Houston legends

Cue Stick

Member
Anyone out there have any interesting or funny stories about Houston pool legends from the '70's, 80's, and '90's? Who was Cannonball? When Buddy Hall and Ceasar Morales matched up at the Red's tournament, what was the outcome? When Gabby and Jerry Brock matched up at the Red's tournament, what was the outcome? What ever happened to Na-Na (Ninety-Nine), and how did he get his nickname? How good was Phillip Hyatt?
 

jasonlaus

Rep for Smorg
Silver Member
Anyone out there have any interesting or funny stories about Houston pool legends from the '70's, 80's, and '90's? Who was Cannonball? When Buddy Hall and Ceasar Morales matched up at the Red's tournament, what was the outcome? When Gabby and Jerry Brock matched up at the Red's tournament, what was the outcome? What ever happened to Na-Na (Ninety-Nine), and how did he get his nickname? How good was Phillip Hyatt?
Don't know about Na-Na, but his brother Sha was quite popular in the 70s
 

chris_waddle

Registered
Anyone out there have any interesting or funny stories about Houston pool legends from the '70's, 80's, and '90's? Who was Cannonball? When Buddy Hall and Ceasar Morales matched up at the Red's tournament, what was the outcome? When Gabby and Jerry Brock matched up at the Red's tournament, what was the outcome? What ever happened to Na-Na (Ninety-Nine), and how did he get his nickname? How good was Phillip Hyatt?
I'd love to hear some stories about Houston pool legends! I've heard of Cannonball, but I'm not sure who he was. And I'm curious about the matches between Buddy Hall and Ceasar Morales, as well as Gabby and Jerry Brock. What about Na-Na (Ninety-Nine)? How did he get his nickname?
 

King T

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'd love to hear some stories about Houston pool legends! I've heard of Cannonball, but I'm not sure who he was. And I'm curious about the matches between Buddy Hall and Ceasar Morales, as well as Gabby and Jerry Brock. What about Na-Na (Ninety-Nine)? How did he get his nickname?

NaNa got his nickname by accident. His football jersey was 99, so many people call him 99..., then that turned into 9...., then somewhere along the line it became NaNa. He was unbeatable by anybody other than a top-shelf, near champion player. We talked every day and I miss my brother.

He was a very close friend of mine and he passed away last year from a stroke.
 

King T

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'd love to hear some stories about Houston pool legends! I've heard of Cannonball, but I'm not sure who he was. And I'm curious about the matches between Buddy Hall and Ceasar Morales, as well as Gabby and Jerry Brock. What about Na-Na (Ninety-Nine)? How did he get his nickname?

Cannonball might have been the best Bank Pol player there was..., for the Money. He played as good as anybody and there was no bank that could be made that he couldn't make. He was a good guy, fun to be around and I got the Money whenever I bet on him! What a Player!
 

Cue Stick

Member
NaNa got his nickname by accident. His football jersey was 99, so many people call him 99..., then that turned into 9...., then somewhere along the line it became NaNa. He was unbeatable by anybody other than a top-shelf, near champion player. We talked every day and I miss my brother.

He was a very close friend of mine and he passed away last year from a stroke.
Sorry to hear that he passed. First met him at the old LeCue on Fannin and Rusk. I was in my early 20's and had no idea who he was. I lost a few bucks to him, and my cue stick. It wasn't much money, I think he was just amusing himself because nobody else would play him. Every time I saw him after that he would jokingly remind me of that cue stick. Last time I saw him he said he had given it to his nephew. Some of the regulars around LeCue were Misty, Jug, Little John, Whitie, and Little Eddie...real cool bunch of guys.
 

Cue Stick

Member
Cannonball might have been the best Bank Pol player there was..., for the Money. He played as good as anybody and there was no bank that could be made that he couldn't make. He was a good guy, fun to be around and I got the Money whenever I bet on him! What a Player!
Did he ever play banks against Bugs Rucker? One day an older guy told me I had a stroke like Cannonball, but I wasn't sure what he meant. Was there something unique about his stroke?
 

King T

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Sorry to hear that he passed. First met him at the old LeCue on Fannin and Rusk. I was in my early 20's and had no idea who he was. I lost a few bucks to him, and my cue stick. It wasn't much money, I think he was just amusing himself because nobody else would play him. Every time I saw him after that he would jokingly remind me of that cue stick. Last time I saw him he said he had given it to his nephew. Some of the regulars around LeCue were Misty, Jug, Little John, Whitie, and Little Eddie...real cool bunch of guys.

You named a bunch of the crew, I knew them all and those were some great times! Little John and I still talk all them time, he golfs more than he plays Pool, but he's always around the game. Whitie moved to New York, we lost Little Eddy and Jug, Misty is back and playing pretty good.
Sorry to hear that he passed. First met him at the old LeCue on Fannin and Rusk. I was in my early 20's and had no idea who he was. I lost a few bucks to him, and my cue stick. It wasn't much money, I think he was just amusing himself because nobody else would play him. Every time I saw him after that he would jokingly remind me of that cue stick. Last time I saw him he said he had given it to his nephew. Some of the regulars around LeCue were Misty, Jug, Little John, Whitie, and Little Eddie...real cool bunch of guys.
Did he ever play banks against Bugs Rucker? One day an older guy told me I had a stroke like Cannonball, but I wasn't sure what he meant. Was there something unique about his stroke?

Yeah Cannonball and Bugs played a lot when Cannonball was in Chicago, but I wasn't there at the time so I dont know how that came out, he did tell me they were good friends so the games might have been cheap. But I know they games would have also been very close!
 

Cue Stick

Member

You named a bunch of the crew, I knew them all and those were some great times! Little John and I still talk all them time, he golfs more than he plays Pool, but he's always around the game. Whitie moved to New York, we lost Little Eddy and Jug, Misty is back and playing pretty good.

Yeah Cannonball and Bugs played a lot when Cannonball was in Chicago, but I wasn't there at the time so I dont know how that came out, he did tell me they were good friends so the games might have been cheap. But I know they games would have also been very close!
Thanks a million for the updates. I'm glad to know that Little John is still going strong. I wish I had been introduced to the golf game back then. I probably could have learned a lot from him. Next time you talk with him, ask if he remembers "Slim", an electrical engineer from Lake Charles.
 
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Cue Stick

Member
You named a bunch of the crew, I knew them all and those were some great times! Little John and I still talk all them time, he golfs more than he plays Pool, but he's always around the game. Whitie moved to New York, we lost Little Eddy and Jug, Misty is back and playing pretty good.

Yeah Cannonball and Bugs played a lot when Cannonball was in Chicago, but I wasn't there at the time so I dont know how that came out, he did tell me they were good friends so the games might have been cheap. But I know they games would have also been very close!
P.S. Also ask him if he remembered his glasses:) I never played on bar tables, but he always used to tell me he couldn't play on the big tables because he forgot his glasses. We never played for big money, but I always paid a little for my lessons.
 

King T

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Thanks a million for the updates. I'm glad to know that Little John is still going strong. I wish I had been introduced to the game back then. I probably could have learned a lot from him. Next time you talk with him, ask if he remembers "Slim", an electrical engineer from Lake Charles.

I'll ask him tonight and PM you.
 

King T

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
P.S. Also ask him if he remembered his glasses:) I never played on bar tables, but he always used to tell me he couldn't play on the big tables because he forgot his glasses. We never played for big money, but I always paid a little for my lessons.

OMG!! Thats him all day!!! :)
 

3kushn

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Cannonball might have been the best Bank Pol player there was..., for the Money. He played as good as anybody and there was no bank that could be made that he couldn't make. He was a good guy, fun to be around and I got the Money whenever I bet on him! What a Player!
Had the pleasure to watch Cannonball practice some in Burlington Iowa 1975. I was only 2 years into the game so very impressionable but he still sticks in my memory. He spent very little time looking at his shots - was freewheeling but as I remember, he didn't miss and the OB was many times airborne when it hit the pocket. Don't remember seeing any shot that didn't travel @ 80mph.
 

punter

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Cannonball was Johnny Chapman. The last guy you mentioned in your original post is Phillip Hyde. He was from Groves, Texas, he told me he did live and play in Houston for a few years. Once upon a time he was a very good player. I'm from Beaumont, and went to several poolrooms in Houston, in the 70's and 80's. Le Cue, Goofy's , Grand Central Station, Cassidy's. Playoffs. Jersey Red could usually be found in whatever was the action poolroom at the time. Richie Ambrose played at Goofy's, originally from NY, as was Red. Gabby's real name is Mouise Pouncey, he passed away last year. Jerry Brock was a top player for a long time, mostly bar tables IIRC. He won a tournament near Toomey, Louisiana, one time, held at a bar at a horse training facility owned by Jimmy Wimberly, lots of good players were there. There was a bar near there called The Spur that had two or three bar tables and pretty much non stop action. The owner was Mackey Fusilier. Saw Phillip play there many times, he matched up several times with Tommy Sanders. Over the years a lot of top players came through. I saw U.J. Puckett there once, he came in with Bobby Pitts who usually staked players at that time. Danny Jones used to come in after betting the ponies, as did the infamous Joey Torma. Flyboy Jimmy Spears made an appearance or two. Fly later owned a room in Baton Rouge and The Sports Palace in New Orleans.... By the way Cue Stick did you know Joe MacNamara?
 
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Hungarian

Welcome Back, Donald!!
Silver Member
Anyone out there have any interesting or funny stories about Houston pool legends from the '70's, 80's, and '90's? Who was Cannonball? When Buddy Hall and Ceasar Morales matched up at the Red's tournament, what was the outcome? When Gabby and Jerry Brock matched up at the Red's tournament, what was the outcome? What ever happened to Na-Na (Ninety-Nine), and how did he get his nickname? How good was Phillip Hyatt?
I knew Na Na. Very big tough looking guy at first but when you got to know him you realized he was a super kind soft spoken and gentle guy. Always friendly. Not sure what happened to him. Played really , really good. Sorry to hear he had a stroke and passed one. RIP Na Na.
 
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