Fat's One Liners

[Island Drive]

I stood in line for an hour to get his autograph one time and then when I got up there close I saw that he was charging 5$ and using the stamp so I said the heck with this and go out of line.Now I wish I would have spent the 5 bucks.He had a tall blond on each side of him.This was in nashville.
John B.

I was at the Denver Open, Sigel was winning everything and he had his Sigel cue case, embossed dbl snap pockets/with end handle/leather case, he said you can have it for $250..............Should of got it he was serious. Early 80's. He had it all those years with Hubbard.

 

[Kiwis11]

I was able to play Fats once in 1965 in Bloomington, IL at the Wards Department Store. He was promoting the tables they sold with his name on them. I was just 18 and a fair player...but I beat him 2 out of 3 games of 8 ball...banking the the 8. He let me know that if I wanted to put up $100 we could play again. I think he knew I couldn't come up with a $100 and would choke if I did. Got the chance to talk with him some before and after the match. He was a pretty nice guy when nobody was around...but when the crowd showed up...he was loud and mean as a snake. Not a great player...but very very good when the money was on the line and he could hustle with the best of them...thou talking a much better game than he played.

 

[book collector]

What got me playing pool was going into a strange poolroom and seeing Fats playing Long Beach $500 One Pocket.

There is a fellow here (Vernon, 72) who was on the road with Fats before the movie. He has 100's of Fats stories AND his original Rambo Cue.

I played Fats $100 9-ball sets in DuQuoin, IL in about 1971. Fats wasn't in his prime at all but a gentleman all the same.

Anyone can say anything, anytime about Fats but I'll tell you all one thing for sure - He could play One Pocket jam up and was one of the best hustlers of his day. And in his prime - he could EAT any 3 good size men under the table.

Walk through Time Square tomorrow and ask 50 people to name a pool player.

TY & GL

I used to ask nearly everyone I met to name 3 pool players , Fats was number 1 by a mile then Mosconi then Greenleaf Jackie Gleason was number 4. lol Most only knew 1, at the most 2