taylor
3. Efren Reyes
4. Kenny Romberg, I know, Kenny who? Ask Ronnie, He Knows
5. Grady Mathews
6. Leonard Rucker "Bugs"
7. Steve Mizerak
8. Buddy Hall
9. Clyde Childress
10. Sonny Springer
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Hemi-,
Very interesting list. It would be more meaningful if we knew who you have seen play (in other words are they left off your list because you haven't seen them, or because they are not as good). Specifically, have you seen Jersey Red, Bill Staton, Danny DiLiberto, Scott Frost, Boston Shorty?? I also found it very interesting that Steve Mizerak is on the list (though I have no doubt that he could master any game if he wished).

P.S. - Ronnie Allen told me at DCC that a player not on your list was the best he's seen (but there was some alcohol involved so I can't be sure he was serious).
 
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Williebetmore said:
Hemi-,
Very interesting list. It would be more meaningful if we knew who you have seen play (in other words are they left off your list because you haven't seen them, or because they are not as good). Specifically, have you seen Jersey Red, Bill Staton, Danny DiLiberto, Scott Frost, Boston Shorty?? I also found it very interesting that Steve Mizerak is on the list (though I have no doubt that he could master any game if he wished).

P.S. - Ronnie Allen told me at DCC that a player not on your list was the best he's seen (but there was some alcohol involved so I can't be sure he was serious).
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I have seen all of the guys you list play with the exception of the Freezer. Cliff didn't make my list, though I'm sure he made many others list. The ONLY reason Jack Breit didn't make my list is, did you ever see him play on his own money? On his own money Jack's game dropped a ball and a half. On other peoples money Red would be in my top 5.

Top 10 lists are like A-holes, everybody has one. This just happens to be mine. It is an interesting subject though.

Kenny Romberg, was the best kept secret in pool history. He and Vernon Elliot, IMO. Ask any of the old Chicago crowd. Kenny, Bugs and Tough Tony all lived together around 1980.
 
I didn't see but I heard.............

hemicudas said:
I have seen all of the guys you list play with the exception of the Freezer. Cliff didn't make my list, though I'm sure he made many others list. The ONLY reason Jack Breit didn't make my list is, did you ever see him play on his own money? On his own money Jack's game dropped a ball and a half. On other peoples money Red would be in my top 5.

Top 10 lists are like A-holes, everybody has one. This just happens to be mine. It is an interesting subject though.

Kenny Romberg, was the best kept secret in pool history. He and Vernon Elliot, IMO. Ask any of the old Chicago crowd. Kenny, Bugs and Tough Tony all lived together around 1980.
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I didn't see but I heard, Ronnie (at his best) couldn't give Vernon Elliot the paint off a ball and in fact got beat even (more than once) by Vernon.

TY & GL
 
OldHasBeen said:
I didn't see but I heard, Ronnie (at his best) couldn't give Vernon Elliot the paint off a ball and in fact got beat even (more than once) by Vernon.

TY & GL
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The reason I left Vernon off my list, OHB is that I never saw him play one pocket. The only time I saw him play was in Memphis. He was GETTING the 7 from Louie Roberts. Probably should have been giving Louie the 7, LOL.

SJM, the name George Rood is familiar but as far as I know I have never seen him play.
 
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Come with it!

So Hemi, are we gonna break the suspense? Who after all were Rocket Man and Chris Cass? OHB could probably answer that same question. Please go ahead and teach us young'uns!

Oh, and by the way, what about Jimmy Fusco, Jack Cooney, Steve Cook, Danny Medina, and Joe Salazar? I know they probably wouldn't make your top ten but maybe you'd have a story or two about these cats at one pocket...
 
yobagua said:
Hemi, my friend, why would you hate to admit Efren is the best? He deserves it.
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Great to see you here again, Yo. There are things Ronnie Allen has done with a cue stick and balls that no one else has or I thought ever could. Ronnie became my hero the first time I saw him play in Jackson, Miss. Ronnie laid it down as smooth as glass on a local shortstop named Don Ballard. He had Don giving him 8 to 5 and before it was over Ronnie was spotting Don 8 to 5 playing one handed with just the shaft of his cue. I have seen a ton of pool players and none of them compaired to this guy playing one pocket in his prime.

Then there is Efren. I lived in Chicago when he first got here in the early 80s. Watched him distroy everyone that came through playing 9 ball. Freddy The Beard started teaching him how to play one pocket. Efren learned well. I don't know if Efren has ever played one handed or not but I am convinced that if he gave it a try he would master it quickly. This past DCC sold me. Like OHB said he was giving Cliff weight and easily out running it. I don't believe there is a player in history that at 50 years old was actually getting better, other than Efren.

I guess you are right, Yo. I shouldn't hate giving Efren the credit he has earned. I just feel kinda like I am deserting an old friend.
 
OldHasBeen said:
I didn't see but I heard, Ronnie (at his best) couldn't give Vernon Elliot the paint off a ball and in fact got beat even (more than once) by Vernon.

TY & GL
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Vernon was one of the best hustlers ever. His specialty was "proposition shots"! He had a few seemingly impossible shots he'd practiced and mastered, to the point that if he were given a few tries at them he'd "get the range" and bust you! He was also very good at disguises and blending in with the crowd. He never played tournaments but busted many tournament winners before they got the dough out of town. Another great hustler was Clem Metz. He once spotted Mosconi 8-7 in one pocket and beat him 3 sets. Willie asked for 9-7 and Clem told him that he knew he'd already "out run the nuts" and didn't even like the 8-7 game. Clem was known by all the great players of the time and was considered one of the best one-pocket players of all times even though he never played in tournaments except possibly Johnson City. He didn't want to knock his gambling action.

just more hot air!

Sherm
 
Clem had quite a history here in St. Louis.

cuesmith said:
Vernon was one of the best hustlers ever. His specialty was "proposition shots"! He had a few seemingly impossible shots he'd practiced and mastered, to the point that if he were given a few tries at them he'd "get the range" and bust you! He was also very good at disguises and blending in with the crowd. He never played tournaments but busted many tournament winners before they got the dough out of town. Another great hustler was Clem Metz. He once spotted Mosconi 8-7 in one pocket and beat him 3 sets. Willie asked for 9-7 and Clem told him that he knew he'd already "out run the nuts" and didn't even like the 8-7 game. Clem was known by all the great players of the time and was considered one of the best one-pocket players of all times even though he never played in tournaments except possibly Johnson City. He didn't want to knock his gambling action.

just more hot air!

Sherm
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"CLEM" - I can barly remember him but a good friend (Vernon P.) made a lot of scores with him and has told me many stories. He took off the big sucker (Sut) here at that time real good. Started out getting 8 to 5 on a 5X10 - & - Ended up giving him 9 to 4 and his scratches.
These young'uns don't understand THE HUSTLE. Clem could have just started off playing this SUT maybe 9 to 6 - BUT - HOW WOULD THAT HAVE EFFECTED THE TOTAL TAKE? This way they played for over a week and the score was LARGE instead of it maybe just being $2K or $3K.
I've been told that "CLEM" was also a man of many other talents.

TY & GL
Ps. - I had Vernon here (In a Laclede Gas Uniform) playing a good score for over a week. He started out getting 8 to 6 and only got to playing EVEN before the score was Busted. Could have ended up giving him maybe 9 to 4.
 
hemicudas said:
No, I didn't know that SJM but when asked who was the greatest guitar player ever, Eric Clapton, without hesitation said, Stevie Ray Vaughn.


- Clapton was right!
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Hemi youre right. I first saw Ronnie play at the Stardust in the 70's. Took a Greyhound to LV and didnt sleep for 4 days. I was in pool player heaven. Wimpy, Whitey, Fusco, Hawaiian Brian, Hippie Jimmy, Cole, Eddie Kelly, Cornbread, Danny D, King James was all there. I lost any feelings I had for RA after I saw him give Weenie Beanie 8/7 for 2K a game. Weanie kept running 7 and out after Ronnie would do something real stupid and sell out. 7 or 8 games were played in less than 30 minutes. RA's backer kept screaming to get off but Ronnie kept racking saying not to worry. That man lost a bundle that night and RA just chuckled it off and went on to his next game. Im not saying something hinkey went on that night but I thought it was pretty cold and heartless. And I could be wrong since I dont know the particulars. But it looked like RA was not taking this game seriously.

Now Ive seen Efren play many times for $50 to $5000 live. He rarely bets his own money nowdays but he takes all games seriously. He will try to beat you in every which way and you always get a good game out of him. People love to see him gamble because of this. You get his best always.
 
yobagua said:
Hemi youre right. I first saw Ronnie play at the Stardust in the 70's. Took a Greyhound to LV and didnt sleep for 4 days. I was in pool player heaven. Wimpy, Whitey, Fusco, Hawaiian Brian, Hippie Jimmy, Cole, Eddie Kelly, Cornbread, Danny D, King James was all there. I lost any feelings I had for RA after I saw him give Weenie Beanie 8/7 for 2K a game. Weanie kept running 7 and out after Ronnie would do something real stupid and sell out. 7 or 8 games were played in less than 30 minutes. RA's backer kept screaming to get off but Ronnie kept racking saying not to worry. That man lost a bundle that night and RA just chuckled it off and went on to his next game. Im not saying something hinkey went on that night but I thought it was pretty cold and heartless. And I could be wrong since I dont know the particulars. But it looked like RA was not taking this game seriously.

Now Ive seen Efren play many times for $50 to $5000 live. He rarely bets his own money nowdays but he takes all games seriously. He will try to beat you in every which way and you always get a good game out of him. People love to see him gamble because of this. You get his best always.
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Nice to hear from another believer of the disbelief
 
Tom In Cincy said:
Buddy is 60+ and still hanging with the young guns.
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Buddy was born in 1945, so he may have turned 60. I don't know in which month he was born; however I'm 60 (9/10/44), and I know he's younger than I. Evidently he's currently playing just about as good one-hole as anyone else. Hope he keeps it up!

Doc
 
yobagua said:
Hemi youre right. I first saw Ronnie play at the Stardust in the 70's. Took a Greyhound to LV and didnt sleep for 4 days. I was in pool player heaven. Wimpy, Whitey, Fusco, Hawaiian Brian, Hippie Jimmy, Cole, Eddie Kelly, Cornbread, Danny D, King James was all there. I lost any feelings I had for RA after I saw him give Weenie Beanie 8/7 for 2K a game. Weanie kept running 7 and out after Ronnie would do something real stupid and sell out. 7 or 8 games were played in less than 30 minutes. RA's backer kept screaming to get off but Ronnie kept racking saying not to worry. That man lost a bundle that night and RA just chuckled it off and went on to his next game. Im not saying something hinkey went on that night but I thought it was pretty cold and heartless. And I could be wrong since I dont know the particulars. But it looked like RA was not taking this game seriously.

Now Ive seen Efren play many times for $50 to $5000 live. He rarely bets his own money nowdays but he takes all games seriously. He will try to beat you in every which way and you always get a good game out of him. People love to see him gamble because of this. You get his best always.
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Can I ask why Ronnie's backer didn't just PULL UP???? Who does this? If I am backing someone by the game and they are losing their ass I will just PULL UP. That was a hell of a backer.

John
 
onepocketchump said:
Can I ask why Ronnie's backer didn't just PULL UP???? Who does this? If I am backing someone by the game and they are losing their ass I will just PULL UP. That was a hell of a backer.

John
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You got that right! (LOL) I've never hesitated to speak up when my dough is involved. No matter how powerful the persuasion from the player who's in heat to play, I am a realist, and it doesn't take too many games to figure out who's in stroke or who's got the best of it.

Personally, I think it's better for a player to bet their own money, but being that most action players are addicted gamblers, they stay broke; thus, necessitating a need for a backer. JMHO, FWIW! :p

JAM
 
JAM said:
Being that most action players are addicted gamblers, they stay broke; thus, necessitating a need for a backer. JMHO, FWIW!
JAM
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JAM - I agree with your assessment (as usual) but I also think you bring up a very good point.
Too Many Pool Players look at themselves as Gamblers and Most Are Not. They can't OR won't differentiate between betting on their skills and Gambling on LUCK. They CONTROL - All decisions and options (When playing Pool) - BUT - Are At The Mercy Of LUCK - When they play craps, poker, horses, any casino game, etc.

IMO - If many more Pool Players realized this fact - It Would Enhance Their Game And Pool In General!

This thread originated about Buddy and as far as I know - He ONLY Wagers On Pool.
ME TO! (& Gin)

TY & GL
 
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