'Hippie' Jimmy Reid

[1pocket]

Seeing how 'Hippie Jimmy' is in line for a Lifetime Pool in Action honor at this years One Pocket Hall of Fame dinner coming up at Derby City, how about sharing some stories/background on him?

I'll start with this -- it seems like his best game was 10-Ball -- ironic that now all of a sudden 10-Ball is getting a lot of attention.

 

[Darth]

Back in the early eighties, Jimmy was playing a local player a set of one hole and spotting the local 10-6 for 200 a rack. The local had Jimmy stuck 3 games and waited for Jimmy to go to the restroom to start woofing how he had five -time world champion Jimmy Reid 600 stuck. This was in a pool hall in south Florida at 2am. The only light on in the room was the light over the table so the local didn't see Jimmy standing in the rear of the room listening to the conversation. After the local finished barking to the four or five guys standing around, Jimmy walks up to the table and tells him to double the bet and the game was being changed to 15-6. At about 5am, the local walked out of the room dead busted. This was the most dominating butt whupping I have ever witnessed.

 

[stevelomako]

When Jimmy had a new girlfriend he would put an orange and a 5-ball on the dresser.........when they could tell the difference he kicked them out.

 

[hemicudas]

When Jimmy had a new girlfriend he would put an orange and a 5-ball on the dresser.........when they could tell the difference he kicked them out.

Did Red, God rest his soul, tell you that one, Steve? Your point is well made. Seems the great players, Jimmy, Louie, etc. were very popular with the ladies. None moreso than, Jimmy Reid.

 

[1pocket]

When Jimmy had a new girlfriend he would put an orange and a 5-ball on the dresser.........when they could tell the difference he kicked them out.

Well I guess that means Barbara figured out the difference, and then some

 

[Mr Hoppe]

He has authored the best dvd set on kicking that I have seen. Glad to hear that he is being recognised.

 

[Matt_24]

I got to visit with Jimmy at his house in Nashville and get some lessons, and he videotaped the session for me. I really learned a lot. He's a great player and super nice guy.

 

[JAM]

I've got a lot of Jimmy Reid stories, mostly gathered via word of mouth. If you have ever been in Jimmy's presence when he's in his storytelling mode, it is a real treat. He has an infectious giggle, and you can't help but laugh with him. He is one of a kind.

Jimmy Reid has always been eye candy for the ladies, especially in his younger days. With his thick long hair and muscular build, the ladies always seemed to gravitate to him.

One evening at an undisclosed bar deep in the heart of Dixie, Jimmy and Keith McCready were trying to drum up some action on the tables. Keith found him a game. The two of them consulted about how much they were going to wager. Jimmy told Keith that he would sit at the bar and watch the match from afar. Keith got down to business, and it was let the games begin.

Meanwhile, a beautiful lady walks up to Jimmy at the bar and sets herself right down next to him. She asked Jimmy if she could buy him a drink. Jimmy couldn't believe his eyes. This was one good-looker, beautiful, built like a model, and he was in heaven. Soon Jimmy's attention was focused on this gorgeous gal and not Keith.

About 10 minutes transpired, and Jimmy and this lady were really digging each other. Up walks a burly biker-type dude, about 300-plus pounds, with tatoos and brandishing biker colors. He interjects himself and says to Jimmy, "What are you doing talking to my old lady?" Jimmy had the deer-in-headlights look at first, but responded that he did not know she was anyone's girlfriend. The biker had a thick glass beer mug in his hand and cracked it over Jimmy's face with all his might. Blood poured out like a river.

Keith ran over to Jimmy and wasn't quite sure what to do. This biker guy had friends in the building, and Keith was a pool player and not a fighter. Keith thought Jimmy was seriously injured and was frightened. In an instant, without missing a beat, Jimmy raised his right hand and punched the burly biker dude with all his might and knocked him out cold. Keith couldn't believe his eyes, and neither could anybody else in the joint.

Jimmy wiped the blood from his face and said to Keith, "Go finish your game. I'll be fine." Nobody said a word in the bar. Keith finished the set, winning, and then the two of them drove off into the moonlight.

JAM

 

[freddy the beard]

Tough man to live with

When Jimmy had a new girlfriend he would put an orange and a 5-ball on the dresser.........when they could tell the difference he kicked them out.

First, I must give heat to Stevelomako for using the above story first. It was my favorite. I'm going to grudgingly interrupt my temporary hiatus from AZ to honor my old pal, Jimmy Reid. I knew him since he was 15. Jimmy Reid was a fearless, talented, funny, stubborn, proud, top player. If you beat him you could break him. But he was very hard to beat. He and I quit playing each other early on. I didn't like how hard he always tried. His best game was probably ten ball or pay ball. He loved shooting at hard shots. He has been very sick, but somehow he is still hanging in there. He played plenty good enough to be in the BCA Hall of Fame. He would have busted a few of those already in.
I watched Jimmy Reid bust Richie Florence in a 72 hr 9 ball session in Detroit at the Rack and Cue. I was staying with him and his wife Barbara, in an efficiency motel suite at the time. When the session was over, Barbara wanted us all to go have breakfast at the Stage Deli. Instead, he made Barbara, who stayed up on the sweat the whole 3 days, go to the store for groceries so she could cook us breakfast. That was too cold-blooded, even for me. He's been my hero ever since.

the Beard

 

[freddy the beard]

Pics of Hippie Jimmy

Here are some pics of Jimmy Reid in Johnston City in 1970. Notice the pipe in his mouth. It didnt contain Prince Albert.

the Beard

 

[freddy the beard]

Bump for the great Hippie Jimmy

Nobody is more deserving of a bump than the long ailing, Jimmy Reid. He could use a little support.

the Beard

 

[Matt_24]

Jimmy was also the 1985 US Open 9 Ball Champion, and a World 8 Ball champion (plus numerous others). I'm sure his website will have them all listed.

 

[akrick]

Whats the matter with his health?

 

[hemicudas]

Jimmy Reid has always been eye candy for the ladies, especially in his younger days. With his thick long hair and muscular build, the ladies always seemed to gravitate to him. JAM

All through the 70s every town, of any size, had "Pool Groupies". For its size, Jackson, MS probably had the most. There was one, clique, of about 6 girls who were in competition nightly to see who could go home with the top player in the bar. The leader of this one clique was a girl, we will call her "JC, Mississippi", who claimed to have, lets call it "Been With", every good player who ever came through Jackson.

The Office Lounge was packed the night Jimmy Reid walked in and sat down at the bar. Jimmy looked around the place to see if he knew anyone that might knock his action. His eyes finally came to rest at the table where Bill Stack and I were sitting. Recognizing us Jimmy just smiled, knowing we would not knock him.

JC, had been casing the joint and had spotted Jimmy at the bar. She walked over to our table and sat down. She asked us if we knew the guy at the bar as she turned and looked directly at Jimmy? We told her no but thought he was a local. She said, "Boy, I sure wish he played pool. He is gorgeous". We just smiled.

The table closest to us were playing 9 ball and 6 ball for $10 each with the winner of the 6 ball game keeping the table. Jimmy had watched a few games before he walked over and placed his quarter on the table. JC, noticed this and told us if he ever won just one game she was taking him home.

When it's Jimmy's game he racks the balls and grabs a cue off the wall. The guy breaks, makes a couple of balls, runs a few and plays a combonation on the 9. Jimmy pays off and racks the 6 ball game. The guy makes a ball on the break and runs out. Jimmy puts another quarter on the table and walks back to his stool. There has to be 7 or 8 quarters on the table before it's Jimmy's turn again so JC says she doesn't have time to wait for this guy to win a game and leaves our table. She walks over to one of the other gambling tables and in 15 mins. she is out the door with one of the local shortstops.

Jimmy's next turn at the table he keeps it the rest of the night. The bet is raised to $20 and $20 and Jimmy ends up with all the cash in the joint, save Stack's and mine.

The next night JC is super hot when she finds out Jimmy had snapped the entire place off and she didn't get to take him home.

 

[poolandpokerman]

What a great story,,,,,those were the days.....

 

[JayTS]

Whats the matter with his health?

Over the past years he has been suffering from Cancer. There has been many other troubles but thats the only terminal one that I personally know of.

 

[jay helfert]

One brief story about Jimmy, and I have MANY! We're on the road in California and Jimmy is beating everyone and I'm steering him. If I see a top player like Frisco Jack or Richie I warn Jimmy off.

So we go into one joint that's full of soft action and who do I see on the front table but New York Blackie, who was a top 9-Ball player at that time (late 60's). I tell Jimmy he can play anyone in the place except that guy on the first table practicing. Then I go into the restroom for some much needed relief since we had just driven a couple of hundred miles.

I come out in about five minutes and what do I see, but Jimmy on the table with Blackie. And they're already gambling. Jimmy is playing the best player in the house first. A cardinal sin for a pool player. I find out they are playing $20 9-Ball right out of the gate, a pretty good starting bet. I don't like it one bit, because I'm in for half and I know how good Blackie plays.

A couple of hours later when Blackie is stuck over 200, he is asking everyone "Who is this kid"? They finally end up playing a Race to Eleven for the 200 and Jimmy demolishs him. I walk out of there shaking my head, not sure whether to be proud of Jimmy or pissed at him. But that's Jimmy. He always wanted to play the best player in sight.

 

[1pocket]

One brief story about Jimmy, and I have MANY! ...

Save one good story for the dinner, Jay

 

[freddy the beard]

Talked to Jimmy on the phone

I was on the phone cutting up jackpots for about an hour with Jimmy Reid. He was upbeat, as usual, and is looking forward to coming to Derby City in Jan. He even said he wants to play in the OnePocket mini's. He was happy to be honored as this year's Lifetime Pool In Action award, but he was slightly disgruntled that he received no support in the OnePocket HOF election. He was mostly considered a great shooter, gambler and 9 and 10 ball player, but he did gamble, successfully, with Ronnie and Bugs with the small spot of 8 to 7. He even eked out a 3 game decision over the, virtually unbeatable on a snooker table playing 1pocket great, CornBread Red. He may be justified being slighted, but everybody, including me, always thought of Jimmy as a 9ball, 10ball, payball, demon. His 1 pocket game was always overlooked. He is bringing his DVDs and some memorabilia to market at DCC.
I cant wait to see him again.

the Beard

Color covers of my DVDs are up for viewing on my Blog. Go to my website and click on "blog."

 

[jay helfert]

I was on the phone cutting up jackpots for about an hour with Jimmy Reid. He was upbeat, as usual, and is looking forward to coming to Derby City in Jan. He even said he wants to play in the OnePocket mini's. He was happy to be honored as this year's Lifetime Pool In Action award, but he was slightly disgruntled that he received no support in the OnePocket HOF election. He was mostly considered a great shooter, gambler and 9 and 10 ball player, but he did gamble, successfully, with Ronnie and Bugs with the small spot of 8 to 7. He even eked out a 3 game decision over the, virtually unbeatable on a snooker table playing 1pocket great, CornBread Red. He may be justified being slighted, but everybody, including me, always thought of Jimmy as a 9ball, 10ball, payball, demon. His 1 pocket game was always overlooked. He is bringing his DVDs and some memorabilia to market at DCC.
I cant wait to see him again.

the Beard

Color covers of my DVDs are up for viewing on my Blog. Go to my website and click on "blog."

Thanks Freddie,
It will be good to see my old buddy Jimmy again. I haven't seen him since the 1999 U.S. Open. He was the original "Hippy Jimmy", before Mataya and Marino horned in on the name.

Yes, Jimmy could definitely play One Pocket. He played even with many of the top players and it took a Jersey Red or Shorty to beat him. He did get a small spot from guys like that, maybe 9-8 and 8-7. Although I was in with Jimmy when Bob Osborne got the best of us at One Pocket. Bob played damn good too. I'd love to see "Black Bart" at Derby City. A helluva good guy.