Can somebody explain Lou Butera to me?

[ScottR]

> A 150 point game in 21 min is a hell of a feat.

I was told by Evelyn Dysart that at a McDermott Tour event in Canada she saw Luc run out an entire race to 7 on a bar table in under 3 minutes of actual shooting time,not including the time required by his opponent to pump quarters and rack the balls.

That's a hell of a feat too. Tommy D.

Deleted due to lack of direct knowledge.

Scott

 

[SpiderWebComm]

I met Lou at the IPT World 8Ball in Reno. I've always been a huge fan of his, so I hung around him and chatted it up a bit. One time, a little kid came up to Lou and said the cutest thing: "Machine Gun, can you sign my cue ball?"

Lou said, "Of course I will - but you have to get Eva Mataya's autograph first, ok?"

The excited little kid buzzed off into the crowd, like he was on a mission. About 10 mins later he goes, "Here - I got it--- now, can I have your autograph?"

Lou obliged and signed his name with flair - just above Eva's signature.

I asked Lou what that was all about.

He said, "That's the only way I'll ever get on top of Eva."

I laughed so hard, they almost needed to bring me oxygen! How do these pool guys think of that shit on the fly??

He was the nicest guy ever - I'll never forget hanging around him. To that day, he told me he still felt as though he could compete if someone would break for him. He's a class guy.

 

[Cdryden]

One of the best in the game, in every way.

 

[alstl]

I met Lou at the IPT World 8Ball in Reno. I've always been a huge fan of his, so I hung around him and chatted it up a bit. One time, a little kid came up to Lou and said the cutest thing: "Machine Gun, can you sign my cue ball?"

Lou said, "Of course I will - but you have to get Eva Mataya's autograph first, ok?"

The excited little kid buzzed off into the crowd, like he was on a mission. About 10 mins later he goes, "Here - I got it--- now, can I have your autograph?"

Lou obliged and signed his name with flair - just above Eva's signature.

I asked Lou what that was all about.

He said, "That's the only way I'll ever get on top of Eva."

I laughed so hard, they almost needed to bring me oxygen! How do these pool guys think of that shit on the fly??

He was the nicest guy ever - I'll never forget hanging around him. To that day, he told me he still felt as though he could compete if someone would break for him. He's a class guy.

His weakness is his break. In the accustats video Evorlino is doing commentary and he says Lou is the only guy with a weaker break than his. It's a good video, I would recommend it. Boston Shorty hit a safety that I don't think I've ever seen before. I'm going to try it later on my table downstairs.

 

[12squared]

The only question I asked is how does Lou play when you force him to shoot at a slower speed? It seemed to me, Lou had no humor for Shorty's chit-chat. Maybe Mr. Johnson had something to say, and maybe he was attacking a fast player's rhythm. I'll never know.

I would imagine that Lou wasn't happy w/slow play, but could deal with it rather well. After all, he made his bones playing straight pool where you may have to be in your chair for up to an hour before getting to play. I mean finishing 2nd to Irving Crane and then the next year beating him for the title is pretty impressive...Crane was known to take his time . Here's a little something more to read:

“Machine Gun Lou” Butera was born in Pittston, Pennsylvania. He learned to play at his father’s pool room in the small coal-mining town. After watching BCA Hall of Famer Erwin Rudolph in an exhibition, 14-year-old Lou decided to devote his life to pool. He was runner-up to Irving Crane in the 1972 World Championship in Los Angeles. In 1973 he defeated Crane in the finals of the same event to win his first World Championship. Nicknamed “Machine Gun Lou” for his rapid fire style, Lou recorded a 150-ball run against Allen Hopkins in just 21 minutes in 1973. Butera has since won numerous titles. In 1986, he was inducted into Billiard Congress of America (BCA) Hall of Fame, and since remains a serious threat to challengers.

Lou played exclusively with a Bert Schrager cue for many years. They were dear friends.

Dave

 

[thepavlos]

The fastest match I ever watched was between Luc Salvas and Keith McCreedy at Renaissance during a Joss Tour event, can't give you the time but you can just imagine with these two guys shooting.

 

[mbvl]

He has the all time record in competition, 150 and out in 21 minutes. I think it was against a young Allen Hopkins.

In the early 70s Terry Stonier held straight pool tournaments in Sacramento. Lou was always there. One game he ran well over 100 in 15 minutes (including the time for reracks). I think he may have been playing Richie Florence. The field was always packed with the likes of Cisero Murphy, Johnny Ervolino, Dan Louie, Pete Margo, Babe Thompson, Dallas West, and Bill Staton

Mark

 

[Cameron Smith]

While we're discussing fast players, here's Alex Higgins. Century break in under 3 minutes. fast forward to the 2 min mark in the vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ2Z_WhTYNM&playnext=1&videos=1kLzt8e5orE

For fast professional players (emphasis on professional) it really comes down to having a quick mind. Most pros don't take much time lining up the pots anways, so much of their time spent deciding what to do. It's also a rythm thing, I think it helps with concentration when your keep going. When I'm practicing long pots, I'll get into a quick rythm which keeps my mind on the task at hand and I'll pot that particular shot more consistently and fluently than I would in any game scenario.

When it comes to amateurs, it's almost always a flaw. This type of play will be characterized by silly missed and "what we're they thinking" mistakes.

 

[JAM]

The fastest match I ever watched was between Luc Salvas and Keith McCreedy at Renaissance during a Joss Tour event, can't give you the time but you can just imagine with these two guys shooting.

I was there!

Here's a cute shot of Keith and Luc at a Skins Billiards Championship in Atlantic City. Keith and Luc get along great, on and off the table! :smile:

Like Keith, Luc loves poker, too, online or in person!

 

[JAM]

There will never be another "Machine Gun" Lou.

When I think of fast players, I am reminded of a "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" TV show in 2003:

The Ripley's Believe It or Not! television show, on September 3, 2003, pitted Archer and Jeremy Jones against each other in an challenge match in speed pool. The show had them timed against each other, to try to beat the record, which at that time stood at 1 minute 30 seconds to break a full rack of balls and then pocket all fifteen balls, and then move to another table and do it again. Archer was the victor. The event was recorded in a warehouse in Los Angeles where other challenge matches were also taking place to beat records.

I like both of these players. Jeremy Jones, of course, won the 2003 U.S. Open, and Johnny is already a pool legend, but I could not help thinking when I saw this TV show that, man, who was the casting director for this show. These were two of the slowest players I'd ever had the privilege to watch play pool in person. :embarrassed2:

Just goes to show you that a player can play fast if they have to. Danny "Kid Delicious" Basavich is one of the slowest players out there, but I like watching him in the pit. He's got his own poetry in motion going. However, when they put him on a time clock, Danny can get there. I saw him drill Corey Deuel at the Glass City Open on the time clock. I think he ran a six-pack. Corey could only sit back, smile, and watch the show as Danny barbecued him. Danny came in second that year to Hillbilly. It was Hillbilly's first so-called "professional-caliber" tournament win.

You know, there are some players who really do play fast. Whether it's a rhythm thing or it's just their style, they're just fast players.

There's a kid from Pennsylvania named Mike Miller. He may be the fastest player I've ever seen. Though he holds down a full-time job and is only a weekend pool warrior, Mike just may be the fastest gun in the East. He is, without a doubt, a force to be reckoned with, and he's a nice guy, too! :smile:

 

[Gerry]

I play fast, always have. I like to watch Earl, Tony Drago, Luc, Hurricane....guys like that. Their pace seems natural to me. The slower I play the more mistakes I make......

After making my choice of next shot....it's about 4 seconds to pull the trigger. Maybe it's to dog proof it?, but taking more time gets my brain wandering.

An interesting side note...when in high school, we took a bunch of tests on IQ and brain speed.....I guess how fast you process info. They said I have va 4X brain speed.....standard is 1x in the test. Makes sense I guess.

G.

 

[Roy Steffensen]

Tony Drago is probably the fastest top-player today. It's always fun to watch him play.

Minnesota Fats once said about a fast player that after he had pocketed the 8 and 9 he hung the 7.

 

[bobroberts]

I believe Lou is still giving lessons in L.A. I know someone who is going to be playing with him next month. If i am wrong then its his son Sal who is giving the lesson.

 

[TorranceChris]

they say no records are safe that one is that will never ever be broken if u really think about it that is unbelieveable but obvious it is true or jay would of never of said it

Oh it's true alright. I was there as a youngster with my father and still remember other players breaking from their games to watch the final rack. Lou was on a roll that match!

 

[alstl]

Oh it's true alright. I was there as a youngster with my father and still remember other players breaking from their games to watch the final rack. Lou was on a roll that match!

I've heard Mike Sigel mention it while doing commentary for a 14.1 match. He he was there and my memory is he said it was 18 or 19 minutes.

If somebody here knows him they could ask him, or ask Lou if anybody knows him.

 

[8ballEinstein]

I've heard Mike Sigel mention it while doing commentary for a 14.1 match. He he was there and my memory is he said it was 18 or 19 minutes.

If somebody here knows him they could ask him, or ask Lou if anybody knows him.

I remember Lou was giving an exhibition and mentioned this match. He didn't seem to care what the time was for completing the run. To him, most of the time was soaked up by the referee gathering the balls, racking them and announcing the score.

 

[CrownCityCorey]

I played Lou in the last BCA Open that was in Vegas ('06?). I figured the match was a hanger since Lou musta been in his 70's already and gets invited because he's local to Vegas (and a Hall-of-Famer of course). It's the only tournament he plays in all year.

It was a race to 11 9-ball, I think, and Lou had me stuck like 3-8 :yikes: before I got my head outta my a$$ (!) and started taking him seriously!

I won , but Lou got all my respect! Never take that guy lightly! :bow-down:

Of course his son (Sal) plays almost perfect too!

 

[SCCues]

He has the all time record in competition, 150 and out in 21 minutes. I think it was against a young Allen Hopkins.

That's just amazing.......I like a fast pace, but that's unreal.

James

 

[Williebetmore]

It may have been eighteen and a half minutes. It was written up in the local newspapers and has been well reported by various pool publications. I just wanted to err on the side of caution. How quickly he accomplished this feat is as much about how long it took the referee to rack the balls between racks. With Lou you better be quick because he was raring to go!

JH,
I have always heard the 21 minute figure; anyone who's seen him play knows its true.

I met Lou at his HOF induction a few years ago in Vegas. I got his autograph, then complimented him on his play - told him I'd seen him play in the mid-70's at the Hawk's Nest exhibition tourneys in Pittsburgh. He was listening quietly; then when I mentioned the mid-70's tourney, a beatific smile slowly formed in his face, and progressed until he looked like he was the happiest man on earth; then he said, "Ahhhhhh, back then I could really PLAY."

I've always remembered that smile, it must be a great feeling to have ever reached the level of proficiency that Machine Gun Lou exhibited in his prime - even the memory of it was enough to give him great pride and satisfaction.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

One last thing--- Lou definitely moisturizes. When I shook his hand, I was waiting for a super market guy to walk by telling me not to squeeze the Charmin.

I'd bet that he's never lifted a wheelbarrow his entire life.