Dave told me once that if his opponent couldn't come with a 7pack he had no chance. Dave did things that made great players shake their head. His 3c knowledge got him out of a ton of jams. The shot he made a cpl weeks ago in Colo. was vintage Matlock.
Dave Matlock should be in the Billiard Hall of Fame
- Thread starter Racinartist
- Start date
LOL, awfully few had a shot to beat Dave on the bar table. I think Buddy Hall was a notch above Dave at nine-ball on the bar table if we go back 45 years, but it was a small notch.
He played the Camel Tour a fair bit and was playing on CJ's deal(finished second at your joint iirc) til it folded. His daughter was in Ponca and he got staked for BIG action so he tended to play a lot in KS/Okla.
did DM and Kieth play?
I'm sure they did but i don't know of results. I'll call D and ask him. Dave had more firepower than just about anyone in the day.
A hanger!
I would bet Buddy against almost anyone in his prime but I think it was a "given day" thing with Dave. You don't go out of your way to play money matches you may not win when there are plenty you are much more confident of winning.
There was so much easy money around the oil patch it would be crazy to waste much time in very uncertain matches. Same situation as WWII, guys away from home, nothing to do but drink and gamble if they didn't cheat on their wives/girlfriends.
Hu
that shot was my favorite moment of the event. tight shot clock, no time to dwell just old knowledge and muscle memory at work
Dave's main 'horse' was a man named Bill Duggan. WW2 vet that served on MacArthur's staff in korea. He had almost all the vending in western Ok. in the boom oil days. People came from all over to try to win a stack. Very few got there against 'ol Matlock. Long 'ahead' sets for 10dimes was the norm. A TON of $$ in those days.
I lived in Springfield, MO (pretty close to KC) and I heard the exact same thing. NOBODY was barred and only a few ventured into that lair. There was plenty money there, but also plenty green pastures elsewhere.
Dave's a Mizzou homey. Rolla and Poplar Bluff both claim him. Danny and Evelyn from Ponca kinda 'discovered' him and he moved to Ponca City with them. Rest is history. Is Darren Everett still playing? One of the nicest cats you could meet. He was/is real tight with Andy Gilbert. Used to play in all the big stuff in Tulsa/Olathe/Wichita.
True enough I suspect since the average pool room today isn't an action room. Step into an action room and he will be known, or at least known of. Too, I seem to remember him playing in the IPT events so those that followed them at least slightly know of him.
Few cross country road players wouldn't have known of him. They kept books and anyone of his level would be known.
Hu
When he won the DCC banks in '05 a lot of people were like 'Who is this guy' but all the pool nerds like us were not surprised.
Nobody at the DCC would be the least bit surprised he placed high. I suspect like me they would have picked one banks specialist or another to win.
It's pretty amazing whoever wins in those crowded fields. I would say winning a division at the Derby is as difficult as winning a world championship, surely a national championship, in that division. Compete all day, most gamble much of the night, then come up through a huge field. Serious bragging rights for any Derby champion!
Hu
Matlock still destroys the competition in Kansas City. This is the typical result from a recent 10 ball tournament. Maybe my 9th place finish lets me nominate Dave to the HOF.
Mike Banks jr. is only KC player of Dave's speed.