Grady, Jay Helfert, Freddy B.

[freddy the beard]

Burlington IA

So you remember Burlington, IA. That was really something over there. I got off the plane with little money. I had enough to play in the tournament and get me a room for one night.

I saw Dan Louie there, and Dan Louie staked me in the ring game. I busted the ring game, and then I played Don McCoy and busted him. Next, I played Mike Corella and busted him. Busted another ring game. Got jarred and played that guy that had open-heart surgery named Lorren that was a crook, one of Don McCoy's men. I played him 800 a game, lost 6 games by missing the 6-ball, the 7-ball, the 8-ball, the 8-ball, the 7-ball, the 6-ball until I realized the guy I was playing had jarred me. The balls became real fuzzy. At least I was smart enough to realize it. I pulled up 4,800 loser, but still had plenty of money.

I waited until the jar wore off, and then I busted Louie three times, played Larry Hubbard, busted him, and then Mike Corella again on the end. Those were tough tables, weren't they? I think those were some of the toughest tables we ever played on in life. And let's not forget when Jimmy Mataya then officially barred me from the ring game because I was running too many racks. He told me I was too young, had to be 21 to play, but the real reason was that he knew I was the only one who could get out on those phoney tables. If I do recall it right, I was 5-and-0 in the tournament, and then it was to be known that nobody was going to get paid. So I scrammed. Do I have it right, Freddy? Am I close? Let me know.

Peace. Your friend, Keith.

That might have been the toughest field of players ever assembled. Wimpy, Balsis, Kelly, Marino, Cardone, Ronnie, Buddy, Cannonball, Puckett, Liscotti, Cole, Jersey Red, all the top NY straight pool players, everyone except Harold Worst. Flyboy, of all people, won the all-around and he, like all of us got stiffed for the prize fund. The pockets were impossible. The only guys shooting balls down the rail were you and Cole. I played Larry Liscotti a game of banks on a table where 1pkt wouldnt allow you to make a straight back in it. If you hit it hard it would bounce out, if you shot it easy it would roll off. The table was so brutal, when the score got to 5 to nothing, Liscotti paid off and quit. (we were playing for 300 a game)

Good old times, kid,
the Beard

 

[tom haney]

I would just like to say it's an honor to have you posting here. Although we have disagreed in certain topics, I pay close attention to every word you guys say. You guys are what makes this forum enjoyable for most of us. The stories are fantastic. I would also like to note that Jay and Grady are two of my favorite Accustats commentators, along with Incardona and Nick Varner.

I certainly agree. We are very fortunate to have these
guys on here.

 

[Ken_4fun]

Either and Cole

Freddy - Jay - Keither

I would love to hear Cole and Keith stories. How did you 2 guys do.

I have heard from EVERYONE that you two (kids) were super human.

Against each other? Against the world?

Damn I wish I could have seen that!!!

Unbelievable.

Thanks guys.

Ken

 

[scottycoyote]

hey keith you said a guy jarred you, and you waited til it wore off.....never heard that expression, im guessing from the context you meant he slipped you a drug or something?

 

[X Breaker]

So you remember Burlington, IA. That was really something over there. I got off the plane with little money. I had enough to play in the tournament and get me a room for one night.

I saw Dan Louie there, and Dan Louie staked me in the ring game. I busted the ring game, and then I played Don McCoy and busted him. Next, I played Mike Corella and busted him. Busted another ring game. Got jarred and played that guy that had open-heart surgery named Lorren that was a crook, one of Don McCoy's men. I played him 800 a game, lost 6 games by missing the 6-ball, the 7-ball, the 8-ball, the 8-ball, the 7-ball, the 6-ball until I realized the guy I was playing had jarred me. The balls became real fuzzy. At least I was smart enough to realize it. I pulled up 4,800 loser, but still had plenty of money.

I waited until the jar wore off, and then I busted Louie three times, played Larry Hubbard, busted him, and then Mike Corella again on the end. Those were tough tables, weren't they? I think those were some of the toughest tables we ever played on in life. And let's not forget when Jimmy Mataya then officially barred me from the ring game because I was running too many racks. He told me I was too young, had to be 21 to play, but the real reason was that he knew I was the only one who could get out on those phoney tables. If I do recall it right, I was 5-and-0 in the tournament, and then it was to be known that nobody was going to get paid. So I scrammed. Do I have it right, Freddy? Am I close? Let me know.

Peace. Your friend, Keith.

Hi Keith,
This is priceless. I remember hearing this stroy from Dan Louie, and he said you were just playing unbelivable pool that no one could touch you.
I heard this story long time ago from Danny but I distintly remember the part when he staked you and then you made so much money you just kept playing and winning on your own.
Best wishes to you and Jannie.
Richard

 

[jay helfert]

Thanks to all of you. I really appreciate the kind words. I truly enjoy chatting on here, and rapping with Grady and Freddie.

...I was on the road with Danny Medina and he was beating everybody back then in Ohio and Indiana. We were good winners by the time we got to Chicago. We ran into Freddie at Chris's and he had a big backer who wanted us to play 500 a game full rack Banks with Freddie. Danny was playing super so I gave him the go ahead. He and Freddie played all night and we won five or six games.

Meanwhile the backer (Wayne?) picked on me. He asked me if I played. We ended up playing short rack banks for 50 a game and I pulverized him for about 15 or 20 games. It was brutal as Fats used to say. Do you remember all this Freddie?

Yes, I do remember that. Like all of us old-time pool hustlers, all you remember or are willing to talk about are the victories, but you have conveniently left out when you staked Ether (Keith McReady) against me playing banks in St Charles IL. You were running the tournament and had to leave Keith with the bankroll while you refereed a match. You hurried back but it was too late, I had already broke Keith. Now for the final note to the Medina story, we played banks again in Akron, Ohio. This time we were both betting our own. Danny won the first two games but I beat him 8 in a row and he packed it in, never to play again.

Footnote to the guys on the forum:
It's hard for the guys to talk disparagingly about me, because like J Edgar Hoover, I have a dossier on everybody. And yes, Wayne was my backer's name.

the Beard
Bank on, Jaybird!

Okay, Okay. You did beat Keith out of my cheese. He went overboard playing you. I told him to only go for 400 at 200 a game, but he went a little deeper. I got there too late. I guess we all try to forget our bad experiences. Anyway, I made big money with Keith over the years, so I can't fault him for his few mistakes (well, not that few).

 

[jay helfert]

Jay do you remember Cuban Joe from the Ye Billiard Den. Always had a great Ring game going at the Den with Lenny Moore. These guys had cash coming out of their ears. Once Joe got stuck up for all his cash, about 10 K. I asked him what he was gonna do. He said just got to the safety deposit box and get 10 G's more. What happened to all these great gamblers?

I gambled with Joe many times at One Pocket and Banks. He was a hot score, if you know what I mean (didn't take losing well). Last I heard he was in bad health.

 

[jay helfert]

Dear Freddy, I have seen you throw my name around the Internet a few times and always read your posts with amusement. As far as St. Charles goes, you beat me out of a couple games, but just to get the story straight, we weren't betting high enough for you to bust me or Jay. Then we played in Chicago after I got done playing Piggy and Bugs for 2-1/2 days, and we broke even. Not to take anything away from you, you played good. I just want to see if you can do it again.

Just for the record, Freddy, I am not in need of a lobotomy, and second of all, I want to rehash our bank pool game. I would love to come to Chicago, put up about 10 grand, a dime a game, and play some 10-ahead long-rack banks until somebody drops. It won't be like playing Harry Platis, trying to steal something. I hope you respond to this, and if you're interested, send me a PM, and we can make some arrangements.

Tootaloo, Freddy. I'm anxiously awaiting for your response. I'm tired of all the BS on the Internet. I want to get it out of the mud.

Thanks Keith for reminding me. Your memory was always so good, for real. He only beat us for two games at 200. Right? Something like that. I thought I only gave you 400 to play him.
If you go back to Chi town, I'm in dude.

 

[jay helfert]

Keith, let's start this off with, I am 65 and on social security. Harry Platis is now a stretch for me. So me and you aint playing no more. However, those "couple" games I won in St Charles amounted to about $3500. I am sure Jay will concur. And that "broke even" in Chicago was also a different tune. Yes you did just get done playing Piggy and Bugs-- and you beat them, by the way. Bugs played you 8 to 7. But Race Track Phil Guagliardo gave me $400 to play you $200 a game banks. I won the first eleven games in a row! We played a very long time. You fought back and got a few games back after I ran out of gas and didnt have a mixture as strong as yours. You certainly did not get even. When Phil got back from the track and he seen I was rhummy, he made me pull up about 6 games ahead.
For the record, I dont believe I ever said anything bad about you on these forums. You were a great, great player kid. You just couldnt beat me playing banks. (I am not even going to mention our bank game at Monroe Brocks tournament in KY) You're going to have to wait until the next life to get even.

the Beard

Freddie,
I love you like a brother, but if you beat Keith that bad in Chicago, it wasn't all me. I never ever gave Keith more than a g-whiz at any one time back there, and that was to play Effie.
Toupeeman

 

[jay helfert]

Freddy, you're funny. You've always been a tough customer in the bank pool game. I'm not going to take that away from you. I guess I was a little out of line trying to play you 10-ahead, not realizing that you were 65. You've always been a thorn in my ass playing banks. So maybe that's why I rared up and wanted to play you some.



As far as Jay Helfert goes, I don't ever remember him giving me 3,500. That's a lot of money for Jay to be giving up at one time, but if you say he did, maybe he did. Maybe he didn't. We'll have to hear from Jay.



I remember you having me stuck, but it seemed like to me I got even. Maybe it felt like I was even. We played so many games and for so long that we were both rum-dummed when it was over.




Well, Freddy, I don't have many years left in me either, but if we do have to play again in our next lifetime, I'm hoping to come back as a cue-ball, so I can give you a couple bad rolls (ha-ha).

Your friend, Keith

Keithly,
You remain the King of the one liners!
Toupeeman

 

[jay helfert]

Would that be the same Lizard aka Steve from TX?

Si, senorita

 

[Alex Kanapilly]

Maybe the three of us could do a book?

I'd buy it. Promise.

Alex.. spent some dough on winning one pocket, would like to get the second edition too.