Greg "Big Train" Stevens
- Thread starter Fast Lenny
- Start date
Grady said:
Grady,
You are some sort of a genius with your total recall for dates, times and places. That's one reason I bought your book, so I could find out where
"I" was, and when. I do know that your time in Houston was after mine.
I moved from Dallas to Houston in, (I think) late '66 or early '67. Only stayed there about a year, moved to Shreveport, then back to Ft Worth.
I basically had a route that covered all of Texas, Okla, and La.(occasionally up into Wichita, to play Greg, and K.C.Mo.)
I tried a very brief reunion with my first wife (in San Jose) around '70-'71.
Didn't work out so I moved to Phx in '71, or '72, where I have been ever since.
So much for my bio. I knew there was a lot going on in Houston in the early '70s, and I almost moved back. Sure made a lot of life long friends there, and in Dallas. However cupid struck, and I made my final vow's to Kathy, my wife of 34 years now, in '74. She was worth getting out the lunch pail for, and from '73 to '93, I got in 20 yrs. with UPS. Sure glad I did because a teamster's pension is a little better than RPPF (Ret.Pool Player's Fund.) Kathy just recently retired after 32 years with Yellow/Roadway Trans. I look back on the years I spent, not picking up a cue, or even going into the poolroom, as the most rewarding years of my life.
However, that being said, did I miss the life ? You KNOW I did. I also missed probably the most exciting time frame, ever, to be in action.
When I returned to pool, I would hear all the stories about you, and my other peer's, I would think, what if... But for now I'm content to bang away on my keyboard, and catch up on all the times I missed.
Thank's to you and Freddy (and many others)for providing them.
Dick
And a real big THANK YOU to AZB, and 1P.org. for bringing us all together again !
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SJDinPHX said:Grady,
You are some sort of a genius with your total recall for dates, times and places. That's one reason I bought your book, so I could find out where
"I" was, and when. I do know that your time in Houston was after mine.
I moved from Dallas to Houston in, (I think) late '66 or early '67. Only stayed there about a year, moved to Shreveport, then back to Ft Worth.
I basically had a route that covered all of Texas, Okla, and La.(occasionally up into Wichita, to play Greg, and K.C.Mo.)
I tried a very brief reunion with my first wife (in San Jose) around '70-'71.
Didn't work out so I moved to Phx in '71, or '72, where I have been ever since.
So much for my bio. I knew there was a lot going on in Houston in the early '70s, and I almost moved back. Sure made a lot of life long friends there, and in Dallas. However cupid struck, and I made my final vow's to Kathy, my wife of 34 years now, in '74. She was worth getting out the lunch pail for, and from '73 to '93, I got in 20 yrs. with UPS. Sure glad I did because a teamster's pension is a little better than RPPF (Ret.Pool Player's Fund.) Kathy just recently retired after 32 years with Yellow/Roadway Trans. I look back on the years I spent, not picking up a cue, or even going into the poolroom, as the most rewarding years of my life.
However, that being said, did I miss the life ? You KNOW I did. I also missed probably the most exciting time frame, ever, to be in action.
When I returned to pool, I would hear all the stories about you, and my other peer's, I would think, what if... But for now I'm content to bang away on my keyboard, and catch up on all the times I missed.
Thank's to you and Freddy (and many others)for providing them.
Dick
And a real big THANK YOU to AZB, and 1P.org. for bringing us all together again !
I wonder where you disappeared to Dick. You came out of retirement for my L.A. Open in 1993, right. Some guys had a misspent youth. Dick, you had a misspent adulthood. :wink:
Sure you and your wife have pensions now and social security, and own your own home and have money in the bank. But think of all the fun you could have had and how broke you would be now. You would still be chasing fifty dollar action and sleeping in cheap motels. See what you're missing. :grin:
Good move Sherlock!
does anyone have a picture of Greg "Big Train" Stevens. I really like nostaligic pictures from old crusty pool halls...
ugotactionTX said:
No sir, but I do have a set of Haig Ultra woods (1,3 and 5) that were his.
He hocked his whole set to me one time when he went broke in Ft. Worth.
It was a week, or so before he picked them up, and I had played a few rounds with them, and loved them. I cut him a deal to only retrieve his Iron's and bag.
They are the only wood's I've ever played with since.
Bad news is, next day on the golf course, he beat me out of enough to buy a seriously upgraded, new set of woods for himself. :frown:
Dick
PS Pool player's never could afford camera's
SJDinPHX said:Good story, just goes to show, don't believe everything you read. Lassiter
was way over the hill in the early '70s. I seriously doubt he ever traveled to Houston to play pool. (maybe in the '50s before there even was a Le cue)
Dick
I was wondering about this myself. I played Lassiter in a tourney in 1976, but he was slipping then. He beat me 11-7 and did manage to finish fourth with a so so field. By 1980 I don't think he was traveling anymore. Just staying home in Elizabeth City and playing pool at his brother Charles' house.
They found him dead at the table. He had been practicing when he passed away. A perfect ending for a man who gave his life to pool.
P.S. He came out of retirement to win the first Legends of Pool in 1984 I believe. Of course, everyone was over the hill in that tourney. Luther died in 1988 I believe. He was about 70 or late 60's.
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The story with Whimpy and Greg is out of Huslter Days. They were playing in a tournement and Greg won the lag broke ran 5 racks, got hooked on the low ball after the break in the 6th. Greg pushed out Whimpy gave it back and Greg ran the set out without Whimpy taking a shot. I don't know if that is true but that is pretty much how it is written in Huslter Days.
jay helfert said:
Luther was certainly past his prime for that Legends tournament, but you could see even then just how great a player he must have been in his prime. Even then he had flashes of brilliance.
Luther died on October 25, 1988, just a few days short of his 70th birthday. You were right that he gave his life to pool. I just wish pool had given him more than it did in return.
SJDinPHX said:
I just checked. He was almost 70, and died in 1988. His last 5-10 years he mostly stayed home. I only saw him once and that was at the Legends.
Your not dying Fatboy,you just dont seem too happy.You need to figure out what makes you happy,to me it seems like being successful and building something like you did with old business makes you feel good, the money is a plus too but not your main motivation,find a project.Fatboy said:thats pretty much what i'm doing.
Fast Lenny said:Your not dying Fatboy,you just dont seem too happy.You need to figure out what makes you happy,to me it seems like being successful and building something like you did with old business makes you feel good, the money is a plus too but not your main motivation,find a project.
you are so right, as we speak i have 2 Sac Kings cheerleaders and a playboy chick out by my pool, all 10's and my girl friend, and 2 other guy friends and i'm laying in bed, i should be out in the pool. I just have no interest. I can hear them in the distance laughing, My friend who helped me book a party here brought them over from the Palm's casino-I loaned him the Rolls to go over there an hour ago, I met them and came in. I havent drove in weeks. I figure it might as well be enjoyed, so here I am letting a guy I know go pick up 3 girls with almost no cloths on riding around in my car and I really dont care one way or the other.
I'm not feeling sorry for myself, I'm just "bland" for lack of a better word-I dont give a shit about anything, I'm not upset I lost my biz, I'm not happy I booke a $40,000 this week. I am not feeling sorry for my self, I really dont know why I just dont care about anything anymore one way or the other. Even food all tastes the same to me, I just dont care about anything. strange
You need to find something that gives you some life and energy,a project so to speak or a new business venture to put some time into,build it and make it a success like you have in the past,you will be happy again then I do believe,just my read on things.I have been there Eric and it sucks,no motivation,just wanting to sleep and do nothing,not much fun and not much fun to be around.Fatboy said:
i didn't say he wasn't over the hill . how would anyone know, he didn't get to shoot ? i asked duke, he said he lassiter was there and the story is correct. glad your doing well !SJDinPHX said:Good story, just goes to show, don't believe everything you read. Lassiter
was way over the hill in the early '70s. I seriously doubt he ever traveled to Houston to play pool. (maybe in the '50s before there even was a Le cue)
Dick
PS; lassiter had a red ferrule on his cue, only one i've ever seen.
rodney.
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Ok Grady,get us back on topic,I want to hear some of these stories you have.I and others are starting to drift off the topic of Big Train and he seems like such a character we could go on and on about him like he want on and on gambling in those long sessions.What was his longest session by the way?:smile:Grady said: