Denney Searcy

I'll never forget the World Open Eight Ball and Nine Ball (WOENA) tourney put on by Ronnie Allen in Bend, Oregon in 1976. ALL the top players were there except for Mataya. Funny how I remember he didn't come. Denny wasn't there either but he was not much on tournaments anyway. Everyone else who could draw his ball was there though.

In the end Dan Louie won the Eight Ball division and Mike Sigel won the 9-Ball. In the long playoff Dan finally beat Sigel for the overall title. When it was over a lone figure stood in the doorway to the tournament room. He sent a message in to Louie and Sigel (and anyone else). He wanted to play ANYBODY Eight Ball or 9-Ball for any amount they wanted to play for. No one was barred. That man in the doorway was Denny.

No one would accept his challenge, which kind of surprised me since every top player was in the room, including Sigel and Hubbard. Finally Louie Roberts was brave enough to take Denny on in a 9-Ball set. He got clobbered. That is the only time I remember someone challenging a whole room full of champions, besides when Ed Kelly did it in Johnston City. That time Lassiter woke up and asked Kelly if the challenge included him. Kelly said no. :)

I also heard that Cannonball used to do the same thing at Straight Pool tourneys in the 50's.
 
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Now, that was awesome!
First time I've hear such! And I kid you not!

.


jay helfert said:
No one would accept his challenge, which kind of surprised me since every top player was in the room

I also heard the Cannonball used to do the same thing at Straight Pool tourneys in the 50's.
 
jay helfert said:
I also heard that Cannonball used to do the same thing at Straight Pool tourneys in the 50's.

Jay, was that Lefty "Cannonball" Chapman or Eddie "Cannonball" can't-remember-his-name from up around Watertown, New York?
I heard that both of them played strong.
 
I sparred with Denny a few times back in the sixties. He had an amazing talent with that cue stick.
One day we were just sitting and talking in some room in the east bay area of San Francisco, Redwood City maybe, and it seems like it was just yesterday. I said to him "you need to take advantage of your skills and get out there" He knew what I was talking about and I was surprised at his response. He said to me, and this is an exact quote, "how good do you think I play?" Like he was questioning his abilities.
I answered with "Much much better than most".
 
Pushout said:
Jay, was that Lefty "Cannonball" Chapman or Eddie "Cannonball" can't-remember-his-name from up around Watertown, New York?
I heard that both of them played strong.

John "Lefty" Chapman is the guy I was referring too. One of the all time great Bankers, but he could play any game. This Cannonball was one of the top five black pool players of all time. Right there with Bugs, Youngblood Washington, Cisero Murphy and James Evans.

Eddie "Cannonball" Kleinowski was a white guy out of Buffalo I believe. A very good player also, who was active in much the same time frame. Back then we used to say "Black Cannonball" or "White Cannonball" to distinguish one from the other.
 
Thanks for relaying a great story, JAM.

When I lived near the Bay Area, some of the old-timers like Dave Piona and Kenny Crenshaw would talk about how sweet Denny's stroke was. One guy described it as, "so smooth, it would make your mouth water".

The only time I was at a tourney that Denny was in was at the Las Vegas Tropicana in 1980. In attendance was Louie Roberts, Ed Kelly, Mike Sigel, Lou Butera, Mike Massey, Larry Hubbert and so many more. Unfortunately, I didn't know Denny was one of the guys to be watching, so I never saw him play. From all the stories I've heard over the years, I really missed out.
 
jay helfert said:
John "Lefty" Chapman is the guy I was referring too. One of the all time great Bankers, but he could play any game. This Cannonball was one of the top five black pool players of all time. Right there with Bugs, Youngblood Washington, Cisero Murphy and James Evans.

Eddie "Cannonball" Kleinowski was a white guy out of Buffalo I believe. A very good player also, who was active in much the same time frame. Back then we used to say "Black Cannonball" or "White Cannonball" to distinguish one from the other.

Last I knew, Eddie was living in or near Watertown, NY. He was still playing a bit when I left the Binghamton area and was known for getting in the Friday night 9 ball tournaments at Cap's in Syracuse and winning or coming in the money quite often. These tournaments were before the weekend Sat. and Sunday tournaments. Nowhere near his former speed but he can/could still play.
 
White Cannonball

Cannonball Eddie Kienowski stayed and hustled with me and Sugar Shack Johnny in Ft Lauderdale in the 60s. You hear that story about the guy who used to run a 100 before breakfast? That's exactly what Eddie would do every morning at the Miscue Lounge in Ft Lauderdale. He'd run a 100 and then we would go eat. I was in when he gave Mr Weanie Beanie 8 to 7 and the break, and stole his money. Beanie didn't even stay at the game long. White 'Ball was a pool terror.

the Beard

Anybody seen my new DVD, Banking With The Beard? If you love it, don't be shy, tell somebody.
 
Pushout said:
Last I knew, Eddie was living in or near Watertown, NY. He was still playing a bit when I left the Binghamton area and was known for getting in the Friday night 9 ball tournaments at Cap's in Syracuse and winning or coming in the money quite often. These tournaments were before the weekend Sat. and Sunday tournaments. Nowhere near his former speed but he can/could still play.

You sure do get around, Pushout! :)

I really enjoyed that pool room in Syracuse, Cap's. It was a real old-timey pool room. They had an old photo in the back room that the owner gave to me, which I still have. I love the lockers in that pool room, giving the regulars something to leave their cue sticks in. Is that pool room still in existence today? I haven't been up there in a few years.

I also really liked Salt City Billiards. They had a couple Joss Tour tournaments there, and the owners were Italian. It seemed like everybody living in Syracuse was Italian at the time we were there. The food was ambrosial. The owner's wife made homemade Tortellini Soup when we were there, and I wolfed mine down, sitting with none other than Jim Rempe, who won the tournament that weekend! :)
 
Keith challenged

jay helfert said:
I'll never forget the World Open Eight Ball and Nine Ball (WOENA) tourney put on by Ronnie Allen in Bend, Oregon in 1976. ALL the top players were there except for Mataya. Funny how I remember he didn't come. Denny wasn't there either but he was not much on tournaments anyway. Everyone else who could draw his ball was there though.

In the end Dan Louie won the Eight Ball division and Mike Sigel won the 9-Ball. In the long playoff Dan finally beat Sigel for the overall title. When it was over a lone figure stood in the doorway to the tournament room. He sent a message in to Louie and Sigel (and anyone else). He wanted to play ANYBODY Eight Ball or 9-Ball for any amount they wanted to play for. No one was barred. That man in the doorway was Denny.

No one would accept his challenge, which kind of surprised me since every top player was in the room, including Sigel and Hubbard. Finally Louie Roberts was brave enough to take Denny on in a 9-Ball set. He got clobbered. That is the only time I remember someone challenging a whole room full of champions, besides when Ed Kelly did it in Johnston City. That time Lassiter woke up and asked Kelly if the challenge included him. Kelly said no. :)

I also heard that Cannonball used to do the same thing at Straight Pool tourneys in the 50's.


I have also heard that Keith had done this at some tournaments--I am not positive but think he did it at some of the old tournaments at the Jointed Cue in Sacramento
 
DrawtheRock said:
I have also heard that Keith had done this at some tournaments--I am not positive but think he did it at some of the old tournaments at the Jointed Cue in Sacramento

Well Keith was a little different. He did this everywhere he went! He challenged everybody in every poolroom and tournament room he entered for about 20 years. I think his favorite saying back then was, "No one is barred!"

Probably Buddy was the only player that Keith would show some deference to. Buddy and Keith had a kind of understanding that when he was barking, not to say anything. Keith was not to shy to say, "Not you Buddy" and laugh.
 
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Jay, How did Denny and Buddy match up in the day ?? I heard Denny had moe than Buddy wanted at that time. What was your read on their matchin up ??
 
barefoot3zk5 said:
Jay, How did Denny and Buddy match up in the day ?? I heard Denny had moe than Buddy wanted at that time. What was your read on their matchin up ??

At 9-Ball, Buddy was THE MAN! And that's the name of that tune. On a snooker table, Denny had no equal. And playing One Pocket, Ronnie ruled! Straight pool was all MIZ, until Sigel took over. Yes, there were clear cut favorites even back then. Other players had their moments, but I'm talking about the guys who showed their superiority over a long period of time.

Bar tables were a little harder since there were so many good players. But I kind of like Keith, Buddy and Matlock over the rest. With a big ball, Weldon Rogers and Bakersfield Bobby were pretty hard to beat by anyone.
 
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In your Pool room

jay helfert said:
At 9-Ball, Buddy was THE MAN! And that's the name of that tune. On a snooker table, Denny had no equal. And playing One Pocket, Ronnie ruled! Straight pool was all MIZ, until Sigel took over. Yes, there were clear cut favorites even back then. Other players had their moments, but I'm talking about the guys who showed their superiority over a long period of time.

Bar tables were a little harder since there were so many good players. But I kind of like Keith, Buddy and Matlock over the rest. With a big ball, Weldon Rogers and Bakersfield Bobby were pretty hard to beat by anyone.

Jay, did Bakersfield Bobby play in your pool room? I heard he was very good but never saw him play. Bucktooth supposedly played him a couple of times...did you see any of those matches? Care to share?
 
How quickly

People forget, that is. Wade Crane and I used to take $10,000 with us and offer to play anyone in the world. Wade was to play the 9 Ball and I the One Pocket. We got on the mike all the time but nobody ever took us up on our offer. Believe me, noone was barred.
Listen, there were coffee shop champions and then there was us. We would have bet more, too if offered the chance. A list of all the champs who turned us down would be impressive. But I won't say names. BUT, if ever you have a passing conversation with Wade, just ask him if my words are true.
We finally gave up trying to show heart and gamble, especially since we were mostly wagering our own dough. Note please that I don't say we would have won but we would have played.
 
Grady said:
People forget, that is. Wade Crane and I used to take $10,000 with us and offer to play anyone in the world. Wade was to play the 9 Ball and I the One Pocket. We got on the mike all the time but nobody ever took us up on our offer. Believe me, noone was barred.
Listen, there were coffee shop champions and then there was us. We would have bet more, too if offered the chance. A list of all the champs who turned us down would be impressive. But I won't say names. BUT, if ever you have a passing conversation with Wade, just ask him if my words are true.
We finally gave up trying to show heart and gamble, especially since we were mostly wagering our own dough. Note please that I don't say we would have won but we would have played.

I have heard this from some others that in the early 80's Grady had a standing offer to play anyone onepocket, and the first time I saw Billy "Boom Boom" Johnson (Wade Crane) he could not get any action in 9ball at a tournament where almost everyone was there.
 
DrawtheRock said:
Jay, did Bakersfield Bobby play in your pool room? I heard he was very good but never saw him play. Bucktooth supposedly played him a couple of times...did you see any of those matches? Care to share?

I played Bobby in my poolroom. We became friends after that. He was a good big table player and a great bar table player. He mastered that big cue ball. I never saw him play Bucktooth, but I think he was the better player.
 
Grady said:
People forget, that is. Wade Crane and I used to take $10,000 with us and offer to play anyone in the world. Wade was to play the 9 Ball and I the One Pocket. We got on the mike all the time but nobody ever took us up on our offer. Believe me, noone was barred.
Listen, there were coffee shop champions and then there was us. We would have bet more, too if offered the chance. A list of all the champs who turned us down would be impressive. But I won't say names. BUT, if ever you have a passing conversation with Wade, just ask him if my words are true.
We finally gave up trying to show heart and gamble, especially since we were mostly wagering our own dough. Note please that I don't say we would have won but we would have played.

You wanna know HOW MUCH HEART and GAMBLE Grady Matthews has? He even bet ON ME playing one pocket. That's a lot of heart right there.

Of course after I lost he had to come over and berate me for my poor shot choices. :-) Thanks Grady!!!

Really!!! I have seen Grady offer to play the whole room and no one stand up to take the challenge.
 
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